The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-02-25
For the Anderson htelligencer.
A TRIP TO THE SOUTH.

Mr. Editor l closed my last letter lingering at
Granada and speaking about the Chocaw mission
near this point. DR.. Kingsbury, who commenced
it, was man of good hard sense, resembling, in
this respect our own Rev. J. Leighton Wilson, D.
D., Secretary of Foreign Missions. He was emf
nenly qualified for elevating the character and
condition of @ whole nation of red men, and
weaving them from their roaming habits, their
superstition and idolatry, by imparting to them
better way. He got hold of the children by pre-
cept :and example He established farm and
employed the boys part of their time in manual
labor, so they might know how to train the next
generation in a better way TO gain subsistence
than in their houscless, homeless method, or than
their former rowing way Of sca7ching after the
wild game of the forest. Rev. T. C. Stewart and
myself spent few days with the mission to see
how everything was conducted. Everything pre-
sented the appearance Of order, system and regu-
larty. There we're certain hours for study, 9TH
ers for labor, and time for family worship and
religious instruction. 1t all had the appearance
of well.trained, quiet family. The schoolhouse
and chapel were plain hewn log buildings 90 the
houses of the mission families. Yet all the ar
rangement about the culinary department was
we'll suited to aid those whose business it was t,
provide food for so large number. Neatness and
comfort was then TO be seen-no eItravagance, no
waste, everything saved. But few men possess
that kind of business habits, and especially among
ministers Some ministers are eloquent, devoted,
useful men ns ministers, but children in other
matters He was man for the times ''the right
man in the right place." In few years he had
noble co-laborer who came to his assistance
Rev. Cyrus Byington. He WAS man Of noble
spirit, and fully consecraed 10 his Masters work.
He devoted the whole of his ministerial life TO
the elevation of the character and condition of the
Choctaw people. Nothing he desired more ar
IDENTIFY than their salvation, and his words and
works gave constant testimony to this fact. "By
their fruits ye shall know them" He labored
constantly, zeaousy and successfully in preach
ing the glad tdngs of salvation to them. There
will long remain many living witnesses Of his f.
deity and great usefulness among them rs min
isser lie also devoted large portion Of his time
in studying the Chcctaw language making an al
phabet and grammar, reducing it to system, pre-
pairing -suiabe books, and translatng the Scrip
lures into their language. That people ore now
enjoying the fruits of his lifelong abcrs, while
he is now enjoying the approval of the. Master,
"Well done, good and faithful servant" After lie
became loo feeble to continue in the active duties
of the mission as minister and felt it necessary
to retire from the tolls and burdens pressing upon
him. he was not willing to be idle; he was em-
ployed in the supervision and publication of
translation of the Scriptures into the Choctaw
language lie fell with the harnes, on. He was
in the last General Assembly, and though he was
feeling the pressure of many years, he was able
to take .hc platform, and with some young men
just buckling the harness for the foreign field,
he was ready to plead for his Masters cause; but
there is ample reason to believe he is now in at
tendance on the general assembly and church of
the first born, and has entered into the Church
of the living God. He died as he lived-noi
trusting to the merit of his lifelong abors in
promoting the happiness, usefulness and saliva
,ion of others, but calmly resting upon the atone
mcnt Rev. Alfred Wright was another co-laborer
with these venerable men, and not behind them in
zeal, active usefulness and devotion to the Mas
ters cnusc. 1t is believed he possessed high quail
i6caions for reducing to system their language
and giving TO that people =lhc word of the living
God in language understood. These men do not
seem to have mistaken their calling hut entered
upon the very work for which they were eminently
qualified. When God has q work to be done, he
raises up men and qualities them for it.
This country in 1920, and one or two years pre-
vious, WAS just emerging from its rude and bar
barous state, and commencing a new career Of
life If we had q standpoint from which we could
overlook the whole field and see the ignorance
and superstition that prevailed then, (whie We
were there information came that one Ind been
executed for being uitch,) and see the high
stand they occupy now among the civilized ma
tions Of the earth. it almost otartles belief. And
this accomplished by these few self-denying men
and their wives, and few others not here men
toned, as the instruments employed to accomplish
so great work. They have reared monuments
to their memory far mere enduring than the pyr-
amids of Egypt. The wheels once put in motion
and running smoothly, who can predict the results
in all coming time, aud especially as seen in eter-
nifty.
The white inhabitants, since they have purcha-
sed the lands, have built railreads, beautiful Cities
towns and villages, and many fine, splendid resi-
dences, and greatly improved the whole aspect Of
the country. 1t does not much resemble the howl
inp wilderness it was then but when all these
railroads, cities and villages shall perish and be
forgotten, what has been done for the Choctnws in
that region and beyond the Mississippi will be
seen and admired by unborn milliuns'of red men,
and by others who will be mere spectators OF this
great and noble work, so much blessed already by
the head of the Church.
Tho ub;,e Inhabitants of this once Indian coun-