Life and Labors of Francis Asbury, Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal
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^»' THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OV CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES FRANCIS ASBURY. LIFE AND LABORS OF FRANCIS ASBURY, BISHOP OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN AMERICA. BY GEORGE G. SMITH, D.D., AiUlior of "Life and Letters ofJames O. Andrcxv," "Life ami Times of George F, Pierce," "History of .\fethodism in Georgia," etc. Nashville, Tenx.: Publishing House M. E. Chukch, South, Rarbee & Smith, Ac;knts. 1896. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in tlie year 189G, By Georgk G. Smith, In tlie Otlice of the Librarian of Congress, at Wasliington. , iDeMcation. Co yo/m C/irtst/an J^ccnor, 0. 7). Son tor S^/s/to/i o/" fAo 9//cfAoc/tsf £^tsco/ia/ CAurcA, Souf/i, nof on/y docauso o/" //la A/t//i rosjjocf S Aavo /'or Ai's o/A'co and Tnj/ /o/fy nc^/niraft'on /or A/s monfa/ yt'/ts • and /nora/ ojccc/ZoncoSj 6ut as a foAon o/ fAe fcnc/cr /ovo y /co/ /or ono iiiAo /or /onff yoars y Aauo caUocf /iiy /ri'onii. Geobge G. .Smith. (iii) ;i7;>(iG() PREFACE. Soon after the death of Bishop Asbury measures were put on foot to have a full biography of him prepared. Dr. S. K. Jennings, at that time one of llie most sehol- arly men of the Church, was selected to do the work. After a considerable lapse of time, he returned the ma- terial placed in his hands and declined to go any farther. In the meantime the journals of Bishop Asbury were of a published ; and as they partly served the purpose memoir, none was prepared. Then the history of Dr. Bangs and the more extensive work of Dr. Abel Stevens gave a full account of his labors; and over forty years ago the Eev. Dr. Strickland sent to press "The Pioneer Bishop," which was a biography of Bishop Asbury. The Eev. Dr. Janes made selections from his journals, and thus prepared also a memoir in Asbury's own words. It has seemed to me, however, that a new life was demanded, and I have written it. I have relied very largely on his journals, but have by no means contined myself to them. I have freely availed myself of the la- bors of those who have gone before me. I do not think I have allowed any available source of information to be neglected. I do not think a biographer is an historian in a general sense, and think that, hoAvover one may be tempted to turn aside from the direct line his work marks out, he should resist the temptation, and so I have confined myself as strictly as I could to the part which Asbury himcelf acted in the histoiy of the Church. Nor do I think a biographer is an advocate or (V) vi Preface, an apologist. It is his business to tell what the subject of his writing was, and what he did, and leave others to form conclusions for themselves. There are always matters in which the biographer and the subject of his writing are not fully agreed, and things of whose non- existence he would have been glad; but above all else, he must be honest and conceal nothing. Thei'e are few things in Asbury's life which ask for defense, and none which ask for concealment. He was so closely con- nected with the beginnings of things in the Methodism in America that the story of his life is largely the story of early Methodism, and I have ti'aeed his journeys and given an account of his personal connection with men and places with a particularity which may sometimes seem monotonous. I do not think Asbury has had the place he is entitled to in the history of the nation or of the Church. To no one man was America more indebted than to him. I have not given my authority for statements in many cases. Those familiar with his journal will see how closely and how freely I have used it. I have studied, but I found it difficult, if not impossible, to point out the page on which the statement was found in many cases. Where I could give my author, I have done so. 1 think this book is needed, and I hope it will do good. George G. Smith. Macon (Vineville), Ga. — CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. 174o-1771. PAfiK Asbury's Birtli —Family of Josepli Asbu/y—Childhood Conversion — Ajjprenticeship —The Local PreacluT—On a Circuit—Tiie Missionary 1 CHAPTER II. 1771-1772. The Young Missionary—Passage from Bristol—Incidents of the Voyage—Arrives at Piiiladelphia—Goes to New York—View of New York in 1771 —Journey to Mary- land () CHAPTER HI. 1112. Journey to Maryland — Bohemia IManor — Strawbridge — Frederick County —View of Maryland — Asbury's Firet Round — Goes to Baltimore —View of Baltimore — Into Kent County—Conflict with the Parson—Sickness 14 CHAPTER IV. 177S-1774. Asbury in Maryland Again —Goes to New York -To Phil- adeli)hia Mr. liunkin's Arrival—The Fir^t General Con- ference—Maryland Once More -<> CHAPTER V. rni,. Mr. Asbury in New York and Baltimore—New York Again —Discouragements -Mr. Rankin and Mr. Asbury Rich- ard Wright Goes Home— Asbury's Discipline — Religious Experience — Feebleness of Body — Goes Soutlnvanl — Marvland Again ."U (vii) — viii Contents. CHAPTER VI. l~lo. Page Asbury's First Work in Virginia—Norfolli—Portsmouth Isaac Luke—County Work—Brunswick Circuit 42 CHAPTER VII. 1116. The War Time—Mr. Wesley's Mistake—Asbury's View— Asbury Sick—Berkley Bath—Preaching—Conference at Deer Creek — Discussion on the Sacraments — Trouble v/ith Mr. Rankin — Asbury left Out of the Minutes Goes to Annapolis—Test Oath—Retires into Delaware. 47 CHAPTER VIII. 1118. Life in Delaware — Thomas White— Asbury's Studies — Stormy Times—The Conference at Leesburg—Asbury's Called Conference — Troubles in the Conferences — As- bury's Hard Condition—A Truce Made 53 CHAPTER IX. 1781-1783. General Assistants-Conference in Baltimore—Settlement of Troubles—Through the Valley of Virginia—Allusion to Strawbridge— Through Eastern Virginia—First Visit to North Carolina—His Friends Among the Episcojjal Clergy—Visits New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey— Barratt's Chapel, 1784 — Letter from Asbury to Shad- ford 60 CHAPTER X. llSJt. Dr. Coke—Mr. Wesley's Will—Mr. Asbury Refuses to be Ordained Till a Conference is Called—The Conference Meets—Mr. Asl^ury and Dr. Coke Elected Bishops and Called Superintendents 72 CHAPTER XL 118J,. Mr. Asbury's Views on Episcopacy 77 — Contents. ix CHAPTER XII. l.^^,,, Thomas Coke — The Welsh Gentleman - In Oxford — Coke's Curacy—His Conversion— Mr. Wesley's Favor— His Labors—His Death t>l CHAPTER XIII. 1785. The New Bishop—Tour Southward—Henry Willis—Jesse Lee— A'isits Charleston, S, C—Edgar Wells- -Journey Northward—Cokesbury College—Visit to Mount Vernon —Corner Stone of College Laid 89 CHAPTER XIY. 178G. Asbury's Second Ei)iscopal Tour— Haiiovt-r, Virginia — North Carolina — Sintlair Capers — Charleston — Hope Hull—John Dickins and the Revised Discipline— Cen- tral North Carolina — The Baltimore Conference — The Valky of Virginia- Religious Experience at Bath— Re- turn Southward 96 CHAPTER XV. 1787. The Tour of the Two Bishops—Dr. Coke Again—Tlu' Blue Meetinghouse in Charleston—Prosperity of tlu' Work in South Carolina and ( leorgia-Central South Carulina-- Journey Noitii ward— Virginia Conference— Baltimore Conference—Dr. Coke in Trouble—The New Discipline —Mr. Wesley's Displeasure—Eftbrt to Appoint a Bishop —Failure 101 CHAPTER XVI. nss. Charleston Again—Riot—Georgia—Holston—Greenbrier Conference at TJniontown, Pa,—College Troubles 107 CHAPTER XVII. 1789. Mr. Wesley's Famous Letter and the Council—Georgia- Daniel (irant Wesley and Wliiteiield Seliool—Mr. Wes- ley's Letter—North Carolina—The Council 116 — X Contents. CHAPTER XVIII. ni)0. Page Over the Continent—North Ciuolina—Charleston—Geor- gia—Western North Carolina—Over the Mountains- General Riii^seirs— Kentucky— Virginia -Pennsylvania Cokesbury 124 CHAPTER XIX. Arininian Magazine—Coke's Arrival in Charleston—Wil- liam Hammett— Georgia Conference—Virginia— Wes- ley's Death— Coke's Return to England—Jesse Lee- New England—Asbury's Visit 128 CHAPTER XX. 1192. Returns Southward—Cokesbury Troubles—Virginia Confer- ence—North Carolina Conference—Troubles in Charles- ton—Georgia Conference—Beverly Allen's Expulsion —Tour to Kentucky—Northward Again 136 CHAPTER XXI. 1793-1794. Southern Tour—Great Exposure—William McKendree— Tour to the North—Southward Again -The College— R. R, Roberts 153 CHAPTER XXII. 1195. Episcopal .lourneyings—Death of Judge White—The En- nalls Family—Governor Van Cortlandt—Return South.. 160 CHAPTER XXni. 1196. South Carolina — Georgia—North Carolina — Tennessee Virginia — Views on Education — Bridal Party in the Mountains—Methodism in Brooklyn— Southward Again —Francis Acuff 166 —— ' Contents. xi CHAITEK XXIV. ^7i>7. ,,,,, Charleston —Sicknes^s—Northward Journey—Breaks Down in Kentucky — Readies Baltimore— (Joes on His Tour Northward — Jesse Lee — Returns South — Gives Up at Brunswick, Virginia, and Retires for the Winter 170 CllAl'TEU XXV. 1798. Asbury Out of His Sick Room—Recovery—Mews on Slav- ery—On Local Preachers—Some of His ^Mistakes—Vir- ginia Conference— O'Kelly —Tour Northward—Death of Dickins 177 CHAPTER XXVI. 1799. Asbury in the Last Year of the Century — Charleston — North Carolina —Advice of Physicians — Feebleness of Whatcoat—Jesse Lee and Benjamin Blanton — Henry Parks — Tait's, Pope's, and Grant's — Extensive Tour Through Georgia—Charleston Again 183 CHAPTER XXVIL ISOO. Beginning of the New Century—Asbury Rests a Month Washington's Death — Nicholas Snethen—General Con- ference—Great Revival —Whatcoat's Election as Bishop —Journey Northward ISS CHAPl^ER XXVHL ISOl. Troubles About Slavery—Death of Jarratt—Northern Tour —Revival Days—Southern Tour—Charleston Again 198 CHAPTER XXIX.