THE TOWN OF NEW ROCHELLE. 613 



preached one sermon, although they contribute one-fifth part or thereabouts 

 towards his maintenance. Now, if the Society think fit to settle a constant allow- 

 ance on Mr. Bondet, he must then be directed by my Lord of London, at all 

 times, whether he preacheth in English or French, to use our liturgy, which he 

 above all things desires ; and it will then be advisable that Common Prayer Books 

 in French be sent over for his congregation. And as to the improvement of his 

 lime, that he may not receive the Society's money without doing them service 

 for it — when notice is given that they have been pleased to establish him, Mr. 

 Muirson, Bartow, Colonel Morris and myself, will have a meeting ; and taking 

 to our assistance the soberest inhabitants of the country, we will consider 

 of the properest ways not only for improving Mr. Bondet, but likewise at the 

 same time think of the most effectual means for taking care, besides the two 

 parishes, of such parts of the country as are included in neither ; and had I not 

 formerly been opposed, this had not been to be done now ; and in case any of the 

 missionaries shall refuse a reasonable complyance the Society shall most faithfully 

 have an account thereof that if by them they can't be persuaded to their duty, 

 their allowances may be withdrawn ; for I can't tell what others may think of it, 

 but for my own part, to connive at the misapplication of the money given to that 

 pious use, I think to be equal to one's being concerned in plundering of churches. a 

 At first, Mr. Bondet used the French Prayers, according to the Protestant 

 churches of France ; and subsequently on every third Sunday, as appears by the 

 above letter, the Liturgy of the Church of England ; but in 1709 his congrega- 

 tion, with the exception of two individuals, followed the example of their French 

 Reformed brethren in England, by conforming to the English Church. This 

 memorable event is thus recorded in the charter : " That on the 12th day of June, 

 in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and nine, all the inhabi- 

 tants of the township of New Rochelle, who were members of the said French 

 church, excepting two, unanimously agreed and consented to conform themselves, 

 in the religious worship of their said Church, to the Liturgy and rites of the 

 Church of England as established by law ; and by a solemn act or agreement did 

 submit to, and put themselves under the protection of the same." 



Six days prior to their conformity, the members of the church address- 

 ed the following letter to Colonel Heathcote. This was probably the 

 document alluded to in his letter of the 1 2th, which Mr. Bondet read at 

 the meeting : — 



Honoe'd Sir : " New York, June &th, 1709. 



Since it is by your charitable assistance and concurrence that the company of 

 New Rochelle find themselves provided with the ministry, that your prudence 

 and wise management hath hitherto composed and aswaged our difficulties about 

 these matters of Church settlement ; we have thought that it was our duty and 

 that it should be your pleasure of charity, to assist us with your presence and di- 

 rections, that we may come to some terms of Resolution for to ha^e our church 

 in full conformity with the national Church of England ; and for to have the pro- 

 tection and assistance of the rules and encouragers of the same, that the service 



a New York, MSS. from archives at Fultiam, vol. i, pp. 167, 168, 169. (Hawks). 



