X420/3/1/3

"Dear Sir, ......Very improper is Mr. S's. conduct how farr consistent with his declaration promise I am not clear in, as actions speak stronger than words. I think you will recollect tha I thot. Mr S would not keep in even with some of his warmest paedo baptists friends, this step must & will break the Union, as fears will arise if their brethren of the anti paedo persuasion should have the ascendency, that they would not grant them the same liberty that they now give them; as in this great City where there is much of a Catholic spirit amongst "the various Dissenters, yet at Mr Eves meeting where I was last Sunday, who are not strict Baptists, yet his people will not admit the Independs. brethren tho' often desired to sit down with them at the Lord's Table but they recieve it in the morning the anti paedo in the afternoon. So I cannot but think your immediate seperation would tend to dividing even into 3 Communions for shd. the paedo baptists who are now joined, seperate, I doubt their coming to us, tho' we might to them. Great I acknowledge has been your Patience, I am almost sorry I sett so little an example of it; Yet as I see a great probability of their disunion I can neither advice nor assist in a seperation, for should that be, our friends would be sorry they had involved themselves in the expence of a new place, the small rent of which I shd. little regard paying a Quarter or 2 longer. I am sure we shd. all rejoice in Mr S. remove in having our old place of Worship uniting together as we shall both starve our Ministers, little or no assistance in the Winter either from the Country or London could you expect if you open a new place, it shd. be in the spring of the year. Pray remember me to my friends, they know I suffer with them as I cannot return even to my own House as I have no place of publick Worship that I can attend. I must leave it to their own judgment, I desire not & would not direct. Yet you will escuse me in saying yr. seperation now is more improper then ever, as it would strengthen Mr S. as the fresh dissatisfied bretheren have no alternative but to support Mr S. whereas now many things are revolving amongst them. I commend you to the direction of a wise & good Providence, indeed I have no temporal views, were it for your united happiness I would banish myself from even seeing the County more. Remember me to Mrs. Leach as I am Dr Sir Yr friend to serve you J. Howard. Clifton near Bristol, Sep. 19 1772." Postscript "I intend next week moveing to the Sea side to spend a fortnight at Weymouthif I shd. come to Cardn. one Lords day next month I must beg Blunham or Cotton end Meeting for Mr Townsend after which I shall go to Town."

n.d.

From: 1772 To: 1780

item

Howard, John,
Leach, Thomas Askew,
Eves,
Townsend

Congregational Church, Bunyan Meeting, letters, unions, general Roman Catholic, general Baptists, church fees, rentals, Congregational ministers, BEDFORD, London, Clifton [Bristol], Weymouth, CARDINGTON, BLUNHAM, Cotton End