Nathan Bangs · 20 of 23

Chapter 2. From the Close of the General Conference of 1812 to the Death of Bishop Asbury, in 1816 · 1813

There were nine annual conferences this year, the Mississippi Conference which was authorized to be formed, if the bishops saw it needful, not having been established.

These times were distressing along the lines between the United States and the Canadas, as those places were the principal scenes of the war which was now raging with increasing violence between the two countries. This not only broke off all friendly intercourse with each other, but kept the inhabitants in a continual state of alarm and irritation, quite unfriendly to the progress of pure religion. But notwithstanding this state of things, there were very extensive revivals of religion in other places, so that the increase of members was considerably more than it had been for several years previously, as may be seen below. Probably many were led to pray more fervently and to labor more faithfully in consequence of the afflictions which were felt in the country, while others were induced to think more seriously on their latter end.

Among those who located in the New England Conference this year, was Pliny Brett, whose admission into the conference had been deferred for one year at the time he was eligible to be received into full connection. Soon after his location he withdrew from the Church, put himself at the head of a party under the denomination of “Reformed Methodists.” He lured from the Church several local preachers, and a considerable number of members, almost entirely breaking up some small societies, and thereby occasioned much uneasiness where he commenced his operations, which was in Cape Cod, in Massachusetts. From thence his influence extended into Vermont, where he was seconded in his endeavors to draw away disciples after him by a local preacher by the name of Baily. They succeeded in raising a considerable party, which, for a short season, made some inroads upon our Church; and though Mr. Baily succeeded in establishing some congregations, and still lives to enjoy the fruit of his labors, yet the influence of the party is very limited, and furnishes another evidence that it requires a union of deep piety and much talent to found a distinct denomination of sufficient magnitude to command public confidence, and to exert an extensive influence on the community.

While these things were testing the faith and patience of some, and “garments rolled in blood" were frightening others with fearful apprehensions for the stability of our political institutions, the faithful servants of God, keeping aloof as much as possible from the strife of party and the war of words, steadily pursued their way in search of “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” It is due to truth, however, to remark, that while ministers of the gospel, biased perhaps too much by some influential members of their congregations, refused even to pray for their rulers and country, Bishop Asbury, who had long since adopted this country as his own, and most cordially loved its institutions, declared most plainly and pointedly, on the floor of an annual conference, that he who refused, at this time especially, to pray for his country, deserved not the name of a Christian or a Christian minister, inasmuch as it was specifically enjoined on all such, not only to honor magistrates, but to pray for all that are in authority, that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives, in all godliness and honesty.”

It was very manifest to all who saw him, that Bishop Asbury was sinking under the infirmities of a sickly body, weakened from time to time by exposures to inclement seasons, continual labors, and oppressed with a multitude of cares, known only to those who feel the weight of such a responsible station. Nevertheless, although his friends sometimes remonstrated against it, he still performed his annual tour of the continent, shunning no danger, deferring no duty which might be performed today, from a fear that he should not have strength for the morrow, but both publicly and privately admonishing all who came in his way of the danger of sin, and encouraging the good to persevere in their work. To aid him in scattering the good seed of the kingdom, he furnished himself with religious tracts, sometimes getting them printed at his own expense — for as yet we had no tract society — Bibles, and Testaments, which he distributed among the poor; and to assist in extending the work in the poorer settlements, the handed his “mite subscription" to all whom he considered able to give, allowing no individual to subscribe over one dollar, though, if they chose, each member of the family might become a donor.

Apprehensive, as it seems from notices in his journals, that he had not many years to live, he dictated a valedictory address to his colleague, Bishop McKendree, on the order and institutions of the primitive Church; and on Friday, October 29th, he says: — “On the peaceful banks of the Saluda I wrote my valedictory address to the presiding elders.” In another place he speaks of having made his will, in which he says that, through the benevolence of some kind friends who had died childless, about two thousand dollars had been bequeathed to him, which he should leave to the Book Concern. “Let it return,” he remarks, and continue to aid the cause of piety.”

In the labors of the conferences he often speaks in terms of eulogy upon the help afforded him by Bishop McKendree, who, if he did not always travel by his side, generally met him at the annual conferences, and discharged most of the active duties of president, and assisted in the ordinations and other services of the sanctuary. He needed not indeed any other stimulant to active exertions than his own burning zeal for God, and the example constantly set him by his senior in office. Mutual affection and respect bound them together, and made them “true yoke-fellows" in the laborious exercise of their joint superintendency. By this means they threw around the general itinerancy, and the entire work, a weight of influence not easily resisted, but it was felt from the center to the circumference of the connection.

Thus by the example of their superintendents, whose joint labors produced a most happy effect, the presiding elders upon their districts, the elders, deacons, and preachers upon their several circuits and stations, were stimulated to active diligence, and the members of the Church generally participated in the spirit which actuated their leaders. By this united and harmonious action, as before said, notwithstanding the noise of battle was heard along the frontiers, heightened as it sometimes was by the war-whoop of hostile Indians who were invading some of the defenseless settlements, the Church was generally prosperous, sinners were converted, and saints “built up on their most holy faith.”

Yet sixty-three preachers were located! eleven became supernumerary, twenty superannuated, three were expelled, and one; William B. Lacy, withdrew, and afterward connected himself with the Protestant Episcopal Church.

Thomas Branch, John Crane, Jacob Rumph, Jesse Brown, William Young, Lasley Matthews, John Smith, Robert Hebard, John Russell, and Ebenezer White, having fulfilled their ministry with fidelity, had taken their departure to another world during the past year.

Numbers in the Church: Whites This Year: 171,448; Last Year: 156,852; Increase: 14,596 — Colored This Year: 42,859; Last Year: 38,505; Increase: 4,354 — Total This Year: 214,307; Last Year: 195,357 — Increase: 18,950 — Preachers This Year: 700; Last Year: 716; Decrease: 16.