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tl PHflGMIX
AJTP lflf DIALS’ ADVOCATE.
CHEROKEE NATION, PROPRIETOR. EDITED BY ELIJAH HICKS.
fOL. V.
1¥EW ECIIOTA, CHEROKEE NATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1833.
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NO. 30.
RELIGIOUS.
From the Boston Recorder.
SABBATH SCHOOLS,
i well aware that in presenting
ollowing series of remarks for the
(deration of tho friends of Sunday
I shall be exposed to the
! of harboring prejudice if not ill-
jainst these institutions. Permit
isay then, in this place, that 1
i been their advocate for ten or
Ire years, and whenever circum-
:es permitted, have been engaged
|leaeher, either of Sunday Schools
Classes; and never with more
|fstness or zeal than at the present
If therefore, I am an enemy to
institutions, I must also stand
licted of the most detestable hypoc-
|is, however, the painful but abid-
nnviction of my own mfad, that in
l of all the effort which has been
Ended in this extensive Held for hu-
|l)enevoIence, very little has been
nplished. This conclusion is not
In iii ignorance of the existence of
Iciations, and Unions, and Con-
litijis, and of their stated—and, to
|y encouraging—reports. These
Iris are as perfect perhaps as the
preoftlie qase will admit; but it is
ble to render them wholly ac-
lle. Besides there is a propensity
Inman nature, in its best estate, to
r estimate a cause which is highly
|ed, and which is rendered imposing
i numbers,
for myself, I cannot join in the gen-
Jjoy at the progress of the Sunday
(ool cause; for I am fully convinced
the public are deceiving them
es. Even in regard to numbers,
|re is much error, as I could show,
ta question to arise; but there is
lie in regard to the results—the
i which have been reaped in this
oflabor;. while in regard to the
ferest which is felt by parents, teach-
,and pupils, the public sentiment is
|rc erroneous still.
Nothing is more certain—and it is
A time this truth was generally
Jwn and felt—than that the condition
■Sabbath Schools is by no means a
pject of much self-complacency; but
i contrary. Never since tfoey were
1 established in the United States,
[re they lower in proportion to the
ns c.r,joyed of rendering them use-
1 am even forced to the conclus-
ithat the interest which is felt by pa-
(nts and teachers is vastly less than it
i been for many years.
|Ijudge, so, first, from my own ob-
pation of pupils. I find these eatery
'here attending to their lessons as a
itter of course merely, or for the re
cessed. They attend because it
a confinement than to be shut up in
parlor and the church; because
[ley are fond of society; and above all
'gratify a perpetual thirst for excite-
ent. This gratification is found in a
iriety of sources which I have here no
»m to enumerate; but the principal
is the reading of books from the li-
r ; many of which are better ealeu
led to strengthen the thirst already
iuded to, than to improve the mind,
’benefit the heart.
“I have read just 101 pages this af-
ernoon, and I did it in about two
boars;” said a boy eight years old, to
d* the other day. “Indeed!” I re
plied; “and what was it about. ?” “Oh
was a play about Julius Cesar
‘And what about himV He went on
or some time to- relate what he had
[been reading; and closed by observing,
“I like to read plays very much; I
Read one yesterday. It was called ‘As
I you like it.’ ”
Now this is a lad who has been for
some time under Sunday School influ
ence. Let me not be understood to
affirm that all Sunday School children
are allowed in this kind of reading;
but I do mean to affirm that an indis
criminate perusal of the best collec
tions of Sunday School books which. I
have ever seen prepares the mind to feel
the want of excitement of this sort, and
to indulge in it the moment parental
restraint is removed.
Neither do pupils—so far as my own
observation extends—attend school as
punctually or as regularly as formerly.
The most trivial occurrence, as a little
change in the state of the weather, are
sufficient to cause this great evil.
Pupils do not get their lessons so
well as formerly. This remark is e-
qually applicable, or nearly so, whether
the lesson be long or short, plain or
difficult.
All this indicates,—and in my opin
ion proves beyond a doubt,—that pa
rents and teachers are less interested
on this subject than formerly. For I
am fully convinced that if both these
have their hearts engaged in the work,
there will be no want of interest on the
part of the children. Even if parents
are stupid it appears to me possible—
though somewhat difficult, to arouse
their children. As an example I might
refer to my late communication in this
paper.
But in the second place, I am led to
the conclusion that Sundav Schools
Book and improved Dictionaries, has
now in the press a new version of the
Scriptures—and on his simple authori
ty various alterations of the received
text are to be made.—The learned and
curious may purchase it, but a second
edition will hardly see the light.
The August Number of the New
England Magazine, just received,
contains an excellent article on the sub
ject of “Anew translation of the Bible, ”
which deserves universal attention.
The writer calls the readers attention
to “the most obvious, if not the weigh
tiest argument,” in favor of a new
version—“that the language of the pre
sent version, in a multitude of instanc
es, ha3 become, by the alterations in
the standard of public taste, decidedly”
—“unreadable.” Every clergyman
has felt this to be true, againand again,
is the pulpit.”—“Every father of a fa
mily—every teacher has learned to ap
preciate this argument by his painful
experience in the management of youths
minds.” “That which was listened to
in the Courts of Elizabeth and James,
as the language of courtesy and refine
ment, has in many instance?, been dri
ven from the hearing of decent so
ciety.”
The writer suggests other considera
tions, such as the changes which have
taken place in the English language,
since the present version has been a-
dopted as the standard, rendering par
ticular words obsolete, and various pas-
are at a low ebb from the testimony of I sages, as instanced, obscure or ambig
Simermtmrlnnta T»ani,nr 0 I uous—so that “thousands read the bi-
ble without fully understanding it”f
“Our fourth argument, for the ex-
Superintcndents, Teachers, and other
persons whose opportunities for obser
vation have been great, probably great
er'than my own; and in placess, too,
where the Sunday School system is
supposed to approach the nearest to
perfection.
Thirdly, The absence of parents
from Sunday Schools. Once you could
observe here and there an anxious pa
rent looking on while the teachers and
oupils were at their work. But where
is this seen at present? You might al
most as soon expect to see a Christian
parent who is not a teacher-—in an ale
house, as witnessing the Sunday School
exercises.
I intend to pursue this subject in
future numbers.
A TEACHER.
From the Ncw-Hampshire Sentinel.
THE BIBLE.
The last number of the Christian
Examiner contains a most interesting
history of the various translations of
the Old and New Testaments, with
samples of the language at different pe
riods, until King James undertook the
great work of comparing and revising.*
He appointed 54 men, wise and learn
ed, and committed to them the trust of
determining what was canonical and
what was apochryphal, and also of pre
senting a mere perfect translation of
the original or best authenticated man
uscripts. The translators were divid
ed into six companies, two to meet at
Westminster, two at Oxford, and two
at Cambridge, under particular instruc
tions from the King. When the sev
eral parts were completed, the whole
underwent a revision, and nine months
more were consumed in their daily la
bors. “When in the judgment of tho
translators the sense required it, they
supplied words in the English, not hav
ing any precisely answering to them in
the original; but these they put in
italics. The contents of each chap
ter, as it ivas understood by the transla
tors, are printed over it, and column ti
ties are also givert, both of which have
the effect of a running commentary, to
lead, 01? mislead the reader.” Vari
ous translations have since been under
taken by individuals, and without doqbt
great improvements have been effect
ed—but authority has been wanting;
and it has been judged safest to make
King James’ translation the standard,
until a better one of at least equal au
thority, could be procured. Hence the
modern translations have found their
way only into private libraries of the
learned and curious. The learned
Noah Webster, author of the Spelling
pediency of a new version is, that at
present the Christian world is divided
by controversies respecting the authen
ticity of some passages included in the
present received version of the Scrip
tures.
v. “That it is possible to settle these
questions of canon, we cannot doubt.
Tim history of similar and greater ron
troversies gives us ample ground, on
which to base this opinion. The au
thenticity of the whole books has been
disputed in the church for ages, and at
last been decided upon, conclusively &,
without dissent. For example, the e-
pistle of the Hebrews was the subject
of argument between the Christians of
the Ettst and West, and between those
of different sects and schools, for cen
turies; but it is now unquestioned by
the whole Christian world.
“Nor have former disputes been
crushed and silenced by the voice of
Council or Synod, clothed with assum
ed or delegated authority of legislating
for Christendom. The understanding,
free, and unfettered, has been appeal
ed to as the arbiter of the controversy?
and its decision has been the conclus
ion of debate.
“The increased light of modern lear
ning warrants our belief that these
questions, how long soever they have
been agitated, might now be settled.—
The law of language, the correct rules
of exegesis, the true spirit of the gos
pel, the proper standard of opinion,
and the varied learning necessary to
shed clearness around such subjects,
are all now far better known and un
derstood than they have been at any
former period, and, of course, it is now
easier to determine these disputes.
“It is certainly a matter of no small
moment, that every portion of the re
ceived Bible should be sealed with the
stamp of purity and authenticity.
There ought not to be a single disput
ed book,—there should be no Apocry-
pha,—no debated pasages, no question
able line or word; and there n6ed be
none. But, in order to produce una
nimity of opinion, tbero should be a
unanimous application of the means ne
cessary to produce it, and, of course, a
general conviction of the necessity of
unanimity, both of action and belief.
“The angry and desultory charac
ter of modern polemic controversy
renders it almost vain to hope tlmt a
version of the Bible, however correct,
coming from any one denomination,
will find universal acceptance. There
must first be a combination of Christi
ans in devising some manner, in which
the new version shall be a joint work,
approved by scholars of every sect, and
then we can hope to see the present an
tiquated and faulty translation wholly
superseded by one, which shall enjoy
the same universality of usage.
“There are now existing a multitude
of partial translations, many of which
might with advantage be adopted in
stead of tho present common one.—
Thus there might, perhaps, be found'
the Book of Psalms, of Job, and of
Isaiah, and of the whole New Testa
ment, each of which is more correct
and more intelligent than its more pop
ular rival—or rather its predecessor—
but none of whicli has yet received the
fc;anotio» of a gonorol v,oo. Tlilo faot
shows that merely individual labor is
useless in this behalf—there must be
official character, a delegated trust,
and a guarantee of public examination
if not of general acceptance, before any
translation can displace the present.
“There is great danger, that, unless
some measure be taken to procure a
version, which all will approve, differ
ent denominations, adopting favorite
and different versions, will confirm and
widen, beyond remedy, the distances
which now separates them, and render
wholly hopeless that union and frater
nal connection, which should charac
terize the whole church, and towards
which many an anxious eye, many an
ardent liopo, is now directed.
“The only objection to the plan of a
new version, which occurs to us, is the
difficulty of procuring such a body of
translators as would secure at once,
unanimity among themselves, and gen
eral confidence and favor for their
work. But the difficulty, when meas
ured by the importance and desirable
ness of the work, is nothing; it should
not be allowed io mnuu»°v „
mind.”
are sentences of a manuscript
ible in existence before the time
•The followini
translation of the
of Wickliffe.
Mark i, 7, “And he prechyde aayande, a atal-
worther thane I achat come after me of whom I am
not worthi downfallande, or knelande, te louse the
thwonge of his chawcers
tErrors, almost iiNiumerable, have boon pointed
out, in the Bibles now in use, as compared with the
text established by James’s translators—and much
light may be supposed to havo been shed since that
period. With the provision that 20 or SO men of
the present ago. to be selected, could act with per'
feet impartiality, regarding only the grand object of
presenting the most authentic manuscripts in an
English dress, intlieir purity; no one can doubt for a
moment their superior qualification* for the impor
tant work.
Extract of an Essay on the evils of Intemperance.
Pronounced in the first Presbyterian Church, in
Utica, on the 26th February, 1833, at the request
of the two Temperance Societies in the County
of Oneida.
About two hundred and sixty years
ago, the slave trade began to prevail,
especially after the permanent settle
ment of the West India islands. I do
not mean to say, that the Africans had
not been stolen and sold as slaves, in
some few instances, in those lands, at
earlieT periods. But Jet us look at the
employment of the slaves. At least
one of the great leading objects of
slave-labor was to cultivate the cane,
for the manufacture of sugar; and the
juice of the cane, so productive of that
most palatable element of human sub
sistence, became, about the period of
which we arc speaking, converted by
the power of distillation into that great
curse of mankind, ardent spirits. At
least one half of the productions of the
sugar cane flowed in this accursed
chanel. But, strange to tell, the world
all at once became possessed of a new
appetite and taste; .and the rum, which
before this had stood in the apotheca
ries’ shop, was soon found in every
house, and every ship, and became a
great and leading object of merchan
dise. Thousands became its distribu
tors throughout the world; and its ven
ders were from the wholesale dealer in
puncheons, to the gill-cup retailer.—
Thus the poor, injured, wretched,
stolen African became, through the
decree of Heaven, if we may so speak,
the instrument of vengeance uponwhite
men. His labor was turned to the
production of poison—a poison to de
stroy the white man. Through the me
dium of slave labor, he thus inflicts on
the white man, his cruel tyrant, sor
row for sorrow, pain for pain, anguish
for anguish, death for death. The
misery which is caused in families by
intemperance is an offsett for the suf
ferings of the poor Africans, mourping
the loss of their stolen sons, or daugh
ters, orfathers, or mothers. No doubt,
more men, have, beep killed by ardent
spirits, than have been stolen from Af
rica, in the last two centuries. And
if we might be allowed to speculate,
or to form a gauge, by which we could
mathematically ascertain all the suff
ering which the white men of Eu
rope and tha new world have eus-
tained by the use of ardent spirits, it
wo “ . ^‘ ir excee d the whole amount of
suffering sustained by all the slaves
stolen from Africa, and by their wretch
ed descendants. Is not this a just judo--
ment upon us, that God should permit
a new taste to spring up in the world,
so lull of death and distress, and the
stolen African’s labor should gratify
A man steals human beings in Afri
ca, converts them into slaves, and sells
them in the West Indies. The slaves
make a beverage, by God’s appoint
ment, which the son of the slavc-deal-
er > °T. ^ ie slave-dealer himself, drinks
and dies. Is it not just that the mau-
stealer should be punished? Dearly
have we and our fathers paid for steal
ing poor Alfricans, and selling them
as slaves. New England once ear
ned on the horrid trade of nyui-stcaling,
and sold her cargoes of slaves in the
Southern States and West India Is
lands. W hat state is there on the sea
board of our own country, or what
maratime power in Europe, whose
hands are not red with the blood of in
jured Africa?
Wherever the sugar, cotton, rice, or
tobacco went, rum, the product slave
abor, went also. Rum, until within
the last ten years, was considered as
necessary m the navigation of a ship
on the high seas, as the light in the
pinnacle, as the rudder to the ship or
the mariner’s compass. The innocent
and the unoffending Indians of Ameri
ca have been blotted out, nation after
nation, from the map of the world by
the power of ardent spirits. Ten have
perished by ardent spirits, where one
fell by the sword. The civilisation and
christianisation of the aborigines of our
country have been prevented a hun
dred fold more f rom this caUKC than
all others united. Ten years ago, not
a house or barn was raised or -i chin
launeneu, on mis °£,ft S " , .K
black man’s curse, the liquid free,
passed from mouth to mouth, and from
hand to hand, as the alpha and omega
of every laborious enterprise. Alas!
the sugar, the wheat, the rye, and the
corn, the elements of human subsist
ence, by a horrid aver perverson, be
came through a process of fiery dis-
tilment, a poison, which we drank cup
after cup, with an infatuation so pecu
liar to itself, that it is beyond the reach
of a human parallel.
The world stood appalled before thin
blasting curse. It had reached the
nursery, tho sick-bed, the joyous an
niversary, the halls of legislation, the
church the Presbytery, the Synod, the
General Assembly; all who sailed on
the sea, or travelled on land; until the
penitentiaries of our country were the
only places which raised their iron
bars and lofty battlements against
the monster, and forbade his admis
sion.
We will now look at the second chap
ter of our heavenly Father’s special
superintending providence. About ten
years ago, God put it into the hearts
of some of our wisest and most pious
citizens, to form tho Abolition Society,
and provide means, although on "a
small scale, to redress the mountain of
wrongs inflicted by the white men on
the sable son cf Africa, by forming an
establishment in the land of their fa
thers. The beautiful country of Libe
ria, one of the most lovely portions of
the African continent, was selected as
the home of those sons of bondage.—
The Managers.established the town of
Monrovia, and fora number of years
past, the long lost sons and daughters
of Africa have been sent to their native
country, with the means offorming a
civil, religious educated commwiity.
The country adjacent to Liberia li*s
been explored, and valuable district's
of territory have been added to it, by
purchase from the native chiefs. The
intercourse established between the
colony and the natives is exerting a
most benign influence upon those un
civilised tribes. The recaptured Af
ricans appear to be delighted ^ith the
idea ofbccoming citizens of the colo
ny. Treaties of commerce have been
formed by the colonists with powerful
tribes. Improvements in agriculture
are fostered, by means of premium*
awarded to those who raise the largest
quantity and tho best quality of pro
duce, or for raising the finest animal*
Schools, churches, well built houses