Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. III
Neitlier My Lord is this Province begirt only with Colony s a7id Commonwealths of these men, but they grow up and thrive in the very midst of Her, Her few Countys are divided between dissenters, English^ Dutch, and French, and were it not for the pious bounty of the venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts the places remote from tliis the metropolis would not have one church for the reception of such as are inclined to embrace the worship of the Cluu-cli of England, from hence wee humbly conceive that your L^ship Avill readily believe what difhcultys the country missionaries labour under either at first to gather a congregation from the eneniies of the church, or to keep it together when gatliered, -- and tliat it requires men of exemplary lives, sound learning, and a mild disposition to gain converts here, or to preserve tliem when gained, and God be praised for it many of the missionaries are
PAPERS RELATING TO THE CITY OF NEW- YORK. 437
blessed with these endowments, and have reaped a plentifull harvest in their several} districts -- but the unhappy conduct of one M'' Francis Philips lately sent by the Society to Stratford in New England has on the other hand done an irrepairable injury to the estabhshed church in a place where there was a very great appearance of its increase. »
My Lortl, we most devoutly wisli tliat we could say more of tlie pr(^gress of the Cliurch in this city, that we coukl tell your L''sliip that Her Majesty's Royal benefactions seconded by your L'' ship's Kiglit Reverend Predecessor and the ca}e of some of our Excellent Governours had met with the desired success, it is true indeed My Lord (and we rejoice to say it) that we have here a thriving Cliurch of the estabblished worship, that the same cliurch enjoys a charter with ample priviledges, ynd that our minister is made happy in his function by a large stipend here and tiie enjoyment of a certaine Ifarme called the Queen's flkrme which his Excellence Brigadier Hunter lias consented the Church shall possess during Ids stay in this Government, out of which M'' Vesey is allowed =£20 p annum, which in all with perquisites is computed at X300 per annum.