20

FIRST PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY.

[CH.

following are extracts from the very first report,' drawn up in the year 1704 :

:

"1. That they might answer the main end of their Incorporation, they have actually commissioned two Missionaries at a very great expense, and are soliciting maintenance from the Crown for four more, who are at least wanting, for the conversion of the Praying Indians of Canada, whose souls we must be accountable for, if we neglect longer to instruct them in the faith of our blessed Redeemer, when God has so wonderfully opened their eyes, their hearts, and their very tongues, so as to call to us, as those of Macedonia did to the Apostle of the Gentiles, Come over and help us.'

"2. Nor has the Society turned their thoughts only on the Indians in the northern parts of the English dominions, but has sent also one Missionary for the service of the Yeomansee Indians to the south of Carolina, who having been lately engaged in a war with the Spaniards, and every day in danger of an invasion from them, were not in a condition to receive instruction, nor was it thought fit by the Governours to trust him yet amongst them, but as soon as 'tis practicable to treat with them, there are assurances he shall leave the neighbourhood, where he is instructing many souls as much neglected as the former, the Negroes of Gooscreek.

"3. They have made suitable provision also for some of the [West Indian] islands, those too much neglected parts of Her Majesty's territories, by a supply of two Ministers, without any charge to the people, and have otherwise supported eight more in the islands and on the continent, in such manner as has been requested."

No sooner was the charter obtained, than the Society entered upon its duties. The first meeting was held on Friday, June 27, 1701, in the library of Archbishop Tenithe President; and in the list of those who attended we find the names of the Bishop of London, (Compton,) the Bishop of Bangor, (Evans,) Chichester, (Williams,) and Gloucester, (Fowler ;) Dr. White Kennett, (afterwards

son,

1 A fac-simile of this Report has been lately reprinted.

II.]

FIRST PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY.

21

Bishop of Peterborough,) Dr. Stanhope, Dr. Bray, Sir John Chardin, Sir Richard Blackmore, Sir George Wheeler,' and Sergeant Hook.

Mr. Melmoth, author of the well-known tract entitled "The Great Importance of a Religious Life," and Mr. Hodges, were appointed Treasurers, and Mr. John Chamberlain, Secretary. A common seal was ordered, and a committee named to draw up the necessary standing orders and bye-laws. The next meeting was held on the 8th of July, at the Cock-Pit, Westminster, to receive the report on the standing orders, the first of which related to the prayers to be used by the Society before entering upon business; and the second, to the anniversary sermon. Other preliminary business was transacted at ensuing meetings. The members entered their names on a subscription roll,' specially prepared, copies of which, with a formal "authority or deputation," were given to several persons of "figure and interest" in their respective counties, to collect subscriptions in aid of the Society's objects; and particular application was directed to be made to the " eminent bankers of the city of London-specially to such of them as traded in the plantations."

Many excellent and distinguished men were almost every month elected into the corporation, which, on the 21st November, had the high honour of adding to its list the names of Francis Nicholson, governor of Virginia, and Robert Nelson, author of the "Fasts and Festivals."

The first matter of importance, bearing immediately upon its missionary character, which the Society took in hand, was an inquiry into the state of religion in the North

The founder of a chapel in Spitalfields, which for a long time bore his name, but which is properly styled St. Mary, Norton Folgate.

2 See Appendix B.

3

Appendix to Journal.

American Settlements; and painful as were the allegations of the absence of all public worship, nay, even the abandonment of the people to "infidelity and atheism," recited in the preamble of the charter, they were fully supported by official reports from the colonies. At a meeting of the Society, on the 19th September, 1701, a memorial was read from Colonel Morris,1 in which he speaks of the several townships of East Jersey as distracted by almost every variety of dissent, but with little appearance of real religion among them. The Dutch settlers of Bergen, indeed, he describes as about equally divided between Lutheran and Calvinist, and "a sober people, with one pretty little church;" but Piscataway was called the "Anabaptist Town," from "about twenty that agree in that persuasion, the rest of the people being of all or of no religion."

Freehold consisted partly of Scotch Presbyterians, "a sober people;" partly of settlers from New England and New York, who were, "generally speaking, of no religion." Middleton was settled from New York and New England: "it is," says Colonel Morris, "a large township; there is no such thing as church or religion amongst them; they are, perhaps, the most ignorant and wicked people in the world; their meeting on Sundays is at the public-house, where they get their fill of rum, and go to fighting and running of races, which are practices much in use that day all the province over."

At Shrewsbury there were about thirty Quakers, who had a meeting-house; "the rest of the people are generally of no religion. The youth of the whole province are very debauched, and very ignorant, and the Sabbath-day seems there to be set apart for rioting and drunkenness." An attempt to settle "a maintenance for ministers," was 1 Appendix to Journal.

defeated by one Richard Harshorne, a Quaker, and Andrew Browne, an Anabaptist.

The Colonel describes the settlers of West Jersey in the same general terms-as "a hotch-potch of all religions," and the youth as being "very debauched and very ignorant;" he, however, excepts the Quakers from this censure, styling them" the men of the best rank and estates" in the Province, but much reduced in number" since Mr. Keith left them."

He gives nearly the same account of Pennsylvania, and then proceeds to suggest measures to remedy this grievous state of irreligion and division. Among others, that no man be sent as a Governor to any of the plantations but a firm churchman, and if possible, that none but churchmen be in his council and in the magistracy. That no clergyman be admitted to any considerable benefice in England, before he has preached three years gratis in America.””

At the same meeting of the Society, an account of the state of religion in the English plantations of North America, by Colonel Dudley, Governor of New England, was presented and read.

This document, relating to the early condition of States which have, during the last century and a half, so wonderfully increased, both in numbers and wealth, will be read with interest. It is therefore subjoined in full.

"An Account of the State of Religion in the English Plantations in North America, by Colonel Dudley, Governor of New England.

"The plantations on the shore of America, as they lie from south to north, may be thus accounted :

"South Carolina contains seven thousand souls, will admit and support three ministers.

"North Carolina, five thousand souls. Alike, three ministers, and both stand in need of schools.

"Virginia-forty thousand souls-was, by the Lord Culpepper, divided into about forty parishes, with an established maintenance by act of assembly, but is not fully supplied, and the maintenance hurt by disuse; but will be always encouraged by Colonel Nicholson, the present governor.

Maryland, twenty-five thousand souls, in twenty-six parishes. I suppose well supplied by the care of Dr. Bray.

"Pennsylvania, and the lower countries annexed, fifteen thousand souls, will well support four ministers; one in Philadelphia, and one in each county, with dependent schools upon each.

"West Jersey-two thousand souls, most Quakers-may yet have one minister-at present supported from England.

"East Jersey-six thousand souls, in about seven towns and parishes-may at present support two ministers-the rest being dissenters.

"New York, twenty-five thousand souls, in twenty-five towns; about ten of them Dutch, the rest English-may have about five ministers; the rest Dutch Presbyterians and English Dissenters.

"Connecticut, thirty thousand souls, about thirty-three towns, all dissenters, supplied with ministers and schools of their own persuasion.

"Naraganset, or King's Province, three thousand souls, without any ministry, or public form of religion-may have two ministers, and might well support them.

"Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, five thousand souls in seven towns, at present under a Quaker government, but might have two ministers and schoolmasters, at first subsisted from home, at least one of them.

"Massachussets, or New England, seventy thousand souls in seventy towns, all dissenters, that have ministers and schools of their own persuasions, except one congregation of the Church of England at Boston, where there are two ministers.

"New Hampshire, three thousand souls in six towns, all dissenters that have ministers and schools of their own persuasion. "Province of Maine, two thousand souls in six towns, (the rest of that great province being in ten years past wasted and driven