"Many were the visions, revelations prophecies, &c. which were sounded about the whole neighbourhood: all appearing to aim at the destruction of Stewart's preaching. A report was raised by some of the opposition, and industriously circulated among the people, that many years before the white people discovered this continent, one of the old Wyandott Prophets prophesied that it would come to pass, when an entire new race of people should come across the great water and overspread the whole continent, the red people should not be able to oppose them--that by degrees the Indians would disappear, their territorial bounds become very much circumscribed--each nation would be confined to small spots of land; but this would not be the end; the next thing would be, a man of a black skin would come among them, who, though under the semblance of friendship, would effect, ultimately, their entire overthrow and destruction; and that the only way for them to escape was, not to countenance him or give him any encouragement, nor listen to any thing he might say,..."

The Missionary Pioneer, or A Brief Memoir of the Life, Labours, and Death of John Stewart

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THE ADDRESS.

"My dear and beloved Friends:

I, your brother traveller to eternity, by the grace and mercy of God, am blessed with this opportunity of writing to you; although I be far distant from you in body, yet my mind is oft times upon you. I pray you to be watchful that the enemy of souls do not ensnare you; pray to the Lord both day and night with a sincere heart, and he will uphold

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you in all your trials and troubles. The words that I shall take as a standard to try to encourage you from, may be found in the 5th chapter of Matthew, 6th verse, 'Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.'These words were spoken by our Saviour Jesus Christ, and they are firm and sure; for his words are more firm than the heavens or the earth. Likewise the promise appears to be permanent; it does not say it may be, or perhaps, so as to leave it doubtful; but, 'they shall be filled.' This man, Jesus Christ, spake like one who possessed power to fill and satisfy the hungering soul, and we have no reason to dispute his ability to do so; knowing that he made all things that are made, and made man for his service, then we are bound to believe that he is a Being of all power, able to fulfil all his promises to all mankind. Though he made us for his service we have all gone astray into the forbidden paths of sin and folly; therefore the promise appears to be held out to a particular class of people, who, happy are they, if they and themselves in this hungering and

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thirsting after the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the first place, my friends, I shall endeavour to shew you who it is that this gracious promise is made to, or how it is that we have a right to this promise; according to the light the Lord has given me, it is not him that is living in open rebellion against God, and going contrary to his commands-- that closes his eyes against the light--that is barring the door of his heart against the striving of the blessed Spirit, that is continually admonishing him to forsake the ways of sin, and turn and seek the salvation of his soul; it is that man or woman who has called upon that God that hears sinners pray, and who will have mercy upon such as will call upon him with sincerity of heart, really desiring to receive and believing that he is able to give you. The Lord by his goodness will begin to take off the veil that the enemy has veiled you with, then you begin to see how thou hast strayed from the right way, this causes the sinner to be more and more engaged: this good and great Saviour, who sees and knows the secrets of every heart, seeing the poor

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soul willing to forsake the service of the devil, moves nearer and. nearer to the sinner, his glorious light shines into his heart, he gives him to see the pool of crime that he has committed against the Blessed Saviour who hung on the tree for the sins of the world; this makes him mourn and grieve over his sins, and calling on the mighty Saviour, as his last, his best refuge, for help; finding that there is no help in and of himself, seeing that all he has done is nothing, this causes the soul to try to make his last prayer, crying'Lord save, or I perish;' thou wouldst be just in sending me to destruction, but Lord save, for Christ's sake; Lord, I have done all I can do, take me, do thy will with me, for thou knowest better what to do with me than I can desire. This blessed Saviour shews his face with ten thousand smiles--lays his hand to the work--breaks the snares of sin--unlooses him from the fetters and chains of unbelief-- sets the soul at liberty--puts a new song in his mouth--makes the soul rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; it is then he desires to go to his friend who has done so

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much for him, and leave this troublesome world; but the soul has to stay until it has done its duty on earth, which will not be long. After a few more rolling suns of this life, the tempter begins to tempt him; the world, the flesh and the devil all unite, the poor soul begins to mourn and grieve, because he cannot do as he would wish; when he would do good, evil is present; then it is the soul begins to hunger and thirst after righteousness. My friends, be glad and rejoice in the Lord, for this promise is to you and to all mankind; yes, they shall be filled with water issuing from the throne of God. O, my friends, pray to God to give you a hungering and thirsting after righteousness! seek for it and you shall find it, for you shall reap in due season if you faint not. If you persevere in the way of well doing, you will find in your path clusters of sweet fruits, that will satisfy your hungering souls, and being faithful to your Lord's commands, when you have made your way through much tribulation, and lie down on your dying bed, you will be filled with the glorious prospect of the reward that awaits

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you; guardian angels wait around your bed, to bear your soul away to those bright worlds of everlasting day, where the friend of poor sinners reigns. This fills the soul with the sweets of love divine, this methinks, will make the dying bed of the man or woman,'soft as downy pillows are." Therefore, my friends, if you hold out faithful, you will have part in the first resurrection; then it will be that you will see your Lord and master face to face; then it will be that you will hear that blessed sentence'Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'Then shall you sit down with the people of God in that kingdom, where your Saviour with his soft hand will wipe all tears from your eyes. There you shall see and be with him, and praise him to all eternity. Having, after a broken and imperfect manner, my friends, shewn you the characters of those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, I shall endeavour to say a few words to that class of people, who I, in the foregoing part of my discourse said, had no part in the promise. A few words of

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consolation to the sinner; that is, the Lord is willing to save all who will call upon him with a sincere heart, at the same time having determined to forsake all sin, and to seek the salvation of their souls. Now, my friends, you who have been at war against this great friend of sinners, now turn, for behold now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. Take into consideration, realize how long the Lord has spared your lives, and all this time you have been resisting his holy and blessed Spirit--this Spirit the Lord has sent to warn you, and entreat you to turn to the Lord; But oh! my friends, how often have you thrusted that good spirit away, and forced it to depart from you! Let me inform you, if you continue to resist this good spirit, it will after a while leave you, never more to return; for God hath said,'my spirit shall not always strive with man.'Therefore, my friends, though you have caused the spirit to go away grieved, now begin to encourage and attend to its admonitions; he that receives it and obeys its directions, receives Christ, and at the same time receives God the Father. My

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friends, if you will not adhere to the Lord's Spirit, neither to the entreaties of your friend, the time draws on when you will wish you had spent this glorious opportunity the Lord has given you, in preparing to meet Him who is to judge the world. Then it will be you will have to hear and abide by that dreadful sentence'Depart ye cursed--ye workers of iniquity, for I never knew you.'Oh! My friends, consider you must go into fire prepared for the devil and his angels, where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. Some of you may put off this and think it is a long time yet before it comes to pass; but consider, if the Lord does not call you by judgment, death is always near, and he taking off our friends both on our right and on our left hands. Ah! we must all, sooner or later, be called to lie on a sick bed, when no physician can effect a cure, when death--cold and dreary death will lay hold on us; then will we have a view of awful eternity, and if unprepared, horror will seize upon the soul, while our friends wait around our bed, to see us bid the world adieu. Oh! what anguish

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will tear the soul of the sinner! What bitter lamentations will then be made for mis-spent opportunities, slighted mercies! O! that I had spent my time more to the Lord! Then you will say, farewell my friends, I have got to go, for devils are waiting round my bed, to drag my soul away to hell. Then will you remember how often you grieved the good Spirit of the Lord, how often you drove it from you, but too late, you must go to endure the horrors of everlasting burnings. Then, my friends, accept of my feeble advice; bear constantly in mind the necessity of obtaining this blessed promise, and ever let your hearts and conduct be guided by the directions of that blessed Saviour who died for you, that you might live. You who have set out in the way of well doing, be faithful unto death, and you will be conveyed by angels to Abraham's bosom, and there meet the sweet salutation, of'well done good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'And may God bless you and keep you in the path of righteousness, until he shall see fit to close your eyes in death. Now may the blessing, &c.

JOHN STEWART."

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At the time set by him for his return, he arrived at Sandusky. On his arrival, he learned with much sorrow and regret, that a young man of an amiable disposition, whom he sincerely loved, and who once bid fair to become a pious and useful man, (for when Stewart left Sandusky, he appeared to be much engaged in seeking the salvation of his soul) had been murdered in a drunken frolic. Poor young man, lost all his good desires and fell into the snare of the devil. Stewart now without delay, went about seeking those he left in the service of the Lord. Some had turned back to the beggarly elements of the world--some remained faithful. He immediately commenced preaching as he had formerly done. He now found many Wyandotts whom he had not seen when he was first among them, (they having been out hunting,) and of course his preaching was a new thing to them. It was not long before a violent opposition was raised by some of the principal men of the nation against the progress of this new religion. Many arguments were used by those in the opposition, to prevent

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the success of Stewart's ministry. The principal leaders of this opposition were Manoncue, and Two Logs, or Bloody Eyes, both Chiefs in the nation. They represented in glowing colours, the great and many evils and calamities that would befal them as a people or nation, if they abandoned the sacred institutions which the God of the red people had given them as their mode of worshipping him: institutions also designed for their amusement--that they would justly incur the displeasure of the great Spirit by such a step-- that the great Spirit designed those institutions to be held sacred among them and kept up forever. They exhorted the people never to entertain the idea of abandoning them, assuring them that while they continued to adhere to the religion of their fathers, they would be on the safe side.

Summer was with them, a season of amusement and great happiness. Feasts, dances, ball-plays, foot-races, horse-races, &c. were their chief delight, and it will not be wondered at, that they should with great reluctance give up the things which afforded them so much

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pleasure. Through the course of the summer, dance succeeded dance, and feast succeeded feast, until Autumn admonished them to resume the chase.

Sometime in the month of August, a large number of Wyandotts were collected at a house-raising, and Stewart being present, Two Logs began in a very violent and boisterous manner to declaim against Stewart and his doctrine; a friend of Stewart's replied in a very spirited manner. This brought on a considerable controversy, in which several took part. Two Logs objected particularly to his preaching against their dancing, feasting, &c. At length Stewart was called upon to defend his doctrines against the formidable attack made by Two Logs. Stewart in a mild and plain manner endeavoured to convince him of the evil tendency of the practices he so warmly advocated, and among other things he stated that a poet had represented a dancing and frolicking part out of the damned, as crying out in their distress and agony, and saying,

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At this Two Logs raised a great hoarse laugh, and inquired whether the persons who made those bitter lamentations were Indians, and added,"I do not believe the Great Spirit will punish his red children for dancing, feasting, &c. Yet I cannot say that he will not punish white people for doing these things; for to me it looks quite probable the Great Spirit has forbidden these things among the whites, because they are naturally wicked, quarrelsome and contentious; for it is a truth they cannot deny, that they cannot have a dance, a feast, or any public amusement, but some will get drunk, quarrel, fight, or do something wrong. Now, my friend, you have been present at several of our dances and feasts, and did you see any of these bad things going on? No, we have our public amusements in peace and good will to each other, and part in the same manner. Now,

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where is the great evil you see?"It is not known what Stewart's reply was.

Two Logs would sometimes tell the people, it was really derogatory to their character, to have it said, that they had a Negro for their preacher, as that race of people was always considered inferior to Indians."The Great Spirit," said he,"never created Negroes, they were created by the Evil Spirit."When assembled at the place"where prayer was wont to be made"and a sermon preached, either Mononcue or Two Logs were sure to rise up, and refute (as they thought) the sermon. A great stir took place in consequence of some person, who, it is said, had seen a vision. This person related it to several of the principal men. It was as follows: On a certain day while Stewart was preaching in the Council-House, she rose up, went out and proceeded to a vacant house a short distance off, and when she came near, she found a man standing by the corner of the house, looking-towards the Council House. He spoke to her and requested her to stop, which she did. He then informed her that he was

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the God of the red people; that he had come to warn his people personally against embracing the religion of the white people, which, if they did receive, would bring on them and their children dreadful calamities: it would be the means of destroying them as a nation. That man (meaning Stewart) though here under the specious pretence of trying to make the red people religious, according to the white man's religion, is here in reality for the purpose of doing you a great injury, which you cannot and will not see, until the evil itself comes upon you; and added that the only way to avoid the impending destruction was, not to listen to his preaching; but to go on and live as they had lived; and then vanished. It appears this Deity did not see proper to inform her what the evil was which Stewart really intended to bring upon the nation. This report soon noised abroad: some believed; but many did not. Stewart being informed of it, he immediately went to visit this woman, for the express purpose of hearing her relate her vision. She very readily complied, and stated what she had seen and heard. He informed her that he did not

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believe her, as there was no such being as a distinct God for Indians--that there was but one God, and he created White, Red and Black people. He then made some inquiry concerning the woman's character for truth and veracity, and found that it was not very good. Notwithstanding her character for truth was doubtful, yet those persons who were opposed to Stewart's preaching made use of her vision to further their purposes.

Many were the visions, revelations prophecies, &c. which were sounded about the whole neighbourhood: all appearing to aim at the destruction of Stewart's preaching. A report was raised by some of the opposition, and industriously circulated among the people, that many years before the white people discovered this continent, one of the old Wyandott Prophets prophesied that it would come to pass, when an entire new race of people should come across the great water and overspread the whole continent, the red people should not be able to oppose them--that by degrees the Indians would disappear, their territorial bounds become very much

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circumscribed--each nation would be confined to small spots of land; but this would not be the end; the next thing would be, a man of a black skin would come among them, who, though under the semblance of friendship, would effect, ultimately, their entire overthrow and destruction; and that the only way for them to escape was, not to countenance him or give him any encouragement, nor listen to any thing he might say, &c. Jonathan's influence in the nation was but little, in consequence of his former bad character; for all knew him to have been too much given to telling of falsehoods; this circumstance placed Stewart in an unpleasant situation, and was much against his success in his work. Some said that Jonathan while interpreting would say more than Stewart said, and would narrow down his discourses to suit his own views and feelings.

Nothing remarkable transpired during this summer. Stewart continued preaching.-- Those who professed to believe in the Christain religion still appeared to manifest good desires, but took no active part either way.

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In the month of August, A. D. 1817, a treaty was called by the Commissioners on part of the general Government, to be held at Fort Meigs with the Wyandotts and other nations of Indians, for the purpose of purchasing their lands. A general attendance was requested. While preparations were making to attend the treaty, Stewart deemed it advisable to return to Marietta, and remain there until winter. Nearly the whole nation went, leaving but a few individuals to take charge of their houses, cornfields, &c. As the most of the facts related in this little work have been hastily collected from the recollection of individuals, it has so happened that no information has been furnished relative to Stewart, or his labour among the Wyandotts, from the time of his leaving the nation to go to Marietta, as above stated, until the latter part of the year 1818. At that time he had to encounter difficulties, which, although they were not altogether of a new character, yet as they proceeded from a new and unexpected source, they were of a truly disagreeable and painful nature. Certain Missionaries

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in travelling to the North called with the Wyandotts, among whom Stewart was labouring, and spent a short time in preaching to them. On ascertaining how remarkably useful Stewart's labours had been in bringing the Indians to the knowledge of the truth, and how highly he was esteemed by most of them; they proposed to him to receive him as a member of their church, and to employ him as one of their Missionaries on that station, at a very comfortable salary; but as from a difference in religious opinions from them, he could not accept their offer, he refused; whereupon they demanded the authority by which he was acting as a gospel minister and as a Methodist Missionary. As he possessed no regular authority of this kind, he confessed to them the fact. Through their means, this became known; and was employed by the white traders and the opposing Indians as certain evidence that he was an impostor. This circumstance operated, for awhile, considerably to his disadvantage. He thereupon communicated a knowledge of his truly disagreeable situation to the Quarterly-Meeting

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Conference of Mad river circuit, who advised him by letter to continue his labours until measures could be taken to procure for him a regular license as a Preacher of the Gospel, and at the same time gave him assurances of their decided approbation of the course he had pursued. Until now it was unknown in the white settlements that any religious excitement existed among the Indians, or that Stewart was among them, or even that such a man existed. The Quarterly Conference thought it advisable that some person should visit the Indians, to aid the good work which had so prosperously commenced among them; accordingly Moses M. Henkle, a young man of Mad river circuit, who had just entered the ministry, volunteered in this novel and important work. Early in the month of February, A.D[.], 1819, he set out on this missionary tour, and spent some length of time in labouring among the Wyandotts. At this time there was a mighty out-pouring of the good spirit among them. Many professed to have found the pearl of great price, and many others were inquiring the way to Zion, deeply mourning

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their past sins. In short it was believed that the labours of this young man at this time were of great and signal benefit; as his preaching served completely to confirm what Stewart had before taught. Having during the time of his stay at Sandusky had a good opportunity of witnessing Stewart's deportment, and being fully satisfied of his piety and usefulness, brought away with him a certificate of membership which Stewart had obtained at Marietta, a certificate of his having been there recommended by his class for license to exhort, and also certificates of his character and usefulness, from the time of his first appearing at Sandusky, from several of the chiefs, Mr. Walker, the sub-agent, and from several other persons, at the same time directing Stewart to attend the next Quarterly meeting for Mad river circuit, to be held at Urbana, in the month of March, 1819. At which time and place Stewart attended. He was introduced to the Quarterly Conference, and the papers above mentioned being submitted and examined in open Conference, by Bishop George and the Presiding Elder, Moses

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Crume; and the case being fully understood by the Conference, he was regularly licensed to preach the Gospel. The information given by Stewart and M. M. Henkle to this Conference, induced a full conviction in their minds, that the condition of the Wyandotts loudly called for aid. But as it was near six months until the sitting of the Annual Conference, the question was, what could be done (in addition to Stewart's regular labours) to supply them until the time of Conference? Finally, volunteers were called for. Whereupon, Moses Henkle, senior, Joseph Mitchell, Robert Miller, Samuel Hitt, James Montgomery and Saul Henkle, Local Preachers of Mad river circuit, agreed to supply them with preaching once a month during the time aforesaid; which was done; although one or two of those men could not make it convenient within the time to take their turn. Stewart still continued his regular labours, and was much esteemed, not only by those of the nation to whom he bad been peculiarly useful, but by those brethren above named, who visited Sandusky and were witnesses of

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his work of faith and labour of love. It is said, however, that he effected more real good among those people, by visiting from house to house and holding private conferences with them on the subject of religion, than by his more public labours. The difficulties which he had to encounter, while striving to build up the walls of Zion in this once howling wilderness, being almost innumerable, required much Christian fortitude and patience. Under all his trials he gave satisfactory evidence that he had, in a good degree, learned of Jesus to be meek and lowly in heart. Scarcely a week at a time passed, but some report or other calculated and intended to injure his usefulness among those people was put in circulation, and principally by wicked and designing white men. Notwithstanding all these things, he still retained his deserved share of the confidence and esteem of many of the Wyandotts. As a proof of this, sometime after the Treaty at Fort Meigs, a number of the Wyandott people made application to the chiefs, for liberty to settle Stewart permanently on the section of land,

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in the centre of their reservation, which was, by the provisions of the treaty, set apart for the support of a Missionary. To this the chiefs did not feel themselves at liberty to consent; but said they were willing he should stay on it until the Missionary provided for in the treaty should come and enter upon his duties, and thereupon adopted him into the nation, and divided with him their annuities. About the time, or soon after the visit of young M. Henkle, an aged woman and one of Stewart's constant hearers, died a witness of the reality of the religion which he was constantly striving to promote among them. She was of a family of Wyandotts who were very much attached to their heathenish customs, and violently opposed to the"white man's religion,"as they called it. She attentively listened to Stewart's preaching, and for some time was in great doubts how to decide or what step to take. Being an earnest inquirer after truth, she for some time"halted between two opinions."At length, having consulted some of the Christian Wyandotts, who gave her great encouragment,

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she openly renounced all her heathenish customs, and sought diligently the pearl of great price. Her younger brother, Frost, who pretended to be a necromancer, was greatly enraged when he learned that his sister had embraced the religion taught by the"Hesent see"* preacher, and in a most furious manner, threatened to take the preacher's life by means of the supernatural power which he possessed. He used many means to prevail on her to abjure Christianity, but all in vain; he pursued her with his arguments and his threats, but she was inflexible; she defended her religion by solid arguments which he was unable to answer; he then left her house, declaring that he would never again enter it. It is believed he kept his word, for sometime afterwards, while out on a hunting tour, he was killed in a drunken frolic by one of his own party. This woman continued faithful to the good cause of religion until she was called home to her reward.

we cannot forbear giving a sketch of one who was the first fruits of Stewart's ministry, to wit: Catharine Warpole, the woman who proposed making a collection for Stewart, mentioned in the former part of this work.-- She was the wife of Warpole, a war Chief of the nation, who was much given to habits of intemperance. When Stewart first came to Sandusky, he was out hunting, and did not return until the next summer. During his absence Mrs. Warpole attended Stewart's preaching, and in a short time was deeply convinced of sin, (although she had been all her life, a remarkably exemplary and moral woman,) began to inquire what she should do to be saved, and determined to forsake every thing sinful and seek the salvation of her soul, let the present consequences be what they might. When her husband came home, he soon learned what had been going on in his absence, and among other things, that his wife had embraced this new religion. He immediately gave her to understand that he was not pleased with the step she had taken, and that he would never give his consent to

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having any new system of religion introduced into his house. She endeavoured in vain to convince him of his error. He commenced a course of persecution and cruelty towards her. She hoped that after a season he would relax his severity and they would live more agreeably; but in this she was disappointed. She continued to seek the Lord, and to call upon him for strength to support her in her trying hours. After a considerable length of time had elapsed, and there appearing to be no prospect of peace and tranquility being restored unless she would renounce and abandon her religious pursuits; with the advice of some friends, she concluded to leave all and make her way to Canada, where she had some connexions.-- Accordingly she took an opportunity and started. She had not been long gone, before Warpole suspecting the step she had taken, pursued and overtook her at a Wyandott settlement, called the Big Springs. As soon as he came into the house at which she had stopped, he immediately began beating her with his tomahawk handle, in a most furious

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and violent manner. She submitted patiently to these insults and returned with him. He blamed Stewart with being the cause of her becoming deranged in mind, and was much opposed to his preaching to the Wyandotts at all. So she remained until Mr. Henkle came and entered upon his missionary labours, still receiving insults and abuses at his hands until her situation became quite intolerable. In this situation, through Stewart, she made application to Mr. Henkle for liberty to take refuge from those excessive abuses, at his house, to which he consented, and thereupon by a friend, she was in the night season, conveyed some miles distant from the village, and then she proceeded to the house of Mr. Henkle, a distance from Sandusky of seventy-five or eighty miles, where, and at Mr. Armstrong's at the head of Mad river, she remained for several months, and then returned to Sandusky. Some time after this, her husband professing an anxiety to have her return to and live with him; promising most solemnly that in future he would treat her in a better manner: she having

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strong doubts whether it were her duty to do so or not, sought for counsel and aid from others, in regard to this important affair. In order to this, she pursued the following method, to wit: to have the case laid before the preachers and some of the principal members of the Church at a camp-meeting which was to be held on Mad river circuit. This was attended to, her husband himself attending, gave assurances to the meeting that he was sensible of his former wrong in this behalf, and that in future he would amend. It was judged best that she should once more make an attempt to live with him, and accordingly she was so advised. She made the attempt, and although he kept good his vows for a short time, he soon began again to treat her cruelly, and then left her and took another woman. She has since been married to John Hicks, a respectable Christian Chief of the nation, and is to the present day, as is believed by her acquaintances, walking and living as a follower of Christ.

About this time another formidable opposer of religion arose, threatening its total

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annihilation among the Wyandotts. This was the head Chief of the nation Duon-quot; a man warmly attached to their heathenish customs, and violently opposed to the introduction of the Gospel among his people; especially as he discovered that a reception of the Gospel as taught by Stewart, would necessarily result in the entire overthrow of the customs and religion of their ancestors. He soon found a number of adherents who were glad of the opportunity of arraying themselves under so powerful a leader. These things did not damp the ardour of the zeal of those who had embraced the"glad tidings of great joy."Duon-Quot used every intrigue and artifice he could invent, to overthrow the faith of Christian professors. In this conduct of this Chief, there appeared a strange inconsistency, he having lately consented to the article in the Treaty, which made provision for the settlement of a Missionary and establishment of a school among the Wyandotts. In a subsequent revival of the work of religion, when a large number of his adherents withdrew from his party, and

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became professors of religion, he was heard to say,"Well, the white man's religion may go on from house to house, until the whole nation embraces it, but when it comes to my house, it must there stop."Unhappy man! little did he think when he uttered these words, so fraught with hostility to the best of causes, that in a few days his soul would be required of him; for in a short time he was most violently attacked with the billious fever, and death seemed to be his inevitable fate; but the merciful Lord against whom he had raised the puny arm of rebellion, who delighteth not in the death of a sinner, as if willing to give him another of fleeing for refuge, &c. rebuked his disease and restored him to a good degree of health. But alas! no sign of reformation--his returning strength was again employed in the destruction of his own soul, by resisting the work of the Lord. He was again thrown upon a sick bed, and his disease raged violently; he sent for one of the conjurers or necromancers, hoping that he could remove the disease. The conjurer pow, wowed over him, but could effect no cure.--

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He then sent for James B. Finley, (who at this time was missionary at Sandusky,) wishing to try the efficacy of the white man's medicine; Mr. Finley went and administered such medicines to him as he judged most suitable, but all in vain; the iron hand of death--stern death had laid hold of him, he must submit to the inflexible decree. During this time Stewart visited him, but it is not now known what conversation he had with him. He was surrounded by a large concourse of his friends and adherents during his illness, whom he amused occasionally with his sallies of wit and obscene jests; thus he continued to manifest a perfect indifference with regard to the affairs of his soul which was then hovering about the shores of eternity. Once, sometime before he expired, when in great agony, he was heard to say"If I should be permitted to live a little longer, I would go to meeting."No further signs of repentance appeared; the closing scene came on,"death with all the sad variety of pain,"extinguished the vital spark, and he died, it is believed without once calling on the name of Jesus for mercy.

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About the time Duon-quot rose up in opposition to the progress of religion, an influential person arose in defence of it; this was Between-the-Logs, one of the principal counsellors of the nation, a man well known as an orator and a man of brilliant talents; he had heretofore remained neutral, although an attentive hearer of Stewart's. By his activity, he succeeded in a great degree in counteracting the hostile and mischievous plans of Duon-quot. It should here be understood, that a Wyandott Chief by the name of Matthew Peacock, was the first Chief that was added as a seal to Stewart's ministry. It was in the latter part of the year 1819, that Moses Henkle, Sen. having been appointed missionary to aid the work among the Wyandotts, by visiting them once a month, and preach to and otherwise advise them in matters of interest to them, as well for the present life as that which is to come. His missionary labours continued for two years to the great satisfaction of the Christian part of the Wyandott people, during which time much good appeared to be done. Although the principal charge

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and care of this flock was now committed to Mr. Henkle, he appeared to consider himself only in the light of an assistant to that good man who under God, had commenced this good work. After Mr. Henkle began to labour in concert with Stewart, Between-the-Logs, Peacock, John Hicks and Manoncue, that once violent enemy and opposer of religion, united themselves with those who were striving to serve the Lord and save their souls. Two-Logs, during the life-time of Duon-quot, continued hostile to the good cause; he was much exasperated on hearing that his younger brother, Between-the-Logs, had embraced religion; he proceeded immediately to his house and made a most violent attack upon, abusing him for abandoning the religion and customs of their forefathers.

It is perhaps worthy of remark, that sometime during the mission of Mr. Henkle, a certain woman who was inimical to Stewart and his doctrines, and a relation to the chief Duon-quot, (who was then yet living) was accused of the crime of witchcraft; this occasioned considerable excitement among the people.

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Mr. Henkle and Stewart laboured to convince them of the absurdity of their suspicions, this, however, was not easily accomplished, those suspicions became stronger and stronger, notwithstanding singular plans appear to have been resorted to by the accused to divert the public attention from the subject, which it is not deemed important to lay before the reader. Some of the Chiefs, and especially her relative Duon-quot, and Warpole, became fully satisfied of her guilt, and determined that she ought to die. When Stewart was informed of this, although he knew her to be his enemy, he lost no time, but hastened to place himself before those Chiefs to plead for her life.-- However, at a time when no other Chiefs were present, Duon-quot ordered two young men to execute her, which was promptly attended to. From that time to the present, there have been no disturbances among them of the same nature.

In the fall of the year 1821, the Ohio Annual Conference appointed James B. Finley, missionary, to proceed to Upper Sandusky, with his family, work-hands, &c. to erect

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suitable buildings for the school, &c. Pursuant to his appointment, he without delay repaired to the place assigned him, and entered upon the discharge of his duties. Here, Stewart's labours appear, after this arrangement, to be less conspicuous; he continued to labour, inviting sinners to the Gospel feast. Mr. Finley had not many difficulties to encounter in his labours among the Wyandotts; the great stone of opposition to religion was less formidable; much good seed had been sown by the preaching of Stewart, and by the labours of several of the local preachers that visited them before the mission was established; at this time much of the seed began to discover signs of successful vegetation.-- All that was now wanting was the doors of the visible church to be thrown open, and the invitation given; a large number was ready and willing to come in, some sound converts ready to come and shout glory to God in the highest, and some true penitents ready to come in and fall at the altar and cry,"God be merciful to me a sinner."From this time, the work went on in a most prosperous manner; classes

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were formed in diffirent directions, composed entirely of Wyandott converts. In the fall of 1823, Stewart enjoyed but poor health; notwithstanding this he ceased not to labour for the salvation of his poor fellow men,"in season and out of season."It was in the month of August that his indisposition commenced, but had some intermissions, so that he was enabled occasionally to preach. In September his disease grew worse; he suffered much, but not a murmur or complaint escaped him. His complaint continued but with little intermission, until the second Sabbath in December, when he began to suspect his time of sojourning below was but short. A day or two previous, Mr. Finley, Manoncue, and Jonathan, (the latter for Interpreter,) set out to visit a Wyandott settlement in the province of Upper Canada; Manoncue and Jonathan called to see him before they set out on their journey, suspecting they should see his face no more in this world; after some conversation, Manoncue proposed prayer, which was readily agreed to; Manoncue then kneeled down by the bed-side, and poured out his

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soul to God on behalf of his afflicted friend. After some further conversation, they took an affectionate farewell of him, when he said to Jonathan,"tell Mr. Finley for me, to be faithful and meet me in glory."On the 14th he found a great change in his complaint.-- On Monday the 15th, he was perfectly speechless, and remained in that condition until Tuesday. All this time his soul appeared to be engaged with God. On Tuesday morning he informed his wife that the time of his departure was at hand; he rose up in his bed and informed those present that he was going to die, and exhorted them to seek the Lord for mercy and salvation; he told them that his peace was made, and he was going to enjoy that rest which remaineth for the people of God. Through the day he was as before, speechless; that night he was quite restless, and seemed to suffer much with pains in his back. Wednesday morning he was in the same situation, still unable to speak. While his wife was busied in attending on him, he appeared to manifest a wish to speak to her, she asked him what he wanted to say? He

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then took her by the hand and faintly articulated, "wife, be faithful;"these were his last words; he died at twelve o'clock on that day, being in the thirty-seventh year of his age, and the seventh year of his ministry.

It is to be observed, that although Stewart's wife, when he married her in the winter of 1818, was quite an intelligent young woman, yet she was not religious; through the instrumentality, however, of her pious husband, it is believed she became a subject of saving grace.

It may here be noticed, as it has not been done sooner, that Two-Logs,a Chief mentioned in the former part of this narrative, as being a great opposer, in the midst of his opposition was arrested by the hand of affliction and brought to languish on a sick bed; this brought him to serious reflection; he found that his fathers' religion would not sustain him in a dying hour; he then resolved that if the Lord would spare his life, he would turn and seek salvation. He was restored to health, and became an humble, docile, and devout Christian, and died in peace.