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The Philander Chase letters were written in the 18th and 19th century and therefore may contain language that we understand today as harmful or offensive. You may encounter paternalist descriptions of Native Americans, racial slurs, or sexism. For more information, see our policy page.
Description
Philander thanks his father for the money he sent.
Date
6-10-1800
Keywords
Mr. Jones; Mr. Barber; Mr. Sherman; George Chase; Salley; Episcopal Church; Rachel Denison; religion
Recommended Citation
Chase, Philander, "Letter to Dudley and Alice Chase" (1800). Philander Chase Letters. 10.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/10
Rights Statement
Transcript
Poughkeepsie June 10th 1800
My dear and Honored Father
Your letter dated the 7 of May 1800 I received a few days ago - It contained the 30 Doll. safe. - This is one of the smallest instances of your goodness, and [?] to serve a Naughty Son. A heart full of grateful sensibility is all I have to return - and to a tender father this will not be [?]able.
The joy that you say you all felt at our prosperity - and the cordial reception with which my letter met on that amount [constitutes] not a little addition to that very happiness at which you rejoice. Besides the blessings which are heaped in by a Beneficent God on mankind in general, I have many in particular for which the Continual streams of the warmest gratitude ought to flood. - The greatest of which is I “see the good of Jerusalem” - and my most earnest prayer is that I may see it “all the days of my life.”
The Church in this place is crowded every Sunday that is any ways tolerable for people to go out - The number of Communicants increase - and I believe, the folks grow better which is the best part of all.
Yesterday, being Trinity-Sunday I preached in the Forenoon a Sermon applicable to that festival - I took the method, in gushing scripture, which Mr. Jones takes in proving the divinity of the 3 persons in the Godhead - The effect was astonishing - never was this doctrine set in that light - as plain that Children might comprehend (as far as the Scriptures meant that we should) yet so forcible that the wisest could not deny. - I confessed the manner of [?]ing the Scriptures together was not my own - Yet the sermon has done a great deal of good.
Mr. Shuttlesworth, Doctors Green, Jacobs and others of Windsor, could see, and had goodness enough to read that excellent work of Mr. Jones bound in the Scholar Armed - (if they are honest men they must be convinced).
You my Dear Father that Mr. Barber administered the [?] - may God bless him for it; to him [?] praise that your number increases.
Tell Mr. [?] that I wish him success in his worldly affairs but really hope that they may not take his attention from the one thing needful. - To say ‘Soul Take Thine Case’ is not the way to enjoy comfort or safety. - I would not discourage from those things - no - if we seek first the Kingdom of [heaven] they will be obtained with [?].
Our duty and love to Mother, your son,
Philander Chase
Rachel- You seem to be serious - I was such, if that had been the case - if not I am just I always was - loving you sincerely.
That your friend Dr. S. is a Deist no one I suppose will deny unless he hath become a [Christian] very lately - that he healed you well I do not pretend to deny - and if he did when you was sick - I love him for it - He ought to have praise for what [?] he hath. Though they do not flow from the best of principles - Rachel - your heart is warm exceedingly by warm. But is there no danger lest this natural warmth of temper will run away with your Religion? - Excellent things are our natural faculties and qualifications when they follow divine instruction - but even the best of them are very dangerous when they lead! Do take care Rachel - can not you [?] feel without justifying vice nay ever in[?]ly - That you meant this I have no idea yet I have heard you say things which amounted almost to a declaration [?]. There was no necessity for Christianity a person could be as good as D.S. with [?]. I will not be uncharitable to Dr. S. - yet C[?] never doth not require that we show up Christianity.
I wish you would write us a longer letter - [?] rejoice us to receive and read Father’s [?] and Rachel’s [?]. You both have peculiar talents in those ways pray do [not] bury them. Half our pleasure, as happily as we are situated, arise from hearing from home. You tell us of Little George - We must think of him, and you must kiss him. Imagine if you do [?] him and learn how he does if it be only to write his history for the pleasure of his fond Parents. - Never shall I forgive Dudley if he does not come and bring him next winter; we have set our hearts upon it.
Our love to Salley and all-
Mrs. Chase been ill but is getting much better.
Yours affectionately,
Philander Chase