and the wood is supplied by the parents. || Testament, Easy Lessons, and the Spelling flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord? May we all have our hearts fixed, trusting in the Lord, so that we shall not fear evil tidings. God seems to be overturning the nations of the earth, but we know that he will come whose right it is to reign, and the world will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. When that day comes nations shall learn war no more. Whether our beloved country will be destroyed by intestine wars ere this blessed day arrives is known to Him who rules the destiny of nations. Oh for faith to pursue a right and steady course, so that we may lose no time by painful anticipations. this winter, owing principally to the very OUR meetings have been thinly attended open and cold place we have had to meet in. A house was erected last fall by the The children attended the school with remark-church; but there is yet no floor or chimable regularity. The school, including the Sabbath School, was taught eighty-two days. Of these a number of the children, from four to seven years old, attended seventy-five, seventyeight, eighty and eighty-one days; and one attended every day. I could fill sheets in communicating my labors and anticipations respecting the school, but this is unnecessary. You can readily anticipate them all, as they are chiefly found in fixing moral principal and in keeping the interest of the scholars so as to secure constant attendance. This must be done or the object is lost. Moral principle must be fastened, and habits of industry and study begun and carried forward. In doing this we must sometimes have recourse to the rod. But I turn to the more delightful part of my employment. Most of the scholars can read understandingly in books suited to their age and capacities. We wish to give them taste for reading and thirst for knowledge. To do this they must not only be taught, but suitable books must be obtained. Noticing the trials to which the mission family at that station are subjected since the arrest and imprisonment of Mr. Worcester, and the anxiety and trouble into which the Cherokees are brought by the proceedings of the Georgia guard, Miss S. remarks This is a day of trouble and rebuke and of blasphemy. May none of us even in our feelings, go down to Egypt for help, or trust in chariots or horsemen. Is it not as true of nations as of individuals, Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh ney to it, and it is otherwise not finished. It has therefore been a very uncomfortable place for meetings this cold winter. But as the weather has now become warmer, our congregation will probably be considerably increased. One member has been suspended from the church the past year, one dismissed by letter, and one has died. There are now in regular standing 26 Three new members have been added. Cherokees, eight whites, and three blacks, making in all 37 members. One of the persons who has united with the church the past year is a young man who formerly went to school at Brainerd. I have received him into my family in order to prepare him for an interpreter. He is a young man of considerable promise. The member that died was Eunice, a full Cherokee woman. She died rejoicing in the Lord. She has left good evidence that she was indeed a child of God. Mr. Huss continues to itinerate and preach as usual, and is increasing in knowledge and usefulness. The Cherokee members all appear well. The prospects around us, however, are gloomy indeed. Since the laws of Alabama were extended over that part of the Cherokee nation in which we live, white people are flocking into the valley to look for land. Some have already moved in, and we hear of many others that are coming soon. One man has set up a little store within about a mile of us, where he deals out the liquid fire, and some who had for a long time abstained from drinking, have now returned to it, like the dog to his vomit. Out of the church I believe there is but very little if any seriousness. The minds of the people seem wholly occupied with the things that have come and are coming upon them. to God for this work of his grace, small indeed, in comparison with the revivals by which he is displaying his glory in many parts of our land, but great in itself and great in comparison with any thing before known in this dark region. We also trust they will unite with us in fervent and be Religious Meetings and Additions to the lieving prayer, that the work may continue Church. ABOUT a year ago, as stated at p. 320 of the last volume, an unusual attention to religious instruction became visible among this portion of the Cherokees, which has been continued, and has already resulted in the hopeful conversion of many souls. and spread and become great in every respect. It is the only influence by which this people can be saved from ruin. The Schools. Our schools are in a very interesting state. In the female school there are seven over whom we rejoice as the young disciples of our Lord. Several others are deeply Since the last communication from us serious, and we hope not far from the kingrelative to the progress of religion, it has dom of God. In the boys' school none as pleased the God of grace to continue the yet express a hope of having been renewinfluences of his Spirit among this people.ed, but several of them are in a state of As the fruits of this revival, we have received nine to the fellowship of the church. Five others now stand propounded who are expected to unite with the church at the next communion. Five more will be ex amined as candidates next Monday. These last are all young females in our school. At this time there are in our schools and in the different neighborhoods a considerable number who are subjects of conviction. Of some of these we indulge hope that they are born from above. A considerable number, how many I am not able to say, have united with the Methodists and Cumberland Presbyterians in the adjacent white settlements. In July last we held a three-days' meet. ing in one neighborhood and a two-days' meeting at this place, and another twodays' meeting in another neighborhood. These were all most solenin and interesting seasons. Between fifty and sixty in the three places professed to be anxiously seeking their salvation. All of these, with the ex eption of three, are still inquiring or indulging hope. Three have drawn back, probably to perdition. On the second Sabbath in November we held another threedays' meeting here. In many respects it was the most solemn and joyful season I have ever witnessed in the Cherokee nation. Thirty-four appeared as anxious inquirers. In some parts of the nation the seriousness is perhaps declining. In others it continues and increases. At this place and in the near neighborhood the work of the Spirit is evidently continued and is extending. Christians are awake, prayerful, and joyful; and sinners, one after another, are becoming anxious. I have never known the religious state of the mission family in all respects so encouraging as at the present time. We trust that the special, inwrought prayer of faith is offered up by many hearts; and we know that this kind of prayer "availeth much." We trust the friends of missions will unite with us in thanksgiving great concern. We do hope mercy is in store for them. Both divisions of the school are making satisfactory improvement in various branches of a useful education, and are forming habits which will tend to their own good and the improvement of their people. We have a very interesting infant school, composed mostly of the children of the mission family. There are a few Cherokee children in it. The plan of the school is substantially the same, as of the infant schools in our cities, and the improvement made is such as to justify the high estimation in which these institutions for infantile cultivation have been held by the wise and good every where. We hope the Holy Spirit is moving upon the hearts of some of these little ones; and we would especially solicit the prayers of our Christian friends, that our little babes may indeed be lambs in the fold of the Good Shepherd, taken in his arms and carried in his bosom. establishment of this school has relieved us of much anxiety respecting our children while they are young, and we hope it will be of permanent benefit to them. Interesting Cases of Conversion. The The letter from which these extracts are taken was addressed to Mr. Cornelius, the late Secretary of the Board, who, it will be recollected, was the author of a small biographical narrative, entitled the Osage Captive. The little Osage girl, who is the subject of the narrative, was first met by him while travelling as an agent of the Board, at Caney Creek in the northeast part of the Chickasaw nation, and was then in the hands of her Cherokee captors, who were returning from a war expedition west of the Mississippi to the old Cherokee nation. To you, my dear Sir, the following facts will not be without interest. You will never forget "Caney Creek" nor the interview you once had there. Your mind must have her to this Christian asylum, that here, when his purpose was ripe, she might be called out of darkness and become a fellow citizen with saints and a child in the household of faith. Had her parents lived and she remained with her own people, she would never in this life have risen higher, than to be a hewer of wood and a drawer of water, and would have died without the light of life. What hath God wrought? To him be all the glory. an indelible impression of the warrior group || evil was intended against her. But God there met, and of the horrid memorials of meant all she suffered for good. Through their success-the "Little Osage Captive" || this way that she knew not, he was leading and the scalps of her murdered parents! Two of that party have, we trust, become followers of peace with all men, a lesson they have learned of the meek and holy Prince of Peace. They are fiuits of the revival we have enjoyed, and are now members of our church. One of them is the individual who "could speak a little English," and who acted as your interpreter. The other is the leader of the band, and the very person who went to his bag and held up two scalps, saying in answer to the question, "Where are her parents?" "Here they are!" I have often conversed with him respecting the affair of Caney Creek. He regretted the untimely death of little Lydia; and would now, if qualified, go as a herald of salvation to the poor benighted Osages. He is a man of much enterprise and activity, and his influence in the nation is considerable. We hope, by the divine blessing, he will do much good among his people. His wife is also a member of our church, and one, if not two, of their children is hopefully pious. Among the young female converts of our school, is an Osage captive, now about fourteen or fifteen years old, whose history is interesting. She was captured in the year 1821, and remained in this nation, with her captor, till the autumn of 1822, when she was given to a white man of the territory, who promised to educate her and treat her as his own daughter. This man soon after sold her to another, who immediately started with her down the river, intending to sell her for a slave to the sugar planters of Louisiana. This fact being known to governor Miller, he offered a liberal reward for the rescue of the captive. The kidnapper was pursued and overtaken a short distance above Natchez. He, however, effected his escape, but the little girl was taken and delivered to the governor, who kept her till the next spring, 1823, and then committed her to the care of the late Rev. Mr. Finney, of this mission, on his way from New Orleans. Here she has been ever since. Her parents, it is supposed, were killed at the time of her capture. The Osages do not know that she has any relatives living, and they have never wished for her return to them. She is a girl of good mind, has acquired useful habits and a solid education. She now gives us most gratifying evidence of unfeigned piety, and exhibits fair promise of future usefulness. She is a monument of the mysterious grace of God. Had we been spectators of that battle field, and had we seen her parents fall under the tomahawk and herself a captive among the heathen, we could have seen no mercy manifested towards her. Had we seen her sold into slavery and hurrying towards the land of perpetual groans and bonds, we should have judged that only EXTRACTS AT FROM A LETTER OF DOCT. PALMER, DATED 13TH, 1832. FAIRFIELD, JAN. Interest Manifested in the School. As has been remarked of this station before, it was intended that the school, so far as it might become a boarding-school, should be sustained by the Cherokees themselves. This they have hitherto done in a good measure and cheerfully. The number of scholars and the interest which both parents and children feel in the school seems to be increasing. Our school I think is in good condition. After the August vacation we concluded that we would not take in more than twelve or fifteen boarders at most; but when the school was opened again we were immediately pressed with entreaties till our number of boarders, including the three Osage girls, amounts to 25. They all appear very willing to furnish the necessary amount of provisions. One man said, "I am more than willing, I am ten times willing to send the provisions, if you will take my children. In the school I saw several young men who have renounced their former vicious habits, and came to me with a fixed determination to lead a new course of life, and gain a useful education. Besides the boarders, numbers come to school daily from home, making altogether 35. Though our family is so large, yet we are often astonished to see how comparatively easy we get along. Our little farm, garden, and the Cherokees, furnish us at present with an abundant supply of provisions; and though but two of us to manage, and all sorts and sizes of children, we have been enabled thus far to keep good order. Our hired man does all the work out of doors, except what is accomplished by the schoolboys, and in the domestic concerns of the family Mrs. P., with the help of the larger girls of the school, goes through the whole, commonly with ease, except when she is laid by with sickness. One of our Cherokee Christian friends, seeing the ill state of Mrs. P.'s health kindly sent a servant girl to assist her through the winter. To save expense Mrs. P. had refused to have a woman hired in the kitchen. We are constrained to believe the Lord is our helper, and is blessing our humble endeavors to instruct these children and youth. Encouraging State of Religious Feeling. The state of the church has been noticed in a communication sent sometime last September. I would only remark that at present there seems to be a good state of religious feeling among our people generally at this time. Our meetings are well attended and solemn. One of the persons lately received into the church is the young man from the white settlements who has been living with us and studying medicine for a year or more past. He is a very amiable and a promising man, and has now relinquished the study of medicine to prepare for the ministry. There is great encouragement to preach the gospel among the Cherokees. In every place where regular appointments have been made, good effects have soon been manifested. If assistance should be sent to us as we hope, I should have time perhaps to make several other stands for preaching in different places. EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER OF MR. NEW TON, DATED AT FORKS OF ILLINOIS, DEC. 31ST, 1831. School Church-Improvement among the THE School continued to prosper until vacation, which commenced in the second week of August. We then had 33 scholars on our list. Our vacation was intended to be only three weeks; but before the second week was passed, I was taken sick with fever, and very ill health has continued with more or less severity till the present time. Still we have much to encourage us in our labors. In eed our labors through the past spring and summer were delightful. We have never before felt that our work was so purely a missionary work, and we were contented and happy. Our school was easily governed, and we have never seen scholars in any other place assemble with more pleasure. They come brisk and cheerful in the morning, bring their dinner, and return at evening lively and happy. They made good progress in their studies, and neither tired nor grew dull until vacation. And now I seem anxious for my health to return, that they may again attend school. Our Sabbath-day labors, continued the same as reported in June, until stopped by sickness. We think that the good Spirit which has operated in other parts of the nation among the Cherokees, has even visited this neighborhood. Two Cherokees were among the hopeful converts, and appear well. heed how they heard the word of God. Time will show how sincere they have been. A three days' meeting was held here in September. Brethren Vaill, Washburn and Palmer were present. The weather was unfavorable, and but few out of the settlement attended it. Since that we have had but one Sabbath meeting, and I do not know the feelings of the people, only as I have learned them from going to their houses. In my neighborhood visits, I find some hungering and thirsting for the bread and water of life. There are eleven church members in this establishment besides ourselves; four of whom belong to the Dwight mission church, and the rest to the Baptist and Methodist churches. Mr. Washburn has had two communion seasons with us the past year. Others have seemed to give At the close of the three days' meeting, the Cherokee Temperance Society held an adjourned meeting, and eleven of our neighbors joined it. Our neighbors improve in their living, houses, furniture, and clothing, and we think they improve still more mentally. Several of them raised wheat this year, and more have sowed for the coming year. They are building two grist-mills and one saw-mill. Proceedings of other Societies. FOREIGN. WESLEYAN MISSION ᎪᎢ THE FRIENDLY ISLANDS. WHILE on his way to his field of labor, Mr. Woone, from whose communications these extracts are taken, spent some time at Pyhea, the seat of the Church Missionary Society's mission in New Zealand, bears the following testimony to the success of the mission on that island. The missionary experiment has been tried on few nations more degraded and barbarous. Good Effects of the Mission in New Zealand. During my stay at New Zealand, I had an opportunity of witnessing the degraded state of the poor heathen; and am convinced that the united labors of the brethren of the Church Missionary Society have been very successful in producing a great change in their condition. While at Pyhea, where we experienced the greatest kindness and Christian friendship from the brethren of that society, which will never be erased from our minds, I visited the schools and attended divine service at the chapel, where my heart was delightfully gladdened to witness the blessed change which has been effected among the inhabitants there, compared with the sur rounding population. One Sabbath, my dear || brethren, myself, and our wives attended divine service in the chapel, and heard the church service in the native language. All those who were under instruction joined in the devotional exercises of that admirable form, and responded as well as the children and people in our parish churches at home. Indeed the sweet peals of the organ which has been lately erected in the chapel, called to mind many seasons spent in the tabernacles of the Most High in our own highly favored isle. We observed a willingness to listen to the advice of the instructor, and also a feeling that was truly devotional while repeating prayers. The New Zealanders are on the whole decidedly altered to what they were about ten or fifteen years ago, from the accounts which I have read in various publications, and this change has been effected by Christianity. There is not that savage brutality among them now as formerly, nor are the inhabitants so depraved in their morals; and no doubt the time is not far distant, when "war shall be heard no more," and when peace and happiness shall reign in every bosom. May the Lord hasten the time. On arriving at the station of Nukualofa, on the island of Tonga, about the middle of March, 1831, Mr. Woone makes the following remarks concerning the State and Progress of that Mission. Mr. Turner and Mr. Cross looked very pale and sickly, apparently much fatigued and exbausted, caused by their great labors and the very extreme heat of the climate. Since we have been here the thermometer stood once at 126, and generally it has been 100, 110, and 115. But notwithstanding this, they are happy in their work, and secm determined to go forward in the strength of the Lord. When we arrived, their feelings may be better conceived than described; they seemed quite overjoyed that the expected help had at length arrived, and that we had safely encountered the dangers of the great deep. We all united together to praise God for his goodness, and consecrated ourselves to his work and service. And O! how shall my pen describe the wonders which the Lord hath wrought among this people! The powers of darkness are mightily shaken in this interesting island; and from what we learn from our brother Thomas, at the Habai Islands, the work is much more encouraging. At this place, Nukualofa, a general change seems to have taken place among the people; and not one half has been told in England of what we daily see. We cannot move any way for several miles, but we hear the people singing the praises of God, and engaged in other devotional exercises. On the first Sabbath after our arrival we attended divine service at the chapel, when the brethren Turner and Cross engaged alternately; and on that occasion, we were quite overcome on beholding what devotion and apparent sincerity the natives manifested in their worship. The king and queen were present with us, and joined in the service, and, like all the rest, seemed truly devoted to God. In the afternoon we attended again, and heard two of the natives pray, Abraham and Daniel; Mr. Cross told us they prayed most judiciously. At the female school we heard the queen pray, and some other females, and were led to say, "What hath God wrought?" On Sunday last, we went to chapel to attend a baptism of several adults; when nearly seventy were received into Christian communion, alter having made a formal declaration of their convsion to God. This was a very interesting scene, which affected us to tears; they were both old and young who came forward to be thus received into the Christian church. Our brethren have been at great pains to get books for the natives. They are nearly all written, which must have cost them much labor and time. They are now quite elated, as they expect to have printed books soon. When they heard that the printer had arrived, and not the surgeon, they said, "We are glad that the printer is come; the surgeon might do good to our bodies, but the printer will do good to our souls." LONDON SOCIETY'S MISSION IN SOUTH AFRICA. Encouraging Attention to the Means of Grace. MR. Bailie, missionary at New Lattakoo among the Bechuanas, under date of August 25, 1831, writes I am happy to inform you that spiritual things still continue very encouraging. The prayermeeting, conducted by Aaron Josephs, and held in his house on Friday evenings, is generally crowded to excess, and many retire from it, as well as from the house of God, and repair to the bushes, where, I trust, they pour out their hearts to God in earnest supplications. The place of worship on the Lord's-day still continues to be well attended. The people collect in numbers around the door, before the bell is rung, eager to gain admittance; and but a few minutes clapse after the door is opened when almost every inch of ground is occupied (the most, it is to be understood, sit upon the ground,) besides a considerable number who cannot obtain admittance. One of us, however, in this case, holds a second meeting in one of the mission houses. To prevent this inconvenience, as it will be fully two years. before the new building is finished, we in the mean time intend to annex a back wing to the old one, so as to render it capable of containing the whole congregation. We hope, however, that when the new chapel is built, which will be twice the size of the present, there will be suffi cient accommodation for all who may attend. We shall, of course, rejoice to witness it also overcrowded. Since the beginning of this year there has been again an apparent revival. Previously, indeed, the place of worship was tolerably well attended; but the effects of the former awakening seemed forgotten, and the church appeared sunk into coldness and indifference, so that I began to wonder if they were indeed the same people of whom I had heard such favorable accounts in my native land. In the month of March two old members, who had been ejected for immorality, were, after evident proofs of repentance and reformation, again admitted into the church, and with them a new member-a female about fifty years of age. On the occasion I preached from Acts xvi. 25-35. on the conversion and baptism of the jailer at Philippi; after which I baptised the old woman and two of her children: many seemed impressed with the solemnity of the ser |
