view it at first as a caprice, they would not be long of feeling that it was at least a caprice of kindness towards them-some well-meaning Quixotism, perhaps, which, whether judicious or not, was pregnant, at least, with the demonstration of good will, and would call forth from them, by a law of our sentient nature, which they could not help, an honest emotion of good will back again; and instead of the envy and derision which so often assail our rich when charioted in splendour, along the more remote and outlandish streets of the city, would it be found that the equipage of this generous, though somewhat eccentric visiter, had always a comely and complaisant homage rendered to it. By such a movement as this, might an individual, throughout a district, and a few individuals throughout the city at large, reclaim the whole of our present generation, to a kindliness for the upper classes that is now unfelt; and this too, not by the ministration of those beggarly elements, which serve to degrade and to impoverish the more; but by the ministration of such a moral influence among the young, as would serve to exalt humble life, and prepare for a better economy than our present, the habits of our rising generation. We know not, indeed, what could serve more effectually to amalgamate the two great classes of society together, than their concurrence in an object which so nearly concerns the families of all. We know not how a wealthy individual could work a more effectual good, or earn a purer and more lasting gratitude, from the people of his own selected district, than by his splendid donative in the cause of education. Whatever exceptions may be alleged against the other schemes of benevolence, this, at least, is a charity whose touch does not vilify its objects; nor will it, like the aliment of ordinary pauperism, serve to mar the habit and character of our population. Here, then, is a walk on which philanthropy may give the rein to her most aspiring wishes for the good of the world; and while a single district of the land is without the scope of an efficient system for the schooling of its families, is there room for every lover of his species to put forth a liberality that can neither injure nor degrade them. Every enlightened friend of the poor ought to rejoice in such an opportunity, amid the coarse invectives which assail him, when led by his honest convictions to resist the parade and the publicity of so many attempts as are made in our day, in behalf of indigence. It may sometimes happen, that selfishness, in making her escape from the applications of an injudicious charity, will be glad to shelter herself under some of those maxims of a sounder economy, which are evidently gaining in credit and currency amongst us. And hence the ready imputation of selfishness upon all, who decline from the support of associations which they hold to be questionable. And thus is it somewhat amusing to observe, how the yearly subscriber of one guinea to some favourite scheme of philanthropy, thereby purchases to himself the right of stigmatizing every cold-blooded speculator who refuses his concurrence; while the latter is altogether helpless, and most awkwardly so, under a charge so very disgraceful. In avowing, as he does, the principle, that all the public relief which is ministered to poverty, swells and aggravates the amount of it in the land, and that it is only by efforts of unseen kindness, that any thing effectual can be done for its mitigation-he cannot lay bare the arithmetic of private benevolence, and more especially of his own-he cannot drag it forth to that ground of visibility, on which he believes that the whole of its charm and efficacy would be dissipated he cannot confront the untold liberalities which pass in secret conveyance to the abodes of indigence, with the doings and the doqueted reports of committeeship he cannot anticipate the disclosures of that eventful day, when He who seeth in secret shall reward openly, however much he may be assurred, that the droppings of individual sympathy, as far outweigh in value the streams of charitable distribution, which have been constructed by the labour and the artifice of associated men, as does the rain from heaven, which feeds the mighty rivers of our world, outweigh in amount the water which flows through all the aqueducts of workmanship that exist in it. From all this he is precluded, by the very condition in which the materials of the question are situated; and silent endurance is the only way in which he can meet the zealots of public charity, while they push and prosecute the triumph of their widely blazoned achievement-even though convinced all the while, that, by their obtrusive hand, they have superseded a far more productive benevolence than they ever can replace; that they have held forth a show of magnitude and effort which they can in no way realize; and with a style of operation, mighty in promise, but utterly insignificant in the result, have deadened all those responsibilities and private regards, which, if suffered, without being diverted aside, to go forth on their respective vicinities, would yield a more plentiful, as well as a more precious tribute, to the cause of suffering humanity, than ever can be raised by loud and open proclamation. Entelligence. WESTERN ASIA.-PALESTINE MISSION. No later accounts, we believe, have been received from Messrs. Fisk and Parsons than the latter part of November. We have before us a letter from Mr. Fisk, dated "Smyrna, 22d November, 1820," addressed to a lady in this city, in which, after alluding to the Christian society, from which he is separated, he says, "The sight of some savage Turk or some degraded Greek, reminds me that I am surrounded by another kind of society, and the human voices which I hear admonish me, that, before I can engage with ease and efficiency in pointing out the way of salvation to those around me, and guiding their minds to heaven in prayer, I have the Herculean task to perform of ac¬ quiring several different languages."-" You will, perhaps expect me to say something about this country. A country with which so many interesting associations are connected, you will suppose, cannot fail to furnish a great variety of intelligence and important incidents It is, indeed, interesting to pass the places where the Greeks and Persians. fought-where Homer wrote, and especially where Apostles preached and Martyrs died. But the savageness and ignorance which now prevail, render it extremely difficult to obtain correct information, or true explanations respecting the things we see. If you wish for a concise description of the state of this country, natural, political, literary and religious, read Gen. ch. i. v. 2. the first part of the verse. No description could be more apposite. When you have read, pray that the latter part of the verse may soon be as applicable as the first part is now. If GoD say, 'Let there be light' there will be light." This letter was written just after they had visited a part of the seven churches of Asia. They left Smyrna on the first of November, and returned on the 21st, having "travelled 300 miles, and visited, among other places, Pergamos, Thyatirie, Sardis, and Philadelphia-sold and gave away 21 Bibles or Testaments, and distributed 1,300 religious tracts." The London Christian Instructor contains a communication from "an Independent Minister," in which he expresses great pleasure on account of the appointment of Messrs. Parsons and Fisk to attempt a Mission to Jerusalem. From the instructions of the Board he quotes as follows: "We are persuaded that if you can realize this object with safety, the importance of the station will outweigh many difficulties." "It is evident," says he, " that they have viewed the subject in all its bearings; and I need not remind you, that the Board is composed of men possessing no small share of wisdom and prudence." After expressing deep regret "that Mr. Connor has written to dissuade them from attempting it, considering it ineligible," he proceeds: "In this feeling, I am not alone. One of the most eminent of my brethren in the denomination to which I have the happiness to belong, told me he offered himself to one of our Missionary Societies, provided he were sent to this interesting spot; and also to the Bible Society, as their agent, with The same proviso; but the proposal was in both cases declined." "I trust, however, the time to favour ZION, yea, the set time, is now come." He then pledges himself" to leave a legacy of 2007. ($889,) to the Missionary Society who shall send the first Missionary to Jerusalem, provided he shall have established a Bible Society." He further suggests, that "perhaps the gentleman in Kent, who offered to raise ten shares of 1007. each, if a University for Dissenters could be established, would have no objection (should that desirable plan unfortunately be abandoned) to devote his liberality to this object." "Christians! the cry which is heard from Jerusalem, Come over and help us,' is loud and piercing. May it constantly vibrate in your ears, and give you no rest, till its inhabitants, (who are perishing for lack of knowledge,) blest with a fervent and enlightened ministry, sent thither by your heavenly charity, shall again exclaim, 'How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!!!" " "The anxiety of Polycarp, the present patriarch of Jerusalem—the decision of the American Board of Com.-the readiness of those devoted young men who have volunteered in this good work-all, all should stimulate you, and, pointing to this station seem to say, 'Come, for all things are now ready."" UNITED STATES. An Account of a Mission among the Senecas and Munsees, performed in 1820, by the Rev. Timothy Alden, President of Alleghany College, addressed to the Rev. Abiel Holmes, D. D. of Massachusetts, Secretary of the Society for propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others of North America.-(Continued from page 53.) On the 7th of September, we attended this stated exercise. Mr. Callender, their worthy and indefatigable teacher of music, was present. I was surprised at the excellence of their performance. The new tune given out for that evening was the Portuguese Hymn, or Adeste Fideles. It was not long before they sung it with great correctness. The following words had been prepared by Mr. Hyde for this delightful piece of sacred music, and are here preserved, as a specimen of the language, in which, previously to the year 1818, the praises of redeeming love were probably never sung. Several copies were written in a plain hand, so that some of the Indians could read them, and the rest were soon able to repeat them, memoriter. It may be remarked that no language is better adapted to vocal music, than the Seneca, which is soft and mellifluous as the Italian, or the Ionic dialect of the Greek Sis-wa-den-no-tus Nâ-yăd-dâ-gwěn-nē-û Swâd-do-hâ-ōk Nȧ-de-swi-ė-wi-yē-stō Jé-sús Hȧ-nē-ů-é-wa-nã-ǎh-gwŭt Nă- Nå sid-dwâ-den-no-tus Na-ki-nâ-så. LITERAL TRANSLATION. Sing unto the Lord; All his works are perfect; The whole earth is full of his gifts; Let us sing unto him a new song. Rejoice, ye righteous, And praise his holy name. Let us go and worship before him. Let us sing unto him a new song. I made an address to the little assembly, which George Jamieson, brother of Jacob, mentioned in a former communication, and grandson of the white woman at Gauhda-ou, interpreted, and concluded with prayer. About twenty only were present. Considerable sickness prevailed at that time, and William King, a Cayuga chief, and son of young King, was dangerously ill with an epidemic fever. The whole village was anxiously waiting the issue of his malady. No people are more sympathetic, in time of trouble, than the Senecas. Whenever any distressing calamity overtakes any of their families, it may be read in the countenance of almost every one. It was in consequence of the sickness, then prevalent, so few attended the meeting. Formerly, in seasons of distress, they generally had recourse to ardent spirits, to drown their sorrow; but now, the friends of the Christian religion, though equally depressed, shun society and bear their anguish in silent grief. Wishing, on this excursion, if practicable, to extend my missionary labours to the aboriginal settlements on the Genessee river, we went as far as Tonnewanta to spend the Sabbath. The only interpreter, at that place, was Peter Baldwin, and it was well known that he was strongly opposed to the Christian party. It was doubtful whether he could be induced to officiate as my interpreter, and, if he could, whether he would be faithful. Here a majority of the chiefs was hostile to religious instruction. Mr. Hyde had kindly intended, under these considerations, that Thomas Armstrong, his interpreter, should accompany us to Tonnewanta, lest the object in view should be frustrated; but he was seized with violent symptoms of the epidemic and could not travel with us. On our arrival at Tonnewanta, thirty-three miles from Seneca Village, on the Buffalo, we called first upon Littlebeard, a respectable Indian, and the only chief on the reservation who is friendly to the Christian religion. We then repaired to the habitation of John Bennet, an intelligent aboriginal, who appears to be exerting himself more vigorously than any other in the place to promote the Redeemer's cause. He went with us and introduced me to Peter Baldwin. I frankly declared the design of my visit, expressed my wish to meet, the next day, with the chiefs and as many of the inhabitants as could convene, having a communication to make, and hoped that he would perform the part of an interpreter on the occasion. He unexpectedly consented and promptly said he would do as well as he could. I told him I did not wish him to be at that trouble for nought, and that he should have a compensation, which would be satisfactory. He proposed that I should be at the council-house early in the morning. We spent the night at Littlebeard's, where we were hospitably entertained in the truly characteristic Indian style. Soon after an early breakfast, taking Bennet with us, we repaired to the cabin of Peter Baldwin, whom we found, in a kind of piazza, waiting our arrival, with his aged father, Kon-noh-ken-tou-we, the head chief of this part of the tribe, Peter King, another chief, brother of young King, and several others. Baldwin said that King was to set out that day for Grand River; that the people, meaning the Pagan party, would not meet at the council-house, till late in the afternoon; and, that the chiefs desired me, if agreeable, to make my communication to them, at that time and place, adding, that they would report, whatever I might offer, to the assembly, as soon as collected together. Knowing that if I should comply with the wish expressed, every purpose would be answered as fully as if I were to deliver what I had to say in the council-house, conformably to a remark specially made in my last report to the society, I immediately commenced my address and continued it for three hours. I considered that I was about to deliver a message from the great head of the church to the leaders of the Pagan party, that what I should bring to view would be minutely and repeatedly detailed to the inhabitants of the reservation; and as this was no doubt the only opportunity I should ever have of pleading the cause of my Lord and Master with the poor benighted, deluded, and pitiable enemies of the cross, in this part of the kingdom of darkness, I ought to be full and explicit. A just and particular delineation of all the parts of this discourse would extend ' this report to a wearisome length. Multum in parvo shall be my aim. After informing the chiefs of the society, whose benevolent views, in reference to the moral and religious benefit of my red brethren, it was my duty and happiness to endeavour to fulfil, I spake of that infinitely glorious Being, who is the Father of every human soul and the Creator of all things; of his communications to the world; of the Holy Scriptures as containing the word of God, and that a knowledge and a reception of this sacred word was essential to make us wise unto eternal life; of the work of creation; of the divine appointment of the Sabbath of universal obligation; of the fall of our first parents; of the wickedness of the antediluvians; of their wonderful destruction by a flood of water; of the miraculous preservation of Noah, his family, and the living creatures with him in the ark; of the subsequent iniquity of the children of men continued to the present day; of God's peculiar people, the Jews, to whom he committed the oracles of truth for the instruction of all men; of the ten commandments spoken by the Great Spirit amid the thunders and the lightnings of the mount; of the renewed injunction to keep the Sabbath; of the early promise of Jesus Christ as the only Redeemer and Saviour of any of the posterity of Adam; of the various prophecies of this glorious Messiah many ages before he came; and of his advent at the time which had been foretold, mentioning the number of years since his appearance, as I had done, relative to the time from the creation to the deluge. The way was now prepared for speaking particularly of the gospel dispensation, upon which I descanted at considerable length, giving an account of the birth, miracles, benevolent operations, life, sufferings, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of the Son of God; of the doctrines he taught; of the brevity and uncertainty of the present life; of death, the resurrection, judgment, and eternity; of the solemn and unreserved account which every one must give when Christ shall come to judge the world, fixing his tribunal in the mid-heavens, and pronouncing the sentence, from which there will be no appeal; of the necessity of believing in the Son of God; of the happiness and glory of all, who choose this blessed Redeemer for their everlasting portion; and of the indescribable misery and despair of all, who finally reject the proffered terms of grace. I frankly allowed that the vile and unprincipled among their white brethren had often treated them ill, to the painful regret of the true followers of Jesus Christ. I stated that if the Indians were well instructed, they would not be liable to such impositions from the abandoned white people, as they had often suffered; that nothing could be more important to the welfare of their rising offspring, than a good education; and that it would be wise in them to adopt such measures, as might be conducive to that knowledge, which would lead to the subsequent happiness of those, who would shortly succeed them in the cares of life. I spoke expressly of the long-continued kindness of the Friends to their brethren on the Alleghany and at Cataraugus, and that they contemplated, as I had been informed, the establishment of a school in Tonnewanta. I exhorted them to see that their children diligently attended the school, whenever it should be in operation, that they might acquire much useful knowledge, and, especially, that they might be enabled to read and understand what God had spoken and recorded in the Holy Bible. After the usual consultation, King made a reply in the name of the chiefs. He, however, carefully avoided speaking a word about the Bible, its contents, or any thing I had delivered relative to the Christian religion. The most of his speech consisted in an encomium on the utility of schools and a resolution to promote the one contemplated by the Friends. Without any farther remarks he concluded, by saying, that they gave me a thousand thanks for what I had told them. It might have been suggested, that previous to the reply, they several times asked me to repeat the chronological facts, I had incidentally mentioned, and that they seemed anxious to retain the recollection of them. I took my leave of these poor pagan chiefs, probably never to see them again till we meet at that august tribunal, the awful terrors of which for all the enemies of Jesus, I had endeavoured, in some measure, to unfold. We returned to Bennet's house, where the Christian assembly statedly meet. Baldwin promised to follow soon and to interpret; but he did not come. I saw him once afterwards, when he apologized by representing that he thought we were to meet at Littlebeard's, and that he went thither to fulfil his engagements to me. I gave him fifty cents, with which he appeared to be amply satisfied. Half of that sum would probably be sufficient to secure his interpreting services to any missionary on a like occasion. Bennet understood English better, perhaps, than any other at Tonnewanta, except Baldwin. He had heard the long address in English and Seneca, and gave a copious detail of it, to the Christian party, while we were waiting for Baldwin. |