Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-05-03
rnE SEM FEuALE SEMINARY.
Full Report Of the Formal Laying Of the Cor.
ner Stone.


tire country was represented. II was called
one or tho largest crowds ever seen In the ma
tion ata general, quiet gathering. There
may have been more people at one OF the Vi
nlta fairs. but such occasions would not fair
ly be eontrasted with this one here. There
must have been 2, 900 people or more In and
around Tahiequah, and o more quiet,
orderly company never was seen, anywhere.
Not q sign OF anything whatever out OF the
way. Please call attention OF northern and cas-
tsrn papers TO this fact aud ask them to point yau
to like gathering, entirely free from strong
drink. Nothing TO mar the pleasure OF the
occasion. In early morning II rained little,
threatening to spoil the day. but II only laid
the dust, and the day was better for it.
The address OF VIM. +. Ross was most ex-
eellent, and though read from notes yet that
did not diminish in the least lts real intrin-
sio merits. II was full Of valuable historical
Information not easily Attainable, and IL is
hoped Mr.. u. will publish II entire. II will
make most interesting pamphlet for the
times, and should 80 be given to the world
here give few points OF Interest TO Chero.
KEGS The bartlett record OF any Official action
was In 1880. when Sir Cummings entered into
treaty between the British government and
the Cherokees. The frat record or knowledge
|
the Cherokees was about 1900, one Sullivan, an
Irishman, opened a small school. But the
| horavians had been among them preaching
~ early As 1881. and II is thought they had
4 small school about 1890. Ia 1901 to 1905 John
Gambold, as Presbyterian, labored among
the Cherokee. The Methodists were nrst men
TONED In 1870. In 1917, Posey, a Baptist, and
In lS1O Evans Jones opened up mission work.
Contsmporaneous with GAmbold, In isOs Glide
on blackburn commenced labors, and in 1875
the Brainerd mission was established. IN
1921 Dwight mission was established among
the western Chorokces. In lS2i the immortal
sequoyah gave his great inVeHtion to his peo-
pie. In 1919 appears tho frst mention Of a
school fund by the Cherokees themselves.
This was added TO In 1885, and greatly
strengthened in 1896 at which time the orphan
fund WAS also largely increased and provided
for. The name OF Charles X. Hicks, Gideon
Morgan, John MArtln, George Lowrey and
John Ross, will ever be gratefully remember
ed As among the hrst, and strongest patrons
Of eduJatlon. The 1rst Cherokee government
schools on about She same basis as our present
public schools was In lsll when eleven com
mon schools were established In Isl6 was
the nrst appropriation for building the
male and female semlnaries, tho corner
stone OF the latter being laid. as before stated,
on juno 2lst, 1871. Both were greatly eniarg-
ed after the war, and were the special pride
and pet OF the Cherokees. The amount OF
good to our people done by those Institutions
cannot be estimated In dollars and cents.
More than the male, the female seminary has
been under pronounced religious Influences
Here slight digrsssion will be pArdoned, to
permit the statement that the CherUkees were
| n ba .fw
progressive United states, In recognition Of
the deity. for such appears embodied in their
nrst written constitution dated May 9Th. lsiT
The FIRST written law OF the Chcrokess is dated
September 18th, lsls or ~ years ago, and yet
the most Hon. Henry s. Dawes from the en-
lightened state OF Massachusetts, did not
| Ahow that we were living under written laws
until three years Agol The next law OF the
| Cherokees. amer adoption OF the constitution
IL dated October 96th, 1918 and therein appears
| the nrst direct Hllusion to fostering aud en-
eouraglng education, for IL expressly mem
tions that schoolmasters" aud others are
hereby privileged TO reside in the Cherokee
nation. Another historical fact is that In the
temperance movement the Cherokees were far
ahead OF the general government, as also OF
the individual states, for they had a strict
prohibitory law Ia force, long before the csIe-
brated "Malne law" was ever thought or the
Hon. Dawes to the contrary, notwithstand-
ingl The female seminary was destroyed by
nro April 10th, ISL. To rebuild. and on a
larger basis and more elaborate plan, counci |
promptly appropriated s57, 600. During the
late council there WAS considerable said about
the Insecurity OF the foundation and the pro-
posed brick wall which ~ per contract was to
be only thirteen inches thick. The plans were
finally changed and the foundation altered,
and the walls arc now to be eighteen inohes
at an addition OF sS, 900. making y total ofsGo,
900 for the complete building. Il Ia an old
saw-"contrasts arc odious," but please al
low this query; In what other state or terri
tory OF government OF earth can II be said
that the most money has been expended, and
the largest hnildinK In such state, etc. 4,
Ia for educAtiOn9 The Cherokees now sustain
one hundred primary schools. all free 20 Cher
okee children. Also the present male seminA-
ry and, when completed. this new building IN
which a mere nominal tuition fee is charged
This new building Is to be 22G feet long, and
lE wide and three stories high, with two enor-
nous water tanks on top, bath rooms and all
modern appliances and improvements when
completed, II will be written up in full detail
and will make an interesting chapter In Cher
okee history.
MEMORIALS DEPosiTED N TiR conSER STONE
A box taken from the corner stone OF tho
former female seminary building destroyed
by nre April 10th, 1881 which was depoalted
therein June 2lst. isf7. and which contained a
pamphlet OF our laws, Cherokee al
phAbst, a Mustogee spelling book, names OF
the chiofs and officers At that time, a Chero-
kee almanac, copy OF the scriptures In Chero-
kee anda copy OF the Advocate OF lslt.
In addition to those taken from the old
building, the deposts OF to-day are; Names
OIL the board OF education aud copy oflAst re
port OF said board, catalogue OF male semlnA-
ry. copy OF Indian Arrow, copy OF proceedings
grand lodge of Indian Territory for lsss, q
100 national certificate. a silver coin, q alIver
star with date and name, statement OF mis-
sion and school work OF BAptlst chnrch. pro-
gramme OF to-dAy's proceedings. statement
OF missions and school work OF Presbyterian
church, copies OF huskogee Phoenix.
The following deposits were by the treasury
department ofthe Cherokee nAtioni A copy
ofA transcript OF letters patent by the United
States 10 the Cherokee nation OF December
slst, ls5s. tbeing our land tenure.l AnAtional
warrant OF November soth. 1850. Jno. Ross.
principal chief, national warrant OF Hovem-
Der 18th, 1880, Smith Christie acting principal
chief, national warrant Of December srd .
ls6d, W p, Ross, principal chief. national
warrant Of November sosh. 1900. Jas. vAnu,
tOo-aa-nAy-na-tal acting principal chief
The following we're furnished by executive
department. Act to rebuild the female semi
nary, statement OF annuity funds. ninth SEQ
tion Of Cherokee constitution, blank war
rant, copy OF compiled law Of 1888, copy Of In