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His Missionaries
The missionary demands notice
as he, above all others, has left his impress on the life
and character of the Indian.
The Ven. Archdeacon Nelles may be regarded as the
pioneer missionary to the Indian. His work covers half a
century, and, though, for some years, he has not been an active
worker amongst the Indians, a solicitude for their welfare still
actuates him. His province has been rather that of general
superintendence of the New England Company's servants, than one
involving much active mingling with the Indians. The association
of his name with that time-honored and revered structure, the
old Mohawk Church, is his, grandest testimonial to his fruitful
labor on the Reserve.
The Rev. Adam Eliot, whose widow still lives in the old
missionary home, was a man of a singularly gentle and lovable
disposition. In his contact with the Indian, the influence, if
haply any could be exerted, was certain to be on the side of the
good. He was one who moved about the Reserve with the savor of a
quiet and godly life ever cleaving to him, a life, radiating
forth, as it were, to circle and embrace others in the folds of
its benign influence. He was tender, and unaffected in his
piety. His life and work have left their abiding mark on the
Indian character.
The Rev. R. J. Roberts was the first missionary who was
really a constant resident on the Reserve, and this
circumstance, no doubt, assured in larger measure his
usefulness. I believe him to have been filled strongly with the
missionary spirit, and with ardent zeal for the furthering of
his Master's cause. His poor health always handicapped him, but
I feel confident he leaves behind him, in the kind memories of
many of his charges, a monument of his work not to be despised.
The Rev. James Chance was one of the old English type
of clergyman, cheery, genial, and whole-souled. Had he planned
nothing higher than the infusing of some of his own geniality
into the Indian nature; and, had his missionary work effected
nothing greater than this, his would have been no unworthy part.
As the spiritual husbandman, he strove so to break up the fallow
ground, that the harvest of souls might be the more bountiful.
I have not referred to the later or present occupants
of the mission-field amongst the Indians, as they were, or have
been identified for so short a time with them. I would also say,
that it is from no denial to them of the achieving of solid,
lasting work, that I have not alluded to missionaries outside of
the Episcopal body. I have merely made such allusions here as
personal contact with the missionaries has enabled me to record.
It may be thought that any work which contemplates the
chronicling of the Indian's history, will be incomplete, which
should fail to trace the career of Thayandanagea, or Chief
Joseph Brant; or which should, at least, withhold reference to
that mighty chieftain. Lest my making no mention of Brant here
might be taken as denying to him the possession of those sublime
qualities, which have formed the theme for so much of laudatory
writing, I make a passing allusion to his life, passing, because
his acts and career have engaged the ability and eloquence of so
many writers of repute for their due commemoration, that I
cannot hope to say anything that should cause further honor or
glory to attach to his name.
Brant, above all others of his race, deserves an
abiding place in the memories of his countrymen, and he is
entitled to be held in enduring remembrance by us also.
In the war waged by Britain against the United States
in 1812-15, he allied himself, it is well known, with the
British. He bridled license and excess among his people, and
strove to add luster to the British arms, by dissuading them
from giving rein to any of those practices, nay, by putting his
stern interdict on all those practices, into which Indian tribes
are so prone to be betrayed, and to which they are frequently
incited by merciless chiefs. He posed, indeed, during the war as
the apostle of clemency, not as the upholder of the traditional
cruelty of the Indian.
He always displayed conspicuous bravery, and was the
exponent, in his own person, of that intense and unflinching
loyalty, which I verily believe to be bound up with the life of
every Indian.
His loyalty was untainted with the slightest suspicion
of treachery, another vile characteristic from which he redeemed
the Indian nature.
The position of Brant and of Sir Walter Scott, so far
as each has left living descendant to uphold his name, is almost
analogous, and marks a rather interesting coincidence. The male
line in both families is extinct. Sir Walter's blood runs now
only in the daughter of his grand-daughter: two daughters alone
of a grand-daughter are living, who own the blood of Brant.
Brant is buried in the graveyard of the old Mohawk
Church, a building instinct with memories of the departed might
and prowess of the Indian.
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includes some historical materials that may imply negative stereotypes
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interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes
implied . A Treatise of the Six Nation Indians
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