Cherokee phoenix, and Indians' advocate. [volume], October 19, 1833, Image 1

About Cherokee phoenix, and Indians' advocate. [volume] (New Echota [Ga.]) 1829-1834

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RlELieiOUS.
From the New York Observer.
MR. WIRT'S ADDRESS
To life several Bible Societies, and
friends" of the Bible cause throughout
the S'afe of Maryland, and on the
Jyotth side of the Potoniac, in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Friends of the Bible Cause—lt is at
flie request" of the Bible Society c>f the
Stafc> of Maryland, through their Board
of their Managers, that I presume to
address you. It is, therefore, you per
ceive an official duty which I am not
at liberty to decline. My regret is,
that it has been so long and unavoida
bly delayed by my illl health.
The title by which I a:n instructed
to adress you, "The Friends o/ the
Bible Cause," warrants the assump
tion that you have attended, with inter
est, to .the means which you have been
heretofore employed for the propaga
tion of the Holy Scriptures throughout
the world. You know, consequently,
that in England, in France, and else
where, abroad, Bible Societies, on a
large scale, have been for several years
in active and successful operation;
that the great American Bible Society,
whose theatre of contribution is the
whole United States, is in immediate
connexion ft correspondence with those
foreign societies; and that, in several
of the states, auxiliary societies have
been formed, which stand connected
with the national society, remitting
their surplus funds, after the supply oi
their own domestic wants, to that so-
Society, for the purpose of being ap
plied to the larger objects of the asso
ciation. You are also informed, we
presume, that the State of Maryland
has not been wanting to herself on this
interesting occasion, but that, by a
general movement of the Christian
community, without distinction of fleets,
a Bible Convention, for the State, was
held at Baltimore in the month of Ma)
last, in which that portion of the Dis
trict of Columbia, formerly composing
part of the State of Maryland, was alsc
represented; and that, by this Conven
tion, the report of a committee was a
dapted, proposing to organize the Stat<
the purpose of producing a more promp
and effectual development of its re
sources. Copies of this report, inclu
ding the proposed constitutions for tU<
different societies, will be distribute!
whereever it has not been already done
and you will perceive that the plan i:
at once very simple, and, it is believed
very efficient; the proposition being t<
have one principal society for the State
with branches in each county, and mi
nor branches in each election distric
of the several comities; so that tlii
appeal to Christian charity will knocl
at the door of every house and ever'
cottage within our limits, and will, w<
trust, be blessed of Him in whose numi
it will be made.
You are all aware of the surprising
and prodigious results that have been
realised in every department of labor,
in every country where the experiment
has been made, by the force of union
and concert of action. You cannot,
therefora, perceive the vast advantages
which the simple system proposed must
have over the separate efforts of a few
unconnected societies, sparsely scat
tered in different parts of the state.—
A few of these societies have existed
;yid still exist among us. It is not in
tended to detract froin their merits.
Far from it. Every Christian has been
cheered by their spirit, and has felt
grateful for their services in this labor
of love. Nor can those societies them
selves be otherwise than gratified to
CHEROKEE
NEW KCIIOTA, CHEROKEE NATION, I ITHRDiy
see the whole state at length catching '
the impulse which they have given, and
assuming an organization that bids fair
to render that labor thorough and ef
fectual. It is indeed confidently hoped
that those societies will sec the advan
tages that they will give to the cause
which they have so much and so just
ly at heart, by incorporating themselves
into the system now proposed, and that
they will throw themselves promptly
and cheerfully into it, and animate it
with a double portion of that vigor
which has heretofore so honorably
characteriszed their proceedings.
It will be seen that under the ar-
rangement proposed, the Bible Socie
ty ol'the State is a mere agent of the
county and district societies; its func
tions being to unite and harmonize their
action, and to concentrate and apply
their sufplus funds, according to the pro
visions of their respective constitutions.
Hencfc the society of the state can do
nothing effectual in furtherance of the
common object, without the aid of those
auxiliary societies. It is for this rea
son, and in the hope that the plan de
vised and adopted, by the Convention,
will be proved by the constituents, that
I have been specially instructed, by
the society of the State, to entreat, in
their name, and the name of Him un
der whose banner they are enlisted, ]
that the friends of the Bible cause
throughout our limits, will, without de
lay, form themselves into county and
district societies, in execution of this
plan; and that they will report their
proceedings to the Corresponding Sec
retary of the State Society, with the
view that we may know what progress
has been made in the work, and wheth
er it may be proper for us to direct our
farther efforts. It is hoped that men
of influence, friends of the Bible cause,
will not withhold that influence from
Hi m who withheld nothing fromusH
but that they will, without hesitation
or delay, begin this pious work, to then
respective spheres, by calling meetings,
and organizing societies, as soon as
possible, both for the counties and dis
tricts. The cause is one which calls
upon us to put forth all our strength,
and to it immediately. Millions of our
fellow creatures are dying in the depth
of spiritual darkness, and in total ig
norance of that name, which is the 011-
1/ one that has been given under Hea-
ven, whereby men can be saved. Let
us do our utmost to dispel this dark
ness, and unite in one consentaneous
effort to place the State where she de-
serves to stand, in this noblest of al
competitions, that of seeing who shall
do most good to the world of man, most
for the honor of Him who died that we
might live.
You will observe that in the Report
of the committee of the Bible Conven-
tion, it ha 3 been estimated that they
are, at least, 80,000 professing Chris
tians within our bounds, and it is sug
gested that if we estimate the whole
number at only 60,000 and the average
amount contributed by each, at only
fifty cents, (how much below the av-
erage amount squandered, annually by
each of us, on comparatively worthless
objects!) it will give g30,000 as our
yearly offering to this noble cause.—
The belief is farther expressed, in that
Report that §2,000, a year, will keep
our own state supplied with the Bible,
hereafter, it is added, with a feeling of
generous anticipation, "What a large
fund should we thus have left for the
relief of less favoured portions of our
country, and the supply of those dis
tant lands which are yet uncheered
with the light of God's truth."
You will probably have seen, by the
public prints, that our sister state of
Virginia, animated with the zeal which
becomes this high and holy cause, is
making the most strenuous exertions in
its support; and that according to the
computation of her State Bible Socie
ty, it is in the power of Christendom, by
judicious application of means easily
at their disposal, to supply within twen
ty ye. .rs, the entire reading population
of the world with the Holy Scriptures.
Her society has, by its resolution, an-
nounced this object to the American
iiiblc Society for their consideration,
by whofn it has been approved; and
the affiliated foreign societies, already
in the field, will be invited, we have no
doubt, successively, to co-operate in
t he achievement of this humane and
AWB OWAJfS' ADVOCATE.
CHEROKEE NATION, PROPRIETOR. »EDITED 3
nagnificicnt enterprise. Every thing
cons to favor its accomplishment.—
3oth at home and abroad, Christians
■ fall denominations have, through re
arian feelings, have met on the Bible
[round, in the true spifit of primitive
Christian brethren, and have united
icart and hand, for the purpose ofpro
lucing one great concerted movement
>f the whole Christian would, for the
idvancement of the Redeemer's king
lom. What an effecting spectacle is
inch a union as this; and what may
lot be expected from the persevering
•lovvned, us we have reason to hope,
hose efforts, if made sincerely and in
lingleness' of heart will be, by the ap
irqving smiles of heaven? Besides
his propitious union of all Christendom
it home, there are other indications of
success abroad, of the most cheering
character. Obstructions, heretofore
listing to the admission of the Bible
nto foreign heathen nations, are al
ready extensively mnoved, and are
n a still farther progress of removal;
uid missionaries of tke cross, bearing
he Book of Life, are now cordially re
ceived and welcomed among them.—
Thus agracipus Providence seems to
)e inviting us to action, by preparing
he way for the fulfimenf of this great
md beneficicnt design: and it rests
vith us to sav whether tve will or will
lot accept this invitation of cur God
ind Father, and unite, sincere and ar
lently, with our Christen brethren in
loing His holy will. Can Christians
ind friends of the Bifile cause, hcsit
ite as to the course flhich ft becomes
hem to take? Can wc sit still and un
noved, as if we had neither part nor
ot in this matter, while the work i*
'lowing all around Can we sec
he whole Chistian w»rld in motion,
md marching with firm and roeolutc
tep in this all comprehensive work o
ove, and yet stand aloof ourselves, ii
:old indifference as if it were no con
:ern of ours? Can do this, with tin
tnowledge that eye is upon us befor<
i'hich the secrets of all hearts are a:
open as the sunlit hill, and that, with al
of us, so far as our eternal destiny i
concerned the day of reckoning is nea
at hand ?
But it is far more agreeable to appeal
to higher and nobler motives than thse
of terror. The founder of our faith has
instructad us that they are two coni
mundinents, on which hang all tlve law
and the prophets; the first* and great
est of which is, "Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind;"
and the second is like unto it, "Thou
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself;"
and lest we should seek to shelter our
selfiishness under too confined an in-
terpretation of this word '• neighbor,"
He has left, on record, the beautiful
parable of the good Samavatan, by
which we are most effectingly taught
that, in the sense of thi9 divine com
mandment, all our neighbors who are
connected with us by the common ties
of humanity, and that although they
may belong to different and distant
nations, they are equally entitled to
our strongest sympathies and sweetest
charities. Thus we are instructed
that love—love to God and man, com
prehends the whole circle of our du-
ties; it comprehends them, because it
ensures their performance, and en-
sures it from the best and nobest mo
tive, the motive of love. For in what
way this love acts, where ever it exists,
we requiring no teaching to instruct
us; ive know that it is vigilant, prompt,
and forward to do the will, and pro
mote the highest happiness of its ob
jects. It does not wait to be entreat
ed. It does not require its cold 10-
luctant, penurious hand to be unclench
ed, by the shame of a public refusal,
on some rare Sabbath occasion. On
the contrary, it is alert, active, inde
fatigable, in seeking, and finding, and
even making occasions, both private
and public, of rendering useful service
to the objects of its attachment; and
zealous and generous in improving ev
ery such occasion where it occurs.—
We are not driven to any abstract dis
quisitions, nor even to the example of
the primitive christians, to prove the
mode in which this love to God and
man displays itself, whatever it exists
in truth and power. We have, before
*
PH<EMIX
I BY ELIJAH HICKS.
OCTOBER 19, 1833.
our eyes, a living illustration, of the
most striking and captivating charac
ter, in the scenes to which we have al
ready alluded; the spectacle of all
Christendom once more loosened from
its foundations, not, as in former limes,
to precipitate itself on Asia, for the
comparatively travail purpose of res
cuing, by the sword, from the hands of
j the infidel, a small spot of earth, at the
farther end of the Mediterranean; but
for the far nobler purpose of rescuing,
trom the darknes of idolatry, a fallen
world, and restoring it to the pure light
of the gospel, and the peaceful domin
ion ol its true and rightful heir, the
Son ot God. Christians, and friends
ot the Bible cause, ask no better test :
of the existence of this love, that a cor- j
dial, faithful, cheering co-operation,
in extending the glory of the cross,
and hastening the day, which will sure
ly come, when every knee shall bow
to the Lord, an.d every tongue shall
confess to God; when the Redeemer's
kingdom shall cover the earth, even as
the waters cover the great deep. Bless
ed will he be, who, in the true and deep
spiiit of Christian charity, shall con
tribute effectually to this great result.
No civic crown that Rome, in the days
of her glory ever conferred, for saving |
the life of a citizen can vie in lustre ]
with his, who, from love to God and
man, shall have been instrumental in
saving the immortal lives of his fellow
creatures. Let us only reflect that, ac
cording to the most approved computa
tion, twenty millions of immortal be
ings, pass into eternity, every year, of
whom four-fifths, it is • probable never
heard of the Redeemer's name. O!
what a field is here for the exercise of
our deepest solicitudes, our most fer
vent charities, and most intense exer
tions; and with what vehement impor
tunity docs the occasion urge us to im- i:
mediate action.
| And shall this appeal be confined to
j professing Christians only' We bc
| iieve, nay we are confident, that there
are many friends of the Bible, who are
not yet in open communion with any
church; nay more, we believe that
there are many who, regarding this
subject in a light merely moral and po
litical, have seen such demonstrative
proofs of the Bible, in taming and civ
ilizing the barbarous regions of the
earth, in elevating and enlarging the
intellectual character of their inhabit
ants pin refining their manners, and
fitting them for the society of nations,
that from motives of philanthropy, and
patriotism alone they may well be num
bered among the friend of the Bible.
As patriots philanthropists, then, we
appeal to them to unite with us in (he
j debai barizing of the earth and restor
ing fallen man to his proper lustre ant
I dignity. In this common enterprise,
!wo offer them the victorious banner
| under which Constanstine achieved his
brightest conquests—the banner of the
cross; and it is our prayer and trust,
that in the hour which crowns our joint
arm with success, in the holiest of wars,
we may greet them by a still more fra
ternal and endearing name than that of
co-patriots and philanthropists.
May the God of all mercies enlight
en, guide and support us all in the dis
charge of this high and solemn duty,
and direct this great enterprise to His
own glory and the salvation of a per-
hmg word.
WM. WIRT,
President ofthe Bible Society of Ma
ryland.
JoriN Coleman, Corresponding Sec
retary.
Baltimore, Sept. 2, 1833.
The Conquests of Religion.—-"O f.jfW
most difficult conquests, indeed,
large portion is overlooked by the'iiu
inan eye. While the evii done in its
name is seen by all, and'dwelt upon in
triumph by the adversary—its pure and
holy conquests are oflen effected in
stillness and silence; in the abode of
poverty, in the obscurity of humble and
retired life.—Who is "there, that was
a true ciiristian, in his life and in his
death? who has seen the holy culm that
sheds itseff over that soul, where grace
has triumphed over passion, where envy
and hatred and pride are sounds un
known? who that has seen the bright
&. holy glow of devotion diffused over the
countenance? who that has heard the
fervid accents pf a christian's prayer?
- I
| who that knows the joy of a christian's
communion with his Maker, the devout
aspiration °f a soul which is the temple
or the Holy Spirit, adorned and sancti
fied by his best and richest gifts,and
graces - who that lias seen the christ
ian struggling with the storms-cflife?
though cast down, not destroyed?
though preplexed, not in despair: sub
mitting with humble resignation to the.
correction ofhis heivenlv Father, and
gathering the peaceable fruits of right
eousness from the seed'which was sown
m tribulation and tears? And yet more,
who that has seen that sight on which
angels look with joy—that hallowed
bed where a christian renders up his
soul, as to a faithful Creator; where,
with no vain display, no idle rapture,
the dying saint., knowing of a truth
that he is faithful who promises, relies,
in the last awful scenes 0 f life, with
humble confidence, on that hand which
has borne him through all the storms
ant struggles of his earthly pilgrimage,
and which will now cheer and comfort
him, in his passage through the dark
valley of the shadow of death! This is,
not what Christianity can do, but what
it rfot;s /day by day; not what it docs
. r .TOllcarned and enlightened christ
ian only, but what it does to shed light
and joy over the humble . abode of llio
lowly and ignorant."
From the American Daily Advertiser.
The twenty-fourth annual meeting of
lie American Board of Commissioners
or Foreign Missions, was held in
his city in the Seventh Presbyterian
-/hurch, on Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday on last week.' This body is
•tiictly a Board of Commissioners for
he purpose of conducting Protestant
Missionary operations, for the Congre
gational Reformed Dutch and PresLy
eriau denominations of this country,
imong the unevangelized nations. It
vas originally constituted by the Gen
eral Association of Massachusetts, and
las been formally sanctioned and re
jommended to the confidence and co
'peratiou oftheir churches, by the oth
it General Associations in JVew Eng
and. and by the General Synod of the
Reformed Dutch Church, and the Gen
eral Assembly of the Presbyterian
L/hurch. I'rorn its formation it has
;one on steadily advancing in the cou
idence ot the C hristian community,
11 the amount of pecuniary means pla
ced at its disposal, and in the extent
jf its missionary operations in diff
erent r»»jts of the world. At its late
r.eeting in this city, the Hon. John
Cotton Smith, of Connecticut, Presi
dent of the Board, presided, and va
rious other gentlemen cf distinction,
Clergymen and Laymen, from different
salts of the country, attended. The
proceedings were of a highly interest
ng character, cxpecially on Friday,
,vhen various resolutions relating to
he past and future progress of the be
levolent enterprise in which the Asso
ciation are engaged, were presented
ind adopted, which elicited some ani
mated and eloquent discussion.
The Report of the Prudential Com
mittee presented a most encouraging*
dew of operations of the Board." It
nas at present twenty-two different
missions, in Greece, at Constantino
ple, in Syria, to the Jews of Turkev,
it Bombay, in India, in Ceylon, Siatii,
China, Indian Archipelago, Sandwich
Islands, Patagonia; among the Chero
vecs east of the Mississippi, the Chick
isaws, the Cherokees ofthe Mis
sissippi, the Chootaws, the Creeks, the
Osages, the Stockbridges, at Macki
iuw, amongt lie Ojibeways, at Mamucc
11 Ohio, and among the Indians in the
State of New Vork. In these missions
ire comprised sixty different stations.
Fhe missionary work at these stations
s carried on by eighty-three ordained
nissioriaries, six physicians, not ordain
ed, six printers, twenty-six other assist
mt missionaries, farmers, mechanics,
k.c., and one hundred and twenty-six'
enialcs, two hundred and forty-seven
;ent from the churches of this country;
;ix native assistants. Total, two-lmn-
Jred and ninety-seven. Of these nine,
icen ordained missionaries, two phy
sicians, two printers, and twenty-five
other male and female assistants—to
tal, forty-eight, were sent foiih within
the past y<-or. Several new missions,
jVO- 34.