Read Ebook: The American Missionary — Volume 38 No. 06 June 1884 by Various

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elt the importance of this new way, and that he wished for himself and his people schools and churches. This was encouraging, but as the evening came on there set up a hideous noise; a dance was in progress, and all night long a relay of three Indians kept up the hideous and monotonous tom-tom of their kettle-drums, while the shrill scream of the women pierced the air.

The next morning were things equally painful. A young Indian woman, with four children to care for, put away by her cruel husband for another wife, came to beg the missionary's influence to secure for her Government rations. A tent hard by was visited, where the family, in accordance with Indian superstitions, were gathering, and had been for a year or two, all sorts of valuable articles for presents in honor of some deceased member of the household, intending by-and-by to distribute all these things, leaving themselves beggared. And last of all, in a neighboring village were seen three men and a boy, clad with a few feathers in their hair, and yellow ochre on their bodies, going through mummeries in the sight of a large company. They were "making mystery," whatever that may be.

At Standing Rock were Sitting Bull and Chief Gall, with their bands. Not many years ago they had been on the war path; they were concerned in the Custer massacre; but now they are in wholesome awe of the Government and dependent on Government favor for daily bread. Consequently they are orderly and peaceable, and though a few years since it would have been dangerous for three unarmed men to pass through their reservations, it was perfectly safe last summer for a missionary speaking the Indian language and his friends.

A third class of Indians was found at Fort Berthold. This reservation is a hundred miles north of Bismarck, Dakota Territory, on the east side of the Missouri. There are three small tribes combined in one large village for protection against their ancient enemies the Sioux, namely, the Arickarees, the Mandans, and the Gros Ventres. These Indians have latterly made great advances in civilization. They have 800 acres under cultivation, all looking admirably and well fenced in, and they are taking great pride in their work and asking for more land to cultivate. They have comfortable homes, or "lodges," as they are called, made in an octagonal form, of logs completely covered with earth. They are eagerly obtaining from the Government such comforts of civilization as they can--reapers, cooking-stoves, baking-powder, and the like. And yet this people display some of the grossest elements of savagery. Polygamy is common. The disgusting scaffold burials still go on, and the air in the neighborhood of the village is sometimes foul from the adjacent cemetery. Buffalo heads and poles with red streamers, as offerings or invocations to spirits, surmount many of the lodges and bear witness to the heathenism of the people. Many of the men are terribly scarred on the shoulders, breast and arms with the cruel practices of the sun dance. Men and women alike wear the dress of their savage life. There has been as yet little success from schools or church work. Few care for schools, and the attendance at the mission chapel is not large. The fault, however, is not with the devoted missionaries, Rev. C. L. Hall and his helpers of the American Missionary Association, whose faithfulness is unsurpassed, but with bad white men who visit the village. For years these Indians have been brought in contact with some of the worst influences of civilization, and in consequence the women have become gross, the men have lost their sense of honor, and the people are manifestly more degraded and harder to reach than the wild Indians on the Sioux Reservation.

After observation of these three types of Indians, the Christianized, the wild and the polluted, certain conclusions were inevitable.

Two other cuts represent groups of school-children at Santee, all Indians. The artist has not exaggerated the bright and attractive look upon their faces. They come from all parts of Dakota and the Santee Reservation. In the ninth cut is represented an Indian who, with a white man's shirt, retains his native leggings, blanket, necklace and tomahawk.

FORTY-FIVE YEARS IN WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

From August 1838, to Sept., 1883, a period of more than 45 consecutive years, I was a resident of what is now Oregon and Washington Territory. I spent the greater part of those years in what is included in Washington Territory.

I was employed during the first ten years in mission work under the patronage of the American Board in behalf of the Spokane Indians.

In July of that year I, as agent of the A. B. C. F. M., went to Walla Walla to look after their interests. Standing beside the grave of the distinguished patriot and martyr, Dr. Whitman, I purposed to attempt the erection of a monument to his memory in the form of a school of high Christian character. The following Spring, 1860, I commenced work in fulfillment of the plan named. During the next 12 years the execution of that plan was with me all-controlling. In pursuance of said object I recently returned to my native New England.

During my sojourn in Walla Walla from 1860 to 1872 I was favored with opportunities for the measurable prosecution of evangelistic work among the Spokane Indians. In May, 1872, my house at the place formerly occupied by Dr. Whitman was consumed by fire.

My elder son had previously been nominated by the American Missionary Association as Indian agent and confirmed by Government. Previous to his taking charge the Lord's day had been distinguished for the performance of outlandish wickedness. With the new agent there was change of employ?s. A weekly prayer meeting was appointed and conducted. With a good degree of constancy it has been continued to the present time. A Sunday-school was organized. It is continued with sustained interest.

Soon after the burning of my house in Walla Walla, Agent Eells hastened thither and took his mother to his home. Early the following autumn I joined dear ones at Skokomish. A new departure was named. In pursuance thereof, with the interpreter, a devout Indian, I conducted divine service at the Indian village. It was continued with gratifying results.

In July, 1874, a church composed of whites and Indians was organized. I was chosen pastor. About that time my younger son, Rev. Myron Eells, arrived at Skokomish, with the intention of making a brief stop. To me my early Indian charge, the Spokanes, together with the sparse white settlements in the vicinity, were attractive. I resigned the charge at Skokomish. It was committed to Rev. M. Eells. The seed of the word cast among Spokane Indians did not spring up quickly. It had slow growth, but a rich harvest has been gathered. But I may not enlarge. From my experience and observation the so-called peace policy, when fairly tested, is a success. Connected therewith the ideas and work of the A. M. A. are specially applicable to efforts for the elevation of the Indian. In my judgment the vexed Indian problem may thereby be solved--solved to the mutual profit of our Government and the Indian.

THE CHINESE.

LETTER FROM OAKLAND, CAL.

There is little more for me to do in noting down my observation of the work of A. M. A. among the Chinese here than to indorse the statements made by the Rev. Dr. McLean in the April number of this magazine. As far as the school work for the Chinese in the English language is concerned, the honor of beginning it belongs, I think, to Mrs. Elizabeth L. Lynde, now deceased, a member of the First Congregational Church in this city at the time. Her heart, which was singularly alert in behalf of the neglected and unfortunate, set her in the year 1867 to teaching two or three Chinese at her house. These were servants in families. Meantime the boy employed in my own house--since favorably known as our chief helper in missionary work, Jee Gam--was spelling out, by the aid of my little girls and their mother, the mysteries of our English language, and little by little learning the great mystery of godliness. Interest deepened in the two or three who were thus drawn together. So, Mrs. Lynde's little class was transferred to our chapel, and soon became a prominent and hopeful department of our Sunday-school. It was a rare pleasure given me to receive, in 1870, the first three Chinamen known as admitted to membership by confession of faith in an English-speaking church in this land.

For several years I had the opportunity of direct participation in this new missionary movement, often taking my place as teacher of the new alphabet and guide to the pronunciation of many unphonetic words. At first there was novelty about it and it was comparatively easy to obtain even the numerous teachers which this work requires. But as the novelty wore off it became more difficult to find and keep volunteers in sufficient numbers. Besides, a demand arose for more than the hour of the Sunday-school service. The eagerness to learn and the increasing acquisition of some called for a more constant and continuous drill. So has come about the system of schools carried on, under the American Missionary Association's appropriations and our California gifts, by the "California Chinese Mission."

I bear glad witness to the large measure of devotion with which this work has been conducted. It is precisely the kind of work to bring out the best qualities of Christian character in those who are responsibly engaged in it. The motives for engaging in it drawn from any other than the purest Christian fountains are few indeed. The men and women, who, within my knowledge, have given their time and heart to it, have long been among my "evidences of Christianity." To the poor the Gospel has been preached by them. Several of those most interested during the early years, as superintendents or teachers, have been laid aside or have "gone home." But there can be no doubt that the Master has said to them, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of my disciples, ye have done it unto me."

I overheard an intelligent gentleman, a member of Congress, and born in my native Massachusetts, express the duly considered opinion that the Chinese mind is so organized that it cannot be expected to entertain the Christian ideas. It illustrated the sad fact that it takes a long time for even Americans to entertain and be molded by those ideas. This gentleman might easily have found scores of humble servants and laborers of this "unassimilable" race in his own city who had come as truly in the power of Him, who is the Truth, as any of us. For it is the testimony of all who are acquainted with the facts that as large a proportion of those Chinese who take the Christian name "adorn the doctrine" as do those who take that name from among the Caucasian families. Indeed, the proportion may, perhaps, be larger. For what can ordinarily induce a Chinaman to espouse the Christian standing here unless it be the genuine appreciation of Christian truth and the response of his heart to the love of God as shown in the cross of Christ?

BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.

MISS D. E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.

Our readers will recall an article issued in this department of the April "Missionary" entitled "A Plan with Reasons." We are happy to report that a good many cheering words in approval of the plan have reached us, and not a few of a practical character. We select from the latter the following:

FROM NEW YORK.

--I have received a delightful letter from our teacher at the Santee Agency, and our Committee are much pleased with her account of her work. I have directed our Treasurer to send to your A. M. A. Treasurer the first quarterly payment on account of the 0 appropriated, and trust it will reach you in due season. Our payments will be made hereafter May 1, Aug. 1 and Nov. 1, as we are dependent on our weekly collections, and hence cannot pay oftener than quarterly.

--Inclosed find for two shares in support of a missionary teacher, from whom we may receive a monthly letter.

FROM MASSACHUSETTS.

--Inclosed please find . Our Ladies' Benevolent Society wish to take one share in the expense of a lady missionary teacher, from whom we shall enjoy letters, hoping in this way to call out more interest in the work.

--A recent circular from you was read to our ladies by our pastor's wife, to whom it was sent. We have no separate organization for the Am. Miss. Assoc. but our ladies contribute something to its funds--though probably not enough to take a full share in the support of a teacher. Encouraged by what you say in the circular, we write to ask that we may be included in the list of those to whom monthly letters will be sent, as promised to those who take one or more shares. We are small and few, but the interest is genuine, and we want to increase it. Our contribution goes into the general fund.

FROM MINNESOTA.

--Last week, on a very stormy day, with less than twenty ladies present, the subject of taking shares in the support of a missionary teacher was introduced, and a little over pledged, to be paid before October. I felt very much encouraged, and shall do all I can to increase the amount, though I am too much of a stranger--having been here but a year--to have any idea what we can raise. You promised us letters from our missionary if we took but one of the shares; so we shall hope to receive them. After another month I hope to send you word about a much larger pledge.

--Ours is a country church, laboring under the disadvantage of constant depletion of our younger members; the twin cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis are close by, and our broad frontier also attracts strongly. Last year a determined few, by great exertion, raised almost 0 for division among the Am. Board, A. H. M. S. and A. M. A. The outlook is not encouraging for this year, and, as a regular correspondent might add interest to our small meeting, we voted yesterday to take one share; and should we succeed better than we hope, our rule of division will give you one-third, whatever the amount may be. We need more prayer for warm hearts and the open hand.

FROM OHIO.

--We have been reading "A Plan, with the Reasons," and like it much. We have a class of young girls in our church who ought to be in missionary work. Can you give us a little fuller account of the work? and do you have teachers among the poor white women of the South? Please let us hear soon from you; we want an object to work for. We may not be able to do very much, but would like to do something.

ALABAMA WOMAN'S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.

MISS M. K. LUNT.

The annual meeting of the Alabama Woman's Missionary Association was held in the prayer-room of the Congregational church in Montgomery, Monday, March 31. The devotional exercises were conducted by the President of the Association, Mrs. H. S. De Forest, who gave the opening address, welcoming the members of the local societies, now numbering seven.

The reports of the Secretaries and delegates showed an increase of interest, labor, and funds collected, as well as a constant growth in missionary intelligence.

Nearly all the societies have remembered the foreign work and the Indians, in addition to their own needs and people, and have shown a deep interest in the advancement of Christian education.

Mrs. Ragland, the wife of one of the Talladega theologians, read a paper upon Home Influence, the prominent points of which were filial obedience, the important place the wife, mother, and daughter fill in the home, and the importance of training the daughter in domestic duties.

Mrs. Ash, whose husband was an acceptable pastor in one of the A. M. A. churches, and who not long since was called home, read a paper, giving a comprehensive history of the work of the American Missionary Association in the South, relating incidents connected with the earlier teachings, and showing how the work had broadened, and brought into the ranks the colored people.

Mrs. Andrews, of Talladega, prepared a paper on the "Origin and History of Our Alabama Movement in Woman's Work," read by Miss Partridge, giving a full development of the organization and growth of the society during its seven years' existence, and showing how much greater results are accomplished by organized effort and unity of action, and advising that the relation of this society as an auxiliary to the W. H. M. A. of Boston be severed and become allied to the Woman's Bureau of New York, which has the Southern field under its special care; referring also to the interest, courtesy and sympathy which the Boston society had always shown toward the Alabama branch.

Mrs. O. F. Curtis, of Emerald Grove, Wis., was present, who has two sons in the South as missionaries and one on the foreign field--Rev. W. W. Curtis, of Japan--who addressed the meeting on the condition of the women and girls in that country; what is being done by the missionaries to lead them to Christ; also speaking of the hindrances to the Christian religion.

This interesting meeting could not fail to awaken a deeper interest in the hearts of all present, and we believe that no one left without feeling that she had gained a new impulse to renewed consecration and work for the Master.

SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK AT TOUGALOO.

MISS JOSEPHINE KELLOGG.

The Sunday-school of this Institution has always--under the present management at least--been considered one of the most important, if not the most important means of grace and spiritual enlightenment. The power of sustained attention and consecutive thought is greatly lacking in all untrained minds; hence the superiority of the hand-to-hand question-and-answer method of the class-room over the sermon as a means of informing the mind and clearing away the rubbish of superstition and the misapprehensions of meaning, derived from the ignorant preachers who have been in many cases the only previous expounders of the word, and resulting also from a very vague and limited understanding of the language of the Bible, the preacher--even the teacher.

At the close of the school year a Sunday-school Convention is held, and it is urged as a duty upon all Christian students who go out to teach that they should organize and conduct Sabbath schools in connection with their day schools.

We have recently received two donations of library books, so that we now have enough to go once around, and we loan them out each Sunday. We also generally have papers to distribute, sent us by kind and careful Sunday-school scholars in the North who make their papers do double duty. If some school changing song-books would send our school a hundred or more well-preserved copies of those they lay aside, it would be a gift highly appreciated.

CHILDREN'S PAGE

WONG NING'S IDEAS

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