you you ⚫ fhewn me. Receive all ye breth-lifhment at Nancawery, one of the Nicobar iflands, the whole plan was defeated. The Danish government found fo little benefit arifing from the great expense which they had been at, in fettling these islands, withdrew their people; and the brethren refiding there were left alone. All communication between Tanquebar and thofe iflands ceafed; and they had no means of conveying provifions and neceffaries to the Miffionaries, but by purchafing and maintaining a veffel purely for that purpose.This was done at great expense, a few years, until the commencement of the American war, when the veffel was taken by a French cruizer, though it belonged to a neutral state. No redress could be obtained from the French.The climate was unhealthy, and the expenfe and danger of supplying the Miffionaries were fo great, that it was found neceffary to withdraw the Miffionaries, and fufpend the miffion. But while this was fufpended others were undertaken in other parts. In 1738, miffionaries were fent to South America, to the Negro flaves at Paramaribo and Sommelfdyk. Among the free Negroes at Bombay; and among the native Indians at Hope on the Corentyn. At Paramaribo, in Surinam, in 1796, there were 22 baptized Negroes and the number of the con gregation was 288. At Sommelfdyk were 66 baptized Negroes. The Indian congregation at Hope confifted of 360 In 1754, the brethren made two fettlements in St. Elizabeth's parifh in Jamaica, and they have three miffions on this Ifland, but the fuccefs of them is not mentioned, In Antigua, 1750, a miffion began on Gracehill, at St. Johns. This is a very large congregation. In 1795, there were 2596 communicants, 1292 candidates for communion, 1128 adult perfons baptized, 726 candidates for baptifm, 964 baptized children, and the whole number of fouls 6776. A few years fince, for the convenience of the poor difperfed flaves, this congregation has been divided, and a Miffionary has been fettled further in land upon the Island. In 1764, three fettlements Nein, Okkak, and Hopedale, were made, in the inhofpitable and barren regions of Labrador, that the Efkimaux Indians might receive the glad tidings of falvation.Thefe fettlements were at confiderable distance from each other, and the country is fo cold and unproductive, that almost the whole of their provifions is fent them from Europe, which renders these miffions very expenfive. During the term of about twenty-five years, 28 brethren, and 16 fifters have ferved in the miflions at these fettlements; 9 have finished their courfe in thofe regions, 15 have returned to Europe, and 20, at the latest account, were then ferv In 1760, Brethren's Garden, near Tanquebar, in the Eaft-Indies was fettled. The view of the brethren, in making this fettlement, was to communicate the gofpel to the inhabitants of the Nicobar iflands. But after a perfevering attempt to form an eftab-ing the miffions, in that quarter. 2 In this period 123 adult Efqui- | St. Kitts. The congregation in maux, and 70 children were bap- that ifland, at the laft accounts, tized. Thirty-fix were admitted confifted of 1818 perfons, excluto the holy communion. five of the catechumens. The next year a miffion commenced near Bridgetown in Barbadoes. In the congregation on this island 75 have been baptized, and the most of them admitted to the communion. The fame year, another miffion was undertaken at Sarepta in the Ruffian part of Afia. This fettlement is in the neighborhood of Czarizin on the Wolga, and was made with a view to the chriftianization of the Calmuc Tartars, and other Heathen tribes who inhabit those vaft regions. No miffion has been executed with more zeal, perfeverance and abundant labors than this. The Miffionaries refided a confiderable time among the Calmucks, conformed to their manner of living in tents and followed them wherever they moved their camp, through the immenfe plains of Steppe. They omitted no opportunity of preaching the gofpel to them, and of preffing them to turn from their numerous idols and wretched fuperftitions to the living God thro' Jefus Chrift; but it had no effect. Though the Calmucks heard them, and treated them with civility yet they could make no impreffions upon them. At length a great part of the Calmucks removed from thofe parts. Mean while the brethren were visited by the German colonists living on the Wolga, and by their inftrumentality, focieties were formed and gofpel minifters provided for moft of them. Thus, though the original defign of the miffions was defeated, yet it anfwered a good purpose. The fame year, in which the miflion at Sarepta was undertaken another was begun at Baffaterre in Befides thefe attempts in foreign countries, others have been made. In 1735, the brethren fent Miffionaries to the Laplanders and Samojedes: In 1737, and again in 1768, to the coafts of Guinea: In 1739, to the flaves in Algiers: In 1740, to Ceylon: In 1747, to Perfia; and in 1752, to Egypt. Of the fuccefs of thefe miffions the writer has feen no account publifhed. While the brethren have made fuch exertions for the propagation of the gofpel in foreign countries, they have shown no less zeal, activity and perfeverance in communicating its bleffings to the Negroes, and perishing Pagans on the NorthAmerican continent. Befides their miffions to the Efquimaux, they immediately, on their fettlement in Georgia, fent miffionaries to the Creek Indians, and to the Negroes in Georgia and South-Carolina; but the good effects of them were defeated principally through the white people. In 1740, a Moravian Miffionary visited the Indian village called Chekameka. in the Oblong, in the ftate of New York, and found the word of God to have a happy effect upon the Indians. Three of their chief men received the gofpel, and, on the 22d of February 1742, were baptized, and called Abraham, Ifaac and Jacob. The fame year, 26 more received baptifm. Thefe were chiefly Mahikans. The next year, many Wampanos at Scatticook, on Kent river, in Connecticut, were converted. On the 13th of Februa ry 1743, their chief was baptized by the name of Gideon. In this place, the brethren baptized 115 perfons, and at Chekameka 80. | towns of Schoenbrunn, GnadenFor fome years the Miffionaries hutten, and Salem. Here many had two flourishing congregations of the Western Indians joined in these places. But the Miffiona-them, and by baptifm, became ries were ill treated, by evil-mind- members of the church. In this ed people, and traduced as fecret place, on outward accounts, their Papifts, and imprifoned, as they profperity was wonderful. Love, fay, to the very great grief and of peace and plenty, in all their fweet fence of the Indian converts. Find- and cheering influences, bleffed ing themselves as fheep without a their fociety and fettlements. But fhepherd, on the expulfion of their their peaceful difpofitions, on the ministers, they all repaired in fmall commencement of the American numbers to Bethlehem and Penn- war occafioned them great evil. fylvania. The remains of the The British found, that all the tribes on this went off to Stock- Indian parties which they fent abridge and other places. These gainft the ftates, and their defigns baptized Mahikans and Wampa- were defeated by the Chriftian Innos were afterwards happily in- dians, at Muskingum. Through ftrumental of the converfion of their art and perfuafion, it appear. numbers of the Delawares and ed that the parties which they fent Munfies. Thefe Christian Indians out, returned from their excurfions lived for fome time near Bethle- without ftriking a blow, or doing hem, and then removed to Gna- any effential damages to the ftates. denhutten, behind the blue moun- This fo irritated the commanding tains, on the lands of the United officer, at Detroit, that he dif brethren. In 1755, their fettle-patched a party of feveral hundred ment, at Gnadenhutten, was de- Indians, with a number of British stroyed by the Alleghany Indians, officers, to remove them. They and the converts retired again to robbed the Millionaries, who were the brethren, at Bethlehem. A- with the Indians, of every thing bout nine years after, fome Irish they poffeffed, and making them people raised a mob against them, clofe prifoners, carried them, with fo that it was found neceffary, for their whole congregations, captive their fafety, to fend them under to Sandufky. Here their fufferthe guard of a fheriff to Philadel-ings were very great. In addition phia; where the government pro- to other calamities, they were re tected them in the barracks. Af-duced almost to the point of famter this, the brethren took care for their fettlement, at Wieturing, on the Sufquehannah. In this place they were joined by confiderable numbers of other Indians. From thence a miffion, in 1768, commenced with good fuccefs, at Alleghany river. In 1772, about two hundred of thefe Indians, in one body, moved and fettled on lands purchafed by the United Brethren, at Mufkingum, and with the believing Indians who reforted to them, built the three flourishing In ifhing for want of fubfiftence. returned in 1786, from Canada, and planted one year on Cajahaga, and then fettled at Vetquoting; but in 1791, they were driven off again, and fled into Upper Canada. For their fakes, and with a view to the chriftianizing of the Indians in that quarter, the brethren formed a permanent settlement and miflion on Letrench river, under the protection of the British government. Four brethren and two fifters attended this miffion. They made their defcent upon Gnadenhutten, and finding the Indians peaceable and generally in the fields, they at first pretended to be their friends, until they had gathered them together and difarmed them, and then they condemned them to death. The Indians kept ftrictly to the Moravian principles and made no refiftance, but, with Chriftian patience and fortitude fubmitted to their hard destiny. As their murderers knew them to be Chriftians, they gave them one night to prepare for death. This they spent in prayer, and in finging hymns to their Saviour, exhorting one another joyfully to meet him in the morning. Neither the piety nor the inoffenfivenefs of this people could foften the rancorous hearts of the white men. When the morning of March 8th, 1782, commenced, they were led, two and two, with ropes about their necks, to two flaughter-houses, one for the men, and the other for the women and children, and in this fhameful and barbarous manner, go of thefe harmless people were maffacred. The flaughter would have been much greater, had not two boys, one who had been scalped and left for dead, and another who for a time fecreted himself, made their efcape, and run, about ten miles to Schoenbrunn, and given the alarm to the rest of the praying Indians, who were gathering their corn in that place. Upon this maffacre, and the ordering of their Miffionaries to Detroit, the remainder of them fled, fome as far as Wabafh and Miffifippi. But about two hundred of them were afterwards collected on Huron river above Detroit. There, hearing that Congrefs had reserved their three towns on Muskingum with a good tract of land for them, they Such measures have been adopted by Congrefs for confirming and locating the lands, at Mufkingum, and for the general peace and fafety of the Indians, as have encouraged the principal part of the praying Indians to return and refettle themfelves, about two years fince, upon thofe lands. But the brethren have judged it expedient, that a part of the congregation fhould remain, at New-Fairfield, in upper Canada, for the fupport of that fettlement, and with a view to the promulgation of the gofpel among the wild Chippeways, inhabiting thofe parts. Thus amidst all these perfecutions, difappointments, murders, and difaftrous events, the United Brethren have kept up a miffion among the Indians in this country, for nearly fixty years. The Miffionaries have followed them wherever they have been difperfed, or fettled. They have interefted themfelves in their welfare, fhared in their misfortunes and dangers, encouraged and defended. them as far as in their power, collected them when fcattered, and fettled them on their own lands. Thus they have gained their confi dence and communicated to them the ineftimable bleffings of the gofpel. During this period they have baptized between twelve and thirteen hundred Indians of different tribes. They have now a fettle ment in Canada, and three fettlements at Muskingum; and the faireft profpects of foon having four flourishing congregations of Indians. For the furtherance of the gofpel among the Heathen, three focieties have been formed among the United Brethren; one in London as early as the year 1741. After fome interruption it was renewed in 1766. This fociety has the whole care of the miffion on the coaft of Labrador, and affifts the other miffions as far as it is able, efpecially those within the British dominions. A fimilar one was formed at Amfterdam, in 1746. It has been fince renewed, at Zeift, near Utrecht. This fociety took upon itself the particular charge of the miffion at the Cape of Good Hope. This fociety has been of late greatly injured by the prefent troubles in Holland, fo that it is unable to lend any confid-time, to obtain the language of the erable affiftance to the miffions. people to whom they are fent, and The miffion to the Hottentots is as foon as poffible to addrefs them however fupported, and is confid- in their proper mother tongue. Uncred as one of the most flourishing. til this can be effected they emIn the United States, a third ploy the beft interpreters, whom was formed in 1787, and has been they can obtain. They take every incorporated by the state of Penn- opportunity of preaching Christ in fylvania. This has been peculiar-a plain and fimple manner to them, ly active in fpreading the gofpel a- and recommend it by example. mong the Indians in the American They do not judge it expedient in ftates, and in Canada. Thefe general to fend men of a liberal three focieties employ nearly one education as Miffionaries, but hundred and forty Miffionaries. choose men of found doctrine, of They have alfo the expenfe of fup- prudence, known fortitude and porting about 80 old refting or fu- good abilities from peranuated Miffionaries, and wid- brethren. Men who are capable ows and children of Miffionaries. of enduring the neceffary fatigues The average expense of the Breth- and hardships of living among a ren's miffions, annually is about wild and favage people. Where 2600 pounds. they meet a favorable reception and there is a profpect of fuccefs, feveral of the brethren and fifters are fent to accompany the miffion, fo that they may be able daily to perform focial worship, and give the Heathen examples of continually to introduce the gofpel among any Heathen tribe or nation, they fend one or more miffionaries, who appear to be real friends to Christ, and will facrifice all other confidera tions to his fervice. No other perfons, they fay, are fit to be employed in the work. They labor, with great prayerfulness and patience, to form an intimate acquaintance and friendship with one or more of that nation, and efpe. cially with fome men of influence among them, and by a faithful, friendly conduct to gain their confidence; that they may make them vifits, and receive vifits from them; fo that there may be opportunities of converfing with them on religion, of telling them of the love of Chrift to mankind, of our need of his great falvation, and of communicating the gospel to them. Great pains are taken, at the fame With refpect to their manner of introduction among the Heathen, of their inftruction and preaching, as far as it can be learned, from their publications and manufcripts, it is as follows. When they with among the |