Letters of Rev. John W. Alvord

second fiddle in that a ^local^ odious & almost im -possible Tract agency. Don't say I am severe & unreasonable. I told the Ex. [illegible] two years ago that I would never go to N.York unless they would make it the greathead quarters for the business of the Society, which at least the New Yorkers think becomes their great & central city. I object to doing now what the committee excused me from doing — namely managing ^in [New York, N.Y.|N.York]]^ a more common agency (like Mr. Savages at Chicago for instance) but which I there is a labored attempt now being made to dragoon me into. You see I am not so frightened about derelictions in duty &c &c as you appear to be, I am quite concious of obeying instructions at least. As to being "off so much for other Societies, banks &c this Summer", the fact is this is the very thing I was instruced to do at our ann nual gathering at Mr. Booths last May — "Go South." "Establish agencies," "connect with the Bureau" "Experiment as to the bank" "Act somewhat in the field for theMissionary Associations" & "Seee how we can link these great agencies in one covering our kindred work". Mr Booth has been my advisor at ^subsequent^ steps. This whole thing with much toil I have done at NYork or here, & a few weeks ago reported, in person, at Boston on the matter & suggested a plan of continued effort.

What more could I have done in fidelity to my trust only perhaps avoid these scorching heats, loneliness, & absence from home comforts. I might have worked harder