University of Virginia Library

MARGARET TO ANNA.

What shall you think of Frank being our Minister, and
Rose our Minister's wife! On the election, there could have
been but one sentiment, as you know there was but one voice.
His views and feelings, and the character of his discourses,
precluded much disputation. We had some difficulty in the
Ordination. A Council of Clerical and Lay Delegates, from
the County, assembled, examined the candidate and rejected
him. Parson Welles I believe was at first disposed to have
Frank for a colleague, and retain a pastoral connection with
Christ-Church; but he was diverted from these inclinations by
causes which I do not understand. The Church was reduced
to the necessity of adopting other measures. The Rev. Mr.
Freeman of your city, was sent for, and the Rev. Mr. Lovers
of Brandon, who had expressed a willingness to aid us. Mr.
Lovers preached the sermon, and the ordaining prayer with the
imposition of hands was made by Mr. Freeman. Thus, Mr.
Evelyn says, through Dr. Freeman, who was himself Episcopally
ordained, and derives his authority from a succession said
to remount to the first ages of the Church, we have an Apostolic
Bishop ordained over this Diocese of Livingston! The
new spacious house was filled, and many came in from abroad.
At the close, the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered
to the congregation. I joined in the participation!
With what sensations I cannot now relate. Springs of new

water welled within me, the soul of Jesus oppressed and charmed
my soul. Poor Rose sat by me trembling like a leaf.—We
have ordered an Organ from London, and I suppose it will
fall to me and Rose to play it, for the present at least. Tony
the Barber plays the violin for us. He has not touched his
instrument before since Chilion's death. How we miss
Chilion at every step!

Frank and Rose are boarding at Esq. Bowker's; a Parsonage
I suppose will be built for them next year, on Grove
Street. Rose says the only feeling she has, or of which she
is at present capable, is humility; and that whether she estimates
her duties to the world at large, or reflects on the favors
received in her own soul. She relies much upon Frank, who
will nourish, renovate and guide her. If she can at all
embody the graces, or disseminate the love of Christ, in whom
her faith is confirmed, she says she shall be satisfied. She
says she is like those trees, which fall over on the banks of
rivers, and grow with the roots upwards; but if she only grows
she does not care how. She is fair almost to fragility; she has
at times, a most mysteriously spiritual look, like the Moon
shining through white window curtains. There are those in
the Church who truly love her, and will tenderly treat her.
In Mrs. Bowker and Isabel Weeks she finds a most according
friendship. To Frank she is all in all. How good and great
in him to love her so! Her unnaturalness has gradually subsided,
and the sweetness and freshness of her youth begin
rapidly to unfold. Christ, that makes us all children, Frank
says, has reproduced the morning of her childhood, and she
advances to beautiful perfection.—She had often been to the
Communion before, she says, but never with such feelings.
She never before realized what our new Bishop said it was, an
inter-communing with the soul of Jesus. She is succulent as
the Widow's house-leek, and would thrive I believe if she
were only attached to the shingles of Christ-Church. Like
the dodder, her rooting in the old world is destroyed, and she
now winds about goodness and mercy, which she is destined
I think ever to adorn. Dear Rose, she has been to me a
child, a sister, a lover. She will always be near me—can we
be too happy? For all, how much are we indebted to Frank
and Mr. Evelyn! The friendship so long subsisting between
our husbands, how delightfully is it consummated!