August 10, 1810 — to Lewis Myers

The Genesee Conference has been held, and Asbury is passing through Pennsylvania on his way to the western country. He makes a report to Lewis Myers of his travels and the state of the church. It is interesting to note the report of the work in Canada. CHAMBERSBURG, PA.

August 10, 1810

[TO LEWIS MYERS]¹

My dear Lewis:

The God of all grace and consolation help them to war a good warfare. It is not all gold that shines, we must or shall have some chaff among the wheat, but thank God it is not all chaff. I might add to the catalogue of evils, our married as well as young men failing, elders spending half their time at home and bending for a morsel of bread. We are losing the spirit of missionaries and martyrs, we are slothful, we can only tell how fields were won, but by our brethren and sisters, not by us. Since I parted from Charleston about 4000 miles and 2000 more to close the year, but what is that to the arrangement of 620 travelling preachers, to hear their murmurs and complaints. I say let me like old Moses fill up my 40 years. I shall soon be out of your way.

Genesee Conference has exceeded our hopes. For an infant conference great, near 40 members, some aged and wise, stations 63. Upper Canada preachers came in a body. Our societies, circuits, preachers, all stay in the tides in that country, the preachers had to scatter along 5 or 600 miles to conference, to Philadelphia 3 or 4 months, and New York Conference. Sometimes no representation of circuits but presiding elders. Many evils are now provided for, and will be cured but woe to the bishops, 6000 miles in 8 months, taverns, bridges, toils, tolls, woods, wilderness. Oh what scenes await us, poor Bishop McKendree, in ill health, but he has gone on to sweet Missouri Banks, from whence he was called to the Episcopal chair.

I have lately read Milner, he is too unctuous but a modest writer, but a gentle Calvinist of considerable information, but he did not live to finish his work: the (4th) volume was written by his relation, a D.D. Thank you for your account of places but we shall hardly clear Kentucky by the 15 of November. Possibly I may aim at Georgia. Oh let us not lose sight of original depravity, the witness of the spirit, diligence in duties and all good works. I am in brief—so let us teach and live.

Thine,

F. ASBURY

Duke University Library