A superb, unpublished original letter with fascinating content related to the "New Measure" revivalists, especially Charles Finney, Jedidiah Burchard, etc., It seems that the gentleman had been praying and working to have one of them come and that some good signs of revival were occurring. Unfortunately, it seems some folks got amped up in the meetings of radical [even compared to Finney and Burchard] revivalist, Luther Myrick's meetings and professed themselves to be as without sin as Jesus, in no need of prayer of Scripture, and to have all the apostolic gifts restored. This he recounts in some detail.
Letter 2 full page, written by John B Park to his sister, Louisa, datelined to Oswego, New York, June 6, 1834.
Extract:
"When I last wrote you I thought there was some prospect of Mr. Burchard [Jedidiah] being invited here to preach. My hopes have not been realized, nor are they likely to be. Some things have occurred of late in this place which render it very doubtful whether any new measure man will soon if ever be invited or even permitted to preach in our church. What I allude to is the fact that some of the Myrick converts in Oswego, together with one of the preachers of the late protracted meetings have declared themselves perfectionists, say they are holy as God is holy, say they have no further use for the Holy Bible, no further use for prayer more than the angels in heaven need the Bible or prayer. They believe, or say they believe, in miracles such as healing the sick and raising the dead, &c may as well be performed now as in the days of the apostles."
It is interesting to note this is just after the similar experiences of Edward Irving in London, though no mention is made of tongues or the speech gifts. They also seem to have been quite divisive, going door to door claiming that they are the true church and drawing people away from their places of worship, etc.,
Absolutely first-rate letter demonstrating the back-end of what was happening in real-time in what would come to be known as the Burned Over District.