The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-01-10


walnut timber has been taken from
here. and in the logs shipped to Eng
land. The homes of the indians and
colored people are mostly situated
among the timbers. Okmulgee. the
capital, and Muslogee. a railroad town
on the NJ. K. & T., are the most prom1-
nent towns, otherwise the people live
in scattered settlements and on lone
farms and ranches. A Creeks house
is usually built of logs, about 12x14
with a stick and round chimney, one
door answers for entrance, and some
times they have a window. The Creek
capitol building is a very creditable
structure, some very nice mission
buildings and good houses in these
railroad towns, but otherwise but little
pride is taken in building. There does
not seem to be much encoura cement
for white people to marry Creek
women as is the case with other ma
tons, their mixture is mostly with
colored people, and consequently their
Creeks are considered very wealthy
tribe. but do not make any display
with their means.
GOVERNMENT.
The present form of government,
based upon the United States constitu-
ton and modelled after the old Creek
code, it combines the semi-barbaric
with modern elements, accommodating
both classes. The executive govern
ment consists of a principle chief sec
ond chief. forty-seven members of the
House of kings ard nipety-eight mem
bers to the house of warriors. Repre-
sentatives are sent from each of the
fourty towns to the upper house and
in proportion to the population, from
one to three from the lower, chief and
second chief are elected every four
years. their salary is placed at 81, 900
and 500. respectively. The members
of the Legislature receive 81 per day,
duration of the Council is from three
to five weeks. The cabinet consists of
national secretary and treasurer.
national agent and attorney. The
judiciary consists of five supreme
judges, six district judges, one over
each of the. divisions or districts, and
other subordinate officers necessary to
execute the laws. No person is eligible
for Office unless he is of Indian blood.
By special act of Legislature a white
man may become a citizen but not by
marriage as is the law among the
provided for the adoption of slaves as
citizens. Previous to the war all the
civilized tribes owned many slaves
They all became legal residents of the
territory.
The population of the Greek nation is
about 1880 Indians, 5000 negroes and
10000 whites, the latter being renters
missionaries. school teachers and bust
ness men ard their families
The Creek nation is making good pro-
gress in educational matters. They
have nine high, and fifty neighborhcoc
or district schools, besides two or three
Sectarian mission schools. After ar
Indian pupil has graduated in their
own high schools, they have the
privilege of going to the states tc
finish thir education in any branch, al
national expense.
Through the liberation of slaves com.
bined with the liberal laws of theil
country, the Creeks have almost lost
their identity as a nation. Through
intermarriage with the negro fully
seventy-five per cent are African blood
Africans naturally aspire to become
preachers. The Indian is more modest
most Of their leaders in religion are
almost full bloOds, while most all the
offices of the nation are incumberec
by colored Indian people. During the
summer OF 1885 Elder Green anc
your correspondent attended a grea
revival near the Arkansas river
| Under a bowery in the edge of the tim
Der were seated fully 300 Of these mixed
people. We were courteously received
BIZ the colored preachers, invited to the
stand, and after listening for about ar
hour TO a young aspirant in the Creek
NEGRO language, we were invited tc
talk little. Then came the ceremony
lof baptism. A candidate who had pre-
viously been prepared for the occasion
came forward, led by the young preach
er and accompanied by two assistants
A procession was formed and they
marched, two and two, TO the water
AS they marched they all sang, 'In De
Mornin' by de Bright Light. When Ga,
briel Sounds His Trumpet in de Nor
MIN" Arriving at the waters edge
prayer was offered, when the candi
date was led out in deep water, and IL
the name of the Trinity was immersed
The singing commenced again, can
other Brudder Has Jined de Army d.
Army oh de Lawd." Marching back
the baptized member now stood before
the stand to be confirmed, each mem
Der passing in front, shook hands ant
welcomed their new brudder by con
tinuing the song. On account of the
badly mixed condition of the Creeks
hut little missionary work has beer
done by the Mormon elders. Before
the war there was quite a large branch
of the church among the Creeks.
SALT IAKER