The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-03-10
5 FOE THE CENTRAL PREsBYrER1AS.
"REMINISCENCES OF A PIONEER.
REV. GIDEON BLACKBURN, D. D.

1t sometimes seems good to the great
Head of the Church to raise up men of ex-
traOrdinary endowments. By a peculiar
blending of gifts not easily described, they
attract, charm, or overawe their hearers, and
leave an impression of their amazing powers
long after they have passed from the seen c
of their labors. To this class of men be-
longed Whitefeld, Summer6eld, and Mason;
and, on less conspicuous field, the Rev.
Gideon Blackburn.
When first came to the Southwest,
heard him everywhere spoken of as unsur-
passed in pulpit eloquence. He was, l be.
lieve, the FIRST who introduced schools and a
knowledge of Christianity among the Cher
Okees. He began to labor among them in
1903. In letter to the Committee of Mis-
siOns of the General Assembly, in 1906,
after describing an examination of the Indi-
an children in the presence of their parents
and many of the natives, he says, 81 spent
the night till one in the morning, in explain
ing the cause of the difference between the
good and the bad among the white people,
the nature of death, the resurrection and tue
day of judgment" He then mentions the
solemn effect produced on some by listening
to these truths for the first time.
My first visit to the Cherokees was after
their removal west of the Mississippi. The
missionary station was under the superin-
tendence of the Rev. Cephas Washburn.
My passage up the Arkansas was on a steam
boat carrying supplies to a military station
high up that river, was landed opposite
the missionary station, and two or three
miles distant. The captain promised me
that on his downward passage he would fire
3 cannon some miles above the landing, in
time for me to reach it by the time of his
arrival. When the expected time drew near
the Indian children of the schools were
charged to keep their ears open to catch the
first sound of the big gun. One evening
when seated at supper the announcement
was made that the cannon was heard. In
few minutes colored servant with two horses
stood by the door. We mounted, and my
sable guide told me to follow him. WesoOn
entered dense forest, and made our way as
fast as our animals could carry US. In the
midst Of this forest we suddenly came to an
opeE space in which stood small paled en-
closure intended to protect the resting place
of some one of Adams race. "Whose
grave is this? inquired L" "The little
Usage captive's," replied my guide, No one
who has ever read the touching narrative of
that remarkable child by the Rev. Mr.. Cor
nelius, could fail to be deeply moved by such
an announcement in such circumstances. /.
had only time to check my horse, gaze for
moment, and whisper, "sleep on, dear little
captive, twice redeemed, until the morning
of the resurrection!
When We came near the landing l dis
missed my guide, expecting to find the steam
boat awaiting me below the high bluff-bank
of the river. But to my great disappoint-
ment found no boat there, nor was there
any in hearing. My guide was now beyond
the reach of my voice, and 1 had no alterna-
tive but to spend the night without shelter,
or find some Indian wigwam in which to
lodge. l discovered one at some distance,
in which I found two native sons of the forest,
one of whom could speak English He was
willing that l should spend the night with
them. From him learned that the supposed |
report of the cannon was made by a drunken
white man who had fired musket, heavily |
charged, close to the surface of the water, |
thereby greatly increasing the sound. In
my conversation with this Indian, | learned |
that in his early years he had been pupil
of the Rev. Gideon Blackburn, east of the
Mississippi. This tended greatly to relieve
my mind in view of spending the night in
such circumstances. The cabin had no floor,
but plenty of deep dust for our feet to rest
in. There were a few poles fastened in the
side intended for a bed, but the bed was
wanting, save few old pieces of blankets
After asking my kind host many questions
about Gideon Blackburn and his labOrs, we
kneeled down and committed ourselves to
the care of an omnipresent God, and spent
the night as best could on the bed of poles
which was generously offered to me.
Next morning as the boat had not come,
l crossed to the southern bank of the river,
where l preached part of a discourse to a few
white people, but was prevented from finish
ing it by the arrival of the steamboat
Gideon Blackburn'S usual powers of i'm
pressing the minds of an audience were des-