Chapter VIII: Conclusion

Such was Catharine Brown, the converted Cherokee. Such, too, were the changes wrought in her, through the blessing of Almighty God on the labours of Missionaries. They, and only they, as the instruments of divine grace, had the formation of her Christian character; and that character, excellent and lovely as it was, resulted from the nature of their instructions. Her expansion of mind, her enlargement of views, her elevated affections, her untiring benevolence, are all to be traced, under God, to her intercourse with them. The glory belongs to God; but the instrumental agency, the effective labour, the subordinate success, were theirs.

In her history, we see how much can be made of the Indian character. Catharine was an Indian. She might have said, as her brother did to thousands, while passing through these States, “Aboriginal blood flows through my veins.” True, it was not unmixed; but the same may be affirmed of many others of her people. Her parentage, her early circumstances and education, with a few unimportant exceptions, were like those of the Cherokees generally. She dwelt in the same wilderness, was conversant with the same society, was actuated by the same fears, and hopes, and expectations, and naturally possessed the same traits of character. Yet what did she become! How agreeable as an associate, how affectionate as a friend, how exemplary as a member of the domestic and social circle and of the Christian church, how blameless and lovely in all the walks of life! Her Christian character was esteemed by all who knew her, while she lived, and will bear the strictest scrutiny, now she is dead. To such an excellence may the Indian character attain; for, to such an excellence did it actually attain in her.

And why may it not arrive at the same excellence, in other Indians? Are there no other minds among them as susceptible of discipline and culture? no other spirits, that, in the plastic hands of the Divine Agent, can receive as beautiful a conformation? Are there not dispositions as gentle, hearts as full of feeling, minds as lively and strong? And cannot such minds be so fashioned and adorned, that heavenly grace shall beam as charmingly from them, as it did from hers?

The supposition, that she possessed mental and moral capabilities, which are rare among her people, while it adds nothing to our respect for her, does injustice to her nation. In personal attraction, and in universal propriety of manner, she was, undoubtedly, much distinguished. But, in amiableness of disposition, in quickness of apprehension, in intellectual vigour, it is believed there are hundreds of Cherokee youth, who are scarcely less favoured.

In confirmation of this, will be given the description of a school, composed entirely of young Cherokees, from the pen of a clergyman, whose accuracy of judgment, and faithfulness of description, have never been questioned.

“It has never been according to our views of propriety and expediency
to be lavish in commendations of our schools; lest we should seem
to colour high and exaggerate, or to indulge in pride and vain
glory. We think, however, (and we would ever think soberly,) that
much might be said in favour of the schools at Dwight, without in
any measure departing from “words of truth and soberness.” I would
not draw invidious comparisons, between the schools here and those
of other similar institutions. But I would say, that I never saw,
at any place, in any country, more interesting groups of children,
than those at present under our care: interesting, in almost every
point of view, whether we consider them in their relations, their
appearance, their behaviour, their progress, or their prospects.

“Those, who, when revolving in their thoughts the idea of Indians and
savages, vainly imagine that nothing can belong to the Aborigines
of our country, except what is frightful in appearance, and deeply
imbued with cruelty and barbarism, would scarcely believe themselves
to be in an Indian school, when surrounded by the children, which
fill our little sylvan seminary. Were they here, they would see
nothing of that coarseness of feature, nor ferocity of look, nothing
like that dirty dress, ugly visage, and repelling countenance, and
nothing of that hard, unkind, and cruel disposition, which they have
been wont to associate with the Indian character. But they would
see a lovely group of children, who, by the regularity of their
features, their neat and cleanly dress, their fair complexions, (fair
indeed for a sultry clime,) their orderly and becoming behaviour,
their intelligence and sprightliness, their mildness of disposition,
tempered with a manly spirit, and their progress in knowledge, would
not suffer by a comparison with most schools in a civilized land, nor
disgrace respectable parents, by passing as their sons and daughters.

“Such, dear Sir, are our schools at Dwight, our precious children,
not long since brought from the shades of the forest. We love them,
and we can but love them, for they are lovely. They are docile in
their dispositions, generally quick in their apprehensions, prompt in
their obedience, active and sprightly in their sports, and diligent
and ambitious in their studies. Of the whole number of sixty, who
compose the school in two departments, there are not more than six
who cannot read with ease in the New Testament, and spell almost any
words put to them. A considerable number can read with propriety
and apparent understanding any book, and write a fair and legible
hand. Near one fourth of both departments of the school are pursuing
the study of geography. Some of the boys have made some progress in
grammar and arithmetic, and in some other branches. It may be said
with truth, that most, if not all, are as forward, as the children
of most district schools in the most favoured part of New England.
But what is more interesting to the Christian is their intelligent
reading of the Scriptures, singing with delightful voices the praises
of God, and making progress in a knowledge of the Gospel.”[13]

The uniform testimony respecting all the other schools, which have been established by the American Board, is in accordance with the above.

Catharine was not the only convert from her people. There have been others, both among the old and the young, in whom similar transformations have been wrought. Her brother John was an instance. Her aged and venerable parents, who are much and justly respected by all who know them, are instances. Others still might be named, were it not probable that these pages will fall under their notice. More than fifty Cherokees were added to the church, the first year after the decease of Catharine, the great proportion of whom adorn their profession in a manner resembling what we admire in her.

It is hardly possible, indeed, that any of these converts should become so well known to our community, as she was. Circumstances have changed. The novelty of Indian missions is gone. The multiplication of converts diminishes our curiosity respecting individuals. But excellence and worth of character, are none the less real for being unnoticed and unknown.

Here, then, we find encouragement. The success of past efforts has been rich in its nature, and animating in its amount; and the same kind of instruments, increased in number, are still employed, and employed, too, upon similar materials. The course of divine grace, moreover, is, in some sense, uniform, like the course of nature; so that what Almighty God has done, in past time, is an earnest and a pledge (circumstances being the same,) of what he will do, in time to come. Upon these accounts, among others, we may cherish raised expectations. Should the enterprise, which has been commenced so auspiciously, be prosecuted with prudence, zeal, and in the fear of God, we shall not be extravagant if we look for the general prevalence of pure religion among a people, in the midst of whom, at the breaking up of their long night of paganism, this interesting female shone as a morning star.

The present is emphatically the time for vigorous Christian effort. Probably it is the only time when great success is possible. Various unpropitious causes press heavily upon the poor Indians; and it is believed, that nothing will save them from extinction, as a people, but the general prevalence of true religion. All things else will be vain without this.

The position, that civilization must precede Christianity, is so unsupported by facts, is so opposed to all experience, that one would think it could hardly be advanced by enlightened philosophers, or be received by rational Christians. What is civilization? In Pagan and Mohammedan countries, it is, it ever has been, a state of society, where moral excellence is little known, and domestic and social happiness little enjoyed; where man is a lordly tyrant, and woman is a slave. True civilization is found only in Christian countries; and no where, but as the _result_ of Christianity; of Christianity, too, planted, in the first instance, by missionary enterprise.

Bring this religion to act strongly upon the Indians. Give them the full enjoyment of Christian ordinances. Then their ‘winter will be past, the rain will be over and gone.’ Agriculture, art, science, legislation, and literature, the germs of which already appear, will grow in rich luxuriance, and the Indian character will be respected by the nations of the earth.

Let the life of Catharine Brown operate as an appeal to the benevolence of the Christian community. Though dead, she speaks: and oh, let her voice fall with persuasive and irresistible eloquence upon every ear.

Shall her people, of whom, by the purifying and ennobling influences of the Gospel, so much can be made, be abandoned to ignorance and wo? Shall beings, who are capable of knowing God, of understanding the grand economy of his grace, of enjoying the imperishable blessings of his salvation, be shut out eternally from such wisdom, and debarred forever from such enjoyment?

Are they not susceptible of whatever is useful, and beautiful, and even sublime, in character? Can they not appreciate, and will they not use, the means of Christian civilization, if placed within their reach?

And may we not expect an abundant reward? Nay, have we not already been amply rewarded? To say nothing of the impulse given to the intellect, the industry, and the enterprise, of the nation, to which the subject of this memoir belonged; or of their accelerated progress in legislation and government; or of the amelioration in the habits and manners of their domestic and social life; or of the rudiments of learning imparted to a multitude of children and youth; or of the amount of sacred truth, the only means of conversion and sanctification, instilled into their minds; or of an inheritance in the heavens secured to many souls:--to say nothing of all this, Were not the holy life and triumphant death of Catharine Brown, an ample remuneration for all the labours and expenditures of the mission to her tribe?

Say, ye missionaries of the cross, should ye repent of your self-denying toils, if this had proved your only reward? Say, ye churches of the Redeemer, would ye recal her sainted spirit from the skies, if what ye have expended for her nation could be refunded? A thousand worlds would not be worth what you have, through the grace of God, secured to her, as is humbly believed, in the regions of the blessed. And when ye, also, stand on the heights of the Zion above, and behold her ransomed spirit “filled with all the fulness of God,” and exulting amid the hosts of heaven, will ye have any regrets for the sacrifices it cost you to send the Gospel to her people?

O let sloth be driven away; let the grasp of avarice be loosened; let benevolence assume the dominion; let a spirit of enterprise be kindled; let the messengers of salvation be quickly sent to every tribe that roams the western wilds.

Then “the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.”

FINIS.

FOOTNOTES:

[11] Her letters were published, by different friends to whom they were addressed, to gratify the laudible curiosity of the community. It is proper to remark, however, that not more than two or three were ever inserted in the publications of the American Board.

[12] Traits of the Aborigines of America, pp. 161, 162.

[13] Missionary Herald, vol. xx, pp. 345, 346.

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Transcriber’s note

Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice. Hyphenation was standardized.

Spelling was retained as in the original except for the following changes:

Pages 93-94: “missionries, with whom I” “missionaries, with whom I”