In South Carolina . 213 



began Tuesday, December 14, 1792, in Charleston. 

 Bishop Asbury reached the city on the 11th, by very 

 nearly the same route, through Marlborough, Marion, 

 and Georgetown, traveled in 1791. He says: 



Tuesday, 14. I preached at night on Luke xxiv. 17, "And he 

 said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye 

 have one with another as ye walk and are sad?" and endeavored to 

 show the low estate of the interest of Christ at that time. In our 

 Conference we were unusually close in examination of characters, 

 4pctrine j_ and experien ce. We had great peace and some power 

 amongst ns, and received the good news of eighty souls converted in 

 Philadelphia, and of a revival in Connecticut. I preached a ser- 

 mon to the preachers on 2 Timothy ii. 3 : " Endure hardness as a 

 good soldier of Jesus Christ." 



Saturday, 18. I received an abusive anonymous letter (I believe 

 from Mr. S.) on several subjects. My spirits were low ; I came from 

 my knees to receive the letter, and having read it I returned whence 

 I came. I judged it prudent and expedient, and I think I was 

 urged thereto by conscience, to tell the people some things relating 

 to myself. I related to them the manner of my coming to America ; 

 how I continued during the war; the arrival of Dr. Coke, and the 

 forming of the American Methodists into a Church; and, finally, 

 why I did not commit the charge of the society in Charleston to Mr. 

 Hammett, Avho was unknown, a foreigner, and did not acknowledge 

 the authority of, nor join in connection with, the American Con- 

 ference. 



Sunday, 19. I preached on Exodus xxxii. 26: "Who is on the 

 Lord's side?" Mr. Math ews sent in his resignation. For certain 

 reasons we were led to pass over his character, but we were wrong ; 

 it might have been better to subject it to scrutiny, although some 

 grieved at his going from us. 



He "came out of the fire" Monday, 20th, and went 

 to Georgia by way of Parker's Ferry, Lambright's, 

 Maixer's, and Hudson's Ferry on the Savannah. From 

 Washington, the seat of the Georgia Conference held 

 March 1st, he returned, accompanied by Hope Hull 

 and Hardy Herbert, and went by way of White Hal] 

 in Abbeville, Finch's in Newberry, Odeli's in Laurens, 



