NYYM_scrapbook_023

Wm. Jenkins' (the Missionary) charge against Friends The Board of Directors of the Northern Missionary Society in Albany, having received information of some very improper conduct on the part of certain persons of the Society of Friends towards their missionary William Jenkins, requested from him a statement of the circumstances, with a view not only to their own satisfaction, but from a wish to lay the Affair before the meeting of Friends, presuming that such conduct would be discountenanced by them and the evil complained of redressed. The following is the statement which the Board of Directors have received. Sometime in June 1809 I was invited to preach at the South settlement by a number of Indians living in that place. The third or fourth sabbath in which I attended, I found it my duty to baptize the children of two Indians belonging to that settlement and in order to avoid giving offense if I could any wise prevent it, I previously called on two persons called Quakers, who, I understood, had been living for a few months in that place. They entertained me very kindly in their house, where we talked with freedom about the objects of our missions, and harmoniously agreed that we should, as far as we could, assist each other in promoting the good of the Indians: that we should not cavil or dispute with each other in the presence of Indians about our different opinions, but conscientiously do our duty with all the harmony possible I then mentioned the request of the Indians to me, and the duties I should likely have to perform among them; such as preaching, bap- tising, visiting &;c all which they seemed to agree with and particular- ly expressed their approbation of my preaching in that settlement, and it being sabbath morning, and the time in which I had appointed to preach there, the two Friends went along with me, and, as I thought, in order to assist me, blew the horn (as usual) in order to collect the Indians--but as soon as they were collected the Quaker woman began before them to find fault with my principles, and to justify her own. Hereby, I saw that she had already forgotton our agreement, but I thought it my duty to let her see that I still remembered it, and therefore immediately walked with a number of Indians into the house where we were to hold meeting. The Indians immediate- ly of their own accord began to sing a Psalm, and I believe with