Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-17
LONG BEACH.
Several interesting Lectures Given
Yesterday.

led by Rev. DIR. Bresee; at O'CLOCK the
Bible training class met, Rev. Mr..
Bailey. leader. The subject discussed
was ''The PARALLELS" "In the beginning
the disciples were surprised that Christ
should speak to them only in parallels.
The rarabolical mode of Christ's teach
iug, in which the truth was hidden to
some extent, was the most helpful way
TO us, as it caused US to search for truth.
Another benefit of parallels is that they
illustrate the unity existing between
earthly and heavenly thoughts" At IL
O'Clock, Rev. Mr.. Young, of Long Beach,
gave lecture on the subject, "Ten Years
in Alaska" This was one of the most in
teresting lectures which has been given
before the Assembly.
The speaker said: In the fall of 1879
was in little village in Alaska, in the
house OF chief named Shat Hitch,
which means "hard to kill" and whose
scared face seemed to justify the name
he bore. He wore a blanket which he
greatly priced, it having been presented
to him by Seward when he purchased
Alaska. People laughed at that purchase.
Thew called it "Uncle Billy Stewards po-
tato patch," and some seem to think it
not much better than that still. 1t was
purchased at a cost of 1920, 900, and
Seward called this deal the crowning
work of his life. 1t is vast expanse Of
country, equal to the United States east
of the Mississippi river, with the State of
Mississippi excepted. Its coast line is
greater than the whole of the United
States. The climate, like that of Scot
land, is very wet, but the winters are
mild. My remarks will confine to my
experience, which was in Southeast
Alaska. We took boat at Seattle. The
trip is most beautiful one. The waters
are calm and clear as an inland lake.
Yosemite will not compare with it in
scenic grandeur. was sent to Alaska
by the Presbyterian Board as a mission
ary.
The restless miner is exploring, devel-
derful land. The aurora borealis which
brightens the Alaska sky in the starlight
is one battling all description. The
whole armament is one huge crown of
glory. AS the darkness of the night is
thus driven back, SO Gospel light is
spreading brightness all over this north
western portion of our empire. The
early history was struggle for light. 1t
is easier to make an Indian of a white
man than to make white man of an In
dian. The kind OF civilization which
for fifteen years had existed tended to
make our work very hard. But there
were some stars in the darkness. First,
in the Indians Themselves. They are
anxious for civilization, which they
gladly welcome The house in which an
animal lives gives some idea of its con-
dition. could tell you some wonderful
fish stories. A female missionary was
asked by an Indian if she wanted fish.
She replied, Eyes, if it is good, large
one," and was assured it was. She paid
the price, twenty-five cents, and shortly
after two men were seen coming with it,
carried on a pole across their
shoulders, and they placed before
her halibut weighing $50
pounds. Last year Alaska furnished
more than one.third the canned salmon
of the world. The forests are full of
game. In two weeks hunting we killed
sixty-six deer. The land is SO productive
that it is very easy for the people to make
living. | wish to speak of the treat
ment the natives give to their women. In
southeast Alaska, women's rights prevail.
Women have their say in the councils of
the land. l have seen the chief, after
making a bargain, have his bargain
vetoed by his wife, who didn't approve
of the purchase. Men often 60 to the
minister with scratched faces, which they
have received from their wives. "An
ounce of mother is worth pound Of
clergy" This is true indeed. Get the
mothers, and you control the future of
our sons. The missionary meets difficult
ties in the language. They have no
do to- fnth a1x n,,4
ance and holiness. l heartily approve
the effort of the Indian Bureau to compel
the English language to be taught in all
our Government-aided schools. Super
stition prevailed for time. They had
no written language. No we'll established
system of law, government or religion
They had some half gods, but they did
not worship them. They believe in a
future state, which they think is grand
state of doing nothing. Witchcraft is
very prevalent. The Indian medicine
man is fiend incarnate. He claims to
be in communication with familiar
spirit. If he knows man is incurable,
he says, "Your friend is bewitched." In
Fort Wrangle ! had to fight the whole
tribe on this line, but by persistent effort
we succeeded. cut off some of the hair
from the medicine men, as their strength,
like Samson, lay in their locks.
The sin of drunkenness, introduced by
the whites, was prevalent among the
people. They taught the Indian to make
native drink which made demons of the
people. In 1880, after organizing a
church, and beginning to reach the peo-
pie, another tribe, through drunkenness,
attacked ours, and in the battle which
followed some of our best men were slain
and our work set back greatly.
Our hope is in the children. Our in
dustrial schools are doing grand work.
My explorations were most enjoyable
part of my work. l made an excursion
on one occasion to climb mountain
5000 feet high. Within forty feet of
the top l came to a slide, at the
bottom of which was precipice
l jumped upon q stone which slipped
with me. The fall dislocated both my
shoulders. With my chin and feet l
caught the edge of the precipice, where
by miraculous effort was saved by Mr..
Muir, my companion. The most effec-
tive temperance speech l ever listened
to was from Shakes, who was our greatest
chief. He gave feast at the birth of
my child, and on that occasion gave the
girl name. After the feast, speeches
followed. The chief, when he spoke,
said, "Do you see that post, Mr.. Young
That was our oracle. To it we have
sacrificed slaves" Turning to the image,
he said. %, thou image of my father, the