USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Narragansett > A history of the Episcopal church in Narragansett, Rhode Island, including a history of other Episcopal churches in the state > Part 44
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I herewith send you a sermon, occasioned by the enthusiasms so
Dissected," that he contemplated publishing an extended history of the Colonies, especially of New England. It is in tradition, that he had writ- ten a history of the Narragansett country, and both were looked for with great interest before his death. His decease being sudden, these manu- scripts were expected to be found among his papers, but they were not. It was conjectured that he either carried them with him to Europe, or that they were sent to some friend there, and now remain unpublished ; or if published, no copies were sent to this country, as he had deceased and his friends were unknown. Not more than two or three copies of his Ameri- ca Dissected are known to be extant, that was published in Dublin before his last visit. The one published in the Appendix, is printed from the copy presented by him to his niece.
The pictures spoken of remain in this country. Mrs. Frederic Allen, of Gardiner in Maine, the daughter of the late Oliver Whipple, and grand- daughter of the late Dr. Sylvester Gardiner, of Boston, in a letter states, that "the pictures of Dr. McSparran and wife (who was Dr, Gardiner's sister) are now in our family. That of Dr. McSparran is a bust; he is in his gown and bands. It was painted by Smibert. Ina recent work on Ame- rican Antiquities, there is a note saying, that soon after Bishop Berkely and Smibert* arrived in this country, they went to Dr. McSparran's, where
* The great object of the Dean and Smibert, was to see the North American Indians. Dr. Barton says : " The portrait painter, Mr. Smibert, who accompanied Dr. Berkely, then Dean of Derry, afterwards Bishop of Cloyne, from Italy to America, in 1728, was employed by the Grand Duke of Florence to paint two or three Siberian Tartars, presented to the Duke by the Czar of Russia. Mr. Smibert, on his landing at Narragansett with Dr. Berkely, instantly recognized the Indians to be the same people as the Siberian Tartars, whose pictures he had painted.""
Smibert has been confirmed in this opinion by Dr. Wolff, the great taveller, in the Eastern na- tions in search of the Lost Tribes. One of his objects in visiting this country a few years since, was to see the North American Indians, for the same purpose. Respecting them he says : " It will naturally be asked, what I think of that extraordinary question lately so much mooted in Europe and America, and so much connected with my own researches, (the discovery of the Lost Tribes) ' Whether the Indians spring from the Ten Tribes of the Dispersion ?' With respect to ancient tradition, the rule of Vincentius Lirinensis, though not infallable, is one of the best criteria :- ' What always has been believed, by all, and every where.' This is not traceable in the Indians. They have not at all times, and in all places, and all conjointly affirmed, 'We are the Ten Lost Tribes of the Dispersion.' On the coutrary, they know nothing of any such tradition. I trace no remarkable affinities in their language to lead to such a conclusion. I am sure all nations will be found connected with the Jewish, as the great centre of spiritual worship, all rights will be found in their uses and abuses, to maintain somewhat of the great principles inculcated in the Jewish law ; but I am not prepared, from such grounds, the result of a common origin from the first parents, to af- firm them all to be necessarily descendants from the lost tribes, because, in sooth, no other hypothesis suits the reigning taste."
" People who have a preconceived favorite system, try to maintain it'ad ultimum, and think they see it realized, when nothing of the kind in reality exists. Worthy people in America desired me to travel about with them, in order that I might convince the Indians of their extraction from the Jews ; but this was putting the argument the wrong way. I wanted the Indians to convince me of their origin, and not to aid in deluding them into this notion, as I perceived many well intentioned people did. I came among the Mohican tribes near New York, and asked them, 'Whose descendants are you ?' They replied, 'We are of Israel.' I asked, ' Who told you so ?' and expected to learn much ancient tradition. To my great surprise they said, ' Mr. and Mrs. Simmons, of Scotland.' I asked, ' What did your ancestors tell you about it ?' 'Our ancestors told us that we were born under the earth, and a woman among us looking out of the earth was taken hold of by a spirit, and that spirit led us to the surface of the earth ; and there we lived in peace until the white men came, by whom we were subdued.' "
" Many of thelr customs, besides words in their language, and their physiognomy, rather seem to betray a Tartar race. Thus, for instance, they have the word Kelaun, Great, which is also used in the same sense at Bokhara. They have nine as a favorite number, which the Tartars also have .- The Turkomauns also play on a flute, in a melancholy strain, around the tent of their beloved mis- tress, and the Indians adopt a similar fashion."
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rife here, and some disorders arisen in neighboring churches, where laymen had been admitted to officiate ; with one to my cousin Tom Limrick, and another to William Stevenson, of Knockan, to whom I beg leave to write under your cover.
As I can't expect so great a stoop, from a gentleman in your ex- alted situation of life, as the honor of a letter, let me, however, beg the favor of being remembered to my relations, as they occasionally wait on you.
I hear you are blessed with a number of children. May God make you a mutual blessing to each other ! May He give health and long life, and a late translation to that glorious kingdom above, where I hope to meet you, though denied that happiness below.
I salute your lady with my most reverent respects, Mr. Phanning, and any one you think may be glad to hear of me. I beg pardon for the puzzle I have put you to, by reading this long, very long let- ter ; and am,
Your Honor's Most obedient, humble servant, JAMES MACSPARRAN.
P. S. In coasting the country, I have said nothing of the climate. You are to know then, that as the English American main-land do- minions extend from 32 to 45 degrees of north latitude, the weather must, in some measure, be as we are nearer to, or farther from, the sun.
In general, the air is infinitely more clear and serene than in England or Ireland ; and our nearness to the sun occasions more frequent and loud claps of thunder, and sharper lightning, than you have. It is no unusual thing for houses and stacks of hay, and grain, to be burnt, and men and cattle are often killed by the sharp light- ning.
In New England, the transitions from heat to cold are short and
they remained sometime. It was there probably he painted the pictures we now have. My great aunt, Mrs. McSparran, died in England in 1755. I have heard from my mother, that the Doctor's visit to England was to be ordained Bishop; but while there, a great excitement occurred at home, - ! with regard to receiving an English Bishop, which, together with the death of his wife, led him to return, saying, "that he had rather dwell in the hearts of his parishioners, than wear all the Bishop's gowns in the world."
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sudden, and the extremes of both very sensible. We are sometimes frying and at others freezing ; and as men often die at their labor in the field by heat, so some in winter are froze to death with the cold. Last winter, in February, which begins the spring with you, I rode thirty miles upon one continued glaze of ice upon the land, to assist a neighboring clergyman, who was sick. With a horse well caulk- ed and frosted, 'tis fine travelling for one that can sometimes 'light and run, to bring the blood into his feet, and increase the checked circulation. As from my lands I can see the Atlantic Ocean, I have seen it froze as far as the human eye could reach; and 'tis com- mon, in a beautiful lake of salt water that fronts my farm, to have the ice three feet thick every winter.
Ten or eleven years ago, we had a hard winter, which occasioned my preaching a sermon, that was printed, wherein I described as well as I could the severity of the weather.
I either sent, or intended to send you, one of those discourses ; I am sure I did, one to Col. William Stewart, then of New Providence. Though I am 900 miles to the southward, and you fifteen degrees to the northward of me, yet will it freeze fifteen times so much in the night here as I ever observed it to do in Ulster. But I must not in- dulge my inclination, to gratify you with accounts of this new world, but break off, with begging leave to assure you, that I am,
With the most perfect sincerity, and profound veneration, Your Honor's
Most obedient, humble servant,
J. M. S.
I should be glad to be remembered in a very particular manner, to my old friend and companion, Mr. Christopher Taaffe, his good wife and family.
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APPENDIX.
LETTER II.
TO THE REVEREND PAUL LIMRICK.
NARAGANSETT, New England, Nov. 10, 1752. N. S.
DEAR COUSIN, AND REV. SIR,
Yours of the 13th of April, which I received last month, gave me a mixture of joy and sorrow. I rejoiced to hear you, your brothers and sister, were alive ; but feel an affliction for you on ac- count of the misbehaviour of your son, and the misfortune of Mr. White, from which I hope, as you do, that he will emerge, and shall direct this letter to his care. I once saw Searson, whom I consider- ed as shallow ; and pitied my dear Frank, who deserved a better fate.
I cannot feel as a father, having never been one in any shape ; but if the word of God be true, their yearnings must be very tender, and I pray God to support you, and Mrs. Limrick, under the burden of grief brought on you by the heat and headiness of an inexperi- · enced youth. He cannot be unmarried, 'tis true, but he may mourn his disobedient rashness, and reform ; and then, sir, I hope your af- fections will return, and your fatherly assistance bear a proportion to his merits and wants. Papists are christians, and to be preferred to many protestant heretic I could name to you.
My brother and his wife died a year ago last summer, at a short distance of time from one another ; but I have had no letter from any of his children, but his eldest daughter, who came too late to see either of them alive, and is meditating a return home. I assisted him to the amount of much more than he brought with him; and I fancy his children, with industry and proper management, may live independent. I was against his coming this way, and was in Eng- land when he landed in Pennsylvania ; but on my return, I enabled
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him to make a good purchase, and ever since I have left them to shift for themselves, as I was left myself .*
I have been engaged in a law-suit about glebe-land twenty-eight years, and the Independent teacher has at last obtained a decree in council in his favour ; so that I am forced to sit down by the loss of at least £600 sterling ; but I thank God I am not exhausted : I hope the merit of even this loss will turn out in my favour when I go to England. Last post brought me a letter from the Bishop of London, consoling me on the loss of a cause so just on the church's side ; wherein his Lordship is pleased to say, that " he hopes my loss may be made up, and whatever service he can do me, I may depend on his assistance." If I can but obtain my wife's consent, or her com- pany rather, along with me, and can get in some money I have out on bonds, I believe I shall go to England next spring ; but as for my lands, stock, and slaves, I shall not sell them, lest I should be disap- pointed of a provision in one of your two islands.
As the shadow lengthens as the sun grows low, so, as years in- crease, my longings after Europe increase also. My labours and toils are inexpressible, and age makes them still more intolerable.
Vagrant, illiterate preachers swarm where I am; and the native Novanglian clergy of our church, against the opinion of the European missionaries, have introduced a custom of young scholars going about ›' and reading prayers, &c., where there are vacancies, on purpose that they may step into them when they can get orders ; yea, have so represented the necessity and advantages of the thing, that the very Society connive at it, if not encourage it. This occasioned my preaching, and afterwards printing, the inclosed discourse, on which I shall be glad to have your sentiments. I have sent three of them to. the north, to Col. Cary, cousin Tom Limrick, and William Ste- venson, of Knockan. And as this was a bold step, I have sent one to the Bishop of London, and other members of the Society ; and I hope, instead of procuring me a reproof, it will open their own eyes, and make them guard better against irregularities, which, when they happen to be coeval with any church, are hard to be reformed.
As Absalom set him up a pillar to keep his name in remembrance,
* See the letter of James McSparran, of Erie, a descendant of Dr. Mc Sparran's deceased brother, in a previous note.
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and I have no other way to have mine preserved in my native coun- ry, but my sending my diplomas of my Master's* and Doctor's de-
SENATUS ACADEMIA GLASGUENSIS CHRISTIANO LECTORI SALUTEM.
Vixit apud nos ingenuus et probus adolescens Jacobum Macsparran, qui postquam philosophiæ et eloquentia studiis, ita graviter incubuisset, ut non minimos in iisdem progressus fecerit, feliciter tandem peracto curriculi sui spatio, honorarium quod literatis et studiosis a nobis deferri solet MAGISTE- RII TITULAM merito consecutus est. Adeo ut ingenii, virtutis, atque eru- ditionis testimonium discedenti negari non possimus. Id enim a nobis postulat cum officii nostri ratio tum probi adolescentis meritum. Proinde bonos omnes et literarum studiosos etiam atque etiam oratos volumus, ut qua humaniorum disciplinarum candidato, qua morum candori, quæ deni- que veræ religioni benevolenter debetur eam alumno huic nostro et suo in Christo Jesu fratri libenter prestent. In quorum fidem literis hisce com- muni academiæ sigillo munitis, nomina nostra subscripsimus. Datum Glasguæ, 5to die Martii, an. æræ Christ. MDCCIX.
JO. STERLING, P. et Vice Cancell. JA. BROWN, Dec. Fac. GEO. CARMICHAEL, P. P.
L. S. Pend.
JO. LAW, P. P. JO. LOWDON, P. P.
A. DUNLOP, G. L. P. AND. ROSSE, H. L. P.
TRANSLATION.
The Senate of the University of Glasgow to the Christian reader hereof, Greet- ing :
There resided here an ingenuous and upright youth, James Macsparran, who having devoted himself so zealously to the study of philosophy and eloquence as to make creditable progress therein, on the successful com- pletion of his academical career, deservedly obtained the degree of Master of Arts, which we usually confer on the studious and learned ; in consider- ation whereof we cannot refuse to him, on his departure, a certificate of his talents, worth, and learning, as both our official duty, and the merits of so deserving a youth require it of us. Wherefore we earnestly request all good men and all lovers of letters, freely to render unto this, our alumnus and their brother in Christ Jesus, all the good offices which are due to him as a student of polite letters, as of pure morals and true piety. In testimony whereof, we have subscribed our names to these presents, and sealed them with the common seal of this University. Given at Glas- gow, the 5th day of March, A. D. 1709.
JO. STERLING, Pres. & Vice Chancellor. JAS. BROWN, Dean of the Faculty. GEO. CARMICHAEL, Prof. of Philosophy. JOHN LAW, do. JOHN LOWDON, do. A. DUNLOP, Prof. of Greek. AND'W ROSSE, Prof. of Belles Lettres.
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grees,t (I wish my picture were also with you.) I have enclosed copies of them. Will you be so good, sir, as to find a way to have them registered, by the clerk, in the parish register of Dungiven. I do not offer at this from any motive of vanity ; but being a pilgrim on earth, and not knowing but my carcase may fall in a strange land, it would be pleasing to me, that my relations, in time to come, might be able to speak of me with authority. Forgive this whim in one
t CANCELLARIUS, Magistri, et, Scholares Universitatis Oxon. omnibus ad quos hæ literæ pervenerint salutem in Domino sempiternam. Cum eum in finem honores academici a majoribus nostris instituti fuerint, ut viri de re literaria bene meriti gratia quadam peculiari insignirentur ; cumq; nobis compertum fit, virum reverendum Jacobum Macsparran, artium magis- trum, in colonia Britanica, insula Rhodensi dicta, ecclesia Anglicanæ pres- byterum, inter theologos apud Indos Occidentales, evangelio propagando operam navantes, ingenio, doctrina. bonis moribus, gravitate, prudentia cla- rescere, et cum primis esse memorandum ; ac speciatum a dissentientibus ab ecclesia nostra male passum esse, quibus cum per tredecem, plus mi- nus annos, pie, prudenter, et ut hominem Christianum decet, non sine suo magno damno, quod ad res temporales attinet, strenue conflictatus est : sciatis nos cancellarium, magistros, et scholares antedictos reverendum vi- rum Jacobum Macsparran, die Martis, videlicet, quinto die mensis Aprilis, anno Domini millesimo septingentesimo tricesimo septimo, in solenno et frequentissimo doctorum et magistrorum senatu, unanimi suffragio docto- rem S. S. theologia constituisse, et renunciasse ; eumq: virtute presentis diplomatis omnibus et singulis doctoralis in S. S. theologia, gradus privile- giis et honoribus cumulasse.
In cujus rei testimonium ac fidem, publicum universitatus Oxon. sigil- lum his literis apponi jussimus.
Locus Sigilli Pendentis.
TRANSLATION.
The Chancellor, officers and students of the University of Oxford, to all to whom these presents shall come, eternal salvation in the Lord :
Whereas academical honors were created by our forefathers, in order to honor by peculiar marks of favor such as have distinguished themselves in letters, and whereas we have ascertained that the Rev. James Macspar- ran, Master of Arts, a Presbyter of the Church of England, of the British colony called Rhode Island, is distingushed among the divines in the West Indies, occupied with the propagation of the Gospel, for his talents, learn- ing, good deportment, judgment and gravity, deserving to be numbered among the first thereof, and especially to have suffered at the hands of those dissenting from our church, with whom he has contended for thir- teen years, or thereabouts, manfully, piously, prudently, and as becometh
58*
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that loves you well, and who, if ever he is settled in Europe, and has a little more leisure than he can have here, intends to preserve his own memory, as well as many other things more necessary to be known, by publishing a history of British America, especially that part of it called New England.
I long to salute you and your lady, the daughter of my good friend Doctor Gourney, to whose memory I owe, and indeed pay, a very grateful remembrance.
I know you would be pleased with the person and accomplish- ments of my consort ; but how you would fancy a full-bodied, fat fellow, like old Archibald, of the Hass, I can't tell, till I try. God grant we may once see one another !
Our attention has for some time been taken up with the news of measures on foot to unite Ireland to England, as Scotland is.
I pray God they may never take effect; for if they do, farewell liberty. You are greater slaves already than our negroes, and an union of that kind would make you more underlings than you are now.
The accounts of the open irreligion of the greater island, inclines me to imagine, that Ireland is on the brink of obtaining, [as, if these accounts are true, it deserves] its ancient name of Insula Sancto- rum. But if ever you come into a closer connection with the more eastern island, corruption will increase, pedlars will be promoted to power ; but the clergy and landed interest will sink into disesteem." I suppose those that are sent to rule with you, like those who some- times are sent here, imagine fleecing to be a better business than feeding the flock.
I wish all men well, and hope, notwithstanding unpromising ap- pearances, that the times will mend, the church be caressed, and true vital religion gain ground.
a Christian, but not without great damage to his worldly affairs: Now, Know, ye, that we, the Chancellor, officers and students aforesaid, in a solemn and numerously attended senate of our doctors and officers, in March, to wit, on the fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thous- and seven hundred and thirty-one, unanimously created the Reverend James Macsparran, Doctor of Sacred Theology; and have conferred on him by virtue of this Diploma, all and singular the privileges and honors belonging to the grade of Doctor of Theology.
In faith and testimony whereof, we have caused the public seal of the University of Oxford to be affixed to these presents.
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In these parts, it must be owned, that in these last thirty years, and with little or no temporal encouragement, but the contrary, our church has taken an amazing spread ; and though we have still more of the form than the power of godliness, yet there are vast numbers of converts of conscience, coming daily into the churches here.
My wife begs the acceptance of her best wishes for you, Mrs. Limrick, and family, and all friends ; and I hope, dear sir, you will believe I am sincere when I assure you, that
I am, with great respect, Your affectionate Cousin, Brother, And very humble servant, JAMES MACSPARRAN.
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LETTER III.
To MR. WILLIAM STEVENSON.
NARRAGANSETT, Colony of Rhode Island, in New England, August 21, 1752.
SIR,
I heard some time ago of your life and welfare, and write you this, under Colonel Cary's cover, to let you know that I am yet alive, and retain my old reverence for your friendship, and wish you well with the warmest affections. I have sent you a sermon of mine, which, though you may not like, yet I doubt not you will read for the sake of the author.
I wish you so extremely well, that it would rejoice me to hear you made yourself master of the controversy between the church and the dissenters. Believe me, prejudice of education is too strong for any but masterly minds ; and were it not thus, the separation our fathers made had been long ere now healed up by their sons.
I do not mean by this, to dispose you to think me stiff, or rigid, or uncharitable ; but if we agree in substance and fundamentals, why should we keep out of a national church for matters confessedly in- different ? Were I near you, I would lend you books that have weighed much with me; and after you had read them, should you continue to think as you were taught to do, I should still love you as a brother, and as indeed I always did ; but no more of this.
My brother and his wife died a year ago last June. I hope he left his family independent, and able to do for themselves. I am sure I helped him with a liberal hand. I have leave to go for England for ten or twelve months, to go to the bath for better health; if I can bring matters to bear to get to England, my next push would be to be seated in Ireland ; but, alas ! I have no friends to depend on for preferment, or even so competent a provision there as I have here.
I am in the hands of a good God, who has the hearts of men at command ; and if he sees that I can serve the interest of Christ's church, either in the use of the English or Irish language, which
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you know I can write and read, and upon occasion could preach in, he will raise me up friends, and restore me to my native land, or near it-if not, His will be done.
You and I are so far advanced, that it behoves us to double our diligence, and make our calling and election sure ; which, that we may be found both doing, so as to meet in a happy eternity, is the ardent prayer of,
SIR, Your affectionate friend, And very humble servant, JAMES MACSPARRAN.
P. S. My service to all enquiring friends ; and letters directed to the Rev. James McSparran, Doctor in Divinity, in Narragansett, New England, will reach me.
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