The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-07
A GIFT FROM QUEEN ANNE.
srrouble Among tho Mohawss ovor Their
~ Communion Sot.

Trouble Among tho Mohawss Ovor TheiI
E Communion Sot.
OTTAWA, Ont. March G-Durinc the
reign of Queen nne a valuable communion
not was presented by her majesty TO sns
Mohawk chapel-in other words. to hes
msjesty's loyal allies. the Mohawks. h nj
that time resided in the state of New York.
When tho revolutionary war ended I'd
s~versely to the British, the Mohawks. with
IA many united empire loyaliats, removed to
Canada.
Il appears that the plate was buried In
their old reservation near Albany. N. L.,
and remained for SONS years, Or
until the Mohawks became settled In
tho reservations near Brantford II
on the BAY Of Quinte, Ontario. Then
a party was sent back and the plate was
resurrected and taken safely to Cannds.
One-half of the communion set was 1915
with the Nlohawks ut tho Grand RIVER ana
the other half with the Mohawks OF the bay
of Quinte.
For a period of twenty-five years prior to
last July the plate was safely kert by Mrs.
j. w. Hill. a & anddauRhter OF the cs's-
b,ated chief. Capt. B'ant, whose mother
from the time of ita arrival in Canada TO
the time OF her death. Or course. tho GUS
todion was required to take the commu
nion plate TO tho church on communion
days.
Many years ago Archdescon Stewart, who
took a etent intersst in the Mohawks. pre-
sented them with a full communion set,
after which the Queen Anne plate was only
used on state occasions. Last July the
bishop visited the reserve on his contirma-
ton tour, and this being regarded az a
state occasion tho missionary, tho Rev. g..
A. Anderson, sent word to Mrs. Hill that he
would like TO have she Queen Ammo plate
brought to the church. which was accord
ingly done, in compliance with the old Gus
tom.
A dav or two after the event Mrs. Hill
sent to tho clerRyman's house to have the
communion plate returned. To her sur
prise he refused to give up the plate. on
the ground that he was the proper Gus
odian thereof. This action on the part
of the missionary produced great in
diGnetion among Mrs. Hilrs friends on the
reserve. and resulted eventually in 4 largo
fusing to attend his ministrations and in
dividing the Mohawks into two parties.
some siding with the missionary and Others
with Mrs. Hill.
Finally. the Indian department. stepped
in md proposed certain rogulationsi in refer-
relic. Among others the regulations vested
the appointment of the custodian with tho
council OF chiefs. and required that the cua-
todian should give bonds for the safety OF
the plate, and also should provide . suitable
fire proof safe in which to keep il.
Thereupon the council of chiefs by . ma
iority vote appointed Mrs. Hill the custo-
dian, upon which she offered a bond, which
was accepted by ,thc department., and pro-
vided herself with a safe as required by
tho regulations. And when all this Was
done the Indian department. instructed tho
local agent to go to the clergyman and de-
mand the plate. and give it back to Mrs.
Hills custody.
This the clergyman refused to do. As
the matter now stands. the feeling Of dis
satisfaction Is more intense than ever. and
it may take years to remove the bitter feel
ing and restore perfect harmony among
the Nohawks.