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Title: William G. Eliot, St Louis, USA to William Wightman.
ID988
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileEliot, William G/54
Year1848
SenderEliot, William G.
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationunknown
Sender Religionunknown
OriginSt. Louis, Misouri, USA
DestinationUSA
RecipientWightman, William
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipfriends
SourceT 1475/1 p.30: Copied by Permission of Miss A. McKisack, 9, Mount Pleasant, Belfast.
ArchiveThe Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Doc. No.9006043
Date03/01/1848
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by JM 27:08:1993.
Word Count336
Genre
Note
TranscriptJames Wightman's mother was Eliza Kennedy daughter of
Russel Kennedy who signed the call to Mr. Craig.
Mr. Wightman's second wife was Miss Henderson Ravement.
His first wife was Mary Fulton daughter of Mr. Fulton of
Lisburn. John Henderson her brother married Miss Burnside
Orrfield.

St. Louis.
__________
Jan [January?] 3rd. 1848
Mr. Wm. [William?] Wightman

My dear Sir,
I was much pleased to receive your letter a few days ago, and had
been in part prepared for it by conversation with Mr. Malcom concerning
you. Your strong desire to make the subject of religion a living, personal
experience is the best guarantee of your fitness to become a member
of the Christian Church, and I shall have no hesitation in receiving
you as such, whenever you can come to St. Louis. We become members of the
Church not as a proof of "having already attained" but in evidence of our
desire to "press forward" We join ourselves to the "true vine" with the
hope that the sap of life will invigorate our feeble efforts and
enable us to bring forth fruit more abundantly. If therefore
your faith in Christ is sincere and your desire for moral and religious
growth earnest there should be no good reason why you should not act
according to your convictions, by making an open avowal of them, and I
think that the sooner you take this step, the better for you.
It is true that it is one of the most important steps in life, and should
be so regarded. I do not speak or think of it otherwise. But mere
procrastination does no good and you are now at an age when you can
[determine?] for yourself what is your duty, as well as at any subsequent
period I hope therefore that it may be in your power, before the present
year closes, to act upon this subject. Meanwhile you have my very best
wishes and most sincere prayers for your success in the great business of
life. To be true to one's self to live up to our best convictions, is no
easy work, and you will find that it requires all your resolutions and the
most persevering endeavour. But that you will succeed I have little doubt
and whatever aid I can at any time afford you will be cheerfully given.
I remain
Most truly your friend,
Wm. [William?] G. Eliot. [Elliot?]