“Permit me also respectfully to solicit the attention of your Society to the subject of providing ministers from among the Native converts: for it seems out of the question ever to expect a sufficient number of regularly-ordained ministers from England. The Liturgy of our church translated, has been of singular benefit in this place: and every circumstance in the case of a church newly gathered from among the heathen, demonstrates that the order of our church is that of the primitive Christian churches. Whatever may be said in favour of the liberty of people to choose their own ministers, or in favour of extempore prayer, in a more advanced state of Christian education and experience, does not apply in our circumstances: and it follows of course, that a person who should be the means of planting the gospel in any city or place, remains the superintendent and umpire in all cases requiring arrangement. Under this persuasion it would be painful either to leave a native congregation without a pastor, or to usurp authority. I would humbly, however, request advice and help on this head. Abdool Messeeh seems, for heavenly-mindedness, discretions and zeal, to be worthy of the ministry: and we are endeavouring to qualify some promising young Christians in this place for the ministry, by instructing them in the learned languages of this country, and in Hebrew: to which we propose adding the study of Greek, and thus we hope they may one day be found worthy of Episcopal ordination. “The Rev. Mr. Thomason will forward this: and I trust no apology is necessary for endeavouring to draw the attention of the Society, of which you are Secretary, to this quarter. The opinion of one who resides on the spot, and whose personal safety, attachments and interests are much more involved in the subject than any retired Indian, may perhaps be considered worthy of attention, however insignificant the writer may be. I may be also allowed to express anxiety, that the church to which I belong may take a conspicuous part in the progressive work of evangelization now going on in this country; since she possesses facilities above all other Societies, and her ordinances are best calculated, in my opinion, to ensure edification, and that the work should not fail in after-generations.”