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Description
Wiggin was unaware, until Chase's letter, that the Theological School in New York had an exclusive right to set up Branch Schools. Suggests that Chase purchase a charter from the state government to raise funds.
Date
12-30-1823
City
Manchester, England
Keywords
England voyage, Bishop Hobart, Bartlett's Building Society, Mr. Wilks, Mr. Norris, trustees
Recommended Citation
Wiggin, Timothy, "Letter to Philander Chase" (1823). Philander Chase Letters. 216.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/216
Rights Statement
Transcript
Manchester Dec 30 1823
My Dear friend,
Your inclosed favor of the 27th came to hand yesterday and would have been replied to without delay, if I had been more at leisure since I last wrote you nothing important to your cause has occurred here, but we do not lose sight of it, and one watchful of every occurrence, that may tend to promote your success. We all regret your unavoidable absence, but I agree with you that individual gratification should not permitted to weaken our efforts in the performance of important duties. In regard to the exclusive right of the Theological School in New York to establish Branch Schools if necessary I was not aware that any such [pretensions] were set up till I read your letter, for I considered Bishop Hobart’s allusion to that point in his letter to you as intimating nothing more than a [?] that the New York institution would be willing to aid such establishment, if required you know what power the general convention possesses and what it has granted to that institutions, and I trust you will be able to meet the question properly, and I hope without a public discussion. If you should succeed in raising funds, I presume you contemplate procuring a [charter] from the state government, and in that case it is not probable that a charter could be obtained, if applied for, by the Trustees of the NY institution. Can you not state that all incorporated institutions, except those which one under the [?] of the governt of the United States, must derive their authority from the governt of the state where the institutions are to be established, and that a Branch of the New York institution in Ohio, could not be known in law without a charter from the govt of that state. Perhaps some attention to these facts may be thought relevant, and applicable if you should state in your history of the church that neither the US govt nor that of the state has any established religion or provided any funds for the support of religious institutions, and consequently that no exclusive right, such as those alluded to, are known in law there.
Whether the Genl convention has exercise any such power, or not, and how far it would be indecorous to act in opposition to their views I know not. I do not write this in expectation that it will be of any service to you, but if there is a single chance of it being useful, and none of its being injurious, I think it my duty to state what occurs to me. I have been informed that Mr. Norris gave 100 pounds to the New York institution and it is highly probable that other members of the B B Society have given liberally to it, and this may be one reason why Bp. Hobart disapproves of you.
The parcel you gave to Mr. C has not [been] received, and I concluded that I did [not] exactly understand what you meant. [?] weighed more than an ounce it [?] be franked. If you should have [occasion] to send pamphlets or bulky papers they can be sent safely in a parcel by the coaches but in this case it is necessary to pay 2 for booking it. I am glad to learn that you have become acquainted with Mr. Wilks and think you will now acquire strength every step you take. As you become acquainted with the weapons of your opponents, you will be prepared to ward off their blows. We are all well at Platt Hall, and very desirous to see your cause commence under favourable auspices and yourself at leisure to pay us a visit. All here unite in kind regards to you with your sincere friend
T. Wiggin