Anne Dutton: Published Letters to the Tabernacle in London and other Congregations in America, 1742-45

According to John Lewis, on Monday, May 30, 1743, during a Letter Day held at the Tabernacle in Moorfields, nineteen letters sent by various correspondents, both ministers and laypersons in England, Wales, and America, were read to the congregation by George Whitefield. One letter, dated April 9, 1743, was by “Mrs. D. of Great Gransden in Huntingdonshire, to Mr. Whitefield, congratulating him on the great Success the Lord had lately given him; of his wise Providence in keeping him in this Land so long for the good of many Souls; strengthened his Hands to go on, for the Lord would be with him, and give great Success, and crown him with many more Victories.”[1] This was the only letter read that day that was written by a woman. The letter, addressed to the members of the Tabernacle, was published by Lewis in the same volume of the Account.[2] 

See below for the above Letter and other letters by Dutton designed for private reading in the home but actually read before congregations of believers in a local church setting: A Letter to all the Saints, on the General Duty of Love: Humbly Presented, by One that is less than the Least of the All, and Unworthy to be of their Happy Number (1742) (most likely meant for the Tabernacle),  A Letter to All those that Love the Lord Jesus Christ, in Philadelphia: to Excite them to Adhere to, and Appear for, the Truths of the Gospel; by a Friend in England (1743), A Letter to the Negroes lately Converted to Christ in America. And Particularly to those, lately called out of Darkness, into God’s Marvellous Light, at Mr. Jonathan Bryan’s in South Carolina (1743), and A Letter on the Duty and Privilege of a Believer, to Live by Faith (1745). 

For a brief biographical notice of Dutton, click here; for some private letters by Dutton, click here; for a selection of her hymns, click here.