Letters from 1869-1879

SSJE/6/1/2/3/1

Letters from 1869-1879

11 Aug 1869-23 Jun 1878

Letters sent by Fr. Benson to Fr. Gardner, which document the period from his initial interest in becoming a member of the Society through until his acceptance as a Brother and the time he spent carrying out missionary work in India and the United States. Fr. Benson provides updates from Society life in England, passes comment on news relayed to him on progress of SSJE in India and the United States and provides religious guidance for Fr. Gardner. Includes; ff. 1-2: would be delighted to welcome Gardner as a Postulant; the Society is by no means limited to Preachers, 11 Aug 1869. ff. 3-4: with Gardner unable to be admitted to the Society via a letter he is asked would it be possible to attend [Cowley] for a retreat in January, 31 Dec 1869. ff. 5-7: advises that [joining the Society] 'would be personal self-surrender- nothing else' and explains that the Society is as willing to accept those without money into the as those with, 14 Mar 1870. ff. 8-9: answers questions posed by Fr. Gardner re. membership of the Society, 27 Apr 1870. ff. 10-11: advises Gardner to come into the Society as a Deacon and be ordained as a Priest at the end of a Novitiate, 27 May 1870. ff: 13-16: is glad to have stayed in England long enough to welcome Gardner into the Society, 14 Nov 1870. ff. 17-18: views on the Hebrew studies being undertaken by Br. Gardner, Easter Tuesday 1871. ff. 19-20: writing from the United States Fr. Benson tells of a 'delightful community of Sisters'; he will be happy if their own Community can grow as well, 28 Nov 1871. ff. 22-23: news of Retreats in Wales, Barrow in Furness and Norfolk; never has he been so busy with them, 13 Sep 1872. ff. 28-29: it is a long time since writing to the SSJE 'sons in America'; news of Missions and list of upcoming Retreats, 8 Mar 1873. ff. 36-39: news of preaching at the consecration of St. James the Less, Liverpool, a church holding 750 people and which was 'fairly full' for the event, 26 May 1873. ff. 46-48: discussion on the 'Teachings of Sickness'; is looking forward to the London Mission, 9 Jan 1874. ff. 51-52: is so glad to hear there are more American Postulants, 15 Jul 1874. ff. 53-58: news of a 'less desirable' Evangelical Conference at Oxford head by [Robert] Pearsall Smith, 1 Sep 1874. ff. 61-64: hopes that Br. Gardner has improved after his operation: the use of chloroform as a pain reliever is discussed, 22 Jan 1875. ff. 65-68: news of a 'great movement' toward Christianity in [India]; the American Church should go and 'gather them up', Easter Tuesday 1875. ff. 71-73: illness at the Mission in India, 29 Oct 1875. ff. 80-83: news of a visit to Aberdeen for the opening of a new House of the Sisters of St. Mary and St. John, 20 Jan 1876. ff. 91-92: not sure what is meant by 'camping out' in America; hope the boys who have gone out to join Br. Congreve are doing well, 2 Jun 1876. ff. 102-107: those like Br. Gardner who have a 'bodily infirmity' have a special mission of grace set upon them by God; a permenant diaconate is not possible, 17 Feb - 18 Mar 1877. ff. 112-115: hopes that America will feel grateful for the 'importation of SSJE members making their way there', 9 May 1877. ff. 122-124: explains that he is sending out clothing for the Society members in the United States, but is unsure of the size of Fr. Gardner's head; if the hat does not fit it may do for one of the Community, 25 May 1877. ff. 129-130: letter containing a telegram firstly welcoming Br. Gardner back to England and then instructing him to go to Ireland, 18 Jun 1878.

131 ff.