Miscellanies. THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES IN THE UNITED THE summary view of the Theological Semina- Seminaries. Bangor Theological Semi- Theological School, (Cam- Denomi- Insti- No. No. Do. 1808 444 4 Baptist, Unitarian, 1816 Theological Department, 4 Y. Coll. (N. Haven, Ct.) Congrega. 1822 42 4 General Theo. Sem. of the Prot. Epis. chh. (city of Prot. Ep. 1819 123 Presbyt. 1821 106 Theological Seminary of Hamilton Lit. and Theo. Theo.Sem. Ref. Dutch chh. (N. Brunswick, N. J.) Theo. Sem. Ger. Ref. chh. 5 3 1820 20 4 Ev. Luth. 1816 13 2 3 R. Dutch, 1784 147 The foregoing table contains 18 theological seminaries, connected with eight denominations of Christians; at which have been educated, (the number educated at one not being ascertained,) 1,529. The number of students that left in 1828, was 103. The number now connected with them all is 599; of whom 291 are aided to a greater or less extent by the funds of the respective seminaries or of education societies. The libraries of these seminaries contain 35,960 volumes. Number of professors 46. CHEROKEE TRADITIONS. IN the number of this work for April, p. 131, some statements were copied from the Cherokee Phoenix, respecting the former customs of the Cherokees. Some further statements on that subject, copied from the same paper, are added here. It is impossible, at this late day, to distinguish accurately between ancient traditions of the Cherokees and modern fictions, or between those which are purely original, and those which have been derived, wholly or in part, from intercourse with the whites. Their traditions are fading from memory, and only a few aged men can give much information respecting them. I lately visited a Cherokee man of advanced age, for the purpose of learning from him such things as, when he was young, he had heard from the aged. In each assembly among the Cherokees, the old man said, it was customary to appoint some aged man, one of the head men of the villages, to rehearse traditions; which he did in a set speech, continuing his discourse although the company might be dancing, or however inattentive. Old men at that time were many. When he was young he was careless and inattentive, and therefore knows less of traditions than he might have known. Unity of God.-The Cherokees, my informant said, have never acknowledged but one God, the Creator. He was altogether benevolent and good. Inferior Beings.-They believed in the existence of evil beings, the authors of all mischief, who, as well as the Creator, dwelt above. These were the beings dwelling above, who decided in grand council that man should be subject to death. He does not recollect whether he ever heard of any good beings dwelling above, except God. He may have been told of such, but if so, he was so inattentive as not to recollect. Whether these evil beings were spiritual or corporeal, he does not remember to have heard, and never formed any definite idea. He only understood them to be evil, and the authors of evil. Religious Worship.-The only religious worship of which he had any knowledge was connected with what is termed conjuring, and as he is no conjurer, he has had little knowledge of this. Addresses are, however, and always were made by the conjurers to the Supreme Being. Green Corn Dance.-This was an annual festival, of which he does not know the origin or design. He supposes the conjurers know. The day was appointed by the old people. The conjurers prepared a sort of medicine, and seven feast. Every one must take a portion of the families were appointed to furnish corn for the medicine, and a portion was offered, by throwing corn into the fire, before any one could eat. Before this feast, it was unlawful to eat of the new corn of the season, and no person was ever known to transgress. After it all might cat freely. City of Refuge.-The Cherokees had a city of refuge for the manslayer. This was Echota, their honored town, of which my informant was once an inhabitant. Whoever had killed a person, whether intentionally or by accident, had the privilege of fleeing to this town, where he was safe from the avenger. The condition of his residence was, that he should go out to battle in the next war that might occur, in which if he killed or took prisoner an enemy, he was free. If after that he was killed, the avenger was demanded by the chiefs of Echota, and put to death. If he was unsuccessful in the first war, he must renew the attempt in each succeeding war, till he was successful, or till he died; never being free from the city of refuge on any other condition. Future State.-The old man knew no tradition respecting a future state, and thought nothing of any life beyond the present. He had a fear of offending God, and an apprehension of punishment, but death was the greatest and last evil which he feared. Polygamy. I had heard it said that polygamy was unknown among the Cherokees, till it was introduced by resident whites. I therefore inquired of the old man, who replied that such a custom formerly existed, but was unfrequent. These are some accounts of the traditions and former custom of the Cherokees, as I derived them, by the aid of an interpreter, from a single individual, who did not profess great knowledge respecting them. Other aged persons would doubtless differ from him in some particulars, and probably more information might be ob tained from some aged conjurer. MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. AFRICA. The Rev. Mr. Wolff, one of the missionaries of the German Missionary Society, near Liberia, died early in January last, and Mr. Hegele, another member of the same mission has returned to Ger many on account of loss of health.-It is the intention of the society to send additional laborers to the same field immediately. FRANCE. A letter dated at Paris, 27th of Feb. states that the French Protestant Missionary Society will send out its first missionaries to the heathen in about a month. The mission, consisting of three, is destined to South Africa, and will proceed in company with the Rev. Dr. Philip, of the London Missionary Society's mission in that quarter. GREAT BRITAIN. The London Missionary Society has recently received a donation of ten thousand pounds ($44,444 44) from a single individual. National Education Society.-This society has in a course of instruction at its schools, 48,922 scholars attending daily, and adding those who attend on Sunday only, 54,112; all from those classes where they would otherwise have been exposed to ignorance and vice. The society has erected 474 school rooms, and trained up at its central school, designed for the purpose, 400 teachers. The Church Sunday Schools in England and Wales, which are under the care of the society, contain 550,428 scholars. American Board of Foreign Missions. ANNIVERSARY OF AN AUXILIARY. MASSACHUSETTS. The Auxiliary of Essex Scotchtown. Rev. Gent. Asso. Orange co. Rev. George Cowles, Danvers, Secretary; MAINE. FORMATION OF ASSOCIATIONS. Penobscot co. Garland. Gent. and Lad. Asso. Rev. Isaac Wilkins, Pres. Jonas Parker, V. Pres. Isaac Wheeler, Esq. Sec. Ansel Field, Treas. 6 coll. Formed March 23. Brownville. Gent. and Lad. Asso. Rev. Nathan W. Sheldon, Pres. Dea. F. Brown, V. Pres. Hon. M. Greenleaf, Sec. Rev. N. W. Sheldon, Treas. 5 coll. March 30. Ed Sangerville. Gent. and Lad. Asso. Rev. Henry 6 coll. Foxcraft. Gent. and Lad. Asso. Joshua Mitchell, Pres. Maj. P. P. Furber, V. Pres. Rev. Thomas Williams, Sec. Capt. Joel Pratt, Treas. 7 coll. April 9. Somerset co. Monson. Gent. and Lad. Asso. Rev. Anson Hubbard, Pres. Dea. A. Goodell, V. Pres. Dea. L. Hyde, Sec. Samuel Whitney, Esq. Treas. 7 coll. April 6. Rev. Fifield Weston Bloomfield. Gent. and Lad. Asso. Industry. Gent. and Lad. Asso. Cornelius Nor- Hudson Point Works. Gent. Asso. R. Marshall, Greene co. Catskill. Gent. and Lad. Asso. Rev. Goshen. Gent. and Lad. Asso. Thomas W. Bradner, Pres. Richard Jackson, V. Pres. William Arnal, Sec. Rev. Ezra Fish, D. D. Treas. Feb. 2. Hopewell. Gent. and Lad. Asso. Rev. Hugh M. Koonts, Pres. Col. M. Crawford, 1st V. Pres. Daniel Bull, 2nd V. Pres. James H. Crawford, Sec. James J. Crawford, Treas. 13 coll. Feb. 1. Sullivan co. Bloomingburg. (Ref. Dutch Cong.) Gent and Lad. Asso. Rev. Samuel Van Vechten, Pres. Jonathan Miller, V. Pres. Robert Smiley, do. James Falkner, do. Charles Bodle, do. John Still, do. Doct. G. S. Corwin, Sec. Gabriel H. Horton, Treas. 12 coll. Feb. 1. Salem. MASSACHUSETTS. Essex co. Burlington, Vt. Mon. con. 25; so. of inquiry, 7; 32 00 Caldwell, N. J. Mon. con. Canandaigua, N. Y. Gent. asso. viz. N. W. Howell, 50; Rev. E. Johns, 30; W. Hubbell, 30; T. Chapin, 20; Rev. A. D. Eddy, 15; H. Warner, 12; E. Carr, 10; H. W. Taylor, 10; W. Antiss, 10; N. Little, 10; H. Chapin, 10; I. Wilson, 5; I. McCredie, 5; H. Howe, 5; indiv. 8; Mon. con. 50; Miss Hart's school, 1; Caney Creek, Chick. na. Wm. McKnight, Cataraugus, N. Y. Mon. con. 500 230 00 51 00 2.00 3 78 Cummington, Gent. 7 00 Cherokee nation, Judge McCoy, rec'd at Goshen, La. 12 45 Willstown, 3 00 Worthington, Gent. and la. Oneida co. N. Ý. A. Thomas, Tr. Clinton, Asso. in cong. chh. 18,52; indiv. 6,48; 3 00 56 45 Cherry Valley, N. Y. Mon. con. 21,98; a bal. 3,50; 25 48 25 00 Chillisquaque, Pa. Miss. so. of Columbia co. Cicero, N. Y. Presb. chh. 7. 00 3 82 Athens, Gent. 28; la. 15,75; Bloomingsburg, Asso. 3,75; Cincinnati, Mon. con. in 1st presb. chh. 19,61; Greenfield, Asso. 3,63; Indian Creek, Asso. 7,62; Lebanon, Asso. 24,25; Milford, Asso. 10,20; Montgomery, Asso. 28,19; Oxford, Asso. 15,15; Redoak, Asso. 30; Rocky Spring, Asso. 1,31; Springfield, Asso. 25,71; Washington, Asso. 16,50; Waterford, La. asso. 2,50; less expenses, 19 c. Cornish, N. H. Rev. L. Thomson, 231 98 204 00 Cumberland, Md. Coll. by Miss McMahon, Miss A. Smith, and Miss A. Black, 17 00 8.50 Doylestown, Pa. Mon. con. Fairfield, N. H. Rev. Mr. Osborn's cong. for Union, Fowlerville, N. Y. So. Frederick co. Md. Bear Branch sab. sch. mite so. 12; av. of work done by sab. sch. teachers, 20; c. box in Baust's tavern, 81 c. a friend, 19 c. 33 00 III. LEGACIES. Hartwick, Vt. Mrs. Cynthia Flint, dec'd, (balance of $15) for Brainerd mission, by L. H. Delano, Manchester, Vt. Joseph Burr, dec'd, (one fifth part of his legacy,) by Joel Pratt and John Aiken, Exr's, Woodstock, Ct. Thankful Skinner, dec'd, ($1,285 having been received previously,) by Fanny Skinner, Ex'x, IV. PERMANENT FUND. Bradford, Ms. Legacy of Eleazer Spofford, dec'd, to constitute the Rev. LUKE A. SPOFFORD, JEREMIAH SPOFFORD, of Bradford, Ms. and Rev. ISAAC BRAMAN, of New Rowley, Ms., Honorary Members of the Board, by Rev. L. A. Spofford, Ex'r, 5.00 3,400 00 350 00 200 00 V. PERMANENT FUND FOR CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. REN, which constitutes him an Honorary Member of the Board, 100; ded. $30, ack. in Miss. Herald for Sept. 1826; 70 00 Litchfield, Vt. A friend, for hea. chil. Lyons, N. Y. E. Dean, 1 00 1 50 VI. PERMANENT FUND FOR TREASURER. Madison, Me. Mon. con. 10 60 Maryland, Twenty ladies, 1st pay. for Ne vins Breckenridge, in Choc. nation, 30 00 Mount Arrarat, Pa. Mrs. M. Tyler, 3 12 Nantucket, Ms. Mon. con. 12; a friend, for hea. chil. 5; 17 00 New Alstead, N. H. Mon. con. 16; cent so. 3; 19 00 VII. DONATIONS IN CLOTHING, &c. Ashby, Ms. A small cask, fr. juv. so. for wes. miss. Bradford, N. H. Towels, &c. fr. ladies. Cincinnati and vic. O. By J. Mahard, Tr. Articles, fr. Bloomingsburg, asso. 39,56; Greenfield, a box; Lebanon, asso. 15,25; Oxford, asso. 9,13; Montgomery, asso. 4,62; Redoak, asso. 4 bbls. 106,39; Rocky Spring, asso. 47,56; Milford, asso. 50 c. Seven mile asso. 6; Springfield, asso. 33,82; Washington, asso. 6,25; Whiteoak, asso. 11,50; 280 58 11 87 Pompey, N. Y. 2d presb. chl. 2 68 Emmaus, Choc. nation, Books, fr. Amer. sunday sch. union, 7 00 Prattsburg, N. Y. Gent. benev. so. 15; E. Bridges, for Edward Warren, in Ceylon, Geauga co. O. A box, fr. fem. benev. so. rec'd at Mackinaw, 20 00 15; mon. con. 5; 35 00 Raleigh, N. C. Aux. so. 31 41 Hamilton, N. Y. A box, fr. benev. asso. rec'd at do. 35 00 Readfield, Me. L. Sampson, Red Hook, N. Y. Coll. in Ref. Dutch chh. Rome, N. Y. J. W. Bloomfield, Russell, NY. Cong. chh. 10 00 Kennebunkport, Me. A box, fr. indiv. for Palestine, 37 50 Salisbury, Ms. A friend, for wes. miss. Saugerties, N. Y. Mrs. Mary Isham, 50 00 wes. miss. 17 50 Scotchtown, N. Y. Asso. in Rev. M. Bald win's chl. 13 19 New Alstead, N. H. A box, fr. cent so. 18 00 New Stockbridge, N. Y. A box, fr. la. sewing so. for Green Bay miss. 20 00 Peterboro', N. Y. Clothing, fr. la. sewing Vernon Centre, N. Y. Mon. con. 25 00 so. for do. 10 00 Wappinger's Creek, N. Y. Mon. con. Washington city, Of $113,60, ackn. in the number for April, under the head of Dis Sandy Creek, N. Y. A box, fr. ladies, 24.00 Windsor, Ct. A barrel, for Dwight. Ceylon. JOURNAL OF MR. WINSLOW AT 00D00 VILLE. MUCH of that silent yet very manifest influence which the simple truth of the Gospel is exerting in India, over both Catholics and heathens, is exhibited in the following extracts; giving great encouragement to continued labor and prayer, and all the while strengthening the confidence, that the foundations of idolatry and superstition are about to be effectually shaken. Influence of Christian Instruction. gels being so much superior, should certainly be worshipped; that Moses was a mediator, and Job became by the command of God an intercessor for his friends; that saints are employed as ministering angels, &c. &c. He denied, however, that Catholics pay strictly divine honors to Mary or the saints; but when some of their prayers were quoted, in which they call upon Mary to direct her Son, the Lord Jesus, to bless us, and upon Joseph to heal their cattle when sick, and upon St. Anthony to prosper their families, &c., he could say but little in reply. The second command, as Protestants class them, he said prohibits the worship of idols and not of images, and is included in the first, of which it is an appendage by way of expla nation. He, however, denied here, also, that they really worship the image itself. The pope, he maintained, is supreme, as the successor of Peter, because Christ said to Peter thou art a rock, (so they render it in Tamul,) and upon this rock I will build my church; the church is infallible; priests should not marry, &c. &c. From this specimen it may be seen what kind of Catholics we sometimes find among this ignorant people. Ignorant as they are they understand many of the arts of Rome, and have the spirit of their mother church. August 1, 1828.-Spent the day in company with Mr. Spaulding in visiting from house to house, in a village of Catholics connected with Panditeripo. There is at present a good deal of excitement in the village, caused by the distribution of our tracts on the errors of the Catholic church. Some, however, heard candidly what we had to say, and one man wept. Toward the middle of the day we came to the house of an elderly man, considered one of the best defenders of their system in the village, and found him in his open shed, (which is the common parlor of this country,) at leisure and ready to converse. 4. Held the monthly prayer meeting Most of the points of difference were dis- for our native members in the viranda of cussed; our opponent being on many of our house, by lamp light. A considerable them rather candid, though not open to number of our neighbors, some of them conviction. The Scriptures were referred || respectable natives, attended and seemed to, and he brought out an Old Testament interested in some account of the progress much worn, but nearly entire, which he of Christianity in different parts of the received from Doct. Scudder five or six world, particularly in various parts of Inyears ago. It has not been useless in his dia, of which they have heard more or less. hands, for he had evidently read it much, The difficulty in moving the idol cars in though he was not convinced thereby of Tinnevelly at a late festival, when, after the errors of his church. He contended they had remained out over night, the that saints are to be reverenced because brahmins were obliged to go from house they reign with Christ in heaven; because to house and call upon the people to come angels were worshipped when they made out and carry their god to his residence, their appearance on the earth in former was a somewhat striking proof that their times, by Abraham, Lot, Joshua, &c.; that own Tamul people are beginning to see kings were worshipped, and saints and an- the folly of idolatry. VOL. XXV. 26 |