The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-11-25
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.


Rev. Thomas D. Sargent, NJ ID. President
~ the Missionary Society of the Methodist
rp;,capaI CHURCH, within tbs bounds vi The
injelphia Conference
Rer. 4 Dear Sir Believing that could
render note effeclual service by visiting the
nnntirr Settlements ia llie nest, especially
the Indian Mission, than could be done b.,
continuing my tour 10 the narth, rs was
contemplated, changed my plan accord
iueIy. and az ! had ma one 10 travel Win
me, | reluctantly declined visiting Tie fhi-
iade.phia conference, In order tn obia'n
the company Of preachers so'ns over the
mountains.
Preached the state of Ohio on lame
h,r. but brother John Davenport, of
GAINESVILLE, a friend of the mission, and
de,iruus that shoald visit IL, not only loan
I'd me a horse, but left his business, took
the expense efthe journey on himself, aud
accompanied me there and back to New
Lancaster, which took us three weeks.
Our mission is established near Upper
Sandusky, in the Wyandot Reservation,
containing I46,2l6 acres al land, being
about L miles long by IL wide, which, with
a small reserve of lG or 1900 acres adJOin-
ing, is all the soil this unfortunate people
claim Of their former large possessions
The mission is about 65 or 70 miles, near
w dae north, from Columbus, the seat of
20, ernthent of the state. From Columbus
10 the old boundary line, about half way,
the country is handsomely impro'ed.-
From thepce to the Wyandot Reserve line,
within six or eight miles of the mission, as
the lands have been hut lately surveyed
and brought into market, the population is
thnly scattered, but said To- be settling very
fast. The land is very fertile, some tracts
beautiful. In the route We passed over the
celebrated plains of Sandusky.
The weather was sultry ! was afflicted,
and in consequence was very much fatlgued.
However, we arrived safe on Saturday, the
2lst of June, about 10 O'clock in the morn
Ing and found the mission family and the
school all in good health.
In the afternoon we commenced visiting
the shoot, and repeated the visits rs We
were able during our stay, which was about
FIVE days. In that time We Ind sufficient
opportunities of observing the order of the
schools the behaviour of the children dn-
ring their leisure hours as well rs in school,
and their improvement IN learning, in agrl-
culture and hoasewitery. The children
are cleanly, chuste in their manners, kind
10 each other, peaceabl- and friendly 10 all.
They obey orders promptly, and do their
| work and go on errands with ch"-riulness;
/ no objections made--nO murmuring heard
] no rude conduct appeared among them.
They possess the atfection and confidence
1 oftheir superintendent and teachers Their
/ progress nearning is WE'LL spoken of Ivy VI
/ siors, and was satisfactory 10 IA. II they
| do not sufficiently understand what they
/ read, it is for want of suitable books, esp-
cialy translation Of English words, les
sons, hymns, SC. into their own tongue
They sing delightfully."- attend family DE-
lotion regularly aud readily, as we'll as
public worship, and consider II privilege
10 go Oh foot six miles to meeting and back,
on the Sabbath.
To estimate properly the wonderful
change which has been wrought among
thr people il shonld be remembered that
the Friends Tor Qoakers) by patiently con-
tnnlng pecuniary aid and connseling these
Indians prepared them in some degree for
the introduction ofthe gospel among them
/ Mr. Stewart, Ia colored man, member of
0r church, was the first successful mis-
sonary that appeared among them He
describes the copdlton of the Indians thus,
4 IN letter 10 a friend, written III June last :
1.-THE situation of the Wyandot Indians,
when arrived here, nearly six Years ago,
may be- Judged Of from theIrnanner of life
Some of their houses were made of small
poles and covered with bark, others Of
bark altogether. Their farms contained
from t"o acres TO less than half an acre
The women did nearly all the work that
was done. They had AS many IS 2 ploughs
IN The nation, but these were seldom IL
sell In word, they were in reality a
savage state"
But now they are building hewed log
houses, with brick chilnneys, cultivating
Their lands, and are beginning to enjoy the
fruit of their labor. II is Thought that some
will raise d support for their families this
year.
More than two hundred of them have re-
n1nnced heathenistn and embraced the
christian Religion, protesting desire In
nee from the wrath 10 come ; and give a
satisfactory evidence of their sincerity and
feti'ty OF change. Our missionaries ha.e
taken Them under their pastoral care, as
proohtioners Tor membership in our church ;
ana a'e engaged in instructing them in the
doctrines and duties, experimental and
4 practical, of the Christian Religion. At
prrt"nt the missionaries have too much on
.ne'r Hands to devote sufficient time to the
instruction of these inqnirrrs after truth
ou' W this case the Lord hath mercifrly
supplied their lack of-ervice. by converting
'r,tra' OF the interpreters and majority
Oh thr chiefs of the nation. These inter
prefers feeling themselves the gospel in thu
po"rr nf God 10 salvation, more readily
e"ler INTO IFS great design. aud ARE thereby
rendered much more efficient organs for
1 (OnnIInInafIntr