Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-05-31
JOHN ELIOT,
TIE 70 rHEIvDIANs

Words.
Henson J. Losing In New York indepen''
John Eliot is known in history as
"The Apostle to the Indians" because
Of his indefatigsble labors Tor their
spiritual and temporal welfare. lie
was one of the wisest, most sagacious,
and most efficient missionaries OF Chris
,ianity since Petor and Paul spread the
Gospel among the pagans. lie was born
in England in 1904 was educated al one
of the universities, and became usher at
a grammar school. established by Rev.
Thomas Hooker, afterward a prominent
New England divine, who had recently
been silenced as preacher because OF
his non.conformity. Touched by the
pibus zeal of Mr.. Hooker, young Eliot
resolved to enter the Christian ministry;
but there was then no open field for
Puritan clergyman in England. Even
the good Hooker, Notwithstanding the
interference Of forty-seven conforming
clergymen in his favor, could escape
the prosecutions of Archbishop Laud
only by fleeing to Holland.
Eliot, yearning for freedom in wor-
ship and teaching, and possessed of
burning desire to carry a converting
Gospel among the dusky children ofthe
American forests, who were ignorantly
worshipping an Unknown God" voy-
aged to our virgin land in the ship
Lyon" in 1851, in company with the
wife and children Of John Winthrop,
and landed at Boston. The pastor OF
the church there was then in England,
and young Eliot, twenty-seven years
of age, was called to its service. He
performed the duties so acceptably
that the congregation desired to
retain him. He had pledged him.
self to loving brethren in Eng
land that if they would follow him
across the Atlantic he would become
their pastor. They came in 1858, set
tied at Roxbury, near Boston, and he
assumed the position OF shepherd of the
flock. A more loving follower had
Joined him the year before. When he
derarted from England he left his heart
and the pledge of his hand with beau
tiful maiden there, who came to Boston
in 1852. Their huptials were celebra-
ted Immediately after her arrival.
Eliot was honest, fearless, and out
spoken. The Pequot Indians Of Con-
necticut were at war with the Nara
gansetts of Rhode Island and the Dutch
on Manhattan in 1884, and sought
alliance with the English in Massachu-
sets. The authorities made a treaty
with them which seemed to be unwise
to Eliot, and he boldly denounced
it from his Roxbury pulpit, especially
because the contract had been made
without the consent Of the people
being first obtained. This democratic
protest aroused the indignation Of the
magnates in Church and State. Eliot
was ''dealt with that's, expostulated
with by the Governor and ministers.
He modified his opposition, and peace
was restored but he was ever after
ward regarded as a leading champion
of democratic principles and "soul
liberty" Yet in the famous theology
cal controversy between Mrs. Hutchi.
son and the authorities, spiritual and
secular, Eliot was one Of her chief OPP
posers as a condemning witness of her
free utterances Of opinions. He was
the most potential instrument in Sc
curing the condemnation and Danish
ment Of this famous feminine heresi-
arch.
Eliot became deeply interested in the
temporal and spiritual welfare Of the
half-naked heather who swarmed
around the feeble English settlements
on the shores of Massachusetts bay;
and soon after completing the transls-
ton of the Psalms he entered vigorous
ly upon his most important work in the
field of evangelism-the conversion Of
the Indians to civilization and Chris
tianity. He studied and mastered, in
a degree, their language. with the help
Of "pregnsnt-witted" young barba-
rian who had learned the English and
been taken into Eliot's family. Eliot
was soon enabled to translate into the
Indian tongue the Lords Prayer. the
Commandments, several passages Of
Scripture, and few prayers; and he
began to speak the language intelligent
" after conversing with his dusky COM
.paniOns few months.
Mr.. Eliot began his work with great
wisdom. He sought to civilize the In
dianS as well as to Christianize them.
The first step was to establish social
order. In l646 he induced them to
form a political community or town
within the borders of the present New
ton. not far from Boston. They adopt
ed for themselves laws for the promo
ton Of decency, cleanliness, industry.
and good order. He and his helpful
wife had visited them in their wig
vans and instructed the women and
children. He furnished the men with
tools-spades, shovels, mattocks, etc.
instructing them how to cultivate
the soil, and providing them with
seeds. They were taught to ditch the
land, and fence it with stone walls.
Mrs. Eliot taught the women how to
spin, and her husband procured flax
wheels for them. They were taught
how to build better wigwams, make
better clothing for themselves, and to
provide many creature comforts before
unknown to them. In q word, they
were taught the arts Of Christian civ
ilization and its advantages, with sound
spiritual instruction at the same time.
The Indians soon experienced the slim
ulating and salutary influence oftraffic,
and built up commerce with the Eng
lish people. In winter they made
and sold to them brooms, baskets,
eel-pots, and game; in the sum
mer they sold them berries,
grapes, and fish, and in the autumn
cranberries and venison. They some
times worked for wages for the Eng
lish. 1t was not long before the "com-
mon people" Of this Indian town were
better housed, better clothed, better
fed, and more decent in every aspect.
than were sachems or princes else
where. They became so jealous in
| their enterpriSe that the demsnd for