October 22, 1809 — to Jacob Gruber

Though there is no name to indicate to whom this letter is written, it had a letter attached written by Boehm to Jacob Gruber; therefore it must have been written to Gruber. Asbury has had letters from some local preachers in Kentucky. It seems that one had been in Douglass’ district, and Asbury wished to know what had happened.

GREEN COUNTY, TENNESSEE

October 22, 1809

[TO JACOB GRUBER]¹

My dear Son:

Grace, mercy and peace be multiplied unto thee in Jesus our Lord. Excuse my employing my aid² and your brother. As Bishop McKendree takes his part of the work, I am not so correct in answering letters; in the 65 years of my age, and 39 years of my ministry in the service. After some serious conversation and letters, I have prevailed upon Bishop McKendree to preside on all the Conferences, it is with pleasure and peace I retire. If we had another man of equal mind I could as cheerfully give up the stationing the ministry; this I must do a little longer, the work is too great for one man: it must be divided. To compose the minutes, obtain the knowledge of all the circuits, to be well acquainted with gifts and qualifications of all the preachers, and to visit the whole continent is an Herculean employment. The local ministry in Kentucky last addressed us on the subject of elders or ministers, and the result of General Conference on that subject. We wrote them a passivick letter desiring them to be temporate and meet us; as they have done this year, one or two seemed warm, one said he had been in your district and in Brother Douglass’ charge; that men of great respectability, of that order were waked up to join in address with their brethren in Kentucky in ministry.³ I wish you to be very prudent and cautious not to irritate in the least degree but advise them to speak or write their minds to the Bishops and General Conference, rather one by one, than in united address; only expressing their firm attachment to Methodism and the travelling connection. We Bishops are prepared to meet any thing they say being as we always have been friends to their cause properly brought forward, in the union of the body. Refer them if you please to write unreservedly to us. If you please write to us in Charleston, if you have time to reach us before the 5 of January. We see great prospects, and great difficulties. Many different preachers sent from the Western Conference, single 40, married 80, very few over. I have enjoyed great health of body and peace of mind.

I am as ever yours,

F. ASBURY

There is in addition to Henry Boehm’s letter a P.S. of Asbury’s— same handwriting as above. Boehm’s letter omitted.

P.S. If you will give us the most perfect character of every circuit, and every preacher, travelling, yea local preacher in your charge, promote if possible Fridays, by the order and authority of the quarter meetings, Fridays as days of fasting, humiliation and intercession. The church, the continent calleth loudly for it [to] hear the rod of God on Europe, how awfully upon the seat of the beast,⁴ oh and possibly most parts of Europe and the world. May we hear and fear. I hope 8 conferences will give, in the year 1810, 600 campmeetings and thousands converted.

Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore Conference

(Lovely Lane Museum)