Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-05-04
PrOsress Of the Missionaries Among
the bbOrglneS.
VISITING THE VARIOUS TRIBES.
Health OF the Elders Work Among
the Different Nations and Agencies.
Reception In Oklahoma Good
Prospects.

president Of the mission nB folloWi;
Immediately following my last report,
the Elders and Saints assembled OF
Manard on Oct 18th and 10th, and
held the frst Indian Territory mission
conference. There were ten Elders
from the mountains AMI one local
Elder, n goodly number Of Saints and
fslends and many inquisitivo visitors.
Not being present myself, addressed
By letter few words OF counsel and In
attractions to tho Elders and Saints on
Sunday the 18Th. Elder IA. NJ. Raw.
Inns offered the dcdicatory prayer ut
the new meeting house. During the
conference the spirit OF counsel, Il
testimony and thanksgiving prevailed.
This conference was \ privilege long
looked for and much appreciated by
those In attendance.
Elder ii. II. Allen was released
about this time, being overcome By
poison ivy and oak. This was unlocked
for, o. he was getting along nicely.
There was every Indication OF his get
ting rid Of the poison In his system
when chills and fever took hold Of him
and he was obliged to return home.
Elder Stott was sick for several weeks
with fever, but possessing remarkable
faith and persistency, ovcIcame the
malady. Otherwise all the Elders
have been blessed with comparatively
good health.
Elder Nichols, after having visited
most OF tue heads Of tho Cherokee I'M
ton, met with the council or legi,la-
ture, In November. With the assist
ance Of our kind friend Mr.. Hendricks
We succeeded In getting our petition
(asling for n grant OF landl introduced.
During almost the entire session Of
10th houses, which were composed If
young and impuisive men, unlike the
ccolheaded council OF DAYS gone by,
things were kept up TO n feverci heat
over land affairs between themselves
and the United states government.
Mt. Hendricks, who IN Aco0l-h.aded
legislator, on seeing u tendency to
disregard our petition and table II In.
definitely, Withdrew the document.
We IRE therefore no further ahead on
our land project than We were six
months ago.
The meeting house at Manard has
been fitted up for school purposes, aud
Elder Nichols has taught the children
VI that neighborhood with very good
results. He has not been able to hold
Sunday school IN yet, but has held
meetings once In two weeks, which is
~ often M the people seem disposed TO
come out 10 "preAching."
This new neljs, the Choctaw,
Chickasaw aud Seminole nations, nre
being favorable developed. Elder
Woodbury. and his companions have
made good progress among the
Chickasaws, anu arc elatsd with the
prospects,. We will now DO able 70
establish In that locality headquarter,
accessible by rail-, which will greatly
facilitate our labors. From this point
the Elders can reach all tho southern
country occupied by tho civilized
tribes.
Elders Rawlins and LOWS have
made successful expedition through
the west and south. Northwest from
Manard they passed through an ex-
tensive section In the Cherokee
country which had been only partially
canvassed by our people. On arriving
at the Usage agency they mingled
among this tribe Of 1900 emi.civillzed
Indians. These are conceded 10 be the
wealthiest tribe on the continent,
Seven hundred are educated In Eng.
lish; $50 OF them are OF mixed caste,
mostly with the French traders who
Rl.n "A n nj II d..
The majority Of the tribe can under.
stand English though thsy, do not
talk much. Their tribal Ielati0nships
are only partially kept up. They Two 10
fvo districts and have sixteen chiefs.
While they are much bsholden to gov.
ernment officials, they 1ook.npon their
principal CHIEF, who presides Ia their
councils where laws are made, as their
father and head. Religion Is taught
In the public schools, In n general
way, not holding to any particular
faith. Catholicism reigns almost su.
preme, but from the statement OF the
agent very little interest Is being taken
by the Indians. This Elders were
kindly received by the agent. fair
minded gentleman, who granted un.
restricted access TO the tribe. The
Usage agency bids fair to become n
good field for missionary work.
Elders Rawlins and Lewis did not
stop at the Usage agency, but pushed
forward Into Oklahoma. There they
'ound a liberal anu fair minded people
who have extended their hospitality 10
the Elders; turned out In large
assemblies TO listrn TO their testimony;
Invited them to their homes anu babe
them come again. The laws accord b
all denominations the privilege OF
holding meetings In the school houses,
which are also used for that purpose as
places OF worship. Since their departure
from Oklahoma the Elders have TO.
oeivod letters requesting them TO 10.
turn and establish branch OF
the Church. While In that
territory the missionaries passed
through several cilies OF considerable
Importance M well as M almost con.
tinuous settlement OF squatiors ON their
newly.lpcatou hOmceteads. On the
way t. that territory Elders Lewis and
Rawlins visited the Pawnse reserva.
lion occupied by small tribe of seven
hundred indians. The agent also has
the oversight Of two other small tribes,
the Ottawas una Poncas. In Okla.
homa there Is a good field OF labor for
the Elders, ard when branches are et.
tabIisned they viii greatly assist Ia
presenting the Gospel to the blanket
Indian In that Vicinity.
In general, / may say the prospects,
In the mission are very favorable. by
degrees We are becoming established
anu are preaching the Gssrel among
ihe various tribes OF INDIAN.
Elnk ulaA nm Tho nnIl nj TN. ElIn,.. -.