Page:The Red Man and the White Man in North America.djvu/448

428 stages of his exacting task Eliot was sure that his success was dependent upon the establishment of Indian communities in settlements exclusively their own, with fixed habits of life and industrious occupations, ultimately with school-teachers and dames, mechanics, preachers, and local magistrates of their own race, and with all the comforts and securities of the towns of the white men, and their organized churches. He wrote, “I find it absolutely necessary to carry on civility with religion.” The Rev. John Danforth, the poet divine of Dorchester, whom Eliot helped to put in office, commemorated the Apostle and his wife, “the virtuous consort,” in some verses after their decease. He thus puts into rhyme Eliot's matter-of-fact opinion on this subject: —

After many visits of search and exploration over a wide circuit, with Indian companions for counsel and help, Eliot chose a region of territory a part of which now bears its original name, — Natick, — to begin his great experiment. “The praying Indians” came to be the term, henceforward, for designating those of the natives who had been brought under degrees of instruction and of voluntary submission to Christian influences. By the earnest and effective agency of Eliot a large company of these were gathered to the above named site in 1651, as a place for their permanent settlement and abode, for further progress in civilization and religion. Besides engaging in his behalf the most