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tanght them to drink the poisonous liquor to excess, and many other wicked practices.

"This has been the case with the different tribes, who formerly inhabited on the eastward, as well as the tribes elsewhere, ever since white people came over to this island. Some of the tribes accepted the offers of the good white people, but the rest with contempt rejected them; but on the contrary, they took hold with both hands the cup of the evil minded.

"Grandfather, Be it known unto you and your tribes, that all the nations, who thus rejected civilization, and Christian religion, and embraced the wicked practices of the white people, were poor, and finally became extinct from the earth, and even their name is forgotten.

"But on the other hand, all the Indians, who accepted the offer of the good white people, were blessed. So far as they were faithful, they prospered, and the remnants of them remain to this day.

"Grandfather, I will also inform you, that the Christian religion was offered to my forefathers at first near seventy years ago, in consequence of which the Sachems and Counsellors, who were then living, together with their young men, about two hundred in number, held a Council to know whether it was best for the nation to accept the offer or not. Previous to that period, many of them had learned how to follow the example of the bad white people, particularly in drinking the poisonous liquors to excess, and have prejudice against the Christian religion. However, the result of the Council was this, not to reject the offer before they should try it, and let it be preached in one certain village, and let every man and woman go and hear it, and embrace it, if they think it best. And Wonnahkatukoke (or Housetonack) was the village so chosen. At this place I was born, and these my companions. There my nation was collected, such as were disposed to hear the gospel. At the same time there were many, as I observed before, who by the influence of some wicked Dutch people, and by the means of ardent quors, would not listen to the voice of the preacher, and finally all such

were diminished very fast, some went to live amongst other nations, and the rest were buried under the earth, consequently their villages are desolated, and they were dispossessed by the whites.

"But the abovementioned' village was the only one that has remained to the last; and the descendants of those, who embraced civilization and the Christian religion still remain as a nation.

"Grandfather, I will further inform you that many of the good white people of late seem greatly stirred up, by the influence of the good Spirit, to feel more pity for the Indians in gen eral, consequently they have embodied themselves into societies, that they may help those they think proper objects. Indeed I have never heard of such stirring among whites before.

"And further, one of such societies or associations have entered into covenant of friendship with my nation, whose council fire is at Monokuhtaunuk, (or city of New-York.) They are your friends and brothers as well as ours. And the great men of the United States are more disposed to do good towards the people of our colour.

"Grandfather, Your grandchildren the Mohhukkannuk nation, have been endeavouring to learn the arts of civilization and Christian religion, and by long experience they found this was the best way for us to live, and much easier than the ancient way. At the same time I don't desire you to forsake your hunting, or any of your wholesome customs.

"Then I took up a white belt of wampum and said,

"Grandfather, As my ancestors and yours have established a covenant of friendship, which has been kept sacred, and never been violated, and having well known the deplorable situation of our colour in general, induced my nation to come to introduce civilization and Christian religion to you and your tribes or clans. [The Indians are divided into three clans, the Turkey, the Turtle, and the Bear, and these have their particular chiefs.]

"Grandfather, Now I exhort you to consider this seriously, and have compassion on your young men, women and children, and let them learn this, what our white brothers call A. B. C.

which is the foundation of learning It is like as if you stand at the head of a living stream; the further you followed, you will find it wider, which has no end; and by following it faithfully you will find various advantages. Among other things you will be able to open the eyes of our and your grandchildren in the different tribes in this country, who always look to their grandfathers for advice and

counsel.

"Grandfather, Be assured that by following this path I and my nation have found many advantages. Among other things, our white brothers cannot so easily cheat us now with regard to our land affairs as they have done our forefathers.

"Grandfather, You have heard your grandchildren thus far, and as I am your true friend, I will speak to you further, and I will not hide any thing from you.

"Having recommended civilization and Christian religion to you, I will tell you deeply consider the matter, and have compassion on your men, women and children. I don't expect you can follow these things at once. You know very well, that many of the instruments of the white people are found to be useful with us, the Indians, as well as with them. And that they are not rained or poured down immediately from heaven by the great and good Spirit; but it is his will to use his people as instruments to manufacture these things to be useful to mankind of all colours; just so, it is his will and good pleasure, to use his good people as instru ments to propagate civilization and the Christian religion among the poor

Indians.

"Grandfather, I must plainly tell you this simple truth, that if you will now as a nation accept what I offer to you, and follow this plain path, the great and good Spirit will bless you, that you will become a wise people, and you shall increase as to numbers and substance; consequently you will be happy in this life and the life to

come.

"And further, you will be able to hold your lands to the latest generations; for this is the will of the great and good Spirit.

cup of the evil minded, you will par ticipate with those nations, whom I have mentioned, in their miseries; you will become poor, in every respect, and you will be scattered. Your villages will be desolated or possessed by a people who will culti vate your lands.

"Then I ask, what you and my grandchildren, the different nations will think; be assured, they will be sorry, and you will be despised by many; and finally, you will be extinct from the earth.

"Therefore, grandfathers, think of these things-And may the great and good Spirit help you in your deliberations.""

A white belt of wampum, with
a piece of paper sewed on one
end, on which were written
A. B. C. and

1. 2. 3. delivered.

(To be continued.)

FROM a report of the Trustees of the Hampshire Missionary Society, at their annual meeting in Northampton, August, 1805, it appears, that the Legislature of Massachusetts have granted three hundred dollars to assist in educating two Indian lads, descendants of the late Rev. Mr. Williams of Deerfield, who have been for several years under the care of Deacon N. Ely of Longmeadow. This grant, by the trustees of the above society, has been entrusted to the management of Rev. Dr. Joseph Lathrop, Justin Ely, Esq. and Rev. Richard S. Storrs. Ten dollars have been given for the same benevolent object, by Capt. Perez Graves of Hatfield.*

The trustees appropriated one thou. sand dollars for the support of missionaries, and two hundred and fifty for the purchase of books for distribution, the ensuing year.

Concerning the labours of their missionaries the last year, the trustees report, that four were employed in the year 1804, viz. Rev. Theodore Hinsdale and Rev. Joel Hayes, eighteen weeks, in the new settlements in New-York; and Rev. Vinson Gould and Rev Thomas H. Wood, twenty weeks in the District of Maine.

The society for propagating the gospel among the

"I must also tell you plainly, that if Indians and others in North America, have for several you reject such offer, and embrace the

years past, contributed 50, and the two last years, 10 dolls. to the same purpose.

"Your missionaries (say the trustees) in the State of New-York performed their service, mainly, in the counties of Chenango and Onondago. In the early part of their mission they enjoyed such health as to pursue their work without interruption and with much activity, labouring abundantly not only on the Lord's day, but on other days, with an attentive and grateful people, whose lips uttered the praises of God for the rich blessing, and thanksgiving to the society for their affectionate concern for the interests of immortal souls, who were either pining for the bread of Christian ordinances, or were perishing for lack of knowledge. But the trustees, with humble submission, regret the rebuke of God's providence, that, for a number of weeks, your able and faithful missionaries were much impeded in their work, by bodily infirmities and disease, and in consequence of the prevalence of sickness, with the advice of physicians, were compelled to leave their service, and return home before the expiration of their term.

Rev. Messrs. Gould and Wood were employed for twenty weeks in the northern parts of the counties of York and Cumberland, now Oxford, and on the western borders of the county of Kennebeck. Through divine goodness they, in general, enjoyed good health, and were able to prosecute their mission through the whole of their term with an activity and perseverance which manifested how much their hearts were in their work, and how well placed was the confidence of the trustees in their integrity and ability for such arduous employments.

It might gratify the inquisitive and piots mind to follow, in our narrative, cach of our worthy missionaries, both eastward and westward, through the whole progress of their zealous and well chosen labours for the good of our brethren in remote and destitute parts of the country. But the sameness of their instructions and of the design of their mission, and the sameness of their desires to do good to souls, will render & more general view of their labours sufficient for the information of the society, and prevent a report too prolix for the present occasion.

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Your missionaries have the testimony of the people, where they have been employed, to their constancy, skill and fidelity in the discharge of their ministry. In almost every settlement which they visited your missionaries found a ready disposition to receive them, and cordially to welcome and attend their ministrations, excepting when they were prevented from assembling for lectures by the urgent toils of harvest. And what may animate your hopes for the future, and enkindle your present thanksgivings to God, your missionaries assure us, that God generally gave the people an hearing ear, and in many instances they appeared to have an understanding heart.

Besides the duties of the Sabbath, which were often performed in three distinct exercises, many lectures were preached on other days, so many, that one could hardly suppose their bodily strength to be equal to their labours. These lectures were attended by goodly numbers of devout hearers. Your missionaries administered, as opportunities presented, the Christian sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper. They often visited schools, and prayed with, and instructed the children. They went from house to house inculcating the important duties of personal and family religion.

The care and distribution of the society's books added much to their other labours.

The experience and observation of missionaries, and the repeated writ ten testimony of the inhabitants of the new settlements prove the wisdom of sending pious books to be distributed, among the people. The numerous books sent by the society have been received with much avidity and joy; the recipients feel a peculiar gratitude for this mode of expressing the Christian benevolence of their distant brethren. The most happy and permanent effects are stat ed to arise from the instructions which those pious writings impart. Publick worship, family prayer and personal religion have, through the co-operation of the Holy Spirit, been greatly encouraged and promoted by the Bibles and pious writings sent by this and other societies. Past success, attending this method of advancing Christian knowledge and

practice cannot fail to encourage and animate the future liberalities and exertions of the society in the same

course.

Ample testimonies from the inhabitants of the new settlements, joined to the uniform opinions of your missionaries, lead to the conclusion, That missionary labours are still greatly needed; that the necessities of the destitute inhabitants far exceed the means and exertions which have hitherto been made by this and the various missionary institutions of this country and of Europe. Urgent motives and arguments, from duty and compassion, continue to prompt the liberalities, the labours, and the importunate supplications of Christ's disciples, who, it is hoped, will persevere in contributing with a ready mind, of their worldly substance, and will daily besiege the throne of grace with their fervent prayers to the Lord of the harvest to raise up, qualify and send forth, still more abundantly, labourers into his harvest.

The present season, six preachers are employed in the service of the society. Rev. Payson Williston and the Rev. Thomas H. Wood, for fifteen weeks, in the counties of Chenango and Onondago, in the State of New-York; and Mr. Royal Phelps, a candidate for the ministry, is to labour for three weeks in the town of Adams, and for four weeks in the settlements called Camden, lying near lake Ontario in the same State.

Rev. Joseph Field, Rev. John Dutton, and Mr. Samuel Sewal, are engaged in missionary labours in the counties of Oxford and Kennebeck, in the District of Maine. Mr. Field for sixteen weeks, Mr. Dutton for twenty weeks, and Mr. Sewal for eighteen weeks.

The narrative of the labours of our missionaries, for the present season, must be deferred until the next an nual report. In the mean time, the trustees, from a confidence in the piety, zeal, and capacity of your missionaries, anticipate happy effects from their ministrations and from the prayers of the society, and the numerous friends of our benevolent institution; they anticipate from Christ, the source of gracious influences, blessings upon the missionaries, upon the

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The trustees report to the society, and particularly to the liberal subscri bers of the charitable female association, that, by an examination of the accounts of the monies added to the funds by the contributions of that association, effectual aids have been afforded to the operations of the society, and that the most substantial benefits are to be expected in future from that pious institution.

Rev. Mr. Atwater's legacy of eighty dollars, was, by the testator, appropriated to the purchase of books, and the profits arising from the sale of the edition of Doddridge's Rise and Progress was consecrated to the same purpose, and 82 dols. 70 cents, have already been applied from the profits in the purchase of books.

The trustees express their gratitude to the charitable female association, and fiducially rely upon the mercy of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that in answer to the prayers and liberalities of the daughters of our Zion, the long expected and blessed period will be hastened, when the seed of the woman shall bruise, effectually, the serpent's head.

A view of the state of the society's funds affords matter of encouragement and of ardent thanksgiving to God, who has put it into the hearts of his people, to take of the wealth which he has given them and to consecrate it to the interests of his kingdom.

Let the society and those who favour its pious designs joyfully say,

Hitherto the Lord hath helped us." Let them take courage to pursue their work with renewed ardour, and with a humble steadfast hope in God, that he will more and more increase the means of sending the light of gospel truth into the remote and destitute settlements of our country; and that he will open a wide door, and effectual to increase Christian know. ledge among our countrymen, and in due time, among the pagan tribes which surround our borders.

Hopeful symptoms, it is thought, presage the approaching conversion of some of the savages of the wilderness to Christ. It will certainly be a happy preparation for their ingathering to our Redeemer, when the people, who inhabit our frontier settlements, shall imbibe the spirit of Jesus, and shall be made obedient to his gospel, and thus, by their example, allure pagans to revere the name and religion of Immanuel.

Every friend to Zion is entreated to put his hand to this work of the Lord, and cheerfully to come and deposit his offerings in the treasury of Christ, that so, means may be amply provided for repairing the walls of our Jerusalem, and enlarging the boundaries of Zion. How can men believe, unless they hear? How can they hear, without a preacher-How can preachers be obtained by the numerous, scattered, and divided settlements of our country, unless we, and others, like minded, appropriate a portion of our property, and lend our unwearied attention to this good work of sending able and pious missionaries among them, to make known to them the mysteries of the kingdom of God and the gospel of our salvation? What purpose equally valuable as that of procuring gospel instructions for perishing sinners, can lay claim to our worldly substance?

the

By the gospel, we and others experience a blessing in things of this life. By the gospel alone can we learn the way of peace with God, and obtain a blessed immortality in heaven.

The trustees report to the society their opinion, that it is highly expedient that their liberalities be contin ued and increased from time to time, and that it be requested of the several assemblies of Congregationalists

and Presbyterians in the county to make a publick contribution to the funds of the society, upon the next annual thanksgiving or upon some Lord's day near that time, as shall be found most convenient; and that this report be read in the several Congre gations at some suitable time previous to such contribution.

In ways of charity to our brethren may we not humbly hope, through the merits of Christ, for the effusions of divine grace upon ourselves and our children? That of the necessary good things of this life we shall receive such a bountiful supply, in providence, that we may be more and more able to bestow, from year to year, abundantly, for the help and salvation of others, who are deprived of the rich privileges which we enjoy. And all the praise and thanksgiving shall be ascribed to that gracious God and Saviour, who hath moved us to take of his own and give it unto him. Amen."

An account of the books distributed by this active and useful Society, and of their receipts and expenditures, shall be given in our next number.

c.

Extract of a Letter, dated London, May 31, 1805.

THE eleventh anniversary of our London Missionary Meeting, commenced on Wednesday, the 8th inst. and closed on Friday, the 16th. It is kept as an interesting jubilee, for it is truly interesting to every person who wishes to see the spread of the kingdom of Messiah. The last general meeting has been more numerously attended than any one preceding. I suppose there were no less than three hundred ministers present, composed of almost every denomination. The preaching plan was as follows: On Wednesday morning, Dr. Williams of Rotherham, formerly of Oswestry, preached at Rowland Hill's Surry Chapel. In the evening, Mr. Nichol of London preached at the Taber. nacle, late Mr. Whitefield's. Thursday evening, Mr. Slatterie of Chatham preached at Zion's Chapel, late lady Huntington's. On Friday morning Mr. Thomason of Cambridge, a churchman, preached at St. Bride church; and, in the evening, the Lord's Supper was administered to several hundreds at Spa Fields Chap

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