Letter to Philander Chase

Authors

G.W. Marriott

Files

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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

Marriott introduces George Montgomery West and describes his background and achievements, as well as laying out West's objects in wishing for episcopal Ordination from Bishop Chase.

Date

3-1-1827

City

London, England

Keywords

George Montgomery West, ordination, Ohio, Ireland, Holy Orders

Transcript

Queen-Square 1st March

1827

My dear and venerated Friend

I have inexpressible pleasure in communicating to you a most interesting event, which has occurred within the few last days, and seems likely to supply your grand desideratum Body of British Settlers for the new lands in Ohio. A Gentleman whom, God willing, you will shortly see at Worthington, and who has received credentials for Mr Kip at New York, and for yourself, from Mr Wiggin, has lately been introduced to Lord Kenyon, and by his Lordship to me, of the name of George Montgomery West, of Irish Parentage and English Ancestry. He is now 29 years of age, and began at the age of 18 to interest himself much in the extension of Christianity. He was always an ardent and zealous Protestant, and was led, partly by the weakness of the Protestant Cause in Ireland, where it wants every aid, but chiefly by the agreement of the doctrines of the Wesleyan Methodists with our Church, and many eminent examples among them of devoted zeal, to make exertions to bring them into union, or the closest connection he might be able to accomplish, with the Church in Ireland, which he can prove by documents. His exertions received the sanction of Mr Saurin, the Attorney-General in Ireland, and the thanks of Mr Peel. He afterwards proceeded to Canada, where and in Nova Scotia, he has been within the last three years, exerting himself for the interests of the protestant Church in those Colonies, especially by endeavoring to strengthen the attachment of the Wesleyans to the Church of England, and he considers that, if admitted to holy Orders, he should be able to do much more good. He has seen erected, thro’ his own instrumentality, 25 houses of worship in Ireland, England, and British America, and this without giving himself up to any separate or disserting system, but having the object of bringing back to the Church those who had erred and strayed from her fold like lost sheep. Every one of these houses of worship is by Deed forfeited to the King, if any violation of canonical discipline should be practised, by the administration of any Sacrament there, preaching at the hours of Church-service, or otherwise. Mr West has uniformly, and without exception, conferred with the regular Clergy in the course of his proceedings, which have in every instance met with their approbation, as his documents will abundantly testify. His objects in wishing for episcopal Ordination from Bishop Chase are faithfully detailed as follows in his own words--[viy]:

1st To do all the good in his power, and in that consistent way which will guard him from the slightest imputation of having ever been a dissenter from the established Church, to which he, and all his Relations, have always been affectionately attached, and which, if he were dying, he could assert he had never taken one step to oppose

2nd To be admitted to holy Orders by a holy and devoted Bishop, which he is as sure is the true character of Bishop Chase (accredited as he has been by Lord Kenyon and Mr Marriott) as if he had already had the happiness of personally knowing him; and to spend his life under that Bishop’s jurisdiction, and to cooperate with his primitive and pious zeal and labors.

3d To be admitted to some Degree in Kenyon College, not so much from motives of personal ambition, as from a desire to evince his gratitude to the excellent Nobleman, after whom it is named, and a hope that his usefulness may be somewhat encreased by the credit attached to such a distinction.

4th That he may be the instrument of attracting to that most interesting Settlement, and to the episcopal and pastoral superintendence of such a Prelate, for the spiritual benefit of their descendants as well as themselves, a large number of his intimate friends, many of whom are in very respectable circumstances and all capable of being rendered useful, taking with them such a portion of property as from all the accounts he has received will render them more than independent, in conjunction with proper industry, in that State, and whose late intention was to proceed to New South Wales, or Van Diemen’s land, and who, in consequence of such intention, had actually consulted the Government Authorities on that subject, and have formally solicited Mr West to proceed with them as their Christian Minister.

Mr West will particularly introduce to your notice the names of two of his particular friends, George Stokes and Michael Waldron Esquires, as Candidates for holy Orders. These Gentlemen he highly estimates as persons of genuine piety, [talent], respectability and sound erudition. One of them, Mr Stokes, has been for several years the principal of a most popular Classical Seminary, and would of course be an eligible person for one of the Professorships in your College. He can produce the most satisfactory testimonials from Trinity College, Dublin, and I hope will be found to meet a want, which has been the subject of your late letters, most providentially.

To recur for a moment to Mr West himself, I ought not to omit that, when the King was in Ireland, an Address by him was presented to his Majesty on the subject of his past proceedings, which was graciously received and answered, and published in the Government Gazette; and he had at that time personal interviews with Lords Londonderry and Sidmouth, then Secretaries of State and accompanying the King, as he has since had with Mr Peel and Mr Goulburn.

Mr West has purchased conditionally 3,000 Acres of land (said to be very excellent) in the State of Ohio near Marietta, from a Gentleman now resident in London, as an additional inducement to his friends to emigrate to the Country, which he designs to be the sphere of his future labors. I should think, however, that, if they can be accommodated on equally reasonable terms with Seminary lands, which will of course be nearer to yourself, Mr West and his friends would be much better satisfied with that situations. I have had no hesitation in saying to Mr West that, should he and his friends emigrate according to this his plan, I feel not a shadow of doubt of the success of every object stated in this letter, and of every other, important to their well-doing, which you can promote. I remain, my dear and venerated Friend, yours very affectionately and devotedly

G.W. Marriott

Recommended Citation

Marriott, G.W., "Letter to Philander Chase" (1827). Philander Chase Letters. 556.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/556