We need not remind our readers, that many
efforts are made, as they have been for centuries
past, to convert not alone the heathen but Jews
likewise; and still the absolute success of the
missionaries has been very small among the untutored
savages, though they have been aided by all the
support which invading armies and government
influence could bestow, and many of those who
formerly were prosperous and *healthy*, such as the
Sandwich Islanders and Otaheitians have lost much of
their worldly happiness and actually diminished
before the inroads of vice and drunkenness brought
in the train of European civilization. And even
warfare has been invoked to establish missions of a
particular kind,—witness the brutal attack on the
poor Tahitian Queen Pomaré, by the late king of the
French, Louis Philippe. And
<<35>>still much of the evil produced by the
missionaries and those who follow in their wake is
never made public, as there are too many interested
to spread only abroad what is good and pleasant.
Still we are candid enough to acknowledge that there
are men belonging to this class who are truly
devoted to their calling, who go among the heathens
to enlighten them, to spread good morals, the
knowledge of agriculture and civil government among
those who before knew nothing of these things, who
are the schoolmasters and the friends of the
coloured men. But notwithstanding there are such,
the progress they make is not commensurate with
their exertions, and the eradication of ancient
habits progresses at a pace too slow to produce the
results which the present generation of devotees who
send out the missionaries do expect.
If this be the case with savages, who have no
religion deserving the name to unlearn, if these
cling to ancient customs with a tenacity betokening
love and attachment; how foolish must it be to
expect that Jews, who have been the founders of
biblical religion, should forego their opinions and
practices, and accept that system of belief which
renegadoes, apostates, are bidden to offer them,
that they should listen to hired men, sent out at a
fixed rate of compensation, to cease to be
Israelites! The thing is absurd. Hence no one need
be the least surprised at the absence of all success
in the efforts to convert the Jews by the employment
of missionaries, and this notwithstanding millions
of dollars have been spent within the last
twenty-five years to make an impression.
We have been led into the above train of thoughts by
reading the following from the Syracuse (N. Y.)
Journal, giving an account of a ceremony observed by
the Iroquois, an Indian nation subject to missionary
influence for so many years; and as it is not often
that we have anything half as honest presented to
us, our readers must pardon us for transferring it
to the Occident, as it has an interest to us as
Jews, besides its novelty.—Ed. Oc.
“Indian Council Extraordinary,
“From time immemorial, the Iroquois nation
have had their stated seasons for convoking the
tribes of the several cantons. On these
occasions, thanksgivings, offerings, and
sacrifices, are freely offered to the Great
Spirit, as an acknowledgment of his special
kindness and guardian care, to appease his wrath
when he has been offended, to conciliate his
favour for the future, that He may cause the
corn to grow luxuriantly, the streams to be well
stocked with fish, and the woods to abound with
game. During these festivals the good are
reminded of their duty to persevere in the way<<36>>of
well-doing, and the unruly of their obligations
to reform. The hunter is made bold for the
chase, and the warrior valiant for battle.
“During the past fortnight there have been held
daily, at the Onondaga Castle, a series of
Indian Councils, preparatory to the commencement
of the new year. On Friday last was celebrated
the annual and important rite of sacrificing the
‘White Dog.’ The customary victim was
immolated on the flaming altar, with all the
formality and circumstances of ancient usage
among the Iroquois, in presence of a pagan
portion of the nation, and numerous white
persons spectators. On Tuesday last, this
crowning festival of the Indian year, after a
continuance of nine days, was closed with the
exciting and wonderful ceremony of the ‘War
Dance.’ These observances are continued in
the midst of a Christian community with all the
reverence, solemnity and zeal of ancient times,
with a punctuality and devotion which shows the
regard these people have for the institutions of
their fathers, and with what tenacity they still
cling to their ancient customs.
“At this great festival, in grand council, all
vacancies are filled which have occurred during
the year among the chiefs and sachems of the
nation, and the new incumbents on these
occasions are inducted into office and installed
with all the ceremony of aboriginal etiquette,
as practised in olden time.
“At this season it is customary and appropriate
to adopt and initiate individuals of other
nations, and occasionally white people, to the
Onondaga nation, and consort them with
particular families, clans, and tribes. On this
occasion, while the sires and sages of the
nation were convened in solemn council,
according to ancient usage, and in consideration
of the high estimation in which he has for a
long time been held by the Onondaga nation, J.
V. H. Clark, Esq., of Manlius, was adopted and
initiated as a true Onondaga and most cordially
affiliated with the ‘Wolf Tribe’ of that
nation, to be for ever hereafter known
throughout all the Six Nations by the name,
Fy-yah-da Koe-nah-has, (the red man’s friend
and defender,) and to be everywhere accepted as
a brother, a counsellor, and warrior.
“In these days it is a circumstance of rare
occurrence, to adopt and initiate a white person
among the Onondagas, and is only admissible in
cases where the individual has done the nation
some distinguished service, or has in some way
become honourably conspicuous among them.
“At a subsequent council and more advanced stage
of the proceedings at the council-house, the
same individual was elected as honorary Sachem
of the Onondaga Nation, and was duly invested
with the rights and privileges of native
incumbents.
“It may be worthy of remark, that more than two
hundred years have passed away since
Christianity was first introduced among the
Onondaga Indians. The French, Dutch, English,
and Anglo-Americans, have established what have
been termed ‘prosperous missions’ among
them. With what success present practices most
clearly indicate. For more than one hundred
years the French were predominant. For a period
of more than half that time the English
prevailed in all that pertained to trade,
diplomacy, and political influence.
“Since the close of the American Revolution, the
United States and the State of New York have had
the perishing remnant of the Iroquois under
their influence, protection, and control. Still
they are in many respects an independent people,
speaking their own peculiar language, governed
by their own laws, and adhering with unyielding
pertinacity to their primitive customs.”
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