Gideon Hawley, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1763 January 27

Author Hawley, Gideon

Date27 January, 1763

Call Number763127

abstractHawley writes to tell of Occom's lack of tact in dealing with the Oneidas.

handwritingHandwriting is small, but mostly clear and legible, with some additions and deletions.

paperSingle large sheet is in good condition, with moderate creasing and staining.

inkBlack-brown.

signatureSignature is abbreviated.

EventsOccom’s First Mission to the Oneidas

Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.

Persistent Identifier

Rev. and Honoured Sir,

Your favours of 18th October and 21st November came safe and di­
rect, for which I humbly and heartily thank you. I should have
been glad enough to have heard from you before, but did not
take it illy that you did not write, supposing you had other
business, and other correspondents, that it was of more impor
tance for you to attend to: besides I live so much out
of the way, that it is very Difficult to get a passage for a
letter that is direct and safe. In regard to the visit I sincerely
designed you before now, it has been unvoidably delayed by
such overtures in providence, as at present it is needless
for me to relate — although all my relatives, and many of my
best friends are in Connecticut, I have not been able,
without neglect of more important duties, which could not be
dispensed with, to visit them since October 1758
In regard to Mr. Occom, it is with singular pleasure that I
view him as an ornament to his nation and to christianity,
and am very sorry I never had the happiness of being
acquainted with him. We were in the country of the Six Na
tions
the fall before last at the same time, but such were the
duties of our mission, being straitened for time and having a
great deal to do, that we were separated by the distance of
an hundred miles or near it. However, tarrying in the Coun
try, as I went after he did, when he was come off and seeing
many of the Oneidas in my peregrinations, it being the
season of their going to their hunting places, I had an oppor
tunity of being advised of his preaching, conduct and the reception
he met with, among them; which were quite equal to what
one could expect. and what I communicated, and desired my friend
to write you, concern some what, in his preaching that was
exceptionable, I thought it was best he should hear of; and that
you, being his preceptor, spiritual Father etc. was the most
suitable person to advise him of it. and the vindication
of himself [illegible: for] the reasons Mr. Occom gives I doubt not are just and true,
and I think are satisfactory. A poor man among such a
people without a faithful and skillful interpreter is to be
pitied. However I would use this opportunity to say,
that the irregularities in dress and some other things in the
customs of Indians as they not sinful in themselves, it will
rather be commendable in a missionary to conform to them
in some measure, than at his first going among them to say
much
much very directly against them. The corruption of human Nature and
the sinfulness of it a missionary should expose in all its deformity
as much as possible which will prepare the way for the Gospel.
St. Paul's epistles, especially that to the Romans is the best
model and guide for a missionary.
In regard to your School is gives me very great satisfaction
to hear of its prosperity and I wish that it may flourish
and that it may answer even beyond your expecta -
tions the great and good ends of its foundation. your
second letter gives me great concern because you appear
to be afraid of your schools being a party affair, which
I pray God to prevent — you and I shall find, Sir,
the more we have to do with the world, that by reason of the
jealousy which is inseparable from corrupt nature it will
be impossible for any considerable number to hold an ad-
vantageous confederacy for any length of time in any
affair. And we must be content with dragging along the
most generous affairs not only without the assistance of many
of whom we might justly expect it, but against the oppo
sition of some, who are real friends to the true interest of
religion, because they can’t agree with us as to the me-
thods of promoting it. Indeed, Sir, we need much of that
charity which believeth all things, Loveth all things and en-
dureth all things.
In regard to my Indians my influence over them in-
creases and I see some little fruit, although but little of my
labour; — they increase in number since my settlement
— We have one of our men, who has been as an
Agent to the Court of Great Britain about our lands
and we hope to have our affairs upon a better foot-
ing. I have about Seventy Indian houses and Wigwams
on this tract of Land besides a dozen or more that be-
long to our meeting that live a little off from it —

I am, in very great haste
Rev. Sir,
your very Dutiful Son and
Servant in Christ
Gideon Hawley
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