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TOPIC: Edwards, Jonathan - Personal Writings (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 20a
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CHAPTER XX.
LETTER TO SIR W. PEPPERELL--LETTER TO LADY PEPPERELL--LETTER TO HIS
FATHER--ARRIVAL OF MR. HAWLEY--INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF INDIAN
ESTABLISHMENT--SCHEMES OF ITS ENEMIES--FIRM STAND TAKEN BY MR.
EDWARDS--LETTER TO MR. OLIVER--LETTER TO COMMISSIONERS--DIFFICULTIES
TO THE MISSION--ANSWER TO MR. WILLIAMS--LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF
NORTHAMPTON--MARRIAGE OF MR. AND MRS. BURR--LETTER TO MR.
ERSKINE--LETTER TO MR. HOLLIS--LETTER TO MR. HUBBARD.
the Indian establishment at Stockbridge, being gradually more and more
known, excited more and more the attention, and interest, of the
benevolent of England. Among these, Joshua Paine, Esq. of London,
addressed a letter to Sir William Pepperell, the governor of the
province; requesting the information, as to the proper plan of a
school for Indian girls at that place. An extract from that letter was
forwarded to Mr. Edwards from Sir William, through the secretary of
the commissioners, with a request that he would write to Sir William
on the subject. He accordingly addressed to him the following letter.
"Stockbridge, Nov. 28, 1151.
honoured sir,
when I had the opportunity the last spring of waiting on your
Excellency at your seat at Kittery, and was there gratified and
honoured by the kind and hospitable entertainment of your house, I was
favoured with some conversation with you, concerning the affairs of
the Indians at Stockbridge, and the business of the mission here, to
which I had then been invited. And you were then pleased generously to
assure me of your good offices, in affording me any assistance in this
employment, which you could render me, through your acquaintance and
correspondence in London.
I have lately been favoured with a letter from the Hon. Andrew Oliver,
of Boston, wherein he was pleased to send me an extract of a letter to
you from Joshua Paine, Esq. of London, concerning a proper plan of a
school for Indian girls in this place, and to propose to me to write
to you on the subject of the said extract. This encourages me to hope
that a letter from me, on this subject, to your Excellency will be
kindly received.
With this hope, I would take leave to say, that I think that, as the
boarding-schools here are now in their commencement, and are yet to
receive their form and character, and that among a people hitherto
unaccustomed to any method of instruction whatever, it is a great pity
but that the method actually adopted should be free from the gross
defects of the ordinary method of teaching among the English.
One of these grand defects, as I humbly conceive, is this, that
children are habituated to learning without understanding. In the
common method of teaching, so far as my observation extends, children,
when they are taught to read, are so much accustomed to reading,
without any kind of knowledge of the meaning of what they read, that
they continue reading without understanding, even a long time after
they are capable of understanding, were it not for a habit of making
such and such sounds, on the sight of such and such letters, with a
perfect inattentiveness to any meaning. In like manner they are taught
their catechism, saying over the words by rote, which they began to
say, before they were capable of easily and readily comprehending
them. Being long habituated to make sounds without connecting any
ideas with them, they so continue, until they come to be capable of
well understanding the words, and would perhaps have the ideas,
properly signified by the words, naturally excited in their minds on
hearing the words, were it not for an habitual hearing and speaking
them without any ideas; so that, if the question were put in
phraseology somewhat new, to which they have not been accustomed, they
would not know what to answer. Thus it happens to children, even with
regard to the plainest printed catechisms, even those which have been
contrived with great care and art, so that they might be adapted to
the lowest capacities.
I should therefore think that, in these boarding-schools, the children
should never read a lesson, without the master or mistress taking
care, that the child be made to attend to, and understand, the meaning
of the words and sentences which it reads; at least after the child
begins to read without spelling, and perhaps in some degree before.
And the child should be taught to understand things, as well as words.
After it begins to read in a Psalter, Testament, or Bible, not only
the words and phrases should be explained, but the things which the
lesson treats of should be, in a familiar manner, opened to the
child's understanding; and the master or mistress should enter into
conversation with the child about them. Familiar questions should be
put to the child about the subjects of the lesson; and the child
should be encouraged, and drawn on, to speak freely, and in his turn
also to ask questions, for the resolution of his own doubts.
Many advantages would arise from this method. By this means, the
child's learning will be rendered pleasant, entertaining, and
profitable, as his mind will gradually open and expand with knowledge,
and his capacity for reasoning be improved. His lesson will cease to
be a dull, wearisome task, without any suitable pleasure or benefit.
This will be a rational way of teaching. Assisting the child's reason
enables him to see the use, and end, and benefit of reading, at the
same time that he takes pains from day to day to read. It is the way
also to accustom the child from its infancy to think and reflect, and
to beget in it an early taste for knowledge, and a regularly
increasing appetite for it.
So also, with regard to the method of catechizing children; beside
obliging them to give the answers in the printed catechism, or in any
stated form of words, questions should be asked them from time to
time, in the same familiar manner, as they are asked questions
commonly about their ordinary affairs, with familiar instructions,
explanations, and rehearsals of things, intermixed; and if it be
possible, the child should be led, by wise and skilful management,
into the habit of conversation on divine things, and should gradually
be divested of that shyness and backwardness, usually discovered in
children, to converse on such topics with their superiors. And when
the printed catechisms are used, as I am far from thinking they ought
to be entirely neglected, care should be taken, that the child should
attend to the meaning of the words, and be able to understand them; to
this end, not only explaining the words and sentences, but also from
time to time varying the phraseology, putting the question in
different words of the same sense, and also intermixing with the
questions and answers, whether printed or not, some improvement or
application, in counsels and warnings given to them, founded on the
answers that have been given.
Beside the things already mentioned, there are other things, which, as
it appears to me, ought to be done, with regard to the education of
children in general, wherein the common methods of instruction in New
England are grossly defective. The teacher, in familiar discourses,
might, in a little time, give the children a short general scheme of
the scriptural history, beginning with the creation of the world, and
descending through the various periods of that history, informing them
of the larger divisions, and more important events of the story, and
giving them some idea of their connexion one with another;--first, of
the history of the Old Testament, and then of the New. And when the
children had in their heads this general scheme, then the teacher
might, at certain times, entertain them, in like familiar discourse,
with the particular stories of the Scriptures, sometimes with one
story, and then with another, before they can obtain the knowledge of
them themselves, by reading; for example, at one time the story of the
creation, at another time the story of the flood, then the dispersion
of the nations, the calling of Abraham, the story of Joseph, the
bringing of the children of Israel out of Egypt: and in the New
Testament, the birth of Christ, some of the chief acts of his life,
his death, his resurrection, his ascension, the effusion of the Holy
Spirit at the day of Pentecost, and some of the chief of the acts of
the apostles; withal, pointing out to them the place which each event
has in the general scheme, and the connexion it has with other main
parts of it. The teacher, in a familiar manner, should apply the
events of the story discoursed upon, with the design of informing the
child's understanding, influencing his heart, and directing his
practice. A child, who is able to read his Bible, might be set to read
a particular scriptural history, sometimes one, and sometimes another,
diligently observing it, and examining for himself all that is said
concerning it. And when he has done, he might be called to the master
or mistress, and inquired of, concerning the particulars of the
history, to see that he has paid attention, and is able to give a good
account of it.
And I can see no good reason, why children in general, beside the
scriptural history, should not, in a like familiar manner of
conversation, be taught something of the great successive changes and
events, in the Jewish nation, and the world at large, which connect
the history of the Old and New Testaments. Thus, they might be
informed, in short, of the manner in which the four great monarchies
succeeded each other, the persecutions which the Jews suffered from
Antiochus Epiphanes, and the principal changes which happened to their
church and state, before the coming of Christ. And they might be
shown, how such and such events were a fulfillment of such and such
prophecies. And when they learn the history of the New Testament, they
might, with much profit and entertainment, have pointed out to them
many plain prophecies of the Old Testament, which have their
fulfillment in him. And I can see no good reason, why children cannot,
or may not, be taught something in general of ecclesiastical history,
and be informed how things, with regard to the state of religion and
the church of God, have gone on, as to some of the main events, from
the time when the scriptural history ended, to the present time; and
how given prophecies of the Scriptures have been fulfilled in some of
these events; or why they may not be told, what may yet be expected to
come to pass according to the scriptural prophecies, from this time,
to the end of the world.
It appears to me obvious, also, that, in connexion with all this, they
should be taught somewhat relating to the chronology of events, which
would make the story so much the more distinct and entertaining. Thus,
they may be taught how long it was from the creation of the world to
the coming of Christ; how long from the creation to the flood; how
long from the flood to the calling of Abraham, &c.; how long David
lived before Christ; how long before the captivity in Babylon; how
long the captivity, before Christ, &c.; how long since the birth of
Christ; how old he was when he began to preach, and when he was
crucified; how long after his resurrection, before he ascended; how
long, also, after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar,
until Babylon was destroyed by Cyrus; how long after the Persian
empire, before that empire was overthrown by Alexander; when was the
great oppression of the Jews by Antiochus Epiphanes; when Judea was
conquered by the Romans; how long after Christ's resurrection before
the destruction of Jerusalem; and how long before the empire became
christian; how long after Christ before the popes claimed such and
such powers; when the worship of images was introduced; how long
before the Reformation, &c. &c. All children are capable of being
informed, and having an idea of these things, and can much more easily
learn them, if endeavors were used to that end, than many things which
they do learn.
And with like ease, and with equal benefit, they might be taught some
of the main things in geography: which way the land of Canaan lies
from this; how far it is; which way Egypt lay from Canaan: which way
Babylon lay from Jerusalem, and how far; which way Padan-Aram was from
Canaan; where Rome lay from Jerusalem; where Antioch, &c. &c. And I
cannot but think it might be a pretty easy thing, if proper means were
taken, to teach children to spell well, and girls as well as boys. I
should think it may be worth the while, on various accounts, to teach
them to write, and also to teach them a little arithmetic, some of the
first and plainest rules. Or, if it be judged, that it is needless to
teach all the children all these things, some difference might be made
in children of different genius, and children of the best genius might
be taught more things than others. And all would serve, the more
speedily and effectually, to change the taste of Indians, and to bring
them off from their barbarism and brutality, to a relish for those
things which belong to civilization and refinement.
Another thing, which properly belongs to a christian education, and
which would be unusually popular with them, and which would in several
respects have a powerful influence, in promoting the great end in
view, of leading them to renounce the coarseness, and filth, and
degradation, of savage life, for cleanliness, refinement, and good
morals, is teaching them to sing. Music, especially sacred music, has
a powerful efficacy to soften the heart into tenderness, to harmonize
the affections, and to give the mind a relish for objects of a
superior character.
In order to promote the salvation of the children, which is the main
design of the whole Indian establishment at this place, I think that,
beside their attending public worship on the sabbath, and the daily
worship of the family, and catechizing in the school, and frequent
counsels and warnings given them, when all together, by their
teachers; each child should, from time to time, be dealt with singly,
particularly, and closely, about the state and concerns of his soul;
and particular care should be taken to teach and direct each child,
concerning the duty of secret prayer, and the duty pressed and
enforced on every one; and care should be taken, that all may have
proper opportunity and convenience for it.
I need say nothing concerning buildings, lodgings, household stuff,
cattle, servants, husbandry instruments, and utensils for the
children's work; as it is agreed on all hands, that these are
necessary; and the providing of them will doubtless be left to the
care and discretion of the trustees that shall be appointed.
But I would beg leave to say further, with regard to methods to
forward the proficiency of the children in their learning, that I
cannot but think measures might be devised, greatly to encourage and
animate them in it, and excite a laudable ambition to excel. One thing
I have thought of, which, as appears to me, might have a happy
tendency this way, in each of the boarding-schools: at certain
periods, there should be a sort of public examination in the school,
on a day appointed for the purpose, which shall be attended by all the
trustees, and all in the town who are in any respect connected with
Indian affairs, and some of the neighbouring ministers, and gentlemen
and ladies; and also that the chiefs of the Indians be invited to
attend; at which there shall be a public trial of the proficiency
which each one has made, in the various branches which have been
taught, as in reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, knowledge in the
principles of religion, knowledge of church history, &c.; and that a
premium shall be given to such as are found to excel, which may be
done in something that will very much please Indian children, with but
little expense. And likewise, that the works of the children be then
produced, to be judged of, that it may be determined who has made the
greatest proficiency in learning to sew, to spin, to knit, &c.; and
that a reward be given to such as have excelled. And perhaps, also,
that a reward be then given to such, as, by the testimony of their
teachers and governors, have excelled in virtue or diligence, in care
to speak the truth, in strictly observing the sabbath, in good
manners, in respect to their superiors, &c. And that, in the day of
public trial, there be somewhat of an entertainment made for the
members of the school, and those who are invited to attend. This not
only might tend greatly to stimulate the children in their learning,
but would be very pleasing and animating to the tribes of Indians, and
would have great influence in rendering them very favourably disposed
to the affairs of the schools.
But your Excellency will easily see that, in order to the
practicableness of these things, in any tolerable degree and manner,
it is necessary that the children should be taught the English tongue;
and indeed this is of the most absolute necessity, on almost every
account. The Indian languages are extremely barbarous and barren, and
very ill fitted for communicating things moral and divine, or even
things speculative and abstract. In short, they are wholly unfit for a
people possessed of civilization, knowledge, and refinement.
Besides, without their learning English, their learning to read will
be in vain; for the Indians have not the Bible, nor any other book, in
their own language. Without this, their teachers cannot converse with
them, and so can have no advantage to instruct them. Hence, all
possible means must be used, in the first place, to introduce the
English tongue among the children. To this end, much pains should be
taken to teach them the English name for every thing, and English
words that signify such and such actions; and an interpreter might be
used for a while, to interpret their lessons to them, and to teach
them to construe them, or turn them into Indian. And a number of
English children might be put into the school with the Indian
children. But the most effectual method of all would be, to put out
some of the Indian children, first, into some good English families,
one at a place, to live there a year or two, before they are brought
into the school; which would not only be above all others the most
successful method, but would be absolutely necessary, at least at
first; but truly a great deal of care must be taken to find good
places for them, and to look well to them, and to see that they are
well taken care of, in the families to which they are sent. It is
probable, that the parents of the children might, with proper
endeavours, be persuaded to such a measure.
But it will doubtless be very easily and quickly determined, by your
Excellency, that, if such methods as those which have been mentioned,
or any like them, or indeed any other effectual measures, are taken,
it will be absolutely necessary that the school should be under the
constant care and inspection of trustees, who live upon the spot, or
very near at hand. It will be in vain for any to expect that any woman
can look after such a school, and provide for and govern so large a
family, and take care continually to order and regulate so many and
great affairs pertaining to it, within doors and without, without much
assistance of some always at hand, who are able and faithful, and are
interested and duly empowered. If she has under her a second, or a
kind of usher, and has servants of both sexes, yet still she will be
under the necessity of having some superior assistance. And as to the
precise method of teaching, and regulating the discipline of the
school and family, it must be left very much to their discretion: for
experience alone can certainly determine the fittest methods of
ordering such an establishment, so new and untried, though very
probable conjectures may be made. And experience will doubtless direct
to some new measures, which cannot now be thought of. Hoping that your
Excellency will excuse the particularity and minuteness into which I
have unintentionally been led on a subject about which I cannot but
feel the deepest interest,
I remain,
With very high respect,
Your most humble servant,
jonathan edwards."
In the package to Sir William, Mr. Edwards, in consequence of her own
request, forwarded to Lady Pepperell, who was then in very deep
affliction, the following letter; which will probably be regarded as
one of the happiest specimens of christian sympathy and condolence, to
be found in epistolary writing.
"To Lady Pepperell.
Stockbridge, Nov. 28, 1751
madam,
When I was at your house in Kittery, the last spring, among other
instances of your kind and condescending treatment to me, was this,
that, when I had some conversation with Sir William, concerning
Stockbridge and the affairs of the Indians, and he generously offered
me any assistance, in the business of my mission here, which his
acquaintance and correspondence in London enabled him to afford me,
and proposed my writing to him on our affairs; you were also pleased
to invite me to write to you at the same time. If I should neglect to
do as you then proposed, I should fail not only of discharging my
duty, but of doing myself a great honour. But as I am well assured,
even from the small acquaintance I had with you, that a letter of mere
compliments would not be agreeable to a lady of your disposition and
feelings, especially under your present melancholy circumstances; so
the writing of such a letter is very far from my intention or
inclination.
When I saw the evidences of your deep sorrow, under the awful frown of
Heaven in the death of your only son, it made an impression on my mind
not easily forgotten; and when you spoke of my writing to you, I soon
determined what should be the subject of my letter. It was that which
appeared to me to be the most proper subject of contemplation for one
in your circumstances; that, which I thought, above all others, would
furnish you a proper and sufficient source of consolation, under your
heavy affliction; and this was the Lord Jesus Christ:--particularly
the amiableness of his character, which renders him worthy that we
should love him, and take him for our only portion, our rest, hope,
and joy; and his great and unparalleled love towards us.--And I have
been of the same mind ever since; being determined, if God favoured me
with an opportunity to write to your Ladyship, that those things
should be the subject of my letter. For what other subject is so well
calculated to prove a balm to the wounded spirit.
Let us then, dear Madam, contemplate the loveliness of our blessed
Redeemer, which entitles him to our highest love; and, when clearly
seen, leads us to find a sweet complacency and satisfaction of soul in
him, of whatever else we are deprived. The Scriptures assure us that
He, who came into the world in our nature, and freely laid down his
life for us, was truly possessed of all the fulness of the Godhead, of
his infinite greatness, majesty, and glory, his infinite wisdom,
purity, and holiness, his infinite righteousness and goodness. He is
called `the brightness of God's glory, and the express image of his
person.' He is the Image, the Expression, of infinite beauty; in the
contemplation of which, God the Father had all his unspeakable
happiness from eternity. That eternal and unspeakable happiness of the
Deity is represented as a kind of social happiness, in the society of
the persons of the Trinity; Prov. viii. 30.. `Then I was by him, as
one brought up with him; I was daily his delight, rejoicing always
before him.' This glorious Person came down from heaven to be `the
Light of the world,' that by him the beauty of the Deity might shine
forth, in the brightest and fullest manner, to the children of men.
Infinite Wisdom also has contrived that we should behold the glory of
the Deity, in the face of Jesus Christ, to the greatest advantage, in
such a manner as should be best adapted to the capacity of poor feeble
man; in such a manner, too, as is best fitted to engage our attention,
and allure our hearts, as well as to inspire us with the most perfect
complacency and delight. For Christ having, by his incarnation, come
down from his infinite exaltation above us, has become one of our
kinsmen and brothers. And his glory shining upon us through his human
nature, the manifestation is wonderfully adapted to the strength of
the human vision; so that, though it appears in all its effulgence, it
is yet attempered to our sight. He is indeed possessed of infinite
majesty, to inspire us with reverence and adoration; yet that majesty
need not terrify us, for we behold it blended with humility, meekness,
and sweet condescension. We may feel the most profound reverence and
self-abasement, and yet our hearts be drawn forth sweetly and
powerfully into an intimacy the most free, confidential, and
delightful. The dread, so naturally inspired by his greatness, is
dispelled by the contemplation of his gentleness and humility; while
the familiarity, which might otherwise arise from the view of the
loveliness of his character merely, is ever prevented by the
consciousness of his infinite majesty and glory; and the sight of all
his perfections united fills us with sweet surprise and humble
confidence, with reverential love and delightful adoration.
This glory of Christ is properly, and in the highest sense, divine. He
shines in all the brightness of glory that is inherent in the Deity.
Such is the exceeding brightness of this Sun of righteousness, that,
in comparison of it, the light of the natural sun is as darkness; and
hence, when he shall appear in his glory, the brightness of the sun
shall disappear, as the brightness of the little stars do when the sun
rises. So says the prophet Isaiah, `Then the moon shall be confounded,
and the sun shall be ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in
Mount Zion, and before his ancients gloriously.' Isa. xxiv. 23.. But,
although his light is thus bright, and his beams go forth with
infinite strength; yet, as they proceed from the Lamb of God, and
shine through his meek and lowly human nature, they are supremely soft
and mild, and, instead of dazzling and overpowering our feeble sight,
like a smooth ointment or a gentle eye-salve, are vivifying and
healing. Thus on them, who fear God's name, `the Sun of righteousness
arises, with healing in his beams,' Mal. iv. 2.. It is like the light
of the morning, a morning without clouds, as the dew on the grass,
under whose influence the souls of his people are as the tender grass
springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain. Thus are the
beams of his beauty and brightness fitted for the support and reviving
of the afflicted. He heals the broken in spirit, and bindeth up their
wounds. When the spirits of his people are cut down by the scythe, he
comes down upon them, in a sweet and heavenly influence, like rain on
the mown grass, and like showers that water the earth. (Psal. lxxii.
6)
But especially are the beams of Christ's glory infinitely softened and
sweetened by his love to men, the love that passeth knowledge. The
glory of his person consists, pre-eminently, in that infinite goodness
and grace, of which he made so wonderful a manifestation, in his love
to us. The apostle John tells us, that God is light; (1 John i. 5.)
and again, that God is love; (1 John iv. 8. ) and the light of his
glory is an infinitely sweet light, because it is the light of love.
But especially does it appear so, in the person of our Redeemer, who
was infinitely the most wonderful example of love that was ever
witnessed. All the perfections of the Deity have their highest
manifestation in the work of redemption, vastly more than in the work
of creation. In other works, we see him indirectly; but here, we see
the immediate glory of his face. (2 Cor. iii. 18.) In his other works,
we behold him at a distance; but in this, we come near, and behold the
infinite treasures of his heart. (Eph. iii. 8, 9, 10.) It is a work of
love to us, and a work of which Christ is the author. His loveliness,
and his love, have both their greatest and most affecting
manifestation in those sufferings, which he endured for us at his
death. Therein, above all, appeared his holiness, his love to God, and
his hatred of sin, in that, when he desired to save sinners, rather
than that a sensible testimony should not be seen against sin, and the
justice of God be vindicated, he chose to become obedient unto death;
even the death of the cross. Thus, in the same act, he manifests, in
the highest conceivable degree, his infinite hatred of sin, and his
infinite love to sinners. His holiness appeared like a fire, burning
with infinite vehemence against sin; at the same time, that his love
to sinners appeared like a sweet flame, burning with an infinite
fervency of benevolence It is the glory and beauty of his love to us,
polluted sinners, that it is an infinitely pure love; and it is the
peculiar sweetness and endearment of his holiness, that it has its
most glorious manifestation in such an act of love to us. All the
excellencies of Christ, both divine and human, have their highest
manifestation in this wonderful act of his love to men--his offering
up himself a sacrifice for us, under these extreme sufferings. Herein
have abounded toward us the riches of his grace, in all wisdom and
prudence. (Eph. i. 8.) Herein appears his perfect justice. Herein,
too, was the great display of his humility, in being willing to
descend so low for us. In his last sufferings, appeared his obedience
to God, his submission to his disposing will, his patience, and his
meekness, when he went as a lamb to the slaughter, and opened not his
mouth, but in a prayer that God would forgive his crucifiers. And how
affecting this manifestation of his excellency and amiableness to our
minds, when it chiefly shines forth in such an act of love to us.
The love of Christ to men, in another way, sweetens and endears all
his excellencies and virtues; as it has brought him in to so near a
relation to us, as our friend, our elder brother, and our redeemer;
and has brought us into an union so strict with him, that we are his
friends, yea, members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
(Eph. v. 30.)
We see then, dear Madam, how rich and how adequate is the provision,
which God has made for our consolation, in all our afflictions, in
giving us a Redeemer of such glory, and such love; especially, when it
is considered, what were the ends of this great manifestation of
beauty and love in his death. He suffered, that we might be delivered.
His soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, to take away the
sting of sorrow, and to impart everlasting consolation. He was
oppressed and afflicted, that we might be supported. He was
overwhelmed in the darkness of death, that we might have the light of
life. He was cast into the furnace of God's wrath, that we might drink
of the rivers of his pleasures. His soul was overwhelmed with a flood
of sorrow, that our hearts might be overwhelmed with a flood of
eternal joy.
We may also well remember, in what circumstances our Redeemer now is.
He was dead; but he is alive, and he lives for evermore. Death may
deprive us of our friends here, but it cannot deprive us of this our
best Friend. We have this best of friends, this mighty Redeemer, to go
to, in all our afflictions; and he is not one who cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities. He has suffered far greater
sorrows than we have ever suffered; and if we are actually united to
him, the union can never be broken, but will continue when we die, and
when heaven and earth are dissolved.
Therefore, in this we may be confident, though the earth he removed,
in him we shall triumph with everlasting joy. Now, when storms and
tempests arise, we may resort to him, who is a hiding-place from the
storm, and a covert from the tempest. When we thirst, we may come to
him, who is as rivers of water in a dry place. When we are weary, we
may go to him, who is as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
Having found him, who is as the apple-tree among the trees of the
wood, we may sit under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit
will be sweet to our taste. Christ said to his disciples, `In the
world ye shall have tribulation; but in me ye shall have peace! If we
are united to him, we shall be like a tree planted by, the waters, and
that spreadeth out its roots by the river, that shall not see when
heat cometh, but its leaf shall ever be green, and it shall not be
careful in the year of drought, neither shall it cease from yielding
fruit. He will now be our light in darkness; our morning-star, shining
as the sure harbinger of approaching day. In a little time, he will
arise on our souls, as the sun in his glory; and our sun shall no more
go down, and there shall be no interposing cloud--no veil on his face,
or on our hearts; but the Lord shall be our everlasting light, and our
Redeemer our glory.
That this glorious Redeemer would manifest his glory and love to your
mind, and apply what little I have said on this subject to your
consolation, in all your afflictions, and abundantly reward your
kindness and generosity to me while I was at Kittery, is the fervent
prayer, Madam, of
Your Ladyship's most obliged
and affectionate friend,
and most humble servant,
jonathan edwards."
The repeated afflictions of a widowed sister, in the beginning of the
next year, occasioned the following letter to his father, containing
some allusions to the state and circumstances of his own family.
"To the Reverend Timothy Edwards, East Windsor.
Stockbridge. Jan 27. 1752.
honoured sir,
We have lately heard the sorrowful tidings of the death of two of
sister Backus's [43] children, as we are informed, both at your house;
which is the occasion of cousin Eunice returning from Stockbridge at
this time; she having a desire to see her mother and surviving sisters
at Windsor, on this melancholy occasion. We are much affected with
sister's great and heavy afflictions, and lament the death of two such
likely, promising children, in their early youth. It is my earnest
desire, that it may be sanctified to us of this family. I desire your
prayers, that it may be so; particularly to those that are young in
the family; that they may be awakened by it to diligent preparation
for death; and that we all may take notice of our distinguished
mercies, with a becoming thankfulness to God. I look upon it as a
great favour of Heaven, that you, my parents, are still preserved in
the land of the living, to so great an age. I hope, by the leave of
Divine Providence, to make you and sister Backus a visit in the
spring. We are, through mercy, in our ordinary state of health, except
that little Betty don't seem of late to be so well as she was in the
summer. If she lives till spring, I believe we must be obliged to come
again to the use of the cold bath with her. My wife and children are
well pleased with our present situation. They like the place far
better than they expected. Here, at present, we live in peace; which
has of long time been an unusual thing with us. The Indians seem much
pleased with my family, especially my wife. They are generally more
sober and serious than they used to be. Beside the Stockbridge
Indians, here are above sixty of the Six Nations, who live here for
the sake of instruction. Twenty are lately come to dwell here, who
came from about two hundred miles beyond Albany. We expect our son and
daughter Parsons will remove hither in a short time. Many of their
goods are already brought up.
(After alluding to the indigent circumstances of his sister Mrs.
Backus and her family, and mentioning that himself and Mrs. Edwards
had done every thing for his niece which was in their power, he
proceeds.)
I hope some of her friends will be kind to her in this respect. There
are perhaps none of her uncles but are much better able to help her
than I am at this time; who, by reason of lately marrying two
children, and the charge of buying, building, and removing, am, I
suppose, about £2000 in debt, in this province money [44] . I should
be glad if sister Mary would suggest it to brother Ellsworth to do
something for her. If she don't care to do it in her own name, let her
do it in mine, as doing the errand from me. Please to give my duty to
my mother, and my love to sister Mary. My wife is at this moment from
home. My children give their duty to their grandparents, and aunts,
and love and affectionate condolence to their mournful surviving
cousins
I am, honoured Sir,
Your dutiful son,
jonathan edwards"
The allusion to his pecuniary circumstances, made by Mr. Edwards in
the preceding letter, requires explanation. What was the actual amount
of his salary at Northampton, I have not been able to ascertain; but
he speaks of it, in one of his letters, as "the largest salary of any
country minister in New England." Soon after his settlement there, he
purchased a valuable homestead, with the requisite lands for pasturage
and fuel, and erected a commodious dwelling-house These, by the
strictest economy, had all been paid for before his dismission. It was
several years. however, after his removal to Stockbridge, before he
could sell his property at Northampton. In the mean time, he was under
the necessity of purchasing another homestead, and of erecting another
dwelling-house at Stockbridge. The debt thus incurred, added to the
expense of removing his family, subjected them for a time to very
serious pecuniary embarrassments; and his daughters, who had received
not only an enlightened, but a polished education, readily lent their
aid, to relieve the family from the existing pressure. For this
purpose, they occupied their leisure in making lace and embroidering,
in tambouring and other ornamental work, and in making and painting
fans; all of which, in the existing state of the country, found a
ready market at Boston [45] : At length, the sale of his property in
Northampton relieved him from debt, and placed his family in more
pleasant circumstances.
On the 5th of February, O. S. Mr. Gideon Hawley, a young gentleman of
a liberal education, and of great prudence, firmness, and integrity,
arrived at Stockbridge. He had been appointed, by the commissioners,
the schoolmaster of the Mohawk and other Iroquois children, and
entered immediately on the duties of his office. He was ordained as a
minister and missionary, July 31, 1734, N. S. Mr. Edwards found him a
most faithful and useful coadjutor. He also occasionally preached to
the Iroquois, as did Mr. Edwards once every sabbath.
Soon after the removal of Mr. Edwards to Stockbridge, in consequence
of the misunderstandings and jealousies, subsisting between some of
the principal English inhabitants of the town, and the confusion in
which he saw the Indian affairs involved, he was led, in a letter to
the Hon. Mr. Hubbard, of Aug. 31, 1751, to recommend the appointment
of two or more trustees, "men perfectly impartial, no way interested
in, related to, or engaged with, the contending parties." The absolute
necessity of this step to the welfare of the mission, and of the
Indian schools, soon became apparent [46] . In consequence of the
increasing importance of the Indian establishment at Stockbridge, and
the increasing attention of the public to the mission and the schools,
the benefactions of the legislature and of individuals, were
increasing, and still likely to increase. By the augmented numbers of
the Housatonnucks, and the accession of a Mohawk colony, it had become
the principal mission of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in New
England, and appeared destined to receive the chief amount of its
revenue; Mr. Hollis had increased his annual stipend to £160, stg.;
Mr. Paine was proposing to support a female boarding-school; the
legislature of the province had just voted £500, provincial currency,
for the school-house, and would probably aid in the support of the
mistress; an adequate support was now given to the instructor of the
Housatonnuck school; an annual stipend was given to the Housatonnucks,
to be expended at Stockbridge for their benefit; a similar stipend was
to be paid for the Mohawks, if they removed in considerable numbers to
Stockbridge; a school, to be supported by the colony, for the
education of their children, was not only pledged, but actually begun;
and hopes were indulged that the yearly stipend of £500, stg. granted
by the king, to the Mohawks, might be expended under the direction of
an agent, residing at Stockbridge, and not as before at Albany. It
needed no great discernment to discover, that the amount of these
numerous items must be great; and the bare possibility of engrossing
the agency, through which this large aggregate must pass, and of
turning it into a source of great private emolument, might easily
excite the strong cupidity of individuals, and lead them to resort to
every measure in their power, to secure that emolument to themselves.
The opponent of Mr. Woodbridge, (whose influence in the town, and with
the Indians, had been long chiefly extinct,) in consequence of the
strong recommendation, given of him, by his nephew, while in London,
to the directors of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in New
England, had been appointed one of the board of commissioners of that
society; as had the nephew himself, another of the same board; one of
his family, through the same recommendation, had been conditionally
nominated as the teacher of the female school; [47] one of the
trustees of the Indian establishment was about to connect himself with
the family; and, if the nomination should be confirmed, it was his
intention to remove to Stockbridge, in order to take a superintendence
of Indian affairs, which, in the absence of his colleagues, would be
sole and exclusive. So fair was the prospect at this time, in the view
of these individuals, of engrossing the profit and the direction of
the whole establishment in their own hands, that they threw off their
wonted caution, and made known their purpose of removing every
obstacle in the way of their designs.
Mr. Edwards well knew, that the influence of these individuals was
most formidable: two of them being now members of the board of
commissioners, on which, as Indian missionary, he was dependent; one
of them being one of the trustees for the Indians at Stockbridge; one
of them being personally acquainted with the directors in London; and
two of them having considerable influence with the principal men in
the provincial government. Yet he saw, just as dearly, that, if their
plans succeeded, the funds appropriated to the literary and moral
improvement of the Indians, would be perverted to the purpose of
individual aggrandizement. In such a state of things, he was not at a
loss as to his own duty. The question, whether the individual
nominated by the board of directors in London, as the teacher of the
female school, should be appointed, having been thus submitted, for
final decision, to the board of commissioners in Boston; their
secretary wrote to Mr. Edwards, for an explicit statement of the facts
relating to, the subject. Thus called upon, he did not hesitate to
present the whole case, in a reply to the secretary, bearing date Feb.
18, 1752.
In this letter, after stating it to be absolutely necessary, that his
correspondent should be let into some of the secrets of the affairs of
Stockbridge, and after alluding to his having, on account of the
controversy there subsisting, recommended, formerly, the appointment
of two or more impartial trustees, no way interested in, or related
to, the contending parties," to inspect those affairs; he states,
among other things, the following particulars:--When he recommended
the appointment of these trustees, he little suspected, that one of
them would prove the furthest of any person whatever, from possessing
the indispensable qualification of impartiality, in consequence of his
being about to become the son-in-law of one of the contending
parties.--The preceding year, a very formal pacification took place,
between Mr. Woodbridge and his opponent, with solemn promises made by
the latter, that he would thenceforward live peacefully with Mr. W,
and no more speak ill of him, nor in any wise molest him. But the
proposed alliance, the nomination of one of his family as teacher of
the female school, and the appointment of himself and his nephew to
the board of commissioners, had so elated him, that those promises
appeared to be wholly forgotten. A sudden and strange alteration had
also appeared, in the temper and conduct of his intended son-in-law,
who, in the absence of his colleagues, claimed the sole management of
all Indian affairs, so that nothing was done but he was the doer of
it.--The Indians had a most unfavorable opinion of the opponent of Mr.
Woodbridge, and the deepest prejudice against him, in consequence of
his having often molested them, with respect to their lands, and other
affairs, and, as they thought, having done very unjustly by them. This
prejudice was extended to the family; and that to such a degree, that,
after offering to feed and clothe such of their children, as should be
sent to the school, attempted to be established, only four could be
procured, three Housatonnucks and one Mohawk; and the parents of these
four complained loudly of the treatment of their children. Whether
this prejudice was well or ill founded, it was too deep to be
eradicated.--Very improper use had been made of the money given by Mr.
Hollis. He had made large remittances, and to no good purpose; and was
kept in entire ignorance, as to the actual state of things at
Stockbridge. The individual who received his money, and boarded, and
professed to instruct the children, had never established a regular
school, and had never kept any regular accounts of his expenditures.
No government was maintained, little attention paid to the manners of
the children, and all was suffered to go on in wildness, filth, and
confusion, to the great offence of such as visited the place. The
generous design of Mr. Hollis had been totally defeated, and the large
sum of money he had given, had been wholly lost, and worse than lost.
The same boys, without this additional expense, would have been far
better instructed and governed at the school of Mr. Woodbridge. There,
they would have been taught reading, cleanliness, good manners and
good morals; all of which had been wholly neglected, on the part of
their professed instructor, who had himself been absent from
Stockbridge for a long period.--This irregularity, and disorderly
management, led the Mohawks to take all their children away from him,
after the arrival of Mr. Hawley, and to place them under the care of
the latter. Yet the former, wishing some pretext for drawing the money
of Mr. Hollis, and not being able to procure any of the Indian boys to
form a school, went regularly into the school kept by Mr. Hawley, and
proceeded to treat the boys as if they were under his own care;
alleging, that he was the superintendent of the male school.--No one
had been more open and abundant, in speaking of his uselessness, his
exceeding unfitness for the business of an instructor, and the
disorder and filthiness in which things were kept under his care, or
in declaring, that it was high time that he was dismissed from the
employment, than the resident trustee; but, in consequence of his new
connexion, he had suddenly changed his mind, and now declared, that he
must be retained.--A similar change had taken place in his treatment
of Mr. Edwards. For many years he had constantly professed the highest
respect for him, far beyond what the latter could, with any modesty,
expect. He had often expressed a higher esteem of him than of any
minister in New England, as well as a very strong desire of living
under his ministry. Yet, although Mr. Edwards had never had a word of
difference with him, or his new connexions, his whole conduct was
suddenly and entirely changed, and he had sided with them, in all
their measures of opposition and violence.
Very singular management had been used, with respect to Mr. Hawley.
Before his arrival, dark representations were carried to
him,--misrepresentations of the actual state of things at
Stockbridge.--to discourage him from accepting his appointment. Soon
after his arrival, it was openly given out, that he would soon be
removed. Had it not been for his firmness, prudence, and steadiness of
temper, he would have been laid under great and permanent
disadvantages. The resident trustee had warned him not to depend on
Mr. Edwards, and challenged to himself the whole authority of
directing the school, and the affairs of the Indians.--When the
society in London recommended the proposed teacher of the female
school, they could not have been aware, that her nearest kinsmen were
to be the committee to examine her accounts. But the actual state of
things was soon to be still more preposterous. She being the mistress,
her nearest relatives were to be her council, and her husband the sole
committee to examine her accounts, and make report to the legislature.
Mr. Edwards then adds, "I write these things, honoured Sir, because I
am satisfied you have not heretofore been enlightened, in the true
state of things, as you ought to have been It was my knowledge of some
of these matters, though but little in comparison, which occasioned
me, when last in Boston, so earnestly to press the commissioners
frequently to visit this place I have been slow to speak. My
disposition has been entirely to suppress what I knew, that would be
to the disadvantage of any of the people here. But I dare not hold my
peace any longer. You doubtless will own, Sir, that it is but doing
you justice, for somebody or other to let you know the true state of
things, in a matter of such vast importance, which is under your care,
and which you being at so great a distance never can know, but by the
information of some that live here; and I know of no one from whom you
can more reasonably expect it, than from the missionary you have sent
here, to have the special care of the interests of religion among the
Indians. I did not intend to interfere with the affair of the teacher
of the female school, or to say any thing that should tend to hinder
it; and therefore avoided every thing of that nature, in my letter to
Sir William Pepperell. But being now questioned again by the
honourable commissioners, and the tendency of the measure more and
more appearing, I thought that this was the time when God called on me
to speak, and that if I should hold my peace now, I should perhaps lay
a foundation for great uneasiness to my conscience all my life after;
when I might deeply lament the continued consequences of my silence,
and when it would be too late to speak."
The next day Mr. Edwards addressed a letter to the commissioners in
Boston, in which, after announcing the arrival of Mr. Hawley, and the
high gratification of the Mohawks at the establishment of a regular
school for their boys, he states the number of his scholars to be at
that time thirty-six, mentions his happy qualifications as an
instructor, and in compliance with their request gives, very
summarily, his own views respecting a proper teacher for the female
boarding-school.
During the spring of 1752, the state of affairs in Stockbridge,
instead of improving, only grew worse. The interference of the former
school-master with the school of Mr. Hawley, produced so much
confusion, that, in the latter part of April, one half of the Mohawks
left Stockbridge in utter disgust with him and his friends, and fully
resolved never to return. A few days after their departure an intimate
friend of the former school-master and his associates, visiting the
male Mohawk school, under the care of Mr. Hawley, struck a child of
the chief sachem at the Onohquaugas on the head with his cane, without
any manner of provocation. The mother of this child was a woman of
remarkable piety. This unhappy occurrence excited the universal
indignation of the remaining Iroquois; and they appeared resolved, all
of them, to pack up their effects immediately, and be gone. Mr. Hawley
and the interpreter, finding it impossible to calm them, came to Mr.
Edwards for advice, but he, having been often blamed for, interfering
with the affairs of the Iroquois, and told that, in doing so, he
meddled with that which was none of his business, referred them to the
resident trustee; advising them to represent the whole affair to him,
that he might use proper means to prevent the fatal consequences which
were feared. Their doing so was, however, regarded as the result of a
disposition to find fault with him and his friends. The chiefs of the
Onohquaugas, finding no redress, went to Mr. Edwards to make their
complaint for this violent assault. There they found the aggressor;
who, in order to pacify them, was persuaded to pay them a sum of
money. The resident trustee, angry at what had occurred, went to the
boarding-school, and proceeded to abuse Mr. Hawley in the presence of
the whole school, in a very fervid manner; telling him that he was a
man of no judgment, and of no prudence, and that he was unfit for the
business he was in; and continued this abuse for three hours together
As his conversation was very loud, the Iroquois heard it, and came to
the spot, expressing their fears for the personal safety of Mr.
Hawley, to whom they had become much attached. Apprehending that, in
consequence of this violence, he might be induced to leave
Stockbridge, they declared, in a body, that, if he went away, they
would go also. By these occurrences, the Indian were as effectually
alienated from the resident trustee, as they had previously been from
his new friends.
In consequence of these unhappy measures, and of a settled
determination, on his part, to take, in the absence of his colleagues,
the whole management of Indian affairs on himself; they also were
disgusted. One of them relinquished all connexion with the business,
and ceased to visit Stockbridge altogether. The other openly announced
his entire discouragement, and declared that he would do his utmost to
induce the government to withdraw their support from the establishment
of the Iroquois. This led to an attempt to procure the dismission of
the latter, and the appointment of a connexion of the resident
trustee; which however proved unsuccessful. At the same time, it was
publicly and repeatedly announced, that Mr. Edwards himself would be
removed from his mission; and, as soon after appeared, a vigorous
attempt was actually made to accomplish this object [48] .
Having stated these facts in a letter to the secretary of the
commissioners, of May, 1752, Mr. Edwards proceeds,--"But still I think
there is no necessity of the Iroquois establishment being broken up,
unless its enemies are resolved to have it so. The dependence of the
establishment, as to continuance and prosperity, is chiefly on the
Onohquaugas, who are much the best disposed of any of the Iroquois,
and most likely to come in considerable numbers. They have not been
here so long as the others, to see so much to discourage them, and
they alone are willing to settle at the Hop-lands. The affair is not
at all desperate as to them, nor as to some of the Mohawks, if there
be a speedy alteration. But if the two individuals, who challenge to
themselves the whole direction of the affairs of the Iroquois,
continue here, there is no hope of the continuance of Mr. Hawley, or
of Mr. Ashley and his wife. They will not continue under one whom they
regard as so despotic an inspector. And there will be no way to retain
any of the Indians, unless it be some who are entirely mercenary, who
may be persuaded to stay for the sake of the presents that are made
them, and to be maintained and live here in mere idleness. This, it is
now very apparent, is all that moves many of the Conneenchees, in
being and continuing here"
"The resident trustee [49] has plainly discovered many designs,
tending to bring money into his own pocket: viz. a design of taking
care of Mr. Hollis's boys himself; a design of being steward of both
boarding-schools, by which he will have the opportunity of supplying
the Indians out of his own shop, and of getting his pay from the
British funds; a design of introducing his son, as the master of the
boarding-school, under the idea of a present supply, another proper
person not appearing; and an expectation of diverting the king's
bounty, of £500 sterling, to the Six Nations, from New York. The
former school-master has given hints of an agreement, between himself
and him, to resign the care of Mr. Hollis's scholars to him, when
things are ripe for it, he providing for their maintenance, and taking
care of their instruction by his son. Beside these things, his wife is
t