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future welftre of ourselves and our cbil-
Jean cpA Tiidrcfl VQU !
Brother,—We informed you that our
brothersnf the same language, on the Ton
awonta Reservation have sent to us to ask
our adi Ice respecting a school master.
Brokers, —Two years since, this spring,
our brothers of Tonawoata, and on all the
othey Seneca Reservations who were in fa
vour of the Gospel, agreed with us, to bc
of one mind, in following after the gospel
and civilization, and to receive, as far as
might be, assistance from Christians of one
denomination. • •
Brothers—Our Tonawonta brethren have
been for some time past anxious to receive
a schoolmaster. They thought to have
put up a bouse last spring for a school; but
being opposed by the pagans, they desisted
At the general council this fall at our tire
place, after much severe debating, it was
solemnly agreed,in full council, in preserce
of the agent, Capt. Parish, that each party
should pursue unmolested, their own way.
Now,our brethrenat Tonawonta being free,
and anxious to receive a teacher among
them, such as may be for the good of them
selves and all the Senecas, have sent to us
for advice. The Christiau people of the
Baptist denomination have, for some time
past, offered to give them instruction on
the Sabbath, anJ they proposed to send
them a schoolmaster; but, for want of light,
they are ignorant what course to take ;
they do not wish to do that which may not
be right, and for the good of all the Seaecas.
Our voice is one. We dare not give them
advice that may not be for the good of all
the Senecas, and their children hereafter.
Brothers—We dare not, (when we re
flect on our agreement two years ago) ad
vise them to do what may perhaps divide us
and our children hereafter in seeking the
good way. We need your advice in this
matter—we earnestly intreat it, and this is
the object of onr present talk to yon. Now
we have thought that our good Christian
lriends, to whom we sll at first covenanted
to look, should be consulted first, and that
they should advise us in this important
matter, and if they can send us a school
master and other teachers for our Tona
wonta brothers, they should be consulted
first. On this matter, we feel very anxious
—we have been so long distracted and divi
ded, we should be glad if our Fathers, the
Board, from whom we expect much,
could do something to assist us in this im
portant case. Orr this we add no more.—
You know our feelings—and our wants you
know better than we do ourselves. Our
Tonawonta brethren are looking to
us, and we are looking to you, and we
hop* we shall not look in vain. We
would venture one opinion : that if all the
interpreters, schoolmasters and ministers
of the Senecas were of one mind, and em
ployed by one body, we might have more
peace and prosperity. We shall not re
turn any’ answer to our Tonawonta breth
ren until we receive an answer from you.
Could the Board send on a schoolmaster to
them this winter, they have a house engag
ed for the accommodation of a school,and
they are destitute of instruction on the Sab
bath.
Brothers—We received your last letter
respecting the minister coming on soon, and
we are looking for him hourly.
Expecting an answer from you 9oon, we
remain your friends and brothers.
Signed by Young King and sixteen other
chiefs.
GREAT INDIAN COUNCIL.
The result ot a general council held at
the Seneca Reservation in the last week in
September, so far as relates to (he conten
tion between the Christian and Pagan par
ties, is mentioned in the communication
above. For the following brief outline of
two of the speeches! delivered on the oc
casion, we are indebted to the postscript of
a letter from Mr. Hyde of Buffalo.
Sept. 27. A* 1 have not lodged my- let
ter in the Post Office, I break the seal to
give yen some account of the council now
sitting in the Indian village near Buffalo.—
It is said there are nearly four hundred In
dians present. The subject of the Chris
tian religion ha been, and still is, debated
with much warmth. I will ‘ketch a faint
outline of two speeches made yesterday
and the day before, that you may see a lit
tle how they reason on both sides.
The day before yesterday. Strong, ot
v Cattaraugus made a speech of several hours,
with ingenuity and eloquence.
I and containing a narrative of many facts,—
I Among other things be endeavoured to
ft show, that the white men from the time of
f their first settlement in this country, had
I been pursuing a course inimical to the In-
L dians, and tending to their ruin. He con-
I tended, that all the pretended plans for
■thqjr benefit were only covered, schemes
jto divide, distract, and destroy them. He
■ also urged, that itwas not the design of the
I Great Spirit, that Indians should adopt the
■ manners, or learn the religion of white
■men. This he said was evident from the
■ fact that the attempt had not,in one instance
■been prospered. Not one youth who had
■been educated, had turned out other than a
■vagabond and a scourge to his people. Not
■fSlpe tribe which had listened to the instruc
ts ions of white men, but was more debased,
sSjiiU) those which bad not been taught. He
■Fe marked, w ith much severity, on the part
Bid’ the Christian party at Allegany, in draw
fßtag up a petition, soliciting the interference
■f the President of the United States in
down all who would not relinquish
gftagaoisin. and embrace the habits and the
llßpiigion of the Christians.* He earnestly
’ ■fVS’,a h a petition tvas prepared by the Chris-
.
would become the seat of desolation and
a oi sist HyFyy^
| Yesterday Billy and Robison of Buffalo,
I rose in reply. Robison, in the course of
his speech spoke nearly as follows :
We are told, that the whole conJuct of
the white men towards the Indians has been
a course of enmity, designed for our des
truction. In many things I cannot discover
pnmity to ihe Indians, nor planning their
destruction, in the conduct of white men.
If this is the fact, they take a very strange
and expensive way to effect it, which I, a
poor blind man cannot see through.
The Jour thousand Jive hundred dollars
which we are now met to receive, is a free
gift from the government. It never cost
us a cent. It is given to clothe our naked
and destitute, it may be, that the govern
ment is planning the destruction of the In
dians in this ; but 1 am such a poor blind
man I cannot see it. At the beginning of
the war which separated this country from
Great Britain, the United States counselled
the Six Nations to sit still, and not to meddle
in a quarrel which they knew nothing about.
They would only get broken heads if they
meddled with it. This mm/ have been bad
advice. Onr fathers and grandfathers
thought it bad advice, and took up the
hatchet. Our king was conquered and we
with him. Our king skulked out, and left
ns to settle a peace as we could. He
thought we were not only conquered, but
had lost our lands : and he gave us lands in
Canada to flee to. But the United States
said, “ Sit still on your lands. We will bn
your friends.” It may he that in all this
the United States ivere planning the des
truction of the Indians, and through my
blindness I cannot see it.
Os late years the government of the U.
States is giving ten thousand dollars a year,
and Missionary Societies are bestowing
much money and labour to enlighten Indians
and to teach them good things. It may be
that all this is to undermine and root out the
ludians, hut I must say I am so blind l can
not see it.
FROM THE CHRISTIAN (KEN.) REPERTORY.
STATE OF RELIGION IN KENTUCKY.
la many parts of this state, religion wears
a gloomy aspect. Errours of the most dan
gerous character are cherished by many,
who seem disposed to effect a compromise
between the great scriptural doctrines of
our holy religion and the sentiments held i
by scepticks, infidels, kc. Our Immanuel
is viewed and preached as a mere creature—
his atonement is considered as unmeritori
ous as the atonement of a man—his origin
al and underived Divinity is denied—and
bis vicarious and expiatory sufferings are I
discarded. A criminal inattention to the j
particular duties of religion, we are sorry
to say, is too prevalent. Family religion is j
much neglected. Many who profess Chris- j
tianity are seldom, if ever, found at the
family altar offering their morning and
evening sacrifices. Sabbath breaking, pro- i
sane swearing, and an improper use of ar- j
dent spirits, prevail to an alarming degree. 1
The ycung and old, the bond and free,
seem to have engaged in these vices by
agreement, to an awful extent. Many
other things are equally distressing to the i
hearts of the pious, while they hinder the
progress and general prosperity of the
Church of Christ.
But although this gloomy picture is true,
lamentably true , there are some causes of
encouragement and Christian gratifiide.
In the vacant congregations in this state,
the voice is, “ come over and help us, we
fnel that our spiritual necessities are great,
we want the ministers of the cros, to break
to us the bread of eternal life. 5 ’ Those con
gregations manifest an increasing disposi
tion to contribute of their substance to the
support of the Gospel. And it is further
worthy of remark that a spirit of benevo
lence in aiding moral and religious institu
tions is growing rapidly iu many sections of
this country. Many who are not profes
sors of religion contribute with considera
ble liberality to the support of religious
societies. The ministers of the Methodist,
Baptist and Presbyterian denominations are
generally at their posts, actively and vigil
antly engaged in the good work of the
Lord. There have been but few revivals
of religion in this section of the state during
the current year. But in the lower parts
of Kentucky among the Cumberland Pres
byterians the good work has been much
revived. Many of all ages, sexes, and
characters, have been happily brought
from the darkness of sin to the light of the
Gospel. Upon the whole there is great
cause of thankfulness for the good that does
exist, and much cause of lamentation on ac
count of the prevalence of errour and vice.
REPORT
Os the Synodical Committee of the Cumberland
(Ken.) Presbyterian Church.
Your Committee have diligently and
particularly inquired into the state of reli
gion in your bounds; and desire to express
unfeigned gratitude to the great Head of
the Church, for what he is continuing to
do, in comforting his people and in saving
souls from the damnation of hell.
Much harmony generally prevails
amongst the ministry, and congregations,
except in one solitary instance, where the
peace and prosp rity of a respectable
church has been much interrupted bv the
shameful and ungodly practice of tale bear
ing.
tian party at .Allegany, and brought to the coun
cil for the approbation of the Christian chiefs at
Seneca. The petition, however, was arrested by
the latter, who manifested that in their contest
with the -party, the weapons of their warfare Were
not carnal.
crciMWicl ihciDv
The cause of our God is advancing in
vour bounds, through the instrumentality of
the preachers and people. Many more
have professed conversion than in any
preceding year. Zion has travailed, and
many aons and daughters have been boru.
We rejdice to learn that zeal and iudefati-i
gable industry have marked the course of,
most of your preachers, both old and young, i
They have avoided non-essential contro
versy, and dwelt principally on the doc
trines of the Cross. They have raised their
banner, not in the name of the Cumberland
Presbyterians; hut in the name of the Lord
of Hosts. The Consequence has been, that
many precious souls have been snatched
l as brauds from the burning.” Some of
all other denominations have manifested
friendship by deeds as well as words: a con
siderable number however, have phown a
contrary spirit—a disposition to detract
from your labour of love, and in some in
stances, even to hedge up your way to ue
fulness: virtually snyiog, Lord, they fol
lowed not US, therefore we forbade them.”
Your committee however, are fully con
vinced that you have nothing to appre
hend from any denomination of Christians
in onr country hut one ! If you inquire what
denomination that is, we answer, the Cum
berland Presbyterians!! Should your minis
ters and people at any time so far forget
themselves, as to feel self-exaltation in con
sequence of their growing numbers, &c.
God will abase them. But if they continue
humble and dependent, God will not fail to
exalt them.
Since the last Synod, several Licentiates
have been orlained, many candidates li
censed, and a great number of candidates
received by the different Presbyteries—
and yet the increasing cries for the word
and ordinances in all, but particularly in
thp bounds cf the uew Presbytery of
M'Gee, (while in one sense pleasing) ar
truly affecting and afflicting. May the
Lord of the harvest send forth more la
bourer*, and direct by his Spirit a judicious
distribution of those already called.
Your committee are pleased to hear, that
exertions have been, and will be made in
all the Presbyteriesgio improve the minds
of their candidates and licentiates in Divin
ity, and the various sciences required by
your discipline. •
The Heaven-born and Heaven-approba
ted practice of bolding camp-meetings is
continued and increasing. The good effects
are too Obvious to require any comment,
j Opposition to such meetings, and particu
larly to the power of God displayed on such
occasions, has in many places subsided, and
in other parts it is weakening.
The infant Presbytery of M’Gee,
with her very limited means of sup
ply, reports since the last Synod 137
conversions, 29 of whom were baptiz
ed, not having received that ordinance
in infancy.
The Elk Presbytery 780
conversions and 103 baptized.
The Nashville Presbytery 796
conversions and 120 baptized.
The Logan Presbytery 1401
conversions and 347 baptized,making
in the aggregate 3,114
conversions and 604 baptized. “ O Lord,
what is man that thou art mindful of him.”
Your committee will cry, what they are
sure is the sentiment of the Synod : Mot
unto us, not unto us, 0 Lord, but unto thy
name be the undivided glory.
FiNIS EWING, Clerk.
Russellville, Ky. Oct. 17, 1821. [lb.
EXTRACT
From a Sermon delivered at the opening of the
new Baptist Meeting House in Augusta, by the
Rev. Wm. T. Brantley.
In forming a scheme for the conversion i
of mankind, what mind would ever have 1
devised one so improbable as the cross of
Christ. To human wisdom it would have
appeared an idle phrenzy to think of redu
cing a rebellious people to allegiance by
the unmixed scandal of an ignominious cru
cifixion. Ofall improbable plans, this might
have seemed the most unpromising. Yet, ‘
behold what wonders were accomplished
by the unvarnished majesty of this simple
fact. Without any of the aids of learning,
of authority, or eloquence; with none of
the ingenious sophistries of the schools ;
without any elaborate discussions, or stud
ied appeals to the passions, we see humble,
unassuming men carrying in triumph
a religion obnoxious to the repul
sive spirit of human pride aud ambition.
They had the approving tokens of divine
| regard. Their gospel became the power
| of God and the wisdom of God to them that
believed ; and their work, which in itself
would have been the derision of every id
ler, when confirmed by the hand of the
Lord, supplied to thousands the elements of
anew life ; struck terror into the opposing
ranks of sin ; subverted the rites which an
tiquity had consecrated, and organized com
munities for the worship of one God and
one Mediator. Nor has their case been
one of uncommon occurrence. The effects
of that preaching in which Christ crucified
is the leading theme, stre still stupendous.
It contains the power of a mysterious at
traction. The solemn echo from groaning
Calvary is the eloquence which persuades
men. Here shines the true morality—here
virtue improves into devotion; here the
soul catches the fire of holy inspiration, and
rises to assert its kindred with the spirits of
the just.
In memorable instances the Lord has vis
ited his people with times of refresh
ing from his presence. No tokens are
more grateful than those which evince the
Spirit’s power in giving life and energy to
the word. Whatever may be the sneers of
the unbelieving, or the more formal cavil
lings of those who are contented with the
(foes “often prevail in places where the
means of grace re observed. In these
cases the young and the old, the enlighten
ed and the ignorant, have been equally ai
fected. A surprising influence has turned
to the exulting ways of Zion, those who
were wandering in the deviouspaths of sm.
The impetuosity of youthful guilt has been
staved, and the hoary veteran in the world s
’ service has been brought to a temper soft
| and relenting. Songs o( deliverance have
succeeded the clamour of unt anctified rev
: elry, and many have met bs on our way
| with that cheering declaration, “ We will
go with you, because we have heard that
God is with you.” These are the festive
scenes, my brethren, which impart a holy
aspect to our earthly temples. Nehher
corn, nor oil can afford such joy. There
is a heaven-born melody in the songs of re
deemed souls. Their musick floats along
the lengthened desolations oi Jerusalem,
and the wilderness rejoices. The chorus
which they swell falls in melting ecstacies
on the pensive bosom of mouring Zion. It
is the joy of saints.
The preservation of personal religion in
the heart can be the effect only of divine
agency, and therefore is an approving man
ifestation of divine regard. We have a
natural reluctance to comply with the self
denving restrictions and exercises of reli
gion. If any progress is made, ft must be
in spite of a counter influence. Like the
tide which beat 9 upon the margin of the
ocean, we appear to lose by frequent reces
sions what we had gained in progress, and
by many deviations from the direct course
of oqr journey, seem ,to have made no ad
vancement. Yet, in ail these variations
and wanderings, we are held by the power
of God, and the good work is going on in
our heart. God holds up our- soul, and
though the retarding power of sin, like the
force ofgravitatiou upon aa ascending body,
would cause us to relapse to our original
state, yet the impulsive energy continues
to act, and we are sustained in our flight for
heaven by the invisible agency of the Holy
Spirit. How much reason have we then to
live and act in the spirit of the Psalmist's
prayer, “ Hold thou me up, that I fall not.”
It is unusual for any church to enjoy un
interrupted prosperity in its religious state.
The increase of its nembers often adds no
thing to the amount of piety, but frequently
binders the regular course of discipline.
A morbid stale in its spiritual health may
render it impatient of searching and saluta
ry truths; whilst those faithful ministers
who reclaim it from a false taste and from
growing delusions are discarded, and others!
obtained of smoother speech and less offen- ;
sive dialect. This unhappy disposition
would lead to the extinction of all genuine j
religion, were it not that God leaves even
in the midst of such a declining church, an
afflicted and poor people who trust in his’
name. These faithful witnesses take their
stand among Zion’s wastes; they lift up the
voice like a trumpet, they cry aloud and
pare not,until they have showed the house
of Israpl their sin. Happy is that people
where these faithful watchmen axe to be
found.
MASONICK BENEVOLENCE.
We cheerfully insert the following letter agreea
bly to request ■ but beg leave to decline offer
ing any remarks on it at present, for (he very 1
obvious reason, that nothing we could say, |
would equal the eloquence of such an act of I
liberality, nor reach any heart that will not be j
touched by so honourable an example of zeal!
for the welfare of the nation to whom belong
the promises.— Boston Recorder.
Canterbury, Conn. Oct. 1821.
To the Female Society in Boston, for promot
ing Christianity among the Jews.
While we view with increasing delight, |
the various exertions made for the renova-i
tion of a fallen world,our attention has been j
particularly called to the present condition
and future prospects of the Jewish Natron.
Where now is that mighty people to
whom the great I AM was fitst pleased to
reveal bimseif out of the burning bash ? j
Where are the descendants of those who
stood with solemn awe upon the plain
while Moses approached the quaking top of
Sinai ? Where now are the descendants of
those to whom was entrusted the keeping
of the Book of the Laws, and the exposition
of the same to the tribes of Israel? What is
the present condition of Jerusalem, once
the seat of science, and the moral and re
ligious centre of the world? The first and
second temples are demolished, and the
hallowed top of Mount Moriah, is now the
site of a Mahomedan Mosque—polluted by
the worship of the false Prophet.
Alas ! how are the mighty fallen ! The
Jewish nation fell—but not like Lucifer to
rise no more. They are dispersed, but not
destroyed. The promises of God are im
mutable. We lament their degradation,
and rejoice in the approach of that day
which shall terminate their sufferings.
They ehall again revisit their native land,
rejoicing in the mild religion es that Messi
ah whom they have so long rejected, and
the whole family of man participate the
blessings of a regenerated world.
By Daniel Frost, Jr’) n
Luther Paine, \ Lom -
Moriah Lodge , JVo. 15, Canterbury, Con.
It is with great delight we learn that a
Society has been formed in the town of
Boston, for spreading the light of the Gos
pel and extending the hand of friendship to
that long persecuted race, the descendants
of Abraham. To aid in the accomplish
ment of your benevolent dpsign, we here
with send you the sum of Fifty Dollars, to
be disposed of by said Society for the pur
pose aforesaid.
Par order of Moriah Lodge,
Solomon Payne, Jr. Treas.
Miss Frances Ervinc,
Treat. Boston Jem Sot. y
The underi|rned hafe heard, with thfl
most painful dtiotioas, the reports abroail
respecting fUlfKv Wade, a licensed preach- 1
er of the GospH. So directly do the re-1
ports affect thft cause of religion, that they 1
have feit it thir duty to make an invest). |
gation of them. And having done this, thev I
are constrained to declare, that there is dit-r j
tressing and conclusive evidence that Hen
ry Wade h 9 long been in the practice of
foul iniquity,and is deeply involved in guilt, i
We deem it unnecessary to specify the
crimes of which he can be proved guilty,
by many witnesses of undoubted veracity.;
Suffice it to say, they are of such a nature,
as ought to destroy all confidence in him as
a preacher, a Christian and man, and to
exclude him from all decent and respecta
ble society.
It is painful to make the above disclos- 9
ure ; but we owe it to the cause of God and
the honour of the ministry, to expose the i
depravity of a man, whose conduct has so 1
grievously wounded the friends of piety, T
and has become a stumbling block to those {
who seek occasion of reproach-
As we are not informed of what church |
he is a member, nor from what Association |
he obtained a license, and as he still impos
es himself upon distant places as a preacher,
we request the editors of newspapers to k
give insertion to the preceding.
Calvin Chapin,
Caleb J. Tenny,
Elisha B. Cook,
Joel Hawes ,
Pastors of Churches,. J
Hartford, Nov. 7, 1821.
—
OUR ANCESTORS IDOLATERS.
Our ancestors on the Island of Great Bri
tian worshipped idols, and even sacrificed
their sons and daughters. They had not
heard the name of Jesus, and lived and died
as pagans now do, without hope. No
Christian church was found in any of their
cities and villages. They had no Christian
ministry. The cruel Druids were their
priests, and they reverenced no God, but
the sun, moon, or some hideous image. To v
the savage rites of the Druidical worship, ]
succeeded the abominable idolatry of pa
gan Rome. Temples were now ejected to
their numerous deities. u In Scotland stood
the temple of Mars ; in Cornwall the temple
of Mercury : in Bangor the temple of Miner
va ; at Malden the temple of Victoria; at
Bath the temple of Apollo ; at Leicester the
temple of Janns ; at York, where St. Pe
ter’s church now stands, the temple of Bel
lona ; in London, on the site of St. Peter’s
cathedral, the temple tP Diana ; at West
minster, where the Abbey rears its venera
ble pile, the temple of Apollo.”
YVhat put in train that course of events
which has shed such a flood of light on
their posterity, and so changed the state of
things ? The answer is plain, but true. IT
WAS THE PATIENT AND PERSE
VERING LABOURS OF MISSIONARIES.
Freely ye have received, freely give.
OBITUARY.
Died, at Madison, Indiana, on the 15th of
October, the Rev. Thomas C. Searle, pas
tor of the church in that place, aged about
32 years. His excessive labours in preach
ing brought on a fever, which terminated
his life to the irreparable loss of his church
and congregation, aud to the great affliction
ofall, who take an interest in the promo
tion of sound learning and of pure religion!
among our brethren in the new settlements
of the west.
Mr. Searle was a native of Rowley, Mass
and a graduate of Dartmouth College. He
received bis theological education at the
excellent Seminary in Princeton N. J. to
which he ever felt a warm attachment as
well as to the doctrines and discipline of the
Presbyterian church. He had many in
ducements to settle in the ministry among
his friends in New England; but the deplo
rable condition of our western brethren in
respect to religious ordinances, weighed
upon his heart and made him break away
from the endearments of kindred and all
his early attachments, that he might carry
the gospel to the destitute. Without prop
erty and with a small family, many discour
aging considerations would naturally spring
up; but being satisfied as to his duty, he
placed the most entire confidence in the
good providence of the Master, whom he
served. He went forth in faith, like Abra
ham, not knowing whither he went. At
the distance of 1200 or 1500 miles from
New England, as he was descending the
Ohio, he was induced, about two yeais ago,
to stop at Madison, where he opened an
academy and was settled in the ministry.
If he was not the first Presbyterian minis
ter established in Indiana, yet, it is believ
ed, that not more than one or two ministers
could have been settled before him. Un
ceasing in his labouoro in proclaiming wher
ever it was in his power, the glad tidings
of salvation, with a zeal ever flaming, with
many plans for advancing the literary, mor
al, and religious insterests of Indiana, he in
the mysterious, but righteous providence of
God, has been called to a better world*
leaving an afflicted widow and infant son.
He died in the peace of the believer, —in
the triumphs of assured hope. Like Larn
ed, he has fallen in early life a victim to his
zeal in the cause of benevoleuce. In his
short life be effected much in the cause of
religion ; but bis memory may do more for
that cause than his life.— [Bost.Rec.
—■
Just as our paper uas going to press (saps the
Boston Recorder ) the following letter was received.
“Mr. Willis —Enclosed is SIOO, which
please apply as follows :—s6o to constitute
Rev. W. Jenks of Boston, Rev. J. W. EL
lingwood, of Bath, (Me.) and Rev. Nathan
Lord of Amherst, (N. Ji.) life members of
the New England Tract Society. S3O for
Indian Missions in our own country, and slft
for the Sandwich Island Mission.’’