HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK IROQUOIS 381 



buried there. Some Quakers were at Onondaga in 1809 and their 

 words satisfactorily settle the time and effects of the prophet's 

 mission: "We were informed, not only by themselves but the 

 interpreter, that they had totally refrained from the use of ardent 

 spirits for about nine years, and that none of the natives will 

 touch it." 



He visited the President of the United States in March 1802, 

 with some Onondaga and Seneca chiefs, and received a letter 

 from the secretary of war, from which it may be gathered that 

 his mission was then recent. There is mention of the revelation 

 and of the four angels who made it, which was good news because 

 of its objects : 



Brothers — The President is pleased with seeing you all in good 

 health, after so long a journey, and he rejoices in his heart, that 

 one of your own people has been employed to make you sober, 

 good and happy; and that he is so well disposed to give you 

 good advice, and to set before you so ^ood examples. 



I. Brothers — If all the red people follow the advice of your 

 friend and teacher, the Handsome Lake, and in future will be 

 i. sober, honest, industrious and good, there can be no doubt but 

 the Great Spirit will take care of you and make you happy. 



From time to time the Six Nations had made efforts to repress 

 drunkenness, asking for stringent measures against rum selling 

 I one year and for their repeal the next. They sadly knew the full 

 [extent of the evil, but their good resolutions were not proof 

 against it. In this respect there was now a great reformation, 

 which yet was not thorough. There came later efforts. In 1830 

 iithe Rev. James Cusick, a Tuscarora, founded a temperance soci- 

 jety of more than 100 members, and in 1845 another of 50 mem- 

 bers. In 1845 the Rev. Asher Bliss said of the Cattaraugus reser- 

 {vation • " Temperance societies have been patronized by nearly 

 'all the chiefs and leading men on the reservation. Pledges have 

 'been circulated, and received the signatures of a large majority 

 of the population, on the Washingtonian plan." 



As often as with us these efforts have been kept up since, there 

 peing sometimes three or four temperance organizations on one 

 reservation. The Good Templars have had one great advantage 



