294 PLEASING EFFECTS OF THEIR 



the blessing of Jehovah ! then rising to their 

 seats, waiting to hear the word of life. There 

 appeared no wandering eye, nor a trifling look, 

 all was solemnity, excepting at intervals, when, 

 as they had been encouraged by the Wesleyan 

 preachers, or had witnessed their example, first 

 one, and then another offered up a short prayer 

 with convulsions, groans, and tears, or expressed 

 their religious feelings of joy, with exclamation, 

 and a slight clapping of the hands. There 

 appeared to me no studied art, or vanity in 

 these extravagant proceedings, and expressions 

 of what they felt ; still, I could not but regret 

 that they were at all influenced to conduct 

 themselves in this manner. The Wesleyans 

 speak of such extravagancies, as the effusions of 

 overflowing souls ; but it is impossible to con- 

 sider them, with their camp meetings, that are 

 held in different parts of the country, at stated 

 periods of the year, otherwise than with decided 

 disapprobation. The Indians appeared to have 

 embraced the Gospel in its simplicity and 

 purity, uniting faith, experience, and practice, 

 and at the close of the afternoon service, I 

 baptized twelve children, and adults, and mar- 

 ried five couples, most of whom had families, 

 but had not found an opportunity before of 

 going through the marriage service, since they 



