In January, 1816, the number of baptized Greenland ers connected with the three settlements which the Brethren have established in Greenland, was as follows: Begun 1733, New Herrnhuth, 359 1758, Lichtenfels, 306 1774, Lichtenati, 487 Total 1 152 To some these numbers may appear inconsiderable, but let it be remembered they constitute a large pro portion of the Greenland nation. The population of this unhospitable country is said not to exceed six or seven thousand ; so that, if this estimate be correct, the Christian converts under the care of the Brethren form about one-sixth of the whole inhabitants of the country. Such indeed has been their success, that in the neigh bourhood of New Herrnhuth and Lichtenfels, Green land has for many years past assumed the aspect of a Christian country. A century ago, not a Christian was to be found in the whole of that unhospitable country ; now there are no pagans in the neighbourhood of these two settlements, except occasional visitors. A few years ago only two of the converts at Lichtenfels had relaps ed into paganism ; and at New Herrnhuth, the number was nearly the same. This certainly is a very extra ordinary fact, and is a striking proof of the strictness of the Brethren in the admission of persons to baptism, and of the care with which they afterwards watch over them.
In 1771, the Brethren succeeded in establishing a mission on the unhospitable shores of Labrador, after repeated attempts for this purpose had failed. From. their first arrival in the country, the missionaries were treated by the Esquimaux in the most friendly maistcr, and in a short time the most perfect confidence was es tablished between them. No European would formerly have ventured himself alone with these savages, or have spent a night with then), on any consideration whatever ; but the brethren travelled over the ice to them, visited them in their winter-houses, and slept among them many nights successively. When they endeavoured to in struct them in the principles of Christianity, the savages often expressed their astonishment at the things which were told them ; at other times they would not listen to any thing about religion. They seemed to have some idea of a Supreme Being, who made the heaven and the earth ; yet so feeble was the impression, that there ap peared among them no traces of religious worship. To convince them of their sinfulness was no easy task. The liars consoled themselves that they were not thieves ; the thieves that they were not murderers ; and the mur derers that they were not Kablunats, i. e. Europeans, to whom it seems they assign the highest place in the scale of criminals.' But though the missionaries for several years met with many difficulties and discourage merits, they at length beheld their labours crowned with considerable success. In 1817, the whole number of Esquimaux baptized by them at the different missionary settlements in this country, since the commencement of their labours, was as follows: The schools were attended not only by the children, but by the adults, many of whom made considerable pro gress in learning. They had family worship both morn ing and evening in all their houses, and it was extremely pleasing to hear them employed in their own habitations in reading the New Testament, which is now translated the Redeemer.
After the house of Stuart ascended the throne of England, the tyranny of the government, both in church and state, was so intolerable, that numbers of the people fled from their native land, and sought an asylum in the wilds of America, in the hope of ob taining that liberty of conscience among savages, which was denied them by their own countrymen. In 1646, Mr. John Elliot, one of their ministers, began to preach to the Indians in the neighbourhood of Boston. He af terwards translated the whole Bible into their language. and several other useful books. Besides Mr. Elliot, there were a number of other ministers, who exerted themselves with great energy and zeal in instructing the savages ; and their efforts were successful in an eminent degree in promoting Christianity and the arts of civiliza tion among them. In 1687, there were six churches of baptized Indians in New England, and eighteen assem blies of Catechumens professing Christianity. Of the Indians themselves, there were no fewer than twenty-four who were preachers of the gospel, besides four English ministers who preached in the Indian language.
In 1734, Mr. John Scrjeant settled as a missionary among a number of Indians on the river Housatunnuk, in the province of Massachusetts. His labours among them appeared at first to be attended %Nit!) considerable success ; but the Dutch traders in the neighbourhood never ceased in their endeavours to corrupt them with ruin; and though the Indians passed strong resolu tions against drinking, and even kept them for a con siderable time, yet some of them unhappily relapsed into that and other vices, even after they seemed to be com pletely weaned from them. In 1811, the Stockbridge Indians, as they are now called, amounted to 475 per sons, none of whom we suppose were professed pagans. Of late years they have made considerable progress in husbandry, and other useful arts.
In 1743, Mr. David Brainerd entered on his labours as a missionary among the Indians. Many were the fatigues, the dangers, and the distresses, which he ex perienced in the course of his labours among then) ; and no less singular were the faith, the patience, and the self-denial, which he manifested under trials of this description. His success however amply compensated him for all his toils and sufferings. The impression which his ministrations made upon the Indians was truly extraordinary, yet it was at the same time scrip tural and rational. Few men were ever more free from enthusiasm than Mr. Brainerd, and none could be more careful to check it in others. A dry eye was often scarcely to be seen in their assemblies; yet there was no disturbance of the public worship. A deep impression was made on their hearts; but there was no boisterous agitation of their passions. All was pow erful and efficacious; yet calm and peaceful. The number whom he baptized was not considerable; but there is reason to believe they were in general sincere converts to the Chi istian faith.