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A plain and faithful narrative of the original design, rise, progress and present state of the Indian charity-school at Lebanon, in Connecticut. Eleazar Wheelock
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These were some of the Considerations which, I think, had some Influence to my making an Attempt in this Affair; though I did not then much think of any Thing more than only to clear myself, and Family, of partaking in the public Guilt of our Land and Nation in such a Neglect of them.
And as there were few or none who seemed so much to lay the Necessity and Importance of the Case to Heart, as to exert themselves in earnest, and lead the Way therein, I was naturally put upon Consideration and Enquiry what Methods might have the greatest Probability of Success; and upon the whole was fully perswaded that this, which I have been pursuing, had by far the greatest Probability of any that had been proposed, viz. by the Mission of their own Sons in Conjunction with the English; and that a Number of Girls should also be instructed in whatever should be necessary to render them fit, to perform the Female Part, as House-wives, School-mistresses, Tayloresses, &c. and to go and be with these Youth, when they shall be hundreds of Miles distant from the English on the Business of their Mission: And prevent a Necessity of their turning savage in their Manner of Living, for want of those who may do those Offices for them, and by this means support the Reputation of their Mission, and also recommend to the Savages a more rational and decent Manner of Living, than that which they are in—And thereby, in Time, remedy and remove that great, and hitherto insuperable Difficulty, so constantly complained of by all our Missionaries among them, as the great Impediment in the Way to the Success of their Mission, viz. their continual rambling about; which they can't avoid so long as they depend so much upon Fishing, Fowling, and Hunting for their Support. And I am more and more perswaded, that I have sufficient and unanswerable Reasons to justify this Plan.
As,
1. The deep rooted Prejudices they have so generally imbibed against the English, that they are selfish, and have secret Designs to incroach upon their Lands, or otherwise wrong them in their Interests. This Jealousy seems to have been occasioned, nourished, and confirmed by some of their Neighbours, who have got large Tracts of their Lands for a very inconsiderable Part of their true Value, and, it is commonly said, by taking the Advantage of them when they were intoxicated with Liquor. And also, by unrighteous Dealers, who have taken such Advantage to buy their Skins and Furrs at less than half Price, &c. And perhaps these Jealousies may be, not a little, increased by a Consciousness of their own Perfidy and Inhumanity towards the English. And it seems there is no Way to avoid the bad Influence and Effects of these Prejudices, at present, unless it be by the Mission of their own Sons. And it is reasonable to suppose their Jealousies are not less, since the late Conquest in this Land, by which they are put into our Power, than they were before.
2. An Indian Missionary may be supported with less than half the Expence, that will be necessary to support an Englishman, who can't conform to their Manner of Living, and who will have no Dependance upon them for any Part of it. And an Indian who speaks their Language, it may reasonably be supposed, will be at least four Times as serviceable among them, supposing he be otherwise equally qualified as one who can communicate to or receive nothing from them, but by an Interpreter: He may improve all Opportunities not only in Public, but, "when he fits in the House, walks by the Way, when he lies down, and when he rises up:" And speak with as much Life and Spirit as the Nature and Importance of the Matter require, which is very much lost when communicated by an Interpreter.
3. Indian Missionaries may be supposed better to understand the Tempers and Customs of Indians, and more readily to conform to them in a thousand Things than the English can; and in Things wherein the Nonconformity of the English may cause Disgust, and be construed as the Fruit of Pride, and an Evidence and Expression of their Scorn and Disrespect.
4. The Influence of their own Sons among them will likely be much greater than of any Englishman whatsoever. They will look upon such an one as one of them, his Interest the same with theirs; and will naturally esteem him as an Honour to their Nation, and be more likely to submit patiently to his Instructions and Reproofs than to any English Missionary. This is quite evident in the Case of Mr. Occom, whose Influence among the Indians, even of his own Tribe, is much greater than any other Man's; and when he shall settle and live decently, and in Fashion, among them, will likely do more to invite them to imitate his Manner of Living, than any Englishman.
5. The Acquaintance and Friendship which Indian Boys from different and distant Tribes and Places, will contract and cultivate, while together at School, may, and if they are zealously affected will, be improved much for the Advantage and Furtherance of the Design of their Mission; while they send to, hear from, or visit one another, confirming the Things which have been spoken. And this without so much Ceremony to introduce one another, as will be necessary in the Case of English Missionaries; and without the Cumber and Expence of Interpreters.
6. Indian Missionaries will not disdain to own English ones, who shall be Associates with them, (where the English can be introduced) as elder Brethren; nor scorn to be advised or reproved, counselled or conducted by them; especially so long as they shall be so much dependent upon the English for their Support; which will likely be till God has made them his People; and then, likely, they will not stand in such need of English Guides and Counsellors. And they will mutually help one another, to recommend the Design to the favourable Reception and good Liking of the Pagans, remove their Prejudices, conciliate their Friendship, and induce them to repose due Confidence in the English.
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