| Citation |
NHG-P.770.009
30 Mar 1770:21 (702)
Copy of a letter sent to England from Savannah in Georgia.
Savannah, January 26, 1770.
My Dear Sir, You would have been pleased to have been at the
Orphan-House Academy yesterday, where his Excellency our
Governer, the Honourable the Council, & the Commons House of
Assembly were agreeably entertained in consequence of an
invitation given them by the founder the Rev. Mr.
Whitefield. Everything was conducted with much decency and
order. His Excellency was received at the bottom door by
the officers and orphans and other domesticks, and then
escorted up stairs by Mr. Whitefield through a gallery near
60 feet long, into a large drawing room, 30 feet in length,
with six windows, canvassed and made ready for blue paper
hangings. In a room of equal length, over against it,
(which is intended for the library, and in which a
considerable number of books is already deposited) was
prepared on a long table and adjacent side boards, cold
tongue, ham, tea, &c. for the gentlemen to refresh
themselves with, after their ten mile ride from Savannah.
Hither all were directed at their first coming up, and from
thence went alternately into the opposite room to pay their
respects to the Governor. Between eleven & twelve the bell
rung for public worship. A procession was formed in the
long gallery, and moved forward in the following order under
a large piazza round to the front door of the chapel. The
orphans in their caps and black gowns, like the servitors in
the university. The chaplain in his gown. The workmen and
assistants. The steward and superintendent with their white
wands. The clerk of the chapel. The founder in his
university square cap, with the Rev. Mr. Ellington, now
missionary at Augusta, and now designed to be chaplain and
teacher of English, and oratory at the Orphan-House academy.
Then his Excellency followed by his council and the chief
justice. Then the speaker, succeeded by the other commons,
and some other gentlemen and strangers, among whom were the
Governor's two sons. As they were walking, the clerk of the
chapel began an doxology. The singing was harmonious and
striking, and I must own I was particularly affected when at
the chapel door the orphans, officers & domesticks broke
into ranks on the right hand and the left, and as his
Excellency with his train went up the chapel stairs,
concluded with---
Live by heaven and earth ador'd,
Three in one and one in three,
Holy, holy, holy, Lord
All glory be to thee.
. . . [20 lines describing the service]
Sermon ended, all returned in the same manner as they came,
the clerk, orphans, &c. singing as they walked,
This God is the God we adore,
Our faithful unchangeable friend.
Whose love is as large as his power,
And neither knows measure nor end.
'Tis Jesus the first and the last,
Whose spirit shall guide us safe home;
We'll praise him for all that is past,
And trust him for all that's to come.
. . . [22 lines, 16 lines describing the dinner and events
that followed]
|