Given the history of the College -- my bride's undergraduate Alma mater --
it seems MORE than possible that the gathering occurred as stated. The
College began to instruct Native Americans and, for a time, instructed
African-American as well. Laws of the colony eventually stopped such
education, but it seems quite possible in the 1740s that this group came
together, especially for religious instruction. (Just my 2 pence!) PS:
After disestablishment, Baptists often had "mixed" baptism ceremonies.
On Jan 5, 2016 2:07 PM, "Terry L. Meyers" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I’ve been intrigued for some time by an account given by William
> Dawson (2nd President of W&M) of Lenten instruction he offered in 1744. As
> I read what he wrote to donors in London, he seems to describe a single
> class attended by a variety of people:
>
> I employed our Youth; every night last Lent, in reading audibly,
> distinctly, and solemnly of this excellent Work [The Knowledge and Practice
> of Christianity Made Easy to the Meanest Capacities; or, An Essay towards
> an Instruction of the Indians; London, 1740], as the Understandings of the
> Hearers, in general were able to receive, and their memories to retain.
> For beside the Scholars [W&M students, presumably the youngsters in the
> Grammar School], there were near 40 white Servants, Indians, and Negroes,
> who constantly attended. And as many of these as can conveniently be
> present, daily report unto the House of GOD.
>
> Though Dawson’s language seems pretty clear, some I’ve talked to
> think it unlikely such an integrated gathering would have occurred in the
> Williamsburg of that era.
>
> Are there accounts of other gatherings, similar or dissimilar,
> that might help shape one reading or the other?
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Terry L. Meyers, Chancellor Professor of English, College of William and
> Mary, Williamsburg Virginia 23187 757-221-3932
>
> http://wmpeople.wm.edu/site/page/tlmeye/ <
> http://wmpeople.wm.edu/site/page/tlmeye/>
>
> http://www.ecologyfund.com/ecology/_ecology.html <
> http://www.ecologyfund.com/ecology/_ecology.html>
> ————————————————————————————————————————————————————
>
>
>
>
> Have we got a college? Have we got a football team?.... Well, we
> can't afford both. Tomorrow we start tearing down the college.
> --Groucho Marx, in "Horse Feathers."
>
>
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