CONSTITUTION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ALGIC SOCIETY, 
 
 INSTITUTED MARCH 28, 1332. 
 
 FOR ENCOURAGING MISSIONARY EFFORT IN EVANGELIZING THE 
 
 NORTH WESTERN TRIBES, 
 
 AND PROMOTING 
 
 EDUCATION, AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRY, PEACE J: TEMPERANCE, AMONG THEM. 
 TO WHICH IS ANNEXED 
 
 AN ABSTRACT OF ITS PROCEEDINGS, 
 
 TOGETHER WITH THE 
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS 
 
 By HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT, Esq. 
 
 PRESIDENT Or THE SOCIETY. 
 
 DETROIT: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY CLELAND & SAT7YER. 
 
 1 833. 
 
DETROIT : 
 Courier Office Print, 
 
25019 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 Art. 1 . This society shall be called the ALGIC SOCIETY, 
 for encouraging missionary effort in evangelizing the 
 North Western Tribes, and promoting education, 
 agriculture, industry, peace and temperance among 
 them. 
 
 Art. 2. The objects of this institution shall be as follows. 1. 
 
 To afford information touching the condition, location 
 and wants of the native tribes or bands in America 
 speaking the Algonquin and other primitive languages 
 and their dialects. 2. To collect and prepare for distri- 
 bution and active use, any facts or intelligence, either 
 in a written or printed form, tending to aid, direct, or 
 encourage missionary, school ana agricultural effort. 
 3. To enlighten the Indians respecting the objects and 
 principles of the Fur Trade, and its character and va- 
 lue as a branch ot internal commerce. 4, To inculcate, 
 in every practicable way, peace and temperance princi- 
 ples among them. 5. To facilitate the transmission of 
 letters or mail packages to missionaries located beyond 
 the limits of the post routes. 6. To collect and dis- 
 seminate practical information respecting their langua- 
 ges, history, traditions, customs and character; thegeo- 
 graphical features of the country they inhabit; and its 
 natural history and productions. 7. To contribute, 
 whenever it has the means, pecuniary, as well as per- 
 sonal aid, to the active objects of this association. 8. 
 To inform them respecting their civil, as well as moral 
 responsibilities, and to point out the true objects of the 
 government, in its policy respecting them, as exhibited 
 
4 
 
 in the operations and. expenditures of the Indian De- 
 partment, and in a fair construction of all its general, 
 public, and permanent acts. 
 
 Art. 8. This society shall have all the discretionary society- 
 powers necessary for its organization, progress and per- 
 petuity. It shall consist of Resident, and of Domestic 
 and Foreign Honorary members — the first class to be 
 inhabitants of the Frontiers, and the second classes of 
 America or Europe. They shall be elected by unani- 
 mous ballot. There shall also be elected seven corres- 
 pondents, who snail not be members of the official board, 
 and whose duty it shall be, to correspond with the do- 
 mestic secretary, on the objects embraced by this asso- 
 ciation. They shall be either resident or honorary 
 members. 
 
 Art. 4. The officers of this society shall consist of a president, 
 five vice presidents, a domestic, a corresponding and a 
 recording secretary, and a treasurer, who shall compose 
 a standing board of official management. The duties 
 of the president shall be to preside, and to recommend 
 to the society any measures, or researches he may deem 
 proper ; — in his absence, either of the vice presidents 
 shall have the same power. The domestic secretary 
 shall conduct the correspondence, keep minutes of the 
 proceedings, and furnish the recording secretary with 
 them ; and notify members of their election. The cor- 
 responding secretary shall reside in one of the Lake or 
 Atlantic cities to give information to, transact the busi- 
 ness of, and correspond with, the parent society, and 
 with such benevolent institutions or individuals in Eu- 
 rope or America, as may be interested in the subject. 
 The recording secretary shall keep a fair and permanent 
 record of all proceedings, and furnish abstracts of them 
 for publication. The treasurer shall receive, payout, 
 and account for, any funds that may come into his 
 hands. Officers ol the society, may reside at any point 
 on the frontiers. They shall constitute an executive 
 board, who shall have all the powers necessary to con- 
 duct the operations of the society, during the recesses 
 ol their meetings, and report to tiiem their proceedings. 
 
 Art. 5. This society shall meet annually, at which meeting a 
 report shall be read on the state ol missionary opera- 
 tions among the natives whose welfare constitutes the 
 particular object of this institution, embracing a notice 
 of its proceedings, and such other exercises as the board 
 ol management may direct. Other meetings shall, if 
 
5 
 
 convenient, be held monthly. And to give efficacy to 
 the objects which may come under consideration, an ab- 
 stract of the proceedings shall be published in some re- 
 ligious newspaper, or periodical. Special meetings may 
 be held at any place within the United States, upon any 
 day except the Sabbath, and on any legal notice, ex- 
 ceeding twenty-four hours of the time of meeting. 
 
 Art. 6. The official board, or hoard of management, shall have 
 power to direct the times and places of meetings, and 
 to exercise all the administrative authority of the socie- 
 ty. It shall he their duty to prepare the annual report, 
 to direct the order of proceedings, and to execute, ge- 
 nerally, all the powers granted by the constitution, and. 
 not reserved to the society in its legislative capacity. 
 
 Art. 7. No person shall be a resident, or honorary member of 
 this society, who does not believe that all men are 
 in a fallen and unregenerate state by nature, and that, ‘ 
 as in Adam all fell, so in Christ all have the offer ot ac- 
 ceptance and restoration to the favor of God ; but that 
 none can be thus accepted and restored without repent- 
 ance of their sins, and regeneration by the special influ- 
 ences of the Holy Ghost operating on the heart, and 
 consequently, that all adults who are not regenerated, 
 or spiritually “ born again” will go into endless punish- 
 ment. This belief is considered to he fundamental in 
 the work of evangelizing the heathen, and without it, 
 none can he prepared suitably to feel and acknowledge 
 the great duty of preaching the gospel to them. It is 
 intended to embrace all professing Christians, of every 
 denomination, the object of the society being, not so 
 much to raise funds, as to he a medium of inter-com- 
 munication. 
 
 Art. 8. The officers of this society, after the first election un- 
 der this constitution, shall be elected at the annual meet- 
 ings, and they shall hold their offices for one year, and 
 until others shall be elected. Vacancies may he suppli- 
 ed at any monthly, or occasional meetings. And a vote 
 of two thirds of the members present, shall be sufficient 
 on all questions, but the admission of members. 
 
 Art. 9. This constitution may he amended by a vote of two 
 thirds at any regular meeting. It shall be considered 
 as binding, in its present shape, whenever seven or 
 more names shall be subscribed to it, and the persons so 
 signing, or a majority of them, shall appoint the first 
 meeting, have power to increase their number by elec- 
 tion, make by-laws, and exercise all the powers con- 
 ferred by it. 
 

 
 m . 
 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 
 
 Several meetings of the society for the choice of officers, and 
 the transaction of business, were held in Detroit during the month 
 of October, 1832. The Western Reserve Synod then holding its 
 annual session at Detroit, having brought together a large num- 
 ber of gentlemen from different sections, a favorable opportunity 
 was presented to spread before the public, the leading objects of 
 the society, and to invite the co-operation of every Christian and 
 philanthropist : and though no part of the business was commit- 
 ted to the gentlemen composing the Synod, its organization was 
 individually sanctioned, and approved by them, and a lively in- 
 terest manifested in its incipient proceedings. 
 
 At one of the meetings above alluded to, the benevolent objects 
 of the society were briefly explained in a short address by the 
 President, Henry R. Schoolcraft, Esq. which is herewith annex- 
 ed. After which the following resolutions were offered by differ- 
 ent members, and unanimously adopted. 
 
 Resolved, That the thanks of the society be presented to Hen- 
 ry R. Schoolcraft, Esq. for the valuable introductory remarks of- 
 fered by him, and that he be requested to furnish a copy of the 
 same for publication. 
 
 Resolved, That the Domestic Secretary, be directed to pre- 
 pare and submit for the approbation of the Official Board, a Cir- 
 cular, to be addressed to such persons as have been elected mem- 
 bers of this society, and others, setting forth its objects, its organi- 
 zation, constitution, and initial proceedings, which circular, when 
 so prepared, shall be printed for the purpose of distribution. 
 
8 
 
 Resolved, That the Official Board be directed to prepare a 
 succinct Temperance and Peace Circular, suited to the wants 
 and situation of the North Western Tribes, to be addressed, 
 through the intervention of the Hon. the Secretary of War, to 
 the Agents of the Government and Officers commanding posts on 
 the frontiers, and also to persons engaged in the Fur trade; to 
 travellers, and to gentlemen residing in the country, requesting 
 their aid in spreading its influence. 
 
 Resolved, That it is expedient for this society to procure an 
 exact statistical account of names, numbers and location of the 
 different bands of Indians, of the Algonquin stock, now living 
 within the limits of the United States : — also, the number of mis- 
 sionaries who are now amongst them, and the extent of the field 
 of labor which they present. 
 
 Resolved, That this society will aid in sending a winter ex- 
 press to the missionaries who are now stationed near the western 
 extremity of Lake Superior. 
 
 Resolved, That the members of this society residing at Sault 
 Ste. Marie and at Michjllimackinac, shall constitute a committee 
 of this society, during the ensuing year, with power to meet for 
 the transaction of business, and shall report from time to time, 
 such measures as they may have adopted to promote the objects 
 of this institution: — which proceedings shall be submitted to the 
 society at any stated or special meeting of the same, and if ap- 
 proved by them, shall be entered on the records of the society. 
 
 Resolved, That the President of this society be requested to 
 deliver, at such time as shall be convenient to himself, a course of 
 Lectures on the Grammatical construction of the Algonquin lan- 
 guage, as spoken by the North Western Tribes, and to procure, 
 from living and authentic sources, a full and complete Lexicon of 
 that language, lor the use of the society. 
 
 Resolved, That the Rev.Beriah Green, of the Western Reserve 
 College, he requested to deliver an address before the society at 
 its next annual meeting: and, that Henry R. Schoolcraft, Esq. 
 be requested to deliver a poem on the Indian Character, at the 
 same meeting. 
 
 Resolved, That the first anniversary of this society he held at 
 Detroit, on the second Thursday ol October, A. D. 18 SS. 
 
 A true abstract from the Records. 
 
 BENJAMIN F. LARNED, Rec. Sec’y. 
 
OFFICERS. 
 
 President. 
 
 HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT, Esq. of SaultSte. Marie. 
 
 Vice Presidents. 
 
 EUROTAS P. HASTINGS, Esq. Detroit, 
 
 ROBEBT STEWART, Esq. Michillimackinac, 
 
 SHUBAEL CONANT, Esq. Detroit, 
 
 CHARLES C. TROWBRIDGE, Esq. 
 
 REV. LYMAN BEECHER, D. D. Cincinnati, 
 
 Domestic Secretary. 
 
 CHARLES CLELAND, Esq. Detroit. 
 
 Corresponding Secretary. 
 
 REY. SAMUEL H. COX, D. D. New York. 
 
 Recording Secretary. 
 
 MAJ. BENJAMIN F. LARNED, U. S. A. Detroit. 
 
 Treasurer. 
 
 EDWARD BINGHAM, Esq. Detroit. 
 
 Correspondents. 
 
 Rev. Moses Stewart, D. D. Andover, Mass. 
 Prof. Benjamin Silliman, Yale College, Conn. 
 Rev. C. P. McIlvain, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
 
 “ Absalom Peters, New York. 
 
 “ David Porter, D. D. Catskill, N. Y. 
 
 “ Thomas H. Skinner, D. D. Philadelphia. 
 
 “ G. T. Bedell. do. 
 
MEMBERS. 
 
 Capt. D. Wilcox, U. S. A. 
 
 Lieut. L. T. Jamison, “ 
 
 “ Robert E. Clary, “ 
 
 George Johnston, Esq. 
 Francis Audrain, Esq. 
 
 Rev. Jeremiah Porter, 
 
 Bela Chapman, Esq. 
 
 Rev. Noah M. Wells, 
 
 George F. Porter, Esq. 
 Justin Rice, M. D. 
 
 John J. Deming, Esq. 
 John L. Whiting, M. D. 
 Phineas Davis, Jr. Esq. 
 Horace Hallock, Esq. 
 
 B. F. H. Wilherell, Esq. 
 Edward Brooks, Esq. 
 
 Rev. H. Colclaser, 
 
 Hon. Ross Wilkins, 
 
 Oliver Johnson, Esq. 
 Wolcott Lawrence, Esq. 
 
 Hon. Austin E. Wing, 
 
 Hiram B. Hopkins, Esq. 
 Henry Conant, M. D. 
 
 Rev. Ira M. Wead, 
 
 “ Luther Shaw, 
 
 “ John Beach, 
 
 “ Orren C. Thompson, 
 
 “ Reuben Armstrong, 
 
 “ John Jay Shipherd, 
 
 “ Harvey Coe, 
 
 “ Beriah Green, 
 
 “ Charles B. Storrs, 
 
 “ Alvan Coe, 
 
 “ James Hoge, 
 
 “ John Keyes, 
 
 “ Ansel R. Clark, 
 
 “ Samuel Hutchirgs, 
 
 “ Enoch Conger, 
 
 “ Daniel W. Lathrop, 
 
 “ Simeon Woodruff, 
 
 “ Perry Pratt, 
 
 “ Isaac T. Van Tassel, 
 
 “ Myron Tracy, 
 
 Sault Ste. Marie, M. T . 
 
 Micliillimackinac, 
 Sault Ste. Marie, 
 
 (( 
 
 <C 
 
 Detroit, 
 
 Monroe, 
 
 Ypsilanti, 
 Rochester, 
 Ann Arbor, 
 
 (C 
 
 Nankin, 
 
 Elyria, 
 
 Hudson, 
 
 Ohio. 
 
 Vernon, 
 
 Columbus, 
 
 Dover, 
 
 Hudson, 
 
 Cleveland, 
 
 Lyme, 
 
 Eiyria, 
 
 Strongsville, 
 
 Ashtabula, 
 
 Wood, 
 
 Claridon, 
 
ll 
 
 Rev. Henry Cowles, 
 
 “ Ansel Bridgman, 
 
 Stephen Whitaker, Esq. 
 Rt. Rev. Bishop P. Chase, 
 
 Col. J. H. Vose, 
 
 Capt. G. Loomis, 
 
 “ S. Johnson, 
 
 Lieut. J. H. Gallagher, 
 
 H. A. Stennicke, M. D. 
 Lieut. J. M. Clendenning, 
 
 “ A. B. Eaton, 
 
 Rev. W. H. Ferry, 
 
 William Mitchell, Esq. 
 Rev. Sylvester Eaton, 
 
 “ Richard Cadle, 
 
 “ C. Marsh, 
 
 Austinburg, Ohio. 
 
 Farmington, M. T. 
 
 Cleveland, Ohio. 
 
 Gilead, M. T. 
 
 U. S. Army. 
 
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 Michillimackinac, M. T. 
 
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 Buffalo, N. Y. 
 
 Green Bav, M. T. 
 
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 HONORARY MEMBERS. 
 
 Hon. Samuel Fessenden, 
 
 Rev. Bennet Tyler, D. D. 
 
 Gen. A. Richardson, 
 
 Simon Greenleaf, Esq. 
 Rev. William Allen, D. D. 
 
 Prof. Parker Cleaveland, 
 
 Joseph McKeen, Esq. 
 
 Rev. Jeremiah Chapin, D. D. 
 
 “ Daniel Merrill, 
 
 “ Benjamin Tappan, 
 
 “ Asa Cummings, 
 
 “ J. W. Ellenwood, 
 
 Hon. Isaac G. Reed, 
 
 Nathaniel Coffin, Esq. 
 
 Hon. Ether Shepley, 
 
 “ Jonathan Thayer, 
 
 William J. Farley, Esq. 
 Hon. William M. Richardson, 
 Rev. Baron Stowe, 
 
 “ Joshua Bates, D. D. 
 
 Prof. John Hough, 
 
 Hon. Prentiss, 
 
 Rev. Charles Walker, 
 
 “ Joseph Tracy, 
 
 “ T. A. Merrill, 
 
 Hon. Samuel Hubbard, L. L. D. 
 
 Portland, 
 
 CC 
 
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 Brunswick, 
 
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 Waterville, 
 
 Sedgewick, 
 
 Augusta, 
 
 Portland, 
 
 Bath, 
 
 Waldoboro’, 
 
 Wise asset, 
 
 Saco, 
 
 Camden, 
 
 Thomaston, 
 
 Chester, 
 
 Portsmouth, 
 
 Middlebury, 
 
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 Montpelier, 
 
 Rutland, 
 
 Windsor, 
 
 Middlebury, 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Maine. 
 
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 Mass. 
 
12 
 
 Rev. B. B. Wisner, 
 
 David Green, Esq. 
 
 Rufus Anderson, Esq. 
 Henry Hill, Esq. 
 
 Rev. Joel H. Lindslev, 
 
 John Tappan, Esq. 
 
 Bela B. Edwards, Esq. 
 Hon. Thomas L. Winthrop, 
 Rev. Daniel Sharp, D. D. 
 
 “ Lucius Bolles, 
 
 “ Howard Malcome, 
 
 Hon. William Sullivan, 
 
 “ Samuel T. Armstrong, 
 John C. Proctor, Esq. 
 Samuel H. Walley, Esq. 
 Richard Cobb, Esq. 
 
 A. P. Cleaveland, Esq. 
 Rev. J. Codman, D. D. 
 
 William Hilliard, Esq. 
 James Thatcher, M. D. 
 Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D. 
 
 “ Moses Stewart, D. D. 
 
 “ Eben. Porter, D. D. 
 
 “ Daniel Dana, D. D. 
 
 “ H. Humphrey, 
 
 Hon. Lewis Strong, 
 
 Prof. Chester Dewey, 
 
 Edward A. Newton, Esq. 
 Rt. Rev. A. V. Griswold, D. D. 
 Rev. Ethan Smith, 
 
 “ Edward D. Griffin, D. D. 
 “ Daniel Chessman, 
 
 “ Cyrus P. Grosvener, 
 
 “ Jonathan Going, D.D. 
 Daniel Atwood, Esq. 
 Samuel Fletcher, Esq. 
 Prof. Benjamin Silliman, 
 
 Noah Webster, Esq. 
 
 Rev. Jeremiah Day, D. D. 
 Hon. David Daggett, 
 
 “ Horace Hooker, 
 
 Oliver D. Cooke, Esq. 
 Hon. Charles Collins, 
 
 “ Alexander Jones, 
 
 Rev. Francis Wayland, D. D. 
 Hon. Samuel Eddy, 
 
 Rev. Gardner Spring, D. D. 
 
 “ Absalom Peters, 
 
 “ Samuel H. Cox, D. D. 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Mass. 
 
 tt 
 
 Dorchester, 
 Cambridge, 
 Plymouth, 
 Andover, 
 
 CC 
 
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 Newburyport, 
 Amherst, 
 Northampton, 
 Pittsfield, 
 
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 Salem, 
 
 Hanover, 
 Williams College 
 
 Lynn, “ 
 
 Salem, “ 
 
 Worcester, “ 
 
 Pelham, N. H. 
 
 Concord, “ 
 
 New Haven, Conn. 
 
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 Providence, R. I. 
 
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13 
 
 Rev. Thomas De Witt, 
 
 Arthur Tappan, Esq. 
 Walter Bicker, Esq. 
 
 Rev. C. G. Finney, 
 
 Jonathan Torrey, M. D. 
 Gerard Hallock, Esq. 
 Thomas Fessenden, Esq. 
 Lewis Tappan, Esq. 
 
 Rev. Spencer H. Cone, 
 
 “ Archibald McLay, 
 Zacberiah Lewis, Esq. 
 John D. Keyes, Esq. 
 
 Rev. Nathan Bangs, 
 
 William Jay, Esq. 
 
 Rev. D. C. Lansing, D. D. 
 
 “ B. C. Cutler, 
 
 “ Charles Hall, 
 
 Moses Allen, Esq. 
 
 Hon. Jonas Platt, 
 
 Rev. William B. Sprague, 
 
 “ E. A. Kirk, 
 
 Gen. S. Van Rensselaer, 
 
 Hon. Reuben H. Wallworlh,. 
 Rev. C. P. Mcllvain, D. D. 
 
 “ Eliphalet Mott, D. D. 
 
 “ N. S. S. Beman, 
 
 Stephen W. Dana, Esq. 
 Rev. S. C. Aiken, 
 
 “ David Porter, 
 
 “ Henry Dwight, 
 
 Henry W. Howard, Esq. 
 Rev. James Richards, D. D. 
 
 Samuel White, M. D. 
 
 Rev. Alexander Proudfit, D. D. 
 Rev. Thomas McAulev, D. D. 
 
 “ Ezra Stiles Ely, D. D. 
 
 “ A. Greene, 
 
 “ Gregory T. Bedell, 
 
 “ T. H. Skinner, D.'D. 
 
 :t W. T. Brantly, 
 
 Robert Ralston, Esq. 
 
 Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen, 
 Rev. A. Alexander, 
 
 “ Samuel Miller, D. D. 
 
 Hon. William Hall, 
 
 “ William Wirt, L. L. D. 
 
 “ John Breckenridge, 
 
 Prof. Frederick Hall, 
 
 Rev. J. P. K. Henshaw, 
 
 New York, 
 
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 Geneva, 
 
 Canandaigua, 
 
 Auburn, 
 
 Hudson, 
 
 Salem, 
 
 Philadelphia, 
 
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 Newark, 
 
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14 
 
 Rev. John Henderson, 
 
 Hon. John Marshall, L. L. D. 
 
 William McDowell, Esq. 
 Hon. Thomas S. Giimke, 
 
 Rev. Joseph Caldwell, 
 
 “ Samuel A. Worcester, D. D. 
 “ Elizur Butler, 
 
 Thomas Comings, Esq. 
 
 <c A. M. Cunningham, 
 
 “ M. Alexander, 
 
 “ Alva Woods, 
 
 “ Phillip Lindsley, D. D. 
 
 “ Gideon Blackburn, D. D. 
 
 “ John C. Young, 
 
 “ Ljman Beecher, D. D. 
 
 “ Joshua L. Wilson, D. D. 
 
 “ Franklin Y. Vails, 
 
 “ Robert H. Bishop, D. D. 
 
 “ Luther G. Bingham, 
 
 Samuel White, M. D. 
 
 Rev. John Matthews, D. D. 
 
 “ Andrew Wylie, D. D. 
 
 “ John M. Ellis, 
 
 “ Edward Beecher, 
 
 “ Stephen Chapin, 
 
 “ Reuben Post, 
 
 Francis S: Key, Esq. 
 
 Augusta Co. 
 
 Va. 
 
 Richmond, 
 
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 Charleston, 
 
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 Chapel Hill, 
 
 N. C. 
 
 Penitentiary, 
 
 Geo. 
 
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 Augusta, 
 
 Tuscaloosa, 
 
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 Nashville, 
 
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 Danville, 
 
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 Cincinnati, 
 
 Ohio. 
 
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 Oxford, 
 
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 Marietta, 
 
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 Hanover, 
 
 Indiana. 
 
 Bloomington, 
 
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 Jacksonville, 
 
 Illinois. 
 
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 Washington, 
 
 D. C. 
 
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 Georgetown, 
 
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ADDRESS. 
 
 We live in an age, in which the human mind has burst the 
 serements imposed upon it by the prejudices and superstitions 
 of former ages. And when every deduction has been made, 
 from the over-fervid anticipations of exulting intellect, there is 
 enough left to furnish cause of sober rejoicing to the friends of 
 11 equal right” government, of general education, of sound Chris- 
 tianity, It had been declared by one of the holy penmen, who 
 committed his prophecies to paper, before Alexander set forth 
 in his career of conquest, that “ knowledge should increase.” 
 And he must indeed be hard to convince, who does not per- 
 ceive in the moral and physical changes and improvements of 
 the present era, that “ knowledge ” has indeed “ increased ” — 
 that it is pouring forth its rays to enlighten many branches of 
 human pursuit ; and that every step that is gained in the path 
 of moral discovery, brings inquirers into a position in which 
 they are enabled to redouble their efforts in the cause of hu- 
 manity, in all its multiplied bearings to government and people, 
 science and mind. 
 
 Mechanical ingenuity has alone, within the last half cen- 
 tury, increased the power of man over inanimate matter, more 
 than a hundred fold. Were there no other evidences of this, 
 but the applications of the discovery of steam power, that alone 
 would be sufficient to bear me out in the assertion. For it has 
 been successfully applied in aid of almost every important ma- 
 nipulation, from the simple sawing of plank, to moving the 
 printing press. But who can estimate the advantages which 
 are to result from other discoveries in the arts and sciences, 
 which are peculiar to modern times ? Or who, after contempla- 
 ting the subject, can deny that the full effect and scope of these 
 discoveries and improvements, has gone to increase the pow- 
 er of man, over matter and over mind, to teach him to exert, 
 to the greatest possible, extent, the capacities with which he 
 has been endowed, and to exalt his rank in the scale of intel- 
 lectual being. 
 
16 
 
 Most of these changes and advances in society, and all the 
 power and effect resulting from them, have been witnessed 
 since the first anchoring of a European ship on our coasts. 
 And while we have been made partakersof the benefits of foreign 
 discovery, and been permitted, as a nation, to contribute no little 
 share, to the general stock of knowledge and invention — while 
 our own condition particularly, and that of the whole family of 
 man, has been ameliorated, in various ways, what, I may ask, 
 has been the effect of these, to us propitious changes, upon tho 
 aborigines of this continent 1 upon those simple tribes of war- 
 riors and hunters, who were fifst submitted to the inquisitive 
 gaze of a Columbus, an Amerigo, and a Cabot ? 
 
 We have assembled to consider topics intimately connected 
 with this subject. And we cannot better devote a few mo- 
 ments of the time that is permitted to us, than by offering a re- 
 ply to this inquiry. Three centuries have fully elapsed since 
 our acquaintance with the Indian tribes commenced. And 
 every century, and every half century, has been filled up with 
 events most deeply interesting to them and to us. The history 
 of wars, settlements, negociations, presents a rich field of histo- 
 rical and moral research. It is enough for our present purpose 
 to allude to them. It is enough to observe that through every 
 mutation of fortune — in every vicissitude of their relation to us, 
 and to the civilized world, they have exhibited trails of charac- 
 ter which evince the possession of mind. Of fortitude, which 
 challenges admiration. Of endurance, which is almost unpa- 
 rallelled. Of personal bravery, which is without the adventi- 
 tious aids of civilized excitement. Of natural powers of per- 
 ception and eloquence, which are most remarkable. Of hospi- 
 tality of the broadest cast. Of faithfulness in pledged friend- 
 ship, which is without reproach. No uncivilized races have 
 ever sustained in a more successful manner, their abstract wor- 
 thiness of the care and attention, the labors and expenditures of 
 benevolence and Christianity. Many circumstances have in- 
 tervened to retard their improvement, and to discourage mis- 
 sionary effort. Some of these are the result of times which 
 have passed away. Others, of ill-directed zeal, or misguided 
 passion and prejudice, on the part of the natives. But no cir- 
 cumstances have happened which should discourage renewed 
 efforts, or which have relieved us from the duty of imparting 
 to them as much of every art' — of every science — of every mo- 
 ral and physical good, comfort and blessing, as wc ourselves 
 possess, and are, at the same time, capable of communicating. 
 
17 
 
 This occupies the whole field of the labor of doing good. And 
 err as they may err, and go wherever they may go, it is still as 
 highly obligatory upon all who burn with “ good will to man” 
 to persevere in these endeavors — to apply “ line upon line, and 
 precept upon precept”, and never to cease in procuring means, 
 or intermit in applying them, while there is one Indian upon 
 the continent, who remains ignorant of the Saviour. 
 
 This is the principle which animates the missionary cause. 
 And it is a principle which has animated many of the wise and 
 good who have risen up in our land, in every age. Societies 
 and individuals have emulated each other. And men like El- 
 liot and Brainard have devoted themselves to the work with 
 a zeal and success, which are admired wherever these sainted 
 names are known. 
 
 It is the province of the great and talented benevolent asso- 
 ciations of the country, to march onward in this cause. But 
 while the individuals who manage these institutions are devo- 
 ting their lives in the prosecution of this cause, and while we 
 behold missionary after missionary penetrating the western 
 forest, and traversing the Great Valley of the West in search of 
 
 “ nature’s outcast child, 
 
 “ Sad, wandering, poor, dejected and despoiled,” 
 
 have not we, as inhabitants of the frontier, appropriate duties 
 to perform, without trenching on grounds already occupied by 
 other societies ? Can wrn not aid the evangelist in his impor- 
 tant work ? Can we not at least hail his approach, and give 
 him of our “scrip and store” while he abides ? Can we not di- 
 rect him to the residences of those tribes 
 
 “ a wonder at the first, 
 
 “ In forests bred, in war and wandering nurst, 
 
 “ Who plumed and painted, insolent and free 
 “ Still rove their plains and deem it liberty, 
 
 “ Still hug those charms the flagging chase supplies, 
 
 “ Slow to repine, and careless to be wise ?” 
 
 Can we not advise him of their numbers, condition, disposition, 
 the advantages or disadvantages which their position presents 
 for missionary establishments ? Can we not inform him in what 
 language they converse — with what people they war — with 
 what superstitions they are debased ? Can we not direct him 
 how to prepare for, and to encounter the perils of his way? 
 Can we not aid to check the tide of intemperance among them? 
 Can we not add our efforts to those of the government, and of 
 3 
 
18 
 
 individuals to preserve peace, and to teach them the folly, and 
 the miseries of war ? And is there not in all this, something 
 that comes home to every good member of society, and impres- 
 sively so, to every Christian ? And cannot much of this aid be 
 given, without money % Is not information wealth % Is not 
 opinion worth a price ? 
 
 It is believed that there is much to be done in this way. 
 And that while our more opulent brethren on the Atlantic, and 
 beyond the A tlantic, are contributing of their abundance to 
 furnish forth laborers, we may find an appropriate field of la- 
 bor, by employing such leisure and such labor as we can com- 
 mand, to aid, direct, and encourage, missionary, school, and ag- 
 ricultural effort. Such then, are the leading objects of this 
 association. And as such, they are committed and commend- 
 ed to all, under the guidance of that Eternal Wisdom which 
 ruleth “in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of 
 the earth.” 
 
he subjoined abstract of the proceedings of the members of 
 this society, residing at Sauit Ste. Marie, authorized to act in 
 committee, agreeably to a resolve of the society, was received at 
 the Secretary’s office, after the foregoing pages were struck off. 
 
 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST. MARY’S COMMITTEE 
 OF THE ALGIC SOCIETY. 
 
 December, 1832. 
 
 Mri Schoolcraft communicated a statement of the Chippewa 
 population enumerated by him in his recent expedition to the 
 source of the Mississippi. Filed for the use of the society. 
 
 Extracts were read from letters of the date of Sept. 27, recei- 
 ved from the Rev. W. T. Boutwell, a missionary in the service 
 of the A. B. C. F. missions stationed at La Pointe, Lake Superi- 
 or. After stating some of the discouraging circumstances at- 
 tending the undertaking, he remarks: “Think not, however, 
 that I am discontented or unhappy here. No, far from it. I am 
 always content, always happy, when I am conscious duty calls 
 me. Here I have a hundred fold more work than I have hands 
 or strength to perform. As I have mentioned in a line to Brother 
 Porter the facts relative to my school, the Indians, my exercise, 
 &c. I need not repeal them. I endeavor daily to do something at 
 the language. But imagine, for one moment, what you could do 
 with a boy (the only interpreter) who knows neither English, 
 French nor Indian, and yet is in the habit of mangling all. * * * 
 However, I find by daily visiting the lodges, that I may retain, 
 and possibly add a little to my Chippewa, now and then. I find 
 there is a trifling difference between the language as spoken here, 
 and at the Sauit. The difference consists principally in the ac- 
 cent. I find the interchangeables, if possible, more irregular here 
 than there. 
 
 The old Chief is very pleasant and kind. I find him a very 
 good standard for testing accents. He enunciates very distinct. 
 His youngest son has attended school till Mr. W. recently sent 
 him with one of his men, to Yellow River. He had commenced 
 reading in easy prose. There is a little girl in our family who 
 now reads off with correctness and considerable fluency, in prose. 
 Others are equally advanced, though none who are pure Indian.” 
 
20 
 
 In a letter to the Rev. J. Porter of the same date, Mr. Boutwell 
 remarks : “ From four to five hours, I spend in a neat little school 
 of from 20 to 25, which at first was untamed as so many wild 
 asses’ colts. But I began as I intended to go along, making the 
 crooked straight and the rough places smooth. My school now 
 understand me, and I them: To exclude boasting, I am not asha- 
 med to have any one compare it, with a N. E. school for order, 
 discipline and progress. Some of the Indian hoys looked prodi- 
 gious wild at first, as they peeped in at the door, and whispered Mr. 
 
 • did not do so. Some of them are getting over their fears 
 
 and venture in, where I hope by and by, to draw many more. It 
 ■would be thought small business by not a few perhaps, were they 
 situated as I am. I could not help asking myself, even at times — 
 must you pass through college halls to quality yourself to teach 
 these children? But I always found a ready answer, “Despise 
 not the day of small things.” “ In due time you shall reap if you 
 faint not 1” 
 
 To give you a specimen of La Pointe discipline, before I leave 
 the subject, of schools, one day a little girl played truant. Her 
 father happened to pass by and saw her. The first I heard was 
 an outcry which thrilled through the whole school. I stepped to 
 the door when the father.had a piece of a canoe rib, laying it on 
 to the child’s back with all his might, and crying pindigeu, pindi- 
 geu, every blow. He followed her quite to the door, and whip- 
 ped her into the house, and requested me to let him know when 
 she was absent again. This man with difficulty was at first per- 
 suaded to let his children go to school. He is a catholic. 
 
 The larger part of this band of Indians, are now on the Island. 
 I make it a rule to visit more or less every day, and have always 
 been kindly received. Some of them manifest all that indiffer- 
 ence, and hesitate not to speak out what they Ihink — just as I an- 
 ticipated. But I had much rather an Indian would tell me, than 
 another, that he does not believe, nor care for me, nor what I 
 say.” 
 
 A letter of Sept. 22, was read from Rev. John Clark, a mis- 
 sionary of Montgomery county, New York, in the service of the 
 Methodist Convention, in which he observes, “I hope to be at 
 your place (St. Mary’s) in May or June next, for the purpose of 
 opening a permanent Mission and School among the Chippewas, 
 at. such place, and as early, as may be advisable.” 
 
 Extracts of a letter (Oct. 15th) were read from the Rev. Absa- 
 lom Peters, corresponding secretary of the American Home Mis- 
 sionary Society, on the subject of the appointment of chaplains 
 for the army, referring to the recommendation of the measure 
 contained in the report of Gov. Cass, the Secretary of War, last 
 year, and suggesting to certain individuals the propriety of call- 
 ing his attention by letters, again to the subject. 
 
 The chairman of the committee verbally communicated infor- 
 mation respecting the residence and successful labors of several 
 
81 
 
 converted Chippewas, of the Methodist mission in the vicinity of 
 York, Upper Canada. The advantages they possess for com- 
 municating religious instruction to the Indians, in the use of 
 their vernacular language, appear to be obvious, and a continu- 
 ance ot their exertions, with a better and more certain supply of 
 food, clothing, and books, promise to produce much good. One 
 of the number, Elder John Sunday, received an invitation from 
 Mr. Holiday, the principal trader at the bay of Kewyvvinovv, lake 
 Superior, to visit the band at that place, and pass the winter 
 there. He accented ibis invitation, deeming the way to have 
 been providentially opened, and embarked for that place late in 
 November. 
 
 Mr. Schoolcraft announced his determination to comply with 
 a resolution of the parent society, by delivering a course of lec- 
 tures on the grammatical structure of the Indian languages, but 
 deemed it consistent with such assent, so far to modify, on ac- 
 count of the paucity of our local population, as to communicate 
 the Lectures in a written form. He communicated the first Lec- 
 ture, containing observations on the substantive. Read and filed 
 for the use ot the society. 
 
 The committee recommend, that the Rev. Wm. T. Bout well, 
 (Presbyterian,) the Rev. Abel Bingham, (Baptist,) and Elder 
 John Sunday, (Methodist,) be elected resident members of this 
 society. And that the Rev. Wm. M’Murrav, a missionary to 
 the Indians, of the Episcopal church, Upper Canada, be elected a 
 Foreign Honorary member. 
 
 January, 1833. 
 
 Mr. Schoolcraft communicated his second lecture on the Ojibwai 
 language, containing further observations on the substantive, illus- 
 trating by examples, the numerous inflections, by which this part 
 of speech is made to perform the office of a pseuds adjective, 
 pseudo-verb, &c. 
 
 The following remarks of Lieut. Jameson, one of the mem- 
 bers of the committee who was not present at the last meeting 
 were read. “ I observe in one of your letters that chaplains to 
 the army are mentioned as a very excellent thing, and in this I 
 cordially agree. But a moments reflection upon the situation of 
 our army, would convince us of its inexpediency, if not impracti- 
 cability. In the first place, if it were not a voluntary act on the 
 part of the officers of every detached post, the preaching of the 
 gospel would be of none effect. And if it were a voluntary act, 
 how would the choice be made ? And what minister could feel 
 it his duty to accept a place in a military garrison exposed to such 
 conflicting changes, and so many hopeless difficulties? In my 
 view it would be exceedingly doubtful whether such a step would 
 
be blessed with good in any proportion to the evil that might re - 
 sult to the cause of Christ.” 
 
 Means were taken by the committee early in the month, to 
 carry into effect a resolution of the society, directing pecuniary 
 aid to be given towards sending an express, with tne post office' 
 and other letters and papers of the missionaries stationed at Lake 
 Superior. On the 16th the minor chiefChigud and Chiojibwai, the 
 former a convert, set out from the Indian Office with the interior 
 mail containing letters for the La Pointe missionaries, the lay tea- 
 cher of Sandy Lake, and various persons engaged in the fur trade. 
 
 A memoir was laid before the committee, from Mr. Loomis, 
 formerly director of the printing press at the Sandwich Islands, 
 wherein he comments, in detail, on a system of alphabetical ro- 
 tation for writing the Indian, proposed to be adopted at the 
 Mackinac mission, and suggests changes, founded on an exami- 
 nation of the elementary powers of the English alphabet. Also, 
 a printed sheet, from the same gentleman, exhibiting an alphabet 
 recently adopted by him, in which he proposes to write the nor- 
 thern languages with eight vowel and ten consonant sounds, ex- 
 clusive of dipthongal and nasal characters. 
 
 Mr. Audrain verbally communicated the fact, that nine of the 
 native Chippewas of the place have made a profession of Chris- 
 tianity — that many more are reported as converts who have not 
 united themselves with any church, but are under the care and 
 instruction of spiritual teachers. Also, that a considerable num- 
 ber ol the resident Chippewas, who were in times past, addicted 
 to drinking in its most enslaved forms, were now members of the 
 temperance society. That they themselves and their families, 
 were in consequence, better clothed and prepared to encounter 
 the severities of the season, and were, to an extent, which had 
 caused general remark, in the possession of temporal comforts, 
 and a cheerful disposition before unknown. 
 
 17th. John Kabatch, a Chippewa convert, set out on a visit to 
 the praying Indians at the Mackinac mission. 20th. John Otou- 
 gea, a converted Chippewa, returned from a week’s visit to the 
 Indians assembled at the lodge of the chief, Wai Ishki, at the foot 
 of lake Superior, having exhorted and prayed with them. Re- 
 ported a favorable state of religious feeling in this chief’s numer- 
 ous family. One of the listeners, from without, called. Meek-keed- 
 dainacquet, appeared to be interested. He said, that he would 
 change his religion if his elder brother, Kagaiosh, would do the 
 same. 
 
 A letter was read from B. F. Stickney, Esq. of Nov. 29th, 
 1832, expressing his peculiar views on the subject of the Tempe- 
 rance cause, which had been elicited by the perusal of an address 
 “on the effects of ardent spirits on the condition of the North 
 American Indians.” Mr. Stickney has had the opportunity of 
 much personal observation, on the existence of intemperance 
 
23 
 
 among the aborigines. He fully admits the prevalence of the 
 evil, designating it “the most dangerous of all poisons, ,J hut 
 questions the efficacy and propriety of the principle of voluntary 
 associations among Christian sects to put it down. The com- 
 mittee have been wholly unable to acquiesce with him, on the 
 latter conclusion. Not only so, but deem it the duty of every 
 man, woman and child, to unite in the effort of voluntary ab- 
 stinence associations. 
 

 

 
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