Jacob Johnson, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1769 May 14

Author Johnson, Jacob

Date14 May, 1769

Call Number769313

abstractJohnson writes that, if Huntington should go to Oneida Country, it is important that he learn the Indian language. Johnson strongly urges Wheelock to employ a professor of Indian language, and counsels him not to send Ralph Wheelock on a mission before meeting with Mr. Kirtland.

handwritingInformal handwriting is occasionally difficult to decipher. At times, the writer does not pick up his pen or leave space between words. Letter case is occasionally difficult to discern, especially with regard to the letter S.

paperLarge sheet folded into four pages is in good-to-fair condition, with light-to-moderate staining, creasing and wear.

inkBlack.

signatureThe signature is abbreviated.

noteworthyIt is uncertain as to whether, when he refers to "your School," Johnson means Moor's Indian Charity School, or the newly chartered Dartmouth College, and so this reference has been left untagged.

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

Persistent Identifier

Rev and Hon.
 Sir
I Suppose you have received some Letters —
with the Reasons of my not coming to Lebanon, as I had intend‐
ed —my Family most of them are unwell — and my 2nd Daughter
in a critical State of Life — and other things so with me, that my
Time is wholly took up— and several things yet to do of impor‐
tance that I can't yet attend to — I saw Mr-Hunt‐
ington
(whom you mentioned to Me when at Lebanon)
who informs me that He with 2 schoolmasters are to
go soon for Oneida, and the Indian Country — Per‐
haps as things are Circumstanced — it [guess: may not]
be best at present ('til you sir see fur‐
ther) to employ more than One Missionary
(besides Mr Kirtland) and 2 Schoolmasters — and perhaps
Mr Huntington (as things now are) may do best to
go — He is indeed young, and has not had much time, or
advantage to get acquaintance in these affairs —
but (being, I hope, honestly and heartily inclined to serve
the Redeemer, in this most important Cause) He may be suc‐
ceeded, and blessed in the undertaking -— There are many
difficulties, and dangers, attending of it, especially to one
unacquainted with The Indian Language, manner etc.
But God is able to do all things, and even out of
weakness to ordain Strength -— I believe sir it
would be best (if possible) for one of the Schoolmaster
to go as an Interpreter to Mr Huntington For He will
be put to difficulty otherwise to get an interpreter
— and moreover if Mr Huntington proposes to spend his
Life among the Indians, to be sure to give his Mind

to Learn their Language; The advantage of it is
inconceivably great to a missionary — next to the Grace
of God and ministerial Gifts it is the better half
of a missionary's qualifications to do service in the
Cause — I could wish that all and every one that
think of doing Service as missionaries among the
Indians woud give themselves to the Learning of
their Language, as one most necessary ante‐
cedent qualification for their going among them
And for this most important purpose that
you would sir get as soon as possible a pro‐
fessor of Indian in your School and that the
Indian Language may be taught as equally if
not even more necessary than Latin Greek
or Hebrew as I am indeed certain it is in this
Case by my own most certain experience
Their Language may be reduced to the rules
of grammar and taught as any other Language
and be learned as soon or sooner than any
other especially by those who have any taste
or genius for the Oriental Languages —as I
could easily show by what I learned of it —
—was it the will of God I should spend as much
Time away there again as I did the last
winter I think I could be master of their
Language and be able to reduce it to the Rules
of grammar which I think would be a service

of unspeakable advantage whoever does it to effect —And
if your son or any other proposes to go into the service
I hope they will in the meantime give themselves to
the study of the Indian Tongue —you see sir the affair
is so much on my Mind that I know not how
to dismiss it or give over urging it upon your
mind sir 'til you do something to effect about it
the which when I hear of my Mind will be easy
in that respect — but I must not enlarge
May the Father of Lights direct you sir in
all things and make his will in these and all respects
plain and perfect for the furtherance and upbuilding
the Redeemers Kingdom among the benighted
Heathen

I am Honoured sir with all sincerity respect
Yours in Christ Jesus our Lord —

Jacob Johnson
P.s. I believe upon the whole it may be best for your
son Mr. Rodolphus not to go for the Oneida until you
sir and your son have had a personal Interview with
Mr Kirtland at Your own House and those affairs —
subsisting be considered and amicably settled to mutual
satisfaction which I hope through the mercy and Grace
of God may be done and well done so that the
pathway of Duty may be open and plain That there
may be nothing in that respect within or
without to hurt or offend in all Gods Holy Moun‐
tain — It was my labour there with Kirtland and prayer to
God then and since tha[gap: tear][guess: t] [gap: tear] might be done —


From Rev. Jacob Johnson
 May 13th 1769.

To the Rev and Hon. —
Dr. Eleazar Wheelock
 Lebanon
Loading...