[From Lib Scac 1779]

A printed pamphlet is found bound into Lib Scacc, it is not obvious why it should be filed here, possible Lt Governor Dawson was unsure what to do with it. However such a door-to-door collection did take place - there is a note of it in the Parish Register of Jurby. The Manx Museum also hold a manuscript - MS 224a - if a contempory translation into Manx by William Clucas, vicar of Malew.

1779 - Letter from Archbishop of York to the Lord Bishop of SODOR and MAN.

Right Reverend Brother,

THE Corporation, erected by our late gracious Sovereign King WILLIAM, for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, having, by their great zeal in carrying on that good work, So far exhausted their stock, as to be obliged to have recourse to His Majesty for assistance, I do with great pleasure communicate to you the gracious Letter, which he hath been pleased to send me in answer to their request.

You will therein see, how highly His Majesty approves this undertaking ; and how ready he is to give his Royal countenance and encouragement to it; what liberty he hath granted for a public collection; and what commands he hath laid upon us, that his said Letter be made public; and that the Ministers in each parish be required effectually to excite their parishioners to a liberal contribution. All which I thought myself obliged to signify to you, not doubting, but that to the utmost of your power you will recommend and promote this pious and excellent design.

I must now take leave to acquaint you, that as it is very probable that this business may be attended with some misconceptions, it will be proper to obviate them, as far as they arise from a want of true information upon the subject.

It may be suggested, that this application cannot now be necessary after the liberal contribution which was raised for the distressed AMERICAN CLERGY about three years ago. The answer to which is, that the collection which was then made, was by private application and not by public authority ; and it was intended for the present relief of those conscientous Clergymen, who rather than betray their duty relinquished their properties, and whose families were in general left in the greatest distress. It should be remembered too, that the Clergymen, who have been relieved, were (many of them) those who had no connection with the Society, being partly such as had been supported by the contribution of their congregations, and partly such as had a settled maintenance in those Provinces, in which there is an established provision for a Ministry of the Church of England.

Another suggestion may be, that while so large a part of America is in a state of revolt, a collection for the support of Missionaries may at present be deferred. Those who make such an objection may possibly not know, that even in the revolted Colonies there are many Clergymen remaining in a state of persecution, who, instead of being deserted on this account, have a stronger claim upon the assistance of the Society ; and that we have still hopes, under God's good providence that peace may be again restored, and the Clergy of our Church may again return to their pious employments : there is at least no reason why the Society should abandon the object of their Institution.

I am,

My Lord, Your affectionate Brother, W. EBOR. June 19, 1779.

To the Most Reverend Father in God, Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Councillor, William Lord Archbisbop of York, Primate of England, and Metropolitan.

GEORGE R.

MOST Reverend Father in God, Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Councillor, We greet you well. Whereas The Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, have, by their petition, humbly represented unto Us, that King WILLIAM the Third of glorious memory, was graciously pleased to erect the said Corporation, by letters patent, bearing date the 16th day of June 1701, for the receiving, managing, and disposing of the charity of such of his loving subjects as should be induced to contribute towards the maintenance of an Orthodox Clergy, and the making such other provisions, as might be necessary for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.

That, the very great expences necessarily attending that good work have constantly much exceeded the income of the Society, which ariseth almost entirely from the voluntary contributions of the Members of that Society, and of others our good subjects ; and therefore the Society has been obliged, at several times, to make humble applications to our Royal Predecessors, to Her Majesty Queen Anne in the years 1711 and 1714; to His Majesty King George the First in the Year 1718 ; and in 1741 and 1758 to His late Majesty King George the Second our Royal Grandfather, for permission to make public collections of charity ; which applications were most graciously received, and permissions granted for the purposes aforesaid, by which means the Society was enabled to carry on the good designs for which they were incorporated.

That, it is now twenty-eight years since their last application was made to our Royal Grandfather ; during which long period the fund of the Society hath been continually becoming more inadequate to their expences, and is at present quite exhausted. That, the Society nevertheless are anxiously desirous to support and maintain their Missionaries, Catechists, and Schoolmasters, within several of our Provinces in North America, and elsewhere, by whose means many of our subjects in those parts have had the comfort of God's word being preached to them, and the administration of his holy Sacraments continued amongst them, and many thousands of Indians and Negroes have been instructed and baptised in the true faith of Christ.

That, notwithstanding the present separation of a considerable part of North America, from their allegiance to our Crown, the same expence hath been continued, the Clergy, who refused to renounce their allegiance, though for a time deprived of their churches, being still entitled to a support from the Society, still upon the re-establishment of peace they shall be restored to their religious duties.

The Society therefore, confiding in our great zeal for our holy religion, and our known affection to all our subjects, most humbly prays, that We would be most graciously pleased to grant them our Royal Letters, directed to the Lords the Archbishops of our kingdom, for a General Collection of Charity within their several provinces, for the good uses of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.

We, taking the premisses into our Royal consideration, and being always ready to give the best encouragement and countenance to undertakings which tend so much to the promoting true piety, and our holy religion, are graciously pleased to condescend to their request; and do hereby direct you, that these our letters be communicated to the several Suffragan Bishops within your province, expressly requiring them to take care, that publication be made hereof, on such Sunday, and in such places, within their respective Dioceses, as the said Bishops shall appoint and that, upon this occasion, the Ministers in each parish do effectually excite their parishioners to a liberal contribution, whose benevolence towards carrying on the said charitable work shall be collected the week following at their respective dwellings by the Church. wardens and Overseers of the poor in each parish ; and the Ministers of the several parishes are to cause the sums so collected to be paid immediately to the Treasurer, or Treasurers, for the time being, of the said Society, to be accounted for by him, or them, to the Society, and applied to the carrying on and promoting the above-mentioned good designs.

And so we bid you very heartily farewell. Given at our Court at St. James's, the tenth day of May, 1779, in the nine- teenth year of our reign. By His Majestys command,
WEYMOUTH.

The Secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts is the Reverend Mr. Morice, at his House in Hatton-Garden, London.

The Treasurer is JOHN BACON, Esq; at the First-Fruits Office, in the Temple.

Reverend Brethren,

YOU will herewith receive the letter of our most Gracious Sovereign to the Archbishop of York, our Metropolitan, and his Grace's letter to me subsequent thereupon ; upon the subject of assisting, by voluntary contributions, the Incorporated Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, to relieve, and support their Missionaries, our now distressed Brethren, the Clergy of the Church of England in North America.

Nothing needs, indeed nothing can be added to the motives, and incitements to this equally pious, and charitable work, which are set before, and enforced upon us in the letters of his Majesty, and the Archbishop : And I know you (my Brethren) too well, to entertain any doubts of your encouraging, and Promoting so excellent a design, both by your precepts, and examples; to the extent of your respective powers, and abilities. As I am myself convinced, I took the liberty to observe to our Metropolitan, that neither the preferments of the Clergy in the Isle of Man, nor the circumstances of a very great majority of their congregations are such, as can afford expectations of any considerable contributions from that quarter: But let us however remember, that as it is the duty of those (whether Clergy, or Laity) who have much, to give plenteously, so it is no less incumbent on those, who have but little, to do their diligence gladly to give, and to exhort those who are committed to their care chearfully also to give of that little. Thus shall we gather to ourselves a good reward against the day of necessity ; such necessity as our suffering Brethren at present groan under ; and from which we know not how long we ourselves may be preserved. And thus also shall we best testify those sentiments of piety towards our heavenly Father, and Supreme Lord; of duty, and respect to our earthly Prince ; and of sympathyzing pity, and affectionate concern for our distressed fellow laborers in the ministry ; with which I trust; our hearts in reality are, and will always appear to be deeply impressed.

With sincere wishes, and constant prayers for your welfare both temporal, and eternal, I continue,
Reverend Sirs,
Your Affectionate Brother, and Faithful Servant,
R. Sodor & Man,
Buxton, 1st July, 1779.