Rev. W. Ward

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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

Rev. Ward is anxious to hear how Chase's cultivation of the Gilead settlement is going and entreats him to write in response. He hopes that Chase will be offered the position of Bishop of Michigan, and he again offers the labor of several Irishmen who are "bred to labour & industry," suggesting that they would arrive in the spring or summer. King William's College has been finished and Rev. Ward is building an eighth church.

Date

4-3-1834

Keywords

House of Bishops, Eastern Church, Gilead, Michigan, Ireland, Peak, James, Irishmen, King William's College

Transcript

Gt. Horkesley

April 3 - 1834

Right Rev. & ever dear Friend

I have been expecting to hear from you, but do not think of you the less for your long silence. I wish to know how you succeed in the cultivation of the soil and the propagation of the Gospel - and all your labours, & your planting & watering in temporals & spirituals. Have you got more help in your Church labours? I have heard some report that you have, and that 5 or 6 Presbyters have arrived, in that territory from the Eastern Church. I hope they are working in junction with you, and that they will present & nominate you as the Bishop of Michigan territory to the House of Bishops - for I think when any of your states is formed into a Bishoprick, that the Bishop is chosen by a certain number of Presbyters out of their number, and nominated to the House of Bishops. This being the case, I shall be happy to hear there is a good understanding between you and the Clergy of Michigan. It would be grievous, very grievous to me, if there should be so scandalous an anomaly in your Church as the appointment of a new Bishop in that State over you - and I should rejoice to hear that you are reinstated in your Episcopal duties in the very infancy of that new & rapidly increasing Colony. It is a great matter in favour of the Church to preoccupy the field, and keep pace with the population in opening Episcopal places of worship, and ministers to serve them. I trust you will have reason to be as thoughtful to the Almighty as good old Abraham had when he was commanded to leave his home & his people, and to travel into a land in which he was a stranger. May you have the faith of Abraham, and after you shall have finished your pilgrimage, may you be received into Abraham’s bosom.

I think I mentioned in my last, but I cannot clearly recollect, that I recommended two or three Irishmen who have been bred to the family line, and [?] resolved to emigrate to America, to go straight to your new Settlement promising them that they should have your protection, advice, & interest. I thought I might venture to do this - you may have the power of being very useful to them in selecting & settling them on an eligible spot, and directing them how to proceed - and should that spot be near your Mount Gilead, I should be very glad on account of the opportunity of your spiritual council & ministration. As poor fellows from poor Ireland do not usually go to America because they are in affluence at home, I fear they will not be burdened with riches - but you will be able to teach them how to cut their coats according to the cloth. The names of two of them about whom I am most concerned, are Peak, and James; and when I tell you that Peak is a poor honest relation of my own, I need say no more to recommend him to you. I am told he has got four very strong bones, but I have never seen him - bred to labour & industry - so that if he has not got the sinews of money he has got the sinews of labour. They would very likely reach you this Spring or in the course of the summer.

Pray let me hear from you, for as long as I live I shall retain love & veneration for your person, and very anxious wish for the success of your ministry in that new and interesting spot - and also your agricultural prosperity. By your description it must be a most interesting Country as to the face of nature and the quality of the soil. The first settlers will have great advantage in having the power to pick & choose the best spots.

You will be glad to hear that my College is finished, supplied with Professors of the first description in religion & learning, and filling fast with students and Pupils, not only of the Island, but from the surrounding shores of England, Scotland, & Ireland - and I shall soon have finished my eighth new Church, besides enlarging several others - but alas! alas! Our glorious Church is threatened with a downfall. The devil & the dissenters & the Romanists - the Infidels & the Atheists, and all such Agents of the great enemy of mankind are forming a strict coalition against her, to demolish her - though I believe England & Ireland never say the Protestant Episcopal Church at any period since the Reformation in so spiritual a condition as at the present moment, nor with a Body of Clergy so zealous, laborious, faithful & devoted - & that is the very reason why the Devil has such a spite at us, & the very reason why he had such a spite against you in Kenyon Coll. & the Diocese of Ohio.

When we are obliged to fly, we shall go over & help you. In the meantime I remain, with the love of all this family to you & your’s [sic] your faithful & affecte. Friend

and Brother - W. Sodor & Mann

The Rt. Rev.

Bishop Chase

Gilead

Branch County

Michigan Territory

United States

N. America

Letter to Philander Chase

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