Francis Asbury

By George W. Griffith

Foreword

 

     Soon after Mr. Griffith's home-going, February 13, 1936, I felt a divine urge to collect and publish his writings.

      "Living Embers", a memorial volume, appeared in 1937. At the suggestion of friends this included a brief biography.

      "Altar Coals", a practical daily reading book, a companion volume to "Living Embers", is ready for the press, but the publication of it has been postponed for a time.

      "Francis Asbury" first appeared in 1916 as a serial in the Free Methodist, while Mr. Griffith was pastor of the College Church at Greenville, Illinois.

      The reader of these pages who knew Mr. Griffith intimately or who has carefully read "Living Embers" will be struck with his similarity to Bishop Asbury in many respects. He will note the same deep humility in the two men, the same genius for masterly planning, the same whole-hearted devotion, the same clear vision and balanced judgment, the same indomitable courage, unbending integrity, and unquenchable zeal, the same untiring application and the same high standards of spirituality.

      "As a wise masterbuilder" Francis Asbury laid the foundation well. In Mr. Griffith's words, "May a double portion of Bishop Asbury's spirit fall upon the entire body of the collective Methodism of today!"

      This booklet is being sent forth with a prayer that it may have the same challenge to its readers as the life of Bishop Asbury had to my husband and as his interpretation of it has had to me.

-Lillian B. Griffith.