"Richard Whatcoat was one of the saintliest men in the primitive itinerancy of Methodism. Had he been a Papist, he might have been canonized. His biographer adds that it might be said of him, as of St. Basil, 'that so much divine majesty and luster appeared in him it made the wicked tremble to behold him. In him were seen majesty and love. His whole deportment was beautiful, and adorned with personal graces.' During eight or nine years he labored humbly but effectively as a Band and Class Leader in Wednesbury, Staffordshire, where Methodism was 'tried as by fire' in terrible persecutions. In 1767 he began to hold public meetings, as an Exhorter, in rural neighborhoods. In 1769 the devoted John Pawson, who knew how to estimate his character, proposed him as an itinerant at the memorable Leeds Conference which sent the first Methodist missionaries, Boardman and Pilmoor, to America. The Conference might well have received their obscure young probationer with peculiar interest, could they have anticipated that he was providentially destined to follow their missionaries, and become one of the early bishops of the wide-spread Church they had thus been humbly founding in the distant West.
In telling of his life, Richard Whatcoat stated that he was born in 1736 in the parish of Quinton, county of Gloucester, England. His father died while he was very young and living with his mother and four siblings. As with most young boys, he was bound as an apprentice. He claimed to have been as good as most boys could be, never swearing a vain oath, or given to lying, gaming, drunkenness or any other presumptuous sin, but was commended for his honesty and sobriety. Even at a young age, he thought about death and eternity.
At the age of 21 he moved to Wednesbury, and in his words, “found myself in continual danger of losing the little religion I had, as the family in which I lived had no religion at all.”
“the third of September, 1758, he was born again”. Source: Lost Chapters Recovered from the Early History of American Methodism, pgs. 382-383, by Joseph Beaumont Wakeley, Pub 1858 for the author by Carlton & Porter
After traveling two years in England, he was sent to Ireland. In 1773 he was sent to travel among the mountains of Wales, where he continued two years. The remainder of his services, down to the time of his departure to America, were on various circuits in England. Shadford, who well knew the wants of the American Church, urged him to go with Coke; he hesitated, and observed a day of fasting and prayer for divine guidance." ...
The following is an entry in Richard Whatcoat’s Journal, "September 1, 1784, Rev. John Wesley, Thomas Coke, and James Creighton, presbyters of the Church of England, formed a Presbytery and ordained Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey deacons, and on September 2, by the same hands, etc., Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey were ordained elders, and Thomas Coke, LLD., was ordained superintendent for the Church of God under our care in North America."
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Wesley used the Latin designation "superintendent" rather than "bishop", the more accurate rendering of the Greek episcopos. The latter word was associated in England with too much secular pomp to satisfy his simple tastes. It was not his wish to multiply bishops of the Anglican type. He desired a more primitive Church order..."
Source: John Wesley the Methodist – A Plain Account of His Life and Work, authored by (as is simply stated) “a Methodist Preacher”, Pub. In NY in1903.
Richard Whatcoat, “in his Journal, (p. 19) speaks of Dr. Coke’s and his arrival in New-York, November 3, 1784, and says: ‘We were kindly received by our Christian friends Messrs. Sands and others.'”
“All who knew Richard Whatcoat attribute to him an uncommon degree of piety. My late lamented friend, Dr. Thomas E. Bond, Sr., who knew him well, said to me: ‘He was one of the purest spirits I ever knew. Everybody about the house loved him, cats, dogs, and all.’ Mary Snethen said to me, that of all the pure and holy men that came to that old parsonage, he seemed to be the most heavenly-minded. He talked of heaven, he sang of heaven, and meditated of heaven.
“Rev. W. Thacher heard Mr. Whatcoat preach many times when he was stationed in New York, and said that he preached with peculiar unction, his word was attended with unusual power. An old minister said to me: ‘I saw Richard Whatcoat in the old John-street parsonage. He sat there as if he saw no one, heard no one, and was in silent communion with his God. Holiness was his constant theme.’ For purity of character, for self-denial, for deep devotion, for heavenly-mindedness, for Divine unction, none of our preachers has ever surpassed him. What a name and influence he left behind, both fragrant and enduring.
“Mr. Whatcoat attended a love-feast in New York. An old minister who lingers among us … gave me a description of the scene. He says, the house was filled with glory, and the shout of a king was heard in the camp of Israel. The house was so full there was not bread enough to supply them all. Some one informed him they were out of bread. ‘Glory to God,’ said the old man, ‘there is bread enough in heaven. In our Father’s house there is bread enough and to spare.’ Shout after shout, halleluiah after halleluiah, rapidly succeeded each other.
“When he prayed it seemed as if he had one hand hold of heaven and the other of earth, and he brought them together. As he prayed he cried: ‘Power, power! now, Lord, send the power!’ and the power did come. O what a stream of power came down! not a stream, but is was like a cloud breaking and inundating the earth. The cloud of mercy broke, and showers of blessings decended on our heads. Such shouts I never heard before, making the temple resound with their ‘songs of joy and shouts of triumph. Jehoval abundantly blessed her provision, and he satisfied her poor with bread; her priests he clothed with salvation, and her saints shouted aloud for joy.’ Such is the testimony of one who was present, … When the old warrior related it to me his face shone, and his eye was moistened with a tear, as he thought of Whatcoat and the love-feast. …
“Mr. Whatcoat showed some ingenuity in relieving himself of an embarrassing position. Any one can get into a difficulty, but it takes a man to get out of one. I mean a man who thinks fast, who has tact, and can act promptly. Strange as it may seem, some ministers forget their text. … Mr. Whatcoat got into a similar difficulty; but he showed himself a genius in getting out of it. He announced his text, and discoursed for a while, when his mind was drawn away from the subject, and he found it impossible to recall it. Said he, ‘I have been talking so long, some of you may have forgotten the text.’ He never hinted that he was in that category. ‘Never mind if you have,’ said he; ‘I will take another.’ He did so, and preached from it a most delighful sermon, that was long remembered. Source: Lost Chapters Recovered from the Early History of American Methodism, pgs. 382-383, by Joseph Beaumont Wakeley, Pub 1858 for the author by Carlton & Porter
An excerpt from the journal held by Rev. Ignatius T. Cooper in 1887, of Camden, DE., nephew of Rev. Ezekiel Cooper, states, "Friday, February 4, 1785. I rode about eight miles after meeting, to meet brother Richard Whatcoat, who was appointed to travel the same circuit [Kent]. I was much affected while I was with him. ... Monday [Feb. 21st] and Tuesday [the following day]. Our Quarterly Meeting was held. I found my mind backward and dull both days. Brother Whatcoat preached two very great sermons. In the evening, after our quarterly meeting was over, we had an opportunity of hearing Dr. Coke in Chestertown, and again next morning."
... the Minutes of the Annual Conferences for the year now under review give no account of the appointment either of Mr. Whatcoat or of Mr. Cooper to Kent Circuit. The reason for this seeming omission probably is, that Mr. Whatcoat did I not arrive in this country until some months after the close of the Annual Conferences of the year, and that Mr. Cooper, also, did not go out as a supply until after the date of those Conferences. Hence neither could appear on the Minutes of those bodies. The same is true, also, of Rev. Thomas Vasey, who also came to America with Coke and Whatcoat, by appointment of Mr. John Wesley. Both Mr. Cooper and his elder, Rev. R. Whatcoat, were removed from Kent Circuit by the Conference of June 1785, the one [Richard Whatcoat] being sent to Baltimore, Md., and the other to Long Island, N. Y.
Besides the preaching places mentioned above, as connected with Kent Circuit, meetings were held and classes established at Captain Kent's, Spaniard's Neck, Newtown, Smithers's, Richard Gold's, Kent Church (old), John Collins's, Georgetown Cross-roads, Gideon Clark's, Mr. Seaman's, Widow Featherstone's, Risden Plummer's; John Smith's, near Long Marsh; Mr. Bayley's, George Bolton's; Mr. Jerome's, near Rock Hall; Dudley Church (or chapel); Mrs. Woodland's; and other places whither the calls of duty pointed.
Rev. Cooper writes, "Sunday, May 15, [1785]. Our quarterly meeting began. We had, I do expect, three thousand souls present. We held it at Dudley's Brick Preaching-house. The house was very large, but would not hold all the people. Some gathered under the trees, and so we had preaching in both places. Monday, 16. Love-feast began at nine o'clock; the house was almost full of members of society. Then preaching, in and out of doors, began at twelve o'clock. Brother Whatcoat preached within, Brother Cloud outside. George Moore gave an exhortation in, and Harry, a black man, exhorted without. It was a good time."
The Conference for 1785 opened on Wednesday, June 1st in Baltimore, Md., and closed the following Saturday.
Source: Beams of Light on Early Methodism In America; Chiefly drawn from the diary, letters, manuscripts, documents and orig. tracts of the Rev. Ezekiel Cooper; Compiled by Geo. A. Phoebus, D.D.; 1887.
"Whatcoat has left us but brief notes of his travels and labors in the present period. Immediately after the Christmas Conference he took the field in Maryland and Delaware for about half a year, preaching 'almost daily, sometimes twice a day,' and administering the sacraments almost as frequently. In Kent County he records more than seventy-five baptisms on a single day - such had been the long privation of this ordinance among the Methodist families! In 1786 he spent seven or eight months in Philadelphia and its neighborhood, and the next year penetrated to the west of Pennsylvania to Alleghany, Bath, and Berkeley Circuits, where he spent nearly fourteen months supplying the settlements with the sacraments, and proclaiming the Word in barns and woods."
Mr. Cooper made these notes in his journal in regard to the Quarterly Meeting for which he arrived on Saturday, Feb. 10, 1787. "Sunday, 11[th]. Meeting began about eleven o'clock. The Rev. Mr. Whatcoat preached, and administered the sacrament, after which Mr. Benjamin Abbott preached. Of all times, under preaching or prayer, I was now most plagued with laughter to hear the old man so queer in many expressions concerning the sinners. He may properly be called a son of thunder. We, the preachers, lodged at Mr. Dilks's. Monday, 12[th]. Love-feast began at nine o'clock. The Lord was with us indeed in a very powerful manner. I have not seen such a day for a long time. At eleven o'clock public service began, at which time a corpse was brought into the preaching-house, the sight of which called aloud, "Be ye also ready." After Mr. Sparks and Mr. Whatcoat were done speaking the corpse was interred. Then two young people were joined in wedlock. I think the most solemn wedding I ever saw. Some are dying, others marrying, but soon we shall all be laid in the silent grave. A little after, I preached; then brother Brush concluded the meeting. I have not a doubt but that many dear souls were much profited by the services."
Source: Beams of Light on Early Methodism In America; Chiefly drawn from the diary, letters, manuscripts, documents and orig. tracts of the Rev. Ezekiel Cooper; Compiled by Geo. A. Phoebus, D.D.; 1887.
Rev. Whatcoat was written a letter by Francis Asbury on March 25, 1787 in Charleston, South Carolina. It states:
My dear Brother:
Hereby I inform you that Mr. Wesley has appointed you a joint Superintendent with me. I can, therefore, claim no superiority over you; the way will be for you to come after me through the whole continent if called, but through the States without all doubt. The best method will be to go out to the Ohio, upon a plan I have laid out for myself, and return to the Springs; there I will meet you and form a plan for our future work. The mode of appointment is not approved of, though many of us by no means object to the person. I am, with respect,
Yours as ever,
Francis Asbury
Source: The Journal and Letters of Francis Asbury, Vol.II, Chap.3, Elmer T. Clark, Editor-in-Chief, Pub. jointly by Epworth Press, London and Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1958.
"Again he was sent, in 1788-89, to Maryland and Delaware, the head-quarters of his charge, which was a district with no less than sixteen large circuits, extending from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and Redstone, from the Maryland peninsula to Ohio. His manners were devoutly grave, but relieved by affectionate cordiality, and he was both revered and loved by the people. His preaching was often attended with overwhelming unction, and in the administration of the sacraments he was peculiarly impressive, rendering those solemnities, frequently, occasions of great effect. In 1789 he traveled with Asbury to the north as far as New York, and westward across the Alleghanies to Fort Pitt, (Pittsburgh) and thence to Uniontown, Pa., where he assisted the bishop at the first ordination beyond the mountains. Returning to Baltimore, they held on their route to Charleston, S.C. where they met the South Carolina Conference, and thence into Georgia, where also they held a session. They then hastened westward to the Alleghanies, and passed into Tennessee and Kentucky. ... On again reaching Uniontown, Pa., he records that 'in the last fifteen months we have traveled six thousand miles.' "
Source: History of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
We sometimes forget that the area surrounding our churches and homes was at one time wilderness. One’s life would be in mortal danger simply by traveling down a primitive road in what was then frontier territory. The source states on their webpage, "The Holston district had formed the Clinch Circuit, which at this time included Scott, Russell and part of Lee County in Virginia, and part of Tennessee lying north of the Holston River. Bishop Asbury, in his Journal, makes the following entries concerning his visit to Fort Blackmore:
"Wednesday, April 28, we have had cold weather and severe frost for two nights past we had a dreary ride down to the ford of Clinch through a solitary plain; many attended at L-S. We rode down to Blackmore's Station, here the people have been forted on the north side of the Clinch. Poor Blackmore had a son and daughter killed by the Indians. They are of opinion here that the Cherokees were the authors of this mischief. I also received an account of two families having been killed and of one female that was taken prisoner, and afterward retaken by the neighbors and brought back.
"Thursday, April 29, called at James Osborne. Here I preached to an attentive congregation, and Richard Whatcoat performed a wedding ceremony for John Alley and Mary Porter after which they rode to Joseph Blackmore. Lord pity the people in these backwoods though living in jeopardy every day yet the greatest part of them seem to have no more religion than savage tribes.
"Friday, April 30, Crossed the Clinch River about two miles below the fort. In passing along I saw the precipice from which Blackmore's unhappy son leaped into the river after receiving the stroke of the tomahawk in his head; I suppose by the measure of my eye it must be between fifty and sixty feet high; his companion was shot dead upon the spot; this happened on the 6th of April 1789."
Source: Website of the Historical Society of Southwest Virginia located at http://www.ls.net/~newriver/swva/hssv-16.htm
This not only tells us of the dangers involved with Whatcoat’s duties as an itinerant preacher, but the distances he had to travel on horseback to minister to the body of Christ in the very early Methodist Church. He certainly loved Jesus Christ more than life itself.
"In 1790 he was flying to and fro through the middle states, supplying the sacraments and preaching continually. In 1791 he was stationed in New York city, where he stayed some months, and was then transferred to Baltimore, where he welcomed the first regular Gen'l. Conference in 1792."
Source: History of the Methodist Episcopal Church
A spectator of the Gen’l. Conference of 1800, held in Baltimore, Md., states, "It was one of the most remarkable in the history of our Church. The revival at that time was the greatest that has ever occurred at the session of any Gen'l. Conference. The greatest displays of divine power, and the most conversions, were in private houses, in prayer-meetings. And yet the preaching was highly honored of God, for the ministers were endued with power from on high. The strong men of Methodism were there, and such a noble class of men I had never beheld. ... They elected Richard Whatcoat bishop, he having a majority of four votes over Jesse Lee. Sunday the 18th [of May], was a great day. The ordination sermon was preached by Rev. Thomas Coke, LL.D., in Light Street Church. Crowds at an early hour thronged the temple. The doctor preached from Rev. 2:8 ... After the sermon, which was adapted to the occasion, Richard Whatcoat was ordained a bishop in the Church of God by the imposition of the hands of Dr. Coke and Bishop Asbury, assisted by several elders. Never were holy hands laid upon a holier head."
Source: History of the Methodist Episcopal Church
"On the 6th of May, 1800, the General Conference began its session in Baltimore, Md. There were one hundred and fifteen preachers who were members thereof. The session lasted until May 20. ... During this year a serious and ugly dispute arose in the society of Methodists in Philadelphia, which also much affected Mr. Cooper, and opened up a course of opposition that finally led to the removal of the Book concern from that city. Added to the bottom of a letter from Bishop Asbury* to Rev. Cooper dated January 7, 1801, Camden, was a note from Bishop Richard Whatcoat. It stated, " MY VERY DEAR BROTHER:
We spoke to the Conference about the ten dollars you reminded us of, but, do not come at it. You must set it down to the Sinking Fund. The books were spoiled and scattered. We are concerned for the peace of the Church; much prayer, patience, and forbearance, with great moderation, appear to be needed at this time. What need have we to "stand like an iron pillar strong." May the good Lord bless you, and all the Lord's people.
Thine in love, R. WHATCOAT.
Source: Beams of Light on Early Methodism In America; Chiefly drawn from the diary, letters, manuscripts, documents and orig. tracts of the Rev. Ezekiel Cooper; Compiled by Geo. A. Phoebus, D.D.; 1887.
In speaking of the General Conference of 1800 in Baltimore, Rev. Whatcoat wrote, “We had a most blessed time, and much preaching, fervent prayers and strong exhortations through the city, while the high praises of our gracious God reverberated from street to street and from house to house, which greatly alarmed the citizens. It was thought that not less than two hundred were converted during the sitting of our Conference.”
Source: History of the Old Baltimore Conference – From the Planting of Methodism in 1773 to the Division of the Conference in 1857, pg.37; James Edward Armstrong, Secretary of the Baltimore Conference, M.E. Church South; Printed for author by Kings Bros.,Printers, Balto., Md.; 1907
In the period of the quoted Haskins’ letter (below), the author states that Asbury and Whatcoat had been travelling together, and Asbury was now suffering from a bad foot, so that he was unable to go on. Reference is made in Asbury’s journal that Whatcoat went to the New York Conference and conducted it.
Thomas Haskins penned a letter to Richard Whatcoat in Philadelphia, Pa. on July 11, 1801. In it he states,
"Revd. and dear Father:
I this moment received your favor of this morning and in obedience to your wishes I send all your manuscript journals whichever came to my hands and I hope you will in due season decide on their publication and that they may appear to the eye under every advantage and become the medium of reproof, correction and instruction to future generations. You will please excuse my giving you a formal answer to yours of yesterday which has been duly received and maturely considered. I can and will hear almost everything you think proper to think of and tell me [author's note:It seems Whatcoat had attempted to plead with Haskins to settle the trouble in St. George's Church.] and have judged it most expedient. J to say nothing in answer, lest in saying what I might I should inflict a wound and give pain to one whom I love and revere equal to any man on earth. But if I am bereft of my father, [author's note: Haskins refers to Bishop Whatcoat as father and signs himself son.] I am bereft. Yet will I earnestly claim his prayers hoping that God may bless and continue us in Christ Jesus.
In haste.
Your affectionate son and ____
Thomas Haskins
Source: The Journal and Letters of Francis Asbury, Vol.II, Chap.7, Elmer T. Clark, Editor-in-Chief, Pub. jointly by Epworth Press, London and Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1958.
Thomas Coke had returned to England following Richard Whatcoat’s election as bishop in May of 1800.
In a letter from Francis Asbury to Thomas Cofee, August 20th he states in part, "Every circuit upon the Eastern and Western shores Maryland appears to have a revival. Since I wrote from Philadelphia, I have heard of a stir in New Jersey. Brother Whatcoat is upon a thousand miles tour, in round New York, Jersey, and Pennsylvania, I mean along the extremities of the country. In a little time I hope to meet him, and take the western journey, from Frederick-Town, in Maryland; thence to recross the Allegany to the south. ... Brother Whatcoat will perhaps go down the old path you have frequently gone with me, thro' old Virginia North and South Carolina, and Georgia. We shall not be able to meet all the conferences, if we keep together, tho' our bones were brass and our flesh iron."
Relating the travels of Whatcoat and himself, Asbury states in a letter to Thomas Coke on July 28, 1803 that, "This will probably be the last letter I shall write you till the General Conference. Brother Whatcoat and myself, since April, have had a tour of 1800 miles from Baltimore thro' Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Northhamptonshire, and Vermont." In a P.S. he adds, "Brother Whatcoat is under a serious affliction thro' the gravel, shall leave him to rest in Maryland, till the General Conference."
In another of Francis Asbury's letters dated June 27, 1803 in Cambridge, New York, he tells Stith Mead of church business and mentions the health of Richard Whatcoat. In regard to the latter he says, "Brother Whatcoat has had something serious in a discharge of blood at the urinary passage, that may either change his habits or his citizenship, from this to a better world. I believe we shall keep together this year if possible, we are now in haste for the new state [Ohio] and Kentucky, going down west of the Ohio."
Source: The Journal and Letters of Francis Asbury, Vol.II, Chap.8, Elmer T. Clark, Editor-in-Chief, Pub. jointly by Epworth Press, London and Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1958.
In A Compendious History of American Methodism by Abel Stevens. L . L . D., he states, "In casting a glance back over these sixteen years, so replete with great characters and achievements, we are reminded of events which might strike us as catastrophes were it not that they were in the order of Divine Providence, and therefore in "due season," and illustrations of the Methodistic maxim that "God calls home his workmen, but carries on his work." Among a host of men, many of them prominent, who fell by death in the ministerial field, Whatcoat, Coke, Asbury, and Lee have all disappeared from the scene as we close the period.
"Whatcoat sustained his episcopal functions with continual disability from chronic disease, but was ever in motion throughout the whole extent of the Church North, South, East and West. His beautiful character preached more effectually than his sermons. Peculiarly simple, sober, but serene and cheerful, living as well as teaching his favorite doctrine of sanctification, extremely prudent in his administration, pathetically impressive in discourse, and 'made perfect through sufferings,' he is pre-eminently the saint in the primitive calendar of American Methodism.
"In November, 1806, Asbury wrote to Fleming: 'Dear Father Whatcoat, after thirteen weeks' illness-gravel, stone, dysentery combined, died a martyr to pain in all patience and resignation to the will of God. May we, like him, if we live long, live well, and die like him.' He had 'finished his sixth episcopal tour through the work after his consecration,' says his biographer, 'or near that, and, after great suffering, he got an honorable discharge from the Captain of his salvation, and by his permission came in from his post, which he had faithfully kept for fifty years.' He took refuge at the home of Senator Bassett, Dover, Del., where he died, 'in the full assurance of faith,' say the Minutes, July 5, 1806. 'He professed,' adds his brethren, ' the justifying and sanctifying grace of God, and all that knew him well might say, If a man on earth possessed these blessings, surely it was Richard Whatcoat.' Nearly a year later Asbury reached Dover, and over his tomb declared that he 'knew Richard Whatcoat, from his own age of fourteen to sixty-two years, most intimately his holy manner of life, in duty at all times, in all places and before all.' "
The relics of Richard Whatcoat, the third elected Methodist bishop, and who died in 1806, ten years before Francis Asbury, were buried under an altar at Wesley Chapel in Dover, Delaware, above which Asbury preached his funeral sermon.
Source: History of the Methodist Episcopal Church
*(pgs. 272-273) Ezekiel Cooper was continued as superintendent of the Book Concern**, and its interests were placed under the supervision of the Philadelphia Annual Conference, as before. After the adjournment of the General Conference, the Philadelphia Annual Conference was held at Smyrna, Del., beginning June 2. From thence Mr. Cooper began to visit the several Annual Conferences accessible to him, year by year, in behalf of the Book Concern. Thus having, at the close of the Philadelphia Conference, returned to Philadelphia, and spent, says he, "better than a week fixing and arranging the Connection business, during which time I got the Minutes of the General Conference printed, Wednesday, June 18, I took stage for New York Annual Conference." He remained there, several days, and then came back, July 1, to Philadelphia, and engaged in forwarding the "Connection printing and book business."
"During this year a serious and ugly dispute arose in the society of Methodists in Philadelphia, which also much affected Mr. Cooper, and opened up a course of opposition that finally led to the removal of the Book concern from that city. It is here alluded to solely for the purpose of putting the reader in possession of points that will enable him to understand the import of some letters that are introduced. The first of these is from Bishop Asbury, followed by a note from Bishop Whatcoat on the same sheet of paper.
MY DEAR COOPER:
Grace and peace be with thy spirit. I have meditated a letter to you for some months. We have had a gracious season in Conference for five days. Brother Blanton is located. Stith (Meade--P.) is to preside in the State of Georgia, James Jenkins in South Carolina. Brother Blanton showed me an answer of $1,000, by John Harper. William M'Kendree, you perhaps know by this, commands in the West. John Kobler was appointed to the Richmond District, but I fear he hath failed. I heard that P. Bruce was at his father's in North Carolina I desired him, upon his return, to see if J. Kohler was upon his station; if not, to get it himself; if Brother Kobler was in place, I desired Brother Bruce to go to Norfolk. We will do what little we can to collect for you; but we might as well climb to the moon as attempt to get some of those debts.
I thank you for the advice given of the middle ground. We have some time to consider upon it between this and the Yearly Conference, when it will probably be brought before the Yearly Conference; at least, we may suppose, the Presiding Elder and Elder will implead each other at the Conference.
I had no doubt but you would feel like wishing to be out of the business of book-making; but, my dear, it is not so easily done. You will have many a shot. I say in all company, when I speak, that you are deeply concerned for the interest of the Connection, and go very near the wind in all your movements for our good. You are easy of access, I have found; readily pacified by a word or a line; you are not a man of intrigue, but open, and therefore I love you. The very thought that I gave you a nomination to your appointment is enough; those that dislike me will disapprove of you. I advise you, as a friend, to retire into your own business as much as possible. I only wish that those who think hardly of you or me could, if it were right, be punished with our places they so much envy; but many would. God forbid! and we also will oppose it.
I think our Scripture Catechism is one of the best in the world, but it could be mended by you, and laid before the next Conference in the amendment. I gave the outlines to John Dickins. I think now if you propound in your own language questions such as these, What is the duty of parents? What is the duty of husbands, wives, children, ministers, rulers, subjects, masters, servants? What is the duty of Christians one to another? and so on, and answer them wholly in Scripture, it would, in my view, be most excellent. We could enforce catechising if we had a complete guide.
Thine,
F. ASBURY.
CAMDEN, January 7, 1801.
Source: Beams of Light on Early Methodism In America; Chiefly drawn from the diary, letters, manuscripts, documents and orig. tracts of the Rev. Ezekiel Cooper; Compiled by Geo. A. Phoebus, D.D.; 1887.
**August 17, 1789 - St. George's and the Reverend John Dickens open the Methodist Book Concern, from this has grown the United Methodist Publishing House and Cokesbury Book Stores.
One of Richard Whatcoat's congregants wrote, "It was a great privilege to be blessed with such a minister as Richard Whatcoat, who was, like Barnabas, 'a good man, full of faith and the Holy Ghost.' His conversation was in heaven. He breathed the atmosphere of the better world, and talked the language of Canaan. 'His soul disdain'd on earth to dwell, He only sojourn'd here.' ...
"His brethren say, 'He died not possessed of property sufficient to have paid the expenses of his sickness and funeral, if a charge had been made; so dead was he to this world.' Source: Lost Chapters Recovered from the Early History of American Methodism, pgs. 382-383, by Joseph Beaumont Wakeley, Pub 1858 for the author by Carlton & Porter
[BJ's note: This Bio-Bit is a work in progress and will be added to as time allows]