Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 06:4 (Winter 1963)
Article: Problems Of Baptist Indian Missions In The Old Northwest 1817-1840
Author: Richard C. Weeks

CenQ 6:4 (Winter 1963) p. 21

Problems Of Baptist Indian Missions In The Old Northwest 1817-1840

Richard C. Weeks1

Pastor, Donald Smith Memorial Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois

Introduction

There is no sadder account in the written chronicles of modern history than that of the despoiling of the Indians as they were driven westward across the United States by the relentless surge of white, immigration. To the white men the Indians were offensive, and useless, objects of scorn and hatred to be treated with less consideration than beasts of the forest. In return, the Indian directed all of the cunning of his nature, against any infringement of what he deemed to be his natural rights. Though his culture was anything but Westernized, yet his appearance and personality were as human as any other man’s. His capacity for mental growth did not differ essentially from that of his conqueror. The Indian was simply different, and utterly in need of the Gospel.

Who would go and sacrificially, give of himself to rescue this benighted race? As it has been ever since the beginning of the Christian era, those who came as heralds of hope and salvation —Christian missionaries— responded to the call, alone. Perhaps no more difficult task ever

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confronted any missionaries of the Cross than did that which faced those who sought to free the Indians from the bondage of their enslavement to forces of evil. These nomadic people were in a state of social and moral plight which had steadily become worse as they came in contact with white men. The problems with which the missionary to the Indians had to cope were of such a variety and intensity as to make all but the most noble and self-sacrificing shrink back in discouragement.

Isaac McCoy was one of those few heroic spirits who spent himself that he might evangelize the Indians. He wrote a volume of some six hundred and fifty pages entitled the “History of Baptist Indian Missions” which is composed for the most part of extracts from the journal he kept each day, augmented by other records in his possession and supplemented by his own recollections. The title seemed to this writer at first to be rather overstated, because McCoy was only one of a number of Baptist missionaries to the Indians. After completing research upon this subject the author is convinced that Isaac McCoy was not exaggerating as far as the Northwest Territory was concerned. To his indefatigable labors can be attributed the spring from which flowed all ensuing efforts of Baptist missionary endeavor in this territory. Others, to be sure, later joined forces with him and accomplished much; yet it can truthfully be said that Isaac McCo...