Letter from V. Noyes to his Sister, March 15, 1850
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from V. Noyes to his Sister, March 15, 1850
Subject
Presbyterian Church; Clergy--Salaries, etc.; Buildings; Budgeting; California Gold Rush, 1848-1852; Slavery; California--History--1846-1850; Sickness
Description
Varnum writes to his sister about his future plans, which, though uncertain, inlcude leaving Guilford and working in Wayne. He reflects on his time at Guilford and at times criticises the Presbyterian Church and its members. Varnum believes that the Presbyterian Church in Guilford, as well as other places, might go extinct because of ministers resigning or being forced to quit. He discusses salaries, budgeting, properties; especially a hosue 7 miles away from Wooster. Varnum is critical about a memeber of his village is travelling to California to get gold. He mentions the debate regarding California's admission as a state and slavery.
Creator
Noyes, Varnum
Source
Loose, The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
1850-03-15
Contributor
Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant
Rights
Format
PDF
Language
eng (English)
Type
Text
Identifier
noyes_c_cor_907
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Guilford March 15, 1850
My Dear Sister
you may perhaps by
this time begin to think that I am not very
obedient to your order or request to "write
very soon." I have delayed till now in order
to give you some definite information
in reference to my future plans and pros-
pecs. I have been living the year part in
doubt and uncertainty as to my future
field of labour. I have at last conclu-
ded to move into Wayne township
when I have made arrangements to la-
bour for one year with the expectation
of continuing longer if the Lord will.
It is a little painful to leave my old and
pleasant habitation where I have spent
so many years, but duty seems now
to call me somewhere else, and I feel
willing to obey its demands. In the course
of my ministry in Guilford, I have passed
through many trials and afflictions.
Nothing has been more wearing to my health
and constitution than the stupidity of
the church and difficulties among the
members. But I more felt like leaving
this church till a little more than a
year ago, when I found that some who
had been among my most substantial
friends had turned again me. They brought
no accusation against my character or
preaching but the simple plea that my
usefulness in the place was ended. A great
many ministers much better than myself
have been turned away on the same ground.
This plea, I consider as a mere cloak.
Some numbers get a grudge against a
minister for reasons which they are a-
shamed to declare and have not the hones-
ty to avow and come up with the plea
that his usefulness is at an end. This they
profess to believe and they manifest their
faith by their works. It does not take many
men to bring a minister's usefulness in a place
to a conclusion if they go about it in earnest.
Two or three can accomplish the work. It was
so in Wooster, Brother. McCandlish was a man
of eminent piety, good talents and very labouri-
ous, but there were a few members of his
church that made him so uncomfortable
that her resigned his pastoral charge. Churches
that send away their ministers without good
reasons will not be likely to prosper. The
Presbyterian church in this place will prob-
ably break up and perhaps become extinct.
The north part of the congregation have gone
off and are attempting to build a meeting
house but they are getting divided among them-
selves in regard to the site. They have no preach-
ing and are not likely to have. The baptists
have employed a man for one year. But what
about Wayne? In the first place they have
a good meeting house about the size of the
one in Guilford. Most of the members are
good substantial farmers, some of them
wealthy. The number of church members
is small probably about the same as that
of Guilford church. They appear very friendly
as yet and I believe are nearly or quite unan-
imous in wishing me to come and labour
among them. I shall receive of the congre
gation only two hundred and fifty dollars
salary this year but we hope to obtain
one hundred more from the board of do-
mestic missions. I have purchased a
small place about one mile from the
meeting house. I have to give six hundred
dollars for two acres of ground and the
building, thereon. The buildings are a house
built of hewed long, a barn, a shoemakers
shop, spring-house and smoke-house. The. dwel
ling house is rather small for so large a fam
ily as mine, having only two lower rooms
and three small chambers. I calculate to change
the shoemakers shop into an office or stu-
dy. I have been in the habit of thinking that
a minister ought to have an office like
a lawyer where [?men?] might consult with
him alone whenever they please. There
are a number of fruit trees upon the
place, and I flatter myself that we shall
have good neighbors. The house stands
back twenty of thirty rods from the road
so that we shall be quite [?retired?]. It is 7 miles
from Wooster. You are perhaps aware that
a railroad is constructing from Wooster
to Pittsburg. When this is done we can [--god--]
go to Wooster, and from there go almost to your
door by railroad. I flatter myself that I
may be the means of doing good in my
new field of labour, As I shall have but
little land I hope to give myself wholy to
the work. I shall rent my farm to Mr
Barnard and calculate to leave it the
10th of April. My family are well at present.
Children are growing up fast, the two oldest
are already taller than their mother.
A member of our vilagers are going to Califor
nia to get gold. How must more ready are
men to peril their lives for gold that to do
good in the world.
I suppose brother Farrer takes a deep in-
terest in the grave questions before congress
at the present time. It will be something
new if California shall be refund admission
into our confederacy simply on the ground of
excluding slavery. Can you not come out
and see us this summer? We should be
exceedingly gratified to see you and brother
Farrer.
[Note: the following is the heading for the letter written vertically]
Guilford Mar 16
Mrs. Zoa N. Farrer
Marlborough
Newhampshire
When you write me again unless it be very
soon you will please direct you letter
to Wayne, Wayne Co. Ohio. If you see or
hear from our Westmoreland friends I wish
you would inform them of the change
in my part office address. I sympathize
with you in your poor state of health. I have
never had firm health since my sickness at
Hanover and have reason to think that my con-
stitution was injured by the treatment I received
from the physicians of that place yours truly V. Noyes
吉尔福德 1850 年 3 月 15 日
亲爱的姐姐
你也许可以通过
这个时候开始觉得我不是很
听从您的命令或要求“写
很快。”我已经推迟到现在
给你一些确切的信息
关于我未来的计划和职业
胸肌。我一直生活在这一年
对我的未来的怀疑和不确定
劳动领域。我终于决定搬进韦恩镇
当我带着期望安排了一年的劳动时
如果主愿意，可以继续更长的时间。
离开老我有点痛苦
我度过的宜人居所
这么多年，但责任似乎现在
给我打电话，我觉得
愿意服从它的要求。在课堂中
我在吉尔福德的事工，我已经通过了
经历了许多考验和磨难。
没有什么比我的健康更有害了
和宪法比愚蠢
教会和困难之间
成员。但我更想离开
这个教堂直到多一点
一年前，当我发现有些人
一直是我最充实的
朋友们又转向了我。他们带来了
没有指控我的性格或
讲道，但我的简单请求
在这个地方的用处已经结束。一个伟大的
许多部长比我好得多
已经在同一个地方被拒之门外。
这个请求，我认为只是一个斗篷。
有些数字对
部长因为他们羞于宣布并且没有诚实的原因——
你要承认并提出请求
他的用处已经结束。这他们
自称相信，他们表现出他们的
因他们的行为而有信心。不需要很多
男人在一个地方带来部长的有用性
如果他们认真去做，就会得出结论。
两三个人就可以完成这项工作。它是
所以在伍斯特，兄弟。麦坎德利什是个男人
非常虔诚，才华横溢，非常勤劳，但他的几个成员
让他如此不舒服的教堂
她辞去了牧师的职务。教堂
无良地遣散他们的大臣
理由不太可能成功。这
这个地方的长老会教堂会试探——
巧妙地分手，也许会灭绝。
北部的会众已经走了
关闭并正在尝试建立会议
房子，但他们之间正在分裂-
关于网站的自己。他们没有讲道——
荷兰国际集团，不太可能有。浸信会
雇了一个人一年。但是什么
关于韦恩？首先他们有
一个大小差不多的会议室
一个在吉尔福德。大多数成员都是
优秀的农民，其中一些
富裕。教会成员人数
小大概和那个差不多
吉尔福德教堂。他们看起来非常友好
到目前为止，我相信几乎或相当一致地希望我来工作
其中。我将只收到会众的两百五十美元
今年的薪水，但我们希望获得
来自国内传道部的另外一百人。我已经购买了一个
距离大约一英里的小地方
会议室。我得给六百
两英亩土地和
建筑物，其上。建筑物是房子
由砍长的谷仓、鞋匠建造而成
商店、弹簧屋和烟熏屋。这。对于我这么大的家庭来说，住宅相当小，只有两个较低的房间
和三个小房间。我计算改变
鞋匠进了办公室或书房。我一直有这样想的习惯
部长应该有一个像
男性可以咨询的律师
只要他们愿意，他就独自一人。那里
上面有许多果树
地方，我自以为我们会
有好邻居。房子站着
三十根杆中的二十根从路上
这样我们就可以彻底退休了。这是7英里
来自伍斯特。你或许已经意识到
一条铁路正在从伍斯特建造
到匹兹堡。完成后，我们可以
去伍斯特，然后从那里去几乎你的
铁路的门。我自夸我
可能是我行善的手段
新的劳动领域，正如我将拥有的那样
小小的土地，我希望把自己完全献给
工作。我要把我的农场租给先生
巴纳德并计算离开它
4 月 10 日。我的家人目前都很好。
孩子们长得很快，两个最大的
已经比他们妈妈高了。
我们的一个村民要去加利福尼亚淘金。必须多准备
男人为了金子冒着生命危险去做什么
世界上的好。
我想法雷尔弟兄对国会面前的严肃问题很感兴趣
在目前的时间。这将是一些东西
新如果加州应退还入场
仅仅基于
不包括奴隶制。你能不出来吗
今年夏天见？我们应该
非常高兴见到你和兄弟
法雷尔。
[注：以下为竖写字母的标题]
吉尔福德 3 月 16 日
Zoa N. Farrer 夫人
马尔堡
新罕布什尔
当你写信给我再次，除非它非常
很快你会直接给你写信
到俄亥俄州韦恩公司的韦恩。 如果您看到或
我希望听到我们威斯特摩兰朋友的来信
你会通知他们变化
在我的部分办公室地址。 我同情
与您的健康状况不佳。 我有
自从我在
汉诺威，有理由认为我的体质因我接受的治疗而受损
从那个地方的医生那里你真的是 V. Noyes
My Dear Sister
you may perhaps by
this time begin to think that I am not very
obedient to your order or request to "write
very soon." I have delayed till now in order
to give you some definite information
in reference to my future plans and pros-
pecs. I have been living the year part in
doubt and uncertainty as to my future
field of labour. I have at last conclu-
ded to move into Wayne township
when I have made arrangements to la-
bour for one year with the expectation
of continuing longer if the Lord will.
It is a little painful to leave my old and
pleasant habitation where I have spent
so many years, but duty seems now
to call me somewhere else, and I feel
willing to obey its demands. In the course
of my ministry in Guilford, I have passed
through many trials and afflictions.
Nothing has been more wearing to my health
and constitution than the stupidity of
the church and difficulties among the
members. But I more felt like leaving
this church till a little more than a
year ago, when I found that some who
had been among my most substantial
friends had turned again me. They brought
no accusation against my character or
preaching but the simple plea that my
usefulness in the place was ended. A great
many ministers much better than myself
have been turned away on the same ground.
This plea, I consider as a mere cloak.
Some numbers get a grudge against a
minister for reasons which they are a-
shamed to declare and have not the hones-
ty to avow and come up with the plea
that his usefulness is at an end. This they
profess to believe and they manifest their
faith by their works. It does not take many
men to bring a minister's usefulness in a place
to a conclusion if they go about it in earnest.
Two or three can accomplish the work. It was
so in Wooster, Brother. McCandlish was a man
of eminent piety, good talents and very labouri-
ous, but there were a few members of his
church that made him so uncomfortable
that her resigned his pastoral charge. Churches
that send away their ministers without good
reasons will not be likely to prosper. The
Presbyterian church in this place will prob-
ably break up and perhaps become extinct.
The north part of the congregation have gone
off and are attempting to build a meeting
house but they are getting divided among them-
selves in regard to the site. They have no preach-
ing and are not likely to have. The baptists
have employed a man for one year. But what
about Wayne? In the first place they have
a good meeting house about the size of the
one in Guilford. Most of the members are
good substantial farmers, some of them
wealthy. The number of church members
is small probably about the same as that
of Guilford church. They appear very friendly
as yet and I believe are nearly or quite unan-
imous in wishing me to come and labour
among them. I shall receive of the congre
gation only two hundred and fifty dollars
salary this year but we hope to obtain
one hundred more from the board of do-
mestic missions. I have purchased a
small place about one mile from the
meeting house. I have to give six hundred
dollars for two acres of ground and the
building, thereon. The buildings are a house
built of hewed long, a barn, a shoemakers
shop, spring-house and smoke-house. The. dwel
ling house is rather small for so large a fam
ily as mine, having only two lower rooms
and three small chambers. I calculate to change
the shoemakers shop into an office or stu-
dy. I have been in the habit of thinking that
a minister ought to have an office like
a lawyer where [?men?] might consult with
him alone whenever they please. There
are a number of fruit trees upon the
place, and I flatter myself that we shall
have good neighbors. The house stands
back twenty of thirty rods from the road
so that we shall be quite [?retired?]. It is 7 miles
from Wooster. You are perhaps aware that
a railroad is constructing from Wooster
to Pittsburg. When this is done we can [--god--]
go to Wooster, and from there go almost to your
door by railroad. I flatter myself that I
may be the means of doing good in my
new field of labour, As I shall have but
little land I hope to give myself wholy to
the work. I shall rent my farm to Mr
Barnard and calculate to leave it the
10th of April. My family are well at present.
Children are growing up fast, the two oldest
are already taller than their mother.
A member of our vilagers are going to Califor
nia to get gold. How must more ready are
men to peril their lives for gold that to do
good in the world.
I suppose brother Farrer takes a deep in-
terest in the grave questions before congress
at the present time. It will be something
new if California shall be refund admission
into our confederacy simply on the ground of
excluding slavery. Can you not come out
and see us this summer? We should be
exceedingly gratified to see you and brother
Farrer.
[Note: the following is the heading for the letter written vertically]
Guilford Mar 16
Mrs. Zoa N. Farrer
Marlborough
Newhampshire
When you write me again unless it be very
soon you will please direct you letter
to Wayne, Wayne Co. Ohio. If you see or
hear from our Westmoreland friends I wish
you would inform them of the change
in my part office address. I sympathize
with you in your poor state of health. I have
never had firm health since my sickness at
Hanover and have reason to think that my con-
stitution was injured by the treatment I received
from the physicians of that place yours truly V. Noyes
吉尔福德 1850 年 3 月 15 日
亲爱的姐姐
你也许可以通过
这个时候开始觉得我不是很
听从您的命令或要求“写
很快。”我已经推迟到现在
给你一些确切的信息
关于我未来的计划和职业
胸肌。我一直生活在这一年
对我的未来的怀疑和不确定
劳动领域。我终于决定搬进韦恩镇
当我带着期望安排了一年的劳动时
如果主愿意，可以继续更长的时间。
离开老我有点痛苦
我度过的宜人居所
这么多年，但责任似乎现在
给我打电话，我觉得
愿意服从它的要求。在课堂中
我在吉尔福德的事工，我已经通过了
经历了许多考验和磨难。
没有什么比我的健康更有害了
和宪法比愚蠢
教会和困难之间
成员。但我更想离开
这个教堂直到多一点
一年前，当我发现有些人
一直是我最充实的
朋友们又转向了我。他们带来了
没有指控我的性格或
讲道，但我的简单请求
在这个地方的用处已经结束。一个伟大的
许多部长比我好得多
已经在同一个地方被拒之门外。
这个请求，我认为只是一个斗篷。
有些数字对
部长因为他们羞于宣布并且没有诚实的原因——
你要承认并提出请求
他的用处已经结束。这他们
自称相信，他们表现出他们的
因他们的行为而有信心。不需要很多
男人在一个地方带来部长的有用性
如果他们认真去做，就会得出结论。
两三个人就可以完成这项工作。它是
所以在伍斯特，兄弟。麦坎德利什是个男人
非常虔诚，才华横溢，非常勤劳，但他的几个成员
让他如此不舒服的教堂
她辞去了牧师的职务。教堂
无良地遣散他们的大臣
理由不太可能成功。这
这个地方的长老会教堂会试探——
巧妙地分手，也许会灭绝。
北部的会众已经走了
关闭并正在尝试建立会议
房子，但他们之间正在分裂-
关于网站的自己。他们没有讲道——
荷兰国际集团，不太可能有。浸信会
雇了一个人一年。但是什么
关于韦恩？首先他们有
一个大小差不多的会议室
一个在吉尔福德。大多数成员都是
优秀的农民，其中一些
富裕。教会成员人数
小大概和那个差不多
吉尔福德教堂。他们看起来非常友好
到目前为止，我相信几乎或相当一致地希望我来工作
其中。我将只收到会众的两百五十美元
今年的薪水，但我们希望获得
来自国内传道部的另外一百人。我已经购买了一个
距离大约一英里的小地方
会议室。我得给六百
两英亩土地和
建筑物，其上。建筑物是房子
由砍长的谷仓、鞋匠建造而成
商店、弹簧屋和烟熏屋。这。对于我这么大的家庭来说，住宅相当小，只有两个较低的房间
和三个小房间。我计算改变
鞋匠进了办公室或书房。我一直有这样想的习惯
部长应该有一个像
男性可以咨询的律师
只要他们愿意，他就独自一人。那里
上面有许多果树
地方，我自以为我们会
有好邻居。房子站着
三十根杆中的二十根从路上
这样我们就可以彻底退休了。这是7英里
来自伍斯特。你或许已经意识到
一条铁路正在从伍斯特建造
到匹兹堡。完成后，我们可以
去伍斯特，然后从那里去几乎你的
铁路的门。我自夸我
可能是我行善的手段
新的劳动领域，正如我将拥有的那样
小小的土地，我希望把自己完全献给
工作。我要把我的农场租给先生
巴纳德并计算离开它
4 月 10 日。我的家人目前都很好。
孩子们长得很快，两个最大的
已经比他们妈妈高了。
我们的一个村民要去加利福尼亚淘金。必须多准备
男人为了金子冒着生命危险去做什么
世界上的好。
我想法雷尔弟兄对国会面前的严肃问题很感兴趣
在目前的时间。这将是一些东西
新如果加州应退还入场
仅仅基于
不包括奴隶制。你能不出来吗
今年夏天见？我们应该
非常高兴见到你和兄弟
法雷尔。
[注：以下为竖写字母的标题]
吉尔福德 3 月 16 日
Zoa N. Farrer 夫人
马尔堡
新罕布什尔
当你写信给我再次，除非它非常
很快你会直接给你写信
到俄亥俄州韦恩公司的韦恩。 如果您看到或
我希望听到我们威斯特摩兰朋友的来信
你会通知他们变化
在我的部分办公室地址。 我同情
与您的健康状况不佳。 我有
自从我在
汉诺威，有理由认为我的体质因我接受的治疗而受损
从那个地方的医生那里你真的是 V. Noyes
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Noyes, Varnum, “Letter from V. Noyes to his Sister, March 15, 1850,” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed November 23, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/1006.