Connecticut Board of Correspondents of the Society in Scotland for
Propagating Christian Knowledge, letter, to the Honorable Society in Scotland
for
Propagating Christian Knowledge, 1763
ms-number763900.9
abstractAn apparent draft of manuscript 764410.2, which informs the Society in
Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge that, per its commission, a Connecticut
board
of correspondents has been formed, and officers have been elected. The Connecticut
board
proposes that the best prospect for furthering the Society's design lies with
Wheelock’s
Indian charity school, and that the board's intention is to employ Occom and
Ashpo.
handwritingLoose and informal handwriting appears to be that of
Solomon Williams. It is frequently difficult to discern letter case. There
are
several deletions and additions.
paperLarge sheet is in fair condition, with moderate creasing,
yellowing and wear.
inkDark brown-black ink bleeds through to opposite sides of the
paper.
noteworthyText of letter is identical to that of manuscript 764410.2,
and this document appears to be a draft of that letter. In the Rauner Special
Collections catalogue, this letter is erroneously attributed to Benjamin
Pomeroy.
signatureNo signature.
Modernized Version
Deletions removed; additions added in;
modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
To The Honourable Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge
Honoured Sirs
We take the earliest
opportunity by direction of your board of correspondents in the Colony of Connecticut to Inform you that upon receipt of your commission the Gentlemen named
therein met in Lebanon
July 9
and
formed
themselves by choosing the Proper Officers named,
to Enable them to act in Capacity of your correspondents
and
give you an account of their doings and
present
prospects and in the first Place to Return their warm and
sincerest Thanks for the honour you have done them in com missioning them to be Correspondents of your honourable
so ciety. We join our earnest Prayers with you and
shall by Gods Grace unite our fervent Labours to Promote the Excellent purpose your Pious hearts are set upon the advancement of the kingdom of our blessed Redeemer
and
spreading the savour of his knowledge among them who sit in darkness
and the Regions of Shadow of Death, the most glorious object of your and our atten tion. as the doing this will Serve also the interest of
our King So there is one circumstance Peculiarly ob ligatory on us, that the success of it will be Greatly beneficial to the Peace and
happiness of our own Country we humbly take Leave to Inform your honourable board
that
the
best
prospect which at present lies in our vi[illegible][guess: ew] is In the School which has been for
some time under the Care of the Rev.
Mr. Wheelock. and our present
prospects
and
purposes you will See as follows. though we have no assurance of Peace with the Indians but Entertain strong hopes that the
present troubles will be brought to a Speedy issue
and are
persuaded that when that Event happens it Concerns us to be as speedy as possible in exerting our utmost Endeavors to Send the Gospel
as far as may be into the bowels of the Pagan Country if possible before it is thronged with
unrighteous Dealers whose unbridled avarice threatens the
greatest
mischief to the cause. we have voted to take the Rev.
Mr. Occom into our Service if he may be freed from a
pre-engagement to the London Commissioners which we Ex pect may be without difficulty. we have also
referred to our Committee the sending
Samuel
Ashpo a judicious and Pious Indian when Providence shall open a door. we have also the pleasure to Inform you that there are
Eight or ten Indian youth
in this School of Good Moral Character well accomplished for School masters Except their want of age
and fortitutude, we purpose to Send forth two or three of
these next Spring to Remote Tribes, in the Capacity of schoolmasters
and Expect by the blessing of God that in the course of a year they will be
so far
acquainted with
the
customs, and Languages of those na tions that it may be probably Expedient to ordain and purpose them as ministers among them. we Expect
Mr. Charles Jeffery Smith will Return as soon as it will be Safe for him on a mission to the Six Nations. —
and The Union of all those in the Same plan we ap rehend will afford a more
agreeable
prospect than has ever yet appeared of this kind. but these Things we have determined upon without a Shilling in Stock, Relying
only on him whose the Earth is and the
fullness
thereof to Support the Same, who has hither to appeared to own the Design and
increase it from Small beginnings nor has suffered
those who have trusted in him to be ashamed of their Confidence. — and
considering the Great
evidence of the Piety, and
generosity of your honourable Society
we doubt not that when the Impor tance of this
affair shall be maturely considered by you you will agreeably to the Other expression of your Pious Zeal do all that your wisdom
and Power Ena bles you to do to Render as Capable to Execute these Great and Good Designs. as the Expected openings will
probably Induce missionaries, and
schoolmasters to visit
Remoter Tribes than any of our missionaries have hitherto reached
and
these
missionaries mostly Indians we conceive will give them more convincing
proof of the sincerity of our Intentions, and Incline them to Send their
promising youth when Invited to Receive an Education with us, so we hope the Honourable Society will think this school which subsists on no other Fund but the Care
and bounty of divine Providence to be an object worthy of their Kind notice and
Encourgment —