February 16, 1814 — to David Young
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA
ASB_VOL3.PDF, PDF page 619
After reporting on the state of the church in the United States and a little on England, Asbury reverts to another denunciation of the married preachers. It is clear that the difficulties caused by traveling made it hard to keep the work supplied with preachers, and, being a bachelor, he had some obsession against the marriage state.
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA
February 16, 1814
[TO DAVID YOUNG]1
Dearly beloved David:
Great grace attend us in this day of trouble and casting down. I am sorry you should feel any difficulty, or delicacy; in writing to the dearest friend, and father you have in the world: that twice, every day, speaks for you at a throne of grace: feebly in body and mind, yet claiming sincerity. I presume not one of the nine conferences, but are straightened for preachers, and more abundantly, for holy zealous men. Alas! Alas! Nine conferences, a charge of souls, scattered from Quebeck to New Orleans, from St. Marys to Lasco Bay near 3000 miles; and 1500 from east to west. We two poor aged worn out men are the chief, scattered shepherds over the scattered sheep! our presiding elders crying out, like the woman to the king, in a famine, “help oh King!”2 Then said the king, that felt as a poor man; where with all shall I help thee, if the Lord does not help, out of corn flour or the wine vat.
A sentimental practice prevails, that it is only proper for single young men to travel; so after they are married quit the work, possibly they may allow it proper for aged married men to travel. As to age, the property, the connection and incumbrances of some preachers’ wives it will be best to pass into shades! I am grieved to hear that in your section as in Brother Quinn’s;3 there are roots that have wormwood and gall. Alas my dear brother, oh let great David see to his own house; yet little David and the preachers must pray on, preach on faithfully. We have European good news, an African mission—Bishop Coke gone to Asia, one report says with the other 10 missionaries, I hope they will join Buchannon.4 All societies in Europe stirred up to send missionaries. Increase in the mother connection 7000 in the Kingdoms. In the missions 2000. A church built in the city of London for the seed of Abraham.
The Tennessee Conference,5 in a conference capacity, as one of the nine, acting for the whole, decided upon the impropriety of our intended journey to Mississippi, the shortness of time [?] the desperate rupture of the Greeks. The sacrifice was thought none too great a risk; the nine conferences for a small half of the 10th. I find no cure for almost perpetual motion, only ride a day, and stop another to breathe and strengthen. I am ill able to perform the half of family duty. I find no cure for old age! finally I am afraid of being a bill of cost to the people. You must certainly employ local aid if it is good, and do the best you can. Of the general state we are humbled in the ministry and united in conferences, we have Discipline; as to increase, I calculate on little or none; if we fill up our wastage, expelled in one circuit 250. Frank Travis,6 Travisis them.
The American people have not at any period in my judgment manifested a more open or willing ear to the Gospel than at present, but oh marrying and giving in marriage, as in the days of Noah, primitive celibacy long before popish had any existence, is totally to be abolished, the bachelors at 69 despised. But if leaving the travelling connection was not almost as canonical as priests marriages we would not dare to open our mouths or scratch a pen about celibacy. Bible Societies 60 pound sterling in one year in all possible languages. The Gospel word shall be spread over the whole earth! I heard a Presbyterian minister say the Emperor of Russia was president of a Bible Society. Some of our people complain we present preachers, do not preach our own experience; that we do not preach sanctification as a distinct work, that we have changed sanctification into justification, and do we want to change our Episcopal form of church Government into Presbyterian? as well as change the Doctrine? As ever yours,
F. ASBURY
Methodist Historical Collection, Ohio Wesleyan University Library
Notes (6)
- Presiding elder, Muskingum District, Ohio Conference. ↩
- II Kings 6:26. ↩
- Quinn was presiding elder on the Scioto District, Ohio Conference. ↩
- “The Church Missionary Society began its work in 1799, and arose out of the discussions of the Eclectic Society, of which John Newton, Richard Cecil, John Venn, Charles Simeon, and other leading evangelicals were members. It was at first called the Missionary Society for Africa and the East, but its present name was adopted in 1812. The men of Clapham were its ardent supporters, with Wilberforce and Charles Simeon at the front. The advance of ritualism has not diminished its intense evangelical fervor. “It was through Charles Simeon’s influence that Claudius Buchanan [Buchannon] and Henry Martyn were appointed chaplains of the East India Company, with Stipends of 1,200 pounds a year. Buchanan had been sent to Cambridge at the expense of Henry Thornton, having been previously brought to the feet of Christ by a sermon of John Newton’s.” (Hurst’s History of Methodism, III, “British Methodism,” 1190-91.) (Frank Baker.) ↩
- See Journal, October 3, 1813, for references to Tennessee Conference. ↩
- Francis Travis was the preacher on the Fountain-Head Charge on the Cumberland District in 1813. Asbury plays on Travis’ name. ↩