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diff --git a/31848.txt b/31848.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e8c8f7f --- /dev/null +++ b/31848.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1152 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Proposal for the Better Supplying of +Churches in Our Foreign Plantations, and for Converting the Savage Americans to Christianity, by George Berkeley + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Proposal for the Better Supplying of Churches in Our Foreign Plantations, and for Converting the Savage Americans to Christianity + +Author: George Berkeley + +Release Date: March 31, 2010 [EBook #31848] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETTER SUPPLYING OF CHURCHES *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + + + + + +A + +PROPOSAL + +For the better Supplying of + +CHURCHES + +IN OUR + +_Foreign Plantations_, + +AND FOR + +Converting the Savage _Americans_ +to CHRISTIANITY, + +By a COLLEGE to be erected in the +_Summer Islands_, otherwise called the +Isles of _Bermuda_. + + +_The harvest is truly great, but the labourers are few_, Luke c. +10. v. 2. + + +_LONDON_, + +Printed by H. WOODFALL, at _Elzevir's-Head_ without +_Temple-Bar_: And sold by J. ROBERTS, near the +_Oxford-Arms_ in _Warwick-Lane_, 1725. (Price Sixpence.) + + + + +_A PROPOSAL for the better Supplying of Churches in our foreign +Plantations, &c._ + + +Although there are several excellent persons of the church of England, +whose good intentions and endeavours have not been wanting to propagate +the gospel in foreign parts, who have even combined into societies for +that very purpose, and given great encouragement, not only for English +missionaries in the West-Indies, but also, for the reformed of other +nations, led by their example, to propagate christianity in the East: +It is nevertheless acknowledged, that there is at this day, but little +sense of religion, and a most notorious corruption of manners, in the +English colonies settled on the continent of America, and the islands. +It is also acknowledged, that the gospel hath hitherto made but a very +inconsiderable progress among the neighbouring Americans, who still +continue in much-what the same ignorance and barbarism, in which we +found them above a hundred years ago. + +I shall therefore venture to submit my thoughts upon a point, that I +have long consider'd, to better judgments, in hopes that any expedient +will be favourably hearkned to, which is proposed for the remedy of +these evils. Now in order to effect this, it should seem the natural +proper method, to provide, in the first place, a constant supply of +worthy clergy-men for the English churches in those parts; and in the +second place, a like constant supply of zealous missionaries well +fitted for propagating Christianity among the savages. + +For though the surest means to reform the morals, and soften the +behaviour of men, be, to preach to them the pure uncorrupt doctrine of +the gospel, yet it cannot be denied that the success of preaching +dependeth in good measure on the character and skill of the preacher: +Forasmuch as mankind are more apt to copy characters than to practise +precepts, and forasmuch as argument, to attain its full strength, doth +not less require the life of zeal, than the weight of reason; and the +same doctrine, which maketh great impression, when delivered with +decency and address, loseth very much of its force by passing through +aukward or unskilful hands. + +Now the clergy sent over to America have proved, too many of them, very +meanly qualified both in learning and morals for the discharge of their +office. And indeed little can be expected from the example or +instruction of those, who quit their native country on no other motive, +than that they are not able to procure a livelihood in it, which is +known to be often the case. + +To this may be imputed the small care that hath been taken to convert +the negroes of our plantations, who, to the infamy of England, and +scandal of the world, continue Heathen under Christian masters, and in +Christian countries. Which cou'd never be, if our planters were rightly +instructed and made sensible, that they disappointed their own baptism +by denying it to those who belong to them: That it would be of +advantage to their affairs, to have slaves who should _obey in all +things their masters according to the flesh, not with eye-service as +men-pleasers, but, in singleness of heart as fearing God_: That gospel +liberty consists with temporal servitude: and that their slaves would +only become better slaves by being Christian. + +And though it be allowed that some of the clergy in our colonies have +approved themselves men of merit, it will at the same time be allowed, +that the most zealous and able missionary from England must find +himself but ill qualified for converting the American Heathen, if we +consider the difference of language, their wild way of living, and +above all, the great jealousy and prejudice which savage nations have +towards foreigners, or innovations introduced by them. + +These considerations make it evident, that a college or seminary in +those parts is very much wanted; and therefore the providing such a +seminary, is earnestly proposed and recommended to all those, who have +it in their power, to contribute to so good a work. By this, two ends +would be obtained. + +First, the youth of our English plantations might be themselves fitted +for the ministry; and men of merit would be then glad to fill the +churches of their native country, which are now a drain for the very +dregs and refuse of ours. + +At present, there are, I am told, many churches vacant in our +plantations, and many very ill supplied; nor can all the vigilance and +wisdom of that great prelate, whose peculiar care it is, prevent this, +so long as the aforesaid churches are supplied from England. + +And supplied they must be, with such as can be pick'd up in England or +Ireland, till a nursery of learning for the education of the natives is +founded. This indeed might provide a constant succession of learned and +exemplary pastors; and what effect this must be supposed to have on +their flocks, I need not say. + +Secondly, the children of savage Americans, brought up in such a +seminary, and well instructed in religion and learning, might make the +ablest and properest missionaries for spreading the gospel among their +countrymen; who would be less apt to suspect, and readier to embrace a +doctrine recommended by neighbours or relations, men of their own blood +and language, than if it were proposed by foreigners, who would not +improbably be thought to have designs on the liberty or property of +their converts. + +The young Americans necessary for this purpose, may, in the beginning +be procured, either by peaceable methods from those savage nations, +which border on our colonies, and are in friendship with us, or by +taking captive the children of our enemies. + +It is proposed to admit into the aforesaid college only such savages as +are under ten years of age, before evil habits have taken a deep root; +and yet not so early as to prevent retaining their mother tongue, which +should be preserved by intercourse among themselves. + +It is further proposed, to ground these young Americans thoroughly in +religion and morality, and to give them a good tincture of other +learning; particularly of eloquence, history, and practical +mathematicks: to which it may not be improper to add some skill in +physick. + +If there were a yearly supply of ten or a dozen such missionaries sent +abroad into their respective countries, after they had received the +degree of master of arts in the aforesaid college, and holy orders in +England, (till such time as episcopacy be established in those parts) +it is hardly to be doubted, but, in a little time the world would see +good and great effects thereof. + +For, to any considering man, the employing American missionaries for +the conversion of America, will, of all others, appear the most likely +method to succeed; especially if care be taken, that, during the whole +course of their education, an eye should be had to their mission; that +they should be taught betimes to consider themselves as trained up in +that sole view, without any other prospect of provision, or employment; +that a zeal for religion, and love of their country, should be early +and constantly instilled into their minds, by repeated lectures and +admonitions; that they should not only be incited by the common topics +of religion and nature, but farther animated and enflamed by the great +examples, in past ages, of publick spirit and virtue, to rescue their +countrymen from their savage manners, to a life of civility and +religion. + +If his majesty would graciously please to grant a charter for a college +to be erected in a proper place for these uses, it is to be hoped a +fund may be soon raised, by the contribution of well-disposed persons, +sufficient for building and endowing the same. For as the necessary +expence would be small, so there are men of religion and humanity in +England, who would be pleased to see any design set forward for the +glory of God and the good of mankind. + +A small expence would suffice to subsist and educate the American +missionaries in a plain simple manner, such as might make it easy for +them to return to the coarse and poor methods of life in use among +their countrymen; and nothing can contribute more to lessen this +expence, than a judicious choice of the situation, where the seminary +is to stand. + +Many things ought to be considered in the choice of a situation. It +should be in a good air; in a place where provisions are cheap and +plenty; where an intercourse might easily be kept up with all parts of +America and the islands; in a place of security, not exposed to the +insults of pyrates, savages, or other enemies; where there is no great +trade, which might tempt the readers or fellows of the college to +become merchants, to the neglect of their proper business; where there +are neither riches nor luxury to divert, or lessen their application, +or to make them uneasy and dissatisfied with a homely frugal +subsistence: lastly, where the inhabitants, if such a place may be +found, are noted for innocence and simplicity of manners. I need not +say of how great importance this point would be toward forming the +morals of young students, and what mighty influence it must have on the +mission. + +It is evident the college long since projected in Barbadoes would be +defective in many of these particulars; for though it may have its use +among the inhabitants, yet a place of so high trade, so much wealth and +luxury, and such dissolute morals, (not to mention the great price and +scarcity of provisions;) must at first light seem a very improper +situation for a general seminary intended for the forming missionaries, +and educating youth in religion and sobriety of manners. The same +objections lie against the neighbouring islands. + +And if we consider the accounts given of their avarice and +licentiousness, their coldness in the practice of religion, and their +aversion from propagating it, (which appears in the withholding their +slaves from baptism) it is to be feared, that the inhabitants in the +populous parts of our plantations on the continent are not much fitter, +than those in the islands above mentioned, to influence or assist such +a design. And as to the more remote and less frequented parts, the +difficulty of being supplied with necessaries, the danger of being +exposed to the inroads of savages, and above all, the want of +intercourse with other places, render them improper situations for a +seminary of religion and learning. + +It will not be amiss to insert here an observation, I remember to have +seen in an abstract of the proceedings, &c. annexed to the Dean of +Canterbury's sermon, before the society for the propagation of the +gospel in foreign parts; that the savage Indians, who live on the +continent, will not suffer their children to learn English or Dutch, +lest they should be debauched by conversing with their European +neighbours: which is a melancholy, but strong confirmation of the truth +of what hath been now advanced. + +A general intercourse and correspondence with all the English colonies, +both on the islands and the continent, and with other parts of America, +hath been before laid down, as a necessary circumstance, the reason +whereof is very evident. But this circumstance is hardly to be found. +For on the continent, where there are neither inns, nor carriages, nor +bridges over the rivers, there is no travelling by land between distant +places. And the English settlements are reputed to extend along the +sea-coast for the space of fifteen hundred miles. It is therefore +plain, there can be no convenient communication between them, otherwise +than by sea; no advantage therefore, in this point, can be gained by +settling on the continent. + +There is another consideration, which equally regards the continent and +islands, that the general course of trade and correspondence lies from +all those colonies to Great Britain alone: Whereas, for our present +purpose, it would be necessary to pitch upon a place, if such could be +found, which maintains a constant intercourse with all the other +colonies, and whose commerce lies chiefly or altogether (not in Europe, +but) in America. + +There is but one spot that I can find, to which this circumstance +agrees: and that is the isles of Bermuda, otherwise called the Summer +Islands. These having no rich commodity or manufacture, such as sugar, +tobacco, or the like, wherewithal to trade to England, are obliged to +become carriers for America, as the Dutch are for Europe. The Bermudans +are excellent shipwrights and sailors, and have a great number of very +good sloops, which are always passing and repassing from all parts of +America. They drive a constant trade to the islands of Jamaica, +Barbadoes, Antego, &c. with butter, onions, cabbages, and other roots +and vegetables, which they have in great plenty and perfection. They +have also some small manufactures of joyner's work and matting, which +they export to the plantations on the continent. Hence Bermudan sloops +are oftener seen in the ports of America, than any other. And indeed, +by the best information I could get, it appears they are the only +people of all the British plantations, who hold a general +correspondence with the rest. + +And, as the commerce of Bermuda renders it a very fit place, wherein to +erect a seminary, so likewise doth its situation, it being placed +between our plantations on the continent, and those in the isles, so as +equally to respect both. To which may be added, that it lies in the way +of vessels passing from America to Great Britain; all which makes it +plain, that the youth, to be educated in a seminary placed in the +Summer Islands, would have frequent opportunities of going thither and +corresponding with their friends. It must indeed be owned, that some +will be obliged to go a long way to any one place, which we suppose +resorted to, from all parts of our plantations; but if we were to look +out a spot the nearest approaching to an equal distance from all the +rest, I believe it Would be found to be Bermuda. It remains, that we +see whether it enjoys the other qualities or conditions laid down as +well as this. + +The Summer Islands are situated near the latitude of thirty-three +degrees; no part of the world enjoys a purer air, or a more temperate +climate, the great ocean which environs them, at once moderating the +heat of the south winds, and the severity of the north-west. Such a +latitude on the continent might be thought too hot; but the air in +Bermuda is perpetually fanned and kept cool by sea breezes, which +render the weather the most healthy and delightful that could be +wished, being, (as is affirmed by persons who have long lived there) of +one equal tenour almost throughout the whole year, like the latter-end +of a fine May; insomuch that it is resorted to as the Montpelier of +America. + +Nor are these isles (if we may believe the accounts given of them) less +remarkable for plenty than for health; there being, besides beef, +mutton, and fowl, great abundance of fruits, and garden-stuff of all +kinds in perfection: To this, if we add the great plenty and variety of +fish, which is every day taken on their coasts, it would seem, that a +seminary could no where be supplied with better provisions, or cheaper +than here. + +About forty years ago, upon cutting down many tall cedars, that +sheltered their orange-trees from the north west-wind (which sometimes +blows, even there, so as to affect that delicate plant) great part of +their orange plantations suffered; but other cedars are since grown up, +and no doubt a little industry would again produce as great plenty of +oranges, as ever was there heretofore. I mention this, because some +have inferred from the present scarcity of that fruit, for which +Bermuda was once so famous, that there hath been a change in the soil +and climate for the worse. But this, as hath been observed, proceeded +from another cause, which is now in great measure taken away. + +Bermuda is a cluster of small islands, which lie in a very narrow +compass, containing, in all, not quite twenty thousand acres. This +groupe of isles is (to use Mr. Waller's expression) walled round with +rocks, which render them inaccessible to pyrates, or enemies; there +being but two narrow entrances, both well guarded by forts. It would +therefore be impossible to find any where, a more secure retreat for +students. + +The trade of Bermuda consists only in garden-stuff, and some poor +manufactures, principally of cedar and the palmetto-leaf. Bermuda hats +are worn by our ladies: They are made of a sort of mat, or (as they +call it) platting made of the palmetto leaf, which is the only +commodity that I can find exported from Bermuda to Great Britain; and +as there is no prospect of making a fortune by this small trade, so it +cannot be supposed to tempt the fellows of the college to engage in it, +to the neglect of their peculiar business, which might possibly be the +case elsewhere. + +Such as their trade is, such is their wealth; the inhabitants being +much poorer than the other colonies, who do not fail to despise them +upon that account. But if they have less wealth, they have withal less +vice and expensive folly than their neighbours. They are represented as +a contented, plain, innocent sort of people, free from avarice and +luxury, as well as the other corruptions that attend those vices. + +I am also informed, that they are more constant attendants on divine +service, more kind and respectful to their pastor (when they have one) +and shew much more humanity to their slaves, and charity to one +another, than is observed among the English in the other plantations: +one reason of this may be, that condemned criminals, being employed in +the manufactures of sugar and tobacco, were never transported thither. +But, whatever be the cause, the facts are attested by a Clergyman of +good credit, who lived long among them. + +Among a people of this character, and in a situation thus +circumstantiated, it would seem that a seminary of religion and +learning might very fitly be placed. The correspondence with other +parts of America, the goodness of the air, the plenty and security of +the place, the frugality and innocence of the inhabitants, all +conspiring to favour such a design. Thus much at least is evident, that +young students would be there less liable to be corrupted in their +morals; and the governing part would be easier, and better contented +with a small stipend, and a retired academical life, in a corner from +whence avarice and luxury are excluded, than they can be supposed to be +in the midst of a full trade and great riches, attended with all that +high living and parade which our planters affect, and which, as well as +all fashionable vices, should be far removed from the eyes of the young +American missionaries, who are to lead a life of poverty and +self-denial among their countrymen. + +After all, it must be acknowledged, that though every thing else should +concur with our wishes, yet if a set of good governors and teachers be +wanting, who are acquainted with the methods of education, and have the +zeal and ability requisite for carrying on a design of this nature, it +would certainly come to nothing. + +An institution of this kind should be set on foot by men of prudence, +spirit, and zeal, as well as competent learning, who should be led to +it by other motives than the necessity of picking up a maintenance. For +upon this view, what man of merit can be supposed to quit his native +country, and take up with a poor college-subsistence in another part of +the world, where there are so many considerable parishes actually void, +and so many others ill supplied for want of fitting incumbents? Is it +likely, that fellowships of fifty or sixty pounds a year should tempt +abler or worthier men, than benefices of many times their value? + +And except able and worthy men do first engage in this affair, with a +resolution to exert themselves in forming the manners of the youth, and +giving them a proper education, it is evident the mission and the +college will be but in a very bad way. This inconvenience seems the +most difficult to provide against, and, if not provided against, it +will be the most likely to obstruct any design of this nature. So true +it is, that where ignorance or ill manners once take place in a +seminary, they are sure to be handed down in a succession of illiterate +or worthless men. + +But this apprehension, which seems so well grounded, that a college in +any part of America would either lie unprovided, or be worse provided +than their churches are, hath no place in Bermuda; there being at this +time several gentlemen in all respects very well qualified, and in +possession of good preferments, and fair prospects at home, who having +seriously considered the great benefit that may arise to the church and +to mankind from such an undertaking, are ready to engage in it, and to +dedicate the remainder of their lives to the instructing the youth of +America, and prosecuting their own studies upon a very moderate +subsistence in a retirement, so sweet, and so secure, and every way so +well fitted for a place of education, and study, as Bermuda. + +Thus much the writer hereof thought himself obliged to say of his +associates: for himself, he can only say, that as he values no +preferment upon earth, so much as that of being employed in the +execution of this design; so he hopes to make up for other defects, by +his industry and zeal. + +In Europe, the protestant religion hath of late years considerably lost +ground, and America seems the likeliest place, wherein to make up for +what hath been lost in Europe, provided the proper methods are taken: +Otherwise the Spanish missionaries in the South, and the French in the +North, are making such a progress, as may one day spread the religion +of Rome, and with it the usual hatred to protestants, throughout all +the savage nations in America; which would probably end in the utter +extirpation of our colonies, on the safety whereof depends so much of +the nation's wealth, and so considerable a branch of his majesty's +revenue. + +But if this scheme were pursued, it would in all probability have much +greater influence on the Americans, than the utmost endeavours of +popish emissaries can possibly have; who from the difference of +country, language and interest, must lie under far greater difficulties +and discouragements than those, whom we suppose yearly sent out from +Bermuda to preach among their countrymen. + +It cannot indeed be denied, that the great number of poor regulars, +inured to hard living, and brought up in an implicit obedience to their +superiors, hath hitherto given the church of Rome, in regard to her +missions, great advantage over the reformed churches. But from what +hath been said, it is, I think, evident, that this advantage may be +over-ballanced by our employing American missionaries. + +Nor is the honour of the crown, nation, and church of England +unconcerned in this scheme; which, it is to be hoped, will remove the +reproach, we have so long lain under, that we fall as far short of our +neighbours of the Romish communion in zeal for propagating religion, as +we surpass them in the soundness and purity of it. And at the same +time, that the doing what may be so easily done, takes away our +reproach; it will cast no small lustre on his majesty's reign, and +derive a blessing from heaven on his administration, and those who live +under the influence thereof. + +Men of narrow minds have a peculiar talent at objection, being never at +a loss for something to say against whatsoever is not of their own +proposing. And perhaps, it will be said in opposition to this proposal, +that if we thought ourselves capable of gaining converts to the church, +we ought to begin with infidels, papists, and dissenters of all +denominations at home, and to make proselytes of these before we think +of foreigners; and that therefore our scheme is against duty. And +further, that considering the great opposition, which is found on the +part of those who differ from us at home, no success can be expected +among savages abroad, and that therefore it is against reason and +experience. + +In answer to this I say, that religion like light is imparted without +being diminished. That whatever is done abroad, can be no hindrance or +lett to the conversion of infidels or others at home. That those who +engage in this affair, imagine they will not be missed, where there is +no want of schools or clergy; but that they may be of singular service +in countries but thinly supplied with either, or altogether deprived of +both: That our colonies being of the same blood, language, and religion +with ourselves, are in effect our countrymen. But that christian +charity, not being limited by those regards, doth extend to all +mankind. And this may serve for an answer to the first point, that our +design is against duty. + +To the second point I answer; That ignorance is not so incurable as +error; that you must pull down as well as build, erase as well as +imprint, in order to make proselytes at home: Whereas, the savage +Americans, if they are in a state purely natural, and unimproved by +education, they are also unincumbred with all that rubbish of +superstition and prejudice, which is the effect of a wrong one. As they +are less instructed, they are withal less conceited, and more +teachable. And not being violently attached to any false system of +their own, are so much the fitter to receive that which is true. Hence +it is evident, that success abroad ought not to be measured by that +which we observe at home, and that the inference, which was made from +the difficulty of the one to the impossibility of the other, is +altogether groundless. + +It hath more the appearance of reason to object (what will possibly be +objected by some) that this scheme hath been already tried to no +purpose, several Indians having returned to their savage manners after +they had been taught to write and read, and instructed in the Christian +religion; a clear proof that their natural stupidity is not to be +overcome by education. + +In answer to this, I say, that the scheme now proposed hath never been +tried, forasmuch as a thorough education in religion and morality, in +divine and humane learning, doth not appear to have been ever given to +any savage American; that much is to be hoped from a man ripe in years, +and well grounded in religion and useful knowledge, while little or +nothing can be expected from a youth but slightly instructed in the +elements of either: that from the miscarriage or gross stupidity of +some, a general incapacity of all Americans cannot be fairly inferred: +that they shew as much natural sense as other uncultivated nations: +that the empires of Mexico and Peru were evident proofs of their +capacity, in which there appeared a reach of politics, and a degree of +art and politeness, which no European people were ever known to have +arrived at without the use of letters or of iron, and which some +perhaps have fallen short of with both those advantages. + +To what hath been said, it may not be improper to add, that young +Americans, educated in an island at some distance from their own +country, will more easily be kept under discipline till they have +attained a compleat education, than on the continent; where they might +find opportunities of running away to their countrymen, and returning +to their brutal customs, before they were thoroughly imbued with good +principles and habits. + +It must nevertheless be acknowledged a difficult attempt, to plant +religion among the Americans, so long as they continue their wild and +roving life. He who is obliged to hunt for his daily food, will have +little curiosity or leisure to receive instruction. It would seem +therefore the right way, to introduce religion and civil life at the +same time into that part of the world: either attempt will assist and +promote the other. Those therefore of the young savages, who upon trial +are found less likely to improve by academical studies, may be taught +agriculture, or the most necessary trades. And when husband-men, +weavers, carpenters, and the like, have planted those useful arts among +their savage country-men, and taught them to live in settled +habitations, to canton out their land and till it, to provide vegetable +food of all kinds, to preserve flocks and herds of cattle, to make +convenient houses, and to cloath themselves decently: This will assist +the spreading of the gospel among them; this will dispose them to +social vertues, and enable them to see and to feel the advantages of a +religious and civil education. + +And that this view of propagating the gospel and civil life among the +savage nations of America, was a principal motive which induced the +crown to send the first English colonies thither, doth appear from the +charter granted by King James I. to the adventurers in Virginia. _See +Purchas's pilgrims, part 4. b. 9. c.i._ And it is now but just (what +might then seem charitable) that these poor creatures should receive +some advantage with respect to their spiritual interests, from those +who have so much improved their temporal by settling among them. + +It is most true, notwithstanding our present corruptions, that there +are to be found in no country under the sun men of better inclinations, +or greater abilities for doing good than in England. But it is as true, +that success, in many cases, dependeth not upon zeal, industry, wealth, +learning, or the like faculties, so much as on the method, wherein +these are applied. We often see a small proportion of labour and +expence in one way, bring that about, which in others a much greater +share of both could never effect. It hath been my endeavour to discover +this way or method in the present case. What hath been done, I submit +to the judgment of all good and reasonable men; who, I am persuaded, +will never reject or discourage a proposal of this nature on the score +of slight objections, surmises, or difficulties, and thereby render +themselves chargeable with the having prevented those good effects, +which might otherwise have been produced by it. + +For it is, after all, possible, that unforeseen difficulties may arise +in the prosecution of this design, many things may retard, and many +things may threaten to obstruct it; but there is hardly any enterprize +or scheme whatsoever for the publick good, in which difficulties are +not often shewing themselves, and as often overcome by the blessing of +God, upon the prudence and resolution of the undertakers: though, for +ought that appears, the present scheme is as likely to succeed, and +attended with as few difficulties, as any of this kind can possibly be. + +For to any man, who considers the divine power of religion, the innate +force of reason and virtue, and the mighty effects often wrought by the +constant regular operation even of a weak and small cause; it will seem +natural and reasonable to suppose, that rivulets perpetually issuing +forth from a fountain, or reservoir, of learning and religion, and +streaming through all parts of America, must in due time have a great +effect, in purging away the ill manners and irreligion of our colonies, +as well as the blindness and barbarity of the nations round them: +Especially, if the reservoir be in a clean and private place, where its +waters, out of the way of any thing that may corrupt them, remain clear +and pure; otherwise they are more likely to pollute than purify the +places through which they flow. + +The greatness of a benefaction is rather in proportion to the number +and want of the receivers, than to the liberality of the giver. A wise +and good man would therefore be frugal in the management of his +charity; that is, contrive it so as that it might extend to the +greatest wants of the greatest number of his fellow-creatures. Now the +greatest wants are spiritual wants, and by all accounts these are no +where greater than in our western plantations, in many parts whereof +divine service is never performed for want of clergy-men; in others, +after such a manner and by such hands as scandalize even the worst of +their own parishioners: where many English, instead of gaining +converts, are themselves degenerated into Heathen, being members of no +church, without morals, without faith, without baptism. There can be +therefore, in no part of the Christian world, a greater want of +spiritual things than in our plantations. + +And, on the other hand, no part of the Gentile world are so inhumane +and barbarous as the savage Americans, whose chief employment and +delight consisting in cruelty and revenge, their lives must of all +others be most opposite as well to the light of nature, as to the +spirit of the Gospel. Now to reclaim these poor wretches, to prevent +the many torments and cruel deaths which they daily inflict on each +other, to contribute in any sort to put a stop to the numberless horrid +crimes which they commit without remorse, and instead thereof to +introduce the practice of vertue and piety must surely be a work in the +highest degree becoming every sincere and charitable Christian. + +Those, who wish well to religion and mankind, will need no other motive +to forward an undertaking calculated for the service of both: I shall, +nevertheless, beg leave to observe, that whoever would be glad to cover +a multitude of sins by an extensive and well judged charity, or +whoever, from an excellent and godlike temper of mind, seeks +opportunities of doing good in his generation, will be pleased to meet +with a scheme that so peculiarly puts it in his power, with small +trouble or expence to procure a great and lasting benefit to the world. + +Ten pounds a year, would (if I mistake not) be sufficient to defray the +expence of a young American in the college of Bermuda, as to dyet, +lodging, clothes, books, and education: And if so, the interest of two +hundred pounds may be a perpetual fund for maintaining one missionary +at the college for ever; and in this succession, many, it is to be +hoped, may become powerful instruments for converting to Christianity +and civil life whole nations, who now sit in darkness and the shadow of +death, and whose cruel brutal manners are a disgrace to humane nature. + +A benefaction of this kind seems to enlarge the very being of a man, +extending it to distant places and to future times; inasmuch as unseen +countries, and after ages, may feel the effects of his bounty, while he +himself reaps the reward in the blessed society of all those, who, +_having turned many to righteousness, shine as the stars for ever and +ever_. + + * * * * * + +P.S. + +_Since the foregoing proposal was first made publick, His MAJESTY hath +been graciously pleased to grant a charter for erecting a college by +the name of St. PAUL's college in Bermuda, for the uses abovementioned. +Which college is to contain a president and nine fellows. The first +president appointed by charter is George Berkeley, D.D. and Dean of +Derry. The three fellows named in the charter, are William Thompson, +Jonathan Rogers, and James King, Masters of Arts and Fellows of Trinity +College near Dublin. The nomination of a_ _president is reserved to the +Crown. The election of fellows is vested in the president and the +majority of the fellows; as is likewise the government of the society. +The Lord Bishop of London for the time being is appointed visitor: and +such of His MAJESTY's principal Secretaries of State for the time being +as hath America in his province, is appointed chancellor of the said +college. The president and fellows have the power of making statutes to +be approved by the visitor: they have also the power of conferring +degrees in all faculties. They are obliged to maintain and educate +Indian scholars at the rate of ten pounds per Annum for each. They are +obliged to transmit annual accounts of the state of the college, number +of students, their progress, &c. to the chancellor and visitor. The +aforesaid president and fellows are licensed to hold their preferments +in these kingdoms till one year and a half be expired after their +arrival in Bermuda. This society is incorporated with the usual +clauses, hath power to receive benefactions, purchase lands, keep a +common seal, &c. Lastly, all in office under His MAJESTY, are required +to be aiding and assisting to the protection and preservation thereof._ + +_As this college is proposed to be built and endowed by charitable +contributions and subscriptions, all well-disposed persons, whether of +the laity or the clergy, are desired to assist, as opportunity shall +offer, in forwarding and collecting the same without loss of time; to +the end that the President and Fellows may be able to set out for +Bermuda in next spring; which is proposed, in case provision can be +made by that time of sixty pounds per Annum for each: And it is hoped +that the charity and zeal of sincere Christians will not suffer a +design of this nature to be disappointed for want of necessary +provision. The contributions and subscriptions aforesaid, may be +deposited in the hands of any of the persons hereafter named._ + +John Arbuthnot M.D. in Corke-street. + +Revd. Martin Benson, arch-deacon of Berks, and prebendary of Durham, + in Albemarle-street. + +Francis Child Esq; Banker in Fleet-street, and Alderman of the + city of London. + +Revd. Dr. Cobden, chaplain to the L. Bp of London, at Fulham. + +Sir Clement Cotterel Bart. in Dover-street. + +Sir Thomas Crosse Kt. in Westminster. + +Sir Daniel Dolins Kt. at Hackney. + +Thomas Green Esq; in Westminster. + +Revd. Mr. Hargrave, chaplain to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, + and prebendary of Westminster. + +Edward Harley Esq; auditor of the Imprests in Lincoln's-Inn. + +Benj. & Henry Hoare Esquires, Bankers in Fleet-street. + +Archibald Hutcheson Esq; in James-street, near Golden-square. + +Revd. Dr. King, master of the charter-house, and first chaplain to + the Lord Chancellor. + +Revd. Dr. Lisle, rector of Bow, and chaplain to his Grace the A.B. + of Canterbury. + +Revd. Dr. Lupton, prebendary of Durham, and preacher at + Lincoln's-Inn. + +Revd. Dr. Marshal, rector of Foster-lane, and prebendary of + Windsor. + +Revd. Dr. Mayo, Treasurer to the Society for promoting Christian + Knowledge, at St. Thomas's Hospital in Southwark. + +Revd. Dr. Moss, Dean of Ely, and preacher at Gray's-Inn. + +Revd. Dr. Pelling, rector of St. Ann's Soho, and prebendary of + Windsor. + +Revd. Dr. Pierce, vicar of St. Martin's in the Fields. + +Hon. Augustus Schutz Esq; Master of the Wardrobe to his Royal + Highness. + +Revd. Dr. Sherlock, Dean of Chichester, and Master of the Temple. + +Sir William Wentworth Bart. in Clarges-street, or in York. + +_The money received by these Gentlemen is to be laid out in +purchasing lands or perpetual annuities for endowment of the College +aforesaid, and in building and providing necessaries for the same, by +order or with the approbation of_ + + His Grace William Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury. + + The Right Honourable Peter Lord King, High Chancellor of Great + Britain. + + His Grace Thomas Duke of Newcastle, Principal Secretary of State + for the Plantations in America, &c. + + The Right Reverend Edmund Lord Bishop of London. + +_Who have been pleased to accept the Office of Trustees or Overseers of +so useful a charity._ + +_N.B. Till such time as the contributions and subscriptions amount to a +sum sufficient for providing five persons with the above-mentioned +salaries of sixty pounds per Annum, the subscribers shall not be +desired to pay in their money._ + + +_FINIS._ + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Proposal for the Better Supplying of +Churches in Our Foreign Plantations, and for Converting the Savage Americans to Christianity, by George Berkeley + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETTER SUPPLYING OF CHURCHES *** + +***** This file should be named 31848.txt or 31848.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/8/4/31848/ + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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