University of California Berkeley
P R O P O SAL
For the better Supplying -of ' ' : :
C H U R C H E^
I N O U R
Foreign Plantations*
AND FOR
Converting the Savage Ameri-
cans to CHRISTIANITY,
By a COLLEGE to be eroded in the
Summer IJlands, othcrwiie called the
Ifles of Bermuda.
/>
fife barveft is truly great, but the labourers are
few. Luke c. 10. v. z.
L N D Q N,
Printed by H. W o o B F A L L, at Elzevir's- Head
without fcnipJe-Bar: And fold by J. ROBERTS,
near the Oxford- Arms in tyarwick-Laite. 1725.
(Price Sixpence.)-
V.
(3)
A PROPOSAL /0r the
better Supplying ^ of
Churches in our -foreign
Plantations, &c.
L T H O U G H there are feveral ex-
cellent perfons of the church of Eng-
land, whofe good intentions and endea-
vours have not been wanting to propa-
gate the gofpel in foreign parts, who
have even combined into focieties for that very
purpofe, and given great encouragement, not only
for Englifh miflionaries in the Weft-Indies, but alfo,
for the reformed of other nations, led by their ex-
ample, to propagate chriftianity in the Eaft : It is
nevertheless acknowledged, that there is at this
day, but little fenfe of religion, and a mod noto^
rious corruption of manners, in the Englifh colonies
fettled on the continent of America, and the iflands.
It is alfo acknowledged, that the gofpel hath hi-
therto made but a very ineonfiderable progrefs a-
mong the neighbouring Americans, who dill con-
tinue in much-what the fame ignorance and bar-
barifm* in which we found them above a hundred
years ago.
. (4)
' ;: ;'. I ffoall; therefore venture to fubmh my thoughts
'' upoii a 1 p brnt', that I have long confider'd, to better
,-, ; ; .; : ; :ju%ments, jn/ho,pes that any expedient will be fa-
'vmirabiy Learkned to, which is propofed for the
remedy of thefe evils. Now in order to effect this,
it fhould feetn the natural proper method, to pro-
vide, in the firft place, a conftant fupply of worthy
clergy-men for the Englifh churches in thofe parts $
and in the fecond place, a like conftant fupply ot"
zealous miflionaries well fitted for propagating Chri-
ftLanity among the favages.
For though the fureft means to reform the morals,
and foften the behaviour of men, be, to preach to
them the pure uncorrupt doctrine of the gofpel, yet
it cannot be denied that thefuccefs of preaching de-
pendeth in good meafure on the character and skill
of the preacher : Forafmuch as mankind are more
apt to copy characters than to pradife precepts, and
forafmuch as argument, to attain its full rfrength,
doth not lefs require the life of zeal, than the
weight of reafon $ and the fame doctrine, which
rnaketh great impreflion, when delivered with de-
cency and addreis, lofeth very much of its force
by paffing through aukward or unskilful hands.
Now the clergy fent over to America have pro-
ved, too many of them, very meanly qualifkd both
in learning and morals for the difcharge of their of-
fice. And indeed little can be expected from the
example or inftruction of thofe, who quit their
native country on no other motive, than that they
are not able to procure a livelihood in it, which is-
known to be often the cafe.
To this may be imputed the fmall care that hath
been taken to convert the negroes of our planta-
tions, who, to the infamy of England, and fcandal
'of the world, continue Heathen under Ghriftian ma-
ftcrs, and in Chriftian conntries. Which cou'd ne-
ver be, if our planters were rightly inttrudted and
made fenfiblo-, that they difa]5pointed their own bap-
tifm by denying it to thofe who belong to them :
That
(5)
That it would be of advantage to their affairs, to
to have flaves who fhould obey in all things their
maflers according^ to the flejb, not -with eye-fervice
as wn-pleafers> b f ut, in Jlnglenefs of heart as fear-
ing God ; That gofpel liberty confifts with temporal
fervitude : and that their flaves would only become
better flaves by being Chriftian.
And though it be allowed that fome of the clergy
in our colonies have approved themfelves men of
merit, it will at the fame time be allowed, that
themoft zealous and able miflionary from England
muft findhimfelf but ill qualified for con verting the
American Heathen, if we confider the difference of
language, their wild way of living, and above all,
the great jealoufy and prejudice which favage na-
tions have towards foreigners, or innovations intro-
duced by them.
Thefe confiderations make it evident, that a col-
lege or feminary in thofe parts is very much wanted 5
and therefore the providing fuch a feminary, is
earnsftly propofed and recommended to all thofe,
who have it in their power, to contribute to fo
good a work. By this, two ends would be ob-
tained.
Firft, the youth of our Englifh plantations might
be themfelves fitted for the miniiiry $ and men of
merit would be then glad to -fill the churches of
their native country, which are now a drain for
the very dregs and refufe of ours.
At prefent, there are, I am told, many churches
vacant in our plantations, and many very ill fup-
plied 5 nor canall the vigilance and wifdorn of that
great prelate, whofe peculiar care it is, prevent
this, fo long as the aforefaid churches are fupplied
from England.
And fupplied they muft be, with fuch as can be
pick'd uj> in England or Ireland, till a nurfcry of
learning for the education of the natives is founded.
This indeed might provide a conftant fucceffion of
learned and exemplary paftors $ and what effefl
this
this muft bcfuppofed to have on their flocks', I
need not fay.
Secondly, the children of favage Americans,
brbught up in fuch a feminary, and well inftrucled
in religion and learning, might make the ableftand
J>fopereft miifionaries for Spreading the gofpel a-
mong their countrymen , who would be lefs apt to
fufpecl, and readier to embrace a doclrine recom-
mended by neighbours or relations, men of their*
own blood and language, than if it were propofed
by foreigners, who would not improbably be
thought to have deilgns on the liberty or property
of their converts.
The young Americans neceffary for this purpofc,
jhny, in the beginning be procured, either by peace-
able methods from thole favage nations, which
border on our colonies, and are in friendfhip with
Us, or by taking captive- the children of our ene-
mies.
It is propofed to admit into the aforefaid college
only fuch favages as are under ten years of age,
before evil habits have taken a deep root 3 and yet
not fo early as to prevent retaining their mother
tongue, which fhould be preferred by intercourfb
among themfelvcs.
It is further propofed, to ground thefe young
Americans thoroughly in religion and morality, and
to give them a good tincture of other learning;
particularly of eicquence, hiilory, and practical
mathematicks : to which it may not be improper
to add fome skill in phyfkk.
If there were a yearly fupply of ten of a dozen
fuch miflionaries fent abroad into their rcfpeclive
countries, after they had received the degree of
mafter or arts in the aforefaid college, and holy
orders in England, (till fuch time as epifcopacy
be ellabiilhed in thofe parts) it is hardly to be
doubted, but, in a little time the world would fee
good and great effecls thereof.
r
For, to any confidering man, the employing Ame-
rican miflionaries for the converfion of America,
will, of all others, appear the moft likely method
to fucceed 5 efpecially if care be taken, that, du-
ring the whole courfe of their education, an eye
Ihould be had to their miffion; that they fhouid
be taught betimes to confider themfelves as trained
up in that fole view, without any other profpecl: of
provifion, or employment ; that a zeal for religion,
and love of their country, fhouid be early and con-
ftantly inftilled into their minds, by repeated le-
ctures and admonitions 5 that they fhouid not only
be incited by the common topics of religion and
nature, but farther animated and enflamed by the
great examples, in paft ages, ofpublick fpirit and
virtue, to refcue their countrymen from their favage
manners, to a life of civility and religion.
If his majefty would gracioufly pleafe to grant
a. charter for a college to be creeled in a proper
place for thefe ufes, it is to be hoped a fund may
befoonraifed, by the contribution ofwell-difpofed
perfons, fufficient for building and endowing the
fame. For as the neceflary expence would be
fmall, fo there are men of religion and humanity
in England, who would be pleafed to fee any de-
fign fet forward for the glpry of God and the good
of mankind.
A fmall expence would fuffice to fubfift and
educate the American miffionaries in a plain fim-
ple manner, fuch as might make it eafy for them
to return to the coarfe and poor methods of life in
ufe among their countrymen ; and nothing can con-
tribute more to leffen this expence, than a judicidus
choice of the fituation, where the feminarv is to
ftand.
Many things ought to be ccnfidered in the choice
of a fituation. It fhouid be in a good air 5 in a
place where provifions are cheap and plenty ; where.
an intcrcourie might eafily be kept up with ' all
parts ot America and the iilands; in a place offc-
(8)
curity, not expofed to theinfults ofpyrates,favage$,
or other enemies , where there is no great trade,
which might tempt the readers or fellows of the
college to become merchants, to the neglecl: of
their proper bufinefs $ where there are neither ri-
ches nor luxury to divert, or leffen their applica-
tion, or to make them uneafy and diffatisfied with
a homely frugal fubfiftence : laftly, where the in-
habitants, if fuch a place may be found, are noted
for innocence and fimplicity of manners. I need
not fay of how great importance this point would
be toward forming the morals of young ftudents,
and what mighty influence it muft have on the
miffion.
Jt is evident the college long fince projected in
Barbadoes would be defective in many of thefc
particulars j for though it may have its ufe among
the inhabitants, yet a place of fo high trade, fo
much wealth and luxury, and fuch diffblute mo-
rals, (not to mention the great price and fcarcity of
provifions 5) niuft at firft fight feem a very impro-
per fituation for a general feminary intended for the
forming mifilonaries, and educating youth in reli-
gion and fobriety of manners. The fame objections
lie againft the neighbouring iflands.
And if we confidcr the accounts given of their;
avarice and licentioufnefs, their coldnefs in the pra-
cliice of religion, and their averfion from propaga^
ting it, (which appears in the withholding their
ilaves from baptifm) it is to be feared, that the
Inhabitants in the populous parts of our plantations
on the continent are not much fitter, than thofe
in. the iflands abovementioned, to influence or af-
iift fuch a defign. And as to the more remote
and lefs frequented parts, the difficulty of being
fupplied with neceffaries, the danger of being ex-
pofed to the inroads of favages, and above all, the
want ofirttercourfe with other places, render them
improper fituations for a feminary of religion and
learning.
(9)
It will not be amifs to infert here an obfervation,
I remember to have feeri in an abftracl 1 of the
proceedings, &c. annexed to the Etean cf Canterbu-
ry's fermon, before the fociety for the propagation
of the gofpel in foreign parts $ that the favage In-
dians, who live on the continent, will not fuffer
their children to learn Englifh. or Dutch, left they
ihould be debauched by converfing with their Eu-
ropean neighbours : which is a melancholy, but
ftrong confirmation of the truth of what hath been
now advanced.
A general intercourfe and correfpohdence with,
all the Englifh colonies, both on the i (lands and the
continent, and with other parts of Amer ca, hath
been before laid down, as a neceffary circumftance,
the reafon whereof is very evident. But this cir-
cumftance is hardly to be found. For on the con-
tinent, where there are neither inns, nor carriages,
rior br/dges over the rivers, there is no travelling
by land between diftant places. And the Englifh
fettlements are reputed to extend along the fea-
coaft for the fpace of fifteen hundred miles. It is
therefore plain, there can be no convenient com-
munication between tliem, otherwife than by fea 5
no advantage therefore, in this point, can be gained
by fettling on the continent.
There is another confideration, which equally re-
gards the continent and i (lands, that the general
courfe of trade and correfpondence lies from all
thofe colonies to Great Britain alone : Whereas,
for our prcfent purpofe, it would be neceffary to
pitch upon a place, if fuch could be found, which
maintains a conftant intercourfe with all the other
colonies, and whofe commerce lies chieflPjr or alto-
gether (not in Europe, but) in America.
There is but one fpot that I can find, to which
this circumftance agrees and that is the ides of
Bermuda, otherwife called the Summer Iflands.
Thefe having no rich commodity or manufacture,
fueh as fugar, tobacco^ or the like, wherewithal
to
to trade to England, are obliged to become car-
riers for America, as the Dutch are for Europe.
The Bermudans are excellent Shipwrights and
failors, and have a great number of very good
floops, which are always paffing and repairing
from all parts of America. They drive a conftant
trade to the iflands of Jamaica, Barbadoes, Antego,
&c. with butter, onions, cabbages, and other
roots and vegetables, which they have in great
plenty and perfection. They have alfo fome imall
manufactures of joyner's work and matting, which
they export to the plantations on the continent.
Hence Bermudan floops are oftner feen in the
ports of America, than any other. And indeed,
by the beft information I could get, it appears
they are the only people of all the Britifh planta-
tions, who hold a general correfpondence with the
feil.
And, as the commerce of Bermuda renders it a
very fit place, wherein to crel a feminary, fb
likewife doth its firuation, it being placed between
our plantations on the Continent, and thofe in the
i'les, fo as equally to rcfpect both. To which
may be added, that it lies in the way of vefTels
paffing from America to Great Britain $ all which
inakes it plain, that the youth, to be educated in a
.feminary placed in the Summer Iflands, would
Iiave frequent opportunities of going thither and
correfponding with their friends. It rriuft indeed
be owned, that fome will be obliged to gp a long
way to any one place, which we fuppofe refortcd
to, from all parts of our plantations $ but if we
were to look out a fpot the neareft approaching to
an equj^, ciiftance from all the reft, i beiieye it
Would W foiind to be Bermuda. It remain;,, that
we fee whether it enjoys the other qualities ur con-
. ditions laid down as well as this.
The Summer Iflands are fituated near the lati-
tude of thirty-three degrees no part of the world
enjoys a purer air, or a more temperate climate,
' ' the
the great ocean which environs them, at once mo-
derating the heat of the fouth winds, and the fe-
verity of the north-weft. Such a latitude on the
continent might be thought too hot -^butthe air
. in Bermuda is perpetually fanned and kept cool by
fea breezes, which render the weather the molt
healthy and delightful that could be wifhed, being,
(as is affirmed by perfons who have long lived there)
of one equal tenour almoft throughout the whole"
year, like the latter-end of a fine May j mfomuch
that it is reforted to as the Montpelier of America.
Nor are thefe ifles (if we may believe the ac*
counts given of them) lefs remarkable for plenty
than for health 5 there being, befides beef, mutton,
and fowl, great abundance of fruits, and garden-
fluff of all kinds in perfection : To this, if we add
the great plenty and variety of filh, which is every
day taken on their coafts, it would feem, that a
feminary could no where be fupplied with better
provifions, or cheaper than here.
About forty years ago, upon cutting down many
tall cedars, that flickered their orange-trees from
the north weft- wind (which fometimes blows, even
there, foas to affect that delicate plant) great part
of their orange plantations fufFered ; but other ce-
dars are fince grown up, and no doubt a little in-
duftry would again produce as great plenty of oran-
ge?, as ever was there heretofore. 1 mention this,
becaufe fome have inferred from.the prefentfcarcity
of that fruit, for which Bermuda was once fo fa-
mous, that there hath been a change in the foil
and climate for the worfe, But this, as hath been
obferved, proceeded from another caufe, which is
now in great meafure taken away.
Bermuda is a cluftcr of finall i (lands, which lie
in a very narrow compafs, containing, in all, not
quite twenty thoufand acres. This groupe of iiles
is (to ufe Mr. Waller's expreilion) walled round with
rocks, which render them inacceffible to py rates,
prcnemies 5 there being but two narrow entranc.es,
B 2 " 'both
(a*))
both well guarded by forts. It would therefore be
impoflible to find any where, a more fecure re-
treat for ftudents.
The trade of Bermuda confifts only in garden-
fluff, and fome poor manufactures, principally of
cedar and the palmetto-leaf Bermuda hats are
worn by our ladies : They are made of a fort of
mat, or fas they call it) platting made of the pal-
metto leaf, which is the only commodity that I can
find exported from Bermuda to Great Britain 3
and as there is no profpec~t of making a fortune by
this fmall trade, fo it cannot be fuppofed to tempt
the fellows of the college to engage in it, to the
neglecl: of their peculiar bufineis, which might
poffibly be the cafe elfewhere.
Such as their trade.is, fuch is their wealth 5 the
inhabitants being much poorer than the other co-
lonies, who do not tail to defpife them upon that
account. But if they have leis wealth, they have
withal lefs vice and expenfive folly than their
rieig: hours. They are reprefented as a contented,
plain, innocent fort of people, free from avarice and
luxury, as well as the other corruptions that attend
fhofe vices
I am aifo informed, that they are more conftant
attendants on divine fervice,more kind and refpecT:-
ful to their paftor fwhen they have one) and /hew
jnuch more humanity to their ilaves, and charity
to one another, than is obferved among the Englifh.
in the other plantations : one reafpn of this may
be, that condemned criminals, being employed in
the manufactures of fugar and tobacco, were never
tranfported thither. But, whatever be the caufe,
the facls are attefted by a 'Clergyman of good cre-
dit, who lived long among them.
Among a people of this character, and in a fitu-
ation thus circumHantiated, .it would feem that a
feminary of religion and learning might very fitly
be placed. The correfpondence with other part?
pf America, the goodnefs of the air,, the plenty
ancl
(I?)
andfecurity of the place, the frugality and inno-
cence of the inhabitants, all confpiring to favour
fuch a deiign. Thus much at leatt is evident, that
young ftudents would be there lefs liable to be cor-
rupted in their morals $ and the governing part
would be eafier, and better contented with a fmall
ftipend, and a retired academical life, in a corner
from whence avarice and luxury are excluded,
than they can be fuppofed to be in the midft of a
full trade and great riches, attended with all that
high living and parade which our planters affefr,
and which, as well as all fafhionable vices, fhould
be far removed from the eyes of the young Ameri-
can miflionaries, who are to lead a life of poverty
and felf-denial among their countrymen.
After all, it mu ft be acknowledged, that though
every thing elfe fhould concur with our wi flies,
yet if a fet of good governors and teachers be want-
ing, who are acquainted with the methods of edu-
cation, and have the zeal and ability requifite for
carrying en a defign of this nature, it would cer-
tainly come to nothing.
An inftitution of tm's kind ftiould be fet on foot
by men of prudence, fpirit, and zeal, as well as
competent learning, who fhould be led to it by
other motives than the neceffity of picking up a
maintenance. For upon this view, what man of
merit can be fuppofed to quit his native country,
and take up with a poor college-fubhftence in ano-
ther part of the 'world, where there are fo many
coniiderable parifhes actually void, and fo many
others ill fupplied for want of fitting incumbents ?
Is it likely, that fellowfhips of fifty or fixty pounds
a year (hould tempt abler or worthier men, than
benefices of many times their value ?
And except able and worthy men do firft engage
in this affair, with a refolution to exert themielves
in forming the manners of the youth, and giving
fhem a proper education, it is evident the miiBon
and the college will be but in a very bad way.
This
inconvenience feems the moft difficult to pro-
vide againft, and, if not provided againft, it will
be the moft likely to obftrucl: any defign of this na-
ture. So true it is, that where ignorance or ill
manners once take place in a feminary, they are
fure to be handed down in a fucccflion of illiterate
or worth left men.
But this apprehenfion, which feems fo well
grounded, that a college in any part of America
would either lie unprovided, or be worfe provided
than their churches are, hath no place in Bermuda j
there being at this time feveral gentlemen in all
refpe&s very well qualified, and in poffeifion of
good preferments, and fair profpecls at home, who
having ferioufly confidered the great benefit that
may arife to the church and to mankind from fuch
an undertaking, are ready to engage in it, and to
dedicate the remainder of their lives to theinftru6l-
ing the youth of America, and profecuting their
own ftudies upon a very moderate fubfiftence in a
retirement, fo fweet, and fo fecure, and every way
fo well fitted for a place of education, and ftudy,
as Bermuda.
Thus much the writer hereof thought himfelf
obliged to fay of his aflbciates : for himfelf, he
can only fay, that as he values no preferment upon
earth, fp much as that of being employed in the
execution of this defign j fo he hopes to make up
for other defects, by his induftry and zeal.
In Europe, the proteftant religion hath of late
years confiderably loll ground, and America feems
the likelieft place, wherein to make up for what
hath been loft in Europe, provided the proper me-
thods are taken: Otherw;fe the Spanifn miffiona-
ries in the South, and the French in the North,
are making fiich a progrefs, as may one day fpread
the religion of Rome, and with it the ufual hatred,
to proteftants, throughout all the favage nations in
America 5 which would probably end in the utter
extirpation of our colonies, on the fafety whereof
de-
(15)
depends fo much of the nation's wealth, and fo
confiderable a branch of his majefty's revenue.
But if this fcheme were purfued, it would in all
probability have much greater influence on the
Americans, than the utmoft endeavours of popifh
emilTaries can poffibly have 5 who from the diffe-
rence of country, language and intereft, niuft lie
under far greater difficulties and difcouragements
than thofe, whom we fuppofe yearly fent out from,
Bermuda to preach among their countrymen.
It cannot indeed be denied, that the great num-
ber of poor regulars, inured to hard living, and
brought up in an implicit obedience to their fu-
periors, hath hitherto given the church of Rome,
in regard to her miffions, great advantage over the
reformed churches. But from what hath been faid,
it is, I think, evident, that this advantage may
be over-ballanced by our employing American
rniflionaries.
Nor is the honour of the crown, nation, and
church of England unconcerned in this, fcheme $
which, it is to be hoped; will remove the reproach,
we have fo long lain under, that we fall as far
iliort of our neighbours of the Romilh communion
in zeal for propagating religion, as we furpafs them
in the foundnefs and purity of it. And at the fame
time, that the doing what may be fo eafily done,
takes away our reproach 5 it will caft no fmali luftre
on his majefty's reign, and derive a bleffing from
heaven on his administration, and thofe who live
under the influence thereof.
Men of narrow minds have a peculiar talent-at
objection, being never at a lofs for fomething to
fay againft whatfoever is not of their own propo-
finc*. And perhaps, it will befaid in oppofition to