ASBURY, PitaNcis, b. England. 1745. d. Va., 181G; the first bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church ordained in the United States. Ile obtained rudimentary education in a village school; at the age of 38 was converted; at 14 was apprenticed to a trade; at 16 became a local preacher; at 22 was received by Wesley into the itinerant ministry; and at 26 landed in Philadelphia as a missionary to America. It was but three years after the building of the first Methodist church iu the country, and there were only about 600 persons of the faith, chiefly in Philadelphia and New Iork. When the revolution began, A. sympathized with the people, and while 'Mr. Rankin, who was his ecclesiastical superior, returned to England, A. remained, though, like many other non jurors, he was subjected to suspicion, and at one time to imprisonment. After about two years of surveillance the authorities concluded that the scruples of A. and other preachers were not political, but religious, and he was permitted to go free. He improved his opportunity, and when the war closed there were 83 Methodist ministers at work, and the membership reached 14,000. In 1784, the several societies were organized into an Episcopal church, and A. was chosen bishop. Thenceforward his life was devoted
to preaching and the superintendence and extension of churches. His labors were incessant, and his biography is itself a good history of the growth of Methodism in America. He never married, lest a wife should distract attention from his great work. He was always poor, and always generous. In 1785, he laid the foundation for the first Methodist college, and afterwards formed an educational plan for the whole country by making districts with at least one classical academy in each. He was rather stout, of medium height, 'with a fresh countenance and a penetrating eye. Wesley alone was his superior as a practical worker and organizer, and the two were alike in zeal and spirit. During his ministry it is estimated that A. traveled more than 270,000 m., visiting every part of the preached more than 16,000 sermons, ordained over 4000 ministers, and presided at 224 conferences. It is to the labors of this indefatigable apostle, more than to any other human Cause, that Methodism in America owes its excellent organiza tion and wonderful growth. His only written works were his journals in 3 vols., which are personally and historically of great value.