Bay of Islands New Zealand
23d Augt 1823
To Revd Saml Marsden
Revd Sir,
	As you requested me at a committee held at Ranghi Hoo on Augt 11 to state my reasons for not uniting with the brethren in the public ordinances of religion I will freely answer you. For some time after my arrival in New Zealand I attended the weekly meeting of the settlers at Ranghi Hoo but finding so much discord and want of Charrity [sic] prevailing amongst us I could not with any degree of comfort continue my attendance. After the suspension of the Revd Thos Kendall I did not join with the settlers in their worship on the sabbath day as I considered they were not authorized to conduct it more than myself. I returned [to] Mr Kendall and worshiped [sic] with him purely from religious motives being satisfied Mr Kendall was at that time a sincere penitent and was morning [sic] for his past error was I to turn a deaf ear to his mourning and say stand off I am more holy than you. No Sir I took St Paul for my guide where he says if a brother falls restore such an one in the spirit of meekness &c. With respect to attending the Ministry of the Revd John Butler when he occasionally visited Ranghi Hoo I did so until I was fully aware that his walk and conversation was not according to the gospel of Christ he has been guilty sir, to my own knowledge of some gross acts of sin. I have seen him drunk, I have heard him utter scurrilous languge [sic] respecting your family in public [f] on board of the ship Westmoreland. How could I then shew any preference to his Ministry
I am Revd Sir
Your Obt Servant
John Cowell