Our Life Among the Iroquois IndiansNebraska Paperback, 1892 - 321 pages The world of the mid-nineteenth-century Seneca Indians comes vividly to life in this classic biography of missionaries Asher and Laura Wright. The Wrights lived with the Senecas for over forty years, during which they translated parts of the New Testament and hymns into the Seneca language, oversaw a periodical, and recorded much about everyday reservation life and history. Their recollections are an indispensable source of information about traditional Seneca life and the activities of missionaries among them. It was a time of intense change for the Senecas, as they withdrew from the centuries-old Iroquois Confederacy and increasingly embraced Christianity. The Wrights recall religious disputes between Christians and traditionalists on the reservation, including a contentious Christmas observance held within a longhouse, a debate over the origins of the world, and Chief Logan’s fierce opposition to Christian burial rites for a relative. They helped to found and manage the first twenty years of the Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children, later known as the Thomas Indian School, which continued until the mid-1950s. The Wrights also provide valuable descriptions of Seneca religious ceremonies, eyewitness accounts of community events and conversions, memorable speeches by Red Jacket and Honondeuh, and many Seneca legends, origin stories, and historical accounts. |
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Our Life Among the Iroquois Indians (Classic Reprint) Mrs. Harriet S. Caswell No preview available - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
afraid asked asylum baby Barnet began blessed brother Buffalo Buffalo Creek Reservation Caledonia County called Cattaraugus Reservation Chief Infant Chief Logan child Christ Christian comfort corn Cornplanter daughter dear eyes faith Father Gleason feast feel fire friends gave give gospel Ha-wen-ni-yu hand Handsome Lake happy hear heard heart hope husband hymn Indian mother Indian Orphan Iroquois Jesus Johnsbury land Laura Little Johnny John live Long House look Mary Jemison meeting melodeon miles mind Mission church Mission House missionary morning never night pagan pray prayer promise received religion Ruler Sabbath sachems Saviour schoolhouse seemed Seneca language Seneca nation Sheldon sick sing soon soul spirit teacher tell thee things thou thought to-day told took tribe Vermont warriors Wi-yu wife wish woman women woods words Wright
Popular passages
Page 195 - Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep : If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Page 275 - There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called on me for revenge. I have sought it. I have killed many. I have fully glutted my vengeance. For my country I rejoice at the beams of peace; but do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one.
Page 88 - Have not I commanded thee ? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Page 270 - But an evil day came upon us. Your forefathers crossed the great water, and landed on this island. Their numbers were small. They found friends and not enemies. They told us they had fled from their own country for fear of wicked men, and had come here to enjoy their religion.
Page 289 - When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply; The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
Page 270 - Their numbers were small. They found friends and not enemies. They told us they had fled from their own country, for fear of wicked men, and had come here to enjoy their religion. They asked for a small seat. We took pity on them, granted their request ; and they sat down among us. We gave them corn and meat; they gave us poison in return.
Page 271 - Brother, our seats were once large and yours were small. You have now become a great people, and we have scarcely a place left to spread our blankets.
Page 278 - Lo, the poor Indian, whose untutored mind Sees God in clouds, and hears Him in the wind...
Page 125 - JESUS loves me ! this I know, For the Bible tells me so ; Little ones to him belong, They are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me, The Bible tells me so.
Page 71 - What does the Bishop want ? If he came here to tell us that our Indian system is a sink of iniquity, tell him we all know it. Tell him the United States never cures a wrong until the people demand it; and when the hearts of the people are reached the Indian will be saved.