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Reverend Noble wishes to see Philander Chase, should he visit New York. Noble also advises Chase to disregard the opinions saying that he should not visit England. He predicts that Chase will be very successful in England and encourages him to travel there.
Date
9-19-1823
City
Middletown
Keywords
Dr. Jarvis; Bp. Hobart; Bp. White; Theological Seminary; church; England voyage; Chase as Apostle to the West
Recommended Citation
Noble, Reverend, "Letter to Philander Chase" (1823). Philander Chase Letters. 115.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/115
Rights Statement
Transcript
Middletown 19th 1823
Rt. Rev & Most Dear Sir,
I have waited until this morning hoping to hear from you an answer to a Letter which I addressed you at Kingelo more than three weeks since. On placing your dear family at this place, I suppose you will pop down the River to New York, & perhaps after the intelligence contained in my Letter embark immediately. I cannot expresses all the pleasure it would give me to meet with you in New York, & on this I had fully determined, but my avocations are such as to [under] to necessary for me to know precisely on what day I may depend on meeting you, as an absence from home more than three days would subject me to very great inconvenience. My mind has [full] made up to set off for New York tomorrow at 3 o’clock in the morning — which would bring me there at 6 o’clock in the evening. But the question this moment presses on my mind so forcibly that my intention is changed. How do I know that my Rt-Rev & very Dear friend will be in New York on the 20th or 21st amidst the delays of a journey of several hundred miles & of locating his family at [Pingaton]? And if I should not, the journey may be lost both to him & me, as I must have at all wants on the 22nd at 7 o’clock. My intention is to see you in New York if Possible. Pray therefor drop me a line the first moment — after your arrival. Unless you intend to visit me in Connecticut — which I hope may be the fact as I understand Mr Sigourney has written to you to that effect.
Mr. S probably will not see you in New York, as he is on an excursion for pleasure to the sea side from which he will not return until next-week. Dr Jarvis may perhaps be in New York, but how he may feel as to the object of your voyage I know not. [Bishop] Hobart has written a long letter requesting him to exert his influence to dissuade you from the undertaking. The Bishops also have written to Bishop White urging him to remonstrate with you with you, & dissuade you from it. This I had from Dr. Brownell. — Thus this is ground to fear that you have not much countenance to expect from those in whose power it is to do most for the cause in which you have embarked with a zeal, & resolution becoming the Apostle of the West. And this, on the anointment of a Seminary which the atlantic Churches are able to support, but which has hitherto done very little to retrieve the the disgrace, of a [?] of seven or eight years. (what has have done for the Church west of the Mountains & what influence be a theological school in that immense region have unfavorable to the Gen’l Sem’y. That should create so much [?] to discourage an undertaking, dictated by wisdom, the & goodness of him who presides over all things for the good of his church. An undertaking which all agree you are remarkably filled for, which will be popular in England & which will be crowned with success, I can see no just reason why would should be discountenanced, or discouraged from any quarter. And I fear motives of local interest have too large a share in this thing.) As one of the partners of our New College I have strong local feelings & interest, but these cannot change my opinion as to the propriety or [?] of your voyage to England, or prevent my constant prayers for your safety, healthy & success. Our College not located, not one cent of friends obtained, not one [officer] appointed, Brother Wheaton is sent off. in the greatest possible health, at only 10 days notice, by two of a Committee of five — & written fifteen days after receiving notice of your determination, (shall I not say prematurely) for an object very similar to one part at least of yours. [?] of Wheaton’s would have received my [?] probation these months hence you will [?] me credit for some show of disinterestedness, I am ashamed of the manner in which this business has originated & with the hurry with which one agent has embarked; something is rec’d of his ill-health, but until the day he [slanted] he had been able to discharge his duty, without any appearance of any debility which required a voyage. But he will be just upon the ground.
I have many things to say to you, but I have nearly filled my sheet. — & the mail closes in a moment or two, — [bright] I (an humble individual) to express any opinions on the business upon which you have embarked! Your name is well known in England. Your addresses have been republished & remarked upon in [terms] of the highest approbations. & one of these most reputable periodicals has expressed an exalted opinion of your [primitive] & and apostolic character. (You will be well received & successful beyond a doubt) You are adapted to the important mission, And it it will not be considered there degrading for you to solicit aid for the immense region of which they will consider & receive you as the head & apostle. Be not discouraged, go on, hurting in him to whom you have so solemnly committed your cause. Indeed you cannot do otherwise, what would your Churches say were you to be disheartened? If I should not see you I have only to say. God bless & prosper you. On your arrival in England make friends of the religious periodicals & know them to replenish your journals Le-Le. Stand upon your own ground. With great respect & affection.
Your friend and & [Brother]
Rev Noble
[Please] not to communicate the opinions expressed in this letter
PS I have no time to [count] this [should] excuse its haste