of the Bible, and as to the sincerity of their desire to devote themselves to God, in that covenant which is well ordered, and sure in all things. After expressing their assent, the nature of baptism was explained more fully to their comprehension. They then knelt down, one by one, and were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Their christian names are severally James Stevenson, Seneca White, Tall Peter, and John Seneca, all respectable young men, and all chiefs excepting the last. The audience was still, and apparently solemn; and though consisting of 150, nominally heathen, they conducted with as much solemnity and order as could reasonably be expected, considering their ignorance, most of them having never witnessed any thing of the kind before.

"Now thanks be to God and our Father, that he has planted an infant church in this heathen land. Look down, O Lord God, and visit this vine, and the vineyard which thy right hand has planted, and the branch which thou madest strong for thyself. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand. So will we not go back from thee; quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. Turn us again, O Lord God of Hosts! cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved"."

CATARAUGUS MISSION.

EXTRACTS OF LETTERS.

last month. At that time the Indians gave good attention, and expressed great pleasure in hearing the word of God explained. After meeting they observed, "the more we understand the truths of the Bible, and receive instruction respecting them, the more satisfaction we feel in our minds, and the more determined are we to press on in the christian way. We have learnt to-day what we and all mankind are, while ignorant of the gospel, and what we must do to be happy in this world and in that which is to come. We see, from the gospel that has been explained, that we are all sinners like the prodigal son, and have left our Father's house, and sinned against Him who made us, and in so doing, instead of its making us happy, we find only misery and pain in our sinful ways. But from what has been told us, we see that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has given us, and all sinners, the offer to come back again. If we forsake all our bad ways, and repent of our sins, and love him, he will plead with the Great Spirit to forgive us, and have compassion on us, and make us happy. Now it seems we have the choice given us, to be happy or miserable. We never saw it so plain before. We feel thankful for the instructions given us to-day, and thank the Great Spirit every time we hear from the good book." Our meetings with them are always interesting, though the number that attend is not large. May the Lord grant that his word,

April 1, 1823.

27

time, may be blessed to the salvation of their immortal souls.

Mission School. Many of the parents of Yesterday closed the first term of the the children, and several white people, were present to witness the first quarterly examination. A recital of the exercises of the children will show, in some degree, their improvement. The several classes first performed a dictating lesson. The monitor spells the word, the class repeat it after him, then write it on slates, which are often inspected. The object is to improve at the same time in spelling and writing. The first class then read in words of two syllables, the second in words of three, the third in five, and the

fourth read in the Testament, and correctly explained the stops, marks, and numerical letters. The children gave English names to a variety of objects pointed out to them, and readily translated about 150 Indian words into the English language.

After going through their various lessons, they sung sixteen tunes by note, and some by word. The exercises closed on the part of the children by their singing an English Hymn, and repeating the Lord's Prayer. One of the visiters then made appropriate and useful remarks to the children and Indians present, and offered a prayer. As the Indians tarried till morning, the evening was spent in giving them instruction.

This day is the time appointed for the children to visit their friends. Hereafter they will regularly have the same priviledge every three months. Two of the girls chose to stay with us during the vacation. All the others have gone home this morning, and are to be absent four days. As they were about to go, I was surprised that each one solicited the privilege of taking a spelling-book, and said they wanted to spend a part of the time while at home in reading. None of the children have been home before, and all appear pleased at the idea of returning at the appointed time. While they have been with us, they have uniformly behaved well, and manifested a disposition to learn. They have endeared themselves to our family by their good conduct and interesting appearance. The task of instructing these children, providing for so large a family, and superintending all its concerns, is very laborious, yet pleasant and encouraging. It is truly animating to witness the improvement from day to day of these Indian children, recently taken from the woods; to see them, apparently uniting with us in our family devotions, and in reality joining with us in singing hymns of praise, and especially to look forward with lively hope to the time when they will read and understand the word of God, become seriously acquainted with its truths, and return to their tribe, labouring and praying for the salvation of many more. O,

my dear sir, how unweariedly should we labour, how ardently should we pray for these precious immortals! and how much we need the prayers of christians, that we may be faithful to them! Let me entreat you, and through you many of the dear friends of Zion, to pray particularly for these children, and those at like institutions, that they may be made subjects of grace and heirs of glory. "The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much."

The number of scholars is the same as when I last wrote. More have been offered, even some from the pagan party, and some young men have repeatedly requested the privilege, but as yet we have not clothes and preparations for any

more.

As the spring is fast opening, we begin to feel anxious to hear from the Board whether any arrangements will be made for building a house this season, for the accommodation of this interesting school; or whether, after its prosperous commencement and continuance for several months, it shall be given up, and these children be suffered to return to their former habits of sloth and ignorance!

I am aware of the embarrassed state of the treasury, and on that account alone do I think the Board will hesitate respecting building. But may we not hope, may we not rely upon it, that God, who has opened such a door of usefulness among these Indians, and disposed them to seek after truth, and have their children instructed in a christian manner, will provide the means of carrying on his own work, and of continuing those operations which, we trust, are of his own appointment, and which will be the means of evangelizing these heathen? and will He not dispose the hearts of his professed children to open their hands, and contribute liberally to the aid of this glorious work?

I am aware of the expense of building a house, and also of supporting such a school; but if the funds of the society will not admit of establishing a school upon the principle of receiving and educating all that may be offered from the tribe, let a limited number be fixed upon,

and no others received, except as vacancies occur, and the house proportioned accordingly. I think a suitable house may be built for much less money than that at the Seneca station, and one that will accommodate as many children. As it will take some length of time to collect the materials, and erect the building, it will be necessary to commence it as soon as possible, that it may be prepared to remove into when our time expires here, which will be the first of December, in order that there should be no considerable interruption in our school operations.

Mr. Thayer, April 5.

Our hearts were gladdened to-day by the return of all our dear children. Their countenances expressed the pleasure they felt on again entering our doors. We received them with emotions of affection towards them, and of gratitude to our Heavenly Parent, who has preserved their lives and health while absent from us, and returned them again under circumstances of so much mercy. Surely the goodness of the Lord follows us from day to day.

The chief warriour and some of the principal Indians accompanied the children. It was highly gratifying to witness the pleasure manifested by the parents and chiefs respecting the improvement and good conduct of the children. Among other things they said, "We are amazingly pleased, not only with our children's learning, which is more than we expected, but especially with their conduct while at home-they are so altered, behave so well, so handsome in all they do and say, it seems as though they had new hearts; we think they already know more than we do; we look forward with great satisfaction to the time when they shall come home to instruct us, and teach us to read the good book, and to do many good things." The old chief then made a long and animated address to the children.

Mr. Thayer, April 16.

The school continues to do well. The children are still more engaged in their studies. They appear to appreciate the privileges they enjoy. Some of the parents, visiting us to-day, brought a

quantity of fresh fish, and a few days since about forty pounds of I besugar. power, but lieve they try to do all in their they are poor.

The Auxiliary Society of Collins had a meeting last evening to consider the embarrassed state of the funds of the Parent Society, and adopted some measures to support this Mission. The society is small, and the members in low circumstances; therefore not able to do what their hearts would prompt them to do. They resolved to draft an appeal, in behalf of the Cataraugus Indians and the Mission among them, addressed to christian churches, stating their urgent necessities, and earnestly pleading for assistance.

In my last I mentioned that we had received Miss Lucy Beardsley into the family to assist in the female department. As we have become acquainted with her, we are much pleased, and think no one would be more useful. It is our united request, if the Board judge proper, that she should be appointed a member of this Mission family. For several weeks past we have not been able to obtain a hired girl. The labour has been quite too much for the sisters, and injurious to their health. To take the care of so large a family, (consisting of twenty-two souls,) to do all the necessary work, and instruct the girls in domestic economy, knitting, sewing, spinning, &c. is more than two females can perform.

We have now a prospect of procuring a girl for a short time, who will, in some measure, relieve the sisters; but another good sister would be much more valuable. She would share in the cares as well as the work, and feel interested in the concerns of the Mission. But we have abundant encouragement to persevere and exert ourselves in this good work, trusting that, however fatigueing, our “labour is not in vain in the Lord."

Extracts from the Visiter's Register. "Collins, March 3, 1823. "It affords me high satisfaction to state that a residence of more than two days at the Cataraugus Mission house, allows me to give my decided testimony in favour of the school and its regulations.

With the spirit, conduct, and general management of its piously devoted directors, I was much pleased. Inhumanity might possibly witness, unmoved, the persons, the conduct, and the progress in knowledge of the Indian children here assembled, but christianity could not. To hear them attempt to sing the praises of the Most High, which, so far as the understanding is concerned, they did with a considerable degree of accuracy; to see their orderly movement to the house of public worship on the Sabbath; their good behaviour there; and bowing around the morning and evening family altar; and to witness the progress already made by them in the English language, and in reading and writing, is both surprising and most gratifying to the benevolent mind. The school has been established about six weeks, and contains sixteen members, of whom ten are boys. I cannot resist an inclination so far to act a prophet's part on this occasion, as to predict, that some of these boys will become preachers of righteousness to their forlorn countrymen; and some of these girls will be mothers in Indian Israel."

PHILLIPS PAYSON,
Minister of the Gospel.

"March 5, 1825.-This day I visited the Cataraugus Mission school, and was astonished at what I saw and heard. To see these heathen children, who but a few weeks ago were strolling in their savage dress, and still more savage nature, now clothed in English, and attending to their business like good regulated scholars; to see the proficiency they have already made in learning, and speaking the English language, was surprising. The school is under good regulations, and the children much engaged in their studies. I was much pleased with their singing; their voices are sweet and melodious.

When I saw these children of the forest uniting with the family in bowing around the family altar for morning and evening sacrifice; and to hear them in good English, with an appearance of christian devotion, say the Lord's prayer, I was greatly animated; and think it must animate and warm the breast of every friend of Zion. If this school is continued at this place, or so near as not to disaffect the Indians who are friendly to the institution, I think the society may expect a blessing to accompany their labours of love, which will be a rich compensation." SALMON W. BEARDSLEY.

Honarooroo, in Woahoo, one of the Sandwich Islands, near Owhyhee, August 10,

1822.

Reverend and Dear Sir-It is only a short time since we wrote to you from this place, (May 8,) favoured by Mr. Ritchie, one of the owners, and supercargo of the ship Lady Blackwell, of Calcutta, (Captain Hall,) bound for Canton, after a short trip to the N. W. Coast of America. In that letter we gave you an account of the unexpected and remarkable circumstances which had providentially opened our way, and, we may say, constrained us to visit these islands.

The pleasing and prosperous circumstances of the Missions in the Society Islands, were briefly noticed, though we had sent previous letters, in which those circumstances are more dwelt upon. Pomare's death, (he died at Tahiti two or three days after our last interview with him,) we trust, will not occasion any harm to the cause of Missions in these islands. His Britannic Majesty's cutter, the Mermaid, from New Holland, called at Huaheine in February, 1822, where we had then been six or seven weeks. The cutter was on its way to the Sandwich islands, to convey a schooner, as a present from George IV. to the king of those islands. Captain Kent offered a free passage to us, and a Missionary, and a few natives, to the Sandwich islands and to the Marquesas, at which he said he intended to touch on his return; and said he would bring us back to Huaheine. His obliging offer induced us to consider whether we ought not to avail ourselves of so favourable an opportunity to convey the gospel to the Marquesas. Our friends, Barff and Ellis, who are filled with charming Missionary zeal, tempered with prudence, highly approved of the opportuni

ty being seized. We found also an extraordinary solicitude among the Christians of Huaheine, kings, chiefs, and people, to send that gospel, which had made themselves so happy, to their perishing heathen brethren in the Marquesan Islands. The church unanimously selected two of their deacons, and their wives, for this arduous engagement, who all accepted joyfully the appointment, notwithstanding the difficulties and dangers connected with it; only expressing a fear, lest they should prove unequal to so great a work, and unworthy of so high an honour.

Our Missionary friends agreed also between themselves, that Mr. Ellis should lead these devoted servants of the cross, and assist in establishing them in their new situation. Under these circumstances, we could not hesitate as to the path of duty. Nor did the necessity we should be under, of going first to the Sandwich Islands, pain us; but we rather rejoiced in the prospect of seeing for ourselves the condition of those islanders, and the state of the American Mission, which we learned had been established there. By the will of God, we had a prosperous voyage; and, after a month's sail, we came in sight of the islands. Our reception, by our brethren and sisters, the American Missionaries, (as we mentioned in the letter of the 8th of May,) was most affectionate. The brethren received us on the beach, and kindly constrained us to take up our abode in their Missionary house; where, with much pleasure and edification, we have been domesticated with the four families to the present time. Mr. Bingham and Mr. Thurston are preachers. Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Loomis are not. None of them have as yet begun to preach in the native lan