Isaiah xxxv. 1, The people listened with prayerful attention. Dr. Reese, of New York, exhorted and closed the meeting. A good time.
Monday 4th. — Returned this morning to New York, and began to make preparations for our return home to Canada. At 7 this evening we attended the anniversary of the Parent Missionary Society in John Street Church. Bishop Hedding presided and opened the meeting. Dr. Bangs read the Report, which stated that they had more than 2000 Indian converts under their charge. The Rev. W. Case gave an address, after which the Indian children said their lessons. I then gave a short talk, and exhibited a few cast-off idols, and explained their use and design, and the manner in which incantations were made by them. These idols were delivered up to me by a noted conjurer named Peter Omik. The object in showing these cast-off gods was to set forth the power of the Gospel in pulling down the strong holds of Indian superstition and idolatry, and thus to bring the red man of the forest to cast away his idols to the moles and bats. The Rev. S. Merwin then made a short speech, after which the Rev. George G. Cookman delivered a very interesting speech which warmed our hearts. A collection was made for the Society, and the meeting was dismissed. We were then invited to the house of Mr. F. Hall, where the Rev. W. Case was married to Miss Hetty Hubbard, the school teacher from Grape Island. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Dr. Bangs. Mr. Moss was groomsman, and Miss Barnes was bridesmaid. Our Indian party were present, and having never before seen the white man's mode of celebrating matrimony, the Indian boys went to Miss Barnes and asked her if she was married to Mr. Moss, as they stood up with the happy couple. She told them she was not married to him.
Sunday 10th. — About noon at Utica, we had a meeting.
