of God, she covered the earth with each other, and by practice, they be-
the slain, and wading through the came expert in asking knotty ques-
blood of nations, ascended the throne, tions ; but as the Society commonly
and ruled the greatest part of the sent out none but men of sterling
continent. It was a fearful time. character, they generally yielded him
Infidelity had almost "put out
" put out his place, or, as they expressed it,
the sun of Righteousness," and “ gave him the great chair,” and lis-
brought back “darkoess visible.” tened to his instructions. Our mis-
It was a sweeping storm, whose burst- sionaries manifested a desire to make
ing nearly overwhelmed all that is christians, and not proselytes; and
cheering in this life or the next. As the different denominations gradually
might be expected, a part of the laid aside their peculiar prejudices
cloud soon spread, and rose over our and heard them gladly.
country, darkening our prospects, Another obstacle has been the
and threatening to drowo us in the prevalence of bigoted and ignorant
fury of its tempest. We were at this preachers, with whom our new coun-
time in a kind of wild exultation, or tries have ever abounded. They
heyday of liberty, having just thrown have often crossed the path of
of our allegiance to England, and preachers from this Society, and by
become an independent people. their cavils and boisterous conduct,
Hence freedom, for a time, was have caused them no small trouble.
little else than another name for li- They usually are ignorant, illiterate
centiousness. The contagion reach- men, some of whom are scarcely a-
ed our new settlements in a peculiar ble to read. They commonly sub-
manner, and the missionaries were stitute rant and noise for the solem-
often necessitated to combat Infidel- pities of the Gospel. They have
ity in her boldest attitudes. Per produced many divisions and disa-
haps they encountered more harden- greements among infant churches ;
ed and daring infidelity during the and spent no small quantity of breath
first six years, than during all the re in railing against educated minis-
maining period. This was a great ters, and against doctrines and truths
obstacle; but it was one from which of the import of whose names, they
it would not do 10 shrink. Our mis are entirely ignorant. They are
sionaries were generally able, judi. “ zealous, but not according to
cious, pious, energetic men, and they knowledge.” I do not pretend to
finally rebuked avowed impiety from deny that uneducated ministers have
their presence, wherever they came. been in a degree useful in our new
The population of our new seule settlements. I am only stating facts,
ments is composed of emigrants from without theorizing.
all parts of New-Eogland, and in The trustees have often had mali.
deed, from almost all parts of the cious reports circulated, impeaching
world. Hence our missionaries have sometimes their motives and charac-
found almost as many opinions and ters, sometimes those of their mis.
sentiments on the subject of religion, sionaries. These have been indus-
as individuals. They were of many triously propagated at home and
different sects or denominations, and abroad. But as the Directors have
each bigoted and tenacious of his own. ever been discreet, disinterested,
They were often jealous lest the ob. and public in all their measures, the
ject of the missionaries, was to gain enemies of evangelical religion have
proselytes. In Vermont especially found it hard to pass coin so evident-
it was often the case, that when a ly base, and such reports have com-
minister arrived, the most skilful or monly sunk under the weight of their
jealous men of the village would as-
own sins.
All these obstacles have semble and examine him as to his been met and overcome with a pacapacity to teach. By watching over tience that does honor to our religion,