On Thursday we reached Martin’s meeting-house, called so from Major Martin, with whom we stayed; sometimes it was called “Ebenezer.” Bishop Asbury preached from Psalm lxxxv, 1-9. The reader will recollect what I have said about the bishop liking a long text. There had been considerable excitement among the local preachers in this part of the country on the subject of ordination. The bishops had a number of them convened here by previous appointment, and they held what Bishop Asbury called a “Conciliatory Conference.” The next day, at the same place, Bishop M’Kendree preached a characteristic sermon from “He that endureth to the end;” then I held forth, then Daniel Hitt, then Bishop Asbury. He says, “I embraced various subjects in my exhortation.” It was a very able address on the qualifications and duties of ministers. We rode a number of miles the next morning before breakfast, and there Bishop M’Kendree left us for Cumberland, accompanied by Thomas Lasley, who was his traveling companion.[26] We forded the Kentucky and came to John Bennett’s, a very fine man and family, having a meeting-house called after him. On Sabbath the bishop preached at Bennett’s meeting-house on John iii, 19, 20. We left Kentucky and entered Tennessee, crossing rivers and climbing mountains. Can we wonder the bishop wrote: “My mind and body have had no small exercise in bringing my stiff-jointed horse over the rocks and rough and deep roads.” Crossing the French Broad, we reached Barnett’s Tavern. The old landlord was very sick and like to die. The bishop, who was a physician when necessary, always carrying medicine with him, gave Mr. Barnett a dose that almost instantly relieved him, and he fell asleep. He was so thankful he would receive nothing for our entertainment. The bishop writes: “Eight times within nine years have I crossed these Alps.” Well might he call those high mountains the Alps. Never can I forget the toils over those mountains, rocks, hills, stumps, trees, streams, awful roads, and dangerous passes. We crossed to Buncombe, North Carolina, preaching every day. In South Carolina we attended a number of quarterly meetings with that excellent man of God, long since gone to his rest, Lewis Myers. There were glorious revivals through the South this year, and the bishop’s soul greatly rejoiced. He wrote: “Great news, great times in Georgia; rich and poor coming to Christ.” Again: “The Methodists have great success on Camden District; surely there must be some good done; all are on fire, and I feel the flame! God is with preachers and people.”