Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-10-25
THE INDIAN TERRITORY.
Report Of Missionary Progress In thai
Section.

The following IA taken from the
semi.annual report Of tue Indian Tor
Fitory mission, just made ny the
president, Elder Andrew Kimball;
Since our last report the Elders In
the Indian Territory mission have
been greatly pleased In their minis
terihI labors. There have been
tyenty.soven baptisms, only small
percentage Of which, however,. are
Indians. TIE white people who havo
embraced the Gospel are principally
from New Hampshife, Indiana
Illinois, Kansas and Missouri. The
developnient among the Indians i
slow az far VA baptims are concerned
The Lamanltes there, mixed As they
are with the whites, present y c1mgl-
sition hard TO oOmprehendi whlle
they are hospitable, wafm'heifted anu
kind in their treatment Of tue El1erp,
they do not seem to take that Interest
in religious matters that is ohafaciefia'
tic Of the Indian proper Wohave no"
labored upwards VI ten years among
the Cherokees, during the last intfoduc'
lion VI the Gospel among them, ana
while we count our friends by the o1fe
aud name n great many who have
avoyed their Interest In aud
determination TO obey the Gospel, they
lack tho necessary moral cOuTge TO
yield obedience 10 the requirements OF
the GOSPEL, or the time has not come
I'm the providences OF the Almighty
for the Lamanites Of that nation TO
enter the fold Of Christ, There IL,
however, no occasion for being die
couraged; on the contrary, We are
convinced that q great amount Of
good has been aud IL being done. Tue
friendship Of such n nation AZ the
Cherokess IL not small thing. When
we take into consideration their many
ysaTs Of tradition, coupled with suc'
tartan Influences, and the traitorous
mischief Of their white neighbour, We
cannot expect them 10 have much
confidence la tho white man; as they
have been q medium In the hands u
the Lord In giving thr Gospel 10 o.bels
soJourning IN their county, and afford.
ingA place from where the Elders
have gone 10 proclaim the truth ~ |
other nations, we believe the dime !
will come when the Cherokee
will be useful In carrying the plan VI |
salvation 70 their fellow Lamsnites Of |
other lands.
~ W hht ghhth hAANhHf W. ANNA w Il
are making rapid progress. During
the summer just passed eome OF our
Elders were stationed Mt sulphur
Springs, n watering place. Thu oppor.
tunities there were used with profit
able results In disseminating the
Gospel among the more Intel igunt OF
that country. Oar headquarters %.
tablishe1 ia that vicinity are Of great
assistance TO our Elders laboring In the
southern field.
"a tour through tine weit and Okla.
hDma by two OF our brethren lasi fall |
has resulted iAvonbly for the miss
This seed sOwn then mas developed into ,
eleven baptlsms. Three OF these have
been ordained TO the Priesthood and
gives US assistance, A western head. |
quarters II being established at Okls. /
homA, and viii greatly aid In spr,aiihr /
the Gospel among the white people oil /
that territory anu OF the newly-opened
Cherokee strip, and also among the
remnants OF tribes In that vicinity. |
ThiHis destined 10 become a good field. |
In proportion to the Increase Of our
field we have tried 10 keep pace with
sufficient missionary force 10 10 tue
work. Eleven Elders have been most
constantly employed the last elk
months, while the local priesthood
have rendered good assistance. TAX.
Ing into consideration the many DIM.
culties with which our missionaries
have TO contend, they have accom-.
plished considerable In the short time
this report covers. While the summer
10 more congenial for holding
there IL not much &c.
during the latter part,
owing 10 the hsat aud alukly season.
The Eldsb report tho last summer M
being one Of tho most slukly ever ex.
result OF heavy rains
and dew fall In tho spring and drouth
In the summer. The early part of
this season all the Elders were In the
enjoyment Of good health, hut the
influence OF this eickly
ecAson was too much for some Of them.
Two have been released ON account Of
Illness and two others have had their
somewhat shortened for the
hame reason.
At our last report we had eighty.rix
baptismf; there have been twenty
seven since, making In all ll8. Sew
enteen children have bepu blessed.
There have been fifteen members emil
CRATE TO Idaho. leaving us seventy .four.
We nov have one local Elder aud
aud four Priests. These with our
eleven travelling Elders constitute our
working force. We have held 49,
m.stings, with an average attendance
OF about twenty'eight, and u total VI.
tendance Of asa. Besides thla the
nAries have sold and distributed
a great many Church publications anc
tracts.
The beat missionary work 10 done by
the freside. Our Elders 20 lr IN house
to house, where they seldom TAIL 10
leave their testimony and good deal
OF Information regarding the Gospel
aud our people. This results OF these
labors are being felt all over the ooun-
try. Prejudice Ia abating, aud good
feeling and confidence are taking IT,
place. Where eight years ago the one
Elder then Ia the Indian rerri.
tory was At n loss TO know
where TO turn TO find those who
would hear him, today our force
Ia insufficient for the demands made
upon them. Then W. had hut one
headquarters, now We have three with
n spending field surrounding
each. An UNHEALTHY oouutry T. about
the worst feature We have TO contend
with, and even this IL being more suc.
COPIED with.
Notwithblan ding the Abundance Of
this seRson, II was nutuu'ilthc
latter part that our Elders were effect
~ any great extent. IL Is demlusiratyi
that Elders can MI full mission IN
Indian Territory without sioknesa, but
II eau only be done by proper care
Of their bodies, careful dieting,
and a great amount Of sBli.deninl. Oar