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RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

DOMESTIC.

Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Andrew Gray, Missionary among the Tuscaroras; dated Tuscarora Village, Dec. 8, 1809.

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HIS nation makes considerable advances in civilization and agriculture. They begin to see, that trusting to the chase is a very precarious subsistence; and that even the produce of the hoe, is not a certain provision for their wants; their corn crops being liable to suffer by untimely frosts. Therefore, our Tuscarora friends have this season cleared, fenced, and sowed, perhaps sixty acres of wheat. Last winter and spring they sowed considerable grass seed, in order to have meadows for the support of their cattle. They have also made some improvements in building. But the friendly, pacific, honest walk and conversation of the leading part of this nation, far surpasses all I have yet mentioned. How far this may be called the work of the Lord, is worthy of investigation.

There is a mistake in the idea, that Indians are disgusted with long speeches; myself have heard our Head Sachem address his nation from one to three quarters of an hour; and then he concluded only for lack of matter, whilst the nation sat in deep silence and attention for some time after he had taken his seat. It is in their communications with white men that they are laconic; and white men must be short in their sentences in general, more on account of the incapacity and weakness of the interpreter, than from any dislike they have either to long sentences or long addresses, provided the subject is pleasing and well understood.

Previous to my engaging in this mission, I had formed an idea that, among barbarous and warlike nations, almost all the finer feelings were absorbed in the ideas of Vol. III.-No. II.

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war, revenge, glory, &c. and that to drop the sympathetic tear would be accounted effeminate, and unmanly. Whatever truth there may be in this idea in general, yet there are exceptions. Not long since I preached from these words:" For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."-This discourse seemed to have made a singular impression on the mind of the Head Sachem, who immediately upon the close of the service arose and addressed his nation with a long harangue. Whilst he was engaged, I descended from the pulpit, and took a seat among his hearers. For a considerable time he seemed very earnest; at last, to my surprise, his voice faultered, he sighed deeply, resumed his seat, leaned his face on the head of his cane, and the tears rolled abundantly down his tawny cheeks. I inquired the cause; and was informed by Cusick, that the import of his talk was, exhibiting to his people the great benefits himself had received from his faith in Christ and his Gospel; counselling them to open their hearts, and receive like privileges; complaining of, and mourning over their stupidity and obstinacy. Another instance of the same nature, though of a later date, happened in my presence also. Paulus, a professor of Christianity, on the sabbath morning before service, undertook, (as he often does,) to address his friends on much the same topic: after continuing his talk for a considerable time, he fell into a deep fit of mourning, and eventually weeping over the hardness and obstinacy of the unbelieving part of the nation; his distress he exhibited in somewhat of a singular manner, by voice, gesture, and shedding of tears. Thus you see the venerable board, instead of one preacher among the Tuscaroras, have four-Sacharissa, Cusick, Paulus, and myself*-and I trust we have entered the list, actuated by somewhat similar motives, having also similar objects in view; viz. the dissipating of moral darkness, and breaking down the strong barriers of unbelief. It may

• Should any one inquire why my coadjutors mentioned above are permitted to speak in the Church, the inquirer will remember, that the Church is their counsel house. The privilege is handed down from time immemorial: they are jealous of it; therefore it would be dangerous to interfere. These men do not pretend to explain Scripture, but persuade their people to embrace it; and they are all three, not only members, but elders in the Church.

be alleged, the undertaking is great, and when committed to such unskilful hands, it must of course miscarry ; but let none of my brethren be discouraged or despair. Although our best efforts in the great work would prove as the vain puff to turn the northern blast, or as indolent wishes to break the rock of adamant: yet unless my heart deceives me, one who is worthier and mightier than all, has entered the list with his puny soldiers -one who can open, and none can shut; who can shut, and none can open-who can break to pieces the iron gates-overturn the barriers-rend the vail of unbelief, and dissipate the darkness; who can cause his voice to penetrate the darkest recesses-make the dead to hear; in hearing to obey, and in obeying, live for ever.-Such an one I believe has unfurled his standard here, and taken the command; and who can despair of victory under such a leader!

Alas! how much of the beauty of the gospel is lost to this people: yet blessed be God, there remains an allsufficiency to make them wise unto salvation. This people can receive at present only the very crumbs of divine truth.

The tropes, figures, and most beautiful similitudes with which the sacred oracles abound, are in general lost to my Tuscarora hearers. Although I have made various attempts, I never have been able to point out, even to Cusick, the usefulness of exegesis and improvement. If therefore my audience are to understand me, they must be at once introduced as a party concerned; the business of the day must be transacted between them and their God. Thus it is with you fallen lost sinners; and thus has God, in infinite mercy, prepared salvation: ac cept and live for ever-refuse and you perish eternally, is the manner in which it appears to me this people must be addressed. I think the great art of preaching to Indians, lies in reducing the style and sentiment to their capacity: and instead of proving the authenticity of sacred writ by arguments to them abstruse, we are to assume the authority it gives us bring forward its great truths in the plainest and most simple manner-with zeal and fervency urge them home to their consciences, leaving the result in the hand of the great agent of the New Covenant*.

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Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Gideon Blackburn, to a gentleman of this City; dated Maryville, Dec. 24th, 1809.

WHAT is the state of religion in your city? Are all at ease in Zion? It is too much the case here-The vicious examples of the white people who mingle with my Indians, effectually prevent much religion amongst them. But in point of civilization, they are rising in respectability. Their country is covered with well cultivated farms-their stocks have so increased that 700 beeves have been sent to market this season, and 1000 hogs. They have formed written laws, and keep them on record. I have educated near 300 of their children; and gave each who learned to read, a bible, or testament, and some other good book. Thus I hope the advantages will not be lost. They are now getting into the idea of private schools, at their own cost, with a little of my assistance.. This I am desirous to encourage.

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Extract of a Letter from the Rev. President Atwater, dated Carlisle, January 4, 1810.

I HAVE received three letters from there, (Middlebury, Vermont,) on the subject, (a revival of religion.)

• In confirmation of the above sentiment, we have the experience of the Moravian missionaries in Greenland. For ten years did a very learned and pious minister labour among them without the conversion of a single soul. He thought that he must prove to them the existence of a God, and the original stain of our natures, before he could preach the peculiar doctrines of the gospel; and he never could get over this first step: for they either could not, or would not understand it. At length he saw his error, and the plan of operations was altered. Jesus Christ was preached in simplicity, without any preparation. The Greenlanders seemed thoughtful, amazed, and confounded their eyes were opened to their lost and ruined state-the gospel was every where received in love, and proved effectual to the destruction of the kingdom of darkness-numbers came from the borders of the northern ocean to hear the word of life; and perhaps the greater part of the population of this country has now received the truth.

About 70 have already been the subjects of the work. Of these 28 were members of College.

FOREIGN.

Letter from the London Missionary Society to the New-York Missionary Society; dated London, 9th Oct. 1809.

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Tis with sincere pleasure that we resume our correspondence with you, which we regret has been for a long time suspended. We trust, however, that our respective Societies have not been altogether forgotten by each other, when they have approached the throne of grace to obtain that Divine assistance, which can alone succeed our endeavours and render them instrumental in the conversion of the heathen.

Our Annual Reports have, we trust, 'ere this, reached your hands; by which you will have perceived that we are enabled, by the good providence of God, to increase the number of our missions. Besides those many years ago commenced in an island of the South Sea, and in South Africa, we have commenced others in India, and in South America, which bear already a pleasing aspect. The Directors feel themselves much obliged by the very hospitable and generous attention shown to their missionaries Gordon and Lee, and their families, while detained in your country; and for the very generous regard paid to them, in facilitating their voyage to India, in prosecution of their original design. Our missionaries have spoken of the truly Christian kindness which they received from several pious individuals of your number with becoming sentiments of gratitude, and we beg to return our cordial thanks on their behalf.

We have perused with pleasure your letter of May the 20th, and Report of April, 1809, and rejoice to find that

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