Wesley Corpus

1784 To Alexander Barry () [1] EPWORTH July 3, 1784. MY DEAR BROTHER, - We purpose to consider fully at the Conference the state of our brethren in America, and to send them all the help we can both in Nova Scotia and in other parts. But whoever goes over must voluntarily offer himself for that great work. I not only do not require but do not so much as advise any one to go. His service will do no good there unless it be a free-will offering. I am glad our preachers at Portsmouth do not coop themselves up in the preaching-houses. The work of God can never make any considerable progress but by field-preaching. We do not now make any yearly collection for the payment of debts. All our public debts would have been paid long before now had the Methodists been merciful after their power. - I am Your affectionate brother. To James Barry [2] EPWORTH, July 3, 1784. MY DEAR BROTHER, - I. know your brother well, and was at his house the last time I was at Portsmouth, as probably I shall be again in autumn before I return to London. The work of God among the blacks in your neighborhood is a wonderful instance of the power of God; and the little town they have built is, I suppose, the only town of negroes which has been built in America - nay, perhaps in any part of the world, except only in Africa. I doubt not but some of them can read. When, therefore, we send a preacher or two to Nova Scotia, we will send some books to be distributed among them; and they never need want books while I live. It will be well to give them all the assistance you can in every possible way. We purpose to consider fully at the Conference what we can do to help our brethren abroad; not only those that are settled in the southern provinces of America, but those that are in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Indeed, it is an invariable rule with me not to require any one to go over to America-nay, I scruple even to advise them to it. I shall only propose it at the Conference; and then, of those that freely offer themselves, we shall select such as we believe will most adorn the gospel.