Rev. & Dear Sir,

In accordance with the object of your recent visit amongst us we called a meeting of our Church & Congregation last Friday evening on our place of worship but we regret to say from various causes it was not so well attended as we could wish.

The Meeting was duly opened with prayers for divine guidance by Deacon Weston and after some little discussion it was moved, seconded & carried unanimously that the Rev. Thomas Baker be invited to become the Pastor of our Church (that is the Congregational Church of Simcoe) believing dear Sir that by the good providence of God you will be enabled to build up the cause of Christ amongst us.

We fear that the amount of salary which we shall be able to raise will not be in any-wise [sic] proportionate to your valuable services or meet with your approbation. At the time of meeting we took down what each Br. was able and willing to give per annum of those present and it amounted to about 20 Pounds. We have been looking round & think that we could raise 20 Pounds more thus making about 40 amongst our friends & we understand from the Rev. W. Clarke prior to his leaving that he thought we might get some 40 or 50 Pounds from the Society at home so making in all some 80 or 90 Pounds. We have deferred writing hoping that Mr. & Mrs. Clarke would return so that we might if possible be more certain on that head, we have heard that Mr. C. is not expected home before next Wednesday or Thursday.

If you make up your mind to accept of our invitation Sir, and come and be our Pastor, I hope that God will bless you for so doing for I do think that if you come to other decisions the cause of Congregationalism in Simcoe will go down.

We are Rev. & Dear Sir yours very respectfully

& affectionately signed on behalf of the Church

Robert Gibbons