The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-10-27
Morning Star and Catholic Messenger.
INV oRLEAMs. sUNDAX. oCToBER ~. is7s-


Father DO smst's Indian skstehss.
THE INDIANS IDEAS OF GOD.
No race of men perhaps, which has as
yet been made tho subject Of missionary
labor, with view to it's conversion to
Christianity, has been found to be more va
rious and obstinate in it's superstitions than
the North western tribes of rowing Indians.
Notwithstanding all that has been advanc-
them, have found but little that would
serve to show teacher In what their errors
really consist, or how they may be success
folly refuted. Most works Of travellers
among the Indians only exhibit in general
some of their manners and customs, with
of action. Indeed, nothing but long and
continued intimacy with their camp-life
and language-the lot Of very few-would
enable any one to do SO. By most persons
THE CAPACITY OF THE INDIANS
has been greatly moderated. They are
generally considered as low in the scale of
intellect, .wid-mea thirsting for blood,
hunters of game. or seekers for plunder,
their ideas Tho contrary is the case.
They show notions Of order in their ma
tional government, of order and dignity in
the management Of their domestic affairs
they show zeal in what they believe to be
their religious duties; sagacity and
shrewdness in their dealings with others,
and they often dfsylsy reasoning powers
above the average of uneducated white
men. Their religion a. o system, is far su-
perior to that Of the Inhabitants of Hindos-
tan or Japan. To overcome this, and to
establish the truths of Christianity, both
their reason and feelings must be wrought
upon by teachers pursuing such course Of
life and occupation rs will convince the
Indians Of the sincerity of their belief and
the disinterestedness Of their aims; tho
grace of God operating, meanwhile in their
ing them to that knowledge of His true and
holy faith which He alone can give. 1t is,
therefore, Advisable to know what is the
true nature Of their religion, when closely
analysed; what are their ideas of the Crea-
tor, Of worship, Of fu.urity what in their
lenses against the Great Spirit, or the indi-
vidual7 Are men under any moral obli-
cation to servo the Great Spirit9 Are good
deeds rewarded, and bad ones punished, in
this life or in future states Do they be-
lieve in a future state at all7 If 80, how
does this belief effect their course Of action
in this lifef
ARE THEY IN REALITY 1DoLATERs
and if 30, in what and of what do their
idols consistf These and other points
bearing upon their moral condition are
what purpose to explain, though not per.
haps in the order in which they stand
All these Indians believe in the existence
of Great Spirit, the Creator Of all things;
and this appears to be an Inherent, original,
and Unborn idea. They do not suppose
this Spirit to have body. The name of
this Spirit is Wahcon Tangah, or Great
Medicine. The. word medicine" in this
case has no reference to the use of drugs,
but means all that ID incomprehensible, SUI
pernatural, all powerful-everyth thing that
cannot be explained by ordinary means, or
that is above their comprehension. Their
own priests or conf urors. are likewise term
ed Wahcon; steamboat, q watch, any ma
chinery, even toys of whose principal of
wahcon, medicine" Now this Great
INSTRUMENTATION Tangah-implies some
thing greater than the power of man. The
acts of the Great Spirit are manifested in
the elements, in natural phenomena, in
aickness and death, in famine, great dis
foes, strokes of tightening, and in every
way to them unaccountable by natural
means. They think this
GREAT MEDICINE
pervades all air, earth and sky that is, is
omnipotent, capable of being changed, and
capable of being enlisted on their side in
any undertaking, if the proper ceremonies
and sacrifices are offered. 1t is the author
of both good and evil, according to it's
Of worship. Its benefits are apparent in
years Of great abundance of game, in sea.
sons of health, triumphs over enemies and
and the like. Its anger is shown In great
distress, losses, defeat, infectious dis
eases, or any: other great misfortune, the
cause of which 10 unknown, and is other
wise inexplicable. Az it seldom happens
in their precautions life, that the intervals
between accidents or calamities Are long.
this Great Spirit is more feared than loved.
Its bounties are passed by unheeded and
nnthanked, whilst it's visitations arc num-
bored in fear and trembling. Power ia its
attribute, and lite residence is supposed by
some to be in the sun. They do not ac-
knowledge any separately existing spirit
of evil, although they have name for
being of the kind in their language. The
idea has been implanted by whites ia late
years, and it is but family realized by the
Indians. Great evil is dispensation of
the anger of the Great Spirit, which it is 10
their power to avoid by making the proper
sacrifices, prayers, aud fasts, which they all
do; yet they make no demonstration of
thanks, by 0fferings or otherwise. when