Author
Wheelock, Eleazar
Date3 November, 1759
ms 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.
Lebanon
November
3rd 1759.
Rev.
and dear sir//
Yours of
March 7th was very welcome to me
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
I have been put to Difficulty to get a good writing master
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.
It is a bad time to ask for the Charities of People in this 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
Not be more difficult than now it is for a few. There
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 —
We are not careful under what name, or in what particular
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.
Mr. Occom the
Long Island
Indian is ordained (I hear)
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.
Religion in general with us, is at a low Ebb. I hear
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,
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