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diff --git a/old/50734-h.zip b/old/50734-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..16cf8a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/50734-h.zip diff --git a/old/50734-h/50734-h.htm b/old/50734-h/50734-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b06d4b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/50734-h/50734-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1500 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Report of Mr. Wood's Visit to the +Choctaw and Cherokee Missions, 1855, by George W. Wood. + </title> + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +.ph3 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } +.ph3 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +.author {text-align: right; + margin-right: 5%; + font-variant: small-caps;} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 27.5%; + margin-right: 27.5%; + clear: both;} + +hr.chap {width: 65%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; + clear: both;} + +hr.r5 {width: 5%; + margin-left: 47.5%; + margin-right: 47.5%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em;} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; } + +@media handheld {body {margin-left: 2%; margin-right: 2%;} + } + + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Report of Mr. Wood's Visit to the Choctaw +and Cherokee Missions. 1855, by George W. Wood + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: Report of Mr. Wood's Visit to the Choctaw and Cherokee Missions. 1855 + +Author: George W. Wood + +Release Date: December 21, 2015 [EBook #50734] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REPORT OF MR. WOOD'S VISIT *** + + + + +Produced by Donald Cummings, Bryan Ness, Diane Monico, and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 477px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="477" height="800" alt="cover" /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 332px;"> +<img src="images/title_pg.jpg" width="332" height="550" alt="title page" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<hr class="chap" /> +<h1>REPORT<br /> + +<small>OF</small><br /> + +MR. WOOD'S VISIT<br /> + +<small>TO THE</small><br /> + +CHOCTAW AND CHEROKEE MISSIONS.<br /> + +1855.</h1> + +<hr class="r5" /> +<p class="ph3"> +BOSTON:<br /> +PRESS OF T. R. MARVIN, 42 CONGRESS STREET.<br /> +1855.<br /> +</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a><br /> +<a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="REPORT" id="REPORT">REPORT.</a></h2> +<hr class="r5" /> + +<p>At the meeting of the Board held in Utica, New York, September, +1855, the Prudential Committee submitted a special communication in +reference to the Choctaw and Cherokee missions, in which they say: +"Since the last meeting of the Board, it has seemed desirable that +one of the Secretaries should visit the Indian missions in the South +West, for the purpose of conferring fully and freely with them in +reference to certain questions which have an important bearing upon +their work. Mr. Wood, therefore, was directed to perform this service; +which he did in the spring of the present year. After his return to +New York, he drew up a report of this visit, and presented the same +to the Prudential Committee. It is deemed proper that this document +should be laid before the Board at the earliest opportunity; and it is +herewith submitted. The results obtained by this conference are highly +satisfactory to the Committee."</p> + +<p>The report of Mr. Wood is in the following language:</p> + + +<p class="center"><em>To the Prudential Committee of the American Board of Commissioners +for Foreign Missions</em>:</p> + +<p>I have to report a visit made by me to the Choctaw and Cherokee +missions, in obedience to instructions contained in the following +resolutions adopted by you, March 6, 1855:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>"<em>Resolved</em>, 1. That Mr. Wood be requested to repair to the +Choctaw Nation, at his earliest convenience, with a view +to a fraternal conference with the brethren in that field in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +respect to the difficulties and embarrassments which +have grown out of the action of the Choctaw Council in the +matter of the boarding schools, and also in respect to any +other question which may seem to require his attention.</p> + +<p>"2. That, in case the spring meeting of the Choctaw mission +shall not occur at a convenient time, he be authorized to +call a meeting at such time and place as he shall designate.</p> + +<p>"3. That on his return from the Choctaw mission he be +requested to confer with the brethren of the Cherokee +mission, in regard to any matter that may appear to call +for his consideration, and that he be authorized to call a +meeting for this purpose.</p> + +<p>"4. That on arriving in New York he be instructed to +prepare a report, suggesting such plans and measures for +the adoption of the Committee in reference to either of +these missions as he may be able to recommend."</p></div> + +<p>Leaving New York, March 19, and proceeding by the way of the Ohio +and Mississippi rivers to Napoleon, thence up the White river, +across to Little Rock, and through Arkansas to the Choctaw country, +I arrived at Stockbridge, April 11. Including the portions of the +days occupied in passing from one station to another, I devoted three +days to Stockbridge, three to Wheelock, six to Pine Ridge, three to +Good-water, and three to Spencer; the latter a station of the mission +of the General Assembly's Board. Five days, with a call of a night +and half a day at Lenox, were occupied in the journey to the Cherokee +country, in which I spent two days at Dwight, and three at Park Hill; +my departure from which was on the 11th of May, just one month from my +arrival at Stockbridge. My return to New York was on May 31, ten and a +half weeks from the time of leaving it.</p> + +<p>I should do injustice to my own feelings, and to the members of the +two missions, not to state that my reception was everywhere one +of the utmost cordiality. The Choctaw mission, when my coming was +announced, agreed to observe a daily concert of prayer that it might +be blessed to them and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> the end for which they were informed it was +designed. They met me in the spirit of prayer; our intercourse was +much a fellowship in prayer; and, through the favor of Him who heareth +prayer, its issue was one of mutual congratulation and thanksgiving.</p> + +<p>The visit, although a short one, afforded considerable opportunity +(which was diligently improved) for acquainting myself with the +views, feelings, plans and labors of the brethren of the missions. +Their attachment to their work, and to the Board with which they +are connected, is unwavering. With fidelity they prosecute the +great object of their high calling; and in view of the spiritual +and temporal transformation taking place around them, as the result +of the faithful proclamation of the gospel, we are compelled to +exclaim, "What hath God wrought!" It was pleasant to meet them, as +with frankness and fraternal affection they did me, in consultation +for the removal of difficulties, and the adoption of measures for +the advancement of the one end desired equally by them and by the +Prudential Committee.</p> + +<p>Several topics became subjects of conference, on some of which action +was taken by the missions; and on others recommendations will be +made by the Deputation, that need not be embraced in this report. In +respect to them all, there was entire harmony between the Deputation +and the missions.</p> + +<p>In their first resolution, the Committee requested me to repair to +the Choctaw Nation, with special reference to the embarrassments +and difficulties which have grown out of the action of the Choctaw +Council in the matter of the boarding schools. A condensed statement +of the action of the Council, and of the missionaries and Prudential +Committee, previous to the sending of the Deputation, seems to be here +called for.</p> + +<p>In the year 1842, the Choctaw Council, by law, placed four female +seminaries "under the direction and management of the American +Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions," subject only to "the +conditions, limitations, and restrictions rendered in the act." In +accordance with the act, a contract was entered into, by which the +schools were taken for a period of twenty years. The "conditions, +limitations and restrictions"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> specified in the act and contract, so +far as they bind the Board, are the following: 1. The superintendents +and teachers, with their families, shall board at the same table with +the pupils. 2. In addition to letters, the pupils shall be taught +housewifery and sewing. 3. One-tenth of the pupils are to be orphans, +should so many apply for admission. 4. The Board shall appropriate to +the schools a sum equal to one-sixth of the moneys appropriated by the +Choctaw Council. With these exceptions, the "direction and management" +of the schools were to be as exclusively with the Board, as of any +schools supported by the funds of the Board.</p> + +<p>Thus the schools were carried forward until 1853. At the meeting +of the Council in that year, a new school law, containing several +provisions, (and sometimes spoken of in the plural as "laws,") +was enacted, bringing the Board, through its agents, under new +"conditions, restrictions and limitations." A Board of Trustees was +established, and a General Superintendent of schools provided for, +to discharge various specified duties, for the faithful performance +of which they are to give bonds in the sum of $5,000. The enactments +of this law, affecting the agents of the Board under the existing +contract, are the following:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>1. The Board of Trustees, convened by the General +Superintendent, are to hear and determine difficulties +between a trustee and any one connected with the schools; +to judge of the fitness of teachers, etc., and request the +Missionary Boards to remove any whose removal they may +think called for; and, in case of neglect to comply with +their wishes, to report the same to the Commissioner of +Indian Affairs through the United States Agent. Section 5.</p> + +<p>2. The Trustees are to select the scholars from their +several districts. Section 7.</p> + +<p>3. No slave or child of a slave is to be taught to read or +write "<em>in</em> or <em>at</em> any school," etc., by any one connected +in any capacity therewith, on pain of dismissal and +expulsion from the nation. Section 8.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> + +<p>4. Annual examinations are to take place at times +designated by the General Superintendent. Section 10.</p> + +<p>5. The Trustees are empowered to suspend any school in case +of sickness or epidemics. Section 11.</p> + +<p>6. It is made the duty of the General Superintendent and +Trustees, promptly to remove, or report for removal, any +and all persons connected with the public schools or +academies known to be abolitionists, or who disseminate, or +attempt to disseminate, directly or indirectly, abolition +doctrines, or any other fanatical sentiments, which, in +their opinion, are dangerous to the peace and safety of the +Choctaw people. Section 13.</p></div> + +<p>By a separate act, the Board of Trustees was authorized to propose to +the Missionary Boards, having schools under contract with the Nation, +the insertion of a clause providing for a termination of the contract +by either party on giving six months' notice.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>With respect to the question, "Shall we submit to the provisions +and restrictions imposed by this new legislation, as a condition +of continued connection with the national schools?" the views of +the Prudential Committee and the brethren of the mission have been +entirely in declared agreement. As stated in the last Annual Report to +the Board, (p. 166,) "the Committee decided at once that they could +not carry on the schools upon the new basis; and in the propriety +of this action the missionaries concur." The concurrence of the +missionaries in this view, viz., that they could not carry on the +schools with a change from the original basis to that of the new +law, may be seen clearly expressed in their correspondence with the +Secretary having charge of the Indian missions; particularly in the +following communications: From Messrs. Kingsbury and Byington, as the +committee of the mission, under dates of December 14 and 27, 1853; Mr. +Kingsbury, January 4, and April 25, 1854; Mr. C. C. Copeland, March +1, 1854; Mr. Stark, August 22, 1854; Mr. Edwards, July 13, 1854; Mr. +H. K. Copeland, May 16, 1854. See also letters from Mr. Chamberlain, +January 7, and June<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> 20, 1854. In some of these, the declaration is +made, that, in the apprehension of the writers, the schools must be +relinquished, <em>if the law should not be repealed</em>; one specifying, as +justificatory reasons, the breach of contract made, and the increased +difficulty of obtaining teachers—reasons also assigned by others; +another stating that he "never could consent to take charge of a +school under such regulations;" a third testifying, not only for +himself, but for every other member of the mission, an unwillingness +to continue connection with the schools with subjection to the new +requirements; a fourth affirming his "feeling" to be "that a strong +remonstrance should be presented to the Council, and on the strength +of it let the mission lay down these schools;" which, he states, would +not involve "giving up the instruction of these children, but would be +simply changing the plan," inasmuch as, according to his and others' +understanding of the case, the new law not having application to other +than the national schools, "at every station it will be found an easy +matter to have as large, and in some cases even larger, than our +present boarding schools."</p> + +<p>In certain other communications, the view which the Committee adopted, +is exhibited, together with the opinion that it would be better to +wait for a movement on the part of the Choctaw authorities before +giving up the schools. See letters from Mr. Byington, December 26, +1853; January 3 and 12, April 15, 1854; Mr. Kingsbury, February 1 +and 21, 1854; Mr. Chamberlain, January 13, 1854; Mr. Stark, February +6, 1854. This view was also formally announced, as understood by the +Committee, in resolutions of the mission at its meeting in May, 1854, +embracing a recommendation of a course of procedure with the hope of +securing the repeal by the next Council of the obnoxious law. See +Minutes, and letters of Mr. C. C. Copeland, May 19, and June 9, 1854. +The Prudential Committee, in the exercise of their discretion, as +a principal party to the contract, preferred another method, viz., +to address the Council directly, and sent a letter, under date of +August 1, 1854, to one of the missionaries for presentation. The +missionary, with the advice of his brethren<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> given at their meeting +in September, (intelligence of which was received at the Missionary +House, October 20, thirty-five days subsequent to the meeting of +the Board at Hartford,) withheld the letter, on the ground that, in +their judgment, its presentation would defeat the object at which it +aimed, and be "disastrous to the churches, to the Choctaws, and to the +best interests of the colored race." In respect to this action for +obtaining the repeal of the school law, there was a difference between +the mission and the Committee. The missionaries desired delay, and +the leaving of the matter to their management. The decision of the +Committee, approved by the Board, "not to conduct the boarding schools +in the Choctaw Nation in conformity with the principles prescribed by +the recent legislation of the Choctaw Council,"<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> was in agreement +with the previously and subsequently expressed sentiments of all the +missionaries; the objection felt by some of them to this resolution +being, not to the position which it assumes, but to the declaration of +it at that time by the Board. This being a determined question, its +settlement formed no part of the object for which the Deputation was +sent.</p> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> Resolution of the Board adopted at Hartford.</p></div> + +<p>Two other questions, however, required careful examination; and on +these free conference was had with the brethren at their stations, and +in a meeting of the mission held at Good-water, April 25 and 26, Mr. +Edwards, who was absent from the mission, and Dr. Hobbs, not being +present: 1. The law remaining unrepealed, is it practicable to carry +on the schools while refusing conformity to the new "conditions, +limitations and restrictions" imposed by it? 2. If so, is it expedient +to do it?</p> + +<p>On the first of these questions, the opinion of the missionaries was +in the affirmative. No attempt has been made to carry out these new +provisions. The Trustees and General Superintendent have not given +the required bond. One of the Trustees informed me that he should not +give it, and that in his belief the law would remain a dead letter, +if not repealed, as it was his hope that it would be. The course of +the missionaries has been in no degree changed by it. The teaching of +slaves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> in these schools has never been practiced or contemplated. The +law was aimed at such teaching in their families and Sabbath schools. +So the missionaries and the people understand it. It is generally +known among the latter that the former are ready to give up these +schools, rather than retain them on condition of subjection to this +law. Our brethren are now carrying on the schools, and doing in all +other respects, just as they were before the new law was enacted; and +they have confidence that they may continue to do so.</p> + +<p>The second question was one of more uncertainty to my own mind, and +in the minds of some of the mission. The maintenance of these schools +is a work of great difficulty. In the opinion of several of the +missionaries, it was at least doubtful whether the cost in health, +perplexity, trouble in obtaining teachers, time which might be devoted +to preaching, and money, was not too great for the results; and it +was suggested that an opportunity, afforded by divine Providence for +relieving us from a burden too heavy to sustain for nine years longer, +should be embraced. See letters from Mr. Hotchkin, March 21, 1854; Mr. +H. K. Copeland, January 23, and July 27, 1854; Mr. Lansing, December +22, 1853, and May 13, 1854. The fact and manner of the suspension +of the school at Good-water, in 1853, were portentous of increasing +embarrassment from other causes than the new school law; and grave +objections exist to the connection with civil government of any +department of missionary operations.</p> + +<p>My observation of the schools, however, interested me much in their +behalf. They are doing a good work for the nation. Many of the pupils +become Christian wives, mothers and teachers. The people appreciate +them highly; and I was assured of a general desire that they should +remain in the hands of the mission, unsubjected to the inadmissible +new conditions of the recent legislation. In view of all the +relations, which after full consideration the subject seemed to have, +the following resolution, expressing the sentiment of the Deputation +and the mission, was cheerfully and unanimously adopted by the +mission; one of the older members, however, avowing some difficulty in +giving his assent to the latter part of it, viz:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>"<em>Resolved</em>, That while we should esteem it our duty to +relinquish the female boarding schools at Pine Ridge, +Wheelock and Stockbridge, rather than to carry them on +under the provisions and restrictions of the late school +law, yet regarding it as improbable that the requirement +so to do will be enforced, we deem it important, in the +present circumstances of the Choctaw Nation and mission, to +continue our connection with them <em>on the original basis</em>, +and carry them forward with new hope and energy."</p></div> + +<p>Our hope of being allowed to maintain these schools as heretofore, +and make them increasingly useful, may be disappointed. Neither the +Prudential Committee nor the mission wish to retain them, if they for +whose benefit alone they have been taken, prefer that we should give +them up. The relinquishment of them would be a release from a weight +of labor, anxiety and care, that nothing but our love for the Choctaws +could induce us longer to bear. Our desire is only to do them good.</p> + +<p>A second subject of conference, but the one first considered, was +the principles, particularly in relation to slavery, on which the +Prudential Committee, with the formally expressed approbation of the +Board, aim to conduct its missions. I found certain misapprehensions +existing in the minds of a portion of the mission in regard to the +origin and circumstances of the action of the Board at the last +annual meeting, which I was happy to correct. Several of the members, +including one of the two not present at this meeting of the mission, +have ever cordially approved the correspondence in which the views of +principles entertained by the Committee were stated. Others, being +with those just referred to a decided majority of the whole body as at +present constituted, have expressed their agreement with those views +as freely explained in personal intercourse, with an exhibition of +the intended meaning of his own written language, by the Secretary +who was the organ of the Committee in communicating them. Others have +supposed themselves to differ, in some degree, from these principles +when correctly apprehended. A full comparison of views, to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> their +mutual great satisfaction, showed much less difference than was +thought to exist between the members of the mission themselves, and +between a part of the mission and what the Deputation understands to +be the views of the Prudential Committee. A statement of principles +drawn up at Good-water, as being in the estimation of the Deputation +(distinctly and repeatedly so declared) those which the Committee had +set forth in their correspondence, particularly that had with the +mission in 1848, was unanimously adopted, as the brethren say, "for +the better and more harmonious prosecution of the great objects of +the Choctaw mission on the part of the Prudential Committee and the +members of the mission, and for the removal of any and all existing +difficulties which have grown out of public discussions and action on +the subject of slavery; it being understood that the sentiments now +approved are not in the estimation of the brethren of the mission new, +but such as for a long series of years have really been held by them."</p> + +<p>The statement is given, with the appended resolution, in the following +words:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>1. Slavery, as a system, and in its own proper nature, is +what it is described to be, in the General Assembly's Act +of 1818, and the Report of the American Board adopted at +Brooklyn in 1845.</p> + +<p>2. Privation of liberty in holding slaves is, therefore, +not to be ranked with things indifferent, but with +those which, if not made right by special justificatory +circumstances and the intention of the doer, are morally +wrong.</p> + +<p>3. Those are to be admitted to the communion of the church, +of whom the missionary and (in Presbyterian churches) +his session have satisfactory evidence that they are in +fellowship with Christ.</p> + +<p>4. The evidence, in one view of it, of fellowship with +Christ, is a manifested desire and aim to be conformed, in +all things, to the spirit and requirements of the word of +God.</p> + +<p>5. Such desire and aim are to be looked for in reference +to slavery, slaveholding, and dealing with slaves, as in +regard to other matters; not less, not more.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<p>6. The missionary must, under a solemn sense of +responsibility to Christ, act on his own judgment of that +evidence when obtained, and on the manner of obtaining +it. He is at liberty to pursue that course which he may +deem most discreet in eliciting views and feelings as to +slavery, as with respect to other things, right views and +feelings concerning which he seeks as evidence of Christian +character.</p> + +<p>7. The missionary is responsible, not for correct views +and action on the part of his session and church members, +but only for an honest and proper endeavor to secure +correctness of views and action under the same obligations +and limitations on this subject as on others. He is to go +only to the extent of his rights and responsibilities as a +minister of Christ.</p> + +<p>8. The missionary, in the exercise of a wise discretion +as to time, place, manner and amount of instruction, is +decidedly to discountenance indulgence in known sin and +the neglect of known duty, and so to instruct his hearers +that they may understand all Christian duty. With that +wisdom which is profitable to direct, he is to exhibit the +legitimate bearing of the gospel upon every moral evil, in +order to its removal in the most desirable way; and upon +slavery, as upon other moral evils. As a missionary, he +has nothing to do with political questions and agitations. +He is to deal alone, and as a Christian instructor and +pastor, with what is morally wrong, that the people of God +may separate themselves therefrom, and a right standard of +moral action be held up before the world.</p> + +<p>9. While, as in war, there can be no shedding of blood +without sin somewhere attached, and yet the individual +soldier may not be guilty of it; so, while slavery is +always sinful, we cannot esteem every one who is legally a +slaveholder a wrong-doer for sustaining the legal relation. +When it is made unavoidable by the laws of the State, the +obligations of guardianship, or the demands of humanity, +it is not to be deemed an offence against the rule of +Christian right. Yet missionaries are carefully to guard, +and in the proper way to warn others to guard, against +unduly extending this plea of necessity or the good of the +slave, against making it a cover for the love and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> practice +of slavery, or a pretence for not using efforts that are +lawful and practicable to extinguish this evil.</p> + +<p>10. Missionaries are to enjoin upon all masters and +servants obedience to the directions specially addressed to +them in the Holy Scriptures, and to explain and illustrate +the precepts containing them.</p> + +<p>11. In the exercise of discipline in the churches, under +the same obligations and limitations as in regard to other +acts of wrong-doing, and which are recognized in the action +of ministers with reference to other matters in evangelical +churches where slavery does not exist, missionaries are +to set their faces against all overt acts in relation +to this subject, which are manifestly unchristian and +sinful; such as the treatment of slaves with inhumanity and +oppression; keeping from them the knowledge of God's holy +will; disregarding the sanctity of the marriage relation; +trifling with the affections of parents, and setting at +naught the claims of children on their natural protectors; +and regarding and treating human beings as articles of +merchandise.</p> + +<p>12. For various reasons, we agree in the inexpediency of +our employing slave labor in other cases than those of +manifest necessity; it being understood that the objection +of the Prudential Committee to the employment of such labor +is to that extent only.</p> + +<p>13. Agreeing thus in essential principles, missionaries +associated in the same field should exercise charity +towards each other, and have confidence in one another, in +respect to differences which, from diversity of judgment, +temperament, or other individual peculiarities, and from +difference of circumstances in which they are placed, may +arise among them in the practical carrying out of these +principles; and we think that this should be done by others +towards us as a missionary body.</p> + +<p><em>Resolved</em>, That we agree in the foregoing as an expression +of our views concerning our relations and duties as +missionaries in regard to the subject treated of; and are +happy to believe that, having this agreement with what we +now understand to be the views of the Prudential Committee, +we may<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> have their confidence, as they have ours, in the +continued prosecution together of the great work to which +the great Head of the church has called us among this +people.</p></div> + +<p>The statement thus approved was read throughout, and was afterwards +considered in detail, each member of the mission expressing his views +upon it as fully, and keeping it under consideration as long, as he +desired to do. After the assent given to it, article by article, on +the day following it was again read, and the question was taken upon +it as a whole, with the appended resolution, each of the eight members +giving his vote in favor of its adoption. It is perhaps proper also +to mention that no change by way of emendation, addition or omission +of phraseology was found necessary to make it such as any member of +the mission would be willing to accept. It should farther be stated, +that while the first article was under consideration, the act of the +General Assembly of the Presbyterian church, adopted in 1818, was +read, and its strongest expressions duly weighed. The document thus +considered and referred to, is herewith submitted as a part of this +report.<a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_B_2" id="Footnote_B_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_2"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> "The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, having +taken into consideration the subject of slavery, think proper to make +known their sentiments upon it to the churches and people under their +care. We consider the voluntary enslaving of one part of the human +race by another, as a gross violation of the most precious and sacred +rights of human nature; as utterly inconsistent with the law of God, +which requires us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and as totally +irreconcilable with the spirit and principles of the gospel of Christ, +which enjoins that 'all things whatsoever ye would that men should do +to you, do ye even so to them.' Slavery creates a paradox in the moral +system; it exhibits rational, accountable and immortal beings in such +circumstances as scarcely to leave them the power of moral action. It +exhibits them as dependent on the will of others, whether they shall +receive religions instruction; whether they shall know and worship +the true God; whether they shall enjoy the ordinances of the Gospel; +whether they shall perform the duties and cherish the endearments +of husbands and wives, parents and children, neighbors and friends; +whether they shall preserve their chastity and purity, or regard the +dictates of justice and humanity. Such are some of the consequences +of slavery—consequences not imaginary, but which connect themselves +with its very existence. The evils to which the slave is always +exposed often take place in fact, and in their very worst degree and +form; and where all of them do not take place, as we rejoice to say in +many instances, through the influence of the principles of humanity +and religion on the mind of masters, they do not—still the slave is +deprived of his natural right, degraded as a human being, and exposed +to the danger of passing into the hands of a master who may inflict +upon him all the hardships and injuries which inhumanity and avarice +may suggest. +</p> +<p> +"From this view of the consequences resulting from the practice into +which Christian people have most inconsistently fallen, of enslaving +a portion of their brethren of mankind—for 'God hath made of one +blood all nations of men to dwell on the face of the earth'—it is +manifestly the duty of all Christians who enjoy the light of the +present day, when the inconsistency of slavery, both with the dictates +of humanity and religion, has been demonstrated, and is generally +seen and acknowledged, to use their honest, earnest, and unwearied +endeavors to correct the errors of former times, and as speedily as +possible to efface this blot on our holy religion, and to obtain the +complete abolition of slavery throughout Christendom, and if possible +throughout the world. +</p> +<p> +"We rejoice that the Church to which we belong commenced, as early +as any other in this country, the good work of endeavoring to put an +end to slavery, and that in the same work many of its members have +ever since been, and now are, among the most active, vigorous and +efficient laborers. We do, indeed, tenderly sympathize with those +portions of our Church and our country where the evil of slavery has +been entailed upon them; where a great, and the most virtuous part of +the community abhor slavery, and wish its extermination as sincerely +as any others—but where the number of slaves, their ignorance, and +their vicious habits generally, render an immediate and universal +emancipation inconsistent alike with the safety and happiness of the +master and the slave. With those who are thus circumstanced, we repeat +that we tenderly sympathize. At the same time we earnestly exhort them +to continue, and if possible to increase their exertions to effect a +total abolition of slavery. We exhort them to suffer no greater delay +to take place in this most interesting concern, than a regard to the +public welfare truly and indispensably demands. +</p> +<p> +"As our country has inflicted a most grievous injury on the unhappy +Africans, by bringing them into slavery, we cannot indeed urge that +we should add a second injury to the first, by emancipating them in +such manner as that they will be likely to destroy themselves or +others. But we do think, that our country ought to be governed in this +matter by no other consideration than an honest and impartial regard +to the happiness of the injured party, uninfluenced by the expense or +inconvenience which such a regard may involve. We, therefore, warn all +who belong to our denomination of Christians against unduly extending +this plea of necessity; against making it a cover for the love and +practice of slavery, or a pretence for not using efforts that are +lawful and practicable, to extinguish this evil. +</p> +<p> +"And we, at the same time, exhort others to forbear harsh censures, +and uncharitable reflections on their brethren, who unhappily live +among slaves whom they cannot immediately set free; but who, at +the same time, are really using all their influence, and all their +endeavors, to bring them into a state of freedom, as soon as a door +for it can be safely opened. +</p> +<p> +"Having thus expressed our views of slavery, and of the duty +indispensably incumbent on all Christians to labor for its complete +extinction, we proceed to recommend—and we do it with all the +earnestness and solemnity which this momentous subject demands—a +particular attention to the following points. +</p> +<p> +"We recommend to all our people to patronize and encourage the Society +lately formed for colonizing in Africa, the land of their ancestors, +the free people of color in our country. We hope that much good may +result from the plans and efforts of this Society. And while we +exceedingly rejoice to have witnessed its origin and organization +among the holders of slaves, as giving an unequivocal pledge of their +desires to deliver themselves and their country from the calamity of +slavery; we hope that those portions of the American union, whose +inhabitants are by a gracious Providence more favorably circumstanced, +will cordially, and liberally, and earnestly co-operate with their +brethren, in bringing about the great end contemplated. +</p> +<p> +"We recommend to all the members of our religious denomination, not +only to permit, but to facilitate and encourage the instruction of +their slaves in the principles and duties of the Christian religion; +by granting them liberty to attend on the preaching of the gospel, +when they have opportunity; by favoring the instruction of them in the +Sabbath school, wherever those schools can be formed; and by giving +them all other proper advantages for acquiring a knowledge of their +duty both to God and to man. We are perfectly satisfied that it is +incumbent on all Christians to communicate religious instruction to +those who are under their authority; so that the doing of this in the +case before us, so far from operating, as some have apprehended that +it might, as an incitement to insubordination and insurrection, would, +on the contrary, operate as the most powerful means for the prevention +of those evils. +</p> +<p> +"We enjoin it on all church sessions and presbyteries, under the +care of this Assembly, to discountenance, and as far as possible to +prevent all cruelty of whatever kind in the treatment of slaves; +especially the cruelty of separating husband and wife, parents and +children, and that which consists in selling slaves to those who will +either themselves deprive these unhappy people of the blessings of +the gospel, or who will transport them to places where the gospel is +not proclaimed, or where it is forbidden to slaves to attend upon its +institutions. And if it shall ever happen that a Christian professor +in our communion shall sell a slave who is also in communion and good +standing with our church, contrary to his or her will and inclination, +it ought immediately to claim the particular attention of the proper +church judicature; and unless there be such peculiar circumstances +attending the case as can but seldom happen, it ought to be followed, +without delay, by a suspension of the offender from all the privileges +of the church, till he repent, and make all the reparation in his +power to the injured party." See Assembly's Digest, pp. 274-8.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p></div> + +<p>So also was adduced the abundant testimony contained in the Report of +the American Board adopted in 1845, as to what in its view slavery, +without qualification of place or time, and as it exists in the +United States and among the Indians, is: such as its classification +of slavery with war, polygamy, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> castes of India, and other things +which it speaks of as "social and moral evils;" and such language as +the following: "The Committee do not deem it necessary to discuss the +general subject of slavery as it exists in these United States, or to +enlarge on the wickedness of the system, or on the disastrous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> moral +and social influences which slavery exerts upon the less enlightened +and less civilized communities where the missionaries of this Board +are laboring:" "The unrighteousness of the principles on which the +whole system is based, and the violation of the natural rights of +man, the debasement, wickedness and misery it involves, and which are +in fact witnessed to a greater or less extent wherever it exists, +must call forth the hearty condemnation of all possessed of Christian +feeling and sense of right, and make its removal an object of earnest +and prayerful desire to every friend of God and man:" "Strongly as +your committee are convinced of the wrongfulness and evil tendencies +of slaveholding, and ardently as they desire its speedy and universal +termination, still they cannot think that in all cases it involves +individual guilt in such a manner that every person implicated in it +can, on scriptural grounds, be excluded from Christian fellowship. In +the language of Dr. Chalmers, 'Distinction ought to be made between +the character of a <em>system</em>, and the character of the persons whom +circumstances have implicated therewith; nor would it always be just, +if all the recoil and horror wherewith the former is contemplated, +were visited in the form of condemnation and moral indignancy upon the +latter. Slavery we hold to be a <em>system</em> chargeable with atrocities +and evils, often the most hideous and appalling which have either +afflicted or deformed our species; yet we must not, therefore, say of +every man born within its territory, who has grown up familiar with +its sickening spectacles, and not only by his habits been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> inured +to its transactions and sights, but who by inheritance is himself +the owner of slaves, that unless he make the resolute sacrifice, and +renounce his property in slaves, he is, therefore, not a Christian, +and should be treated as an outcast from all the distinctions +and privileges of Christian society.'" And the language (quoted +approvingly) unanimously uttered by the General Assembly of the Free +Church of Scotland: "Without being prepared to adopt the principle +that, in the circumstances in which they are placed, the churches in +America ought to consider slaveholding <em>per se</em> an insuperable barrier +in the way of enjoying Christian privileges, or an offence to be +visited with excommunication, all must agree in holding that whatever +rights the civil law of the land may give a master over his slaves +as <em>chattels personal</em>, it cannot be but sin of the deepest dye to +regard and treat them as such; and whosoever commits that sin in any +sense, or deals otherwise than as a Christian man ought to deal with +his fellow-man, whatever power the law may give him over them, ought +to be held disqualified for Christian communion. Farther, it must be +the opinion of all, that it is the duty of Christians, when they find +themselves unhappily in the predicament of slaveholders, to aim, as +far as it may be practicable, at the manumission of their slaves; and +when that cannot be accomplished, to secure them in the enjoyment of +the domestic relations, and of the means of religious training and +education."</p> + +<p>All this, and more, was immediately before the minds of the members +of the mission, and with so much of the connection as to give the +true sense, when they declared that slavery is what, in the documents +referred to, it is described to be, and made their own the statement +of principles above given, as those on which, as missionaries, they +should deal with this subject in the circumstances of their field of +labor, and when it is to them a practical missionary question.</p> + +<p>The Cherokee mission in session at Park Hill, May 9, adopted a +resolution of concurrence with the Choctaw mission in approving this +statement.</p> + +<p>Excluding two churches then connected with the mission of the Board, +and since transferred to another mission, there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> were in 1848, under +the care of the American Board, in the Choctaw Nation, six churches +with a total membership of 536 persons, of whom 25 were slaveholders, +and 64 were slaves. The churches are now 11 in number, containing +1,094 members; of whom, as nearly as I could ascertain, 20 are +slaveholders, (some of them being husband and wife, and generally +having but one or two slaves each,) and 60 are slaves. Six of the +churches have no slaveholder in them; two have but one each. Of the +slaveholders in these churches, four have been admitted since 1848; +one by transfer from another denomination, and three on profession +of their faith; none of the latter having been received since +1850. Statements were made to me respecting each of these latter +cases, which show that the principles assented to by the mission at +Good-water, as above presented, were practically carried out in regard +to them.</p> + +<p>In the Cherokee mission, in 1848, there were five churches, having +237 members, of whom 24 were slaveholders, and 23 were slaves. In the +five churches now in that mission, there are 207 members, of whom 17 +(there is uncertainty in regard to one of this number) are reported +as slaveholders. Three have been admitted since 1848 on profession of +their faith, and two by letter; one of the latter from a church in New +Hampshire. Of these the same remark may be made as above in respect to +similar cases among the Choctaws.</p> + +<p>The Choctaw mission embraces eleven families and three large boarding +schools. Five slaves, hired at their own desire, are in the employment +of the missionaries. A less number are employed in the Cherokee +mission. Gladly would the missionaries dispense with these, could the +necessary amount of free labor for domestic service be obtained. Those +who employ this slave labor, allege that it is to them a matter of +painful necessity. They are known to resort to it unwillingly, and are +not regarded as thereby giving their sanction to slavery. Some thus +employed have been brought to a saving knowledge of divine truth.</p> + +<p>The sentiments of these two missions as to the moral character of +slavery, and the principles on which they should act with regard to +it, are frankly and unequivocally avowed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> We are bound to believe +them honest in the expression of these sentiments. It is their +expectation that the principles thus acknowledged as their own will +be those on which the missions will be conducted. The adjudication of +particular cases must be left to the missionary. That it be so left, +is his right; it is also unavoidable. The position of the missionaries +is one of great difficulty, and should be appreciated. That there +is such a diversity of judgment among them as men of independent +thought and differing mental characteristics, who agree in essential +principles, everywhere evince; and that they have, through a use of +phraseology leading sometimes to a mutual misunderstanding of each +other's views, supposed themselves to differ more widely than, in our +conferences, they found themselves really to do, has been intimated. +That none of them have sympathy with slavery; that, on the other hand, +their influence is directly and strongly adverse to its continuance, +while they are doing much in mitigation of its evils and to bless +both master and slave, in the judgment of the Deputation, is beyond +a doubt. By many they are denounced as abolitionists. Some of their +slave-holding church members have left their churches for another +connection on this account. Others have disconnected themselves from +a system which they have learned to dislike and disapprove. Strong in +the confidence and affection of many for whose salvation they have +toiled and suffered, by the supporters of slavery, in and out of the +nations, they undoubtedly are looked upon with growing suspicion. +Surely we should not be willing needlessly to embarrass them in their +blessed work. They are worthy of the confidence and warmest sympathy +of every friend of the red man and of the black man. God is with them. +In the Cherokee mission, the dispensation of his grace is not, indeed, +now as in times past; and we have some seriousness of apprehension +in regard to the progress of the gospel among that people. Still the +divine presence is not wanting. Among the Choctaws rapid advance is +making. Converts are multiplying; the fruits of the gospel abound. +Both missions need reinforcement. Men filled with the spirit of +Christ, able to endure hardness, of practical wisdom,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> which knows how +to do good, and not to do only harm when good is meant, men of faith, +energy, meekness and prayer, who will commend themselves to every +man's conscience in the sight of God as his servants, are required. +It gave me pleasure to assure the missions of the strong desire of +the Prudential Committee, and of my future personal endeavors, to +obtain such men for them. No philanthropist can behold the change +which has been wrought for these lately pagan, savage tribes, now +orderly christianized communities, advancing in civilization, to +take ere long, if they go on in their course, their place with those +whose Christian civilization is the growth of many centuries, without +admiration and delight. But there is much yet to be done for them. +"This nation," says the Choctaw mission in a published letter, "in +its improvements, schools, churches, and public spirit pertaining +to the great cause of benevolence, is but an <em>infant</em>." We must not +expect too much from these churches in which we glory. Much fostering +and training do they yet need; and there are many souls yet to be +enlightened and saved. Wonderful as are the renovation and elevation +which the gospel, taught in its simplicity by faithful men, has +already given to these communities, our only hope for them, and for +the colored race in the midst of them, is in the continued application +of the same power through the same instrumentality.</p> + +<p>It was the privilege of the Deputation to spend a part of three days, +including a Sabbath, at Spencer Academy, an institution containing +one hundred male pupils, excellently managed under the charge of the +Board of the General Assembly; and to attend there a "big meeting," +or a camp meeting, at which several hundreds were present. My +intercourse with brethren at that station, and the scenes in which +I there mingled; the fellowship in Christ with the heralds of his +cross, some of them bowed with the weight of many years of wearing +toil and affliction, and hastening to their glorious crown already +won by honored names, no longer with them, of our own mission; and +the interchange of sympathy with the disciples of Christ, whom God +has given them as the fruit of their labor, will ever live among the +pleasantest recollections of my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> life. I am constrained to repeat +my testimony to the fraternal and Christian spirit with which the +brethren met my endeavors to remove difficulties, strengthen the +ties that bind them and the Board together, and clear the way for +harmonious and more energetic prosecution of the great work in which +we are associated. To a good degree this object, we may hope, has +been gained. To Him, whose is their work and ours, and to whom the +interests involved are infinitely more precious than to any of us who +are connected with them, we commit the future keeping of this great +trust.</p> + +<p>It is due to the Choctaw mission that I communicate to the Committee +the following resolution, presented by the Rev. Mr. Byington, and +adopted by the mission at the close of its meeting at Good-water:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>"<em>Resolved</em>, That the cordial thanks of the members of +the mission be presented to the Rev. Geo. W. Wood, the +Secretary of the A. B. C. F. M., who is with us as a +Deputation from the Prudential Committee, for his kind, +wise and successful efforts in our mission to remove the +weight of anxiety which has long pressed down our hearts +in connection with the subject of slavery. We now rejoice +much in this mutual and kind interchange of thoughts and +affections. We would pray for grace ever to walk in the +path of life, and that blessings may attend him, while with +us and on his way home, his family and brethren during his +absence, as well as our mission and the American Board and +all its officers. With peculiar sincerity of heart and +gratitude to our Savior, we present to him this token of +regard for our dear brother, and make this record of divine +mercy toward our mission."</p> + +<p class="center"> +All which is respectfully submitted,</p> + +<p class="author">Geo. W. Wood</p> + +<p><em>Rooms of the A. B. C. F. M., New York, June</em> 13, 1855. +</p> +</div> + +<p>This communication of the Prudential Committee was referred to a +special committee, consisting of Dr. Beman, Dr. Thomas De Witt, Dr. +Hawes, Chief Justice Williams, Doct. Lyndon A. Smith, Dr. J. A. +Stearns, and Hon. Linus Child, who subsequently made the following +report:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>Your committee have endeavored to look at this paper in +its intrinsic character and practical bearings, and they +are happy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> to state their unanimous conviction, that this +visit will mark an auspicious era in the history of these +missions. The report of Mr. Wood is characterized by great +clearness and precision; and it presents the whole matters +pending between the Prudential Committee and these missions +fully before us. The conferences of the Deputation with +the missionaries appear to have been conducted in a truly +Christian spirit; and the results which are set forth in +the resolutions, adopted with much deliberation and after +full discussion, are such as we may all hail with Christian +gratitude.</p> + +<p>It is the opinion of your committee that the great end +which has been aimed at by the Prudential Committee in +their correspondence with these missions, for several years +past, and by the Board in their resolutions adopted at the +last annual meeting, has been substantially accomplished. +While your committee admit that there may be some +incidental points on which an honest diversity of opinion +may exist, yet they fully believe that this adjustment +should be deemed satisfactory, and that further agitation +is not called for. While your committee cannot take it +upon themselves to predict what new developments, calling +for new action hereafter, <em>may</em> take place, they are +unanimously of the opinion that the Prudential Committee, +and these laborious and efficient missionaries on this +field of Christian effort, may go forward, on the basis +adopted, in perfect harmony in the prosecution of their +future work.</p> + +<p>Your committee feel that the thanks of this Board are due +to Mr. Wood and our missionary brethren, for the manner +in which they have met, considered, and adjusted these +difficult matters which have been long in debate; and at +the same time they would not forget that God is the source +of all true light in our deepest darkness, and that to him +<em>all the glory is ever due</em>.</p></div> + +<p>The foregoing report of the select committee was adopted by the Board.</p> + + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 243px;"> +<img src="images/blankcover.jpg" width="243" height="400" alt="blank cover" /> +</div> + + +<p class="transnote">Transcriber's Notes<br /><br /> + + +The footnote locations and anchor symbols have been changed from the +original document.</p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Report of Mr. Wood's Visit to the +Choctaw and Cherokee Missions. 1855, by George W. 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Wood + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: Report of Mr. Wood's Visit to the Choctaw and Cherokee Missions. 1855 + +Author: George W. Wood + +Release Date: December 21, 2015 [EBook #50734] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REPORT OF MR. WOOD'S VISIT *** + + + + +Produced by Donald Cummings, Bryan Ness, Diane Monico, and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + + +REPORT + +OF + +MR. WOOD'S VISIT + +TO THE + +CHOCTAW AND CHEROKEE MISSIONS. + +1855. + + +BOSTON: +PRESS OF T. R. MARVIN, 42 CONGRESS STREET. +1855. + + + + +REPORT. + + +At the meeting of the Board held in Utica, New York, September, +1855, the Prudential Committee submitted a special communication in +reference to the Choctaw and Cherokee missions, in which they say: +"Since the last meeting of the Board, it has seemed desirable that +one of the Secretaries should visit the Indian missions in the South +West, for the purpose of conferring fully and freely with them in +reference to certain questions which have an important bearing upon +their work. Mr. Wood, therefore, was directed to perform this service; +which he did in the spring of the present year. After his return to +New York, he drew up a report of this visit, and presented the same +to the Prudential Committee. It is deemed proper that this document +should be laid before the Board at the earliest opportunity; and it is +herewith submitted. The results obtained by this conference are highly +satisfactory to the Committee." + +The report of Mr. Wood is in the following language: + +_To the Prudential Committee of the American Board of Commissioners +for Foreign Missions_: + +I have to report a visit made by me to the Choctaw and Cherokee +missions, in obedience to instructions contained in the following +resolutions adopted by you, March 6, 1855: + + "_Resolved_, 1. That Mr. Wood be requested to repair to the + Choctaw Nation, at his earliest convenience, with a view + to a fraternal conference with the brethren in that field + in respect to the difficulties and embarrassments which + have grown out of the action of the Choctaw Council in the + matter of the boarding schools, and also in respect to any + other question which may seem to require his attention. + + "2. That, in case the spring meeting of the Choctaw mission + shall not occur at a convenient time, he be authorized to + call a meeting at such time and place as he shall designate. + + "3. That on his return from the Choctaw mission he be + requested to confer with the brethren of the Cherokee + mission, in regard to any matter that may appear to call + for his consideration, and that he be authorized to call a + meeting for this purpose. + + "4. That on arriving in New York he be instructed to + prepare a report, suggesting such plans and measures for + the adoption of the Committee in reference to either of + these missions as he may be able to recommend." + +Leaving New York, March 19, and proceeding by the way of the Ohio +and Mississippi rivers to Napoleon, thence up the White river, +across to Little Rock, and through Arkansas to the Choctaw country, +I arrived at Stockbridge, April 11. Including the portions of the +days occupied in passing from one station to another, I devoted three +days to Stockbridge, three to Wheelock, six to Pine Ridge, three to +Good-water, and three to Spencer; the latter a station of the mission +of the General Assembly's Board. Five days, with a call of a night +and half a day at Lenox, were occupied in the journey to the Cherokee +country, in which I spent two days at Dwight, and three at Park Hill; +my departure from which was on the 11th of May, just one month from my +arrival at Stockbridge. My return to New York was on May 31, ten and a +half weeks from the time of leaving it. + +I should do injustice to my own feelings, and to the members of the +two missions, not to state that my reception was everywhere one +of the utmost cordiality. The Choctaw mission, when my coming was +announced, agreed to observe a daily concert of prayer that it might +be blessed to them and the end for which they were informed it was +designed. They met me in the spirit of prayer; our intercourse was +much a fellowship in prayer; and, through the favor of Him who heareth +prayer, its issue was one of mutual congratulation and thanksgiving. + +The visit, although a short one, afforded considerable opportunity +(which was diligently improved) for acquainting myself with the +views, feelings, plans and labors of the brethren of the missions. +Their attachment to their work, and to the Board with which they +are connected, is unwavering. With fidelity they prosecute the +great object of their high calling; and in view of the spiritual +and temporal transformation taking place around them, as the result +of the faithful proclamation of the gospel, we are compelled to +exclaim, "What hath God wrought!" It was pleasant to meet them, as +with frankness and fraternal affection they did me, in consultation +for the removal of difficulties, and the adoption of measures for +the advancement of the one end desired equally by them and by the +Prudential Committee. + +Several topics became subjects of conference, on some of which action +was taken by the missions; and on others recommendations will be +made by the Deputation, that need not be embraced in this report. In +respect to them all, there was entire harmony between the Deputation +and the missions. + +In their first resolution, the Committee requested me to repair to +the Choctaw Nation, with special reference to the embarrassments +and difficulties which have grown out of the action of the Choctaw +Council in the matter of the boarding schools. A condensed statement +of the action of the Council, and of the missionaries and Prudential +Committee, previous to the sending of the Deputation, seems to be here +called for. + +In the year 1842, the Choctaw Council, by law, placed four female +seminaries "under the direction and management of the American +Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions," subject only to "the +conditions, limitations, and restrictions rendered in the act." In +accordance with the act, a contract was entered into, by which the +schools were taken for a period of twenty years. The "conditions, +limitations and restrictions" specified in the act and contract, so +far as they bind the Board, are the following: 1. The superintendents +and teachers, with their families, shall board at the same table with +the pupils. 2. In addition to letters, the pupils shall be taught +housewifery and sewing. 3. One-tenth of the pupils are to be orphans, +should so many apply for admission. 4. The Board shall appropriate to +the schools a sum equal to one-sixth of the moneys appropriated by the +Choctaw Council. With these exceptions, the "direction and management" +of the schools were to be as exclusively with the Board, as of any +schools supported by the funds of the Board. + +Thus the schools were carried forward until 1853. At the meeting +of the Council in that year, a new school law, containing several +provisions, (and sometimes spoken of in the plural as "laws,") +was enacted, bringing the Board, through its agents, under new +"conditions, restrictions and limitations." A Board of Trustees was +established, and a General Superintendent of schools provided for, +to discharge various specified duties, for the faithful performance +of which they are to give bonds in the sum of $5,000. The enactments +of this law, affecting the agents of the Board under the existing +contract, are the following: + + 1. The Board of Trustees, convened by the General + Superintendent, are to hear and determine difficulties + between a trustee and any one connected with the schools; + to judge of the fitness of teachers, etc., and request the + Missionary Boards to remove any whose removal they may + think called for; and, in case of neglect to comply with + their wishes, to report the same to the Commissioner of + Indian Affairs through the United States Agent. Section 5. + + 2. The Trustees are to select the scholars from their + several districts. Section 7. + + 3. No slave or child of a slave is to be taught to read or + write "_in_ or _at_ any school," etc., by any one connected + in any capacity therewith, on pain of dismissal and + expulsion from the nation. Section 8. + + 4. Annual examinations are to take place at times + designated by the General Superintendent. Section 10. + + 5. The Trustees are empowered to suspend any school in case + of sickness or epidemics. Section 11. + + 6. It is made the duty of the General Superintendent and + Trustees, promptly to remove, or report for removal, any + and all persons connected with the public schools or + academies known to be abolitionists, or who disseminate, or + attempt to disseminate, directly or indirectly, abolition + doctrines, or any other fanatical sentiments, which, in + their opinion, are dangerous to the peace and safety of the + Choctaw people. Section 13. + +By a separate act, the Board of Trustees was authorized to propose to +the Missionary Boards, having schools under contract with the Nation, +the insertion of a clause providing for a termination of the contract +by either party on giving six months' notice. + + * * * * * + +With respect to the question, "Shall we submit to the provisions +and restrictions imposed by this new legislation, as a condition +of continued connection with the national schools?" the views of +the Prudential Committee and the brethren of the mission have been +entirely in declared agreement. As stated in the last Annual Report to +the Board, (p. 166,) "the Committee decided at once that they could +not carry on the schools upon the new basis; and in the propriety +of this action the missionaries concur." The concurrence of the +missionaries in this view, viz., that they could not carry on the +schools with a change from the original basis to that of the new +law, may be seen clearly expressed in their correspondence with the +Secretary having charge of the Indian missions; particularly in the +following communications: From Messrs. Kingsbury and Byington, as the +committee of the mission, under dates of December 14 and 27, 1853; Mr. +Kingsbury, January 4, and April 25, 1854; Mr. C. C. Copeland, March +1, 1854; Mr. Stark, August 22, 1854; Mr. Edwards, July 13, 1854; Mr. +H. K. Copeland, May 16, 1854. See also letters from Mr. Chamberlain, +January 7, and June 20, 1854. In some of these, the declaration is +made, that, in the apprehension of the writers, the schools must be +relinquished, _if the law should not be repealed_; one specifying, as +justificatory reasons, the breach of contract made, and the increased +difficulty of obtaining teachers--reasons also assigned by others; +another stating that he "never could consent to take charge of a +school under such regulations;" a third testifying, not only for +himself, but for every other member of the mission, an unwillingness +to continue connection with the schools with subjection to the new +requirements; a fourth affirming his "feeling" to be "that a strong +remonstrance should be presented to the Council, and on the strength +of it let the mission lay down these schools;" which, he states, would +not involve "giving up the instruction of these children, but would be +simply changing the plan," inasmuch as, according to his and others' +understanding of the case, the new law not having application to other +than the national schools, "at every station it will be found an easy +matter to have as large, and in some cases even larger, than our +present boarding schools." + +In certain other communications, the view which the Committee adopted, +is exhibited, together with the opinion that it would be better to +wait for a movement on the part of the Choctaw authorities before +giving up the schools. See letters from Mr. Byington, December 26, +1853; January 3 and 12, April 15, 1854; Mr. Kingsbury, February 1 +and 21, 1854; Mr. Chamberlain, January 13, 1854; Mr. Stark, February +6, 1854. This view was also formally announced, as understood by the +Committee, in resolutions of the mission at its meeting in May, 1854, +embracing a recommendation of a course of procedure with the hope of +securing the repeal by the next Council of the obnoxious law. See +Minutes, and letters of Mr. C. C. Copeland, May 19, and June 9, 1854. +The Prudential Committee, in the exercise of their discretion, as +a principal party to the contract, preferred another method, viz., +to address the Council directly, and sent a letter, under date of +August 1, 1854, to one of the missionaries for presentation. The +missionary, with the advice of his brethren given at their meeting +in September, (intelligence of which was received at the Missionary +House, October 20, thirty-five days subsequent to the meeting of +the Board at Hartford,) withheld the letter, on the ground that, in +their judgment, its presentation would defeat the object at which it +aimed, and be "disastrous to the churches, to the Choctaws, and to the +best interests of the colored race." In respect to this action for +obtaining the repeal of the school law, there was a difference between +the mission and the Committee. The missionaries desired delay, and +the leaving of the matter to their management. The decision of the +Committee, approved by the Board, "not to conduct the boarding schools +in the Choctaw Nation in conformity with the principles prescribed by +the recent legislation of the Choctaw Council,"[A] was in agreement +with the previously and subsequently expressed sentiments of all the +missionaries; the objection felt by some of them to this resolution +being, not to the position which it assumes, but to the declaration of +it at that time by the Board. This being a determined question, its +settlement formed no part of the object for which the Deputation was +sent. + +[Footnote A: Resolution of the Board adopted at Hartford.] + +Two other questions, however, required careful examination; and on +these free conference was had with the brethren at their stations, and +in a meeting of the mission held at Good-water, April 25 and 26, Mr. +Edwards, who was absent from the mission, and Dr. Hobbs, not being +present: 1. The law remaining unrepealed, is it practicable to carry +on the schools while refusing conformity to the new "conditions, +limitations and restrictions" imposed by it? 2. If so, is it expedient +to do it? + +On the first of these questions, the opinion of the missionaries was +in the affirmative. No attempt has been made to carry out these new +provisions. The Trustees and General Superintendent have not given +the required bond. One of the Trustees informed me that he should not +give it, and that in his belief the law would remain a dead letter, +if not repealed, as it was his hope that it would be. The course of +the missionaries has been in no degree changed by it. The teaching of +slaves in these schools has never been practiced or contemplated. The +law was aimed at such teaching in their families and Sabbath schools. +So the missionaries and the people understand it. It is generally +known among the latter that the former are ready to give up these +schools, rather than retain them on condition of subjection to this +law. Our brethren are now carrying on the schools, and doing in all +other respects, just as they were before the new law was enacted; and +they have confidence that they may continue to do so. + +The second question was one of more uncertainty to my own mind, and +in the minds of some of the mission. The maintenance of these schools +is a work of great difficulty. In the opinion of several of the +missionaries, it was at least doubtful whether the cost in health, +perplexity, trouble in obtaining teachers, time which might be devoted +to preaching, and money, was not too great for the results; and it +was suggested that an opportunity, afforded by divine Providence for +relieving us from a burden too heavy to sustain for nine years longer, +should be embraced. See letters from Mr. Hotchkin, March 21, 1854; Mr. +H. K. Copeland, January 23, and July 27, 1854; Mr. Lansing, December +22, 1853, and May 13, 1854. The fact and manner of the suspension +of the school at Good-water, in 1853, were portentous of increasing +embarrassment from other causes than the new school law; and grave +objections exist to the connection with civil government of any +department of missionary operations. + +My observation of the schools, however, interested me much in their +behalf. They are doing a good work for the nation. Many of the pupils +become Christian wives, mothers and teachers. The people appreciate +them highly; and I was assured of a general desire that they should +remain in the hands of the mission, unsubjected to the inadmissible +new conditions of the recent legislation. In view of all the +relations, which after full consideration the subject seemed to have, +the following resolution, expressing the sentiment of the Deputation +and the mission, was cheerfully and unanimously adopted by the +mission; one of the older members, however, avowing some difficulty in +giving his assent to the latter part of it, viz: + + "_Resolved_, That while we should esteem it our duty to + relinquish the female boarding schools at Pine Ridge, + Wheelock and Stockbridge, rather than to carry them on + under the provisions and restrictions of the late school + law, yet regarding it as improbable that the requirement + so to do will be enforced, we deem it important, in the + present circumstances of the Choctaw Nation and mission, to + continue our connection with them _on the original basis_, + and carry them forward with new hope and energy." + +Our hope of being allowed to maintain these schools as heretofore, +and make them increasingly useful, may be disappointed. Neither the +Prudential Committee nor the mission wish to retain them, if they for +whose benefit alone they have been taken, prefer that we should give +them up. The relinquishment of them would be a release from a weight +of labor, anxiety and care, that nothing but our love for the Choctaws +could induce us longer to bear. Our desire is only to do them good. + +A second subject of conference, but the one first considered, was +the principles, particularly in relation to slavery, on which the +Prudential Committee, with the formally expressed approbation of the +Board, aim to conduct its missions. I found certain misapprehensions +existing in the minds of a portion of the mission in regard to the +origin and circumstances of the action of the Board at the last +annual meeting, which I was happy to correct. Several of the members, +including one of the two not present at this meeting of the mission, +have ever cordially approved the correspondence in which the views of +principles entertained by the Committee were stated. Others, being +with those just referred to a decided majority of the whole body as at +present constituted, have expressed their agreement with those views +as freely explained in personal intercourse, with an exhibition of +the intended meaning of his own written language, by the Secretary +who was the organ of the Committee in communicating them. Others have +supposed themselves to differ, in some degree, from these principles +when correctly apprehended. A full comparison of views, to their +mutual great satisfaction, showed much less difference than was +thought to exist between the members of the mission themselves, and +between a part of the mission and what the Deputation understands to +be the views of the Prudential Committee. A statement of principles +drawn up at Good-water, as being in the estimation of the Deputation +(distinctly and repeatedly so declared) those which the Committee had +set forth in their correspondence, particularly that had with the +mission in 1848, was unanimously adopted, as the brethren say, "for +the better and more harmonious prosecution of the great objects of +the Choctaw mission on the part of the Prudential Committee and the +members of the mission, and for the removal of any and all existing +difficulties which have grown out of public discussions and action on +the subject of slavery; it being understood that the sentiments now +approved are not in the estimation of the brethren of the mission new, +but such as for a long series of years have really been held by them." + +The statement is given, with the appended resolution, in the following +words: + + 1. Slavery, as a system, and in its own proper nature, is + what it is described to be, in the General Assembly's Act + of 1818, and the Report of the American Board adopted at + Brooklyn in 1845. + + 2. Privation of liberty in holding slaves is, therefore, + not to be ranked with things indifferent, but with + those which, if not made right by special justificatory + circumstances and the intention of the doer, are morally + wrong. + + 3. Those are to be admitted to the communion of the church, + of whom the missionary and (in Presbyterian churches) + his session have satisfactory evidence that they are in + fellowship with Christ. + + 4. The evidence, in one view of it, of fellowship with + Christ, is a manifested desire and aim to be conformed, in + all things, to the spirit and requirements of the word of + God. + + 5. Such desire and aim are to be looked for in reference + to slavery, slaveholding, and dealing with slaves, as in + regard to other matters; not less, not more. + + 6. The missionary must, under a solemn sense of + responsibility to Christ, act on his own judgment of that + evidence when obtained, and on the manner of obtaining + it. He is at liberty to pursue that course which he may + deem most discreet in eliciting views and feelings as to + slavery, as with respect to other things, right views and + feelings concerning which he seeks as evidence of Christian + character. + + 7. The missionary is responsible, not for correct views + and action on the part of his session and church members, + but only for an honest and proper endeavor to secure + correctness of views and action under the same obligations + and limitations on this subject as on others. He is to go + only to the extent of his rights and responsibilities as a + minister of Christ. + + 8. The missionary, in the exercise of a wise discretion + as to time, place, manner and amount of instruction, is + decidedly to discountenance indulgence in known sin and + the neglect of known duty, and so to instruct his hearers + that they may understand all Christian duty. With that + wisdom which is profitable to direct, he is to exhibit the + legitimate bearing of the gospel upon every moral evil, in + order to its removal in the most desirable way; and upon + slavery, as upon other moral evils. As a missionary, he + has nothing to do with political questions and agitations. + He is to deal alone, and as a Christian instructor and + pastor, with what is morally wrong, that the people of God + may separate themselves therefrom, and a right standard of + moral action be held up before the world. + + 9. While, as in war, there can be no shedding of blood + without sin somewhere attached, and yet the individual + soldier may not be guilty of it; so, while slavery is + always sinful, we cannot esteem every one who is legally a + slaveholder a wrong-doer for sustaining the legal relation. + When it is made unavoidable by the laws of the State, the + obligations of guardianship, or the demands of humanity, + it is not to be deemed an offence against the rule of + Christian right. Yet missionaries are carefully to guard, + and in the proper way to warn others to guard, against + unduly extending this plea of necessity or the good of the + slave, against making it a cover for the love and practice + of slavery, or a pretence for not using efforts that are + lawful and practicable to extinguish this evil. + + 10. Missionaries are to enjoin upon all masters and + servants obedience to the directions specially addressed to + them in the Holy Scriptures, and to explain and illustrate + the precepts containing them. + + 11. In the exercise of discipline in the churches, under + the same obligations and limitations as in regard to other + acts of wrong-doing, and which are recognized in the action + of ministers with reference to other matters in evangelical + churches where slavery does not exist, missionaries are + to set their faces against all overt acts in relation + to this subject, which are manifestly unchristian and + sinful; such as the treatment of slaves with inhumanity and + oppression; keeping from them the knowledge of God's holy + will; disregarding the sanctity of the marriage relation; + trifling with the affections of parents, and setting at + naught the claims of children on their natural protectors; + and regarding and treating human beings as articles of + merchandise. + + 12. For various reasons, we agree in the inexpediency of + our employing slave labor in other cases than those of + manifest necessity; it being understood that the objection + of the Prudential Committee to the employment of such labor + is to that extent only. + + 13. Agreeing thus in essential principles, missionaries + associated in the same field should exercise charity + towards each other, and have confidence in one another, in + respect to differences which, from diversity of judgment, + temperament, or other individual peculiarities, and from + difference of circumstances in which they are placed, may + arise among them in the practical carrying out of these + principles; and we think that this should be done by others + towards us as a missionary body. + + _Resolved_, That we agree in the foregoing as an expression + of our views concerning our relations and duties as + missionaries in regard to the subject treated of; and are + happy to believe that, having this agreement with what we + now understand to be the views of the Prudential Committee, + we may have their confidence, as they have ours, in the + continued prosecution together of the great work to which + the great Head of the church has called us among this + people. + +The statement thus approved was read throughout, and was afterwards +considered in detail, each member of the mission expressing his views +upon it as fully, and keeping it under consideration as long, as he +desired to do. After the assent given to it, article by article, on +the day following it was again read, and the question was taken upon +it as a whole, with the appended resolution, each of the eight members +giving his vote in favor of its adoption. It is perhaps proper also +to mention that no change by way of emendation, addition or omission +of phraseology was found necessary to make it such as any member of +the mission would be willing to accept. It should farther be stated, +that while the first article was under consideration, the act of the +General Assembly of the Presbyterian church, adopted in 1818, was +read, and its strongest expressions duly weighed. The document thus +considered and referred to, is herewith submitted as a part of this +report.[B] + +[Footnote B: "The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, having +taken into consideration the subject of slavery, think proper to make +known their sentiments upon it to the churches and people under their +care. We consider the voluntary enslaving of one part of the human +race by another, as a gross violation of the most precious and sacred +rights of human nature; as utterly inconsistent with the law of God, +which requires us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and as totally +irreconcilable with the spirit and principles of the gospel of Christ, +which enjoins that 'all things whatsoever ye would that men should do +to you, do ye even so to them.' Slavery creates a paradox in the moral +system; it exhibits rational, accountable and immortal beings in such +circumstances as scarcely to leave them the power of moral action. It +exhibits them as dependent on the will of others, whether they shall +receive religions instruction; whether they shall know and worship +the true God; whether they shall enjoy the ordinances of the Gospel; +whether they shall perform the duties and cherish the endearments +of husbands and wives, parents and children, neighbors and friends; +whether they shall preserve their chastity and purity, or regard the +dictates of justice and humanity. Such are some of the consequences +of slavery--consequences not imaginary, but which connect themselves +with its very existence. The evils to which the slave is always +exposed often take place in fact, and in their very worst degree and +form; and where all of them do not take place, as we rejoice to say in +many instances, through the influence of the principles of humanity +and religion on the mind of masters, they do not--still the slave is +deprived of his natural right, degraded as a human being, and exposed +to the danger of passing into the hands of a master who may inflict +upon him all the hardships and injuries which inhumanity and avarice +may suggest. + +"From this view of the consequences resulting from the practice into +which Christian people have most inconsistently fallen, of enslaving +a portion of their brethren of mankind--for 'God hath made of one +blood all nations of men to dwell on the face of the earth'--it is +manifestly the duty of all Christians who enjoy the light of the +present day, when the inconsistency of slavery, both with the dictates +of humanity and religion, has been demonstrated, and is generally +seen and acknowledged, to use their honest, earnest, and unwearied +endeavors to correct the errors of former times, and as speedily as +possible to efface this blot on our holy religion, and to obtain the +complete abolition of slavery throughout Christendom, and if possible +throughout the world. + +"We rejoice that the Church to which we belong commenced, as early +as any other in this country, the good work of endeavoring to put an +end to slavery, and that in the same work many of its members have +ever since been, and now are, among the most active, vigorous and +efficient laborers. We do, indeed, tenderly sympathize with those +portions of our Church and our country where the evil of slavery has +been entailed upon them; where a great, and the most virtuous part of +the community abhor slavery, and wish its extermination as sincerely +as any others--but where the number of slaves, their ignorance, and +their vicious habits generally, render an immediate and universal +emancipation inconsistent alike with the safety and happiness of the +master and the slave. With those who are thus circumstanced, we repeat +that we tenderly sympathize. At the same time we earnestly exhort them +to continue, and if possible to increase their exertions to effect a +total abolition of slavery. We exhort them to suffer no greater delay +to take place in this most interesting concern, than a regard to the +public welfare truly and indispensably demands. + +"As our country has inflicted a most grievous injury on the unhappy +Africans, by bringing them into slavery, we cannot indeed urge that +we should add a second injury to the first, by emancipating them in +such manner as that they will be likely to destroy themselves or +others. But we do think, that our country ought to be governed in this +matter by no other consideration than an honest and impartial regard +to the happiness of the injured party, uninfluenced by the expense or +inconvenience which such a regard may involve. We, therefore, warn all +who belong to our denomination of Christians against unduly extending +this plea of necessity; against making it a cover for the love and +practice of slavery, or a pretence for not using efforts that are +lawful and practicable, to extinguish this evil. + +"And we, at the same time, exhort others to forbear harsh censures, +and uncharitable reflections on their brethren, who unhappily live +among slaves whom they cannot immediately set free; but who, at +the same time, are really using all their influence, and all their +endeavors, to bring them into a state of freedom, as soon as a door +for it can be safely opened. + +"Having thus expressed our views of slavery, and of the duty +indispensably incumbent on all Christians to labor for its complete +extinction, we proceed to recommend--and we do it with all the +earnestness and solemnity which this momentous subject demands--a +particular attention to the following points. + +"We recommend to all our people to patronize and encourage the Society +lately formed for colonizing in Africa, the land of their ancestors, +the free people of color in our country. We hope that much good may +result from the plans and efforts of this Society. And while we +exceedingly rejoice to have witnessed its origin and organization +among the holders of slaves, as giving an unequivocal pledge of their +desires to deliver themselves and their country from the calamity of +slavery; we hope that those portions of the American union, whose +inhabitants are by a gracious Providence more favorably circumstanced, +will cordially, and liberally, and earnestly co-operate with their +brethren, in bringing about the great end contemplated. + +"We recommend to all the members of our religious denomination, not +only to permit, but to facilitate and encourage the instruction of +their slaves in the principles and duties of the Christian religion; +by granting them liberty to attend on the preaching of the gospel, +when they have opportunity; by favoring the instruction of them in the +Sabbath school, wherever those schools can be formed; and by giving +them all other proper advantages for acquiring a knowledge of their +duty both to God and to man. We are perfectly satisfied that it is +incumbent on all Christians to communicate religious instruction to +those who are under their authority; so that the doing of this in the +case before us, so far from operating, as some have apprehended that +it might, as an incitement to insubordination and insurrection, would, +on the contrary, operate as the most powerful means for the prevention +of those evils. + +"We enjoin it on all church sessions and presbyteries, under the +care of this Assembly, to discountenance, and as far as possible to +prevent all cruelty of whatever kind in the treatment of slaves; +especially the cruelty of separating husband and wife, parents and +children, and that which consists in selling slaves to those who will +either themselves deprive these unhappy people of the blessings of +the gospel, or who will transport them to places where the gospel is +not proclaimed, or where it is forbidden to slaves to attend upon its +institutions. And if it shall ever happen that a Christian professor +in our communion shall sell a slave who is also in communion and good +standing with our church, contrary to his or her will and inclination, +it ought immediately to claim the particular attention of the proper +church judicature; and unless there be such peculiar circumstances +attending the case as can but seldom happen, it ought to be followed, +without delay, by a suspension of the offender from all the privileges +of the church, till he repent, and make all the reparation in his +power to the injured party." See Assembly's Digest, pp. 274-8.] + +So also was adduced the abundant testimony contained in the Report of +the American Board adopted in 1845, as to what in its view slavery, +without qualification of place or time, and as it exists in the +United States and among the Indians, is: such as its classification +of slavery with war, polygamy, the castes of India, and other things +which it speaks of as "social and moral evils;" and such language as +the following: "The Committee do not deem it necessary to discuss the +general subject of slavery as it exists in these United States, or to +enlarge on the wickedness of the system, or on the disastrous moral +and social influences which slavery exerts upon the less enlightened +and less civilized communities where the missionaries of this Board +are laboring:" "The unrighteousness of the principles on which the +whole system is based, and the violation of the natural rights of +man, the debasement, wickedness and misery it involves, and which are +in fact witnessed to a greater or less extent wherever it exists, +must call forth the hearty condemnation of all possessed of Christian +feeling and sense of right, and make its removal an object of earnest +and prayerful desire to every friend of God and man:" "Strongly as +your committee are convinced of the wrongfulness and evil tendencies +of slaveholding, and ardently as they desire its speedy and universal +termination, still they cannot think that in all cases it involves +individual guilt in such a manner that every person implicated in it +can, on scriptural grounds, be excluded from Christian fellowship. In +the language of Dr. Chalmers, 'Distinction ought to be made between +the character of a _system_, and the character of the persons whom +circumstances have implicated therewith; nor would it always be just, +if all the recoil and horror wherewith the former is contemplated, +were visited in the form of condemnation and moral indignancy upon the +latter. Slavery we hold to be a _system_ chargeable with atrocities +and evils, often the most hideous and appalling which have either +afflicted or deformed our species; yet we must not, therefore, say of +every man born within its territory, who has grown up familiar with +its sickening spectacles, and not only by his habits been inured +to its transactions and sights, but who by inheritance is himself +the owner of slaves, that unless he make the resolute sacrifice, and +renounce his property in slaves, he is, therefore, not a Christian, +and should be treated as an outcast from all the distinctions +and privileges of Christian society.'" And the language (quoted +approvingly) unanimously uttered by the General Assembly of the Free +Church of Scotland: "Without being prepared to adopt the principle +that, in the circumstances in which they are placed, the churches in +America ought to consider slaveholding _per se_ an insuperable barrier +in the way of enjoying Christian privileges, or an offence to be +visited with excommunication, all must agree in holding that whatever +rights the civil law of the land may give a master over his slaves +as _chattels personal_, it cannot be but sin of the deepest dye to +regard and treat them as such; and whosoever commits that sin in any +sense, or deals otherwise than as a Christian man ought to deal with +his fellow-man, whatever power the law may give him over them, ought +to be held disqualified for Christian communion. Farther, it must be +the opinion of all, that it is the duty of Christians, when they find +themselves unhappily in the predicament of slaveholders, to aim, as +far as it may be practicable, at the manumission of their slaves; and +when that cannot be accomplished, to secure them in the enjoyment of +the domestic relations, and of the means of religious training and +education." + +All this, and more, was immediately before the minds of the members +of the mission, and with so much of the connection as to give the +true sense, when they declared that slavery is what, in the documents +referred to, it is described to be, and made their own the statement +of principles above given, as those on which, as missionaries, they +should deal with this subject in the circumstances of their field of +labor, and when it is to them a practical missionary question. + +The Cherokee mission in session at Park Hill, May 9, adopted a +resolution of concurrence with the Choctaw mission in approving this +statement. + +Excluding two churches then connected with the mission of the Board, +and since transferred to another mission, there were in 1848, under +the care of the American Board, in the Choctaw Nation, six churches +with a total membership of 536 persons, of whom 25 were slaveholders, +and 64 were slaves. The churches are now 11 in number, containing +1,094 members; of whom, as nearly as I could ascertain, 20 are +slaveholders, (some of them being husband and wife, and generally +having but one or two slaves each,) and 60 are slaves. Six of the +churches have no slaveholder in them; two have but one each. Of the +slaveholders in these churches, four have been admitted since 1848; +one by transfer from another denomination, and three on profession +of their faith; none of the latter having been received since +1850. Statements were made to me respecting each of these latter +cases, which show that the principles assented to by the mission at +Good-water, as above presented, were practically carried out in regard +to them. + +In the Cherokee mission, in 1848, there were five churches, having +237 members, of whom 24 were slaveholders, and 23 were slaves. In the +five churches now in that mission, there are 207 members, of whom 17 +(there is uncertainty in regard to one of this number) are reported +as slaveholders. Three have been admitted since 1848 on profession of +their faith, and two by letter; one of the latter from a church in New +Hampshire. Of these the same remark may be made as above in respect to +similar cases among the Choctaws. + +The Choctaw mission embraces eleven families and three large boarding +schools. Five slaves, hired at their own desire, are in the employment +of the missionaries. A less number are employed in the Cherokee +mission. Gladly would the missionaries dispense with these, could the +necessary amount of free labor for domestic service be obtained. Those +who employ this slave labor, allege that it is to them a matter of +painful necessity. They are known to resort to it unwillingly, and are +not regarded as thereby giving their sanction to slavery. Some thus +employed have been brought to a saving knowledge of divine truth. + +The sentiments of these two missions as to the moral character of +slavery, and the principles on which they should act with regard to +it, are frankly and unequivocally avowed. We are bound to believe +them honest in the expression of these sentiments. It is their +expectation that the principles thus acknowledged as their own will +be those on which the missions will be conducted. The adjudication of +particular cases must be left to the missionary. That it be so left, +is his right; it is also unavoidable. The position of the missionaries +is one of great difficulty, and should be appreciated. That there +is such a diversity of judgment among them as men of independent +thought and differing mental characteristics, who agree in essential +principles, everywhere evince; and that they have, through a use of +phraseology leading sometimes to a mutual misunderstanding of each +other's views, supposed themselves to differ more widely than, in our +conferences, they found themselves really to do, has been intimated. +That none of them have sympathy with slavery; that, on the other hand, +their influence is directly and strongly adverse to its continuance, +while they are doing much in mitigation of its evils and to bless +both master and slave, in the judgment of the Deputation, is beyond +a doubt. By many they are denounced as abolitionists. Some of their +slave-holding church members have left their churches for another +connection on this account. Others have disconnected themselves from +a system which they have learned to dislike and disapprove. Strong in +the confidence and affection of many for whose salvation they have +toiled and suffered, by the supporters of slavery, in and out of the +nations, they undoubtedly are looked upon with growing suspicion. +Surely we should not be willing needlessly to embarrass them in their +blessed work. They are worthy of the confidence and warmest sympathy +of every friend of the red man and of the black man. God is with them. +In the Cherokee mission, the dispensation of his grace is not, indeed, +now as in times past; and we have some seriousness of apprehension +in regard to the progress of the gospel among that people. Still the +divine presence is not wanting. Among the Choctaws rapid advance is +making. Converts are multiplying; the fruits of the gospel abound. +Both missions need reinforcement. Men filled with the spirit of +Christ, able to endure hardness, of practical wisdom, which knows how +to do good, and not to do only harm when good is meant, men of faith, +energy, meekness and prayer, who will commend themselves to every +man's conscience in the sight of God as his servants, are required. +It gave me pleasure to assure the missions of the strong desire of +the Prudential Committee, and of my future personal endeavors, to +obtain such men for them. No philanthropist can behold the change +which has been wrought for these lately pagan, savage tribes, now +orderly christianized communities, advancing in civilization, to +take ere long, if they go on in their course, their place with those +whose Christian civilization is the growth of many centuries, without +admiration and delight. But there is much yet to be done for them. +"This nation," says the Choctaw mission in a published letter, "in +its improvements, schools, churches, and public spirit pertaining +to the great cause of benevolence, is but an _infant_." We must not +expect too much from these churches in which we glory. Much fostering +and training do they yet need; and there are many souls yet to be +enlightened and saved. Wonderful as are the renovation and elevation +which the gospel, taught in its simplicity by faithful men, has +already given to these communities, our only hope for them, and for +the colored race in the midst of them, is in the continued application +of the same power through the same instrumentality. + +It was the privilege of the Deputation to spend a part of three days, +including a Sabbath, at Spencer Academy, an institution containing +one hundred male pupils, excellently managed under the charge of the +Board of the General Assembly; and to attend there a "big meeting," +or a camp meeting, at which several hundreds were present. My +intercourse with brethren at that station, and the scenes in which +I there mingled; the fellowship in Christ with the heralds of his +cross, some of them bowed with the weight of many years of wearing +toil and affliction, and hastening to their glorious crown already +won by honored names, no longer with them, of our own mission; and +the interchange of sympathy with the disciples of Christ, whom God +has given them as the fruit of their labor, will ever live among the +pleasantest recollections of my life. I am constrained to repeat +my testimony to the fraternal and Christian spirit with which the +brethren met my endeavors to remove difficulties, strengthen the +ties that bind them and the Board together, and clear the way for +harmonious and more energetic prosecution of the great work in which +we are associated. To a good degree this object, we may hope, has +been gained. To Him, whose is their work and ours, and to whom the +interests involved are infinitely more precious than to any of us who +are connected with them, we commit the future keeping of this great +trust. + +It is due to the Choctaw mission that I communicate to the Committee +the following resolution, presented by the Rev. Mr. Byington, and +adopted by the mission at the close of its meeting at Good-water: + + "_Resolved_, That the cordial thanks of the members of + the mission be presented to the Rev. Geo. W. Wood, the + Secretary of the A. B. C. F. M., who is with us as a + Deputation from the Prudential Committee, for his kind, + wise and successful efforts in our mission to remove the + weight of anxiety which has long pressed down our hearts + in connection with the subject of slavery. We now rejoice + much in this mutual and kind interchange of thoughts and + affections. We would pray for grace ever to walk in the + path of life, and that blessings may attend him, while with + us and on his way home, his family and brethren during his + absence, as well as our mission and the American Board and + all its officers. With peculiar sincerity of heart and + gratitude to our Savior, we present to him this token of + regard for our dear brother, and make this record of divine + mercy toward our mission." + + All which is respectfully submitted, + + GEO. W. WOOD. + +_Rooms of the A. B. C. F. M., New York, June_ 13, 1855. + +This communication of the Prudential Committee was referred to a +special committee, consisting of Dr. Beman, Dr. Thomas De Witt, Dr. +Hawes, Chief Justice Williams, Doct. Lyndon A. Smith, Dr. J. A. +Stearns, and Hon. Linus Child, who subsequently made the following +report: + + Your committee have endeavored to look at this paper in + its intrinsic character and practical bearings, and they + are happy to state their unanimous conviction, that this + visit will mark an auspicious era in the history of these + missions. The report of Mr. Wood is characterized by great + clearness and precision; and it presents the whole matters + pending between the Prudential Committee and these missions + fully before us. The conferences of the Deputation with + the missionaries appear to have been conducted in a truly + Christian spirit; and the results which are set forth in + the resolutions, adopted with much deliberation and after + full discussion, are such as we may all hail with Christian + gratitude. + + It is the opinion of your committee that the great end + which has been aimed at by the Prudential Committee in + their correspondence with these missions, for several years + past, and by the Board in their resolutions adopted at the + last annual meeting, has been substantially accomplished. + While your committee admit that there may be some + incidental points on which an honest diversity of opinion + may exist, yet they fully believe that this adjustment + should be deemed satisfactory, and that further agitation + is not called for. While your committee cannot take it + upon themselves to predict what new developments, calling + for new action hereafter, _may_ take place, they are + unanimously of the opinion that the Prudential Committee, + and these laborious and efficient missionaries on this + field of Christian effort, may go forward, on the basis + adopted, in perfect harmony in the prosecution of their + future work. + + Your committee feel that the thanks of this Board are due + to Mr. Wood and our missionary brethren, for the manner + in which they have met, considered, and adjusted these + difficult matters which have been long in debate; and at + the same time they would not forget that God is the source + of all true light in our deepest darkness, and that to him + _all the glory is ever due_. + +The foregoing report of the select committee was adopted by the Board. + + + * * * * * + + +Transcriber's Notes + + +The footnote locations and anchor symbols have been changed from the +original document. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Report of Mr. Wood's Visit to the +Choctaw and Cherokee Missions. 1855, by George W. 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