Cherokee Bible History (3)

**List: Cherokee Ministry

the Bible ( the Bible )
Cherokee...
CHEROKEE.

"I.--GEOGRAPHICAL EXTENT AND STATISTICS.

THE Cherokees, at the time they first became known to Europeans, occupied an extensive territory
situated north and south of the south-westerly continuation of the Appalachian Mountains, and on both
sides of the Cherokee or Tennesse River.   They were less averse to the cultivation of the soil than the
more northern Indian nations; but, like the rest of their countrymen, they were perpetually involved
in war with the neighbouring tribes.   During the war of independence they fought under the British
banner, but afterwards sided with the Americans.   It is said that since they came in contact with
the Europeans, and notwithstanding successive cessions of part of their territory, their numbers, at least
during the last forty years, have increased.   In 1762 their warriors were estimated at 2300; but
Adair was informed that, forty years previously, they had numbered 6000.   A late estimate of the
Indian War-department represents the Cherokee nation as consisting of 15,000 souls, exclusive of about
1200 negro slaves belonging to them.   Many of the Cherokees have removed west of the Mississippi,
to lands given them by the United States in exchange for their possessions east of that river.   Civilisa-
tion is making rapid progress among them; and they now possess written laws in their own language,
which seem likely to supersede their ancient customs and traditions.

II.--CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LANGUAGE.

   The Cherokee, the Creek or Muskogee, and the Chocktaw languages, with the dialects of some
petty tribes spoken in their vicinity, are connected by so many points of affinity, as to be considered,
philologically as well as geographically, a distinct branch or family of the American class of languages.
With reference to their geographical position, they have been designated the Appalachian or Floridian
group.
   Dr. Barton regarded Cherokee as an Iroquois language, and even Gallatin was inclined to adopt
the same opinion; but, although there are points of similarity in these as in all other American languages,
the direct affinities between Cherokee and the Iroquois languages are comparatively few and remote.
There is some difficulty in obtaining a competent knowledge of the Cherokee language, on account of
the complexity of its forms.   It is encumbered with a dual number; and in the simple conjugation of
the present of the indicative, including the pronoun in the nominative and oblique cases, there are no
less than seventy distinct forms.   There are likewise various other nice distinctions to be noted in

reference to the verb, the forms of which denote whether the object be animate or inanimate, whether
or not the person spoken of is expected to hear what is said, and other particulars.   A very ingenious
alphabet, admirably adapted to express the sounds of this language, has been invented by a native
Cherokee, named Sequoyah, but more commonly known by the name of Guess.   It consists of eighty-
five characters, and each character denotes an entire syllable.   As all the articulations in the language
are included in this alphabet, a mere acquaintance with the eighty-five characters is all that is requisite
to enable a learner to read Cherokee.   With respect to sound, it is a strongly-articulated language, and
the sibilant decidedly predominates.   Every Cherokee syllable ends in a vocal or nasal articulation, and
there are no other double consonants but tl or dl, and ts, and combinations of s with four or five different
consonants.

III.--VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES IN THIS LANGUAGE.

   The first portion of the Scriptures printed in this language was the Gospel of St. Matthew, a
second edition of which appeared in 1832, and a third in 1840; but the year of its first appearance is
not specified, neither is the name of the translator generally known.   The three editions were published
at the Arkansas Mission-press, Park Hill, at the expense of the American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions.   In 1833 a version of the Acts was published for the same Society, at New Echota,
translated by the Rev. Samuel Worcester, in concert with Elias Boudinot, an educated Cherokee.   A
version of the Gospel of St. John, carefully prepared by the same translators from the Greek original,
was published at the Arkansas Mission-press in 1838; and this edition, published under the sanction of
the American Board, was aided by a grant from the American Bible Society.   This Gospel was reprinted
at the same press in 1840, and again in 1841.   In 1844 a volume containing the Gospels, the Acts,
the Epistles to Timothy, and various detached portions of Scripture, was printed at the Arkansas
Mission-press, Park Hill, for the American Board: this and all the above mentioned editions were
printed in the Cherokee character.
   Further assistance towards printing the Scriptures in Cherokee was afforded, in 1845, by the
American Bible Society; and the superintendence of the work was undertaken by the Rev. S. Worcester,
who had, as has been stated, translated part of the New Testament into Cherokee, and who had resided
many years as a my. among the people speaking that language.   Editions, consisting of 6000
copies of the Epistle to the Ephesians, of 5000 copies of the Epistles to the Philippians and Colossians,
with the First and Second Epistles of Peter, were printed in 1848; but although several years have
now elapsed since the translation of the New Testament into Cherokee was accomplished, no notice has
been yet received respecting the completion of the entire version at press.
   Comparatively few details have been transmitted concerning the results of the perusal of the
Cherokee portions of Scripture now in circulation: but that these portions are valued by the Cherokees
is attested by the fact, that a Bible Society has been organised among them, for the purpose of enabling
every member of their nation to read what has been printed in their language of the Word of God.
It was stated, in 1847, that the number of converted natives in connection with the Cherokee Mission
was about 240 souls; but it is probable that many more have since been added to the Church."--The Bible of Every Land. (1860, Second Edition)   Samuel Bagster   [Info only]

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