A Short History Of The Methodists... - Media Sabda Org

connection; a few years afterwards he began to travel again, and at last died in the work; and he had
a good character given him in the annual minutes.
We had so many preachers located this year, that we could not well supply the circuits, or enlarge
our borders in new places, as we wished to have done.
On the 19th day of October the new meeting-house in Light-street, in the city of Baltimore, was
dedicated. It was built on a lot adjoining to that on which the former house was burnt ten months
before.
About this time the yellow fever prevailed much in many large towns, so that we could not
conveniently hold our conferences in them in the fall season of the year. Our conference that was
appointed in Philadelphia this year, could not therefore be held with safety. Notice being given in
time, it was held in Duck Creek. It was then judged best by the bishop and preachers in general, to
change the time of holding the annual conferences from the fall to the spring of the year. In order to
bring about this alteration, the Virginia conference was added to the minutes for the present year;
and of course the stations of the preachers for that conference, are entered twice on the same minutes.
In the course of this summer, Mr. Asbury's strength failed through severe affliction, and many of
his friends despaired of his life. He was confined for some time to the house; and when he found
himself able to travel, he went only from the house of one friend to that of another. He thus pursued
his rout to the north a little beyond New York, where his strength failed, and he consented to stop
and go no farther; and gave up all thoughts of getting to the New England conference, which was to
begin on the 19th of September. He wrote me a mournful letter respecting the sufferings of his body,
and the anxiety of his mind on account of the preachers and the work of God in New England; and
withal, requested me to come to him after the close of the conference, and to travel with him, or go
on his appointments to the south, in case he should not be able to go himself. He said he had made
it a matter of prayer, and there was no one that would do to travel with him, or to take his
appointments, but myself.
The conference at Wilbraham made choice of me to preside in that meeting, and to station the
preachers. The business was conducted to the satisfaction of the preachers, and peace and love dwelt
among us. At the close of the conference the preachers gave me a certificate, signifying their
approbation of the proposed plan, "for me to travel with the bishop, and to fill up his appointments
when he could not be present." Having obtained a satisfactory recommendation from the conference,
I took leave of the preachers in the north, and set out to the south, and met with Mr. Asbury, and
went in company with him to the conferences in Duck Creek, Baltimore, and at Lame's Chapel in
Virginia. I did the principal part of the business of the bishop, except that of stationing the preachers.
The conferences in general approved of my traveling with the bishop, and of my assisting him in the
business of the conference, taking the minutes, &c
The conference in Virginia requested Mr. Asbury to stop traveling for a season, which he at last
consented to do. But he only intended to stop for a few weeks, and then to meet me again. After
stopping he found himself growing worse, and concluded to go no farther. He then wrote, directing
me to go on without him, and do the best I could; for he was obliged to decline going to the south.