A Letter To Jedidiah Morse Discussing The Censure Of A Minister For Not Keeping A Journal Of His Missionary Work

JEDIDIAH MORSE (1761-1826). Morse was an American theologian and geographer. He helped establish Andover Theological Seminary in 1808. He was also the father of Samuel F. B. Morse, of telegraph fame.Letter. 3pg. 8 x 10 . 7th August 1818. Durham, NH. A letter addressed to Rev. Jedidiah Morse D.D. and signed by Jonathan Steele. Steele was writing on behalf of a Mr. Burt, a minister in Durham who had been censured by the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, of which Morse was Secretary. The letter reads: The long + severe illness of Mr. Burt, having in a measure disqualified him from writing, forces upon him the use of a friends penthe censure of his conductwas not the least painful to his feelings. The factsmust exclude the possibility of his attempting any kind of deception, whatever appearance they may have assumed I am instructed to say that his first directionwas to Dr. Pearson [Eliphalet Pearson (1752-1826), another founder of Andover Theological Seminary], who was, undoubtedly, better acquainted with the concern than any otherFrom my own acquaintance with Mr. Burt, I have been brought to believe him ambitious of avoiding to do wrongHe unquestionably construed the condition of the grant vote of your Societyto be the recorded groundfor the vote of money, leaving its fulfilment to after discretionary instructionsSuch assignment never having been made to himhe very naturally applied for the fruits of your acknowledged bountygreater service may be renderedby Mr. Burts continuing steadfast in one place until he has, with Divine Aid, established a Society and Churchhe has done every thing, in the power of man, among uswithout even dreaming of the necessity of crediting himself in a journal with missionary services. Should your Society, however, insist on the punctilious performance of the condition, it would seem less a matter of personal concern with Mr. Burt, than with you + our Societies. The letter is in good condition. The are minute tears along the mailing folds and margins, and a small hole on the third page from the sealing wax.