These requirements of the government formed a new era in Indian missions. The public are now made acquainted with the amount collected for all these institutions. The expenses may be compared with the probable amount of good done, and the number of children taught. There were some complaints against this measure; and some said they would rather do without the aid of government funds, than have such strict inquiry made into their private concerns. The department favored me with the amount of every establishment in the United States for one year, and I should give it now, but it is mislaid, and I cannot find it; but the reader will not think me vain when I say, that our school and mission was the most prosperous one under the government. I attribute its prosperity to the account of faithfully preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to these Indians, and its blessed effect on the hearts of those that believed. Nor do I believe that any mission can be successful to any extent, unless the power of the Gospel of Jesus makes it so. All these preliminaries to the civilization and christianization of the heathen world, are the inventions of man: the Gospel is God's own institution.

All that

is necessary is to preach the Gospel to every creature. It is adapted to his condition; and God has chosen it as the great means of saving the world. To human policy this plan is contemptible, and is judged quite inefficient; but it is the power of God unto salvation, to all who believe.

CHAPTER XII.

May, 1824-Missionary meeting at Baltimore-Anecdotes and address by Summerfield-The aunt and her niece-Mr. Wirt taken for an Indian-Note from Rev. Richard Reece-Influence of relig ion in civilization-Impulse given to missionary exertions-Letter of T. Jackson, Philadelphia-Also of L. Dorsey, Baltimore-Mr. M'Kenney's letter-Contemplated division of their lands-Mr. M'Kenney's letter on this point-State of the mission at the close of the year-Bishop Soule's letter-State of the Wyandott mission in Canada.

DURING the session of the General Conference in Baltimore, in 1824, the "Baltimore Missionary Society" held its anniversary, on the 11th of May, to which I was invited by a note from William Brown, Corresponding Secretary. It was expected that some of the chiefs of the Wyandotts would have been present; but from circumstances which they could not control, they were prevented. Nevertheless, the assembly was large, and the venerable M'Kendree presided. With him sat on the platform, his worthy colleagues, Bishop Roberts and Bishop Soule, elect, the Rev. Richard Reece, delegate from the British Conference, with his colleague, the Rev. John Hannah, the Rev. John Summerfield, of precious memory, the Rev. William Capers, of the South Carolina Conference, with many other ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop Kemp, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, was present; also, the Hon. William Wirt, with many others, too numerous to be named, graced the platform.

This was a meeting of the greatest interest I had ever seen. Addresses were delivered by Messrs. Reece, Hannah, and Capers. I was called up to tell about the work of God amongst the Wyandotts. I felt confound

ed, to speak after the thrilling addresses that had preceded me; and indeed should not have been able to say any thing, but from the encouragement of my English friends.

I commenced telling how we preached, and what effect it had produced; how we lived, and what pleasure we had in the prosecution of our labors; that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was adapted to the condition of men in any situation; and the only means to be successfully employed in the civilization of man, wherever he lived, whether in the city or in the wilderness; and that missionary societies and missionaries promote civilization.

These remarks opened a fine field for the eloquence of Summerfield, and the narration of appropriate anecdotes, which I shall never forget. First, he told us he was, in company with another Methodist preacher, sent as a missionary to some uncultivated district of Ireland. They traveled on foot-preached in the market places, and then from house to house. They cried, "Behold, behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world." In one of these little towns, after they had preached, they looked for somebody to invite them home. He got an invitation; but his colleague stood on the street for sometime. At length a poor woman came, and asked him to her hovel. It was thatched with straw; and there was a table, and a stool, and some straw in the corner, on which the family slept. They accommodated their preacher with the best they had. In the morning, the poor woman thought she must get the preacher some breakfast before he went. She made a bannock (cake)

Then she went out to While she was gone, a

of oat meal, and put it to bake. buy a half-pennyworth of tea. poor woman, who had been convicted under the word

they had preached, came to be prayed for. They both kneeled down by the stool, and while the missionary was praying, the landlady came in. She laid down her tea, and kneeled down too; and they were all soon praying. The women wept and prayed so loud, that they waked the child in the straw. The missionary took up the child, and pacified it. He looked towards the fire, and saw the bread burning. He then walked on his knees, and turned the cake. The women still prayed on, until

God blessed them both.

Then the woman gave the minThen," added this eloquent man,

ister his breakfast. 66 "the missionary hushed the child-turned the bread, and God converted the mourners. He ate his morsel, and

went on his way rejoicing. This is the glory of God's ministers, to suffer, and see the poor converted to God, through the powerful Gospel."

He then proceeded to take up the collection, and observed that although many present had paid for tickets of admission, yet he would not dismiss the congregation without giving all an opportunity to be the happy participants in so glorious a work. He said, that on a certain occasion, he was at one of the missionary meetings where Dr. Clarke was, and there happened to be in the congregation an old aunt with her little niece, to whom she had given a shilling for a pocket piece, and a penny to throw into the collection. While the Doctor was speaking of the schools in India, and how the children were opposed by their parents from going, so that they often had to take off their clothes, and swim the creeks to get to school, the little girl would look up and say, "Aunt, may I not throw in the shilling." The aunt would reply, "A penny is enough for a little girl. Keep your shilling for a pocket piece." But she would ask

again, "Aunt, may I not throw in the shilling?" but the aunt's reply was still the same, "A penny is enough for a little girl to throw in." Soon the plate for collection came round, and the little niece let fly her money into the plate, and then looked up into her aunt's face, and exclaimed aloud, "Aunt, the shilling would go in." "Now," said he, "let fly your dollars, and keep your cents." It seemed as if all the money in the house would go in.

66

This was a meeting of great interest. Mr. Wirt, who was a swarthy looking man, was sitting on the platform. Two ladies, who expected to see an Indian chief, selected him for one. The one said to the other, “That is Between-the-logs." To this the other replied, "He has ruffles in his bosom; and a Christian Indian would not wear them." "Yes," replied the other, "I have no doubt, but on such an occasion as this, he would." They were overheard by a person, who next day informed Mr. Wirt of the circumstance. He said that he would give any sum, in reason, for such a meeting once a week; for he had never seen one of so much interest.

The next day I received the following note from the Rev. Richard Reece:

"MY DEAR BROTHER FINLEY:-I beg your acceptance of the inclosed mite, (five dollars,) towards the Christian education of a fine, tall, ingenious Indian boy. Requesting an interest in the prayers of my red brothers in the wilderness, I am your affectionate friend and brother in Christ, RICHARD REECE."

Through what God had wrought at this mission, and what had been published of this revival amongst the na