William Ward, Serampore, to Lucius Bolles, Salem, 5 December 1821.

Serampore, Decr 5, 1821.

My dear Br.

         I send a line by Capt Moore with gteat pleasure. We have met in worship frequently, and once or twice at table. Our verssel arrived by the way of Madras. After staying there a few days, Mrs M [Marshman] her daughter and niece and myself came on in another vessel, and arrived at home on the 16th Oct. I found all alive – and all in health. What a mercy, to be added to all the mercies experienced during incessant journeying for nearly three years. My friends all in health too notwithstanding ma^n^y deaths around them and several among the School children, carried off by raging fevers. – “Oh! praise the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”

         The buildings of the College form a noble pile. Strangers come almost daily to see it, though in an unfinished state. One of the Sanskrit students is a member with us, a young man of promising parts, and, I hope, really pious. He had written a lette to one of the Hartford Asylum boys. Another student in Sanskrit, a fine youth, has offered himself for Church Membership. We have no regular candidates for the Ministry attached to the College yet; but as soon as Mr Mack is able to understand and speak Bengalee, I hope we shall have a member.

         I found the number of native conerts had increased very considerably during my absence, and when I had them all, men and women, one by one, to talk to, and talk to them about the state of their souls, I was surprised to observe the increase. A few had died; and there was hope in their death; at least in the death of most. Since my return we have had two baptisms, and have now near ten candidates, almost all natives. One is, however, my dear daughter Hannah, on whose account I hope I feel really thankful. She appears truly gracious; and is very amiable. My Son-in-law[1] and my other daughter, are not, I fear, in a converted state, and yet they give us comfort as dutiful children. My Son-in-law is 21; Amelia is 14. John superintends native Schools, and translates into the Bengalee, for the Bengalee Newspaper and English works for the College. The New Testament in the Telinga, the Kunkunu, the Kunoji, the Harutee [Haroti], the Nepal, the Marwar, the Bhagulcundi, and the Bikaneer [Bhikaneera] have recently issued from the press, and there are now in the press the Munipore, the Mugud [Mugom?], the Oojein, the Kirnata, the Khasee, the Jumboo, the Munipore, the Kytee, the Shree [?], the Bhutnere, the Kumaoo [Kumaoni], & the Palpa New Testaments; the Old Testment in Assam, Kashmere, Pashtoo or Affghan, & Sikh are also in the press. The Old Testament in Bengalee, Songskrit & Oorissa, are also in the press to be reprinted.

         The Schools are not so extended as they were for want of funds. But I hope they are really elevating the minds of the rising generation as far as they extend. In some the Scriptures are read without hesitation; & difficulties in this department are melting down rapidly.  

         My Brethren Carey & Marshman & John Marshman are in excellent health. Mr John M. is about to visit England &c, and I hope his journey will really contribute to the good of the cause here, as well as to his own advancement in the knowledge of Brethren at home & of true experimental religion in his own Soul.

         Beside Serampore and Calcutta, we have Eight Mission Stations supported by our own private funds, that is, by the proceeds of our own labours, viz. one at Delhi, and others at Suttyghur, Benares, Allahabad, Dhacca, Chettagong, Jesiore, Midnapore, Dinagepore, &c. The last place is not supported by us except as far as books, &c are concerned; and another Station of the same kind exists at Parbateepore; where however, a native preacher is to be supported by us. Bro. Fernandez at Dinagepore, and Bro. Hampton at Parbateepore support themselves and the general expenses of the Station likewise. At all these Stations there are small or larger churchs of native christians; several of these churches are large. In maintaining discipline, and in keeping the converts up to a holy self-denying life, much pains are required: they are to be considered as first emerging out of an incessant range of brutal gratification and unrestrained indulgence of ungodly tempers; and, like a tree taken out of the forest, want much pruning.

         In the country around us, we are cheered by a spirit of enquiry, a disposition to read, to think, to doubt; and ^this^ has taken place among the higher orders in many cases. I do not mean to say that this is a spiritual concern about the soul; but an enquiry into the absurdities of heathenism. Conversions are not rare; but the general enquiry into the claims of the heathen deities, &c is more extensive. Female education is commencing here & there on a small scale. Government continues favourable. The Holy Scriptures and Evangelical books & tracts are extensively circulated; Missionaries are multiplying; in many of the languages of India our Lord Jesus Christ is proclaimed, and the Holy Spirit is speaking to the heathen. We want the days of Brainerd, the revivals of America. Oh! pray for us. Forget us not. Wrestle earnestly for us that India may yield her encrease.

Dec. 8, 1821.

My dear Br

         I am sorry you should have thought us capable of making a bargain of our American brethren, or any other brethren. We must have fallen in you esteem.

         Love to your dear partner, & to all our dear friends at Salem. I have sent some books to Mr Moriarty for the Washington College. 

Write to me very soon, & do not forget, where mercy is dispersed, Your affectionate

                                                         Br.  W. Ward

Rev. L. Bolles

Address: Rev. L. Bolles | Salem

Postmark: none

Endorsed: Receiv’d Augt 3rd 1822 –

[1] John Fountain, the son of the early BMS missionary John Fountain, whose wife, after his early death in India, married William Ward. Ward technically means his step-son, not son-in-law.

Text: William Ward Letters, RG no. 1373, American Baptist Historical Society Archives, Atlanta.