The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-05-10
y u"
AMONG THE PONCAS.
Religious Services Among the Indinns--A An
Indian Moses.

/
Gliding along the smooth prairie roads
we soon reached our destination Here lies
the agency, whose buildings consist of two
little dwelling houses for white employees,
a commissary for stores, q carpenters shop
and little school house, used also as
church. This last building we entered just
as the members were receiving the saora.
ment Around the room, in rows the In.
dams sat, all neat and clean, the women in
the bright colors which even the sternest
civilization cannot deny them. Before q
sttle stand stood Archie Lawyer, the minis
ter, his kind and benevolent face greeting
all. He spoke to bis people in their own
language, and then, services being conclud-
ed, we left the little church and walking a
short distance through the woods, came
upon the tent. Not tent, but the tent, an
historical institution, which is put up only
on grand occasions and measures one hun-
bred feet in length, holding on TINT day four
hundred persons, with room for many more.
II is made of strong canvass, stretched ON
poles and made warmer by hanging up hides
and blankets. We did not know what sup
perstitious rites, what fiery councils at whose
results even brave white men have cowed,
what barbarous ceremonies of their past re-
ligion may have been enacted under this
smoke-stained canvass but to-day it is ded-
icated to sweeter use and more enduring
religion. We are given place ON piles of
quilts at the farther end of the tent By
our side is Hez Perez Joseph and beyond
him the head men of the tribe, and ranged
in rows around the sides and squatted on
bedding are all the rest-men, women and
children. SO still and respectful are all that
we can hear the wind shaking the tent-poles.
See them All in citizens dress-the men
with short hair, the women with their black
plaits hanging down the back, Little mix
ing OF the races here, for most of the heads
are black and shining as "broken anthra-
cite and very few of the faces present the
faded yellow look of the unsavory half
breed, whose face bears the evidence of the
worst traits of the bad Indian and the bad
white man.
After we are comfortably seated, James
Rubens, nephew of Chief Joseph, teacher
and interpreter of his tribe, rises to speak
This man is one of the few who are born
leaders and philanthropists He has been
the Moses of his tribe, leading them from
the darkness of their superstitious beliefs
into the light of the true religion. His educa-
ton is such as an Indian school has afforded
but his wonderful intellect. his advanced
ideas, his true nobility of character, his am
bition and pride for his people have SO led
him to work for them, that the TRANSFERRING
ton is truly wonderful and their rapid pro-
gress in the work of civilization is without
parallel among Indian tribes. All Indians
cannot become like him, for he has but few
superiors But if the government will per-
sist in carrying out its system of education
for the Indians, the education of heart, brain
and hands, in every tribe win raise some who
like him will be the deliverer of their tribe.
He maintains day school which, in reeu.
inrity of attendance Is ahead of any whita
school in the States. During one school
month his enrolment was fifty-four and the
average daily attendance iifty-tlrec. -PAil-
adeiphid Times