Theophilus Chamberlain, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1766 October 3

Author Chamberlain, Theophilus

Date3 October, 1766

Call Number766553

abstractChamberlain relates the progress, or lack thereof, of his mission among the Mohawks.

handwritingHandwriting is small and somewhat crowded, yet mostly formal and clear. Letter case, especially with regard to the letters S and D, is frequently difficult to discern.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good condition, with light staining and wear, and light-to-moderate creasing. The central vertical crease has been reinforced.

inkBlack-brown.

noteworthyThere is a red-pencil mark on two recto.

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

Persistent Identifier

Rev. and worthy Sir
It cant be more disagreeable to you to read than it is to
me to see, that the present state of our affairs among this
Tribe of Indians is what it truly is. Christianity, the grand
cause which we all hope to be found advancing, is, as far
as I can Judge despised and condemned by these Mohawks.
meetings upon the sabbath are so neglected, as that we
can frequently get together at this Castle not above two
or three men and half a dozen Women, and those not
'til one or two o clock in the afternoon, and at fort Hunter
it is but little better. and the Schools are so lightly esteemed, as
that not a Dozen Children in the whole ever attend school
at this Castle, and at fort Hunter it is much worse. I have
used my utmost endeavour to remedy these Defects; but all
with the united endeavours of the schoolmasters, both
English and Indians (all of which; all of which, I really
think exert their whole skill and Prudence), proves quite
ineffectual. I have on several occasions lately, when
speaking of the necessity and importance of being Christians
said the most moving things I was capable of saying.
have endeavoured to excite in them a sense of the Wrath of
God, from the Terrors of the Law, and of his goodness from
the gospel of the Glorious Emmanuel; but God is not pleased
effectually to touch their hearts. The Sabbath before last,
preached at fort Hunter, to between thirty and forty persons
in the most plain and pathetic manner I could endeavour
ing to let their danger before them in some faint
resemblance of its Terror; and their remedy in some of
its saving glory. The[guess: re] truly appeared more seriousness
in attending to preaching than usual. After worship concluded
Spoke to the men respecting the Schools as I understood
theirs was sunk low. told them the conditions upon which
the Schoolmasters was left, the ingratitude of their ne‐
glecting under their circumstances to fulfill their Conditions;
and that the Schoolmasters was forfeited by that neglect, and must
be despised, and left to themselves unless they speedily
reformed. I then desired them to get all together their
whole Castle and discourse on these things, open their minds
to one another, and conclude with themselves whether they
would finally reject, Christianity, or would receive instruc‐
tions themselves and have their children learned. with this
request they promised to comply, and to inform me of the re‐
sult the next time they held an opportunity. after we left
the meeting house, several of the men came to me. told
me they never heard such preaching as they had that day.
it gave them pleasure they said to hear the gospel preached so plain,
and they thought all but Fools must take pleasure in hear‐
ing Gods news. In all this they appeared Serious and seemed
to speak the Sentiments of their hearts. It at once revived
my drooping heart. and I began to feed on thoughts that the
long wished for Day was approaching when we might see
the Glorious Gospel of the son of God propagated by
Divine Energy among the Indians in those parts. I
had before this determined to return to new england
this fall; and as I thought my health would not allow of my
going on a mission to some remote Tribes, I had deter‐
mined to have asked a dismission. but I now came to
a conclusion to stay at all adventures through the Winter,
if those favourable symptoms should continue to give hopes
of success. I though I well know that my constitution was
weak enough to endure the fatigue of riding backwards
and forwards between 30 and 40 Miles to Preach and take care
of Schools, yet the thoughts of what I should be obliged
to suffer by this resolution vanished into nothing, when I
thought of succeeding in my mission to the happiness
of these benighted heathen, and the satisfaction of Christian
friends. But I cant express how mortifying it was to
me, when, in less than a fortnight after this hopeful Prospect
I heard that the school was entirely thrown up at fort Hunter
and, Calvin wholly out of employment. and now the dis
agreeable reflection of standing by a useless spectator of
that unlimited wickedness, which I am no way Ins‐
trumental of restraining, and of People going unpreven
‐ted from before my Eyes to certain destruction returns
full upon me; I am fully convinced it is not my
Duty to tarry long in this Situation. these People
have two Ministers who come once or twice a Year
give them the sacrament of the Lords supper; assures
them their sins are pardoned, and leave them to practice wick‐
edness in Perfect Security. And so long as this Dia‐
bolical Practice (forgive the boldness) is continued it
will doubtless be the Judgment that will harden
these People for Destruction. should there be no farthe[gap: worn_edge][guess: r]
good appearance among the Indians, nor any direction
from you (which I beg of you to send if Possible), I shall
set out on my return the begining of november
I heard by a Letter from Rev. Mr. Kirtland that he was well that
all things went on well, and he hoped some success. But that
Johnson is not yet settled in his school at Old Oneida
where John Mohawk Kept last Summer. Mr. Johnson's horse
was stole from a Pasture last Saturday evening. he set
out in quest of her on sunday and is not yet returned.
I have spent part of 3 Days in a Journey after her but to no
purpose unless she is found by the advertisements I ordered
up. You desire sir my account, I can only say it will by
the Last of this month be more than £20. I should not have been
so much in Debt, had not I had an interpreter to hire at 20/
per week; and Jacob left unexpectedly on my hands, which,
together with my Debts being somthing greater in the
Spring than I expected, was like to run my in Debt
in spite of all my Prudence and making
myself a perfect Begger most of the summer. and to add to my
misfortune I swapped my mare because she pestered me a little
with running off; for a horse, which soon got so lame, that I cant
ride him and shall near lose him. I cant procure a pacing Jade
here which will answer my turn under £10 or £11 Lawful Money
to pay which, and my Interpreter, and settle my other accounts for
myself and Jacob Fowler, and bringing me home I think I shall
want about 20 Pounds. Give my Duty to Madam and proper
respects to all the family and School, and know
Rev. Sir I Remain
your unworthy yet obedient
Servant.
Theophilus Chamberlain
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