Newspaper Page Text
the tribes who enjoy their labours consider
themselves as safe from the attacks of oth
er tribes; and wherever Mr. C. travelled,
the ideas attached to the name of a Mission
ary had sufficient weight to procure him the
protection atid friendly offices of all the
savages which he visited.
‘“Dr. Philips reports, that at Cape Town
his ministry has been blessed to several
persons, and that the Society under his
care appears to possess a truly missionary
spirit.
LONDON JEWS SOCIETY.
Eagerness of the Jews after the New Testament
and Tracts.
Extract of a Utter from Mr. Taucknitz to the
Foreign Secretary , dated Leipzig , JVov. 7,
1820.
Dear Friend in the Lord, —My wish to
add to the expressions of gratitude for the
Hebrew New Testaments and Tracts trans
mitted to me, a short account of their dis
tribution and reception among the Jews, has
been the cause of the long delay of my an
swer.
The chest announced in your first letter
reached me about the end of June, and was
unpacked on an evening when some Chris
tian friends happened to visit me. We joy
fully congratulated each other upon the
possession of these rich treasures ; and my
heart was filled with thanks to the Commit
tee of your Society, whose undeserved
confidence towards an unknown individual
can only be ascribed to your kind recom
mendation. But this joy was not quite un
mingled with apprehensions of a desponding
nature ; as all our earlier attempts to enter
into a religious connexion with the Jews,
had been totally ineffectual, 1 could not help
indulging in a gloomy anticipation, when I
looked upon the large store before me, that
the far greater part of these publications
would remain untouched. But the Lord
had not sent that large chest into my house
in vain, and my little faith has been put to
shame.
As my engagements keep me very close
ly confined to my father’s coanting house,
especially during the fair, and claim the use
of my time from morning till evening, 1 was
obliged to give up the wish of myself put
ting tlie books into the hands of the Jews,
and to converse with them about their con
tents. 1 therefore confined myself to the
care of keeping my store in good order, and
always to have some small parcels ready
for distribution. I was therefore most cor
dially rejoiced, when two of my most inti
mate friends, Mr. Sander, A. M. and Mr.
Engelham, Student of Divinity, offered to
devote themselves, trusting in the Lord of
the harvest, to the sowing of that seed.
And as the latter was obliged to leave the
town in the first days of the fair, daring
which the members of the University have
vacation, I discovered distinctly the hand
of the Lord, in the offer made by a young
gentleman, Hobschuker, a native of Bava
ria, to make the distribution of the Hebrew
New Testaments and of Tracts, his only
and incessant buisness during the fair.
On September 18, when the great day
of atonement is celebrated, my friends marie
tbeir first attempt, to procure for the Tracts
entrance among the Jews. They went
with a small number of them into the Po
lish synagogue; and Mr. Sander shewed
to the first Jew who stood near him one of
the small cards. He accepted it politely,
read it attentively, and handed it silently to
his neighbour, and so it proceeded farther
and farther. L'ke an electrical stroke the
introduction of that little stranger was felt
in the spacious and crowded hall: all the
Jews from every corner crowded about Mr.
S. and in their eagerness almost tore the
few tracts he had out ot his hands. Full of
the glad tidings, the two Gentlemen return
ed to my house, and 1 furnished them with
as large a store as they could curry with
them. They now visited the foimerand
some other synagogues, met every where
with the same favourable reception and in
one of them they excited so great a sensa
tion that the Cantor requested them, not to
disturb tbeir devotion,which however, could
not prevent the eager exertions of the
Jews for obtaining Tracts. As the bouse
of my father is situated in that part of the
city, where during the fair the foreign
Jews reside, 1 could easily observe their
behaviour ; and it would be difficult to de
scribe my satisfaction, when in the foil sw
ing days 1 saw almost before every house,
small parties of Jews, with Tracts in their
hands: or listening to one who publickly
rad if, or engaged in conversation about
that they had heard. Messrs. S. and H.
called as far as they judged convenient,
upon such Jews in their houses, as they
had found best disposed, and were surprised
to find many of them inclined to become
Christians —No wonder, that they were
not free from erroneous conceptions, and
weighty apprehensions, as to the manner
of supporting themselves in the world as
Christians. Mr. H. had marked the Tracts
jyhich had passed through his hands, with
e number of his house ; a measure which
I not fail to produce the intended effect,
Sr he received so many applications, that
he passage of the inn, in which he lived,
was often filled with Jews, who wished to
1 have those books, in which, as they ex
pressed themselves, it was said, that they
‘■ must be baptized. Notes were even re
ceived froa/respectable Jewish merchants
i town, to ask for the communication of
ur pious Tracts for their further conviction.
{y this time he had said nothing to them
of the New Tertament; but having per
ceived among them a real thirst after in
struction, we directed their attention to
ward that sacred book. In a very few days
eould have gratuitously distributed my
ole store ; but remembering your call
1, I did it only in some, extraordinary
,es, and generally asked for payment,
iny, especially young Jews, have been
reading it witli rapture and loudly
. ijxprfessiug their assent. Though hitherto
nothing can he said of the real fruit of the
seed which has been sown here, it must
give true satisfaction to the Society, that so
large anJ interesting a field, as Leipzig
presents during the fair, can be cultivated
with so much hope of success. For the
conflux of the Jews on these occasions is
very greßt; and from the notices I have ;
collected. I can now affirm, that in all di- j
rections from the maritime towns of Hoi-!
land unto R.Msia, and Turkey, these Tracts j
and New Testaments belong to the arti
cles, which the Jews on their present re
turn from the fair, have brought home to
their families.
SIERRA LEONE.
TLe progress of some of the Adults at
this station, in reading, is very rapid. In
less than a year from the time of their lib
eration, they read well in the New Testa
ment; and delight to study in every leisure
hour. One said to Mr. Johnson, ‘ Massa,
me see myself in the book,’ and opened to
the 7th chapter to the Romans, pointing to
the passage from the 19th to the 2-llh vers
es ; 1 For the goo/l that I would, Ido not;
but the evil which I would not, that / do,’ 4‘C-
Not a few of them have been indeed thus
led to a knowledge of themselves. They
will tell us, with the greatest simplicity,
that they have two hearts within them—n
good heart and a bad heart; nor can we
convince them to the contrary. They will
also tell us that these two hearts have a
‘ long palaver’ with each other, and how
much bad heart strives to hurt good heart.
One who had lately been reclaimed from
the depths of sin, when asked, 4 Well, how
is your heart now?’ replied, 4 Massa, my
heart no live here novv. My heart live
there"—pointing to the skies.
From the Richmond Missionary Chronicle.
AN ORIGINAL COMMUNICATION.
From Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, to
Patrick Henry, Esq. Governour of Vir
ginia.
[The subject of Indian Missions now occupies
much of the attention of the Christian publick,
and deservedly. The General Government
takes a lively interest in the various plans
which are carrying on to meliorate the condi
tion of those who once were the lords of the
soil in this extensive country, and who have
not been treated in the kindest manner by us.
We rejoice in these things. To those who feel
as we do, the following papers will be very ac
ceptable. We give true copies. The originals
are in the office of Wm. Monford, Esq. keeper
of the Roils, and Clerk of tire House of Dele
gates of Virginia. It cannot be ascertained
that any notice was ever taken of the commu
nication by the State Authorities.
Seuthey, in his life of Wesley, a book read by ma
ny, gives an account of the writer of these
pieces, which they certainly do not justify. He
tells us that she was daughter of Washington,
Earl of Ferrers, and widow of Theophilus, Earl
of Huntingdon ; and remarks that “ There was
a decided insanity in her family.” But of this
he gives no instance except two; of which one
was her language to Bishop Benson, when sent
to “ restore her to a saner sense of devotion.”
“ She quoted the homilie9 against him, insisted
on her own interpretation of the articles, and
attacked him upon the awful responsibility of
his station;” —the other was, her support and
encouragement of Whjtl'ield and the Calvinis
tick Methodists.
We leave it to our readers to judge whether the
author of the following plan was insane. For
ourselves we only wish that it could have been
adopted long ago, in its substantial parts. The
success of measures to civilize and christianize
the Indians would have long ceased to be prob
lematical.]
SIR,
When a person has no other object in
applying to the supreme authority of a
state, than to interest the state in an ex
tensive design, expressly formed to pro
mote the great cause of religion and hu
manity, there can be no doubt but such an
application will be favourably received,
though the circumstances of the country
should not permit it to engage in the un
dertaking, or to contribute largely to car
rying it on. VVith this general sentiment,
I entertain thit opinion of the piety and
benevolence of America, that I feel no dif
ficulty, sir, to address myself to your ex
cellency on the important subject; and to
request that you will communicate this let
ter to the other branches of the legislature
of the state over which you preside. If I
err in the manner and form of this applica
tion, I humbly beg it may be imputed to ig
norance, not to want of respect.
The object of my application is great. I
have long reflected with pain on the condi
tion, both in a religious nud civil light, of
the Indian nations in North America.
With a mind untinctured with fanaticism
or illiberally, 1 have long wished that some
great and solid plan for their conversion
and civilization, for making them good!
Christians and useful citizens could be fal
len upon. I rejoice in thinking that the
late revolution opens a way to this great
work. I rejoice in the hope that the’ pie- j
ty and humanity of the Americans, will en
courage a rational undertaking to attain
those important ends. I rejoice in the I
firm expectation that they will cordially
unite with me in such an undertaking ; and
I fervently implore the Divine Being to
crown our joint endeavours with success.
The enclosed outlines of a plan will give
you an idea of my desigD. My views are
so extensive, the means in some respects
so great, that in ordorto he able to con
cert measures suitable to the largeness of
the design, 1 think it necessary to commu
nicate these outlines of a plan to several of
the states, which, from their situation,seem
to have it more especially in their power
to give energy and facility to such an un
dertaking. What one state cannot do, an
other may. If one alone should be unable
to grant as much land as will be necessary,
they may severally contribute what on the
whole will be sufficient. The states 1 pro
pose to apply to, are those of North Caro
lina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and N. York.
I most respectfully request-that the Legis
lature c-f yuuy State will take the matter
202
itttp theifjserious consideration. Should
the genera ideas I have given of the de
sign meefjwith approbation, it would give
me infinity pleasure to be informed in what
manner ytiu and they think those ideas
could best.he carried into effect. As 1
have no vsw to private interest myself in
the design.so I earnestly wish that every
precaution should he taken to guard against
the selfishness of others, and against all
abuses whatever. Whether therefore the
plan shnulj) finally-be, to make a great set
tlement intone State, or to establish lesser
settlements in different States, I shall most
cheerfully, concur in every provision which
the State or States may think necessary, to
prevent framialent practices, and to pre
serve the true spirit of the undertaking. —
It cannot ecapo your excellency, that in
dependently of other circumstances, the
countenance and encouragement which the
states may respectfully be disposed to give
this design, must be an important conside
ration in finally settling the plan. It will,
in particular, be necessary, that I should
know what quantity of land a State may be
disposed to grant, what quit-rent will be
required, ami what length of time the set
tlers will be exempted from taxes. The
knowledge of these particulars is so
essential to the coming to a proper deter
mination, that I am persuaded your excel
lency will immediately see the propriety
of my requesting to be informed what your
state is disposed to do in regard to them. 1
beg leave to mention here a circumstance
which ought to have been inserted in the
outlines of the plan, viz. that the intended
settlers have been hearty friends to the
rights and liberties of America from the
beginningof the controversy to the conclu
sion of it.
1 have requested Sir James Jay to assist
me in this weighty business. He has prom
ised to do it as far as his own affairs will
permit. I have fully explained my views
and intentions to him. We have often con
versed on the subject. The outlines I en
close to you, are the result of our joint de
liberations. His long residence and per
sonal knowledge of things in these king
doms, and his acquaintance with America,
render him very fit to assist in forming a
plan in which many circumstances in each
country’are to be combined. I have long
known Sir James, and I rely much on his
prudence and judgment. Besides he knows
my mind so well, that I am inclined to
think, if the state should be disposed to
grant land for this design, and be should be
consulted on the subject, he will be able to
say pretty nearly, whether the tract pro
posed would, in point ofsituation and terms
of settlement, be likely to my ideas.
1 request therefore that he may be advised
with on the occasion. It will facilitate mat
ters, and may prevent the delay and loss of
time which repeated explanations by let
ter, at so great a distance as that between !
America and this country would necessari-j
ly occasion. When I know the dispositions
and determinations of the states ; and have
received all the information 1 hope to re
ceive ; I shall be able to come to a final
conclusion on every part of the design. 1 j
hope with the blessing of Heaven, “that a
solid plan may then be formed for effectu
ally answering the great ends in view.
1 have the honor to be with great res
pect, your Excellency’s most obedient and
humble servant,
S. HUNTINGDON.
Bath, April 8, 1784.
TO THE FRIENDS OF RELIGION AND HUMANITY IN
AMERICA.
To introduce the benevolent religion of
our blessed Redeemer among heathen and
savage nations ; to lead them from violence
and barbarity to (he duties of humanity and
the arts of civil life, to provide a refuge
for pious, industrious people, who wish to
withdraw themselves from scenes of vice
and irreligion, to a country where they
may spend their days in the pursuits of hon
est industry, and in the practice of religion
and virtue : These are objects, in which
the glory of the Almighty, and the happi
ness of a great number of our fellow crea
tures,are so eminently combined,that 1 trust
you will cheerfully concur and assist in a
design expressly formed for the attainment
of them.
Experience has shewn, that the sending
a few missionaries and establishing a few
schools among the Indians of America have
been very inadequate to the great object of
their conversion and civilization. It is rea
sonable to think that no great progress can
be made in converting a savage people,
thinly scattered over an extensive country,
•and often wandering, in single families or
small bodies, to distant places until they
can be brought to live in a more settled and
social manner; or, unless the works of con
version and civilization can be made to go
hand in hand.
It is a peculiar happiness, therefore, that
-these different objects of converting and ;
civilizing the Indians, and of providing set
tlements for orderly religious people, so i
perfectly coincide, that there is the great- j
e3t reason to think we shall succeed better ;
in our endeavours to attain both,if we unite j
them into one great concern, and proceed
accordingly, than if we were to undertake
and pursue each independently of the other.
The people 1 wish to provide a settle
ment for, are uot loose idle vagabonds; but
decent, industrious, religious people, of ex
emplary manners, and attached to the cause
of liberty. If these people can be settled
in a proper place among the Indians, where
they and the Indians may have a free and
easy intercourse, they may not improperly
be considered as so many missionaries and
schoolmasters among them. From a sense
of religious duty, they will kindly entertain
those poor ignorant people ; they will do
them every good office ; they will take
pains to gain their esteem and affection,and
to cultivate a good correspondence with
them. Their more comfortable way of
living,tbr ir inoffensive and friendly manners,
their modes of cultivation, & their mcchanick
arts, will be constant examples to them.
Some part of these things may he gradually,
though insensibly imbibed. Reason tells
u, that little change is to be expected in
a savage Indian, while he is able to pursue
his wonted course of life. Yet even in that
case, spmething may engage his attention,
and excite his imitation. On those Indians
who are past enjoying the active scenes of
life, or are restrained therefrom by infirmi
ty or accident, greater impressions may be
made. But it is not unreasonable to think
that the women and children may be induc'd
to mix more in society with the settlers, to
join with them occasionally in some little
work of agriculture, or of the mechanick
kind, if it be only to amuse themselves and
pass away time. When people are neither
compelled nor confined to work ; but on
the other hand, are at liberty to leave ofl
at pleasure, and are encouraged to go on,
or to return another time to the same or a
similar employment; they are less averse
to labour. Frequent practice may become
habitual, and insensibly induce habits of
useful industry under the notion of amuse
ment. The progress that would naturally
be made in this wav', would gradually soft
en their manners, influence their morals,
and lead them into social life.
Several worthy clergymen, of well known
character for religions zeal and integrity
of manners, will accompany the settlers.
Their duty will be, according to their tal
ents and personal health and strength, to
keep up the spirit of religion and piety
among their own people ; and by means of
interpretees to preach the glad tidings of
salvation in the wilderness, to bring the in
habitants of those benighted regions from
darkness to light, to the knowledge of the
true God, and of Jesus Christ.
Schools will also be established. Chil
dren will be educated in them to religion
and virtue, in a liberal manner, agreeably
to that great principle of Christianity, love
to God, universal charity and good will to
all mankind. They will also be instructed
in useful knowledge, so that they may be
come good Christians, and useful members
of the community. One great object will
be. to endeavour to induce the Indians to
suffer their children to go to such schools;
and to pprmit them, for the greater conven
ience to live in such families of our people,
as the parents or the children themselves
shall choose.
Regulations vyill he made on the piost
solid footing, in regard to the clergy and.
the schools; but independently of regular
arrangements for those purposes, as there
will be among the settlers several discreet
people of good understanding, clergy and
others, zealous in the cause of religion,
great hopes are entertained, that every
measure will be taken, which good sense,
zeal and industry can employ to accom
plish the important objects in view.
To carry the plan into execution, it will
be necessary that a quantity of land, an-1
swerable to the magnitude of the under
taking, be granted for the purpose in one
or more of the United States; that the
land be among the Indians, or very near to l
them ; and so situated in regard to the bulk
of the more distant Indian nations, that:
there may he an easy communication by i
water with those nations, in order that the j
clergy may, with tolerable ease, and with-1
out loss of time, go among them ; and that
the Indians may be tempted, by the facility
ot the communication, to have frequent in
tercourse with the settlements.
As I have no other view in the underta
king than what I have frankly declared, as
1 mean not to have any property myself in
the ldhd to be granted, nor that any person
should acquire any in it, except in the same
way, and on the same conditions, which
shall be laid down for all settlers upon it:
as 1 heartily wish to guard against every
abuse and departure from the true spirit of
the undertaking; it is my earnest desire
that the land be granted on such terms,
and under such restrictions and precautions,
as the legislature of the State which shall
make the grant, shall think best suited to
promote the design, and to prevent all
abuses. My idea of the matter is in gene
ra! this; that a tract of land be laid out for
a considerable number of families: that
Protestants of all denominations be admit
ted to settle upon it: that no persons shall
settle upon it, but such as shall severally
bring a certificate and recommendation
from me, or from the trustees which I shall
appoint in England, Scotland, and Ireland;
so that the settlers shall not be liable to
have bad people obtruded among them:
that one or more persons be appointed by
the State to grant warrants of settlement to
people having such certificates ; that the
persons so to be appointed by the State,
shall be resident* in the state, and shall be
accountable to the legislature; that no set
, tiers shall, on any account or pretence,
have a warrant for more than 500 acres:
! that no person shall have a right to sell his
I land without the consent of the persons ap
; pointed by the legislature to issue warrants
| of settlements, unless he shall have resided
years upon the said land; and that
no person be permitted to purchase such
j lands, except such persons who have ob
; tained certificates as abovementioned : that
j the tract or tracts be laid out in townships
by the personal shall appoint to survey
and lay out the same; that they set apart
j places for one or more cities or towns;
I that the residue of the land be divided into
farms of different sizes, to accommoda**’
j greater or lesser families; that the places
(or cities or towns he laid out in streets and
| lots of certain dimensions for publick and
; private uses ; that the farms be subjected
i l ® pay? “fter being settled a certain number
of yesirs, a moderate acknowledgment per
acre, annually, to the state: that the lots in
the city be granted by certificate and war
rant in the same manner as the farms; that
they also pay an annual acknowledgmtfi I|
to the state ; that the acknowledgment cop, ■
mence years after the grant; ■
no person have a grant for a second jurfl
third lot, until the former has a dwelling I
house that is inhabited, or a work-shjop I
that is used upon it: that from the farjmsl
which shall not be settled by the number I
of people lor which they were granted, I
within three years after the warrants were I
issued, a proportionable number of acre* 9
shall be deducted: that those deducted 1
acres, and all farms which shall not be set-1
tied, and all lots which shall not be built 1
upon rrithiu pcilwilj ctcisl! i
to the common stock; that a certain num- |
her of farms and city lo 1, as many as the jj
legislature shall think sufficient, he reserv
ed as an estate, to be let out and improved,
for the purpose of supporting publick j
schools, the clergy, and other publick es- f
tablishments.
As it is impossible that I or my friends in
this kingdom, who are strangers to the lo- l
cal circumstances of America, can imrneuiy
ately fix on a suitable spot or spots bf land, 1
and form a complete plan for the execu
tion of this great work ; I wish to have the [
most ample information on the subject,:
from the friends of religion and humanity in
America. The most eligible method of ob-(
taining that, appears to be, to lay the de-j
sign before the legislatures of those states!
which seem to lay most convenient for the
purpose.
1 have requested Sir James Jay to per
form this office for me, to lay these outlines
of the plan before them, to learn their sen
timents of it, their disposition to encourage
it, and to communicate the result to me.
When one contemplates the revolution
which Providence hath wrought in favour
of the American States, that great work
seems hut a prelude to the completion of.
yet more gracious purposes oflove toman-’
kind.
This idea fills the soul with joy, and raisesi
it to the mot solemn devotion. Yet it isi
not for us frail mortals, to determine on the
councils of the Most High. With humble
submission to the Divine will, let ns do our
duty. Let us endeavour to spread his name
among the heathen : let us endeavour to
obey his divine precepts, and to follow his
gracious example ofbeq’gnity to mankind.
Unite with me then my friends, in this glo
rious cause; you who have seen and felt
the mercy and goodness of the Almighty ;
who have been supported by him in the
days of trial and adversity, and were at last
delivered from bondage, and raised to Lib
erty and Glory. S. HUNTINGDON.
Bath, April 8, 1784.
FROM THE [PHILAD.] REIIGIOUS REMEMBRANCER.
REVIVAL OF RELIGION.
Extract of a letter from a missionary in the state
of New-York, so his correspondent wear Wil
mington,Delaware, dated Kinderhook, Februa
ry 13, 1821.
“ 1 have been for the last eight weeks at
Kinderhook Landing, engaged in attending
to the solemn business of directing souls to
a Saviour. I had, previous to the com-’
mencement of the revival, lectured twice. 1
a week for several weeks to an audience
upon whom God had impressed an awful
solemnity. On one Thursday evening,
about the middle of December, while lec
turing from these words, ‘ Behold 1 stand
at the door and knock,’ &c. ‘ the Spirit of
the Lord came upon us like a rushing
wind,’ and several wept aloud. Notice
was given to any who were anxious, tore
main. About 15 remained, mostly deeply
affected. After conversing and praying
with them, I gave notice of an anxious
meeting the next evening. The room was
filled and 29 gave their names as desirous
to be visited. Oh, my dear sister Anita,
this was indeed a solemn time. Our meet
ings since then have been held five times a
week and very full. At our anxious meet
ings on Monday evenings is has not been
uncommon to see 50 or 60 anxious souls,
and as many somewhat impressed. It ex
ceeds, taking into consideration the people,
and the time, and the means of grace, everv
revival 1 have heard of. The people, for
the most part, are ignorant. Many of
them without Bibles, and living near the
river, and among those beings who have
lived by fishmg, and among those who have J
been the daily associates ofsuch characters.*
Being three miles from the church, thevj
seldom visited it, and except the reading ofl
a sermon or two on the Sabbath, by a pi- I
ous teacher of their school, and the occ; 1
sional semi-monthly visits of Gospel minis- •
ters, they have (generally speaking) had
little religious instruction. Indeed, many
of them cannot read a word. For years,
yes, as long as it has been settled, this
place has been noted for vice. Ido not
know of a single family here who have ever
had an altar for prayer till now, upon
which they have offered their morning anil
evening sacrifice. Now, how changed !—~
About 60, from the grey headed veterem
in sin, to the child of ten years old, are re
joicing in hope. Several blacks whose
minds are quite untutored, share the en
lightening and saving power of God. Pi ay
er meetings are frequent; at which the
father and son, mother and daughter pi;ay.
T. he professeu cardplayer, and the impious
Sabbath-breaker and blasphemer, andi the
moralist are engaged in earnestly recom
mending by their lives and conversation the
religion of the cross. Altars ofpraye r are
erected in many families, and I have just
now heard of a young lady who has turned
chaplain, and commenced the exercines of
family devotion, before her mother, ’broth
ers and sisters. 1 could relate to you many
interesting instances of conversion.—A Mr.
hope in the world, was so impressed with
a sense of his guilt, that he arose in full
meeting, and expressed his determination
to seek Christ. God gave him strength,
and one bitter cold morning, a day or two