NYYM_minutes_Page_005

some alterations approved- And is as follows- Viz To the Yearly Meeting We the Committee on the concern relative to the Indian Natives Report! That during the course of the last season Year the subject hath from time to time claimed our close attention, and our minds have felt much engaged for the promotion of their civil and religious welfare: two Men and two Women of our number have made them a visit, and spent some time amongst the different Tribes and by their report we find, that notwithstanding they have made considerable advances in Agriculture and civilization in general yet owing to divers of their Chiefs and others given way to the pernicious practice of drinking to excess, their progress in these respects is much retarded, and this weakness we fear has with some of them rather increased, yet it appears that many of the Oneida have wholly refrained from the use of ardent spirits, and although they have made less advancement in civilization than the other Tribes yet they seem animated to labour after further improvement both civil and religious- The attention of the Committee has been turned for some time to the subject of encouraging some suitable Friend to reside amongst them, and John Deane having expressed a willingness to go for a time in New York 25th of 5th Month 1807 Signed on behalf of the Committee by Th P Franklin Clk