The Pleasure or Benefits resulting from Knowledge, Arts or refined Manners, have no Charms for them. They are outweighed by their Love of Liberty and Ease, which they hold in much greater Estimation, This hath been true of rude, uncivilised Nations in every part of the World ; and hence we find that Legislators in general, when attempting to civilise barbarous People, did not content themselves with merely displaying the temporal Advantages arising from a civilised State. Sensible that some Motives more pow-

1114 MEMORIAL CONCERNING THE IROQUOIS OR

erful were necessary to counteract inveterate Habits and Prejudices, they called in Religion to their aid. Accordingly they availed themselves of the Belief of a Supream Being, which they found People everywhere possessed of, and made it subservient to their Purpose. The first Thing they did was to confirm this Belief, institute a Ceremonial of Religious Worship, and inculcate the» Doctrine of a future Life. This Iexpedient had the desired Effect ; and accomplished what had been otherwise attempted in vain. To this Purpose we have the Testimony of some of the most judicious Writers of Antiquity, that the Eleusinian Mysteries (in which were probably taught the Belief of a Supream Being, a Providence and future Life, with the Necessity of a Rectitude of Moral Conduct) contributed more than any other Means to soften the Savage Manners of the first Inhabitants of Europe. ;

These Particulars are Pertinent to the Point under Consideration. These shew the Judgment and Practice of the wisest Men to have been contrary to-what is suggested in this Objection ; and Experience evinced that they judged right. We may reasonably conclude, that the same Measures ought to be persued in similar Circumstances now, as well as formerly, and that they will be attended with similar effects 3 consequently, that we should introduce Religion among the Iroquois in order to civilise them. : |