Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1827-03-03


The following essay from the Reverend
Gea'eman who nj one time attempted to dis
pute our positions relative to the policy of
encouraging foreign missions or crusades
to India, has been on hand some weeks,
and would have been presented to the pub
ltc before this, had not many Of our sub
scribers complained that they had already
been sufficiently bored with the subject, and
had not matters of far greater consequence
claimed our attention and the occupation
of our columns
We give the essay as it came to us; and
as we have no disposition to bore the public
any further, at this juncture of our publica-
ton, we shall suffer il to 60 for what il is
worth, after simply stating that it is any
thing and every thing but an argument to
prove the incorrectness Of our positions.
If we talk to the gentleman about the deial-
cations and impositions Of Luther Rice,
and company, or of the hypocrisy of some
of the theological Spectators who have
focked to India, he replies to Us by talking
about India, New York Castle Garden,
Bethel Flags, Sunday Schools, and Revi-
vals As we have found it impossible to
contine him to the subject matter in dis
pute, we shall let him 90 on :il he has
:" said his say" when we shall make our
reply.
FOREIGN MISSIONS INDICATED.
No. ".
To the Editor Of the Literary Cadet.
1t affords me much satisfaction to witness
o's APPROACH towards each OF any points
within the range of our present controversy.
You have often expressed yourselves the
advocates of mi >sionary efforts among the
.4merican Indians; this labour opens vast
field Tor benevolent exertions, and am glad
to see you espouse this side Of the question,
notwithstanding some witty members OF
Congress have 'contemptuously sneered
against it. | hope yet to see the govern
ment's appropriations greatly augmented in
favour of the remnant of that scattered and
injured people, who have been driven
from river to river, from mountain to noun
tam, and rolled back nation upon nation,
until they nave become strangers, vagrants
and fugltves in their own land"
The changes wrought among them must
in all probability be slow and gradual, and
must be brought about by regular system
OF instruction with the younger part OF their
population. But as there Is something
praseworthy in attempts for their moral and
religious benefit, it gives me pleasure to
hear you so firm an advocate in their favor.
This is one important branch of the mis-
sionary enterprise, as it respects American
christians; the Congregatlonallsts, the
Presbyterians, the Episcopalians, the Bap-
fists, the Methodists, and the Friends, have
all FOR a number Of years past, devoted no
inconsiderable part Of their missionary
funds, in behalf of the rcd-mcn of our west
ern wilds 1t is immaterlal whether these
missions come under the head of torei gn or
domestic, as their promoters have different
opinions on the sub ject; | prefer to consid
or all missionary efforts as belonging to one
and the same concern, and ali designed to
promote the reclamation and salvation Of
the segen hundred millions Of our race, whose
wrctched aud mournful condition the Rev
Mr.. Waylond has so e!oquently described
am also pleased to lind you the decided
friend, to the Sunday school operations,
as 10 IN my heart believe they are among
The very best means that we're ever devised
for the good pf mank,nd and to relieve
yoi RON your surprise at my incidentally
referring to this subject, | would just OBJ
serve, by way of explanation, that the
friends OF the missionary enterprise con-
slider the promotion Of Sabbath Schools,
one OF the most efficient branches Of their
reforming system; and the further they tra-
vel Oh in experience, the more and more
they are persuaded, that vast amount OF
good may arise from the instruction of the
young and rising generation, by means OF
Sabbath and common schools, more than
can be effected by efforts directed to the
adult population.
Here then are two capital points in which
we are agreed; and as you were once the
friends and supporters Of the whole mis-
sionary enterprise, ! do not despair of see-