Nathan Bangs · 10 of 29

Chapter 10. From the Close of the General Conference of 1828 to the Beginning of the General Conference of 1832. · 1831

From the movements already alluded to in Upper Canada, the Indian missions in that province, including no less than ten stations, and 1,850 adult Indians under religious instruction, most of whom were members of the Church, were taken from our superintendence and put under the care of the Wesleyan conference in England. These missions, which had become endeared to us by such associations as could not be easily dissolved, and for the benefit of which we had expended so much labor and money, still clung to our affections and could not therefore be surrendered, even in the amicable manner in which the arrangement for their future supply was made, without feelings of regret. Knowing, however, that they would be provided for by our brethren in England with the same assiduous care with which they had been from the beginning, we withdrew our pastoral oversight with the less sorrow, still praying almighty God to bless and prosper them.

Hitherto our Indian missions in the United States and territories had been attended with unparalleled success. About this time, however, the action of the general government of the United States on the Indian settlements began to exert an injurious influence upon some of these missions, and even to threaten them with destruction. In 1821 the Rev. Dr. Morse made an extensive tour of observation among the western tribes of Indians, under the patronage of the general government; and, in his published report, gave it as the result of his observations, that, could an amicable arrangement be made between the government and the aboriginal tribes, for their removal west of the Mississippi, where they could live under the protection of the United States, and be taught the arts of agriculture and domestic life, it would be mutually beneficial. This opinion, which seems to have been adopted by the government, and by the leading men of the nation, was manifestly founded on the presumption that the Indians, while they remain under their own laws and usages, cannot flourish in the vicinity of the white population, nor yet so amalgamate with the whites as to become identified with them. And does not the painful history of these people fully justify this opinion? From the first settlement of the country until now, notwithstanding all the efforts which have been made by philanthropists and Christians to civilize and Christianize these people, they have gradually receded on the advance of civilized society, or melted away and become extinct. Why is this? Is it because they have refused to obey the original command given to man, that he must “dress the garden “and keep it,” and “till the ground whence he was taken?” Whatever may have been the cause, such are the facts in relation to their history thus far; and whether the efforts recently put forth and now using to save them from barbarism and destruction shall prove ultimately successful, we must leave for other generations to testify.

But whatever may be their future destiny, the general government have adopted the policy already suggested, of removing them from their present residences to the regions west of the Mississippi, with the promise of protection from future aggressions upon their rights, and the hope of bettering their condition. To effect this object, treaty stipulations were entered into with some of the tribes to purchase their lands, to indemnify them for their losses, and to aid in transferring them to their new habitation. As these treaties were often concluded in opposition to large minorities of the natives, they became difficult of execution, produced much irritation, and in some instances the hazard and even the loss of life.

This policy operated most injuriously upon the Cherokees, who were settled principally in the state of Georgia. Over these people Georgia undertook to extend her laws, and thus force them either to sell their lands and remove west of the Mississippi, or be deprived of the privileges of living under their own laws, as members of a separate community. As the project was resisted by the most opulent part of the Cherokees, and a considerable portion of the nation, a division of sentiment was created among themselves in regard to their removal, which excited much irritation of feeling, and operated injuriously on the interests of the mission. At this time there were no less than seventeen missionaries, including interpreters, and eight hundred and fifty Church members, and the prospects of extensive good were brightening until they were overcast by these movements. This year, 1831, the troubles increased, and one of our missionaries, the Rev. Mr. Trott, for refusing to take the oath of allegiance required by the state of Georgia, was arrested, imprisoned, put in chains, and otherwise maltreated. On promising, however., to leave the territory, he was pardoned by the governor and set at liberty. These proceedings greatly harassed the Christian Indians who resided within the chartered limits of Georgia, while those without the state were in a more prosperous condition.

Similar results were produced by similar movements among the Choctaws. This mission had been remarkably owned of God, so much so that in 1830 there were reported not less than four thousand Church members, embracing all the principal men of the nation, their chief and captains, many of whom were eminently useful in instructing their brethren by exhortation and prayer. They were, however, less averse to being removed than the Cherokees, and finally, in a council which was held in March, 1830, they passed a resolution to sell their lands to the United States and emigrate to the west. This resolution, however, gave offense to a part of the nation, and furnished a pretext to the pagans to plot the destruction of the missionaries and Christian Indians. The treaty, however, was finally consummated, though with much difficulty, and the missionaries determined to accompany the Christian Indians to their new habitation. It should be recorded that the general government did all it could to mitigate their sufferings, by affording provision and protection to the emigrants, and securing to them their lands in the west.

Yet, with all the precautions which were used by the government and the missionaries, they suffered much in their religious enjoyments, became divided, some were disheartened, and not a few apostatized from Christianity. For these sad disasters there seemed to be no adequate remedy. The decree was passed, and remove they must; and the Rev. Alexander Talley, who had devoted his best days and energies to this mission, and that too with a rare success, accompanied them to their new residence; and in a letter dated Sept. 5, 1831, he states that about five hundred had arrived, most of whom were members of the Church. These, with others that occasionally arrived at their new home, attended regularly to their Christian duties, and they have prospered more or less to the present time. These movements may account for the diminution in the number of Christian Indians on these missionary stations.

The Wyandott mission, which now included two hundred and twenty-three Church members, and had attached to it a flourishing school, was this year extended to the river Huron, where, through the labors of the missionaries and some native exhorters, there was a reformation effected among a few families of the Wyandotts and Shawnees, ten of whom became members of the Church.

The western country was almost daily presenting claims upon the bounty and labor of the Church to supply its spiritual wants. This year a mission was undertaken in Jackson county, Illinois, with the encouraging prospects of success. Another, called Deplain, was commenced, and has since been prosecuted with diligence and success.

The Lee mission, which embraced a tract of country in the counties of Lee and Marion, west of the Flint river, was commenced this year. This new country was now filling up rapidly with inhabitants and they were thus supplied with the word and ordinances of the gospel. The missionary formed a regular circuit, having no less than fifteen preaching places and in the course of the year received one hundred and twenty-five into the Church, besides erecting two houses of worship.

The cause of education was advancing steadily among us since its late revival, so that during the present year no less than three collegiate institutions had been founded, and had made a promising commencement. One of these was in Middletown, in the state of Connecticut. The buildings, which were of stone, and the land connected with them, estimated at from thirty to forty thousand dollars, were presented gratuitously to the New York and New England conferences by the Literary and Scientific Society of Middletown, on condition that forty thousand dollars more should be raised for the purpose of establishing a literary institution to be under the control of the two conferences above named, and any others that might unite with them in the enterprise. These conditions being complied with, the premises were deeded to a board of trustees elected by said conferences, who have the sole management of the financial concerns of the institution; and it soon afterward received a charter from the legislature of the state of Connecticut, of a very liberal character.

The Wesleyan University, for this is its name, is located in a most delightful place, on an eminence in the western section of the city, having a commanding view of the Connecticut river, and the adjacent country east, north, and south, and is surrounded by a population noted for their steady, industrious, and religious habits, all zealous for the promotion of education, and most of whom take a deep interest in the university. The late Wilbur Fisk, D. D., was selected as its president, and, being aided by an able faculty, the university went into operation under favorable auspices, and has continued to meet the public expectation. Here, under the able guidance of its estimable president and his colleagues, many a youth has received his diploma in a manner alike creditable to himself and his instructors and what has tended to endear the institution to the Methodist Episcopal Church, a spirit of piety has pervaded its inmates, many of whom were born unto God during their sojourn in this young and rising nursery of learning and religion. It may be said in truth, that no place, in proportion to its numbers, has been more frequently or more generally blessed with revivals of religion than the Wesleyan University.

Another was established this year under the patronage of the Virginia and South Carolina conferences, in Boydston, Mecklenburgh county, Va., called the Randolph Macon College, under a charter from the state of Virginia. The Rev. Stephen Olin, favorably known to the public for his sound learning and deep piety, was elected its president, and he continued to discharge his duties with great satisfaction until his declining health obliged him to resign his station, for the purpose of making a voyage to Europe, in the hope of regaining his lost health.

This institution is also favorably located, and it went into operation under circumstances highly promising to its patrons and friends, having about sixty thousand dollars pledged to begin with. It has continued to fulfill public expectation, and, like the Wesleyan University, has been blessed with frequent revivals of religion, and has sent out sons imbued with sound learning and solid piety.

La Grange formed the third college which had been recently established under Methodist patronage. This was commenced under the patronage of the Tennessee and Alabama conferences, and was located in La Grange, in North Alabama, in a beautiful and healthy part of the country. Though its commencement was small, the whole property being estimated at only about twenty thousand dollars, yet it has gone on increasing in strength and patronage, commanding the public confidence and giving a useful education to its students. The Rev. Robert Paine was its first president, and he has proved his competency for the office by the satisfactory manner in which he has discharged its duties to this day. God has also smiled upon this institution, by pouring out his Spirit from time to time upon the students, and bringing them to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus.

In addition to these collegiate institutions, the several academies heretofore mentioned were in successful operation, and were so many feeders to these higher and larger fountains of learning and science. It would seem, therefore, that the Methodist Episcopal Church was determined to redeem its character from the foul blot cast upon it, not without some reason, that it had been indifferent to the cause of literature and science. And the experiments which had been recently made had thus far succeeded so well, that many who had hesitated concerning the propriety and feasibility of the enterprise seemed to be convinced that the indications of divine Providence spoke so emphatically in its favor that they felt it their imperative duty to come up to its help. And all that is wanting to establish these institutions upon a permanent foundation, is more ample endowment from the wealthy and benevolent. If supported and conducted as they ought to be, and certainly may be, they will become the fruitful nurseries of learning and religion, and tend to add strength and beauty to that Church, under the patronize of which they have been founded and thus far sustained.

The work of God this year was generally prosperous, as may be seen by a reference to the increase of membership.

Seventy preacher had located, two withdrawn. two had been expelled, seventy-six returned supernumerary, and one hundred and thirty-four superannuated.

Numbers in the Church: Whites This Year: 437,024; Last Year: 402,561; Increase: — Colored This Year: 71,589; Last Year: 69,383; Increase: 2,206 — Indians This Year: 4,501; Last Year: 4,209; Increase: 292 — Total This Year: 513,114; Last Year: 476,153 — Increase: 36,961 — Preachers This Year: 2,010; Last Year: 1900; Increase: 110.