Contrast and compare the following versions of the same part of Tschoop’s story:
1858. SHEKOMEKO, OR, THE MORAVIANS IN DUTCHESS COUNTY. BY REV. SHELDON DAVIS. A. H. (POUGHKEEPSIE, 1858).
“I have been a poor, wild heathen, and for forty years as ignorant as a dog. I was the greatest drunkard, and the most willing slave of the devil: and as I know nothing of our Saviour, I served vain idols, which I now wish to be destroyed with fire, often I have repented with man; tears. When I heard that Jesus was also the Saviour of the heathen, and that I ought to give him my heart, I felt a drawing within me towards him. But my wife and children were my enemies ; and my greatest enemy was my wife’s mother. She told me that I was worse than a dog, if I no more believed in her idol. But my eyes being opened, I understood that what she said was altogether folly, for I knew that she had received her idol from her grand-mother. It is made of leather, and decorated with wampum, and she, being the oldest person in the house, made us worship it; which we have done, till our teacher came, and told us of the Lamb of God, who shed His blood, and died for us poor ignorant people.
Now I feel and believe, that our Saviour alone can help me, through the power of His blood, and no other. I believe that he is my God and my Saviour, who died on the cross for me a sinner. I wish to be baptized, and long for ii most ardently. I am lame, and cannot travel in winter; but in April or May I will come to you.
“I am your poor wild Tschoop”
1861. “Two North American Indian Christian Converts”. Sunday Reading, Adapted for Families; for the use of City Missionaries—Sunday School—Tract Distributors—Colporteurs—and Every Agency Employed for the Diffusion of Sound Gospel Truth. pp. 45-6. Sat Aug 10, 1861.
The following is a letter which Tschoop dictated, addressed to the Christians in Pennsylvania:—
” I have been a poor, wild heathen, and for forty years, as ignorant as a dog. I was the greatest drunkard, and the most willing slave of the devil; and as I knew nothing of our Saviour, I served vain idols, which I now wish to see destroyed with fire. Of this I have repented with many tears. When I heard that Jesus was also the Saviour of the heathen, and that I ought to give Him my heart, I felt a drawing within me towards Him; but my nearest relations, my wife and children, were my enemies, and my greatest enemy was my wife’s mother. She told me that I was worse than a dog, if I no more believed in her idol; but my eyes being opened, I understood that what she said was altogether folly, for I knew that she had received her idol from her grandmother. It is made of leather, and decorated with wampum, and she, being the oldest person in the house, made us worship it, which we have done, till our teacher came and told us of the Lamb of God, who shed His blood, and died for us ignorant people. I was astonished at this doctrine, and as often as I heard it preached, my heart grew warm. I even dreamt often, that our teacher stood before me and preached to me.
” Now I feel and believe that our Saviour alone can help me, by the power of His blood, and no other. I believe that He is my God, and my Saviour, who died on the cross for me, a sinner. I wish to be baptized, and frequently long for it ardently. I am lame, and cannot travel in winter, but in April or May I will come to you. The enemy has frequently tried to make me unfaithful; but what I loved before, I consider more and more as dung. ” I am, your poor, wild Tschoop.”
1870, “THE MORAVIAN MISSIONS.” By the Author of Moravian Life in the Black Forest. . . In Mission life; or Home and foreign church work, pp. 595-606.
” I have been a poor, wild heathen, and for forty years as ignorant as a dog. I was the greatest drunkard, and the most willing slave of the devil; and, as I knew nothing of the Saviour, I served vain idols, which I now wish to see destroyed with fire. . Of this I have repented with many tears. When I heard that Jesus was also the Saviour of the heathen, and that I ought to give Him my heart, I felt a drawing within me towards Him. But my wife and children were my enemies; and my greatest enemy was my wife’s mother. She told me that I was worse than a dog if I no more believed in her idol. But, my eyes being opened, I understood that what she said was altogether folly, for I knew that she had received her idol from her grandmother. It is made of leather, and decorated with wampum, and she, being the oldest person in the house, made us worship it; which we have done till our teacher came, and told us of the Lamb of God, who shed His blood and died for us poor ignorant people. Now I feel and believe that our Saviour alone can help me, by the power of His blood, and no other. I believe that He is my God and my Saviour, Who died on the cross for vie, a sinner. I wish to be baptized, and long for it most ardently. I am lame, and cannot travel in winter; but in April or May I will come to you. I am your poor, wild ” Tschoop.”
Brian Altonen, MPH, MS 