New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-04
MISSIONS AMONG INDIANS.
Wei pcr or INpORTANT AGENCIES.

TRIBES.
The Missionary Society of the Methodist EpIs-
eopal Church. It's Committee on Appropriations
recently s6l4 expended In its mis-
.,onary work all over world during the year ending
October 81 1880 or this amount, while 1894 l6 goes
10 foreign MISSIONS and s14 500 to the Chinese In Call
fornia Oregon only $3.50 was appropriated 10 the
American Indians out OF this $3.50. Sl4oo was ap
propriated to the Indians of New-Yors Kansas ana
Wisconsin leaving only So 100 for those agencies wnofc
missionary interests have especially assigned py
the Government the Methodiss II there be deducted
from that the 81 400 expended among tHe Mlenisan
tribes most whom may he considered as among tne
more civilized Indians only 500 is left TO go toward
civizng those tribes OF the great west eh
elusively conHded 10 this denomination. Previous
reports Indicate this is the usual appropriation Tor
this purpose and that this is the usual plan OF disou
ng 10.
There have for some years many complaints mat
the opportunities tor missionary work among the In
dans offered 70 several Of the religious denominations
through the peace policy OF President Grant Id ls'V
have been neglected; and while these complaints nave
not been confined 10 the Methodist denomination II Is
said by who nd fault thar. considering the large
proporon OF agencies gwen into their control ana tue
large amount OF at their disposal ana aunuaiiy
appropriated neglect OF the Indians ON their part
forms the conspicuous example. Under President
Grants plan agents nominated by the religious bodies
we're appointed sixtycght agencies the MethOdiss
naming fourteen-those at HOopa Valley Round Valley
and Tue River. IN California; Yakima. Naah Bay ana
Qlinaiet Washington Territory; Klamath and sietE
IN Oregon; BlacKfeet. Crow and Fort Peck agencies IN
Montana Hall and Lemhi, in Idaho and Macknac
IN Michigan The remaining nfty-four appointments
were d vided among thirteen denominations The
expectation the agents. indicated IN their reports
10 the Indian Commissioner that missionaries were
10 be sent with them and this understanding II
EXPRESSED by in conversation also the failure in
respect 70 this being made the occasion of bitter
comment They say that IL is impossible Tor
an efficient agent find the time from the
duties OF position 10 attend 10 the missionary work
asoeven II the business qualifications necessary IN the
agent aud peculiar fitness necessary in the mission
ary we're 10 be found IN one which Is seldom the
case At some OF the agencies, the work OF
Methodist is referred to as highly success
ful aud praiseworthy these agencies coincide very
nearly with that covered by the appropria-
lions mentioned above. AT many agencies the only
work o, civzat referred 10 IN the reports OF the
agents Is that Of the Government schools when exist
al all the agencies
AIRY society, issued In January, 1879 saws OF the IN
clans Little can DC -aid IN RI g@du % tns % III
them good work has been done. But We are anos en-
tirey without reports time" The entire subject
including tables OF statistics. oceupes less than one
page printed report containing 200 page Tine re-
port published In January, ISIS dev9tes uos qnlte
three 10 the subject and says 10 TINS DAY the
Methodist missionaries triumph IN every place ~, IN
which they preach Christ TO the Ia llans one OF the
most marked IN the history OF these people
remarkable advance made Caristianizins and civil
ling them under the peace policy
REPORTS FROM THE AGENCIES.
Upon inquiry at the Mission Rooms at No. sos Broad
way TRIBUNE reporter referred for fuller infor-
nation to the agents reports TO the Indian Commits
soner From these reports for the same years that are
covered by Methodist reports quoted above the FOL
lowing extracts are taken
Grow Agency. Montana. $500 Indians. 1877" Little
has been done the direction OF Christian Influence
The Methodist denomination nOminally mas control OF
is,inn 81 an ayent" ls7s-sB But little civiznS work
done with the Crows but all that could be ex
with some totally unfi ted Ior tue position oy instinct
Blackfeet Agency, Montana. 1900 Indians. 1877
These tribes present favorable opening for the Pro
testaut missionary Is much 70 be desired and prayed
OF large missionary societies, who do
much for China and India would send some aoorers
sent a favorable field FOR the missionary. The |
Methodst Episcopal Church, which this agency has
right look. and IL is 10 be hoped mat II the condition
oftheir funds permits the want NAV be supplied"
Fort Peek Agency, Montana, ella Indians: ISIS |
and hope Board will recognize their Responsibility
at an early day. TINS IS ripe field for labor which
oginaielt Agency Washington Territory, 500 indians
ISIS" But very little has been accomplished IN educa
ting and cvilizing these indians. This agency is |
assigned of the Methodist Church. and mad
supposed church would AID far possible IN
civ izing aud educating the laoans But l nIu .nat
collecting assessments from employees twhO have Oeen
a church al Moutlsano. seventy miles from here, has
been interest 10 those In caarse than the wei
fare oftne Indians This a reversal Of the 90
iec Intended by the Government and he Indians have
aided church instead OF the church aiding the In
Iemhl Agency Idaho. $50 Indians. ISIS" sm
10th TO Inform YOU missionary effort has been
made during the past year. aud yet do not know OF
better field OF labor than this agency Certainly the
the salvation OF heather ana wicked men on our own
coll rather than expend so much IN AFRICA mum and
other remote parts OF the earth, while these people are
utterly neglected"
AT Fort Hall. Idaho, and Hoopa Valley. California,
Agencies containing 800 Indians, there no ference
10 any missionary civlzing work. aud the moral aud
religious condition OF the tribes spoken " as most dis
The reports agencies Tule River California.
and lief O.
gress Of the Indians but make no mention whatever OF
missionary -, . OIL, - ,..,
sOnares for good work done at the Tour remaining age
cles under it's cOntrOl-Macknac. Michigan. Round Val
riory These four agencies comprise about 10 600 IndI
ans There about that number also at the three
cone.
VIEWS OF An EXPERIENCED OBSERVER.
A New-York gentleman who has spent several years
IN the Indian country. familiar With the work
some OF the agencies aud the opportunities VI mission
work among them, both from observation ana talking
with the agents. saws that agents express them
selves private conversation more strongly tnan
IN their formal reports he said TRIBUNE reporter:
consiler the neglect Of this field not only breach
OF trust but a most colossal blunder. seli-nterest
should prompt "a missionary body that is DESTROYS OF
extending il influence TO step IN ana take hole u
work 50 ready-made 10 IT'S hand"
believe the responsibility is laid on the local con-
ferenceS" 49,
dists. DO the local conferences do nothing -
Yes. Tney send preacher around once year. per
sess the employ regularly Aud while tAs assessment
ia actually compulsory, 1t is as much 50 as poca
Onc OF the reports mentions the nOmatic habits of
the Indians an obstacle TO successful missionary
1t should not be. The missionary should 90 into
oaap with the Indians, and live with then. % do them
the most good rhat Is what the Catholics do ana they
succeed think from what know OF this matter that
ms an inexpicsble neglect of an obvious duty