Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

CONVERSION OF A BOOTCHUANA WOMAN. Cemmunicated by the Rev. Dr. Phillip. Roselle, who was of the Bootchuana na tion, (South Africa,) wa9 taken from her parents when an infant, anil brought up by n farmer on the borders of the colony. Her master accompanied Dr. Cowan in his attempt to penetrate into the interiour, and this circumstance was the occasion of her liberation from colonial servitude. The following is the account which this woman gave of her conversion ; and it is sta ted in her own simple language, without any attempt to improve or embellish it. After the departure of her master into the interiour, one of the servants belonging to the farmer, used to call the slaves and Hottentots together on the Sabbath eve ning, when he read the Scriptures and pray ed with them. ‘ When the scriptures were read, 1 was struck,’ said she, ‘ to find that they unfolded my heart; and 1 said that book must be true that tells me my tho’ts.’ At thi9 time she discovered so much of her sin fulness, that she thought her salvation im possible. ; God,’ she said, ‘might save lit tle sinners, but his grace could not save her.’ She was now anxious for serious conversa tion ; but could meet with no person who could talk with her. From some person who was travelling that way, she heard of a missionary station, and became very anx ious to visit it, but without being then able to see how her wishes could he accomplish ed. At this period she was often tilled with admiration at the goodness and long suffer ing of God, in sparing such a creature. She one day w-ent to the brink of a precipice, with the intention of throwing herself down but was mercifully prevented. Her views ■were at that time very imperfect; her only consolation was derived from what she had heard of the love of God in giving his Son to die for the world. In meditating on this subject she began to receive great comfort; she now began to think she was fit to die : but after she went to the Missionary station at the Great River, she found that she was still very imperfectly acquainted with the deceilfulness of her own heart, and that she had yet much to learn. She now thinks that her comfortable feeling o at that time arose from her own fancy, and that she was then unfit for the kingdom of God. On her first coming under the preaching of the missionaries, she had such discoveries of her own unworthioess, as deprived her of much of her pleasure ; but it made her acquainted with her true condition, shewed her the necessity of a Mediator, and ltd her to a simple dopendance on the merits of Christ. The first thing that raised her from this desponding condition, was the dis covery she had of the grace of God. She saw that he wa able to pardon all her sins, and that he could be just while he justified the ungodly sinner. Her satisfaction and happiness were now placed on a scriptural foundation, kept pace with the increase of her knowledge, and every new discovery enlarged her views, and added to her peace and comfort. She now fell great respect for the people of God, for her teacher, and for the ordinances of religion. She still feels that she is not perfect. In her Chris tian course she ha many painful struggles, but she finds in the Scriptures an all-suffi cient remedy ; they are the stay of her mind, they prevent her from wandering from God, and they are the delight of her heart. She now admires the providence which separated her from her parents in early life, and furnished her with the opportuni ty of knowing the truth of God. Previous to her knowledge of God, *he used to feel enraged at those who had taken her from her parents ; and cursed them in her heart , (this expression she mentioned several times.) Now she sav°, she feels grateful: to them for having taken her from her own country; she is thankful to God for it and will i be so through eternity. She has much peace, but she finds it ne cessary to be diligent in the use of means. ‘ He that continuelh to the end shall be saved,’ is an expression which dwells much upon her mind. For her spiritual instructed she is peculiarly grateful. In speaking of her confidence in the care of God, she u°ed the following illustration. When a child is laid down to sleep, it doe not ak the parent to take care of it: when l had no care for myself, no idea, how I wa preserved. God cared for me: he awaked me from the sleep of death, and it is by his preservation that 1 am kept alive in the di vine life. Comparing her former and pres ent state, she says, ‘That she sinned with out knowing what sin was, and she took pleasure in sin; but now sin grieves her; it is her great burden ; fjom this she desires deliverance, and without this she thinks heaven could not be a place of happiness, were sin admitted into it.’ Roselle is, I suppose, about 33 or 34 years of age, her features and complexion are Bootchuana, but she has a very mild and prepossessing countenance. She has been between 11 and 12 years at our Missionary station at t 1 Great River, and during ail the time, 1 am told by her worthy teacher, Mr. Anderson, that she has borne a blame less character, that the whole of her con versation has been ornamental to the Gos pel, and that her chief happiness is in ser ving God, in promoting the peace of the church and in making others happy. [Lun. Mag. Melancholy Event at Hurd-war Fair , India ; j in consequence of the superstitious zeal of the. Natives. On the 11th of April, 1820, a vast nnm- ■ ber of pilgrims repaired to Hurdwar, to bathe in the sacred water, the descent to which was by a steep flight of steps about ten feet broad, A little before break of day, a great multitude were assembled at the top of these stairs, where guards were plrced to prevent too sudden a rush. But/ two parties (the Sunvassees and the Byra° gees) having contended for the preceden cy, made a violent effort to gain the stairs, when the unfortunate sepoys, and all (he , multitude who were descending, were car ried down with such violence, that they were jammed in near the bottom,in a small angular space, from which they could not I hyvau&efforts extricate themselves, their . entwined together. The most ! vigorous endeavours were made to relieve i them, hut in vain. At length a great num d>er of the dead were pulled out. About tO o'clock the living who were below were extricated, but they were in a most horrid , state, their limbs blistered, inflamed, and in . j a state of putrefaction ; the number of the | living did not exceed 30, while that of the dead amounted to 430. The dead bodies were thrown into the Ganges. [A/iinraj Gov. Gaz. MISSION AMONG THE CHEROKEES. Extracts from the Journal kept at Brainerd. (Continued from page 153.) Sept. 4, 1820. Received £3 2 from the Rardstown baptist Missionary Society, (Kentucky,) remitted to us through the agency of the Rev. Mr. F.agleton. We think we fee! thankful that our brethren. . from different parts of the country, are al fording us such seasonable aid. And we are the mere thankful, as we have reason to believe we have qlie prayers of those J societies and individuals, who are assisting I in the pecuniary concerns of this institution. ] 0. Brother Chamberlain went out for i the purpose of preaching to-morrow, where j we have an appointment once in four weeks, | about fourteen miles up the Tennessee. Sabbath 10. Brother C. returned this evening. Had more than an ordinary num ber of hearers, several of whom appeared seriously impressed. 16. Brother C. went to Mr. Hicks’s to spend the Sabbath. We formerly had an ■appointment there, once in two weeks : hut since brother Butrick left us we have not been able to go thither, oftener than or.ee in four weeks ; and some of our sta tions for preaching we have been obliged to abandon altogether. 17. Brother C. returned, having had a pleasant meeting with that dear people, in that neighbourhood appear to re joice in the blessings of the Gospel 20. A Cherokee woman called, and left two girls in the school. They were very unwilling to stay. They clung fast to their mother, w ho, seeing she could not well gi t i rid of them, desired Mrs. Hoyt to take them | away out of sight. The children screamed I and cried very much ; but the mother put I on the fortitude to leave thenj in that situ ation. When we consider how much pa rents indulge their children in this country, we are surprised, that they appear so desir ous of leaving them at school, in those cas es where the children are unwilling to stay. 22. Sister Ann returned from Creek Path, accompanied by Susan Brown, a sis ter ofCatharine. She has lately obtained a hope in Christ. God grant, that he may adorn her profession as her sister has done. Sister Ann informs us, that the work of grace appears to he going on, at Creek Path. She also informs u°, that she saw our dear little Lydia on her wav to the Osages. Lydia told her she wished she could write to her father and mother. Sister A. told her, she would write for her, if she could tel! what she wanted to say. She appeared pleased with this and began, but was able to say only a few words, be fore he became so much affected, that °he could not proceed. She said, she wanted her fattier and mother to come to the Osagp country and take her. Better from Creek Path. Oct. 12. O how sweet it is to meet with Christian friends in a heathen land. Our I heart o were made to rejoice bv the arrival of our dear brothers Butrick, John Brown, sen. John Brown, jun. his wife, and sister Catharine. 13. Meeting for business. A letter was received from the chiefs, at Creek Path, handed by John Blown, sen. Its contents were as follows: “ Friends and brothers, “ We are glad to inform you, that we are well pleased with Mr. Butrick, who ha° come forward as a teacher to instruct our people. We believe he does discharge his duty ; and wr hope hi° coming will he of great advantage to our people. Our wish is, that you may prosper throughout our nation, in your laudable undertaking. It is out of our power to see you, in any short time, on account or fheNationalConnc.il, .and other business we are obliged to attend ;at this time, it is our wish the school j should continue at this place. Mr. John j Brown, sen. will deliver this, who will pre | sent you cur hands in friendship. We hope jwe shall see each other before long. We i are glad to see our children advancing so j well. We conclude with our best re | --pects.” Wau-sac-sey, Bear meat , Speaker. 1 Resolved , that Mr. Chamberlain be di~ ! rented to answer the above letter. : 15. Had a precious season in commem orating the death of our blessed Immanuel. 0 how merciful is our heavenly Father, in furnishing such a table in the wilderness. 16. Were disappointed in not seeing any of the examining Committee ; but had the pleasure of meeting several of our Cherokee friends. We proceeded to ex amine the schools, as if the Committee had j attended. All, who were present, express ■ ed the highest satisfaction in the improve ! merit of the children. One of the little girls got very badly burned. Her clothes caught fire, and nearly consumed on her back. We are thankful that both her pa ’ rents were here, and that the burn was not so bad as to prevent their carrying her home with safety. I 17. Brother Hall arrived The stray 178 ing of his horse prevented his comin*asf] week. The school under his care is dotn|e well. About thirty-six attended constantly,; and make good improvement. Regulations of the Schools, fa. Meeting for business: that the principal teachers of the schools at this, place have charge of all the clothing, books, j &c. seni out for the use ot the mission ;, thal nil applications for any ot the said ar-, tides, by any member of the mission tamily,, either at Bramerd, or any ot the local j schools, he male to one ot them ; that they lu’ep an accurate account ot all articles given out, in a hook reserved solely tor that purpose ; nnd that a copy -ot the ac count of articles sold, or given out, to aoy member of the mission family, or to the local schools, bp given to the Treasurer ol this mission to go up to the Treasurer ol the Board, with our regular account. Resolved , that we deem it important, j that a female teacher be provided for the school at Taloney to lake charge ot the girls. Resolved, that at each general meeting, the teachers of the local schools shall re port, at the same time, the general state and prospects of religion and civilization, at his station. Resolved , that our general meelings be held semi annually, viz. on the Saturdays after the second Wednesdays of October and April, anil that the order ot said meet ings shall be as follows : Ist. Preparatory iecture on Saturday. 2d. Sermon and communion on the Sab bath. 3d. Examination of the schools in this place on Monday. 4th. Meeting for j business conducted as follows : First, read) all communications, relative to the con-j cerns of the missions, from the Cor. Secre-j tary and Treasurer of the. Board, which may have been received since the last gen-1 oral mseting, and all resolutions passed in : the meeting o , for business at Brainerd. Secondly : The teachers ot the local j schools make their reports. Thirdly :; The business of each local school in alpha-j betical order. Fourthly: General busi-1 ness of the mission. j Resolved , that, with the approbation of the Prudential Committee, there be a semi- 1 annual vacation of three weeks, to com mence at the local schools, on the Satur days after the first Wednesdays in October and April, and at this place the day after examination. 18. Our dear brothers and sisters from Creek Path left us to return. We have had a delightful season with them, and part- j ing was painful. How delightful will be: the time when all the children of God shall j meet in their Father's kingdom to part no; more. 19. Brother Hall left us to return to Taloney. i 20. We have just heard of the death of i onr dear sister Crutchfield, at Springplace. She. was the first fruit which the Lord granted to our dear father and mother Gam- j bold, and she is the first which He has ta- j ken to Himself. 24. Brother and sister Chamberlain set’ out for father Gambold’s, where she ex pects to remain while her husband goes to; the Council, and to Taloney. * Advances of the Cherokees in Civilization. \ Jfov. 1. Brother and sister C. returned. He left sisterC. at father Gambold’s while he attended the council. At the council he took lodgings at Muj. Ridge’s, where he had an opportunity of preaching to a large number of our Cherokee brethren. The Ridge says, he can never be thankful enough to the missionaries for providing a way for his son to receive an education. He says, he wishes him to stay at Cornwall until he gets a great education ; and he hopes the Lord will give him a good heart, so that when he comes home, he may he very useful to his nation. The Council have made a law to compel parents to keep their children at school, when once entered, until they have finish ed their education, or to pay all expense for clothing, board, and tuition. They have also given the superintendents of each mission authority to take out of their schools such children, as they shall think proper, and, with the consent of their pa rents, put them to such trades asiare attach ed to their missions; and when such chil dren have learned a trade, they are to he furnished with a set of tools at the expense of the nation. They have also divided their country in to eight districts, or counties; laid a tax on the people to build a court-house, in each of these counties ; and appointed four cir cuit judges. The Cherokees are rapidly adopting the laws and manners of the whites. They appear to advance in civili zation, just in proportion to their knowl edge of the Gdspel. !t therefore becomes all, who desire the civilization of the Indi ans, to do what they car. to send the Gospel among them. Brother Chamberlain, after leaving the Council, went to Taloney, where he spent the Sabbath. The people there, were very attentive to preaching; some shed tears ; one black man appeared to be a subject of pungent conviction. Most of the children of the school attended meeting. They were very neatly clad. They ap pear to be very intelligent, and we hope °ome will be raised up there to be orna ments to their nation. 4. Brother John Arch returned from a visit to his father’s. During his absence, he has attended a meeting of the Presbyte ry and Missionary Society of North Caro lina. He had an opportunity of sitting down, at the table of our Lord, with above five hundred brethren. The good people there gave him clothing of the value of more than SSO; and made hint a member for life of the Missionary Society. 18. Brother Chamberlain’s little daugh ter got some arsenide, which was mixed with butter for the purpose of destroying rats. We know not how much she had jeatHr; rfiinrnPf quantity was considerable. It produced a Wiling thirst; and she had one severe spasm. We administered a large quantity of sweet oil, which, in a few minutes, coun teracted the effects of the poison. After this we gave her antimonial wine, which operated as an einetick. But we have no doubt it was the sweet oil, which, under God, saved the child’s life. It might be well if this remedy for poison were more generally known. We have now eleven boys and six girls in the schools, supported in whole, or in part, by different associations. All these are premising children, and may hereafter, by a divine blessing, do honour to the societies and individuals by whom they are now sup ported. Weshould have mentioned in our journal of Feb. last, that Dr. Joseph C. Strong ol Knoxville, Ten. very generously vaccinat ed a large number of our children; and gave instructions for vaccinating the remain der, should (be operation he successful in these, by which means the whole school have received the sure preventive of the small pox. We did not notice this omission, until we saw that part of our journal in print. - MISSION TO THE OSAGES OF THE MISSOURI. New York, March 10. j # . 1 i This interesting family, consisting ol 41 souls, has been collected from seven differ ent states, and what is not less pleasing, from the three different sections of the ! Christian Church, who have s.) harrooni ; ouslv combined their exertions in the work |of evangelizing the heathen. On Monday i evening last, they were publickly set apart • to their office, in the Associate Reformed ; Church in Murray-street, where, after a |short introductory prayer bv the Rev. Dr. Moscn. and a well adapted piece of musick i bv a select choir —the throne of grace was | addressed by the Rev. Dr. Milledoler. The charge to the missionaries was de j liverfcd by the Rev. Dr. Romeyn. | An Address was also delivered by the ’ Rev. Mr. Dodge, the superintendent, and the Rev. Mr. Pexley, the assistant to the mission, and The exercises were concluded by a pray er from the Rev. Dr. Proudfit. On the evening religious ex ercises were attended in the middle Dutch j Church, when, after au introductory pray jerby the Rev. Mr. Haight, of Wilton, and i reading the general commission by the : Rev. Dr. Spring, The instructions to the missionaries were : read by the Rev. Mr. Rowan, i Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Dr. Gunn, of Bloomingdale, the Rev. Isaac ’ Lewis, of Greenwich, the Rev. Dr. Mc -1 Dowell of Elizabethtown, the Rev. Mr. Knox of this city, and the Rev. Mr. Allen of | Woodbridge. And tne concluding prayer was offered I up by the Rev. Dr. Hyliier, of Orange. On both these occasions the churches ’ were crowded to overflowing, and collec tions for the benefit of the mission were re ceived, amounting to more thaD six hun dred dollars. ! On Wednesday, the Board of Directors held a meeting, for the last time, with the Missionaries, in the Consistory Room in Garden Street It was truly an affecting I scene. After the formal delivery of the Commission and Instructions, the audience united in singing a very appropriate hvmn. The family were commended to God, in a prayer offered by the Rev. Dr. Griffin. A parting hymn was sung by the Missionary Family. The benediction was pronounced by the Rev. Dr. Proudfit, and the Missiona ries were accompanied to the steam-boat Atalanta, where thy embarked amid the tears and prayers of multitudes of our citi zens, cheerfully setting their faces toward the wilderness, for the love they bore to the heathen. Com. Adv. The President’s Inaugural Address. From the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser. This document, embracing a variety of subjects which afford ample cause of felici tation among the American people, we consider as too valuable to be dismissed with the passing notice only which we gave it yesterday. The message of Mr. Monroe, at the opening of the session of Congress, was not distinguished for elegance of lan guage, or for the clearness with which he expressed bis views ; but the style of this document is at least unexceptionable; and as an expose, of the situation of our country at home ; of onr growing strength and re sources ; and of our relations with foreign powers, it cannot fail to be read with emo tions of proud satisfaction by every Ameri can. It will also tell well abroad. While (he crowned heads of Europe are assem bling time after time to devise means of securing their tottering thrones from the shocks of revolutions, and to prevent the dissemination of that moral and political in telligence among their subjects which may one day elevate them to the rank of free men, they will doubtless look upon us, and wonder at the spectacle afforded by a na linn, great and powerful, and governing it self in every particular—the people se curely reposing under mild and equitable laws—and the government secure in the affections of the people. What a lesson w’ill the transactions ofMonday afford them! The chief of a mighty nation, quietly walk ing to the Capitol to take upon himself the : solemn oaths, and to assume the impor tant duties, of his exalted trust—no splen did parade—no pomp and show—no flour ish of trumpets—nor a legion of bayonets bristling in the air for the protection of his sacred person against the insults of the mob or the dagger ol the assassin. They may perhaps sneer at our republican simplicity, land afloat to desyi-e our institutions ; but the pleasant and en viable lof of aWWierican President, for the thorny pillow of a monarch, or the out ward splendour of a throne ? After alluding in a mode9t and unassum ing manner to the unexampled unanimity with which he has been re-elected, the President briefly reviews the principal measures which have thus far marked his administration ; and we are happy to find an assurance that the same policy, internal and external, is hereafter to be pursued.— Our fortifications and other means of de fence upon the land and the wave, which will always afford the best security against foreign aggression and war, are not to be abandoned. This is the sound policy adopted by the fathers of the revolution, and abandoned to our co9t by the successor of Mr. Adams. The stand which Mr. Monroe early took with regard to the controversy between Spain and her colonies, notwithstanding the opposite views entertained, and the measures repeatedly proposed, by some of the leading representatives in Congress from the Southern and Western sections of >; the Union, while it evinced the foresight of the Executive, lias redounded to the hon our and character of the nation. This line of conduct, we also observe with pleasure, is not to be departed from. As it respects the question between Spain and her colo nies, there is probably but one feeling in the nation. We all w ish them success anil independence, whenever they shall evince a disposition to establish regular and libe ral governments, and settle down under them like good citizens. But their conduct hitherto has not been such as to emitle them to any peculiar marks of favour ; and it would be the greatest folly in the world, for us rashly to hazard our present amica ble relations with Europe, by departing from our neutrality, and declaring in their favour. \ The course the executive has pursued ” in relation to the numerous pirates who have been taken and condemned by our courts to atone for their crinv s with their lives, was the dictate of humanity, if not of correct policy. It is always praiseworthy for those in authority, to lean to the side of Mercy, when they can do it consistent ly with the demands of Justice. But we. must confess we have sometimes doubted whether Mr. Monroe has not carried his clemency too far. Our financial prospects, taking every thing into consideration, are not discoura ging. It is true we are labouring under pecuniary difficulties at the present mo ment, and there is a deficiency, temporary we hope, in the national revenue. But our resources are abundant for every ordi nary emergency. The people are told, however, in pretty plain terms, that a re sort must be had next year to internal tax es. We do not complain of this, for we have ever thought it an errour in judgment in Mr. Monroe, to recommend the repeal of these taxes in 1817. The amount was by no means oppressive ; and had they been continued, the loans of the last year and the one just authorized by Congress, would have been unnecessary. “Money,” says Hamilton, “ is, with propriety, consid ered a* the vital principle of the body poli tick ; as that which sustains its life and mo tion, and enables it, to perform its most es sential functions.” Discerning statesmen have ever considered a just, libpral and permanent system of taxation necessary.—■ And the v>o!ent shocks which our publick credit at one lime sustained, and the neces sity of loans in the present time of peace, demonstrate conclusively the soundness of this position. “ A complete power, there fore, to procure a regular and adequate supply of revenue, as far as the resources of the community will permit, may be re garded as an indispensable ingredient to any government.” The humane suggestions of the Presi-J, deni, in relation to the Indian tribes, are entitled to great consideration. This na tion owes a vast debt to that wild, though noble spirited-race, who were the primi tive lords of onr soil. We have not re flected much upon the course suggested in this speech ; but the first great step .that ought long since to have been taken, should have been the education of their children, and their instruction in the arts ofhusband-. ty —the very plan recently adopted by our valuable missionary institutions; and we arc) favourably inclined to the project of extinguishing their sovereignty, and per mitting them to hold as individuals, a por tion of that land which was the hereditary possession of their ancestors. The Indians have sustained great injustice and countless injuries from the whites ; and the system we have hitherto pursued towards them, j has constantly and rapidly’ been reducing” to nothing, a race of men whose valour, magnanimity, and hospitality we might well imitate. Mr. Monroe anticipates a general war in Europe ; although from our most recent advices, we are inclined to believe such an event not very probable at present. Eve ry thing in the old world seems lo baffle the calculations of (lie most sagacious poli ticians. Tlip evrnls oflast summer seem ed to portend a general explosion, and ev ery arrival for some time strengthened our belief, that the discontents in Germany, or the combustible materials of Fiance, would light up n flame which would spread far and wide. But in France, every thing has set tled into a profound calm. And the meet ing of the Congress at Laybach, to delibe rate upon the affairs of Naples, affords now the only prospect ofthe interruption of the universal repose of the continent. But be the result as it may, in imitation of the il lustrious Washington, the President has al ready issued his proclamation of neutrality i hi° has our most hearty approbation. The concluding part of the speech, nf ter a happy commentary upon the superi our excellencies of our political institutions.