Siméon

1771 · 2128 — Boston Massachusetts 1771. ALS from Clergyman Simeon Howard to Un-named Foe Boston October 27 1771 <br /> <br /> 4-page bifolium autograph letter signed. Measures about 9 x 7 3/8 inches. Ragged right margin but no content lost. Previous folds with weakness at folds. Good Condition.<br /> <br /> Manuscript letter addressed to "Honoured Sir" from the clergyman Simeon Howard of Boston Massachusetts. Sadly we do not know to whom the letter was written but Simeon Howard defends himself against several apparent accusations. To wit--Howard refutes the accusation of having targeted a specific individual in his sermons stating that his preaching was general and not directed at anyone in particular. Furthermore he dismisses the criticism regarding his "wit" and the reference to a sermon on the duty of mothers noting that he simply borrowed the ideas from a published work by a Dr. Tillotson. <br /> <br /> Howard goes on to strongly challenge the recipient's "extraordinary conduct" accusing him of repeatedly speaking ill of him in public misrepresenting his sermons attempting to ridicule him and trying to damage his reputation among his parishioners. He concludes by implying the recipient's actions are an attempt to undermine his ability to serve his congregation and potentially deprive him of his livelihood.<br /> <br /> Simeon Howard was born in Bridgewater Maine May 1733 and died in Boston Aug. 1804. He graduated from Harvard in 1758 and after teaching and at the same time studying the- ology became pastor of a church in Cumberland Nova Scotia. In 1765 he returned to Harvard as a resident graduate-student and was appointed a tutor the following year. In 1767 he became pastor of the West Church Boston where he ministered till his death with the exception of a sojourn of a year and a half in Nova Scotia where he and many of his congregation had gone to avoid the dangers of the Revolution. He published various sermons including a famous 1773 sermon to Boston soldiers where he defines Liberty as the "external force and constraint†by other men."<br /> <br /> A full transcript of the letter will be provided. Several highlights include the following:<br /> <br /> " In general I would observe that the charge you bring against me in the first paragraph is entirely groundless. I did not in either of the discourses with which you pretend to be so much offended point out any particular person as having been guilty of the crime I was preaching against. I did not say or even insinuate that I thout any one of the congregation was guilty."<br /> <br /> "Have you not repeatedly and from time to time for many weeks past spoken of me in the most unkind and injurious terms.Have you not endeavoured to render me ridiculous and contemptible by reflections on my person and manner of life in my youth"<br /> <br /> Unfortunate that we have no record with whom Howard was fighting. Perhaps the annals of history can provide more details than we have uncovered. unknown