The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A.: Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada WestArmstrong, John
Religion
The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A.: Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada West
Armstrong, John
Mortimer, George, 1784-1844
From your truly affectionate
and ever sincere Friend,
GEORGE MORTIMER.
* * * * *
In the month of May, 1815, he was invited to Madeley by many of the
parishioners, a deputation from whom waited upon the rector, the Rev. H.
Burton, to request he might be appointed curate; and, accordingly, he
removed thither on the 8th of the ensuing month. The following letter
addressed to the editor refers to the event, and enters somewhat into the
particulars of it:—
Madeley, near Shiffnal, Salop.
June 15th, 1815.
My dear Friend,
FEW things were further from my thoughts, when I last wrote to you, than
that I should now be addressing a letter to you from the above-mentioned
place; but, “the Lord’s ways are not our ways, nor his thoughts our
thoughts;” we may contrive, but he controls. I had imagined that my lot
was, for some time to come, assigned to me among my dear people at
Wellington, and that in my late house of mercies, surrounded by the
family of my excellent vicar, and his valuable assistant, I should
continue to flourish and grow like a tree planted by rivers of waters.
But the Lord has seen fit to transplant me; of its being his work I feel
fully assured; and, therefore, I can now expect my comforts and blessings
in a different way and through other channels. Thus, goodness and mercy
have followed me all the days of my life, and will still follow me. I
do, indeed, quite wonder at the change; it seems more like a dream than
otherwise, that I should be fixed in this place and parish, of which I
had so often read, and which has always been associated in my mind with
that wonderful and astonishing man of God, the late venerable Mr. De la
Flèchere. But you will, perhaps, wish to know the steps which led me
hither. Mr. Walters, the late curate (or rather the present, for he does
not leave till next Tuesday) having heard of a situation which seemed, in
many respects, more congenial to his views than that of Madeley, gave
notice of its being his intention to leave, in the church on Sunday after
divine service. The people were much surprised at the communication; but
since the choice of their minister has usually been left to themselves,
they immediately began to look around them; and, having fixed upon me,
they begged of Mr. Eyton, that he would give me up, and of myself, that I
would undertake the cure of the place. Had I been disposed to consult
merely with flesh and blood, Madeley would have been the last place to
which I should have consented to have gone; but, as dear Mrs. Fletcher
and the people of all descriptions seemed desirous of my coming among
them, I thought it would be wrong to resist the order of God, and, as
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