August 25, 1810 — to Jacob Gruber

The camp meetings are very much on Asbury’s mind. He is setting down directions for the buildings. He wanted more permanency in the places they were held.

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

August 25, 1810

[TO JACOB GRUBER]¹

My dear Jacob:

God be gracious to thee in all thy sorrows and joys, labours and cares. Nothing but the spirit of martyrdom and apostolic labours and suffering can succeed in the day of prospects and difficulties and opposition. If our encampments could be paid in every circuit and the bottom part of a meeting house (built) about 100 feet long and equal width, fences up about 5 feet height, a good floor, strong back benches, partition in the middle, passages on the sides, strong gates that would be the holy place, as much as one seat space left before the pulpit for mourners. In the front seat let all the officials sit. If the ground was floored it would be dry very soon for publick worship. I have happily laid my hands upon Baxter’s “Reformed Pastor,” printed at Washington, excellent, I had one but lent it till I had lost it. I recommend it to you and wish you to recommend to all the travelling and local preachers. I rejoice that the Presbyterians have piety enough to abridge such a book.

Mr. Wesley had a mind to abridge it, oh that he had done it. I believe they have taken the essence.

I am yours,

FRANCIS ASBURY

Charleston, Columbia, or Camden in South Carolina, write me in November how you come out in general when you get your Campmeeting wheat-fields in. Myself or Bro. Boehm will write to thee. F. AY.

P.S. Portrait Smith Lectures.

Baxter is excellent, super-excellent and excells the whole. Oh that it could be printed in our press.²

Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore Conference

(Lovely Lane Museum)