The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1818-09-29
MISCELLANY.
From the American Daily Advertise

.ot pure and indebted reiiglen. Between The
enJoytaents and prospects OF The savage, aud
those OF man ON whom The hight OF revelation
has beamed its mild and benIgnant luslre,
there IS indeed an indiscnoabe contrast
The former is surrounded by fearful gloom
which nature can never penetrate, and
enchanted by destructive superstitions; white
the path OF the latter through liie and his
prospects Of fulusty are guided by ray OF
DIVINITY. These are common place obsetva-
lions, Dul relate TO things Of unutlerabie I'M
ponance.
We have on our frontiers and even within
our own territories, many OF the aDonglnes OF
this continent, who are still groping IN worse
than Egyptian darkness. II becomes Tue a.
merican people individually and nationally,
instead OF = erternladtaag Them, to 90 them
ali the good they can, a. small atonement
for the wrongs they have suffered at the HANDS
of tie wh,tes.* 1t has pleased Divine PfoyI-
dence 10 accept The comparatively insignificant
agency OF his creatures IN promoting the
great cause OF virtue and righteousness IN The
earn, and this agency can IN nothing be more
efficiently eXerted tnan IN The dissemination %
truth The contest among those engaged IN
TINS great work should be TO convey simple
anu prosperous views of the fundamental,
easily comprehended principles OF the Gospel,
anu mol 10 gam converts to any particular
sect. Several religious societies, with zeal
truiy iauaaoe, have exered themselves TO
ameorate .heIr condition and some OF these
exerlIons have been crowned with great sue
cess. The introduction OF schools among
them is calculated most essentially to promote
the diffusion OF useful knowledge it tends 10
remove the SOURCE Of ignorance and error.
| Let those who have been active III this great
cause, take courage and continue their lmpor
tant labours. The cloud which for some time
appeared " no bigger than mans hand, " is
increasing and viii continue 10 augment, I'LL it
snail descend in coplous and refreshing show
efs. Those who consider the attempts 10 CIV
lIize this race of men as hopeless, are invited
10 peruse the following short, unexaggeraied
description OF one OF their Tribes, visited fen
weeks since by the writer Of this article.
The village OF Tuscarora tribe OF Indians
is situate about three miles 10 The eastward OF
Lewiston, in the neighbourhood Of The falls OF
Niagara ; The tribe consists OF about 500.
They hold considerable body of land in this
place and cultivate it extremely well. Their
fields OF wheat and Indian corn are nearly as
good as those of the whites, and they are sur
rounded with most o. the comforts of civiliza
ton. There is missionary residing here,
the Rev. Mr.. CRANE, from New York, who
is much and deservedy beloved by them
They have school conducted on the Lancas-
terian plan, and the proficiency OF tue chill
dIen IN the elementary branches OF knowledge
is alike creditabie 10 their teacher and them
selves. Public worship is regularly kept up
and generally well attended.
The wrlterlof this, can, with truth, acknow
ledge, that few Incidents OF his life will be
recollected with more pleasure, than his visit
10 the church OF the TuScorora Indians. The
Responsibility, neatness and comfort. Of their
appearance, and the soemnlty OF devotional
feeling, the devotion Of The heart, which appa-
rently pervaded the audience, furnished, IN
deeo, most delightful spectacle. There was
no symptom of ndecorum OF conduct in one OF
the natives present, but all their behaviour be-
came The place and occasion. To behold
those who mad been accustomed TO every idol
airy, and the evils connected with it, worship
ping the only true God, and partaking of the
! consultations of genuine religion, furnished to
The mind, IN an eminent degree, pure and IN
ottoyed delight. The Throne OF Grace was
addressed In humble, iervid terms, BY the
minister, and though the human heart is known
only to Him who formed it !; yet, if the poor
Indians did not most devoutly join in the pub
nc prayer, appearances can IN no instance be-
relied Oh. After which, a number Of them
rose and sung hymn By note, in their native
language, with great effect. 1t was transla-
ton Of an English hymn, set 10 the same music
as the original. A venerable Indian then took
his stand by the side of the minister, and rem
dered lis sermon into Ind an, sentence by
sentence Their general character in the
neighbourhood is good, aud their observance
OF the Sabbath, Gin which the whites furnish
them bad example, is truly commendable.
We took our. leave OF these interesting natives
with feelings not easily described, and with
wishes for their welfare at once ardent and
sincere. In their journeyings through world
Of sorrow, may they be protected and sup
ported by Divine Providence, and solaced by
lbe friendship of Christian friends; and when
they bid adleu TO terrestrial things, may they
N The ahnrioinal ;nha b;tanfs Of these countries