The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-04-23
(Communieated.l
Labors OF the Bsptists Among the
Indians.

Indians.
Enron NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, l have
learned with pleasure that our President
has called members of the emlncntly Christian
socissy ofFhends to consult with him In ref
erence to Indian affairs, and they requested
that George II. Stuart and one or more
of other religious bodies should be associated
with them.
With Mr.. Stuart have been q long time
acquainted, and lived seventeen years on
terms Of social and religious intimacy with
the Friends In Philadelphia, and learned so
to esteem that people that was truly CRATE
full that our Government was availlng Itself
OF their peaceful aud wise counsel.
regretted, however, that some Baptist
Christian had not been named and invited to
associate with these worthy gentlemen, be-
cause the Baptlsts have been behind no
people In educational aud religious lRbors
among the Indians. No one Of the Churches Is
now so numerously and successfully repre-
sentcd among Indians as are this people.
Tho Dclawarcs, Ottawas, Oneldas, Chero-
KEGS, and other tribes have been civilized
aud christianized with the blessing Of heaven
upon their efforts. The Ottawas In Kansas,
small tribe Of about 300, have about so
members Of Baptist church with good
schools aud every appliance for advance
ment In science, habits and wealth. Among
the Cherokees Of 1900 are about 200
Baptist members and 81 schools; 700 arc
Methodists, 500 are Moravians, and about
$50 are Presbyterians. The Delawarc are
largely Baptists. As laborcrs among the In-
dams we arc gratiled to name Rev. Evan
Jones, who emigrated with the Chcrokces
under Gen. Scott from North Carolina and
Georgia TO the Indian territory In 1885, and
he has been their wise representative here a,
the capital from time 10 time, with Chiei
John Ross; written most Of their important
| papers, aided In all their councils, and Il
now the Oldest missionary known TO me II
the world; hale and active, aud doing all ht
can for q people he has seen abused by whit,
men as no people on earth have ever beef
abused.
Rev. John b. Jones, son OF tho former,
graduate OF Madison University, New York
and now devoted missionary In the Terri
tory, was born among the Cherokees, edu
Gated In their language, has printed thei
books and paper In their language, and Il
probably the only perfect scholar In thel
beautiful language. When the rebellion
reached that people, Mr.. Jones exerted hi
best energies against 1t, and was mainly in
strumental In raising three regiments from
among the nation, and went with them t,
the fore front Of the conflict, and retired onl,
| Whth tht VI cOuIutSt Whh NOullittCu
Tho Joneses have been religious and patriot
heroes TO the endurance Of poverty, want an,
exposure to such an extent as only the reye
lations at the last review eau disclose.
Rev. J. Tecumseh Jones, whose name Is
synonym for integrity and honor In Kansas
was q terror TO border rufiians, from whor
he suffered the loss Of valuable mansion
whose hospitality abounded towards way
farers for many years, (with whom was 1
| y l., -.
| leader In all that Is useful In agriculture
education and religion among his people
taking no reward except the sincere con
sciousness OF doing good and knowing h
has the love Of those to whom he minister
T in temporal and spiritual things.
might mention Mr.. and Mrs. Meekei
Rev. Isaac Mccoy, Rev. Mr.. Bingham an
wife, Rev. John A. Butt and wife, who "
live among the Delawares, and have been q
the head Of that mission more than 80 years
Most of the aboye-named, whose ashes res
among their chosen people, who now sleep 4
their prairie graves, len our best circles an
educational colleges of the east, and CAV
their all to the welfare OF the injured re
: men Of the then far-of West.
When Roger Williams founded and preside
I over the colony Of Rhode Island, and estal
, llshed the first Baptist church In Americi
In 1895, he continued In peace with the II
dams, and 30 used his influence as ut OF
time 70 prevent q general massacre Of q
4 the whites Of New England.
Other denominations Of Christians ha,
done generously and wisely their part Of Il
: labor Of love among the Indians, and shou
8 have their share Of the credit among men,
Q they have Of the gratitude Of the Indians al
= the "Well done" OF their Divine Maste
= Yet, may not respectfully suggest that o.
c esteemed officials take into their councils
Z least one man from among the thirteen hu
a dred thousand members ofthe Baptist Churt
In America, who shall help them In trying
promote peace and good will between d
1t white men and the red men of our great l
. growing countryf
n A. D. GILLETTE, Pastor,
First Baptist Church, Washington, d. c.