In 1734, a number of the United Brethren proceeded to North America, with the view of introducing Chris tianity among some of the Indian tribes. To describe the difficulties, and trials, and persecutions, which they experienced in the prosecution of their disinterested la bours, would far exceed the limits of this article. In November, 1755, a party of French Indians arrived in the neighbourhood of the missionary settlement. As the family were one night sitting at supper, they heard an uncommon barking of clogs, upon which one of the brethren went out at the back door to sce what was the matter. Deming the report of a gun, several others ran to open the house-door. Here stood a number of Indians with their pieces pointed to it ; and no sooner was it opened, than they instantly fired and killed one of the missionaries. Ilis wife also, and some others, were wounded, but they dew up stairs to the garret with the utmost precipitation, and harricadoed the door with bed steads. Having pursued them, the savages endeavoured to burst open the door ; but being baffled in the attempt, they set the house on fire. Two of the family having got on the flaming roof, leaped down and made their es cape. Christian Fabricius, one of the Brethren, was the next who made the attempt, but before he could escape, be was perceived by the savages, and instantly wounded with two balls. He was the only one whom they seized alive; and after dispatching him with their hatchets, they cut off his scalp, and left him dead on the ground. All the others who fled to the garret were burnt to death. Senseman, one of the missionaries who made his escape, had the inexpressible grief to behold his wife perish in this miserable manner. NVhen surrounded by the llame,k, she was seen standing with folded hands, and in the spirit of a martyr was heard to exclaim, " 'Tis all well, dear Saviour." The whole number who perished in this terrible catastrophe was eleven of the missionary family : five only made their escape. The Brethren, however, were the only sufferers : the Indian congregation hap pily. escaped ; but yet they lost the whole of their pro party, for the savages set fire to the town, and laid waste all their plantations.
During the American war, the missionaries and the Indians under their care were involved in one trouble after another; and toward the close of it, a number of the latter were massacred by the white people, in the most treacherous and cruel manner. The Brethren and their congregation had lately been removed to Sandusky, by Colonel de Peyster, the English gover nor of Fort Detroit, from the flourishing settlements they had established on the river Muskingum ; and, as in consequence of this they were reduced to the greatest straits for want of the necessaries of life, a number of the Christian Indians returned, in order to fetch the corn they had left growing in the fields. WInle a party of them were in that quarter, a band or Americans came into the neighbourhood, with a de sign to murder them. After a scene of unparalleled baseness and hypocrisy, they made the Indians prison ers, and told them that they must all die next morning. When the day of execution arrived, the murderers fix ed on two houses, one for the men, the other for the women and children, to which they wantonly gave the name of slaughter-houses. These poor innocent crea tures, men, women, and children, were bound with ropes, two and two together. They were then led into the slaughter-houses appointed for them. There they were scalped and murdered, in cold blood, by these demons in human form. In this horrid manner per ished no fewer than ninety-six persons, among whom were five of the most valuable assistants, and thirty four children. They behaved, according to the
mony of the murderers themselves, with wonderful patience, and met death with cheerful resignation. The miscreants even acknowledged that they were good Indians, " for," said they, " they sung and prayed to their latest breath." This band of murderers was soon afterwards attacked by a body or English and In dian warriors, and the greater part of them cut in pieces. Thus they met that vengeance from the swords of their enemies, which would probably never have been indicted on them by the laws of their country : a circumstance in which every heart would exult, were it not for the awful consideration, that persons, whose hands were still reek ing with the blood of their murdered victims, were but ill prepared to appear before the tribunal of the Almighty.
By the numerous and heavy trials which it has had to endure, this mission, which was long extremely flou rishing, has been greatly checked in its progress. The whole number of Indians baptized by the Brethren, since its commencement, may be estimated, we appi chend, at about 1400; but though they have still three settlements among them, the members of their congregations do not arn::int to 200.
In 1733, several of the Brethren sailed for Berhicc, and settled as missionaries among the Indians. Others afterwards proceeded to Surinam, and established dif ferent settlements among those in that colony. Some also went as missionaries among the free negroes ; but in consequence of the many difficulties and disasters they met with, they were obliged to relinquish all these undertakings one alter another. Among the negro slaves in Paramaribo and the neighbourhood, they were more successful. In 1816, their congregations in this quarter consisted of 817 members.
In Demerara, the Methodist missionaries, and some from the London Missionnry Society, have also laboured among the negroes with great success.
In 1732, Leonard Dober and David Nitschman, two of the Moravian Brethren, proceeded to St. Thomas, one of the Danish 'West India islands. As this was the first mission undertaken by the Brethren, it may not be uninteresting to state the circumstances which gave rise to it, especially as they afford an instance of disin terested benevolence, which perhaps has scarcely a pa rallel in the annals of history. When Count Zinzen dorf was at Copenhagen, attending the coronation of Christian VI. the King of Denmark, a negro, called Anthony, contracted an acquaintance with some of his domestics, and informed them that he had a sister in the island of St. Thomas, who was exceedingly desir ous of being instructed in the principles of religion ; but as she had neither time nor opportunity for it, she often besought the Great God to send some person to spew her the way to heaven. Anthony having soon after visited Herrnhuth, again declared, in the presence of many of the congregation, the desire of his countrymen, and especially his sister, for Christian instruction ; but he added, that the labours of the negroes were so accu mulated, that they could have no opportunity of religious improvement, unless their teacher was himself a slave, to instruct them in the midst of their daily avocations. In consequence of this representation, Leonard Dober, and Tobias Lcupold, two of the congregation, offered to go to the island of St. Thomas, and to sell themselves as slaves, in case they should find no other way of in structing the negrocs. Besides this mission in St. Too mas, the Brethren afterwards established others in St.