The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-06-10

zal and took it away. This lead to the
calling together of the leading men Of
the Nation, the old chiefs and warriors
the United States agent and interpreters
They met at Col. David Folsom sin June,
1928. The result was, the triumph Of
the temperance men. will here insert
in chronological order certain events re-
lating to this matter:
In 1918 the missionaries entered the
Nation.
In 1920 the provision in the Treaty al
Doak's Stand was made.
In 1920 the law for the destruction OF
whiskey was passed.
In 1922 the Rev. William Goodell Wis
tied us. He saw no drunken Choctaw
or whiskey shop in the Nation.
In 1923 the Pigeon Roost Council was
held, when whiskey destroyers were sus-
tanned. was present on that occasion:
In 1924 the late Jeremiah Evarts, Esq /,
made us his first visit. am happy to
say we could receive him on mission
ground where there was no distillery and
no whiskey shops, and where he saw no
drunken Indian: and | may add, ne was
in nation which had no national debt
whiskey and debt are often twins. He
returned to us in 1926, bringing as his
companion the late beloved and devoted
Rev. Samuel A. Worcester. Mr.. Evarts
wished to visit in person all the stations
He was at them all, but Elliot. He re-
quested Mr.. Kingsbury and myself to
attend him. We travelled about 400
miles in the Nation. In all that route we
saw no drunken Choctaws, but sober
ones. We rode by no doggery except
when wewere in the adjacent State of Mis-
sissippi The Rev. David Greene, in
1858 made us visit, and he found So
Der people. state these facts as clear
evidence of the power of the Gospel over
red men, although they are Indians, but
who are blessed with good common sense.
could add to all this the well-known
facts that the female members of our mis-
sions, and our daughters passed from one
station to another, without any gentle
man as protector. During the warm
season of the year, the doors of our sleep
ing rooms were wide open, that they
might be cool and comfortable, while we
were in no fear of the Choctaws.
While we were east of the Mississippi
the law for the destruction Of aOhiskey
was vigorously executed. The great re-
vival of religion had commenced among
the Choctaws, and proved TO be Won
derful auxiliary to the cause of temper
ance and all other valuable interests and
causes.
One decided evidence of this may be
found in their own free act, in council,
by which they appropriated the sum of
sir thousand dollars year,.for the period
of sixteen years for the education of their
children in the boarding schools under
our care.
After becoming sober, they were bet
ter qualified to hear the Gospel. We
have great reason to be thankful for the
wonderful descent of the Holy Spirit in
1927, and again in 1929 and 1880, upon
the members of the mission and the peo-
pie to whom we preached. 1t is painful
and humbling to be oblige to state that
there were many eyasions of the tenn
perauce laws, and many other unlawful
deeds were committed, both while east of
the Mississippi and on the west side.
Since the mission has sustained great
loss by the war, and since so many mis-
sionaries, and of the different denomina-
tions, Methodists, Baptists, Cumberland
Presbyterians and Old School Presbyte
rians, have retired from the field or been
removed by death, l have learned from
my brethren, that iniquity mounds and
drunkenness, with its train of burning
evils has increased. All these things
are loud, and long cry for help
and such as the Apostle Paul heard
from a Macedonian. All those Presby
terians who wish to engage heart, hand
and soul in this good work should, with
out delay, address letter to the Rev. j.
Leighton Wilson, D. D., Mayesville,
South Carolina, who has charge of the
Foreign Missions, under the care of the
Presbyterian Church South.
Very truly, yours,
G. BYINGToN.