Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-08-06


JOHN ELLIOTT, THE APOSTLE OF THE INDIANS.
Among the various actions by which the
early pioneers OF New England impressed their
names upon the page of history, there is none
more worthy of commentator than the noble
self-sacrifcing devotion which prompted that
whole-souled Christian man, Join Elliott, to
undertake the conversion Of the nntutored
"sons of the forest" While other members
OF the colonies were planning ways by which
they might destroy, exterminate and drive them
from their homes, rob them Of theirs@nds and
appropriate them to themselves, and although
they thought themselves to be Christians, MUIR
dering and butchering the rightful owners OF
the soil, this man was trying to concoct
plan to snbjugate them to the Influences Of the
Gospel, to liherate their minds from the igno-
rance In which they were benighted, and by
lnpresslng upon them IFS great truths, smooth
down their rugged natures, and accomplish by
kindness and gentleness with no weapons hut
| truth, that which the whole combined force OF
the colonists with fire and swor could not do,
secure themselves from harm. While the
means employed by them only aggravated and
aroused within tho Indians heart the desire
tor revenge, the means employed by him, served
to renoyate and enlighten their minds, and by
setting forth before their eyes the lessons OF
the Gospel, implant in their hearts by its in
fluence the spirit Of gentleness, forgiveness
and love. While Others saw in the savage bar
parity OF the Indian nature nothing but dross,
John Elliott saw there bright Jewel, that only
needed to be put in its right place, aud with u
little polishing would shine forth, and with its
resplendant brightness dazzle the eye oil the
behUlder.
When we reflect upon the hcrculean tasl;
which this man imposed upon himself, thu stu.
pendousness OF the undertaking, it cannot but
excite our admiration and wonder. To trans.
late the Bible into language which at thai
had .1., -
most superhuman accomplishment, and the
man who could undertake and accomplish such
an object, must have been possessed Of indom
liable perseverance, and mind of no low or.
der. What mind can conceive the depth, oil
what pen describe the breadth of il. Had al
the pioneers of our country undertook to thu!
conciiiate the Indians feelings toward them
there would be vast difference in tho history
OF our country. Where now npon its page the
black record Of war, rapine, butchery and mas
sacre, show their hOrrid detorlnity, would have
been nought but deeds of nObleness to mark
the epoch. Where is now upon that page
the dark record of hate and revenge, there
would be deeds of love and forgiveness, shin
ing forth like tho rays of sunshine that dis
perses the clouds and sheds its genial warmth
upon the earth, and the strides OF civilization,
which have converted forests into cities, towns
and villages would only have been more rapid.
Yes, there was in the example Of this great
man q new motive, and it was not to aggrandZe
himself, but to accomplish the end for which
he was sent upon the earth.
Methinks | can almost see him, standing in
the midst of group of Indians, holding the
holy page of inspiration in his hand, Ills cheek
flushed, his eye beaming with the light Of a
heayen-born project, his whole frame agitated
with the violence Of his feelings, while from
his lips flowed streams Of eoquencc which first
excited tho admiration OF the Indian, then
chained him to the speaker, then as the truths
Of Gospel, flashed like CLEAN Of sunlight
across the darkness of his mind, showed to
him his errors, and finally brought him to the
knowledge that his way was wrong, and that
this man was laboring solely for his good. Me-
thinks can see their dusly forms. as grouped
around him, they listened to him as he cndeav-
ored to impress upon their minds the truth OF
what he had told them. And they believed
him, yes, they saw that he was trying to tear
away the dark veil OF ignorance which cnye-
loped their minds, and unfold the light Of a
new life to them. Ills efforts were crowned
with success. With the help of Il few who
followed his example, there were nthe colonies
at the time when King Phillip, reused by the
continued entertainments OF the whites, made
war upon them, fourteen towns Of Praying In
dams. Too much communication cannot be
bestowed upon the man who could conceive
such an idea. rErcrR.