Description Letter from James MacGregor to Daniel Fraser

Main Letter:

"East River, Sept. 8th, 1813

 

Dear Sir,

 

I am much obliged for the papers and address you sent me. I will give you my opinion cheerfully. Bromley's system of Education is not tried here and therefore we can say nothing of it from experience. But at home it is gaining found not withstanding great opposition, which says much in its favor. The first account I heard of it was in that review on which Dr. Croke is (?) severe. He thinks it an enemy to Church and state because it sees some faults in the constitution of both; but there are faults in Church and state and it would better to mend them than to preserve in them. This review defends Bromley's, that is I am easter (?) system of education with strong and clear arguments against his enemies; particularly those who were against giving any education to the poor, and those who opposed it because it was no confined to the Church of England. I heard no more of it for a long time, and so I began to fear that it would not answer in practice so well as the review led me to expect. But I had lately a letter from a Minister in Glasgow, a man of piety and intelligence which informs me that now 'it occupies the public attention, and does considerable good in its sphere!' I now believe that the scheme is good, and that Bromley ought to be encouraged; and that i he has courage and perseverance and moderation he will succeed. Dr. Croke’s reason against it shows that he is a great bigot to the Church of England, when he will not allow fair play to the other Churches, nor give them the same chance with his own to teach them catechisms and their Doctrines. Were he not a bigot he would allow others to think as much of their churches as he does of his, and to find fault with his church as much as he finds with theirs. Does Dr. Croke really think that the Church of England catechisms nor any Protestant catechism should be taught in France, Spain, Italy, etc. because Poverty is there established by I am: and that the children of Protestants ought in those kingdoms to be brought up papists till they are of age, and then choose a religion for themselves. This in my opinion would be cruel and unnatural, and so is the other, only not in so high on Degree, as the Church of England is not so bad as that of Rome. Why hinder he Children from learning in school each his own catechism, tho (?) one have two sacraments another screen (?), and a third none out all, as well as at home, or anywhere else? These things cannot be concealed and why may they not be heard in school as well as abroad in the world. Dr. Croke says a (shoend?) boy would naturally draw the conclusion that all religion was absurdity. I say, no; he would draw the conclusion, I must search my bible with cane (came?) and with out prejudice that I may find out truth amidst jarring opinions. He allows that Bromley’s plan would do in the infancy of the Christian religion, when the scriptures (?) were newly published, but now that there are so man opinions and interpretations that children must be bewildered, and therefore it is only the church of England way that should be taught. This would do if God had told us the Church of England was most agreeable to scripture; but as this is not the case Bromley’s way is best, for it brings the children back to the Bible, and leaves every one his right to judge for himself or receive his creed from his parents, who have the best right to give them. Dr. Croke says the parents of the poor are all ignorant and I say they are not, many of them know far more about religion than he does. He ridicules Marshall on sanctification, but Marshall is one of the soundest divines that ever was in England. Dr. Croke does not understand him any more than a worshipper of Jaggernaut does. Mrs. Fraser and you are one flesh, by a certain union. There is nothing absurd in this, as notwithstanding this union Christ and the Believer are still distinct persons, as Mrs. Fraser and you are. Dr. Croke expatiates on the Excellences of the Church of England/ It is easy for the Church of England to appear very excellent for it has much more to support than all the dissenting Churches put together. It stands upon three legs. The first is its own merit, the second is the Legal establishment, and the third is the tenth part of the Produce of England. Now I suspect that the third leg is stronger than the other two, and gives it its principal strength, grandeur, and beauty. Put these three legs under any other Church, suppose the quaker, which has no sacrament, and I doubt not but it would cut a wonderful figure, perhaps near as great as the Church of England. Not but I esteem the articles of the Church of England infinitely preferable to the principles of the Quakers, but the soundness of her articles is what millions of her members are entire strangers to; and in their esteem on a (hesmo?) part of her Excellency. The Church of England makes no great figure in the United States where she had no more legs to support her than other churches. In this Province she is supported by considerable sum from home other wise she would not appear half so excellent as she does. Dr. Croke thinks that great deference is due to the established Church because it is established by a legislature partly composed of Representatives freely chosen by the people. But he should consider that the representatives are only the third part of the legislature, and that third might concur to establish a church not so agreeable to them as another that they might please the two other parts who might be so obstinate that they would not establish that church that was most agreeable to the Representatives. Here is another question for Dr. Croke to consider. Did the people give power to their representatives to establish, or concur with the other Branches of the Legislature in establishing a church for them? Or did the Legislature assume that power to themselves? Suppose the Legislature should establish the worship of Jaggernaut; must the children we taught the Jaggernaut’s catechism, till they be of age?

The Church of England being established here by law, has thereby a great advantage over all the other churches; and were Dr. Croke reasonable, he would therewith be content. All that came into the Province without any religion naturally fall to the church of England; so do all who regard the honour that comes from men. To not this enough, with out prepossessing the Consciences of Dissenters children in its favour? – You must pardon me for blotting and interlining, for I have written the above lines in a great hurry. You will hardly understand it unless you keep in mind what Dr. Croke has written. – Mrs. MacGregor joins in  best respects,

James MacGregor"