Thomas Holme

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Description

Thomas Holme suggests some ways to continue paying for James George's scholarship at Jubilee College.

Date

1-28-1848

Keywords

Thomas Holme, James George, Mrs. George, Jubilee College, Philander Chase, tuition, scholarship, finances, money, debt

Transcript

Jan. 28 -- 1848

East Cowton

Catterick

Yorkshire

England

Right Reverend and very dear Sie

The return of the Christmas Vacation allows me leisure to extend my correspondence beyond the daily letters of business which the cheapness of the Post Office system pours in upon one almost to satiety. Your last kind but remonstrating letter was perused by me with a degree of self condemnation for not having succeeded better in raising subscriptions towards the education of your protegee J. George -- And yet I must confess that I have but little hopes of being able to raise up any new friends to contribute towards the benevolent object. There are a few old friends who will be happy I have no doubt to continue their subscriptions, but these I fear will fall far short of what may be required. Should any unexpected openings present themselves I shall gladly avail myself of them and remit my collections however small to Dr. Ramsey. Were I disposed to abandon the good work, I might shelter myself under the statement of your own letter, the first I believe which I had the pleasure of receiving from you, in which you mention three or four years as the time in which it would be necessary to raise subscriptions for the education of J. George. Were I to do so however I should act unworthily of that kindness which you have shewn to one who was once a lamb of my own spiritual flock whom I had specially recommended to any Brother Minister to whose benevolence she might appeal in the hour of distress. It is not therefore my intention to relax my exertions in a cause which providences seems to have places in my hands. To raise funds however in a direct way for J. George’s education appears to be all but impracticable partly because my circle of acquaintances is too limited & partly because there are so many individual cases of distress at home appealing to the feelings of the benevolent that individual claims from a distance stand a poor chance of being attended to. In addition therefore to any direct appeals that I may yet have it in my power to make for J. George, I have decided upon using my exertions to raise funds for the support of Jubilee College, grounding arguments upon the kindness which you dear & esteemed Sir, have shewn to our countrymen who have sought a home in your wilderness diocese, and also upon the important advantages which we may confidently hope will arise to the Church of Christ though the immense valley of the Mississippi. With God’s help and permission it is my intention during my midsummer vacation to avail myself of any pulpit where I can have the privilege of pleading for assistance in behalf of the rising institution which under the Great Head of the church owes its origin to your unexampled & selfdenying labours. Though I am aware of my unfitness to be the advocate of such a cause, I am encouraged to hope that by this means I shall be enabled to raise what at [best] will be equal to the expenditure entailed upon the College by your kindness to J. George. It may be profitable towards this object if I draw out a short statement of J. George’s case & have it printed for circulation, It would be a still further & more powerful auxiliary to the cause if you would take the rouble of giving me the names of any Clergymen to whose pulpits I might hope to can an access through your name and also of supplying me with any statistics, arguments, or narratives which you think may be calculated to strengthen the appeal -- As soon as I have the pleasure of hearing from you I will put myself in communication with your Friend Dr. Ramsey through whom as heretofore I can remit to you any sums that I may be able to make. These I fear will be trifling, but they will be sufficient to manifest my goodwill towards the holy object to which you have devoted your strength & they will form one thread in that silken chain of love & kindly offices by which our kindred nations are bound together -- a chain which I trust neither jealousy, nor ambition, nor hoodwinked policy will ever be able to tear asunder. Your nation, Reverend Sir, so far as human wisdom can foresee is destined to have an incalculable influence upon the future happiness or misery of the great family of mankind - and therefore it cannot be a matter of indifference to any Christian whether that nation as it grows in colossal temporal power should not also grow in the knowledge & love of our Savior Jesus Christ.

With respect to poor Mrs George I must now say a few words -- I heard from her about a month ago -- She appears in great difficulties -- It seems that unless she & her daughter can redeem their respective property they will run the risk of losing it. I know not what advice to hive her. In England the plan would be to sell so much as would pay off incumbrances. Cannot the same plan be adopted in America? There is a sum of money which will come to her upon the death of her stepmother who is I am told about 60 years of age being the 5th part of £800 after deducting £20 from her share. She talks of selling her Interest in this but I feat it would produce very little. Mr. Nelson a Trustee tells me that he has a sum on hand of £9..0..8 due to her -- which he is willing to pay into my hands. This sum I will as Mrs George to authorize me to receive & pay to your acc’t if you have no objections. Before I conclude I must beg to recommend to your kind attention in spiritual matters a Mrs Darnbrough, Union Grove, Mount Lebanon, Illinois, a sister of my Brother’s wife. From all accts there is reason to fear that they are living in a district where they possess not the means of Grace. My Brother who is a Clergyman is desirous of knowing how they are situated in this respect.

In the hope of hearing from you soon, I am Right Reverend & very dear Sir

Yours in the best of Bonds

Thomas Holme

You need not send me any more printed pamphlets as the postance I am sorry to say is too heavy for my purse--

Letter to Philander Chase

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