As a precursor of publications in religious literature, issued within a short time in such numbers as would fill a library, there was presented, at the close of the first year’s operations, a report, from which it is worth while to extract a passage or two illustrating the way in which such documents were then drawn up, and of the nature of the work accomplished by the Society. Mention is made of “one missionary for the service of the Yeomansee Indians to the South of Carolina;” of regard had to infidels amongst English settlers in North America; and of the determination also to resist the progress of “Quakerism, Antinomianism, ignorance, and immorality, which have hitherto fatally overspread those infant churches.” Provision was made for “some of the islands by a supply of two ministers;” further, there had been “a settlement compassed for a congregation at Amsterdam, with the consent of the magistrates of the place;” and encouragement had been given to commence a church at Moscow, of which the Czar had laid the foundation. The expense of these undertakings was paid out of a fund of about £800, aided by subscriptions amounting to £1,700. [Sidenote: RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.] In an appendix of the year 1701 is found a plan, proposed by Patrick Gordon, for establishing seminaries on the verge of the Indian territory, where boys from London charity-schools should be sent; the main object being to “induce Indian children to play with these boys, that marriages might be promoted among them, and a mixed race of Christians might thus arise.”[453] It is a curious fact that in the year 1703 overtures were made by White Kennet on behalf of the Society to Thomas Hearne, to settle in Maryland in a parochial cure. He was to be ordained at the charge of Dr. Bray, to have a library of books to the value of £50, to receive for his cure £70 per annum, and by degrees to be better preferred. He was to be librarian to the province, at an additional salary of £10 a year; and it was added: “When you have been there any time, you have liberty to return with money in your pocket and settle here in England, if you are not more pleased with all the good accommodations of that place.” The offer was not accepted. Hearne felt no vocation to colonial work.[454] By his refusal, the Society lost one who might have been no very successful missionary, and Oxford gained an illustrious archæologist. CHAPTER XVII.