May 9, 1812 — to the Episcopal Committee of the General Conference of 1812

According to the Journal the Episcopal Committee had under discussion the question of adding to the episcopacy. A motion was made in the conference on May 16 to do this. Evidently Asbury felt it necessary to reassure the brethren that he would not leave the country.

NEW YORK¹

May 9, 1812

[TO THE EPISCOPAL COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL

CONFERENCE OF 1812]²

My dear Brethren:

Whatever I may have thought or spoken in former times upon strengthening the Episcopacy, I am not at liberty to say to you at this time, do this, or that. I am bound in duty to serve the Connection with all my power of body and mind, as long and as largely as I can; and, while I am persuaded that my services are needed and acceptable, to give up all thoughts of visits out of the American Continent. I feel myself indispensably bound to the Conference and my colleague, never to leave them nor forsake them upon the above conditions.

F. ASBURY

J.J. Tigert, A Constitutional History of American Episcopal Methodism, 331