Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-12-03

| Becchcr, anti others. Al Inc close OF tne
meeting n delegate proposed that a memorial
scholarship in Drury College be formed by
the delegates 10 the Congregational Council,
and 5000 of the s., 900 necessary forthe pur-
pose was speedily pledged and most of it
paid upon the spot Mr.. Barstow prom
| ised furnaces for the new chapel. \ new
bell was offered by two other delegates, and
another delegate offered TO start an art gal
lery for the college by the gift of II portrait
of President Morrison So both hosts and
guests were made glad. and the occasion has
been all in all, quite notable one for this
| town and its college.
81 LorIs, Nov 18th.
Early "Wednesday morning most of the
party took cars for the Indian Territory.
| The snow and the mercury continued TO fall
till the middle of the afternoon, but the eX-
cursionists were made comfortable in the
coaches of the ST. Louis and San Francisco
railroad, and could imagine how the magnifi-
cent plains uf the Indian country must
| look in milder weather. At Seneca n halt
was made 10 enable the party TO see the Mo-
docs. The surviving remnant of this unhap-
py tribe, have here 4 reservation ten miles
long. To this 200 Modes were removed,
after their surrender in the lava beds three
or four years ago. Half Of that number have
already succumbed to diseases promoted by
the change of scene and climate and but 100
now remain. They are perfectly peaceable
and well-behaved, are tilling the soil, and are
anxious that their children should receive
religious and secular instruction. They see
| that their extinction rs Il tribe is near and
one of their chiefs said TO IL Home Mission
ary the other day what You do for us,
you must do now pretty soon We not here. "
About twenty of them, of all ages, from a
papoosc in arms to an old squaw who was
wrinklcd enough TO be II hundred years old,
came TO the station, TO ste the visitors.
Among them was Long George who is
now the chief of the tribe, Scar faced
Charley" who was the friend Of the white
man, and who tried his best 10 prevent the
murdcrous assault on Gen. Candy and Mr..
Meacham he has lost an eye, since he clme
10 the reservation Steamboat Frank" and
other braves. ''Shacknas,y Jim was sick in
his cabin, and could not come out in the
snow. They were dressed for the most part
in civilized clothing such us it was ami
brought plenty Of Indian bows and arrows,
painted in bright colors These found
ready sale One hundred and fifty
delegates were soon supplied with
| $50 Modoc bows, and arrows TO match and
/ the excursion party took on in measure the
semblancc of party of Indian braves on the
war path. The train pushed on To Ninita in
! the Cherokee reservation, where dinner was
provided for the hungry crowd at the little
tavern, and the ycnison stew and cold wild
turkey disappeared from the tables like the
morning dew.
| To Ninita, Il year ago, came II young
minister named Scroggs, and started Sun
day school among the half breeds. lie was
/ able in time to organize littlc church; but
he had no church building. lie undertook
TO procure a chapel. The Congregational
church in Springfield, alway. open handed
for such enterprises, gave him so and he
secured $50 more from the American Con
gregational Union, for materials. Working
night and day he erected and rooted the little
structure and had given its inside walls one
coat of plaster. with his own hands Learn
ing something Of these facts most Of the del
egates started for the chapel They found it
II somewhat Rough specimen OF church
architecture, yet moi without some taste in
its proportions and some attempt ut ornament
in its arched rafters and small Gothic win
dows of stained glass, bright with cnlors
that would please the Indian eye. But with
out these simple decorations it would have
been beautiful and touching in lis evidence
of Christian devotion Mr. Scroggs was
sent for and made To- tell his story few
questions elected the facts that there WAS u
debt of 5Si on the building, which would he
800 by the time il was finished and
painted that his church numbered twenty
seven members, mostly Cherokee halt
breeds; That his sunday congregation aver
AGED - persons, aud his SUNDAY school TO I;
and that he aud his young wife Giving on
800 a quarter paid them lay the Home Mis-
sonary Society The story was not half
told before the delegates began 10 dri" their
pocket books; and when the whistle for the
return OF the train sounded ten minutes later,
S2Is had been lcIt with Mr.. Scroggs, To pay
for his chapel and cke ont his salhry. Ills
case is one of hundreds, illustrating the sell
sacrificing devotion Of these pioneers IN rel'g-
ious work on the frontier
Mr. W. l.. PaXson, the energetic supciln-
tcndcnt OF the southwestern department ol
the American Sunday school mon, accom-
panied the excursion. lie is II walking en-
cyclopedia of information in regard to all
this region, and answered questions 10y The
hour, with unfailing patience. The Indian
Territory, you know, is under peculiar resu-
lations No white men are allowed to settle
or to do business in it, without Government
permits, which are very sparingly granted,
or unlrss tL,. Whit. man mlTTlc5 an lnulau