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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
Mary Ward expresses her love and support for Chase and discusses the importance of education, mentioning a popular interest in female schools of industry. She also asks him to send more seeds from Ohio that she could plant in her American garden.
Date
7-31-1829
Keywords
Rev. W. Ward, female schools of industry, garden, Bishop's Court
Recommended Citation
Ward, Mary Caroline, "Letter to Philander Chase" (1829). Philander Chase Letters. 801.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/801
Rights Statement
Transcript
Rt. Revnd. & very dear Sir
How shall I express the deep feelings of selfabasment [sic] & gratitude, with which your most kind & affectionate mention of my name in your last letter to Papa inspired me - it is among the most valued of my many undeserved mercies to be thus enriched by the blessing & the prayer of one who is so highly favored by the God of Heaven - truly the blessing of God does appear to have attended your Apostolical labours for your poor benighted Diocese - your accounts are most interesting your example (& that of those connected with you, who are such diligent helpers in your schools, &c) - is most annimating [sic]. Papa is at last returned to us, leaving his missionary still in England to advocate the cause of our poor little Island. The great object of building & endowing Churches is in a fair way for success. & that which particularly engages the attention of the ladies at this time is the establishment of female schools of industry - we are to have Bazaars both here and in England for this most interesting object & hope in the course of another year to see some hundreds of the poor neglected little idlers happily employed in acquiring habits of decency & order for their present comfort & civilization. & what is infinitely more important in learning the Word of Truth, by which they may be made wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Dear & venerated Sir, I trust when you remember me, before the Throne of Grace, you will think of me as a very weak Christian to whom great [habits] are entrusted, & great priviledges vouchsafed. I often think of those words of our Lord, “to whom much is given of them much shall be required” - the late solemn events, in our family, are striking calls to set our affections on things above, to work while it is day, to keep our lamps burning, to be sober & watch with prayer, like those who wait for their Lord. I hope you have received a letter which I wrote while Papa was in London. I could not help addressing these few lines of thanks to you, to express my grateful sense of your kindness, tho’ I am sure your time is too much occupied to allow many spare moments for reading or writing letters. If any opportunity should occur for sending over a few Ohio seeds, or plants of any kind, we should love to cherish them in our American Garden, where the Rododendrums [sic] Hydrangers [sic] &c. grow to great perfection. Ohio news is received with as much joy & eagerness at Bishop’s Court, as it was at Horkesley. No missionary intelligence can ever be uninteresting to the Christian, & where the
individuals concerned are so much beloved & venerated it adds a double interest. May I beg to be affectionately remembered to your little Mary & other children, as well as to all those christian friends to whom your kind partiallity [sic] has introduced me by name, tho’ not by sight. Oh! What a prospect it is the Christian has in view
when all those who love the Lord, of all nations & languages shall meet together before the Throne to sing the praises of the lamb, & Him who redeemed them & bought them with His own blood. I am ashamed to beg for a letter when I know your time is so much occupied, but I am sure I need not say what delight it is to me, to receive if only three line from you, & how highly I prize every word, with feelings of deep respect & gratitude I beg to remain, very dear Sir
Your’s most sincerely in Christian love
Mary Caroline Ward
Bishop’s Court. July. 31. 1829