Rooms of the American Home Missionary Society, Bible House, Astor Place, New York, July 19, 1864. Rev. Horace Lyman Dear Brother, Yours of the 15th instant has been [received?], inclosing $20 - Monthly concert collections from the Cong. Church of Forest Grove, for ther American Home Missionary Society, for which you will file one [arrest?], fir yourself once for the honor, our grateful acknowledgments. In [?] of your inquiry in regard to [?] & the Chruch from the Society, in compensating you and [Brother?] Marsh for your services in preaching, it would not be consistent with the rules and usages of the society to grant [?] in such circumstances. Its rules requires, expressly, that the missionary holding its commission shall not be engaged in any other employment, and his provision is inserted as one of the stipulations in every commission. As we understand it, and as the public understand it, your main employment and that of President Marsh is instruction in the College, & your preaching being entirely subordinate and incidental. We could not give a commission in such a case without a most [?] departure from a principle acted upon from the foundation of the Society, and applied by our Committee in numerous cases. It would be the breaking down of the rule entirely, and the [?] [?] in great inconsistency. Much as we sympathize with you and your institution and the Church [?] in your embarrassments we would be obliged to decline such an application. Very truly yours, Milton Badger Secty. A.H.M.S.

Rooms of the American Home Missionary Society, Bible House, Astor Place, New York, July 19, 1864.
Rev. Horace Lyman

Dear Brother,

Yours of the 15th instant has been [received?], inclosing $20 - Monthly concert collections from the Cong. Church of Forest Grove, for ther American Home Missionary Society, for which you will file one [arrest?], fir yourself once for the honor, our grateful acknowledgments.

In [?] of your inquiry in regard to [?] & the Chruch from the Society, in compensating you and [Brother?] Marsh for your services in preaching, it would not be consistent with the rules and usages of the society to grant [?] in such circumstances. Its rules requires, expressly, that the missionary holding its commission shall not be engaged in any other employment, and his provision is inserted as one of the stipulations in every commission. As we understand it, and as the public understand it, your main employment and that of President Marsh is instruction in the College, & your preaching being entirely subordinate and incidental. We could not give a commission in such a case without a most [?] departure from a principle acted upon from the foundation of the Society, and applied by our Committee in numerous cases. It would be the breaking down of the rule entirely, and the [?] [?] in great inconsistency.

Much as we sympathize with you and your institution and the Church [?] in your embarrassments we would be obliged to decline such an application.

Very truly yours,
Milton Badger
Secty. A.H.M.S.

Part of Letter from the American Home Missionary Society on giving Rev. Lyman a commission