My dear Sir.

It was not until last Night
that I resumed home from the Association
at Beulah where we had the most harmonious
and delightful Session of the body which
it was ever my good fortune to witness.
I there saw many of the Richmond Brethren
and inquired of them concerning the
Appropriation for a Missionary for
Gloucester, and just as I told you when
we were together so I found, that the
Appropriation had been made, and am
authorized to say to you that even
beyond the sum voted /$250/ the Board
is both ready and willing to go if
Necessity require. I am delighted at
this, tho' it is only what I told you
before, and the more so, as now, your
little band may safely go ahead, and
engage the Services of our good Brother Huntingdon
without incurring the least personal Risk. I
was farther informed that the Secretary of
the board had written to the effect above
stated, but lest it may not have been
rec^d I hasten to give you the intelligence.
There was, infact, no unwillingness to
make the Appropriation for Gloucester -
the seeming delay was occasiond by a failure

[Page 2]

on the part of some of the Members of the
board to form a Session at an earlier day.

On my return home, I found an
Invitiation (a very kind one indeed,) to attend
the Meeting at Pocoson on the 27^th ins^t -
I wish, of course, to comply, but am not
positively certain that it will be in
my power so to do : and if I should, I am
in doubt about troubling you to take
me up, as I can go by some other rout,
and so not take you away from your business.

My new church, Mount Calvary, was
received into the Association. In my
Absence, one of my Members has died,
the same whose Marriage you attended
across the Creek some years ago, when
we had that hard fight with the
Ice. She was a good Sister and
most joyfully yielded up her Spirit
into the hands of her blessed Lord.

Brother and Sister Allen have just
written to me to go to Caroline to Preach
the Funeral of their dear little boy.
I must do it, of course - thus you
see how it is with me 3 churches
on hand and Friends far and near
claiming my Aid and Sympathy.

Among the Letters on my Desk

[Page 3]

at my return was one from a Stranger
in Amhert whom I know not, tho' he says he knew
me when he was young, statign that there
is much excitement his way about
the Brethren joining the [M]aons and
asking my Opinion as [h]e understands
that I am a Mason. Now here is, indeed,
a delicate Subject for the Pen - I must
write (if at all) about an Unwritten
Science, and to a Brother, evidently not a
little biased against Secret Societies.
Well, I shall do it, and will keep a
Copy and let you see it.

I was away 11 days and know
not the Condition of things in
my borders as I have not yet
been in the street. In my absence,
the Lord graciously preserved my
Family for which, I trust, I am
truly, tho not sufficiently, Thankful.

I have not heard a Word from
you all since I left Gloucester and
know not whether the Wheat which
I sent you was safely received.

With kindest love to all
I am, as ever,
Yrs in the best of bonds
S Jones

some 15 Students are now at College.

[Page 4]

Cap^t. T. B. Montague
Mail Gloucester C House