In mine to
Mr.
Keen
and
Mr. Whitaker of 2nd
and
3rd
ultimo
which I trust
you
have
seen I informed
You that I had Sent
my Son into the Wilderness. he returned from
his long and fatiguing Tour 25th
ultimo the Copy of
Sir William Johnson's
Letter enclosed Sufficiently expresses the Tenor of his discourse with my
Son — on which
My Son thought proper not to attempt to collect
the Schools, or engage
missionaries
'til
Sir John Johnson's Return, or
'til we could hear further hear of the Affair of missionaries from Home.
The following is an abstract of
my Son's Journal from thence to
Oneida
viz;; September
9th
reached
Thompson's
the
last
English Inhabitant on this Side
Mr. Kirtlands.
10th
Thursday — here find Indians Settling the Bounds of Lands as I
was informed
which
Sir William
had bought of them for
Sir Henry Moore, and other Gentlemen
in
New York — many of them were Drunk, but on hearing my Name
they treated me with distinguishing marks of respect. — I hired an
Indian lad to conduct me 36. miles through the Woods to
Mr. Kirtlands
— a very wet Day and no House for
refreshment — reach
Mr. Kirtlands about 6 o'Clock
in the Evening — was agreeably
surprised to find his Situation amidst Such a Number
of huts, and to See the Active Appearance of So many Souls — and though wet
and much
tired, could Scarce find Time to Shift my clothes, or take refreshment, the Sound of
my arrival being Soon Spread through the
Whole Castle. The Grey headed, middle
aged youth and Children flocked in Swarms to welcome me their Father, the
flesh of their
Great Father
. And give me Gods blessing
and pray for one to be given them by me, (for Such
were the Terms they used) I was
complimented with friendly Salutations of all kinds, and Such as appeared hearty. —
this throng held 'til 9 O'Clock when
Mr. Kirtland told them I was weary and wanted
rest — that they must come tomorrow morning for God's News etc. —
I found
Mr. Kirtland in high Spirits, full of Zeal, his whole Heart and Soul engaged
in his work — He has made provision for a comfortable subsistence
through the
winter, for which he is none in Debt. his prospects of success Among them
are great and
increasing — many added to his Congregation — there are now
upwards of 80
families — there were five new huts then in building — and
Mr. Kirtland told me he expected 10. or 12.
more this fall —
11th friday — I was roused from my blanket this morning by the Indians who
wanted to know whether I was Sick or Well
— and impatient to See me by the
daylight — after breakfast I walked with
Mr. Kirtland
through
the Town, we called
at every House that we might not give offence, and had all the respect
shown
me in their Power.—
Mr. Kirtland had heard of my being on the Road
and lest I Should not extend my Journey further than the
Mohawks, had Sent
3 of their Boys and one Girl forward the Day before to meet me at
Buttlers‐‐burrough. (one of these Boys was the Son of
Gawke their Chief who died the Spring
before last, and when he was dying left charge with his Queen to Send her Children
to be instructed at this School as Soon as they were old Enough) — the Queen
his
mother set out with them under the Care of
David
Fowler (whom
my father had
Sent
for to take care of his Aged and Suffering Parents and teach a School at
Montauk)
at
fort Stanwix
they lost one of their horses —#
#on which the Queen and two of the the Boys returned her Son and the Girl went
forward with
David.
before the Queen came to town she heard that I
was come, and though
wet to the Skin and fatigued with her travel, She came
direct to
Mr. Kirtlands with the Boys, to see me
and seemed
vastly
pleased
that
they were come. I asked
the Boys if they would go with me tomorrow
morning
with me tomorrow morning, they consented to it with the greatest
cheerfulness
and Seeming eagerness to be on the way —
12. Saturday —. this morning hired a Boy to carry a
letter after
David to Stop him at
the
Mohawk
Castle
'til I and
the other Boys should come up with them— And another to
[illegible][guess: look
] the horse that was lost — And another to carry
a Belt of Wampum to the
Chief
at
Old Oneida
(where they have never had an English
missionary or schoolmaster) desiring Him to come and hear my message — the 1st
and
2nd
of these Boys effected their design — the 3rd returned with a Belt
[illegible][guess: Same] Belt of friendship
with this message
that he was then labouring under a fit of the
fever
and ague but would
wait on me the next Day at 12 o'Clock. — I have not yet Spoke with
Jacob who went Home on a visit
last Spring, by
my Fathers leave, but
through the Influence of his bad Aunts, has much outstayed his Time — I
have Seen him Several Times but have treated him and his
Family with
Slight — Spent the Day with
Mr. Kirtland in Settling the Affair of his
School — they engaged to Send 28 Children at least — many of whom have
made laudable Proficiency already under
David
Fowler.— at Evening I
attended their Singing Meeting and was surprised at the proficiency they
have made at which they Sang Several Sacred Hymns in their own
Language
which
Mr. Kirtland has made and Set to music — and
as soon as he can have leisure for it
designs to translate a Number of Psalms
and Sacred Hymns into Indian
metre (in addition to a few they already have,
which was done many years
ago) and prepare them for the press — I found that I could easily have brought away
— with me 9/10ths of the Children of
that Castle if I would.—
13th. Lords Day — at 10 o'Clock the Horn Sounded for meeting — on which I could
not refrain from weeping
at the Sight of Such a Swarm of tawny
immortals in
their beggarly Habit flocking with such appearance of Zeal and eagerness to
their longhouse for divine worship — a more solemn
assembly I scarcely
ever Saw in my Life —
Mr. Kirtland
though I could not understand him, appeared
to act the Indian Orator to perfection — the assembly heard with great
Attention — the Queen Sat near me both parts of the Day, and wept at hearing
the word — all parts of the
worship were performed with Great Decency—
This morning a
Cherokee
Indian, who was several years ago taken captive by
the
Oneidas, and adopted into one of their families to Supply the Place of
one that was killed in the War, came from
[illegible][guess: Oriskany] to visit me, and appeared indeed
like a babe in Christ,
Mr. Kirtland Hopes he is really converted, he had
been Seeking a
birth for himself, wife, and one Child, in
this Town that
they might Enjoy
Mr. Kirtlands ministry.
In the intermission, on my return from Meeting I met the Chief of
old Oneida
according to his appointment accompanied by one of his Council— he Saluted me kindly.
thanked me for Coming and hoped it would be for good to them —
I delivered him
the Belt with my Speech, by the Same Title of Brethren
which
My Father had used in his Letter to
them — and as it was the
3rd Time
my Father had
Sent to them (which according to indian custom is the
last) I was full plain and
severe with them — I told them
my
Father had Sent once More, an offer
of the Gospel to them, and it was
the last Time they were to expect it from
Him, And if they would not accept it, his
hands were clear of their Blood,
they must take the consequences
and go to Hell in their own way.—
I immediately rose up and went out as tho' I had done with them — They discoursed
together about a quarter of an Hour, and after I was returned to the Room they
spoke to me — thanked me for coming — hoped the Hearts of
their Tribe
would come
together — were very Sorry they had behaved So bad that I could not call them
Children — Said they had considered my speech — that they Should for themselves
be glad if their Indians would accept the offer. they could Speak only for themselves
and promised to Send his grandson which was the only one he could command —
Said they would call the Tribe together the Next Day to hear my message —
they thanked
my Father that he had Sent to them twice before
— and was very Sorry
they had behaved So Ill that their
Great father could not give them the Title
of
Children — I told them if they accepted of
my Fathers Offer
— treated
mr. Kirtland well — Sent their Children to School — and behaved well 'til
Next Spring they Should have the Title of
Children.
About 9 o'Clock this Evening one of the Council came in to ask
forgiveness for
Jacobs Aunts for keeping him at Home — and
to plead for him that he might
return to School — they were afraid to come — I told him I had nothing
to do
in that Matter but with them — they were able to come and Speak for themselves
— And when they were Sorry enough they would do it — and So Sent him
off —
14 Monday — This morning gave
advice to the Council of many things, viz
to remove their schoolhouse to a Dry Place — to be kind to their Father
— to keep their promise with Regard to drink — to Send their Children to
School —
attend the worship of God — etc.
etc. all which they promised
to mind — they brought 6 of their Boys to Me wh
[illegible][guess: om] I understood to be of
the chief
families in the place and urged me to take them — offered to
give them to me — two of the Boys cried to go with me, whom I paci‐
‐fied with bits of Silver—
Jacobs two Aunts came and in a
humble manner, and one of them with
Tears asked
forgiveness for detaining
Jacob. they confessed their Ingratitude
— prayed me to take him and do as I pleased with him — I appeared
careless About
his coming told them I did not want him I could get boys enough. If
he
had a mind to turn Indian again he might etc. — finally consented he should
come and accordingly brought him with me.
about 2 oClock took my leave of
this Castle — and an Affecting parting it
was — set off with
Mr. Kirtland,
Jacob and my two
little Boys —
reached
Old Oneida
a little before Night— the Town, what of them were at
Home had
been together and had agreed to Supply a School with 14. Children
which they can command besides the Children of those that were abroad.— two
families yet remain inveterate
[illegible][guess: haters] of
Mr. Kirtland and his measures
this is a surprising change Since last Spring when there were but two or three of
their huts
that
Mr. Kirtland
thought it Safe for him to go into. — they desired me as my
Father's representative to order
Mr. Kirtland to preach to them half the time
I told them they been So ungrateful, and behaved themselves So basely while their
Brethren at
Kanawalohale had received the Gospel, left off their old vices and behaved
So well, that they must now be content with
Mr. Kirtland every 3rd
Sabbath.—
they thanked me for that and promised they would attend upon his preaching.
they promised to keep their children at School, and I promised to Send
them a master in two months — The Enemies to this work on Every side
are very Numerous, their Friends very few, and their Temptations, and
the opposition to it every way greater than can be easily conceived.
I Sent a message to the
Onondagas, and desired
Mr. Kirtland to accom‐
‐pany it with
a Belt, in
my Fathers Name, that I was there on
Such an Errand
and expected to come into those parts again Next Spring, and if they desired it I would make them a visit
and give them the
[illegible][guess: offer]
to have a
missionary
and
schoolmaster Sent Among them.—
I invited the Queen before mentioned to make a visit here next Spring — and
see for herself
and
desired
Mr. Kirtland to choose a meet person to accompany her. She was pleased
with the proposal.
Mr. Kirtland
esteems her a virtuous woman, and hopes she is
become a real Christian. She is much respected and her influence is great among
the Nations." thus far
my Sons account
By the account of
my Son's and by the Copy of
Mr. Kirtlands Letter of a few Days earlier
Date which I enclose, you see, Much-honoured Sirs, how gloriously the prospect
open
opens in that Quarter and of what importance
it is to lay
close
siege to that part. that dear man of God
Mr. Kirtland, and
the schoolmasters in those Towns must be Supported, so that they
may devote themselves wholly to their work let the cost be
what it will, and it must
necessarily be great, and if it be £300
Sterling a year (and I don't expect it
can be Done for much less
'til
he can raise his provisions there) there is no cause
to regret it
he is doing more for Christ than perhaps Some Scores of Clergy
men who live at ease, and have their £100 sterling per annum —
I am now Sending
Mr.
Phineas Dodge a pious young man, and
Joseph
Johnson
a
mohegan Indian who was an
usher in that School last Year, and
who has in a good measure made himself
master of that Language
to keep the School at
Old Oneida
according to
my sons appointment— I have also advised
Mr. Kirtland to hire a faithful Labourer to get their Wood, take
care of their horses, fetch their provisions
etc.etc. that their Time
might not be half, or more consumed in Such Service—
But I have not had a Line from
London
since yours of
March 23rd
I have Sent many but know not whether they or my accounts
have ever
arrived
— I know not what acceptance My last
measures have
found with you— but have this to comfort me under the most gloomy
Imaginations that I have earnestly
desired
and
honestly Endeavoured to
Serve the Redeemers cause to the utmost of my Power. and am
not only approved by my own conscience but I have the universal
approbation
of all the
[illegible][guess: wise] and Good who are acquainted with my Plans and the measures
I have taken in Exerting them.
I enclose a Power of Attorney and Hope it will be acceptable to You.
and if
You Repent Your generosity
and
condescension in accepting the Trust, on
account of any Real or Supposed Imprudence or misconduct on my part, I
determine, much honoured Sirs, when I meet You together in Yonder World
of Glory to open to you all the trying Scenes which
have passed
over me, in
this So Difficult and
so arduous an undertaking, and though I Shall be ashamed that
I have done no more nor better than I have for the
Glorious Immanuel
yet I know you will not be
weary to hear how often the Lord has
helped, and how much he has forgiven.
him who is with highest
esteem, and all filial Duty. may it please your
Lordships