1779 October 10

 Turner to Sutcliff

James Turner, Birmingham, to John Sutcliff, Olney, 10 October 1779.

                  

         Mr Harris not going so soon as I expected, enables me to add a line more Mr Butterworth, it seems, has been down in Lancashire to open the New Chapel at Crawshawbooth (Taylor’s) somebody (I have not learnt who) assisted him. He set off on the Monday, reach’d there on Wednesday & the place was open’d on Thursday. He prd there the Sabbath following to a vast concourse of people & return’d the following week. These kind of revolutions are seldom attended with prudence in their cause, or wth success in their effects. How things may issue in the present instance, time only can determine. It is the part of candor however, to wish well, & of charity [paper torn] well. If the end aim’d at be good, tho’ the means to attain it may [be] liable to some censure, one can [paper torn] desirous of success. I hear nothing what comes of [G]reaves and his Chapel at Rattanstall. Whether it stays a monument of human folly, or of divine mercy. So many Meetings, in so little compass, must, I shd think, greatly injure one another; &, instead of forwarding must hinder the success of religion.

         I shall not add any thing further, but my wishes that if you should Convert an ho—se into  [illegible word] it may be well. And may the Lord of hosts be with you bless you & do you good—so pray & so leaves off

                                                               your affte Friend &c

                                                                                 Js Turner



Text: Eng. MS. 371, f. 125a, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. On the back page Sutcliff has written, “Rec. Oct. 10. 79. Ansd --- 13.” Others mentioned above include John Butterworth of Covertry and Henry Taylor of Crawshawbooth, Lancashire.