The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-10-07
THE INDIAN ASSOCIATION.
Tho Annual Reports and Election Of
Officers.
Interesting Public Meeting Last
Evening.

'NS'SStHE PUBIC MS9unR Last
Evening.
The Maine Branch of the Women's Ma
tlonal Indian Association held their seventh
annual meeting in the vestry of the Chestnut
street church yesterday afternoon at o.
clock, Mrs. Myra E. Frye of Woodfords in
the chair. There were 80 ladies present, in
Guiding delegates from Winthrop, Augusta,
Bangor, Brunswick and Kennebunkport.
The meeting was opened with singing of
the hymn, Lord, we come before Thee
now" followed by reading of the Scriptures
by the President and prayer by Mrs. Hannah
j. Bailey of Winthrop. The hymn "King-
doms and thrones to God belong" was then
sung.
An enrolment committee consisting of
Miss erie and Mrs. Geo. Frye, was chosen;
also nominating committee, consisting OF
Miss Martin, Brunswick, and Mrs. Mellow
ELL
Mrs. Frye made a short address regarding
the mission which the Maine branch hope to
establish before long
Mrs. Ogden. the secretary, presented the
folio wing report.
sECRETARY'S REPORT.
In common with many other undertakings
of philanthropic character, the Women's
Indian Association has suffered the past year
from the effects OF period Of unusual physic-
al depression. The absorbing cares of severe
illness and the paralyzing stroke of the death
blow have been felt in many households At
one time our executive force in Portland was
almost entirely crippled. Many things were
thus left uninterrupted, particularly the work
Of i'm ~ ni1afinno and a
burden was laid upon the shoulders of few
who are deeply conscious of the inadeQuacy
of their service. From the branches in other
cities we hear of a similar state of things
one and another has been disabled,
and in new and small societies the effect has
oeen dlscouraging, almost disorganizing.
But it is a consolation to know that ''they
also serve who only stand and watt" and
many a prayer from those whose active
labors were suspended has gone up for the
ignorant, the helpless and the benighted.
1t Is not for us to calculate the forces that
prevail in the spiritual kingdom; it is all cur
Father Will, the serving and the waiting.
His work is sure to be done, and so that we
be found in harmony. the end is assured.
AT the beginning of the year it was voted
to print 800 copies of the annual report, and
the same number of copies of report of
current Indian news, to be distributed
through the state. The reports of the Ma
tional Association on Indian home building,
luuldH lcBloldtlUu anu ullsSlOudTy Work nave
also been distributed; also publications of
the Indian Rights Association and much
other literature. This branch of the work
the distributing of literature and the circu-
latlng OF facts in regard to the present con-
dition OF tribes of Indian is of the greatest
Importance. 1t is one of the main lines of
the work and interests many who are not at
tracted by other portions of it. The Indi-
ans Friend, the organ of the society and
bright little sheet, has had few subscribers
the past year; it sh0uldshave had at least 500
subscribers in the Maine branch We have
been requested by the president, Mrs. Quin-
ton, to increase the circulation of this paper,
and as the expense is only 80 cents per an
mum, II becomes matter of courtesy to COM
ply with her request
We have forty volumes in our library.
Regular monthly meetings have been held
IN the yestrleS of different churches with an
average attendance of 30. Early in the year
sum OF money was sent to DR.. Hensel for
hospital supplies among the Omahas Some
money was given towards the heating
apparatus of the school at Sante Fe, New
Mexico. Ten dollars towards furnishing
school house among the Digger Indians was
sent directly to the National Secretary by a
lady of Portland
captive Apaches has been considered and
the action Of the Women's Association to-
wards getting them located on land in
severalty has been approved AT three
meetings the reasons assigned for the re-
mOval of the UteS from Colorado were in
vestigated and petitions were sent to Maine
Congressman that the great injustice should
net be suffered. Matter on this subject has
also been furnished for the press.
The delay in the confirmation of Gen.
Morgan as Indian commissioner furnished
occasion for much attention to Indian
schools, comparative merits of day schools
and boarding schools; schools on and re-
moved from reservations, etc. In this con-
nection careful account of two days visit
at Hampton made at the request of mem
Der of the Portland branch was read ard ap-
proved. Petitions for the confirmation of
Gen. Morgan have been sent to Congress and
articles on the subject were written for sew
eral Maine papers.
One aim of the Women's Indian Associa
tI0n being to stimulate the churches TO
greater activity, it was thought advisable to
ascertain just what each church OrganiZa-
tion in Portland was doing for Indian civil
ization and missions; a committee was APP
pointed and while the exact statistics were
difficult to get at many encouraging efforts
come to light through this inquiry, one. per-
haps two, missions having been opened indi-
rectly through our fundamentally. The
willing Workers of Plymouth church have
become members of our society. Three new
life members have been added, made such by
the payment of $40 each. The last annual
meeting was addressed by the Rev. DR.. E. E.
Hale of Boston. Public meetings in Au-
gusta. Brunswick and Portland have been
addressed by the president of the National
Association, Mrs. Quinton. A public meet
Ing at Auburn was addressed by the presi-
dent Of the State Association, Mrs. Frye.
Delegates from the Bangor and Portland
branches attended the general meeting In
Philadelphia last November. The attention
of the society was turned to some charges of
malfeasance against the a cent of the Passa-
maquoddy Indians in Maine. A letter was
written Governor BuTleigh on the subject
and after time communication from him
was received stating that upon investigation
there appeared no ground for the charges.
Through the whole year we have had the
steadily increasing purpose to send out
teacher or missionary of our own, and we
have now money and pledges from all the
branches of the state sufficient to justify the
undertaking very soon. We have been urged
to this action by the president and SECRETARY
Of the National Society because Of the great
need OF opening new stations, and also that
Maine may have the pride and pleasure In
her own work that Connecticut, Brooklyn
and other. branches have had. AT board
meeting in Friends meeting house in Sep
TENDER, committee was appointed to con-
slider location, and the first steps to be taken.
Auburn reports 16 members, and will do
her part towards the support of the mission
ary Brunswick has sent a barrel of cloth
ing to the Omahas, and money to the general
fund. Lewiston pledges money to the state
missionary. Augusta has sent barrel of
supplies to the Dakotas. Bangor reports 40
members, and money given to Mrs. Riggs for
mission among the Dakotas and pledges
her support towards state mission.
The review of the year suggests many
things for our encouragement The general
change in public sentiment towards Indians
and the attitude OF the Indian department of
the government, renders missionary work
easy. We know that unjust
measures have been hindered or entirely
in Congress bV the simultaneous
action of the friends of Indians throughout
the country, and by the active use of the
public press. There will be need for this
work as long as white men are greedy and
an acre of reservation land is left to Indians.
There Is need Of more extended organiza-
ton, increased membership and pressing
need of larger funds to enable us to carry
out our cherised purpose of starting the
Maine Mission Station, shall / call it, among
one OF the neglected TRIBES Of the far West. |
Respectfully submitted,
ANNA Il. OGDEN,
Corresnondinp Secretary