34^ NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



sion work alone, preaching at Oquaga and elsewhere. The Rev. 

 Eli Forbes went there in 1762, with the Rev. Asaph Rice. They 

 returned in 1763. In that year Samuel Ashpo spent six weeks 

 at Otsiningo. 



In 1761 the Rev. Samson Occum went from the school at 

 Lebanon to Oneida, and Samuel Kirkland visited the Mohawk 

 valley, being then quite young. His later work in New York 

 began in 1764, when he left Joseph Woolley as teacher at Oquaga 

 in November and then went to the Senecas, remaining there till 

 1766. Among the Oneidas and Mohawks 127 were then attend- 

 ing school. After leaving the Senecas, Kirkland for a time 

 alternated betw^een Oquaga and the Mohawk valley. At a later 

 day his public services were of inestimable value. 



The Rev. Messrs C. J. Smith and Theophilus Chamberlain 

 were at Oquaga in the fall of 1764, and in 1769 that place had 

 been served for three years by the Rev. Eleazar Moseley, fol- 

 lowed by the Rev. Peter and Henry Avery. Aaron Crosby was 

 there in 1771, and in 1774 had trouble with the Indians from his 

 refusal to use the liturgy or to baptize some children. 



While others testified to a great advance, as there certainly 

 had been, the scholarly Dr Wheelock was greatly disappointed 

 in the results of the education of Indians. After telling all he 

 had taught them, he said : " Some who on account of their parts 

 and learning bid the fairest for usefulness, are sunk down as low, 

 savage and brutish in manner of living as they were before any 

 endeavours were used to raise them up." 



Space will not permit enlarging on the frequent failures in 

 Indian education, caused by following theories and disregarding 

 the advice of practical men, acquainted with the situation. At 

 this time the action of the Oquagas indicates part of the advance 

 already made : 



They would in order to restore peace in their town, enter into 

 a general resolution to abide by the Liturgy printed in the Indian 

 language; that they had reason to believe the Missionary would l] 

 conform to it, in which case they would let him stay, otherwise 

 they would use the Liturgy themselves till a proper person 

 could be provided. 



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