River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-10-04
Letter from Dakota.

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Mr. c. Il. Morse-Dear Sir: / have
been here a few days attending the Cen
eral Association. | would like to tell
YOU and the readers Of the JOURNAL, some
of whom know will be interested, some
of the features Of these meetings. Rev.
Jas. Powell, D. D., of Chicago, who you
remember year ago last spring preach
ed in River Falls and lectured upon the
Slave Music of the South, gave an inter
esting address. He had just come from
an Indian convention ut Fl. Suilv and
was full of sympathy and love for the
red man as YOU have known him to be
for the negro BY an exchange with the
American Board the Charge of the In
dian Missions has passed into the hands
of the American Missionary Association.
The venerable DIR. Riggs who has la
bored so successfully among the Sioux so
many years died at Beloit a few weeks
ago. A memorial meeting was held at
Fl. Sully at which David Gray Cloud, a
tattooed Indian warrior, but now sol
dier of Jesus Christ offered the following
PRAYER which has been handed to me:
''We are sad to-day, yet have JOY also.
One who is in the past gave us the word
of God. He is not here, but Thou know
est best and has taken him. Than d'y-
self will be our instructor and helper, and
give us wisdom We may be orphans
and have little but thou art our portion.
Make us able to do more we pray thee
for Christ's sake, Amen" Stephen \ ell
low Hawk a native helper in the mission
at Fit. Sully was at this Association at
at Watertown and listened attentively to
all the exercises which were interpreted
to him by the Missionary, Rev. {. l..
Hall, who sat by his side. He also adj
dressed the Association, led in prayer,
spoke skillfulIv ut q children's meeting
and assisted in distributing the Clements
at the Lords supper-all this with chris
tian dignity and propriety, by man
who seven years ago, wore blanket,
painted face and feathers in his hair.
What a rebuke to those who have said,
the only good Indian is the dead Indian!
The Christian idea is beginning to pre-
vail and our government is learning that
81, 00O,O 900 spent in christian education is
more effective than 325 100000 spent up
on soldiers to subdue, and rations to en-
courage and perpetuate the Indians to
savagery and idIeness.
Rev. J. B. Clark d. d., of New York,
Secretary of the Home Missionary So
ciety, addressed the association upon
America our Home, its rapid develop
ment, and dangers and need of Evangeli-
zaton A valuable paper was read by
Mr.. w. H. Rice, of Chicago. upon the
Commercial value Of Missions, business
view of the subject by a business man.
Mrs. Rice. also Mrs Sheldon, of Yankton,
and Mrs. Norton. Of Pierre, addressed the
Association, and in a separate meeting
Dakota Branch of the Woman's Board OF
Missions was organized. There is some
thing bewitching, interesting and some
times amusing in the growth and chang
ing phases of these new places and
churches. Rev S. G. Updyke, pastor OF
the church at WATERFOWL, came here
three years ago and found Congrega-
tional church composed of Methodists
gathered hy q Methodist minister. After
a while a Methodist church was organi-
zed and the Congregational Methodists
all went over to it. Out Of the congrega-
ton new membership was soon gather
ed and matters appeared hopeful and
| permanent when 10! all but one moved
away to another town and the work be-
/ gan anew at the bottom. A church build
! ing became necessary and it did not APP
pear that fifty cents could be raised for
| the object, but by conservation and sacri-
flee $500 was raised which with help from
| Congregational Union built neat and
comfortable church. and after three
years, with church edifce and mem
bership Of twenty-six, the church feel Sc
cure, that their foundations will not again
be sapped, and are already talking Of self
support, that the neW felds-this now be-
ing old-may have needed helps.
The Home Missionary Superintendent
reported fifty new stations occupied this
year. and twenty new churches organized,
( Yours,
y. T. BLAKEsLEE.