Newspaper Page Text
Frotn the Missionary Herald for September.
CHEROKEE MISSION.
Extract! flam the Journal kept at Brainerd.
Nov. 24, 1820. Richard Fields came and
brought us letter* from Creek Path. The
brethren and sisters are all well at that
place and appear to be growing in grace.
Dec. 1. Our millwright, having finished
the saw-mill, left us to return to his family
in Georgia. We would gladly have re
tained him to put up (be grist-mill; but he
thinks his duty calls him away. He is a
precious man, and with reluctance and grief
we part with him.
3. This day Mr. Joba McPhersou was
received to the communion of the church.
He h a white man, who has a Cherokee
family.
Experience of a Cherokee.
The father of the boy who was named
after the Treasurer of the Board, having
spent the Sabbath with us, staid today to
have some further conversation. He ap
pears thoroughly convinced of the truth
and excellency of our most holy religion,
and of the great advantages of civilized
life. He says be sees a very great and
pleasing change among his people, since
the missionaries came : and is sure, from
these good effects, that the whole is from
God. He speaks very feelingly of the de
plorable state he was in before he receiv
ed instruction; and expresses a great de
sire that hi* own children and others
should be trained np in a different wav
from what he ha* been. He often speaks
to bis neighbours of these things and against
their bad conduct. Many of them laugh
- at him, and tell him he cannot know any
thiog about religion, because he cannot un
derstand English. But he does not care
for that. He knows God can understand
him in his own language; and he shall
continue to pray for them.
25. Throngh the mercy of God, we are
permitted to see another Christmas, and a
table spread for our refreshment with such
provisions as our kind and indulgent Father
has provided. One hundred and thirty
three sat down at the first table, and twenty
at the second ; making 153 in the whole.
O that all these dear souls were prepared
to sit down at the marriage supper of the
Lamb.
30. Received hy way of Augusta seven
boxes and one trunk containing articles for
the inision.
Arrival of Mr. Potter and Dr. Butler.
Jan. 10, 1821. This afternoon we were
permitted to welcome, as fellow-labourers
in this field, the Rev. Win. Potter, and Dr.
Elizur Butler, with their wives.
11. Resolved that brother Potter take
charge of the school at Creek Path, and
that brother Butler remain here.
15. Brother Potter left us for Creek
Path, in company with a Cherokee boy
from that place, to make arrangements for
bi removal.
25. God still remembers us in mercy.
This day we received SSO collected bv
Rev. E. Smith, in Frankfort, Ken. and SSO
from the Transylvania Society, Ken. !
Feb. 2. Brother Butler went to the
warehouse yesterday to purchase floor for
the mission. Before he accomplished his 1
business it was dark. He endeavoured to j
return, but found it impracticable, as he
could not see the road himself, and his !
hor-e would not keep it. Finding himself j
lost in a wet and swampy place, where it
was not convenient either to sit or lie on
the ground, he sat on his horse during the
whole night; and this morning, finding the
road some distance from him, returned; J
having been permitted, so soon after his 1
arrival, to witness the loving kindness and !
protecting power of God, in preserving his
children through perils in the wilderness.
5. , Sister Co.'ger was delivered of three 1
children, two daughters and a son. The 1
son scarcely entered on this stage of life, 1
before he was called into eternity.
Resolved that sister Catharine Brown be *
reqoeeted to teach the girls’ school at
Creek Path, till the other teacher goes to !
that place ; and that she he supported as a ‘
missionary while thus employed.
9. Received by way of Angu=fa, 17 *
Jioxes and one tierce, containing articles ‘
or the mission.
16. This day received 11 boxes con
taining articles for the mission.
All these precious goods have arrived 1
safe. From whence? From a far distant
land. We look at them—we recognize 1
the features of our dear fathers and moth- *
ers, brothers and sisters and friends, whom
we had bidden farewell, expecting to see
them no more in this world. We do not
see them, but blessed be the name of onr
God, we see the work of their kind and be
neficent hands ; and say, do onr dear friends
remember us still ? Do they see our tears ?
Do they hear our groans ? Do they bear us
and the dear heathen in their hearts before
God? And what can we do for them? How
can we repay this kindness, this uneiuect- i
ed attention to all our wants? We can do
nothing. We are indigent beggars before
God and men. We fear grieving the Holy
Spirit, through the depravity of our hearts.
We fear erring from the path of duty,
“through the blindness of our minds. We
fear the children of God will grow weary
and impatient;—let their hands hang down,
and leave us to stumble and fall alone, with
this heavy weight of responsibility upon
-us. It was not oiir love or attention that
opened their hearts and unlocked their
treasures. No: it was a zeal for the glory
of God; —a desire to do good;—a love for
immortal souls. As long, then, as God
continues to be that fountain of excellence ;
as long as their hearts glow with benevo
lent and grateful sensations; as long as
heathens can be found on the footstool of
God ; so long will his children remember
and ardently pray for /those whom they
send as heralds of salvation to a benighted
world. Yes, denr pleads, with confidenoe
we cast ourselves at your feet, believing,
knowing, that your sympathetick tears will
not cease to flow, nor your hands be shot
when we cry for help. You will not cease
to pray, that he who took up the frag
-1 meats that nothing should be lost, will ena
* ble us to make the best possible improve
* ment of all the tokens of your remem
brance of us,-—your love to God, and the
’ dear, though beoighted heathen. Them
1 you will always carry io your hearts before
God. But a few years since, not a star
: glimmered in all this dark region. Now,
* more than thirty disciples of Christ are dif
‘ fusing their light, and guiding immortal
souls to Jesus. These dear Cherokee and
’ African converts you will not, you cannot
forget. They are your treasure. They
1 will be your crown of rejoicing in the day
of the Lord Jesus.
26. Mr. Chamberlain returned from
| Creek Path. He and Mr. Potter found the
’ disciples of Christ in that place walking in
’ the fear of God. They administered the
communion, and baptized one Cherokee
1 woman. The other candidates for baptism
J generally appear well.
! March 5. Received 11 boxes of cloth
-1 ing for the mission.
* [The boxes of articles here mentioned, as well
> as those under date of Feb. 9 and 16, and Dec.
1 30, are donations from societies aud individuals
. in Pennsylvania, New Vork, and most of the New
England states.]
FROM THE BOSTON RECORDER.
! Extract of a letter from the Rev. Mr. Bying
ton, Missionary at Elliot, in ansvser to one
‘ enclosed in a box of clothing, furnished by
the Hopkinton Dorcas Society.
Elliot, June 17, 1821.
To Misses M. J. Howe, JY. Fitch, M. C.
Buxklin.
Dear Friends, —Your letter dated Sept.
24th 1820. was received here only a short
time since, together with your kind and
generous donation to this mission. By this
pledge of your love, our heart are re
freshed.
My dear Friend*, let me freely say to
you, the cause is far from appearing less
precious by coming here and visiting these
habitations of want, degradation ami sin. ,
Could you ride through this nation, as I
have been permitted to do—see here .
young", dirty, ragged, naked, ignorant and
perishing children; could you then visit
this place, and here see them healthy,
well clothed and fed, learning how to read,
write and cypher, learning our language
and our customs; could you see how ready i
they are to work for us, how much they do,
and how many more wish to come here ; 1
you would not be sorry, that you had given I
them a little coat, a hat, a blanket, a bed- i
tick, or a pair of shoes. Your hearts
would all burn with joy to see these chi’- <
dren. No higher joy, 1 can freely say, I
have I ever known, than since F have been i
here. In the arrangements of our various 1 1
duties, 18 or 20 little boys are committed ! i
to my care, when out of school. j (
May I now tell you what these boys do? I
At sun rise I blow a whistle, they rise to- ( i
gether, 1 call the school, inquire of them |
about their hats, and if they have washed, j
&c. They then take their axes and go .
into the woods, to clear land—most of our j
timber is oak. These boys work (ill a horn |
blows for breakfast. After breakfast they go!
out again to chop, and after school at night. .
More active and willing boys to work, 1
have rarely seen. If any one is inclined to
bo lazy, 1 send him up to the house, as not ‘
fit to be in our company, and the next time 1
he never fails to work well. At night our i
children sleep ou a blanket, laid upon a",
board or on the floor. We have no hedticks f
or beds for them. The girls we are ob
liged to let sleep much in the same way. ‘
\\ are sorry to do so. It is not the fault
of our friends, that we are obliged to treat i
our children in this way. They send us ,
clothing enough and of some kinds more!
than we want We have a supply of small j
garments. We are in want of hedticks for; 1
our girls and boys. We should be glad of I
sheets, pillow cases, blankets, shoes, hats,
garments for men and women, and let them
all be plain. We do not want a single jinc
garment. Strong aud plain cloatbes, we
choose to wear ourselves, and rt is what we 1
want for our children. Should you send
any thing further to thi* mission, pray send ,
the things we most need, if it should be
convenient for you.
Perhaps you can let other friends in
neighbouring towns know what kind of
clothing to send. Two thirds of our chil
dren went barefoot last winter.
In behalf of our family, 1 subscribe myself
your much obliged friend,
CYRUS BVINGTON.
—~*k)zo:k:ozo** —
From the Middlebury {Ft.) Standard of Sept. 4.
MISSION TO JERUSALEM.
A letter has been recently received, by
a gentleman in this village, froir. the Rev.
Mr. Fiske, one of the missionaries to Jeru
salem, dated Smyrna, May 22, 1821, in
which is stated, that
“ The Greeks are now making a vigor
ous struggle to regain their liberty and in
dependence.—The revolt commenced in
Moldavia and Wallachia. It has now ex
tended to the Morea, and several of the
islands in the Archipelago. The war be
tween the revolters, and their former ru
lers is likely to be of a very bloody charac
ter. It is said, that hitherto, they give no
quarter on either side. What the result
will he, it is not easy to conjecture.
“ These disturbances prevent me from
travelling, and render it necessary, as a
matter of prudence, that I should refrain
from the distribution of books, for the pre
sent. This is exceedingly trying, yet it is i
only such a trial as is to be occasionally *
expected in such a country as this. I am |
consoled with the thought, that God, who
loves the church infinitely better than wxj
do, governs all these events, and tyill over
rule them all for the advancement of his
truths. „ ,
l Mr. Parsons sailed from Cyprus for Jaffa,
t Feb. 7, in good health. I have not heard
i from him since, but expect letters daily. I
• trust he has found full employment for
- tome time past, in the distribution of the
• scriptures and tracts, among the pilgrims,
- who are found at Jerusalem in great nutn
i bers, every year at Easter. There is
i something very pleasing in the thought of
> furnishing these pilgrims with something to
• carry horn* with them better than crosses,
, relicks, beads and trinkets. I hope there
- will he somebody there to carry on this
I work every Easter., By this means our
I books may be sent over all western Asia,
t 1 trust a blessing will be secured on this
r distribution of divine truths, by the prayers
r of our Christian friends. It was alter the
Apostles had 1 continued with one accord
i in prayer and supplication,’ that Peters
■ preaching was so wonderfully blessed,
i Similar prayers might again procure a sim
s ilar blessing, at the season of the year,
> when people from every natioQ go to Je
i rusalem to worship.”
In a postscript, dated 30th May, is the
. following sentence : “ I received letters, a
few days ago, from brother Parsons, dated
March 13. He had then been about a
month at Jerusalem.”
Extract of a Letter from a gentleman in Sa
vannah, Geo. to his friend in New-Haven,
dated August Ith, 1821.
“The revival of Religion which had
commenced before you left this, is progres
sing with a degree of rapidity that was nev
er before known in the southern Slates.
Since February last, one hundred and thir
ty members have joined the Methodist
Church, and several have been added to
the other churches. At our last love feast,
twenty-one joined at once, chiefly young
men and women; three joined in Class last
evening. Notwithstanding our population
is very thin, our meetings a crowded with
serious and attentive hearers. Surely God
is at work among is in SavanDah, as well
as in other parts of the country.”
—
False Tenderness to Children.
An eminent historian, speaking of that
diabolical custom which so long prevailed
amongst the old Carthaginians, of offering
their children to a detestable idol (which
was formed in such a mauner, that an infant
put into its hands, which were stretched
out to receive it, would immediately fall
into a gulf of fire) adds a circumstance,!
which one cannot mention without horrour: j
That the mothers, who, with tbeir own;
hands, presented the little innocents, tlio’t!
it an unfortunate omen that the victim j
should be offered weeping; and, therefore,!
used a great many fond artifices to divert it, 1
that, soothed by the kisses and caresses of
a parent, it might smile in that dreadful mo
ment in which it was to be given up to the
idol. Pardon me, my friends, such is your
concern for the present ease and prosperi
ty of your children, while their souls are
neglected,—a fond solicitude that they may
pass smiling into the hands of the destroyer.
[Dr. Doddridge in kis Sermons on the Relig.
Education of Children, p. 117, 118.
FOR THE MISSIONARY.
Messrs. Editors,
A* your paper appears to be open to the
discussion of every subject which interests
the present prosperity or future felicity of
your readers, allow me to introduce to their
view a subject which, to my mind at least,
seems to involve the moral interests and
character of onr State.
Profane swearing has long been consid
ered in all Christian countries a* an open
violation of the law of God, as clearly re
vealed both in the Old and New Testa
ments. On this account, no doubt, it has
been prohibited, as far as I can learn, by
the civil law of every country in which
Christianity has been professed as the re
ligion of the land. It is expressly forbid
den in a law of this State, enacted in 1786.
Yet every man who mingles much with
society beyond the limits of his own family
circle, must know that this law is very lit
tle, if at all, regarded by any of those who
are disposed to indulge in profanity. Many
persons who are impressed with a suitable
reverence for the law of God, are exposed
to have their feelings wounded severely
by this unbecoming and unprofitable prac
tice, whenever they go abroad on business
of indispensable necessity. They also fear,
and justly too, to allow their sons during
non-age to visit assemblies of a lawful
nature, lest they should be injured by the
contagion of an example so disgusting, dis
graceful and pernicious. Too often are
they mortified to hear execrations and pro
fane expressions escape from the lips of
those who are legally appointed toee that
the laws are respected and obeyed. Mag
istrates, from theirsolemn and honourable
office, are designed, as well as in duty bound
to be, “ a terror to evil-doers but this
useful and important purpose can never be 1
answered by a civil officer who openly and
frequently, if wet habitually, violates the
law himself.
The moral character of Georgia has suf
fered much in other states on account of
> the frequency of the practice of profane
! swearing, noticed by travellers who obser
ved and have reported the connivance with
which it is tolerated. Now, I am sure
there are many serious and pious charac
ters in Georgia, who, O’ ool the best princi
66
, | pies, disapprove, detest, and ulslaiu from
i this criminal and unnatural vice. All real
* ly considerate and judicious citizens are
[ sensible of its pernicious effects, and lament
its prevalence. Many hav# asked, “ Why
- is there not a law to prevent and suppress
s it ?” The reply has often been made, that
* “ There is a law against it, and a penalty
* annexed to its violation.” It is then asked,
> “Why i9 not the law enforced?” The an
* swer is, “ Because there is no method pre
scribed by which it can be enforced.
j There is no way pointed out by which the
i fine annexed can be recovered; nor any
: purpose to which it shall be appropriated.”
I The consequence, therefore, is that there
is no existing efficient law on the subject in
this state at present, except when a man
swears profanely in the presence and in
contempt of a civil officer acting in a judi
cial capacity. The law which now exists
on the subject, is in every other case, a
mere brutum fuhnen, a vox et preterea nihil;
mere words or sound, and nothing else.
Believing firmly that “ these things ought
not so to be”—that a state as respectable
as Georgia is and might be in every other
respect, should not .be without an efficient
law on this subject, and that morality is es
sential to the credit and happiness of civil
society, I have felt a 9trong desire to see
this degrading vice discountenanced and
Suppressed. I have, therefore deemed it
a duty, through the medium of your paper,
to bring this subject before the publick,
and invite our future legislators to attend
to it with that degree of seriousness which
its importance justly merits.
Each member elect of the ensuing Legis
lature, is modestly requested to examine
whether any law does now exist in the Civil
or Penal Code of our State, of sufficient ef
ficacy to prohibit or punish the crime of
Profane Swearing. If such a law exist at
present, several respectable Jurists disclaim i
their knowledge of it. If such a law do j
not exist, it is certainly a defect which re- ’
quires a speedy remedy. Such a law, it is ’
! believed, exits in every other state in the
Union. If its existence be considered as
expedient and necessary to the publick:
good in them, why should this state be with- i
out one ?
This is no party question. The author
of these suggestions belongs to no party but
the community. He earnestly hopes that
some member of the Legislature, during
its approaching session, will have sufficient;
zeal and confidence in the cause of virtue
and morality, to bring the subject before ,
the collected political wisdom of the State, j
in order more effectually to secure the mo
ral character and interests of the Common
wealth. A CITIZEN.
THE MISSIONARY.
MOUNT ZION, MONDAY, OCTOBER 1.
A great diversity of sentiment stl'l exists in ‘
the Christian world respecting the utility of mis
sions to the heathen. While many are too igno
rant of the instructive page which the present!
period of the Church exhibits, in order to be ade- j
quate judges on this subject, still greater numbers
having imbibed prejudices against the Christian
system, are ready to condemn without examina
tion every.enterprise which has for its object the I
general diffusion of the Gospel. Thus the want
of information in some and of piety in others, has
arrayed a formidable band in hostility to the great
plans for evaßgelizing the nations, which distin
guish the present age of the world. But this op
position cannot shake the faith, or extinguish the
seal of enlightened and established Christians.
While they pity the ignorance and prejudice of
those who content against the purposes of Heav
en and the renovation of the world, they confide
in the sure pledges which they have received,
that their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.
It is not our intention, in this place, to enter
the wide field of controversy between the Chris
tian and the infidel. Most of the important
points in dispute in relation to their respective
and conflicting systems, have long since, in our
estimation, been settled by facts and principles
which can never be shaken. By the prosecution
of this controversy a sensible effect has certainly
been produced upon society at large. If infidels
have not been convinced and brought to bow to
the supremacy of Christian truth, they have at
least been silenced, and are now compelled from
respect to publick opinion, to entertain in secret
those principles which they once proclaimed upon
the house-top.
But taking it for granted, as we have a right to
do in the present case, that the Bible contains a
revelation from Heaven, and that this revelation
was given for the instruction and benefit of man,
it will be an easy matter to prove, that the cause
i missions rests upon a solid basis. Every thing
which the Christian publick have done for the in
sfruction and salvation of the various tribes and
nations of the earth—and the still more enlarged
! plana of beneficence which are now projected,
and which are destined to be the objects of vig
. orous prosecution and of ultimate accomplish
* ment, are not only authorized, but commanded
by the sacred volume.
The promises of the Bible, that the Gospel of
! Christ shall be universally published and believed,
are explicit and abundant. These promises are
1 identified with the truth of the Scriptures. If the
Bible be an inspired volume, then Christ must
■ triumph ; and tbo most barbarous nations must
acknowledge hi* power, and feel his grace. In
confirmation of tfiese remarks, we might easily
multiply quotations from the oracles of truth.
Most of the prophecies both of the Oldjjnd New
Tesfamertls point to this grand consolation—
the victories of Christ over a subjugated world.
He came into the world so be a light to the Geu
tiles, and salvation to the house of Israelall na
tions are purchase and he is to reign till
all enemies ore put under his feet.
The command to propagate the Gospel, is not
less explicit than the promise. Upon the church
of the present age, rests the solemn injunction to
cause the Gospel to he published to every crea
ture ; and the day of reckoning will come when
the professors of religion must render an account
for this talent entrusted to their care.
But the facts which are every day transpiring
in the world, ought to seal the lips of those who
have heretofore condemned the missionary sys
tem. It is only to read the pages of any religious
publication, to be convinced, that Missions are
attended by the smile of Heaven. If the great
scheme for converting the nations of the earth to
Christ, might once appear preposterous, it ht
now received the sanction of experience;
Enough has already been effected to animate our
hopes and silence our unbelief. Let those who
pronounce the attempt to evangelize the heathen
a vain attempt, read the letter of the Rev. Mr.
Ward, printed in the last number of our paper.
They may possibly find information there which
will enlighten the head, if it do not affect the
heart, by the Baptist Mission in India, as this
letter informs us, more than a thousand have been
admitted to the Church, and more than six hun
dred of these were formerly idolaters or Mahome
tans. And surely it is an encouraging fact in
relation to this Mission, that about fifty of these
Asiaticks and heathen converts are now employ
! ed in various descriptions of missionary labour.
From other missions, the intelligence is notless
encouraging. A few years more, and not. a
tongue will move against the sacred cause of nit
sions. Infidelity, if infidelity exist in the world,
shall be silenced, and the devout multitudes
which throng the temples of the living God, shall
cry with exalted rapture, “Thy kingdom come.”
It seems that our remarks, a few weeks since,
on “ Theatrical Exhibitions,” have made no “mail
! stir among the admirers of these little entertain
; merits. This fact we have learned from various
’ sources. Though we have been threatened with
• “ an able and learned” answer, yet it would seem,
that those who feel themselves injured by these
strictures, intend to rest contented with the dig
nifed revenge of writing insulting letters and
! charging us with the postage. As it is a maxim
• with us to give every one his due, we must say, iu
| justice to the authors of these anonymous letters,
that in this business they have discovered some
genius —as they have done the very best thing
> they could perform. We have received from a
certain quarter, one letter of a different character,
from which we publish a few extracts.
t
! “ To.any one, who has it so completely in his
power to place himself in a neutral position be
tween the friends and enemies’ to religious and
! moral reformation, as I have, it is really not a lit-
I tie amusing to witness the contrariety of senti
ment upon the subject of your late editorial ob
servations concerning theatrical exhibitions. By
having it in my power to assume an indifferent
station, I do not mean to be understood that 1 feel
careless and supine upou the occasion. Oil the
contrary, I am proud to assert, that I am alive to
every principle and sentiment urged by you in
favour of a publick moral reformation. Indeed,
6ir,’ it is but too perceptible, that our moral at
mosphere has become so deeply impregnated
with corrupt and vicious matter, as to portend the
most baleful consequences. We are rushing with
the most frantick precipitancy to the precipice of
destruction, and if a faithful and friendly monitor
shall, in the most sy mpathetick manner, attempt
j to caution us against the certain ruin into which
| we are about to plunge ; and importune us to con
sider our own safety and happiness by wisely re
tracing our steps ; we treat him with either indif
ference, contempt or contumely. But those who
are influenced by the dictates of virtue, wisdom
and prudence, will, with fortitude, breast the ctK
rupt torrent of opposition, and admire the bener
olent temerity of that spirit, who, fearless of con
sequences, proclaims in the face of noon, the
sickening and desolating results of corruption aud
immorality. You need not be surprised when 1
tell you, that I have of late repeatedly heard it
asserted, that it is descending from the dignity of
a Divine, to interfere with such matters, and that
any one who will do it must expect to incur the
censure and odium of society. I apprehend that
you will be disposed to admire the sapience of such
beardless and brainless philosophers, as little as i
do. Their wisdom is the perfection of folly, and
their prudence the height of simplicity. They
have no talent for persuading or convincing any
but those, who, like themselves, are predisposed
to be persuaded and convinced by arguments
founded in fallacy and sophism. They say that
your remarks shall be replied to in an able .nd
learned manner. But let them spend their strength
and dart their envenomed shafts—sheltered and
covered as you are by the impenetrable bulwark
of Religion and Morals, you may laugh at their as
saults, and smile in conscious safety, while theji
alternately rage and despair under the disap*
pointment they experience.”
The remarks on the subject of Profane Swear
ing, to be found in this paper, came to us bearing
the Athens post-mark. The subject is important,
and we hope our readers will derive benefit from
their perusal. To our obliging correspondent we
return our thanks, with the assurance, that we
shall ever be happy to hear from him on any sub
ject connected with the morals and happiness of
society.
The Presbytery of .Harmony will meet at Au
gusta, on Friday, the 2d day of November next.
The Synod of South Carolina will meet at ’Wash
ington, (Geo.) on Wednesday, the 7th of the
same month.
’ I
Notice.
ALL persons are herebv cautioned against tra
ding for a NOTE ‘OF FMND given by
• myself and Robert Mitchel to'the administrators
of the estate of Jonathan Davis, deceased, and
. made payable to them on or about the 25th of
December next, for the sum of one hundred and
, thirty dollars, or thereabouts, as the said note
. was given for the hire of a negro fellow who has
recently been tuken from my service by virtue of
an execution aguinst said administrators.
S. D. REID.
:{ Sept. 1,1*21, 2wlS
