Newspaper Page Text
(7 or 8 arks came and conducted with the
greatest propriety. The next evening
was spent in the same way. Mr. Byington
preached to them in a very solemn manner.
We could not but hope some good might be
done. But, as we were soon separated,
what the result was, 1 know not. At the
day of judgment, O may we recogoize these
among God's chosen.
Not long after this, we landed in another
group of boats. The brethren divided,
and visited all the boats, in order to have
religious conversation with the crews, and
invite them to come and attend an evening
lecture with us. They, also, came on this,
and a succeeding evening.
Out of this grew another very interesting
event. A man, who lived at Illechen, a
small village on the west bank of the Mis
sissippi, coming on board one of these boats,
was informed of our object. He immedi
ately came to us, and with tears gushing
from his eves, intreated us to land at the
village, and have a meeting at his house.
He said, some, who have grown to mature
age, never heard a sermon. We thought
such a Macedonian call as this must be at
tended to. After landing, we dispersed
ourselves among the inhabitants, and con
versed with the people individually, recom
mending to them the religion of Him, who
came to seek and to save that which was
lost. In the evening Mr. B. preached, and
the other brethren exhorted. The people
promised us, they would meet every Sab
bath and read the Scriptures. They all
appeared solemn, and seemed much inter
ested ; particularly a young man about my
age, who is blind. He was much affected ;
and the next morning, while it was yet
dark, he, with several others, came to the
ark to hear more of these things, and unite
with os in prayer before our departure.
No one in whose heart are found any feel
ings of compassion, could have witnessed
these scenes, and not have his bowels yearn
towards these people.—We often visited
families scattered on the west bank of the
Mississippi, in order to converse with them.
On the eastern bank are no inhabitants for
several hundred miles.
Arrived at the long wished for Yazoo, on
the 27th of January. T<he sun was about
half an hour high and shone as pleasant as
in May. The robin and other songsters of
the forest filled the air with the melody of
their notes. I trust our hearts felt disposed
to sing a song of thanksgiving to Him, who
had graciously protected us amid seen and
unseen dangers. [Herald.
Under the date of July 23d, Mr. Kings
bury writes, that he had just received a
very satisfactory letter from the Secretary
of war. The government allows an addi
tional sum of a thousand dollars towards the
expenses of the buildings at Elliot. The
plan of the'buildings at May hew is also ap
proved, and a stipulated sum is allowed to
wards erecting them.
Col. M'Kenny had forwarded, by direc
tion of the Secretary of War, a copy ofi
“ No Fiction,” to be presented to the chil-’
dren of each school, as a token of the good
will which the government cherishe9 for
their welfare. Col. M’Kenny requestedj
that a suitable time might he selected for i
reading the work by portions to the chil-;
dren, and that the effect might be observed j
and reported to him.
The following incident will show in what j
light the school at Elliot is viewed by the
natives. A half breed Choctaw, whose’
name is M’Curtin, had five children ati
school, and sent a sixth. The school was :
then full, and the sixth could not be receiv- 1
ed. The missionaries had repeatedly been
obliged to decline receiving children. On :
the return of his child, the father fell into a
passion, sent for his other five children, and
took them from the school. Not long af
terwards, the father being absent, an uncle
of the children, called Captain Cole, hear
ing that Mr. Kingsbury was at Elliot, re
paired thither with a petition that the chil
dren might be received again. It is a cus
tom of the Choctaw®, that an uncle is a sort
of guardian to children, even during the
life of the father.
The following is a copy of Captain Cole’s
petition:
A Le-ate-up-in-Logue, June G, 1821.
Friend and brother—l reflect that my
nephews and nieces have been taken from
your care, and the loss of education gives
me a great dissatisfaction of mind. I wish
to return the boys to your care again.
Your sanction to my request will give me
much pleasure. The girls, I leave that to
your own breast, whether you wish to call
them to your care once more.
When they were taken from you, it gave
me dissatisfaction of mind—but I gave way
to the faMier as I thought it my duty.
Should you he willing to take them, you
will please to answer me bv the first oppor
tunity, and you will much ohlige
Your Friend and Brother,
ROBERT COLE.
We, the undersigned, humbly request
that Mr. Kingsbury should sanction Captain
Cole’s request, and receive his nephews in
the school again, as we feel sorry for his
nephews—the loss of their education,
which appears much to affect him.
[Signed Capt. Lf.vi Perrv, and eight In
dian names with their Marks.]
What can more clearly show the value
which the native® set on education, than the
fact, that nine chief* of a large district,
should unite in a humble request, that chil
dren, who had been rashly taken away,
might be restored again to the school ?
The missionaries agreed to receive the
children again; but they had not returned
at the last intelligence. Capt. Cole is the
chief speaker of the district in which he
resides, and may succeed Puck-sha-nub
bee, in the government bf that district. [lb.
The avaricious have no enjoyment of what
they retain; the liberal enjoy even what they
give away.
PALESTINE MISSION.
A letter has been received by the Trea
surer, from Mr. Fisk, dated Smyrna, July
6th, in which the writer states, that he
spends his time in the family of the Messrs.
Vanlenneps, in study and teaching their
children. The plague had made its ap
pearance in Smyrna, and had excited con
siderable alarm. Mr. F. gives a brief ac
count of the massacres which took place in
Smyrna, about the middle of June. The
number of Greeks murdered was estimated
at from 500 to 1500.
The last accounts which Mr. Fisk bad re
ceived from Mr. Parson*, was dated at Sa
mos, June 22d. Mr. Parsons was daily ex
pected at Smyrna. [/A.
From the Woodslotk Ft. Monitor.
Extract of a Letter from Mr. Moody Hall to a
correspondent in this town, dated, Taloney,
Cherokee Nation, Oct. 8. 1821.
The astonishing revivals of religion in
various parts of our land are calculated to
fill the mind of the Christian with anima
ting hopes. Events, with prophecies, csn
spire to favour the expectation, that the
time is not very far distant, when all w\ll
unite in the service of the King of ZioL
Who that reflects on the mighty transac
tions of the present day, can be inactive, ot
unmoved ? None but he whose portion is in;
this world. Christians will awake ; they
must come forward to the help of the Lord
against the mighty. “By their fruits ye
shall know them.”
It is now about seventeen months since I
opened a sthool here for the instruction of
the dear children of this immediate neigh
bourhood. More than 25 have, on an ave
rage, regularly attended. All, except two,
can read a chapter in the Testament with
some ease, and nearly all write a tolerable
hand. We have made it our first object to
acquaint our dear pupils with the word of
God, and to this end, have used every ex
ertion to qualify them to read it for them
selves, and to excite in them a love for this
sacred employment. I have had oonside
rable experience in teaching school, and I
can truly ay, 1 have never seen the same
number of children make heller improve
ment. Previous to the commencement of
this school, most of my scholars were per
fectly rude and uncultivated : and when 1
consider, that they now compose a well or
ganized school, cheerfully submit to whole
some regulations, and are eager in the pur
suit of useful knowledge, I cannot help
exclaiming, “ It is the Lord's doing.”
“ I have held meetings regularly on the
babbath, and in general a goodly number
have attended. I have also a Sabbath
school for the poor blacks, to which ten
belong—some of them can read the word
of truth. All my scholars are required to
attend meeting, and are catechised in the
presence of the whole congregation. In
this way, all who attend meeting, receive
some instruction in the first principles of our
j holy religion. Oftentimes, a great degree
! of solemnity has pervaded the whole as
sembly, and some have appeared deeply
affected; but, my dear brother, there are •
I nnnP thus ICP f tiD rorlcnn ac iko aul>jooto xj f
j redeeming grace in this particulai region.
I trust, however, I have not wholly labour
ed in vain. There is a great improvement
in the outward conduct of most of the peo
ple around. The Sabbath is considerably
respected, drunkenness and other vices are
less prevalent. A foundation is laid, and,
we trust, the dear Saviour will here, in his
own good time, have a seed to serve him.
At Brainerd a few dear Cherokees have
recently been received as candidates for
holy baptism. At Spring-place, 30 miles
hence, where the Uui;ed Brethren have a
missionary establishment, a good work is
going on. Several of the most influential
in the nation have been added to that
church within a year. This nation is, in
deed, highly favoured. There are Seven
missionary stations in it, viz. three under
the patronage of our Society, two of the
United Brethren, and two of the Baptists.
The Methodists have a preaching station
also, and have gathered a church of ten or
twelve members this summer.”
‘•
GVPSIES.
Two gentlemen were lately appointed
by the London Home Missionary Society,
to take a tour through the kingdom for the
purpose of collecting information respect
ing this extraordinary race of beings. It
appears they are continually strolling in
companies through the country, resorting
to fairs and wakes, where they go as tink
ers, fiddlers and horse dealers ; encamping
away from the high road for fear of the
magistracy, who seldom permit them to
stop more than one night in a place.
When the deputation met with any of
the gypsies, they were received with a
great degree of shyness ; and their ques
tions were answered with a denial that they
were gypsies or aa apology for their con
duct; from which it seemed probable that
they apprehended the object of the inqui
ries was to lead to some measures of a mag
isterial kind. When once their confidence
was gained, they were communicative, and
received the cards with great thankfulness.
Most of the children were unable to read,
and tbeir parents lamenteJ their ignorance.
The deputation met with one woman in
the 102d year of her age, and another was
at hand aged 112; with the former they
held some conversation ; and it was affect
ing to observe the attachment of the poor
old creature to the sins and follies of her
usual mode of life.
They found a general prejudice against
the gypsies ntherever they went; and they
i were accused of living by plunder. How
, ever they could not meet with one instance
in which their accusers could afford the
most remote evidence of the truth of
the charge. It seems to be laid at tbeir
door, by the ignorant and prejudiced, as
witchcraft was formerly at that of any poor
crabbed old woman whose face and form
were of a peculiar cast, and whose nose
and chin happened unfortunately to meet.
Os their general moral demeanour the
deputation were furnished with some infor
mation ; they learnt that they usually mar
ried—that some of the females give them
selves up to acts of licentiousness, but it does
not appear to be their common practice ;
and when the camps are near a parish
church,they sometimes attend it on Sunday.
They seem to have no notion of attending a
dissenting place of worship ; and if they
have any prejudices, they are evidently in
favour of the established church.
The deputation are of opinion that they
must principally live through the means ot
fortune telling: many credulous persons
beiog ready to listen to the women, and
others less credulous frequently having
their fortunes told by way of trolick. The
men also gain something by the employ
ment above mentioned. Avery conside
rable means of support among many is beg
ging. The disputed fact of their having a
language of their own has also been set at
rest, to the satisfaction of the deputation.—
This they will in general deny ; and they
avoid speaking their language before stran
gers ; the reason of which is, that they ap
prehend it may excite suspicion that some
thing of an unlawful kind is going on among
them. The deputation found on inquiry
that they have a language peculiar to them
selves, and is the same as spoken by the
other gypsies in other parts of the world,
and bears a strong atfiuity with that of Hin
doostan. The language must, however,
be greatly degenerated after the lapse of
several ceoturies, during which period it
does not appear to have beeu communica
ted to paper, hut has only been transmitted
orally from generation to generation.
The deputation met with two invincible
arguments io favour of the efforts employ
ed for the religious benefit of the gypsies.
These were two converted gypsies. These
people are a striking proof of the power of
genuine religion in bettering the condition
of mankind, as well as changing the heart.
They travel now in their own caravan, ac
quire a decent competency by their own
industry, and with a large family of children
look neat ami cleanly, not to say respecta
ble. They no longer sleep under hedges;
and being respected in their circuit, the
barns are open for their accommodation
wherever they go. They had no reserve;
but on learning the object of the deputa
tion, Heartily rejoiced in their efforts, and
gave them whatever information they
could aflord.
American Board of Commissioners for For
eign Missions.
The twelfth annual meeting of this
Board was held in Springfield, Ms. at Ma
son’s Hall, Sept. 19th and 20ih, 1821.
A sermon was preached on the occasion
by the Rev. Dr. Morse, from Ps. ii. 8. Ask
me,and I shall give thee the heathen for thy in
heritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth
for thy possession.
The usual business of tbe. .Board was
Transacted, and the Following gentlemen
elected officers for the ensuing year:
The Hon. John Treadwell, L.L.D. Presdt.
The Rev. Joseph Lyman, D.D. V. Pres.
The Hon. Wm. Reed, ‘j .
The Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D. |
Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Samuel Hubbard, Esq. and j g
The Rev. Warren Fay, J
Jeremiah Evarts, Esq. Sec’y. and Treas
urer, and Ashur Adams, Esq. Auditor.
A resolution was passed to erect a suita
able monument at Brainerd, as a tribute of
respect to the memory of the late Dr.
Worcester.
NEW RELIGIOUS PAPER.
D. Heartt, editor of the Hillsborough
Recorder, proposes publishing in Hillsbo
rough, N. C. a religious paper, to be enti
tled the North Carolina Evangelical Intelli
gencer,—“ in which will be given the most
important information respecting the spread
of the Gospel, and the consequent meliora
tion of the condition of tbe human family,
with such other intelligence as may be in
teresting to the Christian reader—occas
ionally enlivened with religious and moral
essays, and lighter articles, tending to pro
mote Christian charity and heavenly mind
edness.”
It will be published once a week, and
contain eight quarto pages, neatly printed
on good paper ; and a liberal patronage
will doubtless render it a valuable acquisi
tion to the moral and religious community.
The first number will issue on the first Sat
urday in January next, if the encourage
ment beiufficient to warrant it.
W. Carolinian.
PULPIT ELOQUENCE.
Extract from “ Two Discourses, containing the
History of the Old North, and New Brick
Churches, united as the Second Church in
Boston, delivered May 20, 1821, at the com
pletion of a Century from the Dedication of the
present meeting house in Middle street.” By
Henry Ware, Minister of the Second Church.
The occasion reminds us what a chang
ing world we live in. This house has
stood for a hundred years: and who is
there among you that saw it in its glory ?
Every one of the crowd that thronged it
then has long since departed to his eternal
home. Five successive ministers have la
boured here, and gone to their account.
Even in the memory of many present, ev
ery seat has changed its occupant. You
seek the friends whom you once met here,
and they are gone. Time has more than
once swept clean these seats; and how soon
will it be done again ? The celebration of
a day like this, no man can hope to see
twice. When Xerxes looked upon his im
mense army, and thought that in a hundred
years not one of that multitude would be
living, he was overcome by the reflection
and wept aloud. 1 woqld not have you
weep, brethren, as the same thought passes
youi mind in looking around you now j for
the Christian, in his church, should regard
time and death with other views, than the
heathen at his army’s bead ; hut I would to
God you would pause and consider. The
time is short. A century ! What is a cen
tury ? Ask the man of eighty, who lias al
most seen that term, and he will tell you it
is as yesterday, when it is past ; it is but as
a day and a iiight; and he that has surviv
ed it, does not feel that be has lived longer
than when he had lived but twenty years.
Yet in that space what changes occur ?
The strong men and women, and the very
children of this assembly, shall in that time
be no more numbered among the living ;
the youngest child here—yea, the very in
fant that we have this day offered in bap
tism, shall have witnessed all the fortunes
of life, and perhaps worn a grey head for
years, and perchance growu weary of a
helpless and burdensome old age, and then
slumbered for years in the mighty congre
gation of the dead, before a century shall
close. In a century, cities flourish and de
cay ; the boundaries of nations are broken
up, and the earth changes all its inhabitants
again and again. Observe what has taken
place just around you, during that which
has now past. Instead of eleven churches
in this town, you find twenty-eight, and all
have been built or rebuilt within that
time excepting two. You find flourish
ing city instead of a small town, a sovereign
state for a dependant colony ; a mighty na
tion for a few scattered provinces. And
who can number the changes in the old
eastern world ; the improvements that
have carried the sciences and arts to an un
equalled perfection, and the revolutions
that have removed again and again the
land-marks of an empire, and elevated the
low and depressed the high among the na
tions, like the heaving of the earth in the
throes of an earthquake ! All this has been,
and yet what is a century ? He that should
have lived through all, and then looked on
the world in its present state, would almost
feel as if the whole had been effected in a
moment by the wand of enchantment. The
time has fled like a dream. What then
will time be to those, who know, as we do,
that we have probably a small part of such
period to live ? O that we might learn so
to number our days as to apply our hearts
unto wisdom !
Finally, brethren, permit me to congrat
ulate you on the prosperous condition in
which this day finds you. These walls
have stood an hundred years, and they still
stand firm. Whilst you have seen most of
jour sister churches compelled to destroy
(he ancient templps in which they and their
fathers had worshipped, lest the}’ should
fall upon them in ruins, and burdened with
the costly labour of rearing other places of
worship, you have the privilege of still as
sembling in this house of your ancestors,
consecrated by age, and by the devout
breathings of great and pious men of the
times that are gone by ; where the word
of life has been preached to four successive
.jfcnroiniivuo , whore Wtci J spot is httlloW*
ed as your appropriate religious home ; and
the ground on which you stand is holy.—
There is something solemnly pleasing in
the thought that the walls which are echo
ing back the voice of your preacher and the
songs of your praise, have resounded with
those of venerable men, whose praise is in
all the churches,that have long been sleep
ing in the dust, & are strangers to all themes
but those of religion. And there is something
delightful in the hope that our children and
children’s children shall sit where we have
been sitting,and seek the inspiration of Hea
ven on tbe same spot where we have found
it. This hope, my friends, is yours. God, it
is true, may commission his elements, and
they shall shake this house to its founda
tion at once. The earthquake and storm
have hitherto assailed it in vain, and it has
thrice been rescued from devouring flames.
Another visitation may destroy it without
remedy. But in the ordinary course of
Providence it may see this day return, and
listen to the devout thanksgivings of those
who shall assemble here, without one of us
amongst them, to celebrate the mercy of
Him, who in the midst of change and death,
is forever the same. And when that day
shall come, oh, may it find our children
wiser and purer and worthier than we. If
God hath any more light to break forth
from his word, may it be theirs to see it,and
rejoice in it,as we doubt not the spirits of the
good men that came up here to dedicate
this house are rejoicing in the greater light
which God has poured upon us. May that
day find all the darkness of errour and super
stition which clouds our faith removed, and
all the sins which defile our lives vanished,
and as many surrounding the table of their
Lord, as worship at the altar of their God.
Happy they, that shall see that day !
Thrice happy they that shall walk in that
light! Yea, happy even these venerable
walls, that shall have witnessed the gather
ing knowledge and growing virtue of many
generations, and shall then hear prayers of
warmer devotion, and the outpouring of
hearts lifted nearer to heaveD, and shall
learn something of that purer and more per
fect worship,which is to be the employment
and glory of the temple above ! In that
temple there shall be no change of day and
night, and no revolution of time ; a thousand
years shall be but as one uninterrupted
day ; and no returning century shall warn
us that life is drawing nearer to its close ;
(for that life shall have no close. In that
j glorious temple, in that unchanging day,
may it be our happiness to meet those ven
erable saints, who have crowded these
courts before us, and the multitude of our
posterity, who shall receive the beginning
of that life on this spot, where their fathers
worshipped. This is our heart’s desire and
prayer, that the power of the Gospel may
always be exhibited here in preparing men
for salvation.
INTERESTING ANECDOTE.
From the Winchester Republican.
It is frequently remarked that the most
laudable deeds are achieved in the shades
of retirement; and to its truth history tes
tifies in every page. An act of heroism or
philanthropy, performed in solitude, where
no undue feelings can affect the mind, or
bias the character, is worth, to the eve of
an impartial observer, whole volumes pf
exploits displayed before the gaze of a stu
pid and admiring multitude. It is not long
since a gentleman was travelling in one of
the counties of this state, and about the close
of the day stopped at a publick house to ob
tain refreshment and spend the night. He
had been there but a short time, before an
old man alighted from his gig, with the ap
parent intention of becoming a fellow guest
with him at the same house. As the old
man drove up, he observed that both the
shafts of his gig were broken, and that they
were held together by withes formed from
the bark of a hickory sapling. Our travel
ler observed further, that he was plainly
clad, that his knee-buckles were loosened,
and that something like negligence perva
ded his dress. Conceiving him to be
of the honest yeomanry of our land, the
courtesies of strangers passed between
them, and they entered the tavern. It
was about the same time that an addition of
three or four young gentlemen was made
to their number—most, if not all of them,
of the legal profession. As soon as they
became conveniently accommodated, the
conversation was turned by one of the lat
ter upon an eloquent harangue which had
that day been displayed at the bar. It was
replied by the other, that he had witnessed
the same day a degree of eloquence, no
doubt equal, but that it was from the pulpit.
Something like a sarcastick rejoinder was
made to the eloquence of the pulpit; and a
warm and able altercation ensued, in which
the merits of the Christian religion became
the sub ject of discussion. From six o’clock
until eleven, the young champions wielded
the sword of argument, adducing with inge
nuity and ability every thing that could Ikt
said pro and con. During this protracted
period the old gentleman listened with all
the meekness and modesty of a child, as if
he was adding new information to the stores
of his own mind; or perhaps he was ob
serving with philosophick eye the faculties
of the youthful mind, and how new ener
gies are involved by repeated action ; or
perhaps, with patriotick emotion, he was
reflecting upon the future destinies of his
country, and on the rising generation, upon
whom those destinies must devolve; or
most probably, with a sentiment of moral
and religious feeling, he was collecting an
argument which (chnracteristick of him
self) no art would he u able to elude, and
no force resist ” Our traveller remained
a spectator, and took no part in what was
said.
At last, one of the young men, remarking
that it was impossible to combat with long
and established prejudices, wheeled around
and with some familiarity exclaimed, “Well,
my old gentleman, what think you of these
things?” If, said the traveller, a streak of
vivid lightning had at that moment crossed
the room, their amazement could not have
been greater than it was with what follow
ed. The most eloquent and unanswerable
appeal was made for nearly an hour by the
old gentleman;, that he had ever heard or
read. So perfect was his recollection, that
every argument urged against tbe Chris
tian religion was met in the order in which
it was advanced. Hume’s sophistry on the
subject of miracles, was, if possible, more
perfectly answered than it had already
been done by Campbell. And in the whole
lecture there was so much simplicity and
energy, pathos and sublimity, that not ano
ther word was uttered. An attempt to de
scribe it said the traveller, would be an at
tempt to paint the sunbeams. It was now a
matter of curiosity and inquiry who the o\d
gentleman was. The traveller concluded*
it was the preacher, from whom the pulpit
eloquence had been heard—But no, it was
the Chief Justice of the United States!
“ We may die,” says the celebrated Wes
ley, “ without the knowledge of many
truths, and yet be carried into Abraham's
bosom ; but if we die without love, what
will knowledge avail? Just as much as it
avails the devil and his angels! I will not
quarrel with you about any opinion: only
see that your heart be right towards God;
that you know and love the Lord Jesus
Christ; that you love your neighbour, and
walk qs your master walked, and I desire
no more, iam sick of opinions: I am
weary to hear them : my soul loathes this
frothy food. Give me solid-and substantial .
religion; give me an humble,gentle loverdj
of God and man; a man full of mercy and
good fruits, without partiality and without
hypocrisy; a map laying himself out in the
work of faith, the patience of hope, the
labour of love. Let my soul be with these
Christians wheresover they are, and what
soever opinion they are of. ‘ Whosoever
thus doth the will of my Father which is in
heaven, she same is my brother, and sister,
and mother.’ ”
A gentleman of our acquaintance being
in Tennessee soon after the famous report
of Mr. Lacock of the Senate, in regard to
the occupation of the Floridas, called upon
Gen. Jackson. In the course of the visit
the conversation turned upon the Report.
The General became at last very loud and
vehement, on the injustice that had been
done him ; when the door opened, and Mrs.
Jackson, a lady of exemplary piety, put her
head into the room. “ Don’t swear so,
Mr. Jackson,” said she. The General im
mediately became calm, and conversed
very dispassionately during the remainder
of the interview.
Prov. pap