EASTER - DAY. Hoste devicto Requievit ! The foc destroy'd, with triumph blest, Amid the battle's roar! To save his native shore ! From the Grave's cold embrace ; To save a guilty race ! Apd pierc'd his hallow'd side; HORATIO, 1 ALL hail! lovely snow-drop, thou first in the train The shock which a tempest might bring. The humbler the station they fill. Continual praise to inspire ! Of health-breathing morn, soon as Phæbus shall rise, That increase shall yield to our joys ! J. C. Printed by G. AULD, Greville Street, London. 'THE EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE. MAY, 1809. MEMOIR OF : MISSIONARY TO THE AMERICAN INDIANS. He was Mr. John SERGEANT was born at Newark, in New Jersey, in 1710. A wound in his hand deprived him of the power of labour in early life, and induced him to seek the improvement of his mind. This apparent evil was the means of opening to him the sources of human learning, and of introducing him into the ministry of the gospel. He was educated at Yale College; and receiving the degree of B.A. in 1729, was elected a tutor; in whicle office he continued four sears with honour to himself and advantage to those students who were committed to his care. determined to devote himself to the ministry, and pos:essing those acquirements which could noi fail to render him pleasing and acceptable, if worldly distinction bad been his object, his prospects were flattering in no common degree. But he was not influenced by selfish desires. His heart was weaned from the world. He had long regarded with compassion the rude and barbarous natives of America, daily supplicating God to render him in till mental in turning them from darkness unto light. His prayers were heard, and an unexpected way was opened for his entrance among the Heathen. In the western part of Massachusetts, there was a small tribo called the Housatunnuk Indians. Of these the General Assembly, about 1720, purchased two townships, with the reservation of two small tracks, called Skutekook and Wnukkt ukook. At each of these places there were a few families of Indians when the English coinmencel their settlements near them; and Kunkapot, the principal person at Wnahktukook, was soon discovered to be an industrious and worthy man, and inclined to embrace the Christian religion. The character of Kunkapot reaching the ears of the Commissioners for Indian affairs at Boston, of whom Governor Belcher was one, they dispatched the Rev. Mssrs. Buli and Williams to confer with the Indians upon their willingness to receive a Missionary among them. In July, 1731, the Indians were visited by these gentlemen ; and they cheerfully xvii. Сс agreed to receive a minister among them, who should teach them to read, and instruct them in the truths of the gospel. At the close of the conference a belt of wonipum * was presented to them by the Rev.Mr. Williams, as a solemn. ratification of what bad been transacted. Every obstruction being thus removed, the next object was to find a suitable person to undertake the arduous employment: Mr. Sergeant was the man in every respect qualified for the work; he was requested to accept the mission, and he cheerfully consented. In October, 1734, he bade adieu to the pleasures of his situation in an excellent seat of learning, and proceeded towards the place of his future labours. From Westfield he was accompanied by Mr. Bull. We set out,' he says in his Journal, on Thursday, Oct. 11, in the afternoon, designing to lodge at a house 15 miles distant, which was the only house before we came to Housatonic; but night coming on, we were forced to lodge in the woods, without fire or shelter. The next day we got to Housatonic, a little before night, through a most doleful wilderness, and the worst road, perhaps, that ever was travelled. Oct. 13, I made a short discourse to the Indians by an interpreter, an Indian, called Ebenezer; to which the adults, about 20 in mumber, gave very good attention, especially Capt. Kunkapot, their chief, and his family: • Ebenezer possessed a considerable knowledge of the Christian religion ; and the next day, at his regnest, after declaring that he would rather burn in the fire than forsake the truth; after ene gaging to forsake heathenish darkness and embrace the gospel ; and promising by the help of divine grace to cleave to the Lord, he was baptized by Mr. Bull . Thus was the mission smiled upon at its very commencement.' Mr. Sergeant persuaded the Indians who lived at Skatekook and Wnahktukook, 8 or 10 miles distant from each other, to fix upon an intermediate spot, and to live together. Here they cheerfully built a honse, which answered the double purpose of a school-house and a house of worship; around which they constructed small huts for their families. This establishment, howlever, was only for winter; for in the summer they separated, and returned to their little tracks of land, to plant corn and beans. Their principal reliance for subsistence was upon hunting. + *! A wompum is a small cylinder, about one third of an inch long, and as large as a straw, with a hole drilled through it lengthwise. It is made of the shell of 'some sea-fish, polished very sinooth. A number of these, strung upon "sıtall threads and knit together, form a belt of wompum.' Strings of wompom were used as oroaments, and answered the purpose of inoney. Belts of wompuin are preserved as confirmation of treatics, and records of events. + Ebenezer informed Mr. Sergeant, that some of the Indians were atbeists, who supposed all things began, continued, and ceased, according to their' several batures, without any cause or direction from a superior |
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