To John Jay from John Mitchell Mason, 13 May 1816
From John Mitchell Mason
New York, 13 May 1816
My dear Sir,
I beg your acceptance of a copy of a work which I have Just published, and which this note accompanies.1 Whatever Judgment may be pronounced upon its merits, I hope you will ^not^ disapprove its principle and design.
During the last week New York has been the scene of Moral wonders. The formation of a national bible society, is an event fit to console the heart of a Christian.2 The part which your sons have taken in it will endear them to you by a new tie. Mr William Jay will give you the details—quorum pars fuit.3 But we are permitted to see, in matters of fact, something of the high meaning of that inspired apostrophe, “Glorious things are spoken of thee, thou city of God”—4 With perfect respect, And entire affection I am, Dear Sir, your obt. faithful
J. M. Mason
John Jay Esqr
ALS, NNC (EJ: 09087).
1. A plea for sacramental communion on catholick principles. By J.M. Mason, D.D. (New York, 1816; Early Am. Imprints, series 2, no. 38153). Identified in JJ’s Dft of a reply to Mason on 22 May 1816, as “A Plea for Catholic Communion”, (EJ: 08740); WJ, 2: 373, and HPJ, 4: 388–89.
2. The constitution of the American Bible Society was written at a meeting at Mason’s New York home beginning on 10 May for presentation at the second meeting of the first convention of the Society. WJ was present, as was Jedidiah Morse. Fea, Bible Cause, 19–20.
3. Paraphrase of “quorum pars magna fui” (“of which I was a large part”) Virgil, Aeneid, 2.6. Reads “of which he [William] was a part.”
4. Psalm 87: 3.