Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

choice; and the Good Spirit was pleased to give it to us. He has a particular manner of teaching and preaching to us, different from other teachers who have been amongst us; and God owns and blesses his labors. May he still go on and prosper. We want him amongst us still. I know that the words he speaks are of God. When he preaches, I feel his truth in my heart-in my soul. O brothers! it makes my soul happy. All of us want him with us: his life amongst us is very useful, because it is straight. He was very industrious all the time he has. been with us, and learns our people to work; and since he has left us, we have been lost, though it has been but a few days. We have felt as if our oldest brother was taken from us, and the place where he lived all looked sorry. But what feelings of joy did we feel in our hearts when we met our brother at this place, and took him by the hand! We thank the Almighty God who has spared our brother. The great objections that our chiefs have against our brother Finley is: A colored, man that preached to us used to feed them on milk. This they liked very well; but our brother Finley fed them on meat. This was too strong for them, and so they will not eat. But those that want to love God and his ways, could eat both milk and meat; it does well with us, and we feel always hungry for more." After requesting the conference to employ a steady interpreter for the use of the school and Gospel, he sat down.

[ocr errors]

BISHOP M'KENDREE replied in substance as follows: "We are glad we are exceedingly joyful, to see this day; for we have long been anxious to see the time when our red brethren of the west would embrace religion. Our joy is abundantly increased when we see you face to face, and hear the Gospel from your own mouths. We

are well disposed towards you. In us you have real friends; and you may be well assured that our kindness will be continued. We will make We will make every exertion possible to educate and instruct your children. These men (alluding to the conference) are not the only friends you have. You have many throughout the country in general. In the great cities, the white people feel for their red brethren, and are forming societies to send them help. The Great Spirit has come, not only on the old men, but also on the little children. In Baltimore, there is a society formed for the purpose of sending help to educate your children. If you will stand by us, we will stand by you. We will unite with you in prayer for your success, and for the conversion of your brethren who have backslidden and left you; and if you continue faithful, God will convince them, and they will return to you again. But in all this let us look up to God for success."

"

CHAPTER VI.

The author is appointed to the Lebanon district, and superintendent of the mission-Charles Elliott is appointed missionary-Arrives at Sandusky early in October-A school committee appointedA school opened, and becomes very large-Two teachers, viz., Wil liam Walker, Jr., and Lydia Barstow, appointed-Revival among the children-The author quits the district, and takes charge of the mission-Brother Elliott is employed in making collections for the mission-Opposition of the heathen party-Bloody-eyes determines to kill his brother, Between-the-logs-The author's rencounter with the head chief, De-un-quot, and his party-Their dress-The chief maintains that there are two gods, one of the whites, another of the red men- -The author's reply to this theory-Pertinent remarks of Between-the-logs-The head chief dies shortly after-His wife joins the Church-Difficulty in exercising Discipline-A curious case between a trader and Between-the-logs.

SUCH was the state of my own health and that of my wife, that at the conference held at Marietta, in August, 1822, it was thought doubtful whether I could take my stand again at the mission. Therefore, my name was set down to the Lebanon district, and superintendent of the mission, with the understanding that if my health returned, I was to go back, and brother John Strange was to take my place on the district. Brother Charles Elliott was appointed missionary, and also to take charge of the school. Brother Elliott arrived at the mission house on the 1st of October, and commenced his labors. The house now being in a state of readiness to receive scholars on a larger scale than before, the school increased rapidly. I did not reach the place until the last of October. We then held our sacramental meeting, and a council with the chiefs. We fixed on a time to commence the school; and lest some difficulty might take place to the disadvantage of the institution, we appointed a school committee, consisting of five persons, who were consid

[ocr errors]

ered the most substantial members of the Wyandott society, four of them being chiefs of the nation, viz., Between-the-logs, John Hicks, Mononcue, Peacock, and Squire Gray-eyes. These were to oversee the conduct of the children, and if any difficulty should arise between the teacher and the parents or guardians of the children, or should any of the children misbehave or become unruly, the matter was to be submitted to the committee, who, after the parties were heard, should determine what was to be done in the case. And if any evil report should be raised against the school, and should the parents or guardians become uneasy, this committee was to examine into it, and make it plain and satisfactory to the nation. Having thus agreed on the plan of governing the school, I returned to the district. A short time after this, brother Elliott wrote to me that the school had increased beyond all expectation, and that the children were much in need of clothing. As soon as possible, I went to their relief with a supply, which lasted until spring. The school became so large that it was now thought necessary to employ a male and female teacher. William Walker, Jr., was employed to good advantage, as he belonged to the nation, and could speak their language; and sister Lydia Barstow was their female teacher.

This winter the work of God commenced in the mission family, and many of the children embraced religion. It was not unusual for them in the evening, to sing and pray together, and sometimes they would meet each other in class meeting. Before they lay down to sleep, I have stood in the evening, and heard them in the bushes at secret prayer, and so much engaged that they would break out into shouts. First one, and then another, would go and join in singing; and others collecting to

[ocr errors]

gether with them, they would have a prayer meeting. Sister Barstow was well calculated to watch over and

1

teach them in their spiritual interests, and frequently held prayer and class meetings with them. Wm. Walker, Jr., the school teacher, sought and found the Lord, and became very zealous in the cause. We formed a class at the mission house, of the children, boys and girls, and appointed him leader. While God thus blessed us at home, the work spread through the nation, and our meetings were almost every one crowned with the conversion of souls, so that the society grew from sixty-five to upwards of two hundred.

Circumstances made it necessary for me to quit the district, and stay all the time at the mission, and brother Elliott spent much of his time in collecting things for the

mission.

The prosperity of the Church excited a great opposition in the heathen party, so that we had some long combats on the subject of religion. Bloody-eyes, the brother of Between-the-logs, went to his brother's house one day to kill him for departing from their Indian religion. He seized him by the hair, and stood with his tomahawk drawn, while Between-the-logs said, "Brother, have I done you any harm? am I not as kind to you as ever I was? If you will kill me for loving you and my God, you may, but I will not hurt you; and I know if you do kill me, I shall go straight to heaven, for I feel the love of God now in my soul." This caused Bloody-eyes to desist, saying, "I will give you one year to think and turn back;" and so he left him. Sometime after this, Between-the-logs sent for me one evening. I went, and to my surprise, found there his brother, Bloody-eyes, the interpreter, and another person. After supper and a

« PoprzedniaDalej »