Putnam patriot., 1909-03-12

| AFN pufpt>tss II pFoukHt patN th'>t
characteristic response from this hon
ored apostle--full of zeal and devotion
IA letter which awakened aud thrilled
| many Christian hearts and brought
many thousand dollars into the treasu-
~. A copy may he found in Wayland's
Life of Judson," but the time-wor
original Is kept as sacred treasure by
! descendants OF Elder Grow. This story
of the Judson letter should ever hold a
! place in the missionary annals of
| Windham county.
II Is another noteworthy fact In these
annals that It's first work under these
mission boards was given 10 those
| races whose status still forms an I'M
solvable problem In our national deve-
lopment. Our first missionaries sent
out by the A. II. {. +. NJ. labored
among the Cherokee Indians. The first
under the Baptist Union were saeri-
feed In futile effort for African coloni-
zation.
| The Congregational church of Hamp.
ton enjoyed the privilege OF paetaking
in the ordination of Rev. William
Potter in $50, "with special view 10
his designation aud mbership of the
mission To the Cherokee nation under
| the patronage and direction Of the Anne
| rian Board
| Mr.. Potter was a native of Lisbon,
Conn, a licentiate of Windham County
Ministerial Association, then recently
| married To Miss Laura Well, niece of
Rev. Ludovicus Well, the honored pas
tor of the church nj Hampton. She,
too, was included In this dedicatory
service and her name heads the list Of
| Windham county woman missionaries.
The services were carried through with
much solemnity, Mr.. Everest of Wind
ham preaching the sermon, Mr.. Ely,
of Lebanon, offering the conservation
prayer, the Hampton pastor giving the
solemn charge to the young missiona-
ries. The Rev. Messrs. Bnckus, Dow
and Larned assisted in other functions.
A service of even greater formality
awaited Mr.. and Mrs. Potter, at New
| Haven, where with other missionaries,
they were set apart and dedicated to
the Cherokee mission by The officers of
| the American Board and leading min
| listers of Connecticut.
There are few saddei pages In the
annals Of our country than those rela-
ting io this tribe Of Cherokees. Their
beautiful country, embracing feariy
the whole OF Tennessee and sections
adjoining, excited the envy and cupid
ily of the whites. Their history is one
long record of struggle and disposses-
sion, with final outcome Of defeat and
removal. The success OF missionary
work among these prosecuted Indians,
gives the only CLEAN OF light In the
dark picture. The American Board
established mission among them In
Brainard, Ga, in 1870.
The story of Catharine Brown was
very familiar To sunday School schol-
ars OF past generation. This little
Indian girl, daughter Of the chleftain,
Insisted upon attending the mission
school, and her heart was opened To
receive the gospel message. Her con-
version was one OF the first fruits of the
Brainard mission, aud through her In.
strumentality the savage father and
brothers, mother and sisters, embraced
the Christian religion. Hut the con-
tinued aggression Of the whites left
them no peace. Goods, grain and cat
Tie were taken from them, and in 1919
the greater part OF their tribe yolunta-
riIy Withdrew 10 the west of the Missis-
sippi, and 1t was TO these expatriated
refugees our Hampton missionaries
were assigned for n field Of labor.
After a long and weafisome journey
they reached the Cherokee reservation
In March, 1881. The site selected was
Wood Creek, on the Arkansas river,
where a settlement was In progress
the first tree was felled in the pfcecd-
Ing August. Their cabins of hewed
logs had been erected for dwelling
houses, and the inevitable school-housc
was under way. Sickness and priya-
ton, hostility and dissension among |
the natives had greatly impeded settle |
ment, but with courage and faith Mr..
and Mrs. Potter entered upon their |
work, so that within year they could |
give . favorable report Of progress--'sa
living church In the wilderness and |
hopeful converts walking together In
love- They were favored In having,
as pillars OF the infant church, that re-
markable family brought into Chris
tianity through the influence Of Catha-
rine Brown. This interesting convert |
was now old enough TO Assist in the
school, freely giving 10 Others what she |
had freely received. Her letters show
rare conservation and maturity Of Chris.
tlan experience.
cd their thanks for the school, and In
council agreed that their children
should share IN its privileges To this
interesting field Dir. and Mrs. Potter
gave their best energies, cheesiuiiy
meeting is ID any hard1hips and prisa-
tons. It's heaviest burdens fell upon
the women Of the mission. Those vi no
embraced the Christian faith were
brought into their families. Compe-
tent help WIS HnatIainahie, household