The following Letters, addressed by Mr. Whitefield to the inhabitants of Savannah, as they display his affections to the people, among whom he went to minister, so will be no unsuitable introduction to the Account of the Orphan-house. It may not be improper to observe, that Mr. Whitefield’s first arrival at Savannah, was May 7, 1738; he laboured assiduously in that place,¹ and the neighbouring settlements, till August 28 following, and then went to South Carolina, and embarked on board the Mary, Captain Cae, for England, that he might receive priest’s orders, for his further service to that people, and raise contributions for erecting an Orphan-house in the new colony at Georgia, which he saw was greatly wanted.
To the Inhabitants of Savannah.
From on board the Mary, October 2, 1738.
My good Friends,
AS God has been pleased to place you more especially under my care; so whether absent or present, I think it my duty to contribute my utmost endeavours towards promoting the salvation of your precious and immortal souls. For this end, and this only, God is my judge, came I amongst you; for this end am I now parted from you for a season; and for this end do I send you this general epistle. I love, I pray for, therefore do I write to you all without exception. But what shall I write to you about? Why, of our common salvation, of that one thing needful, of that new birth in Christ Jesus, that ineffable change which must pass upon our hearts, before we can see God, and of which you have heard me discourse so often. Let this, this, my dear friends, be the end of all your actions. Have this continually in view, and you will never do amiss. The author of this blessed change, is the Holy Ghost, the third person in the ever-blessed Trinity. The Father made, the Son redeemed, and the Holy Spirit is to sanctify, and so apply Christ’s redemption to our hearts. The means to attain this Holy Spirit, you know, and the way you know; Self-denial, and the way of the Cross. “If any man will come after me (says Jesus Christ) let him deny himself, and, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” And, I cannot but think it a particular blessing, which you enjoy above others; because you are in a new colony, where daily crosses must necessarily fall in your way. O then, I beseech you by the mercies of God in Christ Jesus, make a virtue of necessity, and take up your daily crosses with resignation and thanksgiving. Another means to attain the Holy Spirit, is public worship: for Christ has promised, “where two or three are gathered together in his name, there will he, by his Spirit, be in the midst of them.” For your zeal in this particular, I have often blessed God within myself, and made mention of it to others. O continue like-minded, and as in my presence, so in my absence, do not forsake the assembling yourselves together in the house of God; for there you will have the scriptures read, though not expounded; and the Holy Spirit, if you apply to him, will open your understandings, and guide you into all truth. Many other means there are of attaining the Holy Ghost, such as, reading the scriptures,—secret prayer,—self-examination, and receiving the blessed Sacrament;—all which I would insist on, could they be comprised in a letter. But this must be deferred till I see you in person, and am qualified to administer unto you the sacred symbols of Christ’s blessed body and blood. In the mean while, think not that I shall forget you in my prayers; no, I remember my promise, and whilst the winds and storms are blowing over me, I make supplication to God in your behalf. Though absent in body, I am present in spirit, and joy in hopes of hearing of your zeal for the Lord. Remember, my dear friends, that for the space of near four months, I ceased not, day and night, warning every one of you to repent and turn to God, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance. Repent you therefore, and walk in all things as becometh the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and then, and then only, shall your sins be blotted out. Finally, my brethren, be all of one mind. Let there be no divisions among you; for a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Be over careful for nothing, but in every thing, with supplications and thanksgiving make your wants known unto God. Speak not evil one of another, brethren, but live at peace among yourselves; and the God of peace shall in all things direct and rule your hearts. Brethren, pray for us, that God would prosper the works of his hands upon me, and restore me to you as soon as possible. In about eight months, God willing, I hope to see you; in the mean while, you shall not be forgotten by
Your affectionate, though unworthy minister in Christ Jesus,
G. W.
To the Inhabitants of Savannah.
London, January 19, 1739.
My dear Friends,
THOUGH a woman may as soon forget her sucking child, yet, I fear, you have before this time thought, that I have forgotten you. But God forbid! As I have told you often, so I tell you again; You are upon my heart, so that I am ready to live and die with you; and, God willing, as soon as my affairs are finished in England, I shall return to you again. The Trustees have now appointed me minister of Savannah, and granted all I desired of them, so that I have nothing to do, but to watch over your souls, that I may present you blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Be stedfast therefore, my brethren, be unmoveable. Carefully attend to the words spoken by your present Pastor, and strive to enter in at the strait gate. Let love be without dissimulation. Let not slander so much as be named amongst you, as becometh saints. Be not slothful in business; yet take heed that you are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks; and assure yourselves, you are continually remembered by
Your most affectionate Pastor,
G. W.
P. S. My business in England detaining me longer than I expected, I have therefore written this to assure you, that I will return as soon as possible.¹
AN
ACCOUNT of the Orphan-House in Georgia.
PREFACE.
BEING now about to embark for Georgia, I am willing, before I go, to give the world a short account of the Orphan-House erected there. I have, therefore, in the following sheets, reprinted a continuation of an account published when I was last at Edinburgh; to which I have subjoined some letters received since; and also an account of money received and disbursed since the publication of that account: and in order to give the reader a view of this design from its beginning, I have affixed my preface to the account I first published about two years ago. I commend it to God. May he give it his blessing!
G. W.
London, January 14, 1743.
Bethesda, December 23, 1741.
THE following sheets, to the best of my knowledge, contain a faithful account of what money I have received, as also how I have disbursed it, for the use of the Orphan-House in Georgia.
I think, with a full assurance of faith I may affirm, the Lord put it into my heart to build that house. It has prospered beyond expectation. It has already, and I hope will more and more answer its name, Bethesda, and be a House of Mercy to the souls and bodies of many people, both old and young.
When I left England, I proposed to take in only twenty children; but when I arrived at Georgia, I found so many objects of charity, besides the orphans, among poor people’s children, that I resolved in this, as well as in all other respects, to imitate Professor Franck, and make a provision for their maintenance also.
Two of the orphan boys were put out apprentices just before I last left Savannah; one to a bricklayer, the other was bound to a carpenter; a third is to be bound to the surgeon belonging to the Orphan-House; one weaves in a loom at home; two I have put to a taylor I brought over, and the rest are now fitting themselves to be useful to the commonwealth. Whoever among them appear to be sanctified, and have a good natural capacity, these, under God, I intend for the ministry.
None of the girls are put out as yet, but are taught such things as may make them serviceable whenever they go abroad. Two or three of them spin very well. Some of them knit, wash, clean the house, get up the linen, and are taught house-wifery. All that are capable, are taught to sew. And the little girls, as well as the boys, are employed in picking cotton. I think I have no less than three hundred and eighty-two yards of cloth already in the house, and as much yarn spun as will make near the same quantity; a thing not known before in Georgia.
I have now forty-nine children under my care, twenty-three English, ten Scots, four Dutch, five French, seven Americans. Twenty-two of these are fatherless and motherless, sixteen of them boys, and six girls. The others are some fatherless, and some without mothers; all objects of charity except three, whose friends recompense the Orphan-House for their maintenance. One of the orphans is an infant; I pay four shillings per week for nursing it. Since December last, we have had above eighteen more children that have been maintained occasionally, to assist their parents, but were dismissed when they were wanted at home.
The account which I find Mr. Seward has given of our œconomy, has in a great measure prevented my doing it as I intended. Let it suffice to inform our benefactors, that though the children are taught to labour for the meat which perisheth, yet they are continually reminded to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and then to depend upon God’s blessing on their honest endeavours, for having food and raiment added unto them. This precept of our Lord, I intend, when the house is finished, to have written over against the entrance in at the great door.
As my design in founding the Orphan-House was to build up souls for God, I endeavour to preach chiefly to the children’s hearts. But that they may be able to give a reason of the hope that is in them, I constantly instruct them by the Church of England’s Articles, which I turn into catechetical questions. I am often pleased to hear how judiciously some will answer the questions put to them. The power of God has been frequently visible among the children. Many of the girls seem to be tender-hearted; several of the boys have been under strong convictions. And though it sometimes seems buried, yet I cannot but think the seed of grace is sown in some of their hearts.
We are now all removed to Bethesda. We live in the out-houses at present; but in less than two months, the great house will be finished so as to receive the whole family.
It is now weather-boarded and shingled, and a piazza of ten feet wide built all around it: which will be wonderfully convenient in the heat of summer. One part of the house would have been entirely finished, had not the Spaniards lately taken from us a schooner loaded with ten thousands bricks, and a great deal of provision, with one of our family. And therefore, I could not till very lately procure another boat to fetch brick from Charles-Town.
Notwithstanding this, and many other hindrances, the work has been carried on with great success and speed. There are no less than four framed houses, a large stable and cart-house, beside the great house. In that there will be sixteen commodious rooms, besides a large cellar of sixty feet long and forty wide. Near twenty acres of land are cleared round about it, and a large road is made from Savannah to the Orphan-house, twelve miles in length: a thing, ever since the province has been settled, without a precedent.
None but those upon the spot can tell the expence, as well as inconvenience that attends building in Georgia. Most of the bricks already used, cost 40s. sterling per thousand, when landed at the plantation. Common labourers, besides their provisions, have 25s. sterling a month. And, after all, ♦the produce of the land cultivated by white servants, will scarcely furnish them with ordinary food and raiment, exclusive of the expences of sickness and wages. I cannot see how it is possible for the Colony to subsist on its present footing. And in a late memorial given in to the Honourable Trustees, unknown to me, the people have declared, that if it were not for the money that has been expended on account of the Orphan-house, the poor inhabitants of the northern parts of the colony must have been obliged to move to some other place. Never did a country stand more in need of a charity-school.
We have often been in some difficulties, but the Lord as often hath relieved us out of them. When the schooner was lost, a person lately converted, sent us eleven barrels of rice, and five barrels of beef. And in my absence, when my family had little or no provisions, the Indians brought in plenty of deer, till they were supplied with food some other way. The contributions in Charles-Town, New-England, New-York, and Pensilvania, I think have been extraordinary.
The infirmary, which has likewise been supported by this institution, has been of great service. The surgeon informs me, that if every one had been forced to pay for their nursing and medicines, it would have cost them two hundred pounds, sterling. I have now three or four sick: I keep a woman to attend them constantly.
God has much blessed our family with health. Only two have died out of so large a number, since my arrival; and these were two that came with me from England: a taylor, and one of the women: I believe they are now with God.
I have left behind me, as my assistants, (who have no other gratuity than food and raiment) two school-masters and their wives who are school-mistresses. One young man, who is also married to a young maiden, lately brought home to God, I have left at the Orphan-house, as superintendent, and chief manager of the outward things. There are also the surgeon and his wife, a shoemaker and spinstress; besides labourers and monthly hired servants: I think, in all, I have upwards of eighty. The Lord, I am persuaded, is able and willing to provide for them.
I think we have near two hundred hogs, and one hundred head of cattle. I give a man forty pounds sterling, per annum, to take care of them; he providing himself with provision, horses, and a servant. As yet we have had no advantage from our stock, it being a very dry season last summer; so that our cattle of all kinds have scarcely food to eat. But in a year or two, we hope, by the divine blessing, to have a considerable quantity of fresh provisions for our family.
As for manuring more land than the hired servants and great boys can manage, it is impracticable without a few negroes. It will in no wise answer the expence.
I am now upwards of eight hundred pounds in debt, on the Orphan-house account. Some particular friends have been pleased to assist me. I doubt not but our Lord will enable me to pay them, and also raise up fresh supplies for the maintenance of my large family.
I much rejoice in the institution: it has been very beneficial, not only to the bodies, but also to the souls of the labourers. One woman received Christ very lately at Bethesda: and I have great reason to believe, that three or four strangers, who came to see us, have been effectually brought home to God.
Great calumnies have been spread abroad concerning our management of the children: people shoot out their bitter arrows in America, as well as in England. One poor man was filled with such resentment, at the reports he had heard of our cruelty to the children, that he came on purpose from South-Carolina, to take away his two boys, whom out of compassion, I had taken into the Orphan-House: but, when he came and saw the manner in which they were educated, he was so far from taking his children away, that he desired to come and live at the Orphan-house himself.
I speak not this by way of boasting, or to wipe off reproach; for I know, let me do what I will, I shall never please some men. I thought proper to give this short account, for the satisfaction of those who have already contributed, and of others who may be stirred up by our good God, to contribute hereafter towards carrying on this good design.
That the children may learn to be grateful, they frequently sing the following hymn for their benefactors:
I.
Father of Mercies, hear our prayers,
For those that do us good;
Whose love for us a place prepares,
And gives the orphans food.
II.
Their mites, in blessings on their heads,
A thousand fold restore;
O feed their souls with living bread,
And let their cup run o’er.
III.
Thy bounty, Lord, in Christ built up,
Let them for ever prove:
Stedfast in faith, joyful thro’ hope,
And rooted deep in love.
IV.
For those, who kindly this support,
A better house prepare:
And when remov’d to thy bless’d courts,
O let us meet them there.
That they may always look to the rock from whence they are hewn, they sing daily this hymn.
I.
Come let us join our God to bless,
And praise him evermore;
That Father of the fatherless,
That helper of the poor.
II.
Our dying parents us forsake,
His mercy takes us up,
Kindly vouchsafes his own to make,
And he becomes our hope.
III.
For us, He, in the wilderness,
A table has prepar’d;
Us, whom his love delights to bless,
His providence to guard.
IV.
Known unto him are all our wants,
And when we seek his face,
His open hand our bodies feeds,
He feeds our souls with grace.
V.
Then let us in his service spend,
What we from Him receive;
And back to Him what he shall lend,
In thanks and praises give.
That they may learn to labour truly to get their own living, they sing as follows, before they go to work,
I.
Let us go forth, ’tis God’s command;
Let us make haste away,
Offer to Christ our hearts and hands,
We work for Christ to-day.
II.
When he vouchsafes our hands to use,
It makes our labour sweet.
If any now to work refuse,
Let not that sluggard eat.
III.
Who would not do what God ordains,
And promises to bless?
Who would not ’scape the toils and pains
Of sinful idleness?
IV.
In vain to Christ the slothful pray;
We have not learn’d him so.
No: for he calls himself the way,
And work’d himself below.
V.
Then let us in his footsteps tread,
And gladly act our part;
On earth employ our hands and head,
But fix on heaven our heart.
The following hymn was composed to be sung at the admission of a new child or children.
I.
Welcome, dear brethren, whom we love;
Bethesda this we call.
A house of mercy may it prove
To you, to us, to all!
II.
What tho’ our parents dear are dead,
Yet our great God provides.
Our bodies here are cloth’d and fed;
Our souls have christian guides.
III.
The heavenly manna, day by day,
They freely do impart;
Let us not trifle time away!
But lay it in our heart.
IV.
O let the love of Christ constrain!
Why should we need a rod?
Few e’er such blessed means obtain
Of leading them to God.
Besides these hymns, they generally sing a grace before and after meat, and are taught so to vary their exercises, that they may not be cloyed by a too frequent repetition of the same things on the one hand, and yet are kept in such a general method, that they may not learn to be desultory and fickle on the other.
God only knows the concern that lies upon me on account of this family, not only in respect to their bodily, but their spiritual provision. And therefore I hope all that wish well to Zion, will help me with prayers, as well as their alms, that it may grow up a holy temple to the Lord, and be blessed; that it may rightly be stiled Pietas Georgiensis, and like the Pietas Hallensis, or Professor Franck’s Orphan-House at Glaucha, near Hall, become the joy of the whole earth. Even so, Lord Jesus, Amen, and Amen.
G. W.