August 29, 1813 — to Mrs. Ann Willis
BANKS MONONGAEHELA, PA.
ASB_VOL3.PDF, PDF page 613
We have noted some of the people who worked on Asbury’s Journal, such as John Dickins, Thomas Haskins, and
Hollingsworth. This letter shows that Henry Wilkins, to whom reference has been made before, Joseph Lanston, and Mrs. Willis also had a part in editing it. Again Asbury shows his concern for correcting it. He was most anxious that it should be not only correct history but letter perfect in form.
BANKS MONONGAEHELA, PA.
August 29, 1813
[TO MRS. ANN WILLIS]1
My dear Sister, Daughter:
Where shall we begin? Where shall we conclude the song of goodness or of grace. Oh, eternity will it be too short, to utter all his praise, that hath bought us, washed us, with his own blood! Joseph2 will be a journal of our passage over the Alps of Columbia.3 Your fathers father in —— Like Laban, I say these are mine. The adopted spiritual father of dear Henry the first,4 your once beloved husband, Joseph Lanston, and myself have concluded he shall devote his time to finish the transcription of my journal. I wish a number or two at a time may be sent to Doctor Wilkins5 to correct and abridge, because only the most interesting parts will be preserved. You will have to board Joseph among you, and ask his mother6 keep him to his work, you may read or cause to be read any parts you please.
Now let me tell you that I feel for your health, I feel for your soul! that you might do more good. As to your temporal economy I leave that, you have helps, counsellors, friends. I am persuaded that wealthy widows are the most exposed to temptation, if not of one kind, yet of another, its rich men have many snares set for their feet. Pray if feeble, once a day in your family, let who may be in your house, I mean preachers. You ought to have band meeting, the difference of married women or widows is not great, nor pious maids. You should have a woman’s prayer meeting to keep your souls in weekly exercises! I fear! awfully, and almost presume that we shall hear on our once happy Columbian plains the blood of thousands7 is shed. (If as is expected) a formidable dissent be made! Oh Sisters! Oh mothers! wives! widows! What may they feel, in future days. You have sons! I wrestle and pray for, and keep a watchful, jealous, pitying, praying eye over them, the cup of affliction goeth around the old and new world, we cannot tell who will sip, or drink the drugs of this bitter cup of trembling. I am greatly thankful to you for past favors. I am yours, F. ASBURY
P.S. Present me to all the brethren and sisters you speak of me to. My sacrifice was not small in coming to the Pipe Creek encampment. I hope not in vain and God be glorified in many souls.
F. AY.
Drew University Library
Notes (7)
- According to the address on this letter Mrs. Willis lived at Linganore, Pipe Creek, Frederick County, Maryland. (See former letter, September 7, 1812; also reference to Henry Willis in Journal, Wednesday, August 11, 1813.) Mrs. Ann Willis was the widow of Henry Willis, the preacher. ↩
- Joseph Lanston was ordained an elder in the Baltimore Conference in 1813. He is listed as the junior preacher on the Allegheny Charge in the Carlisle District. However, it is clear here that he was an older man, since he was the spiritual father of Henry Willis, the husband of Mrs. Willis. ↩
- Reference is to Allegheny Mountains. ↩
- One of Mrs. Willis’ six children was evidently named Henry for his father. ↩
- See reference to Wilkins, June 22, 1799, and note to Wesley’s Primitive Physic in next letter. ↩
- It is not clear how a man evidently as old as Joseph Lanston should have required a mother’s oversight. ↩
- Reference to war of 1812, which had not ended. ↩