June 2, 1810 — to Thomas Coke

In writing to Coke, Asbury is emphasizing the fact that the church is resting on its lees. As usual when he writes to Coke, Asbury reports in general on the connection. Part of the letter is addressed to Mrs. Coke.

WINCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE

June 2, 1810

[TO THOMAS COKE]¹

My dear Bishop:

God be gracious to my dear brother and sister in Jesus. It would be my duty, and delight to write to you every six months from the south and north end of our world, if I had time, and things of equal consequence to you, me and others. I lament, our centre, ancient conferences,² preachers and people, in towns, cities are too much on the lees. The first Friday in June past, and first Friday in November, appointed as days of abstainence [abstinence] and humiliation, exhortation, prayer and rigid fasting. Oh that God would hear and answer. I doubt if in the 8 conferences we shall have an increase of more than 10 or 12,000. We feel, oh we feel! The burden of located men in our travelling connection, loss of time, expenditures of money, and in moving great families expensive, and difficulties, many. Admissions of preachers may rise from 80 to 100 or perhaps not so large; but we have received 70 in 6 conferences.

As to building houses, taking new places, extending to the extremities of our borders, to the most distant settlements, and forming, and enlarging congregations, we excel. Now is the time of danger, many rich people have joined us, we monopolize religion in some places, all together; as if the offence of the cross was ceasing. At Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Stephen Bamford from Nova Scotia, received ordination to deacons, and elders orders. I fear we do not prosper as we ought to do in Nova Scotia, as well as we might. In 1795 the number on our minutes³ was 1000. I have not seen the returns on the British minutes. It is possible our New England Conference next year will be held in Vermont, this will place me very accessible to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and lower and upper Canada; I have long wished to explore British America,⁴ if it would be your wish, and the desire of the British conference, which I highly venerate; also the advice of the New England Conference; and not disagreeable to the missionaries, in these provinces.

I fear that unless you could appoint travelling superintendents, that would annually visit all the societies, circuits, towns, and stations, to exercise some episcopal powers, in superintending, and stationing, you will not prosper. We collect, if I may speak by guess, funds, and collections, 10,000 dollars per year, expended upon less than 700 preachers, 400 of which are married at least. We have committees, attitudes! returns from stewards and elders, also some married men loose, one thing, and some almost half their time, family afflictions and such like that we may give at the rate of 300 dollars per year to married men when we pay well for half work. People in the states, and provinces are growing wealthy, and able in many places, to support their preachers, and ought to support them. I have seen circuits and districts, just tied on, to Baltimore and Philadelphia Conferences to be supported, when the people have been well able to support their own preachers. I am looking forward to the next General Conference, to lighten my load, of another grand branch; increased as this connection may be by that time to 200,000 members, 1000 travelling preachers, possibly 2000 local. It will be too weighty for me; at 67, and 41st year of my age in America; should I be able to move, as one of the fathers, only to give advice, it will be well.

My dear Sister Coke, you continue to sit at the feet of Jesus, you wash the saints’ feet, you feed the poor, you council the preachers’ wives; and cement the body, they will know you, and love you. Hold your hours of devotion morning, noon, and evening. Do by soft persuasion if you can restrict Bishop Coke from too much pen work. I am most heartily your brother, and friend. My dear Bishop and wife, and all friends. F. ASBURY

P.S. My task is in riding 5000 miles 8 months of the year —— —— Sabbaths, quarter meetings, and campmeetings, and indispensible rest, and 8 conferences 6, 8, or 9 days each conference. God is my house, the Church is my spouse, and my mother, the preachers my brethren and sons in the Lord, the sisters, my sisters, and daughters, in Jesus. Oh pray! pray! for us as we do for you frequently.

F. AY.

P.S. Mark it well when the people and conferences pay their own preachers, they will see that they do their work; I fear that our charter and book concern that give 440 dollars per year per share to 8 conferences, will be a snare to us. When the Philadelphia Conference loaded on supernumeraries, the people shut up their liberal contributions; and sunk a 1000 dollars in one year; resolved their money should not go to support those that did not labour. If you have given the Brethren support to foreign missions, you will hardly ever wish to take it away! British charity is great, it is able —— if it should be abused, I do not say it is, but I fear it is, or will be.

If I was to have it in my power to visit Nova Scotia I fear the brethren would not name me. I hear you ordain for foreign mission publickly, its well; but who shall rule, and station? I feel we are all one in Jesus; and ought so to feel. Not many days since I saw Brother Blagborne; I honoured him, as recommended by you. Stationed this year, Southern Conference 72, Western 82, Virginia 75, Baltimore 85, Philadelphia 73, New York 84, N. England 85. If I was to guess it would be that the Methodists annually in the 17 States, and territories, we congregate 2 or 3 million. I should hope half a million in British America. But my calculation may be far too large, and incredible was it not for our towns and cities, and conferences encamping and being to —— in the States, and great quarter meetings and campmeetings —— 2 to 3 and 5000 people. I fear they fail in Canada and Nova Scotia in camp meetings and field and meeting. I have recommended you can ——

Garrett Biblical Institute Library