220 History of Methodism 



In due time lie was thrust into the ministry, for through 

 diffidence he with reluctance obeyed the heavenly call. 

 He traveled first with the Rev. Philip Cox, who was at 

 that time "book-steward," and who was a father to 

 young George at this critical point in his ministerial 

 career. In introducing him to Bishop Asbury, whom 

 they soon met, Mr. Cox said: "I have brought you a 

 boy, and if you have any thing for him to do, you may 

 set him to work." Mr. George says: " Bishop Asbury 

 looked at me for some time ; at length, calling me to 

 him, he laid my head upon his knee, and, stroking my 

 face with his hand, said, ' Why, he is a beardless boy, 

 and can do nothing.' I then thought my traveling was 

 at an end." The next day the Bishop accepted his 

 services, and sent him to assist Daniel Asbury in 

 forming a circuit on the head- waters of the Catawba 

 and Broad rivers, in the South Carolina Conference. 

 In due time he reached his field of labor and began 

 his work. The circuit embraced a vast extent of ter- 

 ritory, and some of the highest and roughest mount- 

 ains in the United States, to cross which, even at the 

 most favorable season, required no ordinary resolu- 

 tion and perseverance. When he saw the difficulties 

 he had to encounter, his courage began to fail, and he 

 had even formed the purpose of relinquishing his 

 work and returning to his friends in Virginia. In 

 this, however, he was frustrated by his colleague ; and, 

 as a last resort, he wrote to Bishop Asbury, stating to 

 him the difficulties and necessities of his situation, 

 and begging that he would transfer him to some other 

 field to which he was better adapted. The good Bishop 

 replied that it was good for him and all others to bear 

 the yoke in their youth; that itinerant labors must be 

 hard if properly performed; that it was better for him 



