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PAPERS RELATING TO THE SIX NATIONS
SECY BANYAR TO SIR WM JOHNSON.
Dear Sir William The Bearer M r William Andrews is a young Gentleman from Ireland , who hasthoughts of taking orders for the Ministry. He is in hopes of being called for the Church of Schen-ectady, and carrys recommendatory Letters from Doctor Auchmuty and Colonel Crogham. Iunderstand his character is unexceptionable and his Education liberal. If you can be of any ser-vice to him you will oblige me in giving him Countenance, and your Civilitice I shall acknowledgewith Gratitude I am indebted to you for a Letter; but it shall not be long eer I discharge it
I. am D r Sir W m your affectionate and obedient Servant
Gw Banyar.
MR. ANDREWS TO SIR WM. JOHNSON.
Sir, I have just receiv’d intelligence of a Yessell at York bound for Ireland , and is expectedto sail very shortly. On this Account, and because my Continuance here entirely depends uponyour recommending me to the Society ’s service; I shou’d sincerely thank you to send me the recom-mendatory letter, as soon as convenient.
I have been seriously considering of the most effectual means, of procuring proper Persons tosupply the vacant Missions in this Province, and can, upon mature Consideration, think of no betterjudged Expedient, than to invite some of the sober, and aged Graduates of Trinity-College ,Dublin to undertake the sacred Office. I doubt not, but the Proposal wou’d be pleasing to thePeople, and the Offer agreeable to the Gentlemen.
My Reasons for advancing this Circumstance, I must humbly beg leave to mention.
A late Abstract of the Society, informs us of the Want of Clergy even in several parts ofEngland, occasion’d probably by the Students diverting their Education to more profitable Pursuits.And the Candidates for holy Orders, educated on this side the Atlantic, are by no means enabledto perform the Service of the Church, and discharge their Duty with so much Satisfaction to theirCongregation, as these persons I have been speaking of, who have regularly obtained their Degreesby Merit, after a proper Course of Study. Tho’ I do not urge this Circumstance, thro’ any disre-spect or by way of Retort, against the Americans, I only mention it on account of their being de-prived of the Opportunity of receiving so good and solid an Education.
Ireland does not labour under the same disadvantage, as England, with respect to Clergy; For, w r efrequently hear of numbers, soliciting for a Curacy, a poor Provision indeed. Besides let me add,that the American Candidates are subject to the Danger and Expense of doubly traversing a largeOcean, and incumbred with Charges, which they are scarce enabled to bear before they can obtaintheir desire.
Now, if this Plan shou’d be found agreeable to the Society, I believe I cou’d prevail upon someof those Gentlemen to come over, and settle in these Vacancies, whose Characters and Qualificationscou’d be properly ascertained.