April 10, 1815 — to Francis Asbury
ASB_VOL3.PDF, PDF page 633
A Letter of Jesse Lee to Francis Asbury
Jesse Lee was one of American Methodism’s earliest and greatest pioneers. It was he who wrote A Short History of the Methodists in the United States of America. He came very near to being elected to the episcopacy at the annual conference of 1800 when he tied with Richard Whatcoat on the second ballot. On the third ballot Whatcoat was elected by a majority of four votes. This letter is one of the most interesting in the collection; and though not an Asbury letter, it was written to Asbury.
NANSEMOND, VIRGINIA
April 10, 18151
[TO FRANCIS ASBURY]
Dear Sir:
When I went to the Conference at Lynchburg last July I went prepared to meet with great opposition from you; knowing that it was your time for electioneering for the next General Conference, and according to custom I expected you would try to sink me in the esteem of the preachers, and give me some appointment that you believed I could not well attend to, in order that I might not be elected to the next General Conference. But I was fixed to go to the worst place you could appoint, and at least make a trial. But I was surprised to find when the appointments were read off, that it said that I was to receive my appointment from the Baltimore Conference. I said nothing, but knew you had trampled Methodism under your feet. I afterwards spoke to McK.2 and told him that I had no idea of leaving this Conference, and in certain cases I could not; but told him, after I returned home and saw how matters were, I would write to him: and he promised that he would write to me from Baltimore, and let me know where my appointment was.
I wrote to him that for certain reasons I could not leave this part of the country, but was willing to take an appointment in the bounds of this Conference. He did not comply with his promise. I waited at Petersburg till April, and on All Fools-day, I received a few lines from one of the preachers stating that McK. said I was to go to Fredericksburg. But he did not say whether it was for the Town, or the Circuit, and I have no inclination to go to see.
The Rule is that. “What are the duties of a bishop? To fix the appointments of the Preachers for the several circuits?” You gave me no appointment, you violated this rule. I never was treated so before at any Conference. If you had asked me if I would go to Baltimore to take an appointment, I would have told you No. If you had made me an appointment to Boston, I would have acknowledged you had a right to do so, if it had been read out in our own Conference. But it appears as if you were determined to be my enemy till you die.
It is high time for you to lay aside all anger, wrath and malice. After you have degraded me for years in my appointments, and cannot make a tool of me, or induce me to fall in with all your whims; you at last have trampled Methodism under your feet, and usurped a power that never belonged to you, in refusing to give me an appointment, thinking thereby to sink me. But you are mistaken. Yet I will not say of you and myself, as you once said of yourself and Wesley. When you wrote to Shadford you said, “Wesley and myself, are like Caesar and Pompey: one would bear no equal, and the other would have no superior.” I am willing to have a superior; but I never will submit to your unconstitutional proceedings. I wish you to [act] immediately on receipt of this, and give me an appointment. I shall be at Petersburg about the first of May. I shall expect your letter; if you determine to give me no station say so, and then I shall declare open war against you. If I receive no direction from you, my plan is to go into Brunswick Circuit, where there is a vacancy. If you write to me, and say I may go there, I shall let the matter drop. You know I have business in Georgia that calls for my attention, and I wish to go from next Conference and settle it, if I can.
I am as ever yours,
JESSE LEE3
Emory University Library
Notes (3)
- See letter to William McKendree, March 15, 1815. ↩
- William McKendree. ↩
- The Virginia Conference was held in Lynchburg in 1815. Asbury stated that the people of Baltimore wished Lee to be sent to that city and indicated that it was his wish. The bishop was indisposed, and John Early read the appointments. Lee’s name was not in the appointments. A note at the foot of the appointments said, “Jesse Lee will receive his appointment at the Baltimore Conference.” Lee felt that he was transferred without notice or consultation. Some days later he received a letter from the Baltimore Conference telling him that he had been appointed to Fredericksburg, Virginia. He was very much disappointed at the appointment and refused to go. The General Conference of 1816 was in the offing. When he was removed from the Virginia Conference, the brethren there did not elect him, nor did the Baltimore Conference to which he was transferred. Lee felt that he had been transferred to prevent his election to the General Conference, and this accounts for the harsh letter. Lee had been chaplain to the Congress in Washington; and though this was not popular with the brethren, Asbury wished to place him close to Washington and expected to put him in Baltimore. Evidently he could not make the appointment. Lee persisted in not going to Fredericksburg. During the year he traveled through the Meherrin District, assisting preachers there. He also visited Norfolk and finished the year on the Brunswick circuit, acting as a substitute for C.S. Mooring. At the Virginia Conference, held in Raleigh, January 24, 1816, Lee took an affectionate leave of the conference and went to the Baltimore Conference at Georgetown. At the close of the conference he was stationed at Annapolis. While there, Asbury died at the Arnold home in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. When Lee heard of the death of the bishop, he felt as if a “friend had been smitten down at his side.” He published the following sketch of Asbury shortly afterward. “He was always of a slender constitution and yet never spared himself, but ventured through the greatest difficulties and dangers, in order to preach to the people and to attend to the preachers. He was an excellent preacher; and his gift in prayer was exceedingly great. He was deeply pious, remarkably fervent and constant in prayer. His peculiar talent was for governing the preachers, and taking care of the Church of Christ. He generally rose early in the morning, travelled many miles in a day, preached often and slept but little. He was generally known throughout the United States, much esteemed and greatly beloved. His presence was generally courted, his advice requested, and his directions attended to. It pleased God to spare him for many years; and, at last, to give him an easy, safe, and happy passage out of this world. And his numerous friends have no room to doubt but that their loss is his infinite gain. He has not left behind him many, if any, to equal him in the Church to which he belonged. And notwithstanding, his loss is, and will be, greatly lamented. We have full confidence in the Lord and he will take care of and provide for his Church.” Asbury’s body was removed from Spotsylvania County and placed for a time in Eutaw Street Church, Baltimore. There was a large procession which followed the body. Minton Thrift, who wrote his memoirs, said Jesse Lee “with a deep and profound sorrow, united in these funeral rites.” “The scene was solemn and impressive. Mr. Lee’s countenance bespoke the emotions of his mind. A dignified sorrow, such as veterans feel, while following to the grave an old companion in arms, was evinced by his words and countenance. They had suffered together, and had long fought in the same ranks; the one had gained his crown, the other was soon to receive it.” This account is from the Life and Times of the Rev. Jesse Lee, by Leroy M. Lee, his nephew. Asbury’s body was later moved to Mount Olivet Cemetery, Baltimore, where it rests today. ↩