Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-11-15
A STRANGE REVIVAL
An Indian Camp Meeting in a
Michigan Forest.
The Bronzed Worshipers Elk.
horted by One of Their Race.

The Indians of Charlcvoix county,
Nlich.,-Ottawas, Chippcwas and Glib
ways-havc been holding camp meet
ing in pleasant grove bordering Oh
Pho lake, about two miles north of
Charlevoix. Until the last day, says
the New York Herald, the attendance
was not large and there was us many
palcfaces from the ncighboring resorts
on The grounds as Indians, but for tho
closing sessions the children of tho for
est turned out in largo numbers.
There were between four hundred and
live hundred of tho aborigines as
somblcd-warriors, sqnaws, bucks,
maidcns and pappooses-of every age
and condition, of all sizes and shapes.
There were oged croncs and dark faced,
gray-haircd ceatenarians, who may have
been risky and frolicsome when the
Pilgrim Fathers landed; gallant young
bucks. with pockets filed with tally
and peanuts for tho dusky damscls of
whom tho poets sing, and who dis
played remarkable and almost unani.
nous penchant for white dresses and
bright yellow ribbons, aud any number
of little red, fat babies, who, having
yet to learn the habits of stoicism, for
which their ancestors wero famed
squalod so Justify upon tho slightest
provocation that tho woods ut times
were filled with their infantllo clamor.
Tho Indians may rapidly be fading
from the face of tho Garth, but tho num-
Der of pappooscs to be seen at the camp
would seem to cast some doubt upon
the generally accepted theory.
The services commenced in the after
noon with speaking by young palcfac
Indian missionary and singing by an In
dian choir of boys and girls. They were
on platform erected i'll the centre of Il
scmicirclc of tents in which tho campers
had been living, and tho people were
seated on rough benches that were
placed around in front. Tic aftcrn oou
services were comparatively quiet, the
missionary speaking in English and au
accomplished young Ojioway standing
by his side translatins his words n, no
pronounced them to the au licncc. Tho
singing was in Indiar-AIoody and
Sankoy translate l-an,l the white, who
attended and !clt that way joining in
in the original language.
But it was in the evening that tho
meeting took on its most intercs ting
phase The pale faces left the Indians
to themselves, and all restraints wcrc
removed. Several immense bon fires
were lighted, and when darkness de-
sccnded the meeting opened, and it
soon developed into II genuine revival.
Tho leader was an earnest, strong
iunged Indian, an cxhoricr Of the most
pronounce type. Under the influence
ot his eloqucnce, aud perhaps affected
by the glare of the flames, and the pic
lures qucness of the scene the Indian
worshippers warmed up. AT 10 o clock
the grove echoed with the voice of tho
leader urging the sinners to re pcntancc.
at Ii the responses of those who saw
the error of their way were joined with
the exhorters. a; midnight the re-
pcntant cries and groan, OF tn. wicked,
the joyful shouts and triumphant songs
Of the saved were joined in the chorus.
At s or 1 o clock i'll the morning moth
ing but cmbcrs were left OF the fire, and
the exhausted worshipers retired to rest.
=. But speaking of taciturnity of the red
men, the Indians with their war paint
on may be us silent and non expressive
MS stump but it would be pretty live
ly revival meeting that would come up
in point of emotional demons ration
and lively interest with the Indian camp
meeting on the last night.
The decks of the boat going TO North,
port, Norwood and other points down
Little Traverse bay, where the Indians
principally live-somc rs hunters and
trappcrs and others rs we to do farmers
were crowded with the copper hued
rcligionists returning home, and as The
boats steamed out Of the harbor the
brcezcs waited back the songs and
hymns sung by the Indians in their ma
two tongue, and they waved their hand
kerchicfs rs n farewell to the large
crowd of palofaces who had assembled
on the docks to see them go.
SoImnn E;sL;,o