Reverend John Lusby Pitts papers

The Reverend John Lusby Pitts papers are contained within two boxes. Box one contains 9 folders, arranged chronologically beginning in 1787 and ending in 1826. The final folder in box one contains undated correspondence. The earliest letter in the collection, dated February 16, 1787, is from John Wesley (1703-1791) to a Mr. Andrews, and is the only item of correspondence that is not addressed to Reverend Pitts or a member of his family. Wesley, who was the leader of the Methodist movement in England, encourages Andrews to "fix upon some place where there is little Society [Methodists] already." This letter has been transcribed and is filed with the original.

Between 1798-1821, all letters are addressed to Pitts, sent from a variety of Methodist ministers. Their names include: Curtis Williams, Joseph Cravens, Samuel Green, Enoch George, James Ward, Nathaniel Greaves, Noah Fidler, Edmund Wayman, Joseph Shane, Joseph Rowen, Adam Cooke, James Paynte, John Nelson, Caleb Merryman, Isaac Robbins, Seely Burn, Abner Neal, Joseph Frye, James Robinson, Samuel Harden, Alexander Caine, Louis Gassaway, John West, and Thomas Coke.

The subjects of the letters are very much centered on early Methodist theology, particularly the desire to convert sinners. On January 28, 1799, Rev. Samuel Green writes to Pitts, "I joinied about 50 whites and more than 30 blacks into Society." Furthermore, as the Methodist Episcopal Church condemned slavery, they attracted an African American following. Another common theme in the correspondence is the commaraderie and sense of purpose the ministers share with one another. Reverend Joseph Toy writes on January 14, 1803, "Oh, Pitts! It is a great work in which we are engaged, a great charge is committed unto us, and who is sufficient for these things, we need wisdom, prudence, patience, and fortitude to qualify for the important work."

Some ministers include descriptions of the revivals, where violent emotion was usually present. John West writes in an undated letter that "the stir was so great that it was thought best to omit at some of the appointed hour, on account of the close engagements of the people: as there was usually singing, praying, crying, and shouting from one preaching hour to another."

From the correspondence addressed to Pitts, it is clear that he was usually in poor health or recovering from illness. Little else can be gleaned about Reverend Pitts himself, aside from brief mentions of his wife and children. The final two letters in the collection are addressed to Mrs. Pitts after the death of her husband. The first letter, sent by Samuel Harden seven days after Reverend Pitts' death, encourages Mrs. Pitts to rejoice in his release from suffering, whilst acknowledging that "such is nature's course that the feelings must [give] vent..." The final letter, dated five years later in January 1826 from James Reid, encourage Mrs. Pitts to use her husband's connections among the ministry for Reid's work in Hagerstown.

Box 2 contains an empty photograph album that originally contained the letters. The first page of the album reads, "Autograph letters of the First Ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church." Although there are names written on pages, indicating the authors of the letters, those names did not correspond with the letters themselves. It is possible that the letters were at one point rearranged. The album has been retained in this collection to retain provenance.