A Proposal for the Better Supplying of Churches in Our Foreign Plantations, and for Converting the Savage Americans to Christianity, By a College to Be Erected in the Summer Islands, Otherwise Called the Isles of BermudaBerkeley, George
Religion
A Proposal for the Better Supplying of Churches in Our Foreign Plantations, and for Converting the Savage Americans to Christianity, By a College to Be Erected in the Summer Islands, Otherwise Called the Isles of Bermuda
Secondly, the children of savage Americans, brought up in such a
seminary, and well instructed in religion and learning, might make the
ablest and properest missionaries for spreading the gospel among their
countrymen; who would be less apt to suspect, and readier to embrace a
doctrine recommended by neighbours or relations, men of their own blood
and language, than if it were proposed by foreigners, who would not
improbably be thought to have designs on the liberty or property of
their converts.
The young Americans necessary for this purpose, may, in the beginning
be procured, either by peaceable methods from those savage nations,
which border on our colonies, and are in friendship with us, or by
taking captive the children of our enemies.
It is proposed to admit into the aforesaid college only such savages as
are under ten years of age, before evil habits have taken a deep root;
and yet not so early as to prevent retaining their mother tongue, which
should be preserved by intercourse among themselves.
It is further proposed, to ground these young Americans thoroughly in
religion and morality, and to give them a good tincture of other
learning; particularly of eloquence, history, and practical
mathematicks: to which it may not be improper to add some skill in
physick.
If there were a yearly supply of ten or a dozen such missionaries sent
abroad into their respective countries, after they had received the
degree of master of arts in the aforesaid college, and holy orders in
England, (till such time as episcopacy be established in those parts)
it is hardly to be doubted, but, in a little time the world would see
good and great effects thereof.
For, to any considering man, the employing American missionaries for
the conversion of America, will, of all others, appear the most likely
method to succeed; especially if care be taken, that, during the whole
course of their education, an eye should be had to their mission; that
they should be taught betimes to consider themselves as trained up in
that sole view, without any other prospect of provision, or employment;
that a zeal for religion, and love of their country, should be early
and constantly instilled into their minds, by repeated lectures and
admonitions; that they should not only be incited by the common topics
of religion and nature, but farther animated and enflamed by the great
examples, in past ages, of publick spirit and virtue, to rescue their
countrymen from their savage manners, to a life of civility and
religion.
If his majesty would graciously please to grant a charter for a college
to be erected in a proper place for these uses, it is to be hoped a
fund may be soon raised, by the contribution of well-disposed persons,
sufficient for building and endowing the same. For as the necessary
expence would be small, so there are men of religion and humanity in
England, who would be pleased to see any design set forward for the
glory of God and the good of mankind.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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