| Citation |
NHG-P.773.046
23 Jul 1773:31,32 (875)
Boston, July 19. Extract of a Letter from Cherry -Valley,
to the Board of Commissioners here, for propagating the
Gospel among the Heathan Nations, dated July 2, 1773, giving
an Account of the Ordination of Mr. Crosby, their Missionary
at Onaghoquage.
Honourable and Reverend Gentleman,
I am desired to transmit to you some account of the
ordination of the Rev'd Mr. Crosby, now missionary at
Onaghoquage; present the rev'd Mess'rs Samuel Dunlop, of
Cherry-Valley, Samuel Kirkland, missionary, at Oneida,
Alexander Milter, of Shenactade, and Samuel Johnston of New
Lebanon.----Mr. Aaron Crosby appeared with a testimonial of
his being licenced to preach the gospel by an association
held at Brookfield in New-England, and after examination
held of the candidate, the ministers proceeded to his
ordination by prayer and laying on of hands, &c. the sermon
was preached by Mr. Miller, from Mark 16, 15. Go ye into
all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. The
Revd. Mr. Dunlop presided in the ordination, taking the
candidate's obligation, and making the ordination prayer
with the imposition of hands; Mr. Kirkland gave the charge,
first in English and then in Indian, that the Indians might
be made acquainted with the great importance and solemnity
of the charge; and Mr. Johnston gave the right hand of
fellowship. Near thirty Indians as representatives of the
church at Onaghoquage were present; and about as many more
from Oneida attended on the occasion, who behaved with great
decency and regularity, performing the psalmody, both at the
beginning and close of the work, in three parts with great
exactness, to this satisfaction and entertainment of the
whole auditory; they also sang an anthem in Indian, composed
by the Rev. Mr. Kirkland for that occasion. In the evening
the Rev. Mr. Kirkland convened the Indians again, gave them
a lecture in the Indian tongue, and prayed both in English
and Indian for the benefit of the promiscuous [sic]
multitude; at which time the Indians performed the psalmody
and sung an anthem, with great solemnity. Next morning the
chiefs of the Indians returned their most sincere and hearty
thanks to their fathers the honorable Board, for their care
in sending them a man with whom they were so well pleased,
and who has now been set apart for the work of the Gospel
ministry, particularly for their spiritual good; and also to
the ministers who officiated in the ordination, observing
that they were before conceived or had even the most distant
thought of the weight and importance of a gospel ministry.
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