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British American Institute And Canada Mission

British American Institute And Canada Mission image
Parent Issue
Day
3
Month
November
Year
1845
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The undersigned, as the committce of the lnstitution above named, beg lcave to bring before the ehristiarr public a brief statement of its condifion and wants, ns well as of the mission, with which it is cotmected. This lnstitution which is conducted on the manual labor system, especially for the benefit of the refugees from AmericanOppfession and very, has its locntion in the townsliip of Dawn, Canada West, at the head of navigation on theRydenham River, about 50 miles north by east of Detroit. lts site is commanding and beautiful, in the midst of a fertile sectionofthe country, where the climate is mild andhenlthy, and in that part of the Province which isnearest of access (o the numerous emigrants from Slnvery. It has attached to it 300 acres of firsl quality land, paid for nnd held equally by white and colored trustees, who are all British subjects. Sixty acres or more have been cleared of the heavy timber during the lastthree years and brought under cultivation. - A large school house and several dvvelling houses of moderate dimonsions have been erected and are now occupied. A framed barn was built the ast yéar and n Pot-ashery started. During the present year, a brick building 30 by 32 feet, two stories high, the foundation of which was laid last fall, has been erected ana will;oon be completed and in se. Ar.othef suilding of hewn timber, 22 by 34 feet, Iwo stories high, is now in progress, and will probably be occupied by the first of December. Our agent, Bro. Josiah Henson, who labored assiduously last winter and spring in New England, rêturned in May with a report of nis services and success, highly saiisfactory fo the commitiee. As the results of his ageñcy a payment of 8220, has beett made on the last purchase of 100 acres of land for the institution, and the deed seCurcd-ifs operations have been sirstnined through the season, and its debts considerably diminïshed. (He hés spem most of the sümmer itineratingat hisowiï charges among the colored peop'e.) Our present mimber" of scholars is over 80. Applications for admission afe frequent. We shall doubtless have at least 100 scholars the ensuing winter and might have fhree times ih'at number had we accommodations for them. The institution is in debt a the nmount of a boút 8500 which is mostly diïe to the steward and others immediately concerned, for services rendered and means advanced for its relief. By reason of the Inte spring frosts and subserfiient drou'glit otYr Crops have come short. Had they boen plentiful vÊ usual wecould hordly have looked for a supply, ás tho institulioti 3 yet in its infancy, in a new country, with small improvements, yot rapidly increising in numbers. 3ut lafcly has h ad1 important acce55Íons from the house of bondage, of ihose who promise fair for usefulness, if educated. Several of these have been hopefully converted fo God in the midst of ti pte'cwm revival of religión now in progresa in the Institution and community. At such accessiolis we rejoice, but our sympatbiels are moved otidouí sottls weigíied down with sorrow when ooitipelled fo turn away importunate appHcants for want of a shelter and'tíie means ofsubsíslence. The principal labor for young men in the winter seascn is chopping and clearing land tho fruits of whichwe catinot begin to realise t il L the ensuing summcr; yet every advanee made upan the stirrounding furest tells to the fulure advantageof the Institution by furnishing increased facilities for its expansión and support. Heneo soch aid as may be easily furnished by generous (Viends ai the West, in the form of produce, (freightoge paid,) to be shipped upon the Lnkes and water eburses to Detroit Mich., care of Messrs. Gillet & Dcsnoyers, would be thankfully received ; also such implements as axes, hoes, &c. The importnnce ofoür work can senföcly be nppreciated by those who have nol by personal observation, become acquainted with the condition ofthecolored peöple, and the cruel prejudices of ashare of the white inhabitants. We add that such is the destitution of the colored people in tbe western portions of Canada, as rerespects common sshool instruction, that we feel bound to act promptly in their behalf. We have resolved to keep up an intímate correspondence with our brelhren in every part of the Proviuce, with the view of supplying the destitute. It is proper here ío add what has already boen made known, that it ën prominent and fondly cherished object of the mannel labor Institute to rear up teachers of the right stamp, for the destitute and benighted poor. Thus acting forhe welfaro of the refuges and their chiliren generally, nnd in harmony whh tho committee of the Cenada Mission Board in Rochester, N. Y., we earnestly solicithelp for the destitute, and would Í sta'.e that such means as may come to us f through the Commhtee above named, or through nny other channols, designated for the support of common schools, will be appropripated accordingly. Th is ' rangement we doubt not will meet the i probation of all who feel an interest in the prosperity of the Canada Mission; and for the more eflfectual prosecution of the great work before irs, we have extended n cnllXo a most devoted and untiring friend of the oppressed, whr it is hoped, will soon be associated with us in promoting equally the interests of the Institution and Mission which are indissolubly connected. We nnw ask the generous concurrencG of Chrisfian Philanthropists, with the gracious designs of heaven in the prosecution and consumtnation of this good work, which seeks the disenthia'mei t nnd elevation of the' deeply injured race with which most of us are connected. In the fulness of confidence and fraternal solicitude, we commend to the kind consideraron and sympathy of tlieChristian public, our beloved brethren Hiram VVilson and JosiñTr Henson, as the accredited agents of our Christian enterprise.PETER B. SMÍTH } JAMES STÜMP, EDWARD HARBERD, } Committee. GEORÖÉ JOHNSON, I VM. P. NEW MAN, 3 Dawn Mills, Cunada TFesí, Oct. 4, '45 APPEAL. The undersigned as ngents for the B ril ish American Instituie and" Canada Mission, having a great work upon our hands which aims at the ntelleciual and moral eleuation of thousands of our afflicted brethren in Canada from the house of bondage, would come with' confidence before the Chriatian public, with an appeal for help. Conscious of our own weakness, we would gladly retire from so cohépícuoas a position, to labor and suffer and "rndure hardness as good soldier," in a more silent and obscure capacity, could we do so consistent ly with the will of our Divirre Redêemer. But we need niake no ápology. Öur cause is one of intrinsic excellence, and ought to bê' sustained by the prayersof the faithfuí,ánd thesupporting hand ofthebenèvolent. Öur work we admlt is mipopular, and is likely for some time to remain so; inoeed ve would not have ri erherwise untill popularity changes sides from the support of despotic power to the succour of the weak and pówerlfesi. Weask neither ine sympathy nor nssistance öf thoae who fellowship iniquity, or sanction oppression either in Church or State. We make no pretentions to sacerdotal skill in the "fine art" of sanctifying slavery in nny form or circfumein fices, sa as to make it compatible wifh christianity. Henee we make ño nppeal to sïaveholders for aid, but on the contrary, would otteríy repel froto oor hands, from oor skirts," from' our treasury, the fruits of extorlion and the pyffc of human ílesh and blood. For the Afan-sfll Labor Instiiute at Dawn, for the S%JDrt of prima ry schools tt oilier places, lor tha SupjjOfï also of ifinérating as well tte focal miss! onariesamong the poor refugee.s from oppression and slavefyv llp 's wamod and most respect ful ïy sought by te. X"i from any sect or party in religión or polil es, but from pure-minded, true-henrtedIberty lovini; pecple of a catholic spirit - not from jaiVing seclaries, nor unfeelng misanthfópgs. who, ]ike the Priest ind Levite pass by the bleeding victim an the other sido. But fronï those of Samaritan-like sympothtea, who tenderly recognise as a neighbor, a brother, the poor forlorn victim of robbery and wrong. Having mutually tolled, and prayed; and sufTored many long years for the sake of Jesus, and bis benighted poör in this refuge land, vo hereby renew our' covenant 'to toil on beneath the bondman's burdeas, freely participating with him in his nffiictions, till complete re-' demption fromthe thraldom of hvery and the bondage of ignoranee and sirt' shall be his blessed boon, or dealh ittterpose losunder the ligaments of holy love "which bind us, and bid our breath1 atd pulsation cease". Confidingin tVé great God of héavéh',and not in any arm of fiesh, our motto S onica rd. Hundréds of promising, vigor ous-minded youths in Canada are now oanting for the privileges of the Institute, and could have the best instructioh with )roflable labor to enable them to subsist, but are denied these privilegos for want of a shelter for their heads. Hundréds more are emerglngannually from slavéry who might if educated, be emineriïly üsóui in the Lord's vinyard, and Símil we wlion? bouU aro lichte d, Iiy wisdom from on lügh', ShalI we lo men benighied, The lumpof lifc deny?" Shall thosc who are panting1 for' tfre 'ffii of knowledge nnd the lamp óf étérriax liie, of which they hnve been cruelly depri ed, be left still beneath the sn'ndéffof moral darkness to" pass into efefnity arttf up to the bnr of God with the woful rale upon their lips, ltno man cared for' óvr soulsV' Sons of froedom in the Ñorth' and West, sons of Pilgrim aires in Ñew England, Daughters of Zion,siater3 of ttiö" poor eternity-bound y et bewiíderéd áláve1 - friends, followers, lovers of the lowly Lamb of God, forbid t, by coming up t'tf the work. H I R A M W ILSÖN, ? x „ftnter JOSHÜA HENSON, $ Agcm3' Daten Mills, Canada Wesï, Ott. -8", '45.N. B. The public ar'e heréby liotifièci that Mr. Gen. Johnson, one of the trustees, is the Treasurer of tlie Institutjoïi.Rev. VVitliamP. Newman' is tho tot' responding Secretary, to whom' il1 Cbört rnunicationsupon ñnanclal mátterá shoúlrf be directed. Their address is Dawúf Mills, Canada West. {L="Boxos should be serít by freight lines fo the en re ofMessrs. Gilleí & Dteffnoycr.í, Detroit, Mich. We b'ég out' friends at the east to avoid setidin by nxpress, as the expense is more than' Wé' can bear.

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Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News