Report-1838, May 30

May 30, 1838. Dr. Bangs, from the committee appointed at the last meeting, made the following report, which was adopted:

   The committee appointed to take into consideration certain documents presented to the board of Managers respecting the necessity and expediency of establishing a large central school for the benefit of Indian children and youth north of the Cherokee line, southwest of the Missouri River and east of the Rocky Mountains, have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to present the following as the result of their deliberations.

   For several years pest our Missionaries have had schools upon a small scale among the Shawnees and other tribes of Indians in that region of country who have become in part christianized, and though these schools have exerted a salutar1 influence upon those who have attended them, yet, being small, and divided among so many distant tribes, they are necessarily limited in their influence, expensive in their support, as well as difficult of management.

   It appears, moreover, that this being a part of the country ceded by the United States to the Indians for the perpetual possession, other tribes are moving into the neighborhood, to whom it is desirable to impart the benefits of religious, moral, and intellectual, as well as mechanical and agricultural instruction, that they may in due time be exalted to the benefits and immunities of a Christian and civilized community, and this is the most likely to be accomplished by the employment of suitable and efficient means for the education of their children and youth.

   From the humane policy of the general government of the United States, in the efforts they made to rescue the savages of our wilderness from their state of barbarism, by means of schools, we have reason to believe, if it be determined to establish a school of a character contemplated in the documents above referred to, that pecuniary means may be obtained from the government to carry the plan into effect, and also an annuity for its support from year to year.

   Under these views and impressions, the committee submit the following resolutions for the concurrence of the board.

Resolved, 1, That it be and hereby is recommended to the Missouri Annual Conference to adopt such measures as they may consider suitable for the establishment of a central manual labor school for the special benefit of Indian children and youth, in such place and under such regulation as they may judge most fit and proper.

Resolved, 2, That whenever the said conference shall so resolve, this board pledge themselves to cooperate with them in carrying the plan into effect, provided that a sum not exceeding ten thousand dollars shall be drawn from the Treasury of the Missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal Church for any one year, for the support of the school so established.

Resolved, 3, That with a view to secure the aid of the government of the United States in furnishing the pecuniary means necessary for the establishment and support of such a school as is contemplated, our Corresponding Secretary or Dr. Samuel Luckey, be and hereby is requested to accompany our brother, the Rev, T. Johnson, to the city of Washington, and lay  before the proper officer, or officers, having the superintendence of Indian affairs, or, if need be, submit to Congress the plan of the contemplated school, and solicit aid in such way and manner as may be judged most suitable for the establishment and support of said school

   All which is respectfully submitted.

N. Bangs, Chm.

The presiding Bishop (Soule) in alluding to the call for the present meeting, gave his views fully in favor of the establishment of a central school in the Indian country. The Bishop had himself been in this country, and was intimately acquainted with the tribes over whom Brother Johnson has the superintendence.

   Bishop Andrew concurred in the remarks of the presiding officer, so far as his knowledge went.

   Bro. Johnson also gave his opinion as to the wants of the tribes in the S. West, their present condition and prospects.

   Letters were read from Major Cumming, the Indian Agent, fully according with the presentations made in the documents which have been read to this board.

   Dr. Bangs offered the following resolution, which was unanimously passed.—

Resolved that our Treasurer be authorized to pay to Brother Johnson the amount of his travelling expenses to and from this place, and that Brother Johnson be requested, on his return, to stop at as many of the principal places as his other engagements will allow, hold missionary meetings and take up collections for the Missionary Society, and account with the Treasurer for the amount of said collection.

[Records of the Board of Managers of the Missionary Society of the M. E. Church. Typed copy in K.S.H.S.]