It is forty years, this day, since I was ordained a Missionary to the Indians, in tlie Old South meeting house, when the Rev. Dr. Sewall preached on the occasion, and the Rev. Mr. Prince gave the charge.

I had been in the service from Feb. 5. 0. S. 1752, and by an ecclesiastical council convened for tliat purpose, was now solemnly set apart to the work of an evangelist among the western Indians The Rev. Mr. Foxcroft and Dr. Chauncy assisted upon the occasion, and Mr. Appleton of Cambridge, with many delegates from their respective Churches.

I entered upon this arduous business at Stockbridge under the patronage of the Rev. Mr. Edwards. Was instructor of a few families of Iroquois, wdio came down from their country for the sake of christian knowledge and the schooling of their children.

These families consisted of Mohawks, Oneidas, and Tuscaroras, fromKauajoharry, and Onohoghgwage. I was tlieir scliool-master, and preached to them on the Lord's-day, Mr. Edwards visited my school, catechised my scholars, and frequently delivered a discourse to their parents. To Indians he was a very plain and practical preacher : upon no occasion did he display any metaphysical knowledge in the pulpit. His sentences were concise, and fuU of meaning ; and his delivery grave and natural. In the winter, Indians are at home, and my school was well attended: But many, who wintered at Stockbridge, in the Spring and Summer went off, and were about Schoharry, beyond Albany. In the month September, I therefore made an excursion into the Mohawk country, I had never been at Albany, nor even as far as Kinderliook, till now ; and was ignorant of the way, wliich led through a wilderness.