Era or Event: 1780s-1850s: Early Republic

John Hancock – A Brief – 1788

This is a brief issued by Governor John Hancock on June 20, 1788. It includes his request for the people of Massachusetts “to contribute to their abilities, in money, public securities or other property” to the Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others in North-America who had originally requested a brief be issued. The transcript below has been changed to reflect modern spelling and grammar.

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

By His EXCELLENCY

JOHN HANCOCK, Esquire,

Governour of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

A Brief.

The society for propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others in North-America, lately incorporated by an Act of this Commonwealth, having requested and petitioned that a Brief should be issued to make collections in the several Religious Societies for these important purposes, which request was complied with by the General Assembly:

I DO THEREFORE, in pursuance of the recommendation of the said General Assembly, and with the Advice of Council, hereby earnestly recommend to the good people of this Commonwealth, to contribute to their abilities, in money, public securities or other property, to this benevolent design, a design which early employed the attention of our venerable fore-fathers. I do request that all money or other property collected, may be paid into the hands of JONATHAN MASON, Esq. Treasurer of the said Society, as a fund to be employed the Society for the purpose of propagating the knowledge of the Gospel among the Indians and others in America, and furnishing the means of religious instruction to those places in this Commonwealth, which are now destitute of the same.
And I do further request the Ministers of the several religious Societies within this Commonwealth to read this Brief to their respective Congregations, upon the first Lord’s day after they shall receive the same, and to propose a collection on the Lord’s day next following.

GIVEN under my Hand and the Seal of the Commonwealth aforesaid, this Twentieth day of June, Anno Domini, 1788, and in the Twelfth Year of the Independence of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA.

JOHN HANCOCK.

By his Excellency’s Command,
With the Advice and Consent of the Council,
JOHN AVERY, jun. Secretary.

 

To the Honorable the Senate and the Honorable House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Society for propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others in North-
America, beg leave to show, That one design of our venerable Fathers in emigrating to this land, was professedly to extend the knowledge of our Glorious Redeemer among the Savage Natives; that this design was expressed and enjoined under both the charters, granted by the parent state to this Colony, and is, in the opinion of the Society, necessary and suitable at all times to be pursued, by a people who profess Christianity.

That the end for which this Society was instituted by the Legislature, was to attend to this important circumstance, and prove to the European World, who are at a great expense in pursing this object among us, that we were not inattentive to it. It is the desire, the design, and the ambition of the Society, to pursue the ends and purposes for which they were incorporated.

The want of Funds alone prevents them from exerting themselves in propagating the Gospel among the Indians, and extending the means of Christian knowledge among those of the inhabitants of this land, who are now destitute of them.

They humbly request your Honors, to recommend to his Excellency the Governor, to issue a Brief to be read in all the Churches of this Commonwealth, requesting the said of all piously disposed persons, in carrying on this truly benevolent design, and asking their contributions, in Specie, Public Securities, or any other property, to enable the said Society to send the knowledge of our Glorious Redeemer, among those who are now perishing for lack of vision, and to extend the means of instruction to our fellow citizens in the eastern and other parts of the State, who are now destitute of them.

The Society are not insensible of the difficulties and embarrassments of the present day, and they are sorry to ask the aid of their fellow citizens at a time so distressing, but they cannot be easy to remain any longer inactive from pursuing the great objects of their appointment. The collections upon this occasion will be free, and they do not wish them to be so large as to cause distress to any. A mite thrown into the Treasury of the Society by every individual in the State, would amount to a large sum, and would enable them to publish the glad tidings of great joy, among those who are now sitting in darkness and in the region of the shadow of Death.

Your Honors will pardon the Society for addressing you on this occasion, and requesting this favor at your hands; they can scarcely suppose, however, an apology to be necessary for applying to Christian Rulers, upon a subject which relates so immediately to the honor of the Author and Finisher of our Faith. Your Honors will be pleased to observe, that the Society are not asking a favor for themselves, but are supplicating for those, who now suffer in their best interest: They are beseeching your Honors to pursue a design of which our venerable Fathers never lost sight, and to do what may be highly acceptable to that Being, upon whom the welfare of States and Empires essentially depends.

They take the liberty to observe, that the peace and harmony which prevailed in general between the Indians bordering on the northern States of the Union, and the citizens thereof, during the late war, may in a good measure be attributed to the exertions of the Missionaries who were supported among them: And that perhaps it may not now be an object of less political consequence, to continue and encourage their exertions; as the British are practicing every art to induce the Indians to retire from among us, into the more interior parts of the continent, that they may secure to themselves exclusively the benefits of the fur trade, and their alliance in any further rupture.

The Society cannot doubt the attention of the Honorable Court to a subject so important; they hope for a compliance with their request, and as in duty bound shall ever pray.

FRANCIS DANA, ⎬ In the name and by order of the Society.
EDWARD WIGGLESWORTH, ⎬ [In the name and by order of the Society.]
PETER THACHER, ⎬ [In the name and by order of the Society.]

July 4th Prayer

In response to Benjamin Franklin’s call to seek God that was made on June 28, 1787,1 the Rev. William Rogers prayed2 before the service that was held at the Reformed Calvinist Church in Philadelphia on July 4th of that year. The below text is taken from The Massachusetts Centinel on August 15, 1787.

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On the 4th ult. the anniversary of American Independence was celebrated at Philadelphia, in the Reformed Calvinist Church, by the Pennsylvania Society of Cincinnati, in presence of the Federal Convention, many distinguished characters, and a most brilliant assembly of ladies and gentlemen – when in Oration, commemorative of the great event, was pronounced by JAMES CAMPBELL, Esq. after the delivery of an Introductory Prayer by the Rev. WILLIAM ROGERS, A. M. – A copy of each was obtained of the Press, and with pleasure we take the earliest opportunity of presenting to our readers, through the medium of this Gazette, the Introductory Prayer, verbatim, not doubting but the sentiments therein contained, will meet the approbation of all the FEDERAL and PIOUS inhabitants of the State of Rhode Island, as expressed by ONE OF HER SONS. –

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER.
Supremely great and infinitely glorious Lord our God! From everlasting to everlasting Thou art the same! Unchangeable in thy nature, in thy word, in all thy works! – Cloathed with light as with a garment, and with majesty as with a robe! Who maketh the clouds thy chariot, and walkest upon the wings of the winds! Possessed of every adorable ATTRIBUTE and divine PERFECTION!

We, thy unworthy but dependent children, assembled on this joyful occasion, humbly desire to approach the THRONE of thy GRACE, in and through the merit of thy coequal SON, our EVER BLESSED SAVIOUR! For HIS sake, be pleased to pardon our manifold sins, and to blot out all our transgressions! Justify our persons through IMMANUEL’S righteousness, and sanctify our natures by the powerful influences of thy most HOLY SPIRIT! May we wholly be devoted to thy service, and live uniformly to thy praise!

With united hearts and uplifted voices, we render unfeigned thanks to thy name, O THOU SOVEREIGN RULER OF ALL WORLDS, for those numberless mercies wherewith we have been and continue to be visited! We adore thee for thy creating power, preserving goodness, and redeeming love! Suffer us never to forget any of thy favours, as we are altogether undeserving, even of the least! Particularly, O God! Are the inhabitants of these States, on THIS DAY, under the strongest obligations to bless THY NAME, for that Liberty, civil and religious, which they so fully enjoy! We would join the general body, and ascribe praise and thanksgiving to thy ADORABLE MAJESTY, for this AUSPICIOUS Anniversary, a DAY long to be remember by us and future generations! A DAY, whereon this extensive continent was, by the representatives of a numerous and oppressed people, DECLARED FREE AND INDEPENDENT! HEAVEN approved the declaration, our arms were crowed with success, sweet peace hath visited our borders, the soldier once more became the citizen: Retiring, without regret, from stations of command, our military officers returned with cheerfulness to the several duties of domestic and tranquil life! Our ears are not more pierced with the confused noise of war, our eyes are no longer pained with the horrid fight of garments roll’d in blood. – While we thus thankfully acknowledge thy reiterated favours in our political hemisphere, we beg leave also to mention thy providential smiles in crowning the YEAR with thy goodness, and causing thy paths to drop fatness: “Our pastures are cloathed with flocks, our fields are covered over with corn and wheat, our husbandmen shout for joy – yea, they also sing.”

That we may continue to enjoy these important blessing, be pleased, O Lord, to visit all the nations of the earth, and incline their hearts to peace and love; shower down upon them thy heavenly grace; may they know THEE as the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS! In an especial manner, DO THOU visit our land, graciously regard our country, protect and defend our infant, but hitherto highly favoured Empire, bless our CONGRESS, smile upon each particular State of the UNION: May those who are in authority rule in thy fear, prove a terror to evil doers, and a praise to them who do well! As this is a period, O LORD! big, with events, impenetrable by any human scrutiny, we fervently recommend to thy fatherly notice, that august Body assembled in this city, who compose our FEDERAL CONVENTION; will it please THEE, O THOU ETERNAL I AM! to favour them from day to day with thy immediate presence; be thou their wisdom and their strength! Enable them to devise such measures as may prove happily instrumental for healing all divisions, and promoting the good of the great WHOLE; incline the hearts of all the people to receive with pleasure, combined with a determination to carry into execution, whatever these thy servants may wisely recommend; that the United States of America may furnish the world with ONE example of a free and permanent government, which shall be the result of human and mutual deliberation, and which shall not, like all other governments, whether ancient or modern, spring out of mere chance, or be established by force. – May we triumph in the cheering prospect of being completely delivered from anarchy; and continue, under the influence of republican virtue, to partake of all the blessings of cultivated and civilized society! In tender mercy bless this Commonwealth, the President, Vice President, and Supreme Executive Council, our Legislative Body, and the respective Judicial Departments!

Finally, we commend to thy paternal regard, all orders of men, all seminaries of useful learning, the Ministers of the gospel of every denomination, the Church of CHRIST, and all for whom we ought to pray. – With heart-felt gratitude we anticipate the GLORIOUS ERA, when instead of the thorn, shall come up the fir-tree; instead of the briar, shall come up the MYRTLE-TREE; and WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE shall be the stability of the times, both in church and state.

Prepare us, O LORD, MOST HOLY! For ever dispensation of thy righteous Providence; for life, for death, for judgment, and the joys of Paradise – Humbly intreating THY gracious assistance, in suitably discharging all those enjoined us by thy word, and enforced by thy authority, we close this, our solemn address, by saying, as our Lord and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST hath taught us –

OUR Father, who art in Heaven; hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. AMEN.3

Endnotes

1 See “Franklin’s Appeal for Prayer at the Constitutional Convention,” WallBuilders.
2 “William Rogers,” University of Pennsylvania, accessed December 18, 2023.
3 The Massachusetts Centinel, August 15, 1787, 1.

John Quincy Adams Graduates from Harvard

Harvard University was founded in 1636 and was incorporated in May 1650. Many of America’s early leaders graduated from Harvard – including John Quincy Adams. Below is a broadside from the WallBuilders library that lists the graduating class of 1787 (John Quincy Adams is listed in the first column) along with the thesis topics of that class.

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John Adams Letter to Benjamin Rush

The following is the original December 21, 1809 letter by John Adams to Benjamin Rush, followed by the transcription. The transcript has been modified from the original to include modern grammar and spelling.

Quincy December 21, 1809

My dear Sir

I thank you for the pleasing account of your family in your favor of the 5th as I have a lively interest in their prosperity and felicity, your relation of it gave me great pleasure. We have letters from our colony navigating the Baltic, dated at Christiansand. They had been so far as prosperous and healthy and happy as such travelers could expect to be.

Pope said of my friend General Oglethorpe.
Some driven by strong benevolence of soul shall fly like Oglethorpe from pole to pole. But what was a trip to Georgia in comparison with the journeys and voyages that J.Q. Adams has performed? I do not believe that Admiral Nelson ever ran greater risks at Sea.

Tell Richard that I hope Mrs. Rush will soon present him with a son that will do him as much honor in proportion as the first born of his genius has already done him in the opinion of the world. W.S.S. our guardian of the Athenaum has obtained it and proclaims it loudly everywhere the best pamphlet that will be read. Be sure you do not hint this to Mrs. Rush Junr. It would alarm her delivery.

I really do not know whether I do not envy your city of Philadelphia for its reputation for science, arts, and letters and especially its medical professor. I know not, neither whether I do not envy you your genius and inspiration. Why have I not some fancy? Some invention? Some ingenuity? Some discursive faculty? Why has all my life been consumed in searching for facts and principles and proofs and reasons to support them? Your dreams and fables have more genius in them than all my life. Your Fable of Dorcas would make a good chapter or a good appendix to the Tale of a Tub.

But my friend there is something very serious in this business. The Holy Ghost carries on the whole Christian system in this Earth. Not a baptism, not a marriage, not a Sacrament can be administered but by the Holy Ghost, who is transmitted from age to age by laying the hands of the Bishop on the heads of candidates for the Ministry. In the same manner as the Holy Ghost is transmitted from monarch to monarch by the holy oil in the vial at Rheims which was brought down from Heaven by a dove and by that other phial [vial] which I have seen in the Tower of London. There is no authority civil or religious: There can be no legitimate government but that which is administered by this Holy Ghost. There can be no salvation without it. All without it is rebellion and perdition, or in more orthodox words damnation. Although this is all artifice and cunning in the sacred original in the heart, yet they all believe it so sincerely that they would lay down their lives under the ax or the fiery fagot [bundle of wood used for burning individuals at the stake] for it. Alas, the poor weak ignorant dupe human nature. There is so much king craft, priest craft, gentlemen’s craft, people’s craft, doctors craft, lawyers craft, merchants craft, tradesmen’s craft, laborers craft and Devil’s craft in the world that it seems a desperate [hopeless] and impractical project to undeceive it.

Do you wonder that Voltaire and Paine have made proselytes [converts]? Yet there [is] near as much subtlety, craft and hypocrisy in Voltaire and Paine and more too than in Ignatious Loyola [a Spanish knight who was a founder of the Jesuits].

This letter is so much in the tone of my friend the Abbe Raynal [a French writer] and the grumblers of the last age, that I pray you to burn it. I cannot copy it.

Your prophecy, my dear friend, has not become history as yet. I have no resentment of animosity against the gentleman and abhor the idea of blackening his character or transmitting him in odious colors to posterity. But I write with difficulty and am afraid of diffusing myself in too many correspondences. If I should receive a letter from him however I should not fail to acknowledge and answer it.

The Auroras you lent me for which I thank you are full of momentous matter.

I am dear sir with every friendly sentiment yours, J. Adams.

Dr. Rush

*WallBuilders has an article about the dream of Benjamin Rush (which this Adams letter is in response to) and the reconciliation of Adams and Jefferson in 1812. To read this article click here.

James Garfield Letter

James A. Garfield (1831-81) was an attorney, minister, educator, soldier, and the twentieth President of the United States. He experienced a dramatic conversion to Christianity in his youth while working on the Ohio canal and was later licensed as a minister in the Christian Church. He studied at Geauga Seminary in Ohio (1849); graduated from Williams College (1856); became a Professor of Ancient Languages and Literature in Hiram College, Ohio (1856); was President of Hiram College (1857-61); elected Ohio State Senator (1859); admitted to the bar (1860); entered the Union side in the Civil War as Lieutenant-Colonel (1861); won a victory at Middle Creek and gained the rank of Brigadier-General (1862); promoted to Major-General (1863) and then resigned; member of the U. S. House of Representatives (1863-80); elected the twentieth President of the United States (1880). Garfield was shot by an assassin at the Washington railroad station en route for a northern trip (1881) and died 81 days later.

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Hiram, Feb. 16th 1858

Dear Bro. Wallace

We have just closed our meeting with happy results. There were 34 addition[s]. 31 by immersion. I was sorry I could not be in Newburgh last Sunday, but it seemed to be my duty to stay here. Bro Dave Shu[?] tells me that the Brethren want me to hold a meeting in vacation. I have spoken 19 discourses in our meeting here – and this with all our work in the school has worn me down very much. I would not think of holding a meeting alone. And don’t know as I ought to help hold one. I will be in your place sometime next week and talk with you in reference to the matter of your letter. Which would have been answered sooner but for the meeting. I shall hope to visit Bedford also. Love to your family & believe me your brother,

J. A. Garfield

Pony Express Bible

The Pony Express lasted only nineteen months during 1860/ 1861. During that time about 200 riders covered over 600,000 miles carrying the mail from Missouri to points West (such as California). The founders of the Pony Express wanted their riders to have spiritual support and so provided each one with a Bible. Below are pictures of a Pony Express Bible from the WallBuilders library.

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“Presented by Russell, Majors & Waddell. 1858”
This was inscribed in the front cover of all the Pony Express Bibles.

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The name of the man this particular Bible was presented to.

The 104th Psalm by John Quincy Adams

John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States was well known for his use of words. The below handwritten poem, dated September 10, 1841 and transcribed from the 104th Psalm, is a wonderful example of not only Adams’ appreciation for the Word of God, but also of his firm conviction and faith in God.

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To Miss Mary Talbot
from
John Quincy Adams

Oh! Lord, my God! How great art Thou!
With honour, and with glory crown’d
Lights dazzling splendours veil thy brow,
And gird the universe around.

Beneath the deep, above the skies
Thy mansion boundless space we find.
Thy Spirit in the Tempest flies
And spreads the pinions of the wind.

From the 104th Psalm

Washington 10 Sept. 1841

Manumission – Dorcas – 1837

To the County Court of Washington County now in session

The petition of Dorcas, a free woman of color respectfully represents to your worships that here to from, that is to say, on   7th of August 1833, a certain Christopher Taylor, executed to you petitioners a bill of sale of two slaves named Warner and Nancy, in trust and upon condition that your petitioners should emancipate to the two said slaves Warner and Nancy as soon as the laws of the state would permit her to do so, and permit them to remain in the State. You petitioners further represent that by to Act of Assembly passed in the year 1833 on the 23rd day of November, it was provided that if any slaves had in good faith contracted for their freedom previous to the passage of the Act of 1831, it should in the duty of the court to emancipate them according to the former laws –

And your petitions presented notes that the said two slaves, Warner and Nancy had in good faith contracted and agreed with the said Christopher Taylor for their freedom long before the passage of the act of 1831. She herein prays your worships that you will emancipate the said two slaves Warner and Nancy as the laws in such cases made and provided direct; and as in duty bound XXX wish ever XXX

Dorcas
Jan 2, 1837

American Bible Society Certificate Signed by John Jay

John Jay (1745-1829) was an attorney, public official, diplomat, jurist. He was member of the Continental Congress (1774-76, 1778-79) where he was President of Congress (1778-79) and helped write the New York State constitution (1777). Jay also authored first manual on military discipline (1777) and served as Chief-Justice of the New York Supreme Court (1777-78). During the War for Independnece, he was appointed minister to Spain (1779) and also signed the final peace treaty with Great Britain (1783). Jay, along with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, authored The Federalist Papers, which were instrumental in securing the ratification of the US Constitution. Under President George Washington, he was appointed first Chief-Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court (1789-95) and later declined a reappointment as Chief-Justice by President John Adams. Jay later served as Governor of New York (1795- 1801).

John Jay was also vice-president of the American Bible Society at its beginning, from 1816-21, and was president from 1821-27. Below is a membership certificate signed by him as president of the American Bible Society.

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This is to Certify, That John R Murray, Esqr. Of the city of New York, by virtue of a contribution of Fifty Dollars, made by his sisters, Mary Murray, and Hannah  L. Murray is a member for life of the

American Bible Society. 

New York, May 21st 1827
Attest. John Jay – Prest.[President] –
Jnitelies[?] Agent ABS
T. McAuley Secy. for Dom. Cores

The American Bible Society Constitution

Bible societies in America date back to 1809 when Declaration Signer Benjamin Rush helped establish the first Bible society in America. By 1816, 121 more Bible societies had been started across the nation, many of them with the help of key Founding Fathers. The American Bible Society, founded in 1816, was the first national Bible society. The original officers of the Society included: signers of the U. S. Constitution, revolutionary generals, U.S. Supreme Court Justices, a U.S. Attorney General, a U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, state governors, and others.

WallBuilders vast collection of original documents includes an original constitution of the American Bible Society as well as a first Bible printed by that society. Below are the title page and officers page for the 1816 American Bible Society Constitution.

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OFFICERS
OF THE
AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.
 

President,

Hon. Elias Boudinot,         of New-Jersey.

Vice-Presidents,

Hon. John Jay,                   of New-York.
Mat. Clarkson, Esq.       of New-York.
Hon. Smith Thompson,       of New-York.
Hon. John Langdon,           of New-Hampshire.
Hon. Caleb Strong,             of Massachusetts.
Hon. William Gray,             of Massachusetts.
Hon. John Cotton Smith,     of Connecticut.
Hon. Jonas Galusha,           of Vermont.
Hon. William Jones,            of Rhode-Island.
Hon. Isaac Shelby,              of Kentucky.
George Madison, Esq.      of Kentucky.
Hon. William Tilghman,        of Pennsylvania.
Hon. Bushrod Washington,   of Virginia.
William Wirt, Esq.           of Virginia.
Hon. Charles C. Pinckney,    of South-Carolina.
Hon. William Gaston,           of North-Carolina.
Hon. Thomas Worthington,  of Ohio.
Hon. Thomas Pusey,           of Indiana.
Hon. James Brown,             of Louisiana.
John Bolton, Esq.           of Georgia.
Hon. Felix Grundy,               of Tennessee.
Robert Olivers, Esq.         of Maryland.
Joseph Nourse, Esq.         of the District of Columbia.

Secretary for Foreign Correspondence,

Rev. Dr. J. M. Mason.

Secretary for Domestic Correspondence,

Rev. Dr. J. B. Romevn.

Treasurer,

Richard Varick, Esq.