Chapter 1
Section 1 of Journal of the Reverend Francis Asbury, Volume 3. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Brian Keenan. Journal of the Reverend Francis Asbury, Volume 3. Thursday, January 1, 1801. We began our conference with the new year. sat from nine to twelve o'clock in the forenoon, and two hours in the afternoon.
The band meeting was held between the hours of seven and eight. A clerk for the minutes was appointed, and another to keep the journal. We admitted four probationers, readmitted two deacons to their standing in the traveling connection, who had left it to locate,
located three to Witt, Blanton, Cole, and Evans, and restationed Gaines, Wiley, and West. who had all located themselves in the course of the last year. We had great union. It is true, some talked loud, but I dare not say there was any improper heat. Our sitting continued five days, and we rested one Sabbath. We were richly accommodated at Smith's and Carpenters,
and two other houses. We only failed forty-eight dollars in paying all the preachers their demands. Thursday 8. Yesterday and today I have been busy writing many long letters to my correspondents in the north. Friday 9.
We came on thirteen miles to Granny's quarterly meeting, and lodged at Anthony Presleu's. Saturday 10. I gave a short discourse upon 2 Peter 4.3, and afterward rode up eight miles to the Hanging Rock. Sunday 11.
At Horton's Meeting House I spoke on Hebrews 8, 10, 11. Monday 12. On this day we rested, and were busily employed in looking over our books and papers. I felt deeply affected for the rising generation. Having resolved to catechize the children myself, I procured a scripture catechism, and began with Brother Hortons. To this duty I purposed to attend in every house where leisure and opportunity may permit. Wednesday 14. We left Hanging Rock,
and came to Little Lynch and Flat Creeks, crossing the Great Branch at Aminas's Ford. This last is called a creek, but it rises near the Waxhaws and flows about 150 miles, mingling its waters with the Great Pee Dee below Ports Ferry. We had an excessively warm day for the season. The horses and their riders were both fatigued much in riding 40 miles in 10 hours. Seated upon the sandhills, we dined, at the root of a pine, upon a morsel of bread and bacon,
and then remounted and pushed on to Anson in North Carolina. We sheltered ourselves for the night at Thomas Shaw's, upon Little Thompson's Creek, North Carolina, Thursday, 15. We're still at Thomas Shaw's. What kind of folks am I among? Unhappy people. One aged man had shot the constable when about to serve a warrant on him. A second had stabbed another dangerously. Their names may go into shades. O sin, O intoxication! When? When will these people be civilized, and all be truly
spiritualized? On Friday we attended at Jackson's Meeting House. It was a gracious season. Bishop Watcote spoke on Isaiah 12, 2. We lodged at Stephen Pace's upon Brown's Creek. Saturday, 17. We had a meeting at John Mills's. His wife came from Maryland, he from Virginia. The children are coming to Christ. This neighborhood is visited with a revival of religion. Sabbath day, 18. We came to Wadesboro after a court week. We held our meeting underneath the
courthouse, within the arches. We had a most delightful day. Bishop Watcote spoke with great ingenuity and authority upon, The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. My subject was Luke 18, 27. We lodged at I Caches. Monday, 19. We came to Webb's Ferry. The rain drove us under the roof of the widow Williams, where we remained until the storm was over, and then pushed on to James Pickett's in Richmond County. Tuesday 20. I gave a discourse
on Amos 6.1. Woe to them that are at ease in Zion. I felt some openings. I've had many and great exercises of mind, respecting men and things. But my soul enjoys great resignation. I take the bitters of life as things which medicine my soul, producing caution, humiliation, and sanctification. Wednesday 21. We rode ten miles to the Presbyterian meeting house. Many attended at a short warning. My subject was Hebrews 7, 25. We had a quickening season.
After meeting, we rode three miles to Rockingham, the seat of justice for the county of the same name. We had been expected at twelve o'clock, hence with this circumstance, and that of court time to boot, we had but few hearers. Meeting was held in the academy, a very commodious house for divine service. Rockingham stands upon a beautiful eminence, and hath some valuable houses. About twenty families make the inhabitants. We were kindly and elegantly entertained at the house of
one who had been one of us, but now is of and in the world. Thursday 22. We came to Mark's Creek. I spoke on Hebrews 3, 13-15. We had a good season. We lodged with Solomon Rye, South Carolina. We now descended into South Carolina. Marlborough County presents many interesting views. The sawmills, the solitary, lofty, long-leaved pines, and the land, though a barren, is of the most beautiful kind, and for range for cattle and for timber is very valuable. It was my lot to be
speaker. Brother Watcote had taken so deep a cold he could do nothing. I preached from the parable of the sower. We continued our journey down Naked Creek, by Robinson's House, Mills, and Stills, and brought up at Turbot Cottingham's, at the beauty spot. Notwithstanding all that Methodists, Baptists, and three meeting houses have done. The people are still far from beautiful in a spiritual sense. We had no opportunity to send harbingers. We had, therefore, no appointment.
Saturday 24. We hasted to James Spears at the Three Creeks, where we dined, talked, and commended ourselves to God. That we might make our own appointments at Harris's meeting house, we came on to James Harris's Upon Muddy Creek. Brother Spears spread the tidings for us far and wide. This is an unhappy country. It is thinly settled, and many are moving away to Georgia and the Natchez. Our societies are small, and the prospect low. Too often, when any rise in
their circumstances, they seek for offices, or become slave traders, and much too great to be Methodists. We have ridden, since the commencement of the year, 180 miles in the Carolinas. Monday 26. We rode 20 miles to Bennett Flowers'. The men were from home, but the women gave notice of a meeting for the morrow, at the old meeting house. After our meeting about one o'clock, we came off and traveled down to G Suites, Bull Swamp, Liberty County. We sent our host to call
a congregation for Thursday. We now had time to read and write. I find reasons enough in my own mind to justify myself against the low murmurs of partiality in which some have indulged. We are impartial. We spend as much time in the extremities. We know not Maryland or Delaware, after the flesh, more than Kentucky, Cumberland, Georgia, or the Carolinas. It is our duty to save the health of preachers where we can, to make particular appointments for some important
charges. And it is our duty to embrace all parts of the continent and Union, after the example of primitive times and the first and faithful preachers in America. Thursday 29. At Suites Chapel I preached on Revelations 22, 14-15. The order, one, the city, two, the citizens. 3. Their admission. 4. The characters shut out from the city. I felt light and liberty. Friday 30. We came to the Bear Ponds Schoolhouse,
where we had a decent, attentive congregation. I preached on John 7, 16-17. Introduction. It was observed that the dispute of the Jews with our Lord about the Messiah was not if he should be the eternal Son of God, and the adopted Son of Man, but whether Jesus was that person whom Moses foretold that church and nation should come, and what manner of person he should be, fifteen hundred years before. The Jews knew where Christ was to be born, from Micah 5, 2.
See also Matthew 2. Mr. Shacklesford gave us a pressing invitation to dine with him, and treated us with friendship and hospitality. We rode in the evening to Ports Ferry. Thomas Humphreys had been very sick, but was recovering from a pneumonia. It was reported he would die, but I did not feel as if he would die at this time. Sure, nothing could so effectually alarm and arm the citizens of South Carolina against the Methodists as the address of the General
conference. The rich among the people never thought us worthy to preach to them. They did indeed give their slaves liberty to hear and join our church. But now it appears the poor Africans will no longer have this indulgence. Perhaps we shall soon be thought unfit for the company of their dogs. But who will mourn the loss of the friendship of a world that hath so hated our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. We have loitered away this month, and have ridden but about 200 miles.
Saturday 31. We rested. Wrote and read upon the solitary unhealthy banks of Petey, in sight of the lofty moss-grown cypress trees and swamps. My soul is in peace. Jesus, Jesus is my all. My soul is love to God, to Christ, His Church, and all souls. Sabbath day, February 1. We rode six miles to Britain's Neck meeting house, where I preached on Luke 19, 10. The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
What characters were lost? Not in a state of salvation. Open profane sinners. Those who had sinned away conviction. Backsliders, such as were seeking salvation by works. Avowed infidels. It was observed that many were lost to men and means, occasioned hindrances themselves, and were prevented by others. We came to William Williamses, near Little P.D. On Monday we were housed by the rain in the fore part of the day. In the afternoon we visited
Richard Woodbury, a great man, weighing upwards of three hundred pounds, and as kind as weighty. Tuesday 3. We had preaching at William Williamses. There were few people. Wednesday 4. We crossed Little Petey at the Potato Bed Ferry. Beautiful deep sands, live oaks, lofty pines, pamita swamps, with intermingled gums and cypress, variegated by evergreens of bay and laurel, entwining jessamine flinging its odors far
and wide around, lawns and savannas. Such is the country, and such the charming scenes through which we have frequently passed in our late rides. We brought up at Richard Green's, near Kingston. Thursday 5. Council and conversation with the presiding elders, several long letters to the north and south, and reading furnished occupation for the day. I received the compilation of N. Snethen, intended as an answer to James O'Kelly. It is well done, and very correctly done,
except in a few cases. There was no sharpness at all upon my side with Dr. Koch at Charleston respecting the proposed General Conference, which was afterward held, in 1792. I was fully convinced that nothing else would finish the unhappy business with O'Kelly. And that did finish it. Friday 6. Occupied in reading and writing. The preachers had not yet made out our plan for a forward move.
One Sabbath day yet at Kingston, and then we keep along towards the lovely north. Saturday 7. I rode to Robert Anderson's in the swamps, and met about thirty souls, to whom I spoke on Ephesians 2, 8-10. Returned to Richard Green's.
Sabbath day 8. At Kingston. A lovely day, but few people, perhaps not more than one hundred, including the color folks. My subject was Luke 9, 24. Brother Watcote spoke on John 3, 16. It is now sixteen years since I rode, anxious and solitary, through this part of the land.
There was scarcely a house to receive me, and no Methodist to bid me welcome. But God hath given us many friends, of some of those whose houses I lodged in, witnessed the children of Mr. Clark, and of Durant, and their widows also. We have been obliged to rest on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sabbath day, and Monday 9th, with Richard Green. Mr. Rogers will not give us an invitation. His kindness towards the Methodists is at an end. Tuesday 10. We rode 16 miles to Cullum's
meeting house. It was a cold day, and coming after such warm weather, its severity was the more sensibly felt. About midday it rained powerfully. My subject was Hebrews 2, 1. After meeting we wrote to Father Cullums, an old Maryland man, from Dorset County. Here I met Benjamin Sellers, a local preacher, and a faithful servant of God. Wednesday 11. We went forward to William Norton's, at the Iron Run, a distance of twelve miles,
through swampy ground. Brother Watcote preached and ordained Brother Sellers a deacon. I spoke from Galatians 4, 19. It was a disagreeable time. The people were trembling with cold. Thursday, 12. We rode twenty miles to Frinks. Friday, 13. At Ebenezer. The house was unfinished, and the day windy and uncomfortable. Brother Watcote and myself held the people nearly three hours. My text was Galatians 6, 14-16. A Solomon Reeves let me know that he had seen the address
signed by me, and was quite confident there were no arguments to prove that slavery was repugnant to the spirit of the gospel. What absurdities will not men defend? If the gospel will tolerate slavery, what will it not authorize? I am strangely mistaken if this said Mr. Reeves has more grace than is necessary, or more of Solomon than the name. We lodged for the night at William Gore's. From this neighborhood we came to Abraham B. Pence, Brunswick County,
North Carolina, fording the Seven Mile Creek, and crossing the Waccamaw River at Loftus' Flat, North Carolina. We have ridden at least 550, if not 600 miles, over the hills, barrens, swamps, savannas, rivers, and creeks of South Carolina. At Gowse's Manor, or more properly, Town, we were pleasantly situated. I had a most solemn visit to the sea beach, which to me was a most instructive sight. The sea reminded me of its great maker, who stayeth the proud waves thereof,
its innumerable productions, the diversified features of its shores, the sandhills, the marsh, the pamita, tall and slender, the sheep and goats frisking in the shade or browsing in the sun, Or the eye, directed to the waters, beholds the rolling porpoise. The seagulls lifting and letting fall from high the clam,
which, breaking, furnishes them with food. The eagles, with hovering wing, watching for their prey. The white sail of the solitary vessel tossed upon the distant wave. How interesting a picture do all these objects make! We preached at William Gowse's, the patriarch of the place.
His son stood for scribe, and assisted me in making extracts of letters to add to my manuscript. We visited Charlotte Meeting House, named after the river, vulgarly and improperly called Shalot. On our return I prepared a few long letters for the north. My mind is in great peace. I lament that I have no access to the poor. Our way is strangely closed up at present, in consequence of the address. I made my last visit to the sea. I thought upon my friends on
the other side the great waters, my voyage to this country, the little probability there was of my ever again seeing my dear mother, or my native land. We have had preaching in three or four places, to wit, at B. Pence in Brunswick County, and at the Manor. Sunday 22. We attended a meeting at Lockwood's Folly. I gave a sermon upon 2 Corinthians 4, 5. 1. What the apostles of our Lord did not preach. 2. What they did preach. 3. The relation of ministers to Christ
and to souls. The principles of their service. They sought not their own honor, ease, or interest. They did not make disciples for themselves. They had not wisdom, righteousness, redemption, for souls, nor grace to convict, convert, or regenerate. They preached Christ in His prophetic, priestly, and kingly offices, in His gospel, in the sacrifice once offered of Himself, in His divinity, ourselves your servants for Christ's sake, His saved, His qualified,
his commissioned servants, not slaves, bound by his word, his grace, his love, not for any worldly consideration, but for Christ's sake, warning sinners, hypocrites, Pharisees, and backsliders, comforting mourners, strengthening believers, and urging and inciting to holiness of heart and life. I observed servants, yet their rulers, according to Scripture testimony. See Hebrews 13, 17. 1 Peter 5, 2. We were kindly entertained at Mr. Bellin's.
The whole family came to the House of Public Entertainment, eight miles from their dwelling, to make us comfortable. Monday 23. Road to Edward Sullivan's at Town Creek, 18 miles. Tuesday 24. I preached. My subject was Luke 4, 18. We had a full house. I baptized three adults and as many children. Wednesday 25. We dined with General Smith. There was abundance and hospitality. We came into town. Jeremiah Norman gave us a sermon. Our tabernacle is crowded again.
The minds of the people are strangely changed, and the indignation excited against us is overpassed. The people see and confess that the slaves are made better by religion, and wonder to hear the poor Africans pray and exhort. End of section 1. Recording by Brian Keenan.
