At a General Meeting of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.

Hold on the 18th. day of May 1759. [...]

A Letter from the Recd. Mr Stewart Missionary at Bath Town in North Carolina, dated October 8th. 1758, in which he writes, that nothing particular has happened since he wrote last, but a new Election of Vestrymen for that Province & those of Bath Parish have made several new appointments for Mr Stewart's Attendance, which renders his Duty more difficult, as he at this time attends nine Chapels, five Chapels in Bath County, and four in the adjoining one. By his Notitia Parochialis inclosed it appears that he has baptised in the last half year 108 white Infants, and 19 Negroes and three white and 7 black Adults, and the number of his actual Communicants s 46: besides these he has baptised 52 Infants, one Indian Boy, and one Adult woman in a part of Hyde County called Attamuskeet, which ls a hundred miles from Bath Town, and can be come at by Water only. When Mr Stewart wrote, the Assembly of the Province was sitting, and had before them a Bill for the better regulating the Salaries of the Clergy and affixing them on a greater certainty.

A Letter from Arthur Dobbs Esqr. Governor of North Carolina, dated February 6th. 1759, in which he writes, that the Province has been taken up for some years in raising Supplies to defend his Majesty's Rights in America, so that they have not been able to do any thing for the encouragement of a resident Clergy: however last Sessions the Governor recommended to the Assembly their taking into consideration the state of Religion, and the hardships of the Clergy, and the Education of their youth, and with some difficulty has procured a better provision for the Parochial Clergy every Parish being obliged to pay to support a Clergyman 100£ ⅌ annum that Currency, and 20£ a year in lieu of a Glebe, which in the whole amounts to 90£ Sterling if the Paper Currency is at no discount. The Governor endeavoured to get select Vestries instead of their being elected by the whole Body of the People, which by the great number of Sectaries prevents proper Vestrymen being chosen, but it could not be effected: However, as a certain and better provision for the Clergy is secured, upon a proper application to his Majesty in Council, the former Law may be repealed, and then the patronage will be restored to the Crown, and the Clergy can be properly inducted and secured in their Freeholds; and the power of the lower rank of People will be reduced who are chiefly Sectaries, and Vestrymen will be chosen that will Act, for in many places at present they choose Vestrymen who will not qualify themselves, by which means no Parish Taxes can be raised either to support the Clergy, or to build Churches or to purchase Glebes; and thus the Law is evaded and no Clergyman can be fixed without their consent. The Governor says, he has thought it his Duty to recommend the repeal of the former Law to the Lords Commissioners of Trade, and hopes the Society, and the Lord Bishop of London, will give their aid and weight to have it repealed in Council; and then Gentlemen of the best rank and most knowledge and Members of the Established Church will be Elected Vestrymen, who in time may gain other Benefits for the Clergy, so as to procure a learned, pious and resident Clergy. From the late discouragements it has proceeded that there are not above Eight setled Clergy in the Province, but it abounds with Itinerant Anabaptist Preachers, and other Sectaries, and it is computed there are 80,000 white Inhabitants in the Province who are daily increasing, from hence (the Governor writes) the Society may judge how many Sectaries there are, and how many are nominal Christians, without proper Instructions and Schools to Educate the Youth, and therefore he wishes the Society was in a state of sending over some proper Clergymen as Missionaries to Assist in the Instruction of the Poor deluded Inhabitants. The Revd. Mr Hall the Society's Missionary at Edenton is dead and the principal Gentlemen of that Town and Parish of St. Paul recommend the Revd. Mr Daniel Earl to succeed him in that Mission, he has a License from the Bishop of London, and has behaved well, and is very agreeable, and the Governor is persuaded he will be of Service to the Church as a Missionary, and therefore recommends him to the Society for that purpose. The Revd. Mr Stewart Missionary at Bath Town has maintained his Character, is very diligent in his Duty, and is well liked by his Parishioners, and deserved encouragement. The Revd. Mr Macdowell, who is now fixed in the Parish of New Brunswick, where the Governor resides, discharges his Duty to the satisfaction of his Parishioners, is very much esteemed for his Christian behaviour and his diligence in his Duty, and very well deserves encouragement from the Society, and if it be compatible with the other appointments of the Society deserves to be a Missionary. The Revd. Mr Smith who was formerly Missionary of George Town in South Carolina is now fixed at Wilmington and since his coming into that Province his behaviour is becoming his Function, he appears to be a man of Learning, is diligent in his Duty and liked by his Parishioners, and if not removed deserves to be continued. The Governor wishes he could give a good Account of the Revd. Mr Moir Missionary for the South Side of Neuse, but he thinks himself obliged in discharge of his trust to renew his complaint against him; Mr Moir entirely neglects his Duty chiefly of amassing Money, is grown Rich, never sticks to any Parish, and has perpetual Quarrels with his Neighbours, and a Presentment was found against him in the Year 1753 an attested Copy of which the Governor has inclosed, and the Governor thinks his continuance as a Missionary is a disserved to Religion, besides he can live with affluence without it. The Governor adds, that he hopes upon the present provision secured to the Clergy, the Society will procure some pious Clergymen to come over and reside here, where the harvest is great and the Labourers but few, and some Schoolmasters who can teach to Read and Write and cast Accounts, who would have Subscriptions 'till proper Parochial Funds could be setled upon them.

A Letter from several of the Inhabitants of St. Paul's Parish Chowan County, to Arthur Dobbs Esqr. Governor of North Carolina dated January 10th. 1759, desiring him to recommend to the Society Mr Daniel Earl as a Person who would give universal satisfaction if appointed Missionary to St. Paul's Parish in the room of Mr Hall deceased; during Mr Hall's Illness he frequently officiated, and by an unexceptionable Life recommended the usefull Doctrine he Preached.

A Copy of a Record in the Court of Assise for the County of Edgecombe in North Carolina, attested by the Clerk of the Crown, whereby it appears, that in October 1753 the Grand Jury presented the Revd. James Moir for dispensing with the Ceremonies of the Church of England as by Law established, and for despising and omitting the most Essential Orders in the Liturgy, by leaving out in his way of performing Divine Service the Lessons for the Day, and several Prayers; but he was not punished, as the Court were of opinion, that they had no Cognizance of Ecclesiastical Matters.

Agreed to recommend to the Society, to appoint the Revd. Mr Earl Missionary to St. Paul's Parish in Chowan County, in the room of the late Mr Hall, upon the recommendation of Governor Dobbs, also

Agreed, as the opinion of the Committee that Mr Moir be acquainted with his accusation, and required to give a distinct answer to it, and to take especial care of his Behavior for the future; and that Governor Dobbs be acquainted that the Society will give Mr Moir a severe reprimand for his past misconduct, and that if he continues to behave ill, he shall be dismissed their service and that the Society return Mr Dobbs their thanks for all his good Offices relating to the Clergy.

Resolved to agree with the Committee, only adding in the Letter to be wrote to Governor Dobbs this condition, "if Mr Moir shall not be able to give a satisfactory Answer to the accusation against him." [...]

A Letter from several of the Inhabitants of St. Paul's Parish Chowan County, to Arthur Dobbs Esqr. Governor of North Carolina dated January 10th. 1759, desiring him to recommend to the Society Mr Daniel Earl as a Person who would giver universal satisfaction if appointed Missionary to St. Paul's Parish in the room of Mr Hall deceased; during Mr Hall's Illness he frequently officiated, and by an unexceptionable Life recommended the useful Doctrine he Preached.