Letter-1831, December 29

Dec. 29, 1831. Thomas Johnson’s report to the Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church:

   Rev. and dear Brother:— The time has rolled round when it becomes my duty to make known to you the state and prospects of the missions on the Kanzas. If you have received the minutes of the Missouri Conference, (though I have seen no account of this,) you have learned that brother Wm. Johnson and myself were appointed to labor together among the different tribes of Indians living on and near the Kanzas river, viz: the Shawnees, Delawares, Kanzas, Peons, Piankeshaws and Weas. Our work thus laid off was called ‘The Missions on the Kanzas.’ We were instructed to occupy any part of this work that might be deemed most advisable, as it was then and is yet somewhat uncertain what can be done.

   After a fatiguing journey of nearly 500 miles, we reached our field of labor on the 21st of October. We were very much discouraged; everything appeared to be in a state of confusion; the small pox was raging among different tribes, and the Indians flying in different directions: our school among the shawnees, which had been in a flourishing condition the most of the time we were absent at conference, was suspended, with the exception of a few children that boarded with us, and it was but seldom that we could even see an Indian to get instruction in learning the language; therefore there was no possible chance to preach to them, consequently our spirits had well sunk within us, for we felt that we had a full and heavy year’s work assigned to us, and had no time to lose. But we learned from a little experience that patience, perseverance and fortitude are essential qualifications for missionaries; we therefore determined to do the best we could.

   Brother William has visited the Kanzas tribe, and stayed a short season with them. He procured an Indian to aid him in learning the language, and returned to the Shawnee mission, as the Kanzas were generally from home. He has aided some in keeping up the Shawnee school, (as our teacher has been absent nearly two months on business,) and had advanced considerably in the language, and expects to be able to preach to them next summer.

   He will set out for their villages next week, and will probably spend the principal part of the winter among them, They are about seventy miles from this place. We have been striving to get our houses prepared for winter, and collecting provisions for the year.

   The small pox has subsided, and the Indians are now returning home. Our prospects seem to brighten a little. There are accessions to our Shawnee school almost every day, and the children learn very well. We have instructed in this school upwards of thirty Indian children, though not all at the same time. There is but little doubt but we shall have at this establishment as many as we can manage advantageously, and we hope before the year closes, to have schools in operation among the different tribes in our charge.

   But the instructing of children alone does not satisfy us: this, though of great importance, is only a secondary object. Our great anxiety is to find access to those who are capable of understanding the nature and enjoying the influence of our holy religion; but here our way is hedged up yet, for want of suitable interpreters; but we are endeavoring to improve every moment we can get in learning the language ourselves. Brother William is learning the Kanzas, and I am learning the Shawnee, as with knowledge of these two languages, we can converse and preach to six or eight different tribes of these Northwestern Indians.

   We collected together a tolerably good congregation of Shawnees last Sabbath, and as it was Christmas day, we endeavored to explain to them the reason for our keeping this day in remembrance. They listened withgreat solemnity while we told them of Jesus Christ coming into the world to save all men, red men as well as white. They informed us afterwards that they would think about what we told them when they went home. I must conclude, for I have already lengthened out this communication beyond what I intended.

   We hope that the friends of missions in general will not fail to pray that the great Head of the Church may be with us in our infant efforts to enter this vast missionary field among the numerous tribes of Northwestern Indians. I remain yours, in the bonds of a peaceful Gospel.

Thos. Johnson.
December 29, 1831,

[From the New York “Christian Advocate and Journal and Zion’s Herald,” vol. VI, p. 94, February 10, 1832. Copy in vault, K.S.H.S.]