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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.’’