Gold Rush Era Letters

[top right of page] Sacramento City Feby [February] 3^rd 1851

Rev^nd J. A. Benton

Dear Brother

The undersigned ap= pointed [appointed] a Committee by the first Ecclesiastical Church and Eccl. [Ecclesiastical] Society of Sacramento City, to Confer with You, in relation to Your permanent location as Pastor of Sensi Church and Society, take pleasure in inviting You to become the Pastor of the Church over whose interests You have watched with so much Solicitude, and we unanimously and earnestly request Your acceptance of that im=portant [important] trust, which we assure You will be a Source of great gratification to the Society.

Should You accept the invitation hereby tendered we propose in behalf of the Society to Secure to You the payment of Thirty Six [Thirty-six] hundred Dollars per Annum, of which Sum the use of the parsonage shall be estimated at Six hundred Dollars.

Your affectionate Brethren,

{A. D. Carpenter A. C. Sweetser [Albion C. Sweetser] J. W. Hinks} Comm [Committee] of the Church -------------------------------------------------------------------- {W. C. Waters [W. C. Walters] James C. Zabriskie} Comm [Committee] of the Society

Sacramento City, Feb. 6 : 1851 ~

To A. D. Carpenter, J. W. Hinks, & A. C. Sweetser, Com-mittee of the First Church of Christ; and W. C. Waters [W. C. Walters], J. C. Zabris-kie & J. H. Scranton, Committee of the First Eccl. [Ecclesiastical] Society of Sac-ramento City:

Dear Brethren & Friends,

Your commu-nication of the Third of February, extending to me an invi-tation to become the Pastor of the Church and Society you represent, has been laid before me. I have carefully weighed the proposition you have made. I am deeply im-pressed with a sense of its importance, and am not un-aware of the cares & responsibilities of the station to which you have been pleased to call me. Though distrustful of my own abilities and embarrassed with many doubts, I have no other wish than to comply with the obligations of duty. Believing that your wishes are a plain indication of the will of God in the matter, and entrusting myself to his guidance and your love, I cheerfully accede to your request, and consent to take upon myself the duties of the office in the conditions you have offered. I hold myself ready to be inducted formally into the office of Pastor at such time as you shall appoint.

Entreating the blessing and guidance of Heaven for you in all your efforts to promote the Redeemer's Kingdom — I am

Humbly and Faithfully, Yours in the Gospel of Christ,

J. A. Benton.