The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-08
Oneida Indian missionaries.

the Forsyth street methodist Episcopal Church
Rev. Henry Requa, the white missionary; Tan you
guy wuy hoy, an ordained preacher of the Oneida
tribe, along with two other natives, who are ster-
ards, were present.
The services commenced by singing . hymn in
EDglish, which followed by prayer offered up il
the same language.
At the conclusion Of tho prayer, tho pastor Of
the church, Rev. MIR. WAKELY, introduced Rev.
Mr.. Rsqua to ths assenolase.
Rev. MIR. REQUA then ro,e and said, that he was
glad to be there that night rs representative of the
Oneida tribe of Indians. The meeting was called
for missionary purposes, One Of the Indians present
was ordained minister, and would pray to them
in his own language rhe other two were stewards,
and ore Of them would address them A great mum
Der Of Indians had smeraced the gospel, and were
religious rs they were The Indians are not stable
because they not duoated, and whom people are
not eduoHted they aro wild and fancifal. The In
dams want tho Bible translated into their own
tongue, a. there is not one word Of that book writ
ten IN their language For the purpose OF accom-
plshirg this opjsct they had travelled from their
home to ask the white man to give them the Word
Of God. He then announced that one Of the Indieas
would address them In his native tongue, and she
other ore would interpret IL AS be went along
Mr.. PAwLES, which ID mis- English name then
addressed the audience. He said that he fsls very
thankful for seeing such large congreg alton thore
that evening. They might wonder what brought
them there that evening, and what they wanted.
They came to tell them that they are very poor,
and want some money to educate their bro then
There was time when tho tribe not poor; they
owned lands and bowed their heads to nan.
They are apart OF the Six Nations, who carried their
arms successfully against all their enemies. One
hundred and fifty years ago they had everything
they xsntsd, and begged only of ths Great Spirit
The white man came and asked them for place to
lay down and sleep They agreed to this. Taey
took him for q brother, and gave him the pips of
peace to smoke. Other Indians were determined to
drive the whites back. They strung their bows
and erasped their tomaha~ks for that pur
pose; but their tribe defended them, and their
chiefs did all in their power to proteos the wnito
warrior. In his journey east he saw large white
stones over the graves Of the white warriors, but
no such stones pa, ed over the Indian warriors
grave-the poor Indian is forgotten H. heard
that tho white soldier received loo acres Of land
recompense. This is good but they give no
money or land to their great warriors de did not
come there to complain; if they gave him some
them good book, (meAning the Bible) aud
by it a great many Of their tribe have boon
saved and are now in Heaven. They love
the Bible, they love to read it; bat Of tho
Bible only Ave chapters Of Genesis and the Book
Of liaiah are translated into thsir language. No
Indian can translate this book, and that was tho
reason they wanted money, 50 that they oonld read
the Bibe, and their children after them They oamo
to the whites acoount OF their old friendship aud
In tho name Of the Lord he wished they would help
them.
The Indians then sung hynn in their native
tongue, which was listened to with great attention
by the asRemblsge,
Rev. HENRY REoUA then delivered short ad-
dress. He said it vas vol known to many shst the
Oneida ribe Of Indians were portion Of the Six Ma
tonB, which were tho most powsrtll in the COUNTRY
aDd carried their far Sauth ~ the Oar0in
and conquered tho Hurons and Algosquios 10
thu time Of the Revolution the Six Nations were in
duced ~ Britih gold to take up arms against the
Americans The chief Of tho tribe, John Grant, in
formed tho Oneids tribe that they shoald fight
against the Americans; but they replied that they
would not. but, on the contrary, would fight for
them, which they did, and rendered them efsctusl
service during that period which tried mems souls
He then alluded to the negligence Of our govern.
did He then alluded to tho patience of the Indian;
he knew an Indian bog who suffered nine years from
D cancer in the faoe, the flesh OF which vas
entirely removed. One of his eyes became blind.
pains and whom asked If hs was not in great tar ure,
he would reply and say, 8 that when he died be
would 60 to Heaven, and that would reoompense
him for al his troubles His aged mother ex-
for him, until she has become . beggar; sod yet
this ID the vito Of one OF the old Iudisn war.
nors who fought for this country. Tho Oneida tribe
are exceedingly anxious TO enjoy religious meet
ing. He has known them TO come seven miles on
dark, wet night, through forests and swamps,
with no Other snoes than the moocasns, which are
not great protection against tho wcsshsr, to St-
tend class meeting When any Of the tribe fell
sick, and there Is danger Of ais life, his brethren
gather around his bedside, and talk Of Heaven aud
the angels therein. In this manner they converse
together until the soul Of tho dying leaps from
ats earthly tenement and nscends to the heavens
above. These are called love meetings. by The In
dians. They havo day Of thanksgiving 6very
year, after the crops are gathered In, sad celebra
that day With large feast, TO which the mission
aries arc all invited he then alluded 20 the strong
desire the Indians had to have the Bible translated
into their own tongue The Chinese have TIE
Bis]s translated, ~ also have the Aohawks. and
why could not the Oneida tribe have 1t sisol There
10 boy about sixteen yoars Of age, who IL th.
son Of An old chief who was one Of the nnt Indsn.
that was converted. When he died. he wished his
son (the boy nov in qseStiop) 70 be educated
and brought up in the way Of God That youto
10 very Intelligent and has slways mans.essea zoe
very best disposition He spoks Of him to the job,
street church, Of this siey, who very generously
contributed 800 for the purpose Of edacsripg HIN
This amount has boss alreacy spent. and he Is =
enabled to read and write the English language,
which very few of tho indians oan do Tais boy.
tnen, he said, was tho proposed object Of their ct-
rify. The American people are tho debtors OF the
Oneida tribe. and they ought to give Thorn una
they Sy .esk They want money, 30 IS to trAnal.se
iosns have, by degrees, driven the Indians from tao
hemes NJ their fathers, ana crowded tham into one
small and barron spacc. west OF she srcn. lakes
In few years there will not be one OF that nob,o
in existence sit around their council res as of Old
and, sish trembling lips, aek tho missionaries tor
that book which promises them life in anethss
world.
The Indians shaa sung hymn in their native
tongue, which was listened TO wish great attention
by tho congregation
The psssor Of tie church, Rev. Mr.. WAKeLsy,
then made Few remarxs, exhorting Thorn 70 be
liberal il tbcir gifts, and 10 give az much as
they possibly could
A collection was thcn taken up. which was very
good one. amounting to $50; after which a1o.hor
hymn Was sung by the Indians, with great feeling.
Tho services concluded aith prayer, which va
offered up by TAI you GUY WY HOY, tae ordained
Indian minister, in HE own language
Rcv York Chamber or om mcrcc.
The regular monthly meeting was held at the
MeIchasts Bank on Tuesday stterooon. rhsre vas
large attendance Of members, and the
were OF unusual interest
Elevsr geaAlcnsr, nominated at the last meet
i,g, were unanimously and separately elested mem.
bsrs OF the Chamber, ard VIM b Herbsck was