The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-10-19

wisdom: bcnevoience and good faith, existin.
among Christians, ii this be the result of thei
fehsion' God forbid that it should be destroy
ca. Let 1t flourish, will sustain that faith il
us purity; but LET US be equally charitable te
an. The Jews and Christians are only known
~ tner hostility towards each other. Thei,
nostiiity neither religion recognises. we
should no more censure the Christians Al
tnis Day Tor the cruelties practised towards the
jaws IA the early ages. than the Jews should
now be made answerable for the factious poll
cy OF our ancestors 500 generations ago.
ZINES nave undergone an important change !:
we all begin to feel that we are formed ofthe
same materials, subject to the same frailties.
destined to the same death, and hoping for the
same Immortality. Here, then, 10 this free
ana happy country, distinctions in religioa are
unknown; here we enjoy liberty without IL
centlonsness, and land without oppression.
never eassSsf5f BE- q h bGs 6Pfs
to the Jews.-Tbat divine protection which
has been bestowed upon the chosen people,
from the infancy of nature to the present peri
cd, has, without doubt. been equally extend
ed to the missing tribes, and if, as have rea-
son to believe, our lost brethren were the an
oestors of the Indians Of the American CONT
nent, the inscrutable DEGREES of the Almighty
have been fulfilled in spreading unity and
omnipotence in every quarter of the globe.
Upwards of three thousand years have elapsed,
since the nine and half tribes were carried
captive by Palmanazar, King of Assyria. It is
supposed they were spread over the various
countries of the East, and by International
marriages, have lost their indemnity of charac-
Ter. 1t is, however,, probable, that from the
previous sufferings of the tribes in Egyptian
bondage, that they bent their course in
northwest direction, which brought them
within few leagues of the American Cont
nent, and which they finally reached.
Those who are most conversant with the
public and private economy of the Indians, are
strongly Of opinion that they are the lineal de-
pendants of the Israelites, and my own re-
searches go far TO confirm me in the same be-
lief.
" The Indians worship one Supreme being as
the fountain of life, and the author OF all crea-
ton. Like the Israelites of old, they are diyid-
ed into tribes, having their Chief, and dis
tinctive symbol to each. Some of their tribes.
it is said, are named after the Cherubinicai
figures that were carried on the four principal
Standards of Israel. They consider them
selves as the select and beloved people of God,
and have all the religious pride which our an
cestors are known to have possessed. Their
words are sonorous and bold, and their lam
gusge and dialect are evidently of Hebrew
origin.-They compute time after the manner
of the Israelites, by dividing the year into the
four seasons, and their subdivision are the lu-
mar months, or our new Moons, commencing
according TO the ecclesiastical year OF Moses.
the first Moon after the vernal equinox.
consecrated vessels are deposited, and which
are only to be approached by their arch-im-
ages or high priests. They have their towns
and cities of refuge--they have sacrifices and
fastings-they abstain from unclean things (;
in short, in their marriages, divorces, punish
ment of adultery-burial of the dead, and
mourning, they bear striking analogy to eur
people. How came they on this continent,
and if indigenous, when did they acquire the
principles and essential forms Of the Jews?
The Indians are not savases they are wild
aud savage in their habits, but possess great
vigor of intellect and native talent they are
brave and eloquent people, with an Asiatic
complexion, and Jewish features. Should we
be right in our conjecture, what new scenes
are open 10 the nation-the first of people in
the old world, and the rightful inheritors of
the new?-spread from the confines of the
northwest coast to Cape Horn, and from the
Atlantic to the Pacific"