William Fisher, High Sotherby, to P. J. Saffery, Waltham Abbey, Essex, 31 December 1842.

High Sotherby Decr 31, 1842

My Dear Brother

   I recd yours on Wedns enclosing the mission Cards with Mr Angus’ Circular.

   When I inform you that we made a collection at Bromley on Christmas day for this mission you will not I hope be disappointed if little more is done at present. Beside our friends at Bromley & elsewhere have had to make considerable effort lately in erecting a Chapel in the neighbourhood where we have had a preaching station more than 20 years.

   However I purpose to morrow taking the Cards to Bromley, & stating to our friends  the substance of your letter, & if they cannot do any thing more at present they will have them on hand for a future & more convenient season. I hope that the Jubilee Fund is still being replenished, from the Xn liberality of our Churches; may it be increased a thousand fold!  What a field for Missy enterprise is being opened in China!  300 & 50 millions of immortal beings enslaved by the god of this world & sunk in all the depths & degradation of idolatry, & awful thought, and no idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of God. And a point will come up in Eternity when the misery of one of these lost spirits shall have exceeded all the completed misery of the whole human race!  I wish my Dear Brother you could do any thing with our Society in reference to these perishing millions. I think if you could be an instrument in the hand of God of putting into operation means for the salvation of China it would add greatly to the splendor of your heavenly crown & afford you sublime satisfaction in a dying hour. I think [you] have it in your power shd the Society sanction such a means of deeply interesting the Xn public on behalf of the teeming millions of China  I am sure you will not think me obtrusive in throwing out this hint. I have long less or more presented my feeble intercessions on behalf of this for distant & benighted land. Will you permit me to inquire if you could not find time to write an paper article for the Baptist Magazine on this subject!  But I must conclude my Dear Brother with my best wishes & prayers that the Great Head of the Church may make you [an] eminent blessing Yours in Xn love

                                                   W Fisher

You need not trouble to return these letters.

                                                   P. J. Saffery

P. S. I sh’d have informed you that our young friends had Cards for the Jubilee, by which they collected several pounds.

Text: Timothy Whelan, Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845 (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2009), pp. 286-87 (annotated version); also MAW, Box 39, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. William Fisher (1789-1848) pastored at Bromley, Northumberland, for many years before removing to Padiham, where he remained until his death in 1848. Philip John Saffery (b. 1803) was the Baptist minister at Brown Street, Salisbury, 1826-1836; he was the son of John and Maria Grace Saffery.