The pioneer bishop ; or, The life and times of Francis Asbury

Front matter

it A.H.FitcTiiij.

THE PIONEER BISHOP:

OF

Introduction

A Life of Bishop Asbury lias long been a desideratum among the biographies of the Church ; I say the Church, meaning to comprehend the entire Christian community. For though he was a minister of a sect, and a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, yet his labors made a most salutary impression upon the Christian community at large, and tended to mold the minds and hearts of all that came or shall come within their influence into the image of Christ. He may therefore be presented as an exemplar of every minister of the Lord Jesus, as exhibiting that spirit of catholicity which ought to possess and actuate the hearts and heads of all who are inducted into the sacred office. Such a biography, well written, cannot do otherwise than exert a hallowing influence on all who examine its pages with a right spirit, in leading them forward in the path of obedience, faith, and love, and inducing them to make the sacrifice needful to enable them to fulfill their ministry with persevering

8 INTRODUCTION.

diligence, that they may finally finish their " course with joy."

One fault of many biographers is the mingling up of every incident, however remotely connected with the person concerned, that may have occurred during his lifetime, interweaving into his biography events and things with which he had little or nothing to do, thus making him responsible for things and events over which he had little or no control. This method belongs more properly to general history, instead of the history of an individual. It has been adopted, I have often thought, to make up for the barrenness of the subject by the introduction of matters quite foreign to, or at least but remotely connected with, the person whose character and conduct are delineated. There are, to be sure, certain great characters which have appeared upon the stage of human existence and action, which have stamped their character upon the world— such as Alexander, Bonaparte, and Washington among warriors and statesmen, Luther, Arminius, and Wesley among Christian ministers and reformers—with whose lives are linked cotemporaneous events and characters that must be noticed, in order to give a full and comprehensive view of what they did, and of the influence they exerted on society. And if an apology could rightfully be made for this kind of biography for any public man, it might be made for Bishop Asbury, for certainly he stood up

INTRODUCTION. 9

before the community as a giant in intellect, and as a saint of the first magnitude, having professed and exemplified the " heights and depths " of " perfect love," and displayed the zeal and diligence of an apostle in the work of the Christian ministry.

Dr. Strickland, however, has not availed himself of this privilege, but has confined himself strictly to the life and labors of Bishop Asbury, calling him, very appropriately, the "pioneer bishop." Such indeed he was, for he was the first Protestant bishop that ever trod the American soil, and he was the only bishop that followed the example of the apostles and primitive evangelists by itinerating through the length and breadth of the land, visiting alternately the cities and villages, the older settlements, and traversing the wilderness in search of the lost sheep of the house of Israel, carrying with him the light of truth and the love of God and man wherever he went. I say the biographer confines himself strictly to the life and labors of Bishop Asbury, but nevertheless embracing those cotemporaneous events which necessarily connected themselves with him, or which were produced by his active and energetic labors. This was necessary to make the portrait complete ; for, wherever the bishop moved he moved others, and they others, and thus his circle of influence was continually enlarged, so that the little one " soon became

10 INTRODUCTION.

a thousand, and a small one a strong nation." The work of reformation spread in every direction; ministers and people were raised up, through his instrumentality, to praise the Lord. A man thus distinguished as a leader of " God's sacramental host" must necessarily cluster around him many others, some of them nearly equal to himself, others of an inferior grade, all of whom must be noticed with greater or lesser particularity, in order to render the portraiture full and perfect in all its parts.

Dr. Strickland has already evinced his competency to the task of writing the life of Bishop Asbury, in other departments of literature, such as the History of the American Bible Society, History of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and other works of equal merit, and it is hoped and believed that his reputation as an author will suffer nothing in the present undertaking. His plan is calculated to insure success, by bringing the facts into as small a compass as the subject would permit, and thus presenting the life of Bishop Asbury full and complete, in a style of popular eloquence, to readers of all classes, tastes, and attainments.

Those who were acquainted with Asbury, as was the writer of this Introduction, cannot but remember his dignified appearance, his manly eloquence, and the solemn and commanding manner in which he administered the sacred ordinance to those on whom he

INTRODUCTION. 11

laid his hands, while he said, "Receive the Holy Ghost for the office of an elder in the Church of God, now committed unto thee by my hands and prayer." Generally this impressive act and these solemn words were attended with an "unction of the Holy One," which rested upon the recipients of this holy office, and ran through the assembly of God's people like electricity. Though I can well remember those seasons of solemn grandeur and holy delight, yet I find it difficult to describe them, there being a secret something arising from a consciousness of the Divine presence which renders it indescribable, or, as St. Paul expresses it, " unspeakable and full of glory." We felt indeed that Christ spoke through his servant, and realized

" The solemn awe which dares not move, And all the silent heaven of love."

The influence of the life of such a man, with its prominent features fully brought out, upon those who read it with attention, with faith and prayer, must be great and salutary. Some biographies, to be sure, possess nothing interesting, being made up of common-place remarks, possessing no traits of character, experience, or conduct but what may be found in every individual of their class, and therefore are dull and prosing, and soon pall upon the mental appetite. Not so the life of Bishop Asbury.

12 OTKODUCTIOlSr.

He possessed strong points of character. His experience of Divine things was deep and genuine, glorying in naught but " Jesus Christ, and him crucified," saying, " I rejoice continually in the perfect love of God." His labors were great, his travels extensive, and his constant moving from place to place brought him into all sorts of company, the rich and the poor, the learned and unlearned, so that in reading a faithful record of those things we have a panorama spread out before us filled with a variety of figures, all of an interesting character, all instructive and edifying. I could write much upon these topics, but I will not anticipate the biography before me. Let it be circulated and read, and then the reader will be fully acquainted with the birth, education, conversion, and sanctification of Francis Asbury, and will, I doubt not, praise God for raising up and qualifying him for the work of the ministry, and then putting him into the bishopric of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which office he exemplified, in an eminent degree, the graces of humility and firmness, of patience and perseverance, and those commanding talents which enabled him rightly to divide the word of truth, and give to every one his « portion of meat in due season."

New-York, Aug. 26, 1858. ^ Eangs -

Chapter I

The Eelation of Childhood to Manhood — Province of Education — Diversity of Mind — Basis of Distinction — Asbury's Birth — Parentage

— Native Character — Influence of Keligion — Death of his Sister — Its Effect on his youthful Mind — His early Conversion — School Days — Cruel Treatment — Change of Besidence — An Irreligious Family — Trials — Keturns Home — Learns a Trade — Course of Beading — Importance of right Kind — Pernicious Principle — Hears of the Methodists through his Mother — Attends their Preaching — His Impressions

— Ecligious Enjoyment — Holds Prayer Meetings — Opposition — Meetings for Prayer and Exhortation in his Father's House — Extends his Sphere of Labor — Souls converted — Licensed to Preach — Early Labors — Appointed to a Circuit — Conference at Bristol in 1771 — Volunteers as a Missionary to America, and is accepted Page 25

Chapter II

*sbury returns Home — Encounters Trials — His Mother — Visits the Scenes of his early Labors — Parting with Parents — Bristol Outfit — Bichard "Wright — Embarkation — Sickness — Preaching on board by Wright — Self-examination — Motives — Eeflections — His first Sermcn at Sea — Advantage of Trials — Books read on the Voyage — Study of the Bible — His Heart bound to America — Personal Beligion — Full Consecration to his Mission — Last Sermon on Shipboard — Gale — Sight of Land — Voyage ended — Beeeption in Philadelphia — Preaching by Pihnoor — Progress of Methodism — Encouragement — The Soldier Preacher 42

Chapter III

Commercial Intercourse between England and the United States — Merchants of New York — Philadelphia Merchants — Students at Prince ton — Eeception of New York Merchants' Letter in Boston — Patriots of the South — Colony of Massachusetts put under Martial Law— Harbor of Boston and Castle William — Mediation of Franklin — Valley of the Mississippi — Six Nations — "Western Explorations — Washington selects Lands for Soldiers — Boone the Pioneer Hunter — Eegulators

— Their Eepresentative imprisoned — Battle — Proclamation — Centralization of Power — Unjust Taxation — Protest of Samuel Adams — Franklin's Prediction — Vessels of War in Boston Harbor — Ministers of Boston refuse to read the Governor's Thanksgiving Proclamation — Evils of Slavery in Virginia — Proclamation of the King — Jefferson — Lee — Henry — Appeal to the King — Franklin — First Eeligious Sects in the Country — Queen Elizabeth's Grant— Grant of Charles II.— Puritans — Lutherans — Baptists — Eeformed Dutch — Presbyterians

— Eoman Catholics Page 51

Chapter IV

Colonial Period — Colonists in a State of Eebellion — Church and State — Eeligious Denominations — Persecutions — The " Great Awakening "— Decline in Eeligion-The Wesleys-Their Labors in America — Methodist Emigrants -Philip Embury in New York - First Meeting - Subsequent Meetings- Incidental Eemarks in relation to Local Preachers - The Value of their Labors in early Times — First Methodist Preaching in America -The little Band in Barrack-street Workshop - Secret of the Success of the early Preachers-Embury as a Preacher-Conversion of an English Officer -Becomes a Local Preacher-Ordered to America and stationed at Albany - Visits New York and preaches for the Methods Multitudes attracted-Place too small-Larger Boom obtained- Opposiuon- First Methodist Church built-Eeinforcement of Preaches sent over by Wesley -PilnWs Letter to Wesley-Strawbridge in Maryland - Boardman in Philadelphia - Letter to Wesley 69

Chapter V

EeceptioninPMladelphia-Pilrnoor-Asbury'sfirstSermoninAmerica- V^ttoStatenlsland-NewYork-Boardman-Asbury'soXonof the Americans — Visit to the Country — Pilmoor — Asbury in Philadelphia — Appointed Superintendent — Criticism of a Book — An officious Priest — Quarterly Meetings — Baltimore — New York — Church Worshipers — Philadelphia — Rankin — St. Paul's Church — Rankin' s Opposition to Revivals— First Conference — Baltimore — Quarterly Conference — Otterbein — Second Conference — Desire to be sent to Baltimore — Disappointed — Norfolk — Reviv al in Virginia — Asbury's Opinion of the English Preachers who left the Country — Rumors of War — Warm Sulphur Springs — Wesley and Politics — Conference at Deer Creek — Declaration of Independence — Difficulties about the Sacraments — Retires to Judge White's in Delaware — Trials — Action of Southern Preachers — Asbury's Efforts at Union — Plan proposed — Rejected — Delegates sent to Southern Conference — Successful Result Page 83

Chapter VI

Visit to the Churches in Virginia — Description of his Journey — Conference of 1781 held in Baltimore — Concurrence of the Southern Preachers in the Plan of Union — Resolve of the Preachers — Regulations in regard to Local Preachers — Letter to Wesley — Close of Conference — Itinerant Superintendency — Hard Fare — Congregation on the Mountain — Hanging Rock Castle — South Branch of the Potomac — Settlement of Germans — Inspiring Scenes — Fork Mountain — Large Spring — Caves — Banks of Lost River — Drafted Soldiers — Benighted on the Mountains — Leesburg — New York — Conference — Numbers received — Interchange of Preachers — Conference confirm Asbury's Appointment as Superintendent — Coadjutancy of Rev. Mr. Jarratt — State of the Church — Revivals in Virginia and Maryland — Adjourned to Baltimore — Asbury's Travels — Friendly Quakers at Salem — Preparations for Conference — Statistics — A disaffected Preacher — Wesley's Letter — Crossing the Mountains — Capture of Mr. Williams by the Indians — Quarterly Meeting at Philadelphia — New York — Opinion of Methodists in these Places — First Interview with Dr. Coke after his Arrival — Richard Whatcoat — Surprise — Question as to an Independent Organization discussed — Determination to call a General Conference — Freeborn Garrettson sent to the South — Vasey — Poythress — Interview with Mr. Weems — Reflections 121

Chapter VII

Length of Time in America — His Age — An unordained Preacher — Number of Preachers and Members — Character of the Preachers associated with him — Marsden's Description of Asbury — "Christmas General Conference" — Dr. Coke — Wesley's Letter — An important Occasion — A distinct and separate Organization — Title of Church — Office of Bishop elective — Coke and Asbury elected Bishops — Ordination of Asbury — Ordination Sermon — Ordination of Deacons — Power exercised by Asbury as an Assistant Superintendent under Wesley — Conference defines the Duty of a Bishop — Abuse of Power — Character of the present Episcopacy — Short Obituaries — Asbury's first Sermon as a Bishop — Change in his Journal — Effect of Administration of the Ordinances by Asbury on other Churches — Charleston, South Carolina — Lee — Willis — Conferences — New Circuits — Great Revivals — York — Surrender of Lord Conrwallis — Alexandria— Visit to George Washington— Bath Springs — Preaches in a Theater — Baltimore — Philadelphia - New York — Heavy Labors — Liberality of New York Methodists — ^.ibury's first Wagon — Last Wagon Page 138

Chapter VIII

John Dickins — Description of, by Asbury — Subscription for "Kingswood High School in America '' — Claims of, presented by Asbury — Dr. Coke's Sympathy with the Enterprise — Suggests the Propriety of founding a College - Adopted by the Conference - Plan drawn up accordingly _ Rules and Regulations- Abingdon selected as the Site- Beauty of Situation - Laying the Corncr-Stone of Cokesbury College -Asbury's Sermon on the Occasion -Dedication -An ominous Text -First Faculty of the College -Rules and Regulations - Asbury and College Finances - Its Management a source of great Anxiety - Its History Destruction by Fire-The Subject of Rebuilding agitated by Dr Coke-ABuildmg suited to the Purpose purchased in Baltimore -College reopened -Faculty -Regulations and Course of Study - Destroyed by Fire-School for Charity Boys in Georgia - Bethel Academy -Seminary in New York - Progress of Education in the Church— Remarks of Hon. Edward Everett. .

Chapter IX

Dismal Swamp — Perilous Journey — Meets Dr. Coke at Charleston — Conference — Preaching — Asbury's Travels — Description of Dr. Coke's Sermon at New York — Hempstead Harbor — Preaches in a Paper-Mill — Returns to New York — Trouble in the Church about Congregational Singing — Journey up the Hudson — Description of West Point— Newburgh — Bath — Delivers a Course of Lectures on the Prophecies — Dejection of Mind — First Ordination in the Mississippi Valley — Asbury in Gown and Bands — Rearranges the Discipline — When First Edition was printed — New Edition — Questions and Answers omitted — Revised Edition — Fifth Edition — New Sections — Notes on the Discipline — General Conference at Charleston, South Carolina, 1788 — Georgia — Crossing the Mountains — Hard Fare — A stubborn Horse — An Incident — Character of Early Settlers — Letter to a Quaker in Delaware — Tour to the Western Wilderness — Horses stolen by Indians — Perils of the Journey — Conference in Lexington — Return through the Wilderness — Conference at Petersburgh — Bishop' s Council — Threatening Letter from O'Kelly — Asbury's Reply — Asbury vindicates himself — Jesse Lee in New England — His Character — First Sermon in Boston — Letter to Asbury — Letter from Poythress Page 174

Chapter X

Doctrine of Celibacy — Apostolic Injunction — Asbury's Reasons for Celibacy — Other Reasons — His Opinion of Dr. Coke's Marriage — Singular Remark about the Women and the Devil — Dialogue on Marriage — Asbury and the Young Lady — Devotion to his Mother — Beautiful Tribute to her Memory 206

Chapter XI

Previous Reference to Institutions of Learning — Asbury lays the Foundation of the Book Concern — Founder of the Methodist Missions to Frontier Settlements — Founder of the Chartered Fund — Founder of American Sabbath Schools — Benevolent Institutions the Outgrowth of the Church — Asbury a Bible Distributer — The Sunday- School-System mcorjwrat^jwifckihe. Discipline — Asbury's Comments — Preached on the Subject of Education — Name of Francis Asbury given to Children

— Kemembered in his Will — Affectionate Regard for the Young — Organization of District Schools — His Plan — Its Importance — An interesting Sketch Page 215

Chapter XII

Asbury' s Attachment to America when his Associates in the Ministry fled the Country — Writes a Complimentary Letter to an Advocate of American Principles — Admonition to the Conference in relation to the Employment of an English Preacher — His unbounded Admiration for Washington — Proposition to the New York Conference in 1789 — Asbiuy and his Associates introduced to Washington in his Official Capacity — Address of the Bishop — Washington's Reply — The Methodist Episcopal Church the first to recognize the Government of the United States — With other Churches an afterthought — No Union of Church and State, but Government Protection — The Government Christian — Obedience to Government an Article of Religion — Reflections — Asbury's Example — Tribute to Washington—Thoughts on Eeligious Liberty — Connecticut and Massachusetts Priest-ridden — View of the United States — Continental Officers. . 230

Chapter XIII

Asbury and Coke at Port Royal, South Carolina — Sad Intelligence of the Death of Wesley --Tribute — Coke left for Baltimore to take Passage to England— Preaches a Funeral Sermon in Baltimore — Conference — Conference at Duck Creek and Trenton — New York — Asbury preaches before the Conference on the Occasion of Wesley's Death — New Haven — President of Yale College and Professors — College Chapel -Uncourteous Treatment -Providence — Boston — Discouraged -Lynn -Prophecy -Fulfillment- Letter to a young Ministcr- VimUi various Places in New England -Returns to New York- Joumey West and South - Tennessee - Indian Depredations - Crosses the W.lderncss-Kentucky -Boone, the Pioneer Hunter - Paradise lor the Poor Man- Rock Castle Station- Conference at Bethel - Preparation, for Return - Alarm - Incidents of Travel _ Watching the Sentinels - Land-marks of Travel -Conference at Lynn-Pittsfield- Grand Meeting House -New Divinity Preacher - Character of Eastern reoplo- Medicinal Waters of Lebanon -Devil's Tents - Conference at Albany — Questions of Theology discussed — Hudson and Rhinebeck — Conference in New York — Love-Feast — Dr. L.'s Preaching— Hospitality of Friends — Sermon on the Lord's Supper — Dr. Langdon on Revelations — Judge White's — Milford — Jefferson's Notes on Virginia — Incident at Judge White's — Tribute to his Memory . . Page 240

Chapter XIV

Coke's Return from England — A Crisis in the History of the Church — Statistics in 1792 — Friction in the Machinery of Methodism — Power of the Episcopacy — Causes which led to the Formation of the General Conference — Plan of a Council — Plan Adopted — Minutes of the First Council — Members present — Constitution — Resolutions — Second Council — Members present — 0' Kelly — Opposition of Lee — Last Council held — Call for a General Conference — Duly organized — By-laws adopted — Review of the Discipline — Episcopal Power — O'Kelly's Resolution — Asbury withdraws from the Conference Room — His Letter to the Conference — Discussion — Episcopacy sustained — Subsequent Revival of the Question — Methodist Protestant Church — Lee's History — Questions pertaining to the Election, Ordination, and Trial of a Bishop — Presiding Elder Question — Duties defined — Provision for Traveling Preachers' Wives — Salary — John Dickins appointed Agent of Book Concern — Fee for__performing Marriag e Ceremony — Money to be given to the Conference — Presents to be accounted for — Certificate of Removal — Rule of Arbitration adopted — Chapter on Public Worship — Asbury's Reflections on the General Conference — Opinion of O' Kelly — Revision of the Discipline — End of the Session

— Another General Conference agreed upon 258

Chapter XV

Second Decade of Methodism passed — Results of Twenty-six Years — Position of the Church — Southern Tour — Whitefield's Orphan House in Georgia — Melancholy Reflections — Asbury crosses the Wilderness

— Sick — Continental Tour — Great Sickness in New York — Few Preachers at Conference — Yellow Fever in Philadelphia — Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer — Pestilence in Maryland — Pass from a Health Officer — Preaches in Baltimore — Takes up Winter Quarters at Charleston — Midnight Journey — Father Harper's Plantation — Asbury at Baltimore June, 1794- Portrait taken at request of Preachera -Original Picture in possession of Baltimore Methodist Historical Society - Travels to Boston - Kemarks - New York Conference-Preaching - Yellow Fever at Baltimore — Whisky Insurrection in the West — Charleston — Eough Treatment — Leaves the South — Trip Northward- At New York Fourth of July-Eev. Mr. Ogden's Work on Bevealed Eeligion-New England - Grave of Embury at Ashgrove- Eesidence of Garrettson - Governor Van Cortlandt-At the Mansion of his friend Wells in Charleston— His Slaves — Asbuiy's Labors in Charleston — "Ben," the Half-blood Indian Warrior — Thrilling Account of Mrs. Dickenson— Constitution for a Eelief Fund— Anbury in New York — Explains the Discipline to the Leaders — His Definition of Schism— New England Conference — Eumors of Yellow Fever— Crossing the Bay in a Storm — Conference at Philadelphia— Short Sketch of Benjamin Abbott Page 277

Chapter XVI

General Conference in Baltimore in 1796 — Number of Preachers present — Cradle of Southern Methodism — Quadrennial Greetings — Address of British Conference — Number of Conferences — Boundaries — Deed of Settlement — Candidates for Deacon' s and Elder's Orders — Arrangements for Publication of Books — Monthly Magazine — Eules for Seminaries of Learning — Charter Fund — Preacher's Fund merged — Eegulations in regard to Marriage — Use and Sale of Ardent Spirits — Subject of African Slavery — Declaration — Address to the British Conference — Southern Tour— Attack of Fever — Coke and Whatcoat

— Unpleasant Incident — Mr. Wesley displeased — Asbury's Love of American Methodism — Light-street Church and Asbury College destroyed by Fire — Dangerous Illness of Mr. Wells — Death — Tribute to his Memory — Dr. Coke's Oration — Notes on the Discipline —Spring

— Gap in the Mountain — Widow Sherwood's — Dumb Sabbaths — Review of Labors — Jesse Lee in Maine— Noble Band of New England Itinerants — The eccentric Father Moodie — Conference at Readfield—

Preaches in Portland — Eeturns — Yellow Fever in New York Death

of John Dickins —Testimonial- - Conference in Philadelphia and New York -Accompanied by Lee to the South — Intelligence of Washington's Death — Sermon on the Occasion— Snethen — A great Favorite 097

Chapter XVII

General Conference in Baltimore in 1800 — Address of the British Conference — Explanation of Dr. Coke — Address of Asbury to the British Conference — His Determination to resign his Office — Besolution of the Conference — Election of Eichard Whatcoat to the Episcopacy — Asbury and Whatcoat at Perry Hall — Abingdon — Kuins of the College — New York Conference — Eevival in the Bowery Church — Widow Sherwood's — Boston — Bishops preach in the Tabernacle — Mother Livingston — Her Conversion — Hospitality — Garrettson's — Crossing the Wilderness — Conference at Bethel — Preachers present — Nashville — Origin of Camp-meetings — Asbury confined at Philadelphia — Western Conference in Tennessee — Poythress — Eecrosses the Mountains — Spends the Winter in South Carolina — Baltimore — Maine

— A charming Spot — His Mother's Death — Tribute to her Memory — Death of Eev. Devereux Jarratt — Memorial — Funeral Sermon — New York Conference — Fredericktown — Natural Bridge — Eevival at Holstein — Conference — At Station Camp — Night Encampment — Mountain Dew — No Tent — Opinion of Southern Planters — Baltimore — Compliment to — Perry Hall — Miss De Peyster's Legacy — Sermon in John street — Ordains Joshua Soule — Ashgrove — Pittsburgh — Zane's Trace — Lancaster — Western Conference in Kentucky — Visit to Dr. Hinde — Interesting Incident — Illness — Depression — Legacy — Tennessee — Virginia Page 318

Chapter XVIII

General Conference of 1804 — Conferences represented — Eatio of Eepresentation — Composition of — Eevision of the Discipline — Boundaries

— Presiding Elder Question — Eesolution of Garrettson on the Subject of Slavery — Dr. Coke granted Leave to return to England — Perry Hall — Philadelphia and New York — New Haven — Middletowu — Conference at Buxton — Eemarkable Camp-meetings — Quakers in Massachusetts — Ehinebeck — The Congregations in New York — Address to Quarterly Conferences — Secessionists return — O'Kelly's Zeal

— The Methodist People independent — Eailers — Conference in Baltimore — Camp-meeting at Musquito Cove on Long Island — Brooklyn — Eegular Succession — Asbury's short Way— Camp-meeting — New York

Conference -New England Conference -Yellow Fever at New Haven — Prohibited from entering New York and Philadelphia - The Alleghanies - Ohio Eiver - Wheeling - Zanesville - CMUicothe - Lost mi the Woods -First Visit to Cincinnati - Eeply to Dr. Coke's Letter -Eesolution in regard to a Delegated General Conference - Dangerous Illness of Bishop Whatcoat- Camp-meeting at Philip's Manor - New York Conference - Establishing the Episcopacy -Mountains of Western Virginia- Camp-meeting- Tour among the Log Cabins of the West -Encouragement Paoe 353

Chapter XIX

Mountains of Western Virginia - Camp-meeting Scenes - Asbury's Visit Kev Henry Boehm-Eeese Wolf- Hockhockmg^ Preaching- Tour hrough Ohio-Pioneer Settlers-Log Cabins -Hospitable but Oneof aT ^ Lect - e -^eresting Incident -Love-feast - De clr lo C ° UVertS - Vi ^-a Hospitality -Social Gathering - Descnpfaon of Guests - Subjects of Conversation 370

Chapter XX

Mountains, Vermont "f™-™™*™- Philadelphia- Green Bethlehem', S^^Z^'^-*"^ * Indian Invasion -Shak 1 ^^^ no ^hw e st of the Ohiocinnati-Camp- m ee tn" ^ £ ^ ° hi °-™P Gatch's-Cin- ~We Stern cL^T^ ?"" t0 *» H ^ Book _ Charleston Mourmn g - GeneralCo J; n n ; --; Alexandria -Perry Hall in

street dedicated - Portrait of A y, Um ° Ve ~~ New Church in Eutaw-

Confercnce - Whatcoat -Coketp^" 11 ^ 0rder ° f the General Two separate Dioceses - Bishop ^ Salto divide *e Continent into

Bishop- Western Pioneer - Memorial Z^™^*™*™ elected Btrietive Rules- SuDJect of ^ZZv Ywk Co ^renee-Ee-

from the Di sc ipii ne -First Two P* T^ '" ^^ the Secti ™ tion-Asbury and Boehm - Western ^ P * "^-Aabury'B Moon Slavery - Crosses the Wilderness - 11 ~~ Indlana ~ KeguUtion Thirty Dollar Chaise - Bombon'sCl^e f^^^ee in a

Attempt to prejudice Slaveholders against the Methodists — New York and New England Presbyterians — Cincinnati — Camp-meeting — " Old Stone " — Conference — Baltimore Hospitality — Pittsfield — " Perpetual Hills " — Boston — South called on to assist Boston Methodists — Lee's History — Comments — Review — Life in the Mountains — Awful Wilderness — Discipline translated into German — West — Governor Worthington — Vir ginia — Great Fire in New York — Genesee Conference — Wise Men of New York Conference — Mad River — Dayton, Ohio — South Carolina Page 393

Chapter XXI

General Conference in New York, May, 1812 — Adoption of Rules — Letter from Dr. Coke — Bishop M'Kendree's Address — Genesee Conference recognized — Asbury's Address to the Conference — M'Kendree's Reply — Asbury's Desire to return to England — Collection of Materials for a History of the Church — Dr. Bangs's History — Division of the Western Conference — Missionary Society — Subject of Slavery — Last General Conference he attended — Sherwood Vale — Governor Van Cortlandt — Illness — Conference at Albany — Conference at Lynn — War declared — Secession — Genesee Conference — West — Beautiful Country of the Wyoming — Remarks on the War — Judge Van Meter — White Brown's — Ohio Conference — Cincinnati — Frankfort, Kentucky — Louisville — Labors in Nashville — Charleston — General Lee — Carried into Church — Invitation from British Conference — Baltimore Conference — Philadelphia — New York Conference — M'Kendree — Valedictory Address to — Writes his last Will — Remarks about New England — New York Conference — Tomb of Henry Willis — The poor Africans, — Dr. Hinde — Tennessee Conference — Valedictory Address to Presiding Elders — Funeral Sermon on the Death of Otterbein — Sick at Perry Hall — John Wesley Bond — Ohio Conference — Gloomy Tidings of War — Conference — Illness — Baltimore