NEW ECHOTA:

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 1829

To Christian Readers. We have for sometime been impressed with the importance of engaging the sympathies and prayers of the Christian community for the Indians, particularly for the Cherokee.- We now, at this time, especially need the prayers of God's people- The present period is an interesting one with us. We are on one side encouraged by the consideration that our religions and moral improvement is progressing; on the other, we have all reason to think that measures are in operation, whose tendency is to defeat this improvement. Every true Christian will desire that the happy work commenced among the Cherokees may ultimately be accomplished. This work, God will certainly accomplish through the instrumentality of his people.- by means of earnest and effectual prayer.

But our intention is not to lecture our Christian friends- All what we want is their prayers. We earnestly wish them to replicate the throne of grace for the Cherokees. We desire them to pray that the hearts of the members of the General Government may be turned into kindness- and that religion, education, and the various arts of civilized life may be made to prosper and flourish. Are not these objects worthy of prayer? Do they not now particularly demand the attention of Christians? 'Brethren pray for us.'

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Our neighbours (sic), we are told, are still flocking in and possessing the land. Many of the most notorious members of the 'Poney (sic) club' are no doubt foremost in this business. Instead of stealing, they have commenced shooting our citizen's horses and cattle. The most expeditious way to remove us would be to let loose such a community upon us. But would it be honorable for the State of Georgia to effect her purpose in this manner?- We hear it stated, (we hear it will turn out to be a fact) that the Sub-Agent has been despatched to forewarn these intruders from their unlawful proceedings. Whether they will listen to his talk, is more than we can tell.

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A correspondent informs us that, there are about twelve families who have enlisted as emigrants in Creek Path. He asks, 'are they people of good ' fair standing?' and answers in the negative, as respects most of them. Others may be considered 'somewhat respectable.' From what we have been informed heretofore, we are inclined to think our correspondent not far from the truth. We have seen but two families who have agreed to pass the Mississippi and if these form a good specimen of the whole, it certainly will not redound to the credit of the government to remove them. For what is the motive which induced them to remove? Certainly not to better their condition, for they have had ample room here to do well. 'It is,' our correspondent remarks 'a craving desire to survey the wilderness near the Rocky Mountains with three or four deer skins slung to their backs.' If the object of this emigrating scheme is to make us a nation of hunters and warriors, or in other words, to reduce us back to where we were 40 years ago, we confess that it is a very judicious plan. But if its objects are our civilization and christianization, we are yet to learn in what way these are to be effected. If the Cherokees, we mean that body of the nation, are ever removed, they will have to be removed against their wish. And what man is there who will do well and improve when he is driven by necessity and does a thing reluctantly? The case would be different if the Government would propose a fair exchange of countries, that is, if the country now intended to be given to the Cherokees was in every respect as desirable as this, and they would emigrate peaceable, ' willingly, and as a body, and carry with them their internal affairs and all their means of improvement. In such a case, we should consider it our duty to be silent.

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The writer of the following letter is a member of the Mission School at Hightower. We hope the example here set will be imitated in other places.

HIGHTOWER, Feb. 6, 1829.

MESSRS. WORCESTER ' BOUDINOTT,

I am requested to inform you that the Female D. M. Society in this place have sent by Epenetus, Six Dollars, for the purpose of purchasing Cherokee Hymn Books for distribution in the Valley Town. He will give you the money and we hope you will let him have the amount in Books, as above. Yours respectfully,

MARY ROWE.

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