Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

impulse from your visit to our city, accompanied by our Wyandott brethren. It is now about six weeks since it was first organized; and we feel that the blessing of Heav en, thus far, has accompanied our labors.

"The separate parcels, which we have taken the liberty of sending, we hope will be accepted as a small token of our respect and remembrance.

"We should be gratified to hear from you when the goods are received, as our anxiety will be great until we are informed of their safe arrival. We should also be glad to know what articles are most needed, as we hope to be able to send something annually.

"I remain yours respectfully, in behalf of the Managers, SARAH B. SARGENT, Sec'y.

“Rev. James B. Finley."

Nothing can give the missionary more pleasure, amidst the sufferings and privations of his life, than to be sus tained by the virtuous; and especially to see the young and rising generation employed in promoting the interests of Christ's kingdom among men. How much better this, and how much more promising for the next generation, than to see them spending their precious time in the morning of life, in attending theaters, balls, and other fashionable amusements and diversions of the cities, which

"Widen and strew with flowers the way
Down to eternal ruin."

We found that during our absence on this journey, the work had still progressed, under the watchful care and faithful labors of the Rev. J. C. Brooke and wife. The mission school was in the full tide of successful operation.

How far this mission had succeeded in bringing this nation of Indians under the influence of christianity and civilization, will appear by the following extract from the Report of Judge Leib to the Secretary of War, made in 1826. The Judge was the government agent to visit all the Indian mission schools to which the government had made appropriations of money to aid the work:

"On Tuesday, the 10th of November last, I left Detroit for Upper Sandusky, where I arrived on the 12th, and found this establishment in the most flourishing state. All was harmony, order, and regularity, under the superintending care of the Rev. Mr. Finley. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on this gentleman. His great good sense, his unaffected zeal in the reformation of the Indians, his gracious manners, and conciliating disposition, fit him, in a peculiar manner, for the accomplishment of his purpose; and the fruits of his labors are everywhere visible: they are to be found in every Indian and Indian habitation. By Indian habitation here is meant a good comfortable dwelling, built in the modern country style, with neat and well finished apartments, and furnished with chairs, tables, bedsteads, and beds, equal, at least, in all respects, to the generality of whites around them. The Wyandotts are a fine race, and I consider their civilization accomplished, and little short in their general improvement to an equal number of whites in our frontier settlements. They are charmingly situated in a most fruitful country. They hunt more for sport than subsistence, for cattle seem to abound among them, and their good condition gives assurance of the fertility of their soil and the rich herbage which it produces; for the land is everywhere covered with the richest blue glass.

They mostly dress like their white neighbors, and seem as contented and happy as any other portion of people I ever saw. A stranger would believe he was passing through a white population, if the inhabitants were not seen; for beside the neatness of their houses, with chimneys and glazed windows, you see horses, cows, sheep, and hogs, grazing everywhere, and wagons, harness, plows, and other implements of husbandry, in their proper places. In short, they are the only Indians within the circle of my visits, whom I consider as entirely reclaimed, and whom I should consider it a cruelty to attempt to remove. They ought to be cherished and preserved as the model of a colony, should any be: planted and nurtured in remote places from our frontier settlements. They are so far advanced, in my opinion, as to be beyond the reach of deterioration. The whole settlement may now be looked upon as a school. Two acres

[ocr errors]

of the missionary farm have been cleared and inclosed since last year, and sown with timothy seed, and about eighteen acres cleared which were before inclosed and sown with wheat. There is but one male teacher, who instructs the children in spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, and grammar. There are seventy children from four to twenty years of age-thirty-four boys and thirtysix girls. The wife of the school-master assists her husband, and instructs the girls in knitting, spinning, &c. The children are contented and happy. There are two men regularly hired, who work on the farm under the direction of the Rev. Mr. James Gilruth, who appears to be an able and experienced husbandman. The boys assist in the farming operations. A good and handsome stone meeting house, forty feet in length by thirty in breadth, has been erected since last year. It is hand

somely and neatly finished inside. There are of the Wyandotts two hundred and sixty who have become members of the Church. They are divided into ten classes, in which there are thirteen leaders, five exhorters, and five stewards. Some of the largest boys belonging to the school are about learning trades. Forty-three acres of ground have been sown in corn, ten laid down in grass, and three appropriated for a garden, since my last visit. The farm is well supplied with horses, oxen, cows, and swine, and all the necessary farming utensils. I cannot forbear mentioning a plan adopted by this tribe, under the auspices of the superintendent, which promises the most salutary effects. A considerable store has been fitted up on their reserve, and furnished with every species of goods suited to their wants, and purchased with their annuities. An account is opened with each individual who deals thereat, and a very small profit required. Mr. William Walker, a quadroom, one of the tribe, a trust-worthy man, and well qualified by his habits and education to conduct the business, is their agent. The benefits resulting from this establishment are obvious. The Indians can at home procure every necessary article at a cheap rate, and avoid not only every temptation which assails him when he goes abroad, but also great imposition. What he has to sell is here purchased at a fair price. The profits of the store are appropriated to the general benefit. This plan, it seems to me, promises many advantages. The merchandise with which this store is furnished, was bought in New York, on good terms."

CHAPTER XVI.

Conference year commencing in 1826-Rev. James Gilruth appointed missionary to the Wyandotts-Death of Between-the-logsBishop M’Kendree's last visit to the mission-Rev. John P. Finley-The Bishop's pastoral care of the mission-Holds a council with the chiefs-His address to them-Their reply-Notes of this council, taken by the Bishop-His notice of some of their peculiar customs-Scionta, formerly high priest of the heathen party-His conversion noticed-The Bishop's valedictory-Affecting parting scene-The Bishop, the author, and others, set out for UrbanaIndian provision for the journey-Incidents on the way-Reflections concerning the Bishop's plainness and humility-Indian "cold coffee"-Arrival at Urbana-Bishop's letter to Editors of the Methodist Magazine-Slander against the author investigated and refuted-Certificate of the chiefs in his favor-Young Ladies' Wyandott Missionary Society of Philadelphia-Letters from same.

AT the conference held at Hillsborough, October 4th, 1826, the health of the author was such, that it was deemed inexpedient for him to be returned again as missionary; and the Rev. James Gilruth was appointed to take charge of the Wyandott mission, whilst I remained as superintendent.

year

This the mission sustained incalculable loss in the death of that distinguished and useful chief, Between-thelogs. A letter from Upper Sandusky, dated December 22d, 1826, gives the following information respecting his illness and approaching death:

"Before this reaches you, I have no doubt we shall lose our excellent chief, brother Between-the-logs. He will, in all human probability, have bid farewell to the shores of mortality, and will have gone to enjoy that rest which remains for the people of God. He is now lying very low with that merciless destroyer, the consumption;

« PoprzedniaDalej »