"Billy Graham came to understand something that every President ought to know on Inauguration Day: Temporal power is fleeting and ultimately the gospel trumps the Gallup Poll"
Sometimes I wonder if we Southern Baptists truly understand what it means to live for the kingdom of Christ. It seems that we can be guilty of falsely associating patriotism, southern culture, etiquette, and Republican politics with genuine Christianity. I know we know better, but it's easy for us to question the spiritual genuineness of anyone who disagrees with us politically, culturally or nationalistically. I would like to tell you the story of a pastor who not only understood the difference between the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of man, he paid the highest of all prices to remain loyal to the former in face of severe persecution from the latter.
Voices from the Grave
This past Wednesday, August 8, 2007, my son Logan and I visited a cemetary just outside of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. In a farmers field a few miles beyond the city limits is a grave yard reserved for the Boudinot and Worcester families. Two men of special significance to evangelical Christianity and Oklahoma history are buried there. One is a Cherokee Indian named Buck Watie (1800-1839) who is better known by his English name Elias Boudinot. Elias was a very devout Christian and took his 'Christian' name from the nationally renowned Elias Boudinot, the former President of the United States under the Articles of Confederation. President Boudinot first met Buck Watie in Washington D.C. in the year 1818. It is said that the the former President was so impressed with the young Christian Indian that he promised to financially support Buck in his pursuit of formal education. From that day forward Buck Watie took the English name Elias Boudinot as his own - an act that deeply moved Buck's namesake.
Buck 'Elias Boudinot' Watie eventually became one of four Cherokee men who formalized a treaty with the United States government to sell all Cherokee lands east of the Mississippi to the United States government, and in return, to receive from the government a 'perpetual homeland' in Indian Territory - now called Oklahoma. The vast, overwhelming majority of Cherokees who lived in northwestern Georgian, southern Tennessee and northeastern Alabama were furious that the New Echota Treaty with the United States government had been signed. In accord with the Treaty, the Cherokees were allowed to voluntarily move west to Indian Territory (Oklahoma), but when only a few hundred had moved by the deadline, the government began a forced removal in the fall of 1838. Over four thousand Cherokees died in this mandatory relocation which is now famously called The Trail of Tears. The bitterness toward Elias Boudinot for signing the Treaty was so great that he was murdered by his fellow Cherokees in front of his wife and children on June 22, 1839 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. What is ironic about Elias' death at the hands of his own people is that Elias signed the New Echota Treaty genuinely believing his people were better off apart from the sinful oppression of the greedy white men back east who would stop at nothing, including war, to obtain the Cherokees' land.
Buried next to Elias in the farmer's field is the man I wish to honor in this post. His name is Samuel Worcester (pronounced 'Wooster') and the Cherokee Indian Elias Boudinot was his good friend, Christian disciple, and fellow laborer for the kingdom of Christ. Samuel was first a missionary to the Cherokee Indians in Georgia, and later a missionary to the Cherokees in Oklahoma. Though Samuel is not known by many modern evangelical Christians, his missonary life and testimony rivals that of David Brainard.
Samuel Worcester (1798-1859) was the 7th generation of pastors in his family, dating back to when his family lived in England. When Samuel was born his father, the Rev. Leonard Worcester, was a minister in Peacham, Vermont. According to Charles Perry of the Peacham Historical Association, Leonard also worked as a printer in the town during the week.
Young Samuel exhibited an unusual strength in foreign languages. While studying in New England the minister met and befriended Buck Watie, the Cherokee Indian described above, who by this time had already taken the name of Elias Boudinot. Samuel and Elias became close friends. When Worcester joined the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions he requested assignment to a Cherokee village that was in particular need according to Boudinot. The village came to admire the 'white man' with a message and many were converted to Christianity through Samuel's ministry to them. The Cherokee's in Georgia gave to Samuel a Cherokee name which meant "The Messenger." (see The North Georgia Notables)
A Man Who Served a Higher Kingdom
Samuel deeply loved the Cherokees. He was the best speaker of the Cherokee language among white men in the New World. He not only learned their tongue, he lived their ways. He earned their trust. It is said that Samuel was responsible for leading many chiefs to faith in Christ, and the Cherokees came to be considered the most 'civilized' tribe of the Indians because of their wide professed Christianity, progress in formal education, and particular skills at farming and printing. Samuel and Elias Boudinot began the first ever Indian Newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix, and helped bring the Cherokee people into more literacy than the white citizens of Georgia that surrounded them. However, when gold was discovered in northern Georgia in the late 1820's the insatiable thirst for riches in the Cherokee's land led the Georgia state assembly and Georgia Governor George Gilmer to officially adopt 'a policy of forcible Indian removal.' Plans were made for what Georgia called a 'Land Lottery,' to be held in 1832, where all the Cherokee tribal lands would be awarded to white settlers.
Samuuel Worcester and 11 other missionaries and pastors to the Cherokees met at New Echota in Georgia, a city near the current Rome, Georgia, to make plans to protest the forced removal. New Echota was the capital of the Cherokee Nation until it moved to Tahlequah, Oklahoma in 1839. The men met and published a resolution in protest of the Georgia law that the state assembly had passed requiring all whites to get a license to work on Native American land. This law was preparation for the forced removal of the Cherokees. Worcester reasoned correctly that obeying the law would, in effect, be tantamount to surrendering the sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation. Governor Gilmer ordered the militia to arrest Worcester and the others who signed the document. Quickly brought to trial and convicted, Worcester and the others held firm to their beliefs. Even though the United States Supreme Court had already ruled the Cherokee Nation was independent and all dealings with them fell under federal jurisdiction, not the state, the Supreme Court rulings were ignored by both Georgia Governor Gilmer and President Andrew Jackson. Samuel Worcester was kept in prison - for almost two years.
A Fragile and Important Diary
Today I spoke with Pastor John Worcester who lives in Seattle, Washington. John is the great-great-great-grandson of Samuel Worcester. When John was ordained into the ministry, his aunt gave to him, in a very solemn family ceremony, the diary that Samuel Worcester kept during his imprisonment in Georgia. This diary is now held by the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under loan by the Worcester family, in order to ensure proper care for it. The diary has never been published but John Worcester has graciously agreed to send me a copy of the microfilm for my own archives.
In the diary Samuel speaks of God's goodness and sovereignty over all things. Ironically, it was the imprisonment of Samuel that played a significant role in Elias Boudinot changing his mind about Cherokee removal to Indian Territory. Although Elias initially and publically opposed such a plan, he came to believe that if the United States government could harshly imprison a white man who opposed Indian relocation - and a missionary at that - the government would not stop at anything to obtain Georgia Cherokee land. This dim view of future treatment of Cherokees in Georgia by the respective federal and state governments eventually led Cherokee leaders Elias Boudinot, Major Ridge, John Ridge and Stand Watie to sign the New Echota Treaty. This signing of the Treaty also eventually resulted in the execution of all the signers in Oklahoma by their fellow Cherokees except for Stand Watie - who was Elias' brother - and who would later become the only Indian general in the Confederate Army. Stand Watie is also recognized as the last Confederate General to surrender during the Civil War in 1865 - in Fort Towson, Oklahoma - two months after the surrender of General Lee in Virgiania.
Upon release from prison in 1834 because of a change of governorship in Georgia, Samuel Worcester moved to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) and eventually established residence at Park Hill (just outside Tahlequah, Oklahoma). Samuel prepared the area for what he knew would be the removal of the entire Cherokee Nation from Georgia to Indian Territory. In a future post I will explain the tremendous influence Samuel had here in Oklahoma in establishing both a men's and a women's seminary in Tahlequah, printing the first book ever published in Oklahoma (according to the Oklahoma Historical Commission), and discipling the Cherokees regarding Christianity by teaching them the Bible in their own Cherokee language. My own city and region around Enid, Oklahoma have felt the influence of Samuel Worcester. When the federal government had trouble negotiating a treaty with the wild Plains Indians in the mid 1800's (our highschool mascot is the Enid Plainsmen), it was a Cherokee Christian convert and disciple of Samuel Worcester who helped the United States government make peace with the Plainsmen Indians. But, I digress . . .
Lessons from the Life of Samuel Worcester
In researching the life of Samuel Worcester this week I was moved by three things:
(1). This highly educated missionary was considered a 'traitor' to the United States and 'unpatriotic' by his fellow citizens. Yet, even while enduring a long imprisonment, Samuel Worcester determined it was better to suffer for the kingdom of Christ than to be praised by the kingdom of men. I am reminded that my main priority as a pastor should be the gospel and not popularity. As Billy Graham is said to understand, 'The gospel trumps the Gallup Poll.'
(2). While some are going through their lives searching for comfort and temporary pleasures, there are others who are giving their lives for the sake of eternal and higher pleasures. I couldn't help but think of the thousands of people who travel to Grand Lake, or float the Illinois, or go about their daily business all around Tahlequah and never realize the significance of the actions of some great men and women that are buried near them at Park Hill. In fact, as Tiger shot a 63 at the PGA on Friday in nearby Tulsa, Southern Hills, I reflected on the fact that knocking a little white ball into a hole pales in comparison to bringing a soul into the kingdom. No pastor ever ought to minimize either his calling or the importance of his work.
(3). There are some events, even in the lives of God's people, that can never be explained satisfactorily by human standards. The murder of Samuel's good friend, Elias Boudinot, in front of Elias' own wife and children, is horrific. Yet, in the end, both Samuel and Elias died. How they died matters little. What they died for matters everything. As 19th Century missionary to the New Hebrides cannibals John Paton said,
I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my Resurrection body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer
I'm not sure if anyone else enjoys history as much as I, but I am thoroughly convinced that we have a great deal to learn from those who have gone before us. I learn from Samuel Worcester that the kingdom of Christ should always trump the kingdom of men in our lives and ministries.
In His Grace,
Wade Burleson
27 comments:
Wade,
I'm not sure how you manage to do all that you do, but I deeply appreciate your love for history and your ability to make the past interesting - especially for Christians. I serve as an official state historian for Oklahoma, and I marvel at how little Oklahomans know of our heritage. Of course, divide that knowledge by ten and you have the amount most people know of our Christian heritage. Job well done. This historian has learned something from you.
Wade,
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your Ministry and the sharing of Christian History. I love to read about our Christian Forefathers who Blazed a Trail for the GLORY of GOD and not SELF.
In His Name
Wayne Smith
Wade I have to say you truly amaze me and no doubt many others. Thank you for a very enjoyable few moments here this saturday morning.
Jim Sadler
Wade,
Why is your comment time is off by 2 hours?
In His Name
Wayne Smith
Wade,
A great post. Thanks for the reminders about our primary tasks!
(just one correction -- Tiger shot his 63 on Friday).
Wade,
Great Post. It is always great to read of the men and women who impacted Native Americans with the gospel. They seem to be an often forgotten group of people who are still in need of hearing the gospel.
BH
Wade,
I very much enjoyed your post today. I am going to share this with my wife whose mother is full blood cherokee living in Tahlequah, OK. She just recently came to know Christ as a result of a Cherokee Baptist Church faithfully proclaiming the Gospel to her. I've been invited to hold revival services at their church. I have been working on my Cherokee so that I can quote John 3:16 in their language. Thank you for researching and sharing this info with me.
Brent L. Williams
Virden, IL
Very good historical writing, Bro. Wade. I knew the "federals" and some of the state politicians could be bought off but I hadn't realized old Indian-fighter Andrew Jackson so calmly ignored Supreme Court precedent.
Steve Austin
As a student of history and of the gospels, thank you for sharing both with us. I am most impressed that your son is accompanying you on your journeys of discovery. As the twig is bent...
Blessings,
-jack-
Wayne,
I go to bed early. I set my time for Atlantic time so when I post at 10:00 p.m. it shows as a new day's post.
Wade
Brent,
Wonderful news about your mother-in-law.
Thanks for sharing.
To all. Thanks for your kind comments.
Clif,
Of course! Thanks for the correction!
Wade,
While I know you do not have much influence over what is written by other people, I am most concerned about your new staff member especially when he blogs stuff like this today. While I do not agree with everything about SWBTS or Dr. Patterson, this type of stuff needs to stop in my opinion.
http://baptistblog.wordpress.com/
Not only do I enjoy history, but I really enjoy finding things like this, that are part of the local history scene, but may not be something that you'll find in a standard history text. I have spent hours upon hours in small town and small county historical museums. I'm always fascinated and engaged when I come across something related to the church and the spread of the gospel. I actually put together a presentation of artifacts, some pictures and did some research on the earliest churches in my hometown in Arizona. I think more people need to be aware of the pioneers of the faith in the past, and the price that many of them paid for things we more or less take for granted today. Thanks for posting this, I enjoyed it.
I think the Christian history of Oklahoma is particularly interesting, and those individuals who were brave enough to venture there and share the gospel and establish churches among the Indians are fascinating people, considering the prevailing attitudes in America in the nineteenth century in particular. The fact that they were able to win converts at all is a testimony to what God can do with a committed, humble servant.
Anonymous,
Concerns need to be signed. Ben and I do not agree on everything, and our approaches are obviously different, but I learned a long time ago that if every snowflake were the same the world would be a boring place. Ben will not change me, nor I him.
Wade,
As I always told my employees who would say we need more people like you. My answer was, they would not be able to stand each other. GOD created each person in his image and not even identical twins are the same. We need more Ben Coles in the SBC.
In His Name
Wayne Smith
Great post, Wade. Once again. I figured you come out of the gate running after your short blogging vacation. You didn't disappoint.
Wade,
This is the best work you have ever posted. I thank you for it.
cb
Wade said,
"Anonymous,
Concerns need to be signed. Ben and I do not agree on everything, and our approaches are obviously different, but I learned a long time ago that if every snowflake were the same the world would be a boring place. Ben will not change me, nor I him."
God made everybody different. That is not news. Neither is it news that Ben holds an incredible disdain for Dr. Patterson. It is also not news that needs to cease because it is contrary to God's work. And that applies to everyone, including me.
I am interested in our history and will be looking forward to the centennial celebration.
anonymous: Did you get the part about signing?
Wade wrote: "Sometimes I wonder if we Southern Baptists truly understand what it means to live for the kingdom of Christ. It seems that we can be guilty of falsely associating patriotism, southern culture, etiquette, and Republican politics with genuine Christianity. I know we know better, but it's easy for us to question the spiritual genuineness of anyone who disagrees with us politically, culturally or nationalistically."
I couldn't agree more. I hope that there is never a day that I or my pastor would alienate those we minister to by showing our political leanings. If the gospel offends, so be it...
Thanks for the great post.
I knew this guy was something special when I noticed he was born in Vermont. Alas, so was Joseph Smith. What really gets my fire going is when I read about great men and women who were simply sold out to the cause of Christ and His Kingdom. Their lives reflected His radiance and glory and His Name was supreme in their hearts and on their lips.
Convicted to the Core,
John in the STL
Wade,
Again I say, "they are in the process of de-progamming your secret decoder ring."
[Quote]: It seems that we can be guilty of falsely associating patriotism, southern culture, etiquette, and Republican politics with genuine Christianity. I know we know better, but it's easy for us to question the spiritual genuineness of anyone who disagrees with us politically, culturally or nationalistically. [Enquote]
While I cannot tell you how much that I appreciate someone actually breathing those words out loud, it is apparent to many of us that the mantra in the hierarchy of the SBC is that you cannot be a good Southern Baptist and be a member of the Democratic Party. And heaven forfend you actually vote for someone other than a Republican!
Looking at the life and actions of Billy Graham one can only see grace and mercy - certainly not a political or "issue" point of view. His was a single-focused mission, to lead the lost to Jesus.
There are many times which I feel that we've lost our way. We've become bogged down in "doctrinal purity" and "Political Party Correctness" rather than winning the lost for Christ.
At the end of the day, we must put aside these differences, which are in the eye of Christ petty differences, and get on with the Kingdom's work.
Gary in Norman
Wade,
What a great post. It's men and women like these who lived and suffered such hardships for the faith. How we have lost so many of those stories, but one thing we do know, God has not forget them. Thanks for sharing and researching, It does take some much time, but the rewards are worth it.
Neil Newcomb
Pastor Burleson,
There is a movie with a $30M investment from Christians about Elias Boudinot that is in consideration by two major studios.
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