Dear Sir - Will you please read the following statement: The Church in Pawtucket, generally styled Independent Baptist, under the pastoral care of Elder Ray Potter, would respectfully represent to their Christian brethern abroad, that about four years since, the Universalists in this village, erected a large and commodious meeting-house, which they occupied about three years, after which some of their number turning Athiest, and their Universalist minister, for want of support being obliged to leave, the house was occasionally occupied by Abner Kneeland and others of kindred sentiments, and holding forth to crowded congregations the demoralizing, blasphemous and soul-destroying sentiments of Atheism..

[Pawtucket, R.I.: Independent Baptist Church, 1833. Bifolium, 4to, printed on the first page, the others blank save for the address panel ("To Hon. Joseph Bowman, Boston") on the verso of the integral leaf; previous folds, break at the wax seal; all else very good. Requesting contributions towards the purchase of the abandoned and mortgaged Universalist Church at Pawtucket, signed: Samuel R. Potter, clerk, and followed by six brief signed statements of concurrence and a second letter concerning financing signed in manuscript by Ray Potter who states as part of his appeal: "The Church and Congregation to whom I preach and for whom I am trying to obtain this house ... are poor - they are made up of the laboring class entirely - and mostly those who work in the cotton mills. I have preached for them thirteen years without a stated salary; though poor, they are near my heart..." Not in American Imprints. AAS only in OCLC. (Inventory #: 55792)