Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

Before the close of the last year the Indians and the mission families had finished their removal, and were settled on the new reservation. In this respect the facilities for giving instruction, both in schools and in religious meetings, have been greater during the last year than during the two years preceding. But even now, when the Indians have hardly put up their houses and cleared and inclosed their fields, the proposal has been made to take them from their homes again, and transport them to a country west of the Mississippi river. Their minds are beginning to be agitated on the subject. The perplexity and discouragement to which the missionaries are subjected from this source are very great; but not to be compared with the disheartening and deteriorating influence exerted on the Indians by being obliged so often to abandon the houses and fields which they were just beginning to enjoy, and to endure new toils and exposures to prepare for themselves other homes, of which they may be despoiled as soon. How manifestly impos

Miss Skinner was last autumn united in marriage to Rev. Mr. Denton, a mis-sible is it that a people should become sionary from the Basle Seminary in Switzerland, destined to the Indians near Prairie du Chien. The health of Miss McFarland having become much impaired, she left Mackinaw last autumn.

more industrious, intelligent, or moral, or should acquire more of the comforts of life, or rise in character, while kept in so agitated and unsettled a state.

During the past year the Indians have No ordained missionary has been sta- been unusually engaged about their vationed on the island during the year. rious labors; and temperance, industry, The meetings have been conducted and attention to meetings and religious principally by Mr. Schoolcraft, the Unit- instruction have been more general, both ed States agent for Indian affairs, and among old and young, than for the preMr. Garey, and have been very well at- ceding two or three years. Some intended. The members of the church stances of hopeful conversion have ochave manifested a good degree of chris-curred, and numbers have been seriously tian feeling, and have generally adorned concerned about their salvation. their profession. Since the removal of the business of the American Fur Company from the island, the number of English residents has been much diminished, and the number now connected with the church, including some pious soldiers in the garrison, does not exceed thirty-five or forty.

The school which is under the instruction of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, has been somewhat reduced in numbers during the year; the number of boarding scholars of both sexes having been only twenty-nine, and the whole daily attendance, including the pupils from the village, having been forty-six.

MISSION TO THE STOCKBRIDGE INDIANS.

Cutting Marsh, Missionary; Chauncey Hall, Teacher; Mrs. Hall.

(1 station, 1 missionary, 1 teacher, and I female.)

Mr. Marsh has, by request, assisted in organizing a presbyterian church at Green Bay, consisting of thirteen members.

The school last fall and winter received forty-six pupils, though the average attendance was hardly twenty. Last spring it was thought best to open a new school in the southern part of their town, which was attended by about twenty pupils.

MISSION TO THE NEW-YORK INDIANS.

TUSCARORA.-William Williams, Missionary, and his wife; Elizabeth Stone and Lucia G. Smith,

Teachers.

SENECA Asher Wright, Missionary, and his wife; Asenath Bishop, Teacher.

CATTARAUGUS.-Asher Eliss, Missionary, and his wife; Andelusia Lee, Teacher.

ALLEGHANY.-William ball, Teacher and Cate-ligion, and some others appear to have been converted to God.

chist, and his wife.

(4 stations, 3 missionaries, 1 teacher, and 8 females.)

The state of religious feelings on all the reservations has been fluctuating; sometimes encouraging the missionaries to hope that the Spirit of God was about to display his converting and sanctifying power; and then again stupidity and backsliding have but too obviously characterized the members of the several churches. Much harmony and worldly prosperity have prevailed, but few have given evidence of having turned from darkness to light. The number of church members at Tuscarora is 44, at Seneca 40, at Cattaraugus 56, and at Alleghany

56; in all 196.

Ten schools have been taught on the four reservations for a greater or less portion of the year, embracing in all about 250 pupils; the average daily attendance, however, not having probably exceeded 200. Flourishing Sabbath schools have also been maintained, and an evening school at Cattaraugus for young men and adults; besides efforts

which have been made to teach some of the Indians to read in their own lan

guage.

A small reading-book with a vocabulary, embracing forty-two pages, has been prepared in the Sencca language by Mr. Wright, and one thousand copies printed.

MISSION TO THE ABERNAQUIS. Peter Paul Osunk herhine, Native Preacher. (1 station, and 1 native preacher.)

In January last Osunkherhine .was licensed to preach the gospel by the presbytery of Champlain; and in June he was ordained by the same presbytery as an evangelist to his native tribe. The opposition to him and his labors, which had previously been great and unremitted, was immediately embittered. He went on with his labors, however, determined, as he says, "to depend only on the Lord, who is stronger than them all." He now preaches every Sabbath, holds prayer and conference meetings often during the week, visits and converses with the people on religious subjects, and teaches school every day. About twenty-five hearers attend his meetings,|| "because," as he says, "they believe the bible religion to be better than what is taught by the priest, though perhaps they are not all new creatures by the Spirit." One has made a public profession of re

When the Indian families are at home, the school is attended by fifteen or twenty; but when they are absent on their hunting excursions, only six or eight are present.

Osunkherhine has recently procured a small press and a supply of types for printing small cards and tracts in the language of his people.

SUMMARY.

During the past year the receipts of the Board have amounted to $176,232 15, and the expenditures have been to the Board and expended by its mis$210,407 54; besides $37,900 intrusted sionaries for various bible and tract so

cieties.

The number of missions now

under the care of the Board is thirty-one, including eighty-one stations; at which are laboring one hundred and fifteen ordained missionaries, five of whom are regularly educated physicians, ten other physicians, sixteen teachers and catechists, eight printers and book-binders, fourteen other lay assistant missionaries, and one hundred and fifty-eight married and unmarried female assistant missionaries; making in all three hundred and twenty missionary laborers sent from this country; and, including five native teachers and assistants, three hundred preachers and seventy-two other native and ninety-eight persons now connected with the missions of the Board and supported from its funds. Of these, fifteen ordained missionaries, two physicians, three other male and twenty-three married and unmarrried female assistant missionaries, in all forty-three, have been sent forth during the year. Connected with the several missions are forty-four churches gathered by the labors of the missionaries, embracing 2,003 members; also 420 schools, embracing 17,715 pupils, besides four seminaries for training native preachers and teachers, at which 327 pupils are receiving instruction. There are ten printing establishments for the use of the missions, (at three of which are type and stereotype founderies,) at which sixteen presses are kept in operation. These establishments possess the means of printing in nineteen different languages, spoken by more than 450,000,000 of people; and during the year have printed not less than 481,665 copies of books, tracts, and portions of the scriptures, embracing not less than 18,640,836 pages. The whole number of pages printed for the missions of the

Board since their commencement is not churches of other portions of Christenfar from 116,000,000.

[blocks in formation]

dom, since there is room enough and more than enough for all,-the American Board will direct its efforts to specific portions of the great field.

In pointing out these portions as definitely as possible, reference will be first had to missions and countries beyond

sea.

On the African continent the attention of the Board is directed more especially to the central regions, and at the same time to certain points on the western and southern coasts. The stations already formed upon the two coasts are starting points for the interior. A range of mountains extends from west to east

through the heart of Africa. Recent
discoveries lead us to suppose that a spur
from this great central chain comes
down to the neighborhood of our mission
at Cape Palmas. If so, with the blessing
of heaven, we may soon establish our-
selves upon it. Taking another position
at Cape Coast Castle, 450 miles eastward
of Cape Palmas, and advancing thence
into the Ashantee country, we may soon
occupy the mountain range at a more
advanced position eastward.
As soon

as

commerce succeeds in making a speedy, annual passage up the Niger to Boosa, the Board propose to occupy some upland position near that place, 1,200 miles in a strait line from our present station at Cape Palmas.

The Board propose, also, to approach the centre of Africa from the south. For this purpose they have commenced a mission at Port Natal, 900 miles eastward of Cape Town, and another in the interior 400 miles from Port Natal. If the region from these points to the centre of the continent be found populous, the Board propose, the Lord granting permission, to advance northward till our line of missions from the west and south shall meet, and keep a jubilee on the mountains of the centre. The proposed line of operations from Cape Palmas to Port Natal is about 4,500 miles.

2. That the American Board, however, as a missionary institution, does not undertake alone to publish the gospel to all these nations. Other societies in this land, and Christians of other nations, have entered upon this work, and others still will engage in it. Our English brethren are doing more than ourselves, and will not be behind us in this race of usefulness. The French and German churches, too, are beginning to develope the spirit of missionary enterprise; but for some time to come, owing to the state of their civil and religious institu- In Asia, the Board have another great tions and the limited prevalence of evanline of missions marked out for the engelical piety among them, these church- terprise of the churches. The line bees can be expected to do little more than gins at Constantinople, or rather in Macefurnish auxiliary forces to the grand donia; runs through the northern disspiritual armies of England and Amer-tricts of Asia Minor, through Persia and ica. In Russia, also, there seems to be the elements of religious enterprise struggling to be freed from the chains of civil and ecclesiastical despotism.

Acting on the principle of not interfering with other evangelical missionary societies, and with the evangelical

Afghanistan, down through western and southern India to Ceylon. On this line we have a station already at Constantinople, two in Asia Minor, one or two in Persia, three in western India, one in southern India, and a number in Ceylon; and a missionary has been appointed to

Rajpootana, higher up the line in west- || Rocky Mountains, including about ern India. 10,000 Ojibwas on the north, are estiAnother line commences in Greece, mated to embrace 122,000. Of the numpasses through the southern districts of ber of those who occupy the territory inAsia Minor, through Syria and Palestine cluding the mountains and regions beto Mesopotamia. On this line three sta-yond to the Pacific ocean, no correct tions have been formed among the estimate can be formed. Greeks, one in Asia Minor, and two in Syria and Palestine.

Another series of missions has been projected and commenced in eastern Asia and the neighboring Archipelago. The central point is Singapore, at which a station has been formed. It is proposed to extend missions up the populous valley of Siam, towards China in that direction; to the great neighboring islands of Sumatra, Java, and Borneo; and to the coasts of China and Japan, as soon as Divine Providence allows missions to occupy them. Already we have a station in Siam, another at Canton, and one or two in the islands.

The western Indians have been approached at the southern and northern extremities of their territory. In the south, beginning with the emigrant Cherokees, Choctaws, and Creeks, the line of our missions extends to the Pawnee country, and thence, by means of the exploring tour performed within the last eighteen months, and the new station recently taken among the Flat Head and Nez Perces tribes, to the Oregon river.

On the north, our line begins with Mackinaw and the Stockbridge Indians, and proceeds on from the southwestern shores of lake Superior, through the Ojibwa country, to the head waters of the Mississippi, and thence into the country of the Sioux, whose bands ex

How soon it will be practicable to extend our missions westward from the Sandwich Islands among other islands of the North Pacific, it is not now possi-tend westerly to the head waters of the ble to determine.

Such is a concise geographical view of the plans of the Committee, as far as they have been formed, for the missions of the Board, in benighted countries beyond the limits of our own territory.

The Indian tribes of North America may be arranged geographically in two classes; those within the limits of the States and territories of the Union, and those beyond the western frontiers. The former, to which a few years since missions were principally confined, are now removing from their present location; and, considering their prospects, may in the formation of future plans, be left out of the account. Their number at the present time may be estimated at 75,000.

The tribes beyond the limits of our states and territories may also be divided into two classes; the one embracing the tribes which have emigrated from the east, and the other those who now occupy their original country. The former are generally agriculturists and settled in their mode of living, and most of them are partially civilized; while the latter obtain subsistence mainly by hunting, are migratory in their habits, and savage in their character. The emigrant tribes, when they shall be joined by their brethren now east of the Mississippi river, will probably embrace about 108,000 souls, while the native tribes between our western frontiers and the

Missouri. Here we meet with numerous ||extensive tribes, through which the line should be extended till it intersect the first mentioned line beyond the Rocky Mountains.

The facilities of access to these portions of the world are rapidly multiplying. No science has made more rapid progress during the last twenty-five years, than that of geography; no art has improved more than the art of travelling; no enterprize has exerted itself with such amazing power and effect as that of commerce. Steamboats have made rivers as navigable as the ocean; and have extended the facilities of rapid water communication into the centres of vast continents. Already are they on the Niger, ascending to the heart of Africa; and on the Ganges, the Indus, and the Euphrates, ascending to the heart of Asia. They ply between Calcutta and Bombay and the Red Sea; are found in all parts of the Mediterranean, and in the Black Sea; and have actually made their appearance among the islands of the Indian Archipelago. In all this we notice the wonder-working of the providence of God, preparing the way for his churches to publish the gospel every where.

The parts of the earth where it is proposed to establish missions, with a view to occupying, in connection with those already commenced, that portion

of the unevangelized world which may properly be allotted to the American churches which sustain the Board, having been noticed, the AGENCY TO BE USED will now be briefly described.

Human nature is found to be the same in every climate and nation. The causes which can degrade man in one land below his natural level, will exert the saine depressing influence in every land where they are allowed to operate uncontrolled. On the other hand, the causes which, through the blessing of God, elevate him to a holy and happy life in one land, will have equal efficacy and are equally necessary in every other. Man can no more be enlightened without education, or holy without the gospel, in Africa or Asia, than in America. He must rise there and every where else by the same means by which we are raised and by which we are sustained on the scale of social life. Hence the true and simple theory of missions. They are an endeavor to extend to heathen nations the means of improvement, and especially of moral improvement, which we enjoy. They are built upon unquestioned principles of our nature, and upon our every day experience of cause and effect, as well as upon the plainest commands of the word of God. The institutions and influences which we observe to be so effectual, under God, at home, and in which we are taught to repose so much confidence, we endeavor to send abroad by means of foreign missions, and to make them the common property of mankind; not doubting at all their transforming influence, as instruments in His hands by whose command we act. These are the PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL, EDUCATION, and THE PRESS.

pect to furnish any foreign nation with preachers for many continuous generations. Heathen nations must be rendered independent of Christendom for their religious teachers as soon as possible. In no other way can this be done, than by endeavoring to raise up men in every place, men born and educated in the several countries, who may be ordained as pastors of the churches. The plans of the Board are formed with a view to this result. Institutions, combining in their nature both the college and the theological seminary, enter into the plans of all our missions beyond sea. We have them now at the Sandwich Islands, in Ceylon, and at Constantinople. We have them resolved upon and projected in the Grecian Archipelago, in Syria, among the Nestorians of Persia, among the Mahrattas of India, and at Singapore. They will be needed in Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, Rajpootana, Siam, China, and the islands of the Indian Archipelago.

Around these seminaries, to a greater or less extent, are schools of different orders for the elementary christian education of youth-partly to furnish promising youths for the seminaries, and partly to furnish model schools, to raise up native teachers for schools, and to cultivate a habit of reading and a taste for education among the people. To superintend this department, it will probably be important to send a small number of well qualified lay-teachers to each of the missions. In process of time native teachers will be qualified to take the whole charge of elementary schools, and even to take the professorships in the seminaries.

The creative power in education has The preaching of the gospel is of course been the press. This is the modern gift the leading instrumentality in missions. of tongues; and in many respects it is This was almost the only means which better than that which the apostles had. the apostles could command, for in their It is proposed to make great use of the day there was no press, and neither press. Printing establishments have albooks nor education for the multitude. ready been formed at the Sandwich The preaching of the gospel is still, and Islands, in China, Siam, at Singapore, in ever will be, the grand means for the Ceylon, western India, Syria, and Asia conversion of men. The leading object Minor. They are about to be sent to of the Board, therefore, is to supply the western Africa, south Africa, and the millions embraced within the contem- Nestorians of Persia. Ere long it is plated range of their operations with the hoped that this stupendous engine will preached gospel. Excepting the Sand- be planted in several other favorable powich Islands, however, where the pecu- sitions. However, it will probably be liar providence of God has made it ne- expedient to employ presses owned by cessary for us to occupy the whole the Board only so far and so long as they ground at once, and such other tribes as shall be indispensable to the printing may become similarly situated,--the || which must be done. Natives are trained Committee are not expecting adequately, to the art of printing wherever we have to supply the people with stated preach- presses. Gradually, too, our schooling from our own land. Nor do they ex-books, versions of the scriptures, and

« PoprzedniaDalej »