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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
Gambier discusses Chase's continued support in England and thanks him for his account of the buildings of Kenyon College.
Date
8-10-1829
Keywords
G.W. Marriott, Lord Goderich, Bishop of Sodor & Mann, Dr. Ward, Lady Goderich, Mr. Pratt, Lord Kenyon, Missionary Register, Cornish, Lady Gambier
Recommended Citation
Lord Gambier, "Letter to Philander Chase" (1829). Philander Chase Letters. 805.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/805
Rights Statement
Transcript
Iver. 10th August 1829
My very dear Bishop
Your letters of the 17th March and the 11th June are most gratifying to my heart and also to some of your numerous friends in our Land, who take a deep interest in your personal concerns and your well being, temporal and spiritual. The first letter of the 17 Mar. I sent to our excellent friend Mr Marriott, who took it in his pocket when he went, one morning to breakfast with Lord Goderich; where it was read to the Bishop of Sodor and Mann Dr. Ward and some other friends of yours present; who were much gratified in hearing all the details you give of your pious work in the desert, now beginning to bud and blossom with the plants of Divine Truth planted by your hand: aided by divine Grace from your Heavenly Lord. Lady Goderich was so delighted with all you state, that she desired to have a copy of the letter – it was by my desire sent by Mr Marriott to our highly esteemed friend Mr Pratt, who has form’d an article from it and from a letter of yours to Lord Kenyon in the Missionary Register for the present month. I ought to let you know what Mr. Pratt writes to me relative to yourself, viz, “I have had an article under preparation for sometime for the Miss’ny Register, but have not been able to complete it from the pressure of other engagement – our venerable friend continues to display those characteristics, both natural and grace[?], with which it has pleased God so richly to endow him – I feel much regret and some measure of self-reproach that I have not maintained that correspondence with him which he has on his part done me the favor, amidst all his labours to cherish; but I hope that I shall be better able in future to manifest in this way the respect and love which I feel for him as a distinguished servant of God.” Mr Pratt is quite overwhelmed with the multiplicity of business in his various callings and occupations, and I am not surprised that he has not been able to preserve that correspondence with you that you both wish to keep up.
I cordially join with you my very dearly esteemed friend in adoration and praise to your Divine Master and Almighty Redeemer for His loving kindness, and grace so plainly manifest towards you in so greatly favouring the noble and pious work which He put into your mind to undertake – protecting you so graciously in your journeys and voyages by land and sea as He has done and raising up friends to you wherever you want. The Country around you must be very beautiful; what pleasure would it give me to view it and your rising noble Institution of Kenyon College. I admire the strength and durability you give to the Walls; quite consistent with the character of such a grand and noble Edifice (you will no doubt fix a conductor to the spire to preserve it against the effects of lightening, so frequent in your country) Very delightfull is the description you so kindly give me of the buildings and the surrounding country – still more so that of the piety and zeal of the students, their earnest desire for and their active exertions to spread the knowledge of divine Truth to the Inhabitants of the land around the College, the increase of religious knowledge among them and the solitary wilderness, now blooming with the Rose of Sharon, to the glory of our Great Redeemer’s Name. Well may you exclaim my dear Friend, “What has God wrought! To Him be all the Glory and all the [praise]!”
I sympathize with you my dear Bishop in your feeling of disappointment of that aid to your pious cause that you might have so justly expected from your Government – but you well know how to reconcile yourself to it. “It is the Lord’s will!” you say, be it done! And I say, He will find you means to go on with your great work very different from those you expected, and look for, and more abundantly too. That of establishing the new Town of Cornish and the sale of the Land in and around it, is an excellent expedient to raise money for the College; there will be no want of purchasers and settlers when it becomes known.
Mr Marriott left me this morning having pass’d two days with us – we have had much conversation about you and your great work.
Lady Gambier desires to join me in every kind wish and prayer for your well being and that the Lord whom you so faithfully and zealously serve may give His blessing to the work of your hands, to yourself in all your concerns to your highly esteemed and beloved consort – and all your Family. I remain ever my dear Bishop, your affectionate and sincere friend,
Gambier