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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 expresses deep sympathy for Chase at this time of turbulence in his life. She tells him that her father is helping to build a church and college on the Isle of Man. She also asks Chase for information about a woman she once corresponded with named Sarah King.
Date
10-4-1832
Keywords
Rev. W. Ward, Isle of Man, Sarah King
Recommended Citation
Ward, Mary Caroline, "Letter to Philander Chase" (1832). Philander Chase Letters. 932.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/932
Rights Statement
Transcript
Bishop’s Court, Isle of Mann
Octr. 4. 1832
Very dear Bishop Chase
I hope you have not thought me so forgetful as Papa says I have appeared, in not writing to express [the] interest which I so sincerely feel in all that concerns you, & your poor bereaved Diocese & College. If we could visit you in the Valley of Peace & help you to fence out the weather from your dwelling, or if you could visit us in our isolated abode, where we live encompassed with walls which in many parts are 9 feet thick, we could speak of these things much more pleasantly than by paper & ink, & I know we should hear from you of the loving-kindness of the Lord, how He has been with you in trouble, & enabled you to support your great & overwhelming sorrows. Deeply indeed have we sympathised with you, from the beginning; if you had not had so much reason to mistrust the reality of friendship, it would be needless to say that the mistruths which reached us, long before we heard a word from you upon the subject, could gain [no] admission to our credulity. We have lately read with great interest your defence in a series of letters to your friends in England; if any thing could add an interest to them, it was that they came from your pen, & were written in a log cabin in the wild woods of Ohio. We shall anxiously await the account of the events of the next month, when I beleive [sic] it will be decided if you return again to your Diocese & to the presidency of the College. Papa is prospering tolerably in his works for the benefit & improvement of this Island, & this I know you will rejoice to hear; he consecrated the first new Church which has been partly built by a fund raised in England by subscription, last Thursday the 27 of Sepr. One or two more are nearly ready for consecration, & some others in progress. The College buildings are nearly complete, & we have a prospect of obtaining an excellent head-master. I know all this is interesting to you as it concerns the Church of Christ, & especially as it relates to that portion of the Vineyard which has been alloted to my Father’s cultivation. It would be a happy day if we could see you here, or any belonging [to] you who should bring us tidings of your welfare & the peace & prosperity of your Diocese. God grant that we may hear of these, & that you & your’s [sic] may not suffer from the severe life of trial to health & strength which you endure. With kind & Christian regards to Mrs Chase & to your children if they still know my name, & to a lady who once wrote to me, of the name of [K]ing & of whom I should much like to hear from you, if you have still any communication with her.
I beg to remain Rt. Revd. & very dear Sir
ever with sincere respect Your
affectionate & grateful Mary Caroline Ward
I am afraid I must have appeared neglectful in not answering a long kind letter which I received from this lady when we were in England last summer but I do not now know how or where to address her. Will you kindly let me have her direction if you know it her signature was Sarah [K]ing.