USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Stratford > The genesis of Christ Church, Stratford, Connecticut : background and earliest annals, commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary 1707-1957 > Part 3
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The Society thus conftiruted, after adjufting Preliminaries as the Choice of Officers, fuch were the President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurers, Auditors, Secretary, &c. Appointment of Deputies in the Counties to rake Subfcriptions, fettling of By-Laws and Orders for their more regulaf proceeding in a Mat- ter of fuch Confequence ; and Admiffion of New-Members, (as they were empower'd by the Charter, to call in fuch to their Affiftance from time to time, who might appear ufeful Men ) Applied it felf diligently to the great Work in Hand, which had foon fallen to the Ground thro' the lamented, Deceafe of its Founder, had not the good Providence of God blefs'd us with an equal Succeffor to the important Affairs of Religion as well as Store. our Gracious QUEEN ANNE, who upon an Address for her Protection from the whole Body of the Corporation, was pleafed, in the moft fat, vorable manner; to exprefs Her felf thus.
I shall be always ready to do my Part towards Proz moting and Encouraging fo good a Work.
The. Society being thus Encouraged by the Affurances of Her Majesty's Royal Favour, (who had beforehand declared Her Approbation of what they are now doing, by Her Princely Munificente, when the Affiit was in private Hands only ;) The Work has gone ou ever fince, by God's Blefling, with greater Succels than could reafonably be expected .; . Correspondences are very far carried on abroad, Depurarions fettled at home, marly Sub -; Scriptions made, feveral Benefactions brought in, and divers prudential H'ays and Means taking for she Conversion of Indians, and fettling the State of Religion in Her Majesty's Foreign Dominions ; By fupplying with able. and good Minifters the Natives as well as English ; apphinting Catechtfts and Schoolmafter's for the S'aves; with other ignorant Perfons ; and fend- ing over felect Libraries for the Improvement of the Clergy, as well as . practical Treatifes for the Edification of the Laity:
And at the fame time, it has pleafed God to raise a Spirit of Zealn'in marry of the Plantations for Promoting this great and good Work, thro' the indefatigable Application of refident. Minifters and itenerant Miffiona- ries,, Mr. George Keith in particular, . who,, by the Succeffes with wffich, God has been pleafed. to, blefs his Endeavours, thro' the Courfe of his Miffion amongft the Americans; has brought great Comfort to the Church,' by adding manty to in
What has been, done as to the feveral Particulars mentioned, appears from the View armex'd, extracted from the Journals, Memorials, and Let ters of the Society , whence may be, ealiiy gather'd how the Society has endesvoured to anfwer the grey Truft repofed in them to the Satisfa- Ction of tiprejudiced PerlonF.
[2]
All the ENGLISH Dominions on the Continent of North-America from N. E. to S. W. with the Indian Nations bordering upon them.
Their Names.
PrefenStately Religion.
Affi tance received from the Society.
Demands upon theSociety for Minifters, Schools, Libraries,&c.
The Five Nation's of
Q IS.
Commonly call'd,.
The Praying Indians of Canada.
They have been converted to fome fort of Profe- fion of Chriftianiry by the French Jefuits chiefly, and the Care of the Governments of New England and New- Terk ; but carneftly defire further Inftruction from us ; which it simely granted, they would be ont De- Toutle as well as Glory : being the conftant. Barrier between New Yorkj Virginia, Maryland, and the French, and have more than once fought our Bardes ; if not, they'll probably efpoufe the French and Popifb Intereft, againft that of England and the, Reformed Religion, through the inftigation of, the Bifbons, Fefrits, Re- colletts, and ochet. Popifh Miffignaring fam Canada!
To Mr. Thoroughgood Moor 100l, per Annum, belides which he is allowed 20/. towards Furnithing his Houfe,and 15 /. for a Library.
To Mr. Lydiws, and Mr. Del- lius, rol. each for their Ser- vice among the Indians.
For the Mebocks.
: For the Oneydes. I For the Onontages. I For the Carouges.
1 For the Sinnekes, or Sinnon- rowans.
1 For the River Indians, at : Shackook a little above albany. 4
15
Mixing Larin or Mafachu- fers with its? Neighbour- ing Colonies.
Province of . Mene; Pifcastway,or N.Hampbire; Plymouth ; Naraganfas; Connecticut ; Provid.Plan- istions.
". In all the Provinces Haftward of New York, there To a Minifter in the Ine of Shoales, who was urch the is no Charth of phgland Congregation ; neither in Connecticut, Naraganfet,, Plimpaby. Now-Hampfbire, Spot, 10 /, for one Year. nor that of Mayne, except at Beffen; where there is a large one, having two Ministers, Mr. Miles and Mr. Bridge ; and at Braintree, whicher the Society is tree so.]: per Annan &-23%. in. . To Mr. Barbey at Brain- fending one, on the profpect of good Succefs. mony.
Minister for the People of N. Havafbirc: They'll 6 their "beft to maintain bim. I Min. for Swame), much wanted.
1 Minifter for Linle Compren, a- lias Seconds.
I Minifter for Tiverton. I Minifter for Navaganfer, where a Church is built; they'll fub- feribe so l. por Amors.
. 5 Englifk Counties,
New York, Weft-Chefter, Riclemond, Queen's, Suffolk, -
New York , V Albany !: Ulfler, Dutch Counties. Dusch, Orenge, L King's.
-
1
To Mr. Pritchard, Rector of RJe, 15 l. for Books.
To Mr. Cleator School-
1 Schoolmafter for W'of-Che- ffer County.
East,
Nova Cafarea, i Or. New-ferJey,
L Welt.
Here is no, Church nor School eftablifh'd by Ac of Affembly, either in the Eight English Towns, or Two Dutch : but a confiderable number of People that were Qimkers, Briare in a good Difpoffon to join in Communion with the Church of England Miniftry, particularly in the Eaft part, and County of Monmouth, where are 4 Congregations gather'd.
To Mr. John Taller Bettor of St. Ma- D's in Berlingten, lately itinerant Aff- dant to Mr. Keith in his Mithon 6o l. p .t. 71. dr. for Books, et. To Mr. John Sharpe Bol for his Ser- ricas
To Mr. John Break at Sbrosstory, Ame- boy, Elizabeth Town, and Frecheld, in E. Jersey. sol. per. Am. and Ist. in Books.
To Mr. Henry Nichols at St Paul's in Uplands So l. per An. and 20 /. in Books. To a Patent for a Minifter and Schoolmafter 32 /. 6s. 8 d. at Philadelphia.
I Minister for New-Caftle Town where there is a Church built, and a WelftCongregation motly.
1 Minitter at Appequenosay in New Caffle County, who would do great Service.
1 Minifter at the Falls, 30 miles above Philadelphia, where a Church is building.
1 Minifter at Oxford or Frank- fors.
I School dependent on the Mini- fter of Chefter or Uplands.
Maryland,
The Eleven Counties were divided into Thirty Parifbes, by an Act of Affembly 1692. befides which here are feveral Chapels : Popifh Priefts and Quakers equally obftruct 2 good Progrefs. Sixteen Minifter. have a competent Maintenance, their Glebes fettled, and Libraries fixed, and many Thoufand Practical and Devotional Books have been difperfed among the People to good Effect, by the affiduous and pious care of the Reverend Dr. Bray, from whom a further Account may fhortly be expected.
To Mr. George Macqueen 6 1. in Money, 47. in Books. To Mr. Robert Keith sol. in Money.
About 14 Churches Unpro- vided with minifters, parti- cularly Shrewsbury. Many Schools much wanted.
Virginia,
Divided into Fifty Parithes, with about Thirty Chapels. Here is alfo a noble College Erected for the Education of the American Youth in the Studies of Philosophy and Divinity. Maintenance for Mi- nifters fettled by Act of Affembly, but by difufe im- pair'd in many Places.
To Mr. Tyliard 10 1. To Mr. Wallace of Eliza. beth City Parith I5/. in Bocks.
Several Parifhes not fupplied with Minifters, particularly in Princeß Anne's County. 1 Matl.cmatical Profeffor for William and Mary College much wanted.
North ( Corrituck, with Spre -
Pequimmins, of Tuskarora Indians, who would gla 'ly receive our Miffionaries.
This Country is. not divided into Pirilhes ; how- ever, there is a Church at Charles-Town., Mr. Marfton Minifter, and another to the Southward near Edifto River fupplied by Mr. Williams.
To Mr. Stackhouse at Goof- creek so l. per An. and 15 l. for Books.
Sous b.
The Yammonfea Indians,
Mr. Samuel Thomas was fent to inftrue. tt.efe In- dians in the Chriftian Religion ; but findrir ir an improper Scafon : His Miffion is refpiter " .: fome time:
To Mr. Trott by the hand of Mr. Samuel Thomas 10 1. for Stuffs by way of Prefent to the Indians.
3 Minifters wanted, with Schools, here being three Churches built, and Glebes appointed, with a Library. 1 Particularly forRoanonk, who will be allowed 60 1. prinn. 1 Minifter, & a School or two wanted.
Pappitango,
Here are about Five Thoufand Souls fcatter'd like Sheep without a Shepherd, befides a great Number
To Mr. Samuel Thomas at Cooper River so I. per An.for three Years, befides 47 /. at times.
Carolina, ‹ cintts Pampblico.
e
The Proreftant Religion is fettled here by Act of P Affembly, as Eftablifb'd in England, except in Suffolk County. There is Provifion for one Minifter of Tri- nity Church in the City of New-York at 160 %. per .Annum, with other Advantages to Mri Vefy the pre- fent worthy Incumbent. In Queen's County on Nafaw Ifland 120 /. for two between them. 40/: for one in the County of Richmond. In Weft-Chefter. a Maintenance for two at yp ( each, 1 in the Town of Weft-Cheffer, and I at Rye, befides, Her Majesty allows 130 1. per Annat for the Chaplain of the For- ces : A Latin Free-School is likewife eftablifh'd at New-York, by the influence of His Excellency the matter at Rye 191. pAmman. Lord Cornbury, with 2 others, by which means found Religion vifibly gains ground there.
To Mr. John Barton at Wift-Chefer 50 1. per An. and a Benevolence of 306 To Mr. EliasNean Carechift ar New York, sol pet An. and ISJ. for Books.
I Minifter for Richmond or' Starten Ifland, to whom they'llallow gol. per in I Schoolmatter for New-York. I Schoolmafter for Albany. t Minifter for Kingften in UI- ffer County.
1 Minifter for Skennettedy Gar- rifon and Albany, who will do fignal Service.
1 Minifer at the Falls in Shrewsery. where Colonel Morris in building a Church, and will endow it.
1 At Hopwill, between Creswick and Maiden head, where they are build- ing another. tIn Miwwwdats Coudry. 1 For Salim, where a Church is building.
Penfylvania,
Is fettled by People of almoft all Languages and Religions in Europe : But the People called Quakers are the moft numerous of any Perfwafions ; and in Philadelphia, their Capital City, there is an Epifco- pal Church, called Chrift Church, having a very large Congregation, fupplied by Mr. Evans, who, befides the voluntary Subicriptions of the Inhabitants, hath a Grant from Her Majefty lately of so I. per Annum, and the Schoolmafter 30 1. There is likewife here a Quakers Meeting, a Presbyterian one, an Anabaptist one, and a Sweedish one without the Town.
To Mr. The. Crawford at Dover-Hundred sol. per An. and 15 l. for Books. To Mr. Andrew Rudman for the fupply of Oxford 12 1. 10 5. To Mr. Club School'nafter at Philadelphia 15 l. in Books, as much in Moncy.
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: N. B. There are earnest Addreffesfrom divers Parts of the Continent, and Iflands adjacent, for a SUFFRAGAN, or Bishops, to Vifit the feveral Churches " in many, Confirm more, and Blefs all.
[Page 3] Some AMERICAN Iflands under the English Government, with Two English Factories in EUROPE.
Their Names.
Prefent State of Religion.
Affiftance received from the Society ~
Demands upon theSocietyfor Minifters,Schools, Libraries,&c.
Newfoundland,
Has feveral Settlements of English, with many occasional Inhabitants ; as Workers, Mariners, &c. at the Fithing Seafons, to the amount of feveral Thoufands : But no publick Exercife of Religion except at St. John's, where there is a Congregation, but unable to fubfift a Minifter.
To Mr. Fackfon sol. per Annum for three Years, be- fides a Benefaction of 3el.
Rode-Ifland, belonging to New- Eng- land.
All under Quaker Government, except one Con- gregation of Mr. Honyman's, who is maintained part- ly by a Contribution from Gloucestershire, and partly by the People of Newport.
To Mr. Honyman 30/. for one Year, and I5/. for Books. To the Minifterand Church Wardens of Newport 151. for Cominunion - Plate, Pulpit- Cloth, &c.
1 Minifter for Portsmouth.
I Schoolmafter.
Long-Ifland,
To Mr. William Urquhart
I Minifter who would take the Charge of a School in King's County, might do confi- derable Service.
belonging to New-York, confifting of King's- County, Queen's, and Suffolk.
Here are many Dutch, efpecially in King's-County, at Jamaica , maintained by who have feveral Congregations, but no Minifter at prefent, only are affifted by Mr. Vefy of New-York ; the Subfcription of the York- Shire Clergy, sol. per Annum, and 15/. for Books. In Queen's County and Suffolk Two Church of Eng- land Congregations ; many Independents, fome Que- kers, and Libertines.
To Mr. John Thomas Rector of Hempflead, sol. per Annum and I5/. for Books.
I Minifter for Oyfter. Bay. .
I Minifter for Suffolk County, of great ufc.
Jamaica,
Here were Fifteen Parifh-Churches : One of which, Port- Royal, was burnt down January 2. 1702. and not retrievable; being annex'd to King's Town by a late Act of the Country, which prohibits any Market for the future at Port-Royal.
To Mr. Philip Bennet, Com- miffary there, 54, for Books, &c. To Mr. William Fobnfon, 15/. for Books. To Mr. Garbrand, 15l. for Books.
Antegoa,
The English here refiding have Five Parith- Churches, which are of the Church of England.
To Mr. Gifford and other Minifters, zol.
Montferrat,
Has Two Parifhes of the Church of England likewife.
To Mr. Arburbnot 201. for Books.
Factories in EUROPE and AFRICA.
Moscow ;
Here is a Factory of English Merchants; as at Arch-Angel, where they refide alternately ; to whom the Czar has given as much Ground as they fhall defire to build a Church upon, with other Conve- niencies for the Minifter, &c. who ufes the Liturgy of the Church of England, and who is defired to incert the Czar's Name and his Son's in the Litany and Prayers for the Royal Family.
To Mr. Urmfim, a Benefa- ction of Greek Liturgies and Teftaments for the Mufcovites; and of English practical Books for the Youth and Servants of the Factory, &c. with s /. more in Bibles, Common - Prayer- Books, &c. which were much wanted.
St. Helena,
To Mr. Maffath, 61. 5s. in Books.
N. B. Great Numbers of Bibles and Common-Prayer-Books in the English, French, and Dutch Languages, Expofitions on the Church-Catechism, with other Devotional and Practical Books, have been fent by the Society to the Ilands and the Continent : and great Numbers of foch like Books, Hopiliet, Expositions on the 39 Articles, Cc. are now providing for the places that want them molt.
I Minifter for Newton . in Queen's County, where there is a Church built.
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[Page 4]
From the foregoing View, may be obferved,
1. What the Society has already done towards the Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts.
What they have before them to do ftill in that important Bufine/S.
III. What Encouragements they hope for to enable them to go through fo great a Work.
W THAT the Society hath already done towards the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Pairs, fince the Date of their Charter, June 16. 1701.
I. That they might anfwer the main End of their Incorporation, they have actually Commitfion'd One Miffionary, and made Prefents to 0- chers at a great Expence ; and are Soliciting Maintenance from the Crown for Five more, who are at leaft wanting, for the Converfion of the Praying Indians of Canada, whofc Souls we fhall be exceedingly wanting to if we neglect longer to Inftruct them in the Faith of our Bleffed Redeemer, as we are able, when God has fo wonderfully open'd their Eyes, their Hearts, and their very Tongues, fo as to call to us, as those of Macedonia did to the Apo- files of the Gentiles, Come over and belp in. To which Purpofe, fo remark- able are the Words of one of their Sachems or Kings, in the Name of the reft, in which they fenfibly expreft their Concern for fuch a Miffion, 10 the Commiffioners for the Indian Affairs in Albany, June 28. 1700. as appears by an original Extract of the Earl of Bellament's to the Lords Commiffioners of Trade and Plantations, October 25. 1700, That they highly challenge a Place in this Account, to the exceeding Comfort of all fuch good Chriftians as hope that their Redemption draws near. We are now come to trade, faith He, and not to Speak of Religion: only thus much I muft fay, all the while I was here before I went to Canada, I never heard any thing talk'd of Religion, or the least mention made of Converting us to the Christian Faith; and we Shall be glad to hear if at laft you are fo pioufly inclined to take Some Pain to instruct your Indians in the Christian Religion ; I will not fay but it may induce fome to return to their Native Country: I wifh it bad been done fooner, that you bad bad Minifters to inftruet your In- dians in the Christian Faith, I doubt whether any of us had deferted our Native Country : But I must Say, I am Solely bcbolden to the French of Canada, for the Light I received to know there was a Saviour born for Mankind ; and now we are taught God is everywhere, and we can be instructed at Canada, Dowaganhac, or the utmost Parts of the Earth, as well as bere.
And it: a later Conference with the Lord Cornbury thofe Five Sachems or Kings of the hoqueis, promifed him at Albany, Obedience to the Faith of C.Frijl, told him, they were glad to hear the Sun fhined in England fince King William's Death ; admired at firft that we fhould have a Squa Sacbem, viz. A Woman King, but they hoped he would be a Good Mother, and Send them
- HI. That the Society will ineet with fuitable Aid and Encouragement forme to Teach them Religion as well as Traffick; then fent fome of their Country . to enable them to go thro' fo glorious a Work as is now before them, of reducing infinite Numbers both of Pagans and nominal Christians from the Power of Satan unto God : and therefore,
Prefents to Her Majefty, Signed the Treaty, and made the Covenant fo fure ( as they faid) that Thunder and Lightning Should not break it on their Parts.
Nor has the Society turned their Thoughts only on the Indians in the Northern Parts of the English Dominions, but have fent alfo One Millionary for the Service of the Yeomanfee Indiaus to the South of Carolina, who having been lately engaged in a War with the Spaniards, and every Day in Dan- ger of an Invafion from them, were not in a Condition to receive Infttu." ction ; nor was it thought fit by the Governours to truft him yet amongft them, but as foon as 'tis practicable to treat with them, there are Affurances he fhall leave the Neighbourhood, where he is inftructing many Souls as inuch neglected as the former, namely, the Negroes of Goofcreck.
2. The Society has not only had a Regard to Infidels, but, as becometh Chriftians, has taken Care of its own Country-Men; in fending 10 Mini- fters with fome Schoolmafters and Catechifts with good Allowances to the feveral Places along the Continent of North- America, where they were moft wanted, and the Harveft. is ripe for fuch Labourers, who will faithfully refift and oppofe the Progrefs of Atbeifm, Infidelity, Quakerifm, Antinomi- anifm, Ignorance, and Immorality, which have hitherto difmally overfpread thofe Infant Churches.
3. They have made fuitable Provifion alfo for fome of the Iflands, thofe too much neglected Parts of Her Majefty's Territories, by a Supply of Five Minifters, without any Charge to the People, and have otherwife fupported Twelve more in the Northern Iflands and the Continent, in fuch manner as has been requefted.
4. That the Factories mention'd in the Charter might not be altogether infenfible of its Concern for them, there has been a Settlement compafs'd for a Congregation at Amflerdam with the Content of the Magiftrates of the Place ; and fince, Encouragement has been given to the promifing Be- ginningsof a Church at Moscow, to which the Czar himfelf has contributed
by beftowing as much Ground as fhall be defired for that Ufe upon the Englifb Merchants. A Bencfa tion to St. Helena has been alfo fent very lately.
All this the Society hath done upon the bare Annual Fund of about 800 / p: Ann. with the Accellion of not much above 2400 /. occasionally Subfcribed : the Amounts. of which together do hardly anfwer the De- mands of the present Millionaries and Miniflers, &c. abroad, with the incidental Charges of the Corporation at home : therefore,
II. What the Society has ftill before them to do in this important Bufi- nefs, calls for more than ordinary Benefactions from without, whilft the yearly Subfcriptions of the Incorporated Members fall Short. of 1000l. per Ann, and that voluntary too. . A Blender Bottom, upon which to begin the Converfion of the Indians mention'd, to build them up in our moft Hely Faith, and to provide Minifters, Catechifts, Schoolmafters, Libraries, Churches, &c. for a Continent well Peopled under feveral Governments 1200 Miles in length uron the Sea-Coaft, as well as for the Ifl.inds of Newfoundland, Ber- mudas, Jamaica, the Babama, and Caribbees ; in foine of which there is yet no Provision of Minifters, or of any Support for them, and in all the others much fewer than the Publick Service of God and the Inftruction of the People do reafonably require: Which Profpect, when enlarg- cd by a View of the future Care. that is to be had of the remaining Factories and Places to which we Trade in Afia, Africa, and Europe it felf, where they live as it were without God in the World, to the great Re- proach of the Chriftian Religion, except at Hamborough, Lisbon, Smyrna, Alep- po, Conftantinople, Fort St. George, Surat, &c. which are well fupplied by.our Wortby Merchants that trade or live there, gives an carneft Invitation to the Liberality of all well-difpofed Chriftians : And they to whom God has given more than a Competency, with the unfpeakable Bleffing of Hearts gracioufly difpofed to employ the Surplufage to his Honour and Glory, can- not now want an Opportunity of doing fo in the moft excellent and ac- ceptable way.
Since then this great Work of maintaining the Chriftian Religion and propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, calls aloud for the utmoft Affiftance, and appears upon the View to be worth all out Pains and Coft ; It is to be hoped,
1. As Her Sacred Majefty has been a fhining Example to Her Subjects in this Caufe of God, by extending Her Royal Bounty and Charity to- wards it: So it is heartily defir'd,
2. That all Her good: Subjects, in their feveral Stations, will be for- "ward in their Proportions to promote God's Honour and the good of Souls.
That the Nobility and Gentry, (as fome have already done to their Ho- nour) would all of them add a peculiar Luftre to their Characters, by affift- ing fo noble a Defign with a Liberal Hand.
That Minifters of extraordinary Qualifications, Men of Temper, of Prudence, of Learning, Pious Conversation, Afection to the Eftablith'd Go- vernment, and above all, of Apaftolical Real, would willingly offer them- felves to fo great a Harveft, where the Labourers are few.
That the Merchants and rich Traders, who have reap'd their Temporal things plentifully by the Labours and Pains of thofe poor ignorant or mifled Creatures, would be at laft prevail'd upon to fow to them Spiritual things in as great abundance. . In fhort,
That all People to whom this Notification fhall comc, ( tho' not by way of a Brief or General Collection, as has been practifed in thefc Cafes with good Succefs in other Kingdoms ) would give their helping Hand, as they underftand and value the Benefits of the Goffel, and as a Token of their Thankfulnefs for the famc.
It is more to be defired than expected, that many fhould rife up to the Example of an unknown Ledy, who has caft 10007. into the Treafury : But he doth acceptably who gives according to his Ability, thereby evi- dencing to himfelf and others, that he wants not, what a good Chriftian cannot be without, viz. a willing Mind, and then it is accepted according to what a Man hath.
I ondon, Printed by Joseph Downing in Bartholomew-Clofe near West-Smithfield, 1705.
18
1705, July 19: 54 Having been ordained by the Bishop of London (Henry Compton), George Muirson arrived in New York. º
1705, September 14: Stratford Churchmen, probably at the suggestion of Colonel Heathcote, petitioned the Rev. William Vesey at Trinity Church, New York, for the services of a priest who would baptize their children. (See Document I.) It seems that they had heard of Muirson's arrival or expected arrival and had hoped that his missionary ministry might occasionally extend to them.
1705, November 9: Colonel Heathcote, of Scarsdale, wrote the S.P.G. about the best strategy for get- ting to Churchmen in Stratford: 55 "We have had it reported that the Queen would be at the charge of main- taining a Suffragan Bishop in these parts. If that was granted, I question not but a great many who have had their education in Boston College [Harvard College] would conform, and would be content with the bene- fices as settled by Assembly, without being very burthensome to the Society. [1] I have been so long wandering from one subject to another, that I had almost forgot to give you my thoughts of Mr. Muirson, whom my Lord of London has sent for this parish. He has been here about three months, in which time he hath by much outdone my expectation; having very fully retrieved all that unfortunate gentleman, Mr. Pritchard lost; and if he continues so faithful in the discharge of his trust, of which I have not the least doubt but he will, he'll be able to give as large account of his services as any that has been sent over to this Province; and I must do him the justice to own, that he is as deserving of the Society's fa- vours. For as some of his parishioners told me, and which I know in a great measure to be true, that al- though they have had a great many ministers amongst them since the settlement of their town, yet Mr. Muir- son did more good amongst them the first six weeks after his coming, than all they ever had before; and I question not, but when you have the particulars of his proceedings transmitted, you will find what I have said of him to be true .... In the conclusion of your last letter, you tell me that you had sent some com- mon prayers and catechisms, by Mr. Mackenzy, but do not understand he has brought any; so beg of you to in- quire into that mistake; and in case you send any other books to be disposed, pray let them only be Dr. Beveridge's (now Bishop of Asaph, ) Sermon concerning the common prayers, a little book entitled: "A Chris- tian's Way to Heaven, " and one of the Lawfulness of the common prayer. No books can be more serviceable than they; and I would take care to have them scattered through Connecticut colony to both ministers and - people, and am apt to believe they would do service."
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