Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Mr. Whitefield, 1759 November 3
Date3 November, 1759
Call Number759603
abstractWheelock writes of the progress at his school, and of the conditions under which he looks for more Indian pupils as well as public charity. He also mentions the ordination of Occom.
handwritingHandwriting is heavily slanted and crowded, with several deletions and additions. Some uncrossed t's have been corrected by the transcriber.
paperGood condition, with light-to-moderate creasing, staining and wear.
inkDark, blotchy, shows through from opposite sides; several splatters occasionally appear as the dots over i's.
signatureabbreviated
EventsOccom’s Ordination
Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
We are Still pursuing the Affair of our Charity school in
Favour of the poor perishing Pagans, And with More Courage
than ever. God has indeed wrought like himself for his
sinful people this last Year — By a surprising series of
successes granted to the British arms and every step calculated
and evidently circumstanced to secure all the Glory to his own
great [illegible: [guess: Name]], he has opened and is opening Such a Door for the
grand design in view as almost persuades my Infidel Heart
to believe that the Time for calling the poor Creatures into his
Trinity and Kingdom is just at Hand and if his Majesty arms
Shall Still, according to the present fairest humane Probability, be
successful to the full accomplishing the design of dispossessing
the French in this Land, we persuade ourselves the prospect will
be Such as will invite all far and near who love our Lord Jesus
Christ in Sincerity to put to a helping Hand. —
My dear little Jacob I have Sent to the College in New Jersey
I understand he is kindly treated, and particularly that President
Davies is much pleased with him — I have now four Indian
Boys with me, Three of which will likely, if their Health will
allow them a close application to their Books, be well fitted
for College by next commencement and I am Daily Expecting
two Boys from the Mohawks by the Mediation
of dear Messrs. Pomeroy and Brainerd Chaplains in the Army a[gap: worn_edge][guess: t]
Crown Point, who have engaged to procure them if possibly they can
get opportunity to consult Gen. Johnson and can find leisure to attend
upon it I apprehend while the English Arms prevail there will
be no manner of difficulty to obtain as many as we please for the
Purpose I am certified by good Authority that great num-
-bers of them are desirous to have their Children taught
if we had means for their Support we might have of their
Children by Scores, and well chosen for the purpose
The Boys I now have are not equal in their writing to some
other parts of learning however, I Send You a Specimen such
as it is and hope now I have got my dear Mr. Trumble
to teach the School I Shall be able by and by to let You See that
they make Proficiency in it.
Country, our People you know are but few of them Rich —
our public Taxes by reason of the war are very high, and
many put to Difficulty to subsist comfortably under their burdens
And great Numbers have yet fresh in their minds the Ravages, murders
and Cruelties perpetrated by the Indians, many of these want a Better
Temper than to breath out nothing but Slaughter and destruction for
them. A good Example of Liberality from Home. May and
likely would animate many Godly People among us to imitate
them. And I cant but hope that if our means were such as that we could
begin to Support a large Number, the Continuation of supply for them would not
would then be that which would justify Importunity in Begging
as well as more Strongly invite to Liberality.
I hope my dear little Jacob, if God Shall mercifully con-
-tinue him, will by and by charm the Nation into softness
Love and Benevolence —
shape this design be prosecuted So be it, it be pursued to Effect
at present and till our public Affairs are more Settled we determine
to pursue it, and make the best of it we can as a Charity School
and it may be Experience will show us that there will be no
need of any other Foundation.
by that presbytery, and is invited to accept a mission am-
-ong the Cherokees whether he accepts or not I haven't heard
I conclude the grand objection is his want of Health.
but little of Conviction or conversion-work going on any
where. President Clap is quite zealous for the truth.
And College affairs wear a much better Face than they did
Several have been under deep Convictions and I hope some
savingly Converted there, and Numbers in that town the last year
dear Sir, I dont tell you in this how glad I should be to spend
one Day with You. A thousand thing I would say if you could
have Patience with my slow way of Communicating, which
would tire me to write or you to Read. but in particular
we would talk over the many and Great Arguments and motives
which the present openings of Divine Providence in favor of the Indian Affair
present us to awaken our Zeal, and to wage upon others to
Excite them to exert themselves in an affair which the Heart
of the great Redeemer is infinitely set upon. can we be con-
-tent to let such an opportunity slip when we know not how
soon nor how fatally if door may be shut — or can we be content
to lose any time when so many
and so great interests are so nearly concerned in it
I depend you will use as Providence directs your Influence in favour of the
design and that You will let
me hear from You often and Dear sir
remember in Your nearest Approaches to God,
Eleazar Wheelock