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of the Board, the Choctaws, and the government of the United States. It was important that every thing should be so adjusted as to satisfy the three parties who are interested, and in such a manner also as to make the avails of the property conduce most hereafter to promote the object for which it was given. It was obviously proper, also, that the mission families who had spent their most vigorous years with no remuneration besides a bare support, and who had enjoyed no means of making provision for themselves, and most of whom would be no longer needed in the missionary service, should not be left in an entirely destitute condition. In order therefore that an equitable disposition of the property might be made, having due regard to the claims of the mission families, and that all occasion for reproach might be avoided, it was last fall proposed to the President of the United States that one commissioner should be appointed by him, and another by the Board, and a third by the Choctaws, who should jointly appraise all the property belonging to the several stations, and dispose of it in the most advantageous manner, making such allowance as they might think best to the mission families about to leave the service. This proposition was not acceded to by the President, on the ground that as no provision was made in respect to this property, by the treaty with the Choctaws, or any law of Congress, the Executive was not authorized to adopt such a course. A memorial* was then forwarded to congress, giving a succinct history of the Choctaw mission, stating in what the property consisted, how it had been acquired, and to what purposes it had been devoted, and praying that congress would take measures to ascertain the value of this property, and cause the amount of it to be reimbursed to the Board to be appropriated by them for the promotion of education and religion among the Choctaws in their new country. This memorial was referred to the committee on Indian Affairs, and though, as it was introduced late in the session, no report was made upon it, yet it is understood that members of that committee have expressed themselves favorably in regard to it, and hope is entertained that the whole or a considerable portion of the property now belonging to the Choctaw mission will be put at the disposal of the Board.

The remnant of the annuity of $6000 a year, given by the Choctaws to the Board, and which is to expire in 1836, it has.

* See Appendix.

been thought expedient to relinquish, and leave it for the Indians to decide whether they will, in their new circumstances, give it to the Board, or dispose of it in some other way.

As the concerns of this mission are now about closing, it seems proper to give a brief history of its progress and results. It was commenced during the summer of 1818, and has been in operation a little more than fourteen years. Thirty-three men and thirty-three women have been engaged in it, whose term of labor, on an average, has been a little more than six years. Of the men, five were preachers of the gospel, twelve were school-teachers, eight were farmers, seven were mechanics, and one was a physi cian. The sum expended from the commencement of the mission to August, 1831, was about $140,000, of which about $60,000 were from the funds of the Board, about $60,000 from the annuity of the Choctaws, and about $20,000 from the fund appropriated by congress for the civilization of the Indians. The actual value of the mission property about a year ago was supposed to be about $30,000.

Since the establishment of the mission, thirteen stations have been occupied, at most of which schools have been taught. The mission has furnished board, tuition, and clothing in part to scholars to an amount equivalent to 1500 scholars for one year, and has furnished tuition and books to scholars not boarded, to an amount equivalent to 1000 scholars for one year. A large portion of these have been trained to habits of industry, and well instructed in the great truths of the Christian religion. Probably about half of the whole number have acquired an education which will enable them to read intelligently in the Choctaw and English languages, and to transact the common business of life.

The whole number of persons belonging to the churches in the Choctaw nation under the care of the Board, at the close of the year 1831, exclusive of the mission families and those under censure, was about 360. The whole number who have been received to the churches, is about 400. Two hundred and forty-four children have been baptized.

Those who have had an opportunity to form an opinion have, it is believed, universally admitted that the mission has imparted to at least a portion of the nation, an enlightening, moral, and civilizing influence.

ARKANSAS CHEROKEES.

DWIGHT.-Cephas Washburn, Missionary; James Orr, Farmer and Superintendent of secular concerns; Jacob Hitchcock, Steward; Asa Hitchcock, Teacher; with their wives. Ellen Stetson, and Cynthia Thrall, Teachers. Mrs. Finney. FAIRFIELD.-Marcus Palmer, Missionary and Physician; Mrs. Palmer. FORKS OF ILLINOIS.--Samuel Newton, Teacher and Catechist; Mrs. Newton.

CHURCH.-The religious state of this mission has, during the past year, been peculiarly interesting. The seriousness which was in progress at the time of the last Report deepened and extended until it became a powerful and general revival throughout this portion of the Cherokee nation. It began in the schools at Dwight in December, 1830, and soon after marks of it appeared at the preaching places in the neighborhood of the Fairfield station. A new impulse was given to it by a series of meetings held at different places during the next July. The excitement on religious subjects has continued, with occasional abatement and subsequent increase, up to the date of the latest communications; and at that time it was thought to be greater and more extensive, than at any previous period. "Indeed," the missionaries write, "we think there is evidence that God is pouring out his Spirit in every part of the nation. Not a settlement is known whe e there are not some anxiously inquiring about their eternal welfare; and in many neighborhoods the seriousness is very general, and very deep. The whole number who give us evidence of a saving moral change is about seventy. Many more are now awakened. Deep solemnity, stillness, and order have marked the revival all the time, and in all the neighborhoods and meetings, so far as our mission and church are concerned. The present is a time of immense interest. The whole field is white for the harvest. There is a pressing call for instruction. The number of laborers is inadequate to the present exigencies of the people."

This revival has resulted in the addition of a large number to the church, which now consists of fifty-eight persons; of whom twenty-five are males, and thirty-three females. The whole number of persons who have been received into the church since its organization is seventy-one; of whom thirty-two are males and thirtynine females. Of these, seven died in the faith, four have removed to other churches, and two have been excluded as apostates. "We think," say the missionaries, "we have the best reasons to

hope that all the present members are truly the disciples of Christ. All seem much engaged in religion, and we hope all are aiming at an elevated standard of piety." Only one church has been organized in this portion of the nation, of which Mr. Washburn and Doct. Palmer act as joint pastors. The Lord's Supper is administered in various places, as will best accommodate the church members in the several neighborhoods. Nine persons stood propounded for admission to the church at the date of the last communications. Among the hopeful converts have been several marked and interesting cases. Two were among the captors of the little Osage girl, whose narrative is well known to the Christian public. Another was a chief, who had formerly been much opposed to religion, but whose subsequena pious example, together with his firm Christian hope and the admonitions he gave on his death bed, resulted in the awakening and reformation of the whole neighborhood where he resided. A number of the converts are men of much intelligence and firmness of character, having the respect and confidence of the people, and promise to exert a most salutary influence upon the intellectual and religious condition of their tribe. They are already most valuable coadjutors of the missionaries at the several stations.

Mr. Washburn spends his whole time in itinerating and preaching among the people. Doct. Palmer has a number of preaching places which he statedly visits. Mr. Newton also holds meetings statedly at one place besides the station. The congregations are every where increasing and becoming more attentive.

SCHOOLS. The schools at Dwight are divided into three departments, the infant school, girls' school, and the boys' school. The first consists of the younger class of children of both sexes, and those who are just commencing their education. It embraces eighteen scholars, seven boys and eleven girls. These, in addition to the common instruction in reading, attend to the rudiments of arithmetic, geography, geometry, botany, &c., besides scripture lessons and hymns every day. All the members of this school except one, are children of believing parents; and one appears to have been truly born again.

In the girls' school the average number of pupils during the year was thirty, who have successfully devoted their attention to all the branches of a common school education. "Most of the girls have acquired an education which will be of permanent ben

efit to themselves. Many are prepared for usefulness, not only in a family, but to a greater extent. Some are qualified to do good as teachers. Their improvement in needle work, domestic labors, and in habits of industry, neatness, order, &c. &c. has been very satisfactory." The religious state of the school is still more interesting. Five of the girls have, during the year, united with the church. Nine others give satisfactory evidence that they do in sincerity love our Lord Jesus Christ. Not one child over three years of age in the school is indifferent on the subject of religion.

The boys' school has embraced forty-one different scholars; the average number has been about twenty-six. Besides the ordinary studies attended to by the whole school, one has studied algebra, five geometry, ten the history and constitution of the United States, five have composed in English, and three have drawn maps. Many of the smaller scholars have also been exercised in the elements of several of the sciences, and in natural history. Most of the recent improvements, both in respect to the subjects taught and the manner of teaching, have been successfully introduced into this school. Serious attention to religious subjects has prevailed among the pupils at times during the year. Some have felt convictions of sin, and one gives encouraging evidence that he has been born of God. Some are still serious.

The school at Fairfield has contained about twenty-five boarding scholars, who are sustained principally by food sent to the mission family by their parents. Ten other scholars attend school, who board at home.

Many more children have applied for admission into the school, but have been refused for want of accommodations. In consequence of this, two other schools have been set up not very far from the station by the Cherokees themselves; and still, more are offered to Doct. Palmer than he can take. The conduct and progress of the scholars at this school have been good; and the parents are entirely willing that the children shall be instructed and governed as the teacher thinks best.

The school at the Forks of Illinois, after being interrupted and suspended some time by the sickness of Mr. Newton, was opened again in January, with about thirty scholars. In June it contained thirty-six, of whom twenty-six were boys. Nineteen read in the Testament, or other more difficult books, and twelve in easy reading lessons. All these children board with their parents, but

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