The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-03-03
THE INDIAN SCHOOLS.


st. Andrews Episcopal church, on the
Indian schools, in which he gives on the
authority Of Judge Browning, commits.
sioner of Indian affairs, the government
appropriations received by the different
denominations as follows: Roman Cath.
ole, $365,845; Presbyterian, $4,000;
Congregational, $3.50; Episcopal, 81 ,02O;
Friends, $1,000; Mennonite, S., $50; Uni
tartan, $500; Lutheran, Wis, $500;
Miss Howard, $4,000; appropriation for
Lincoln institution, $33, 400; appropria-
ton for III mpton institution, $2O,OlO.
Total, $502,635.
Commenting on these figures Rev. Mr..
Wilkinson said that "the immense pro-
portion given to the Catholics is exceed
ingly suggestive but added that it itbe
right to make appropriations for Presby-
terlans and Mennonites it cannot be
wrong to help Roman Catholics. "Every
religious body" continued Rev. Wilkin-
son, should at once follow the example
set by the Protestant Episcopal church
at it's last general convention and pass a
eelf.denying ordinance entirely refusing
state aid of any kind, direct or indirect. =
It is the first time on record, to our
recollection, that the Episcopal church
has refused state aid in any country, and
we know no reason why it should refuse
an appropriation for it's Indian schools,
unless it be that it envies it's mother, the
Catholic Church, Of getting fifty times
the sum that the Episcopal church is en-
titled to. He truly says that the large
sum given to the Catholic Church is
exceedingly suggestive" It IS sugges-
tive of zeal on the part of the Catholic
Church in the civilization Of the Ameri-
can aborigines, and the amount given for
the support of the Catholic Indian
schools is fifty times greater than that
given to the Episcopal schools for ne
other reason than that they have fifty
times more children to educate. Rev.
Mr.. Wilkinson knows that the amount
per capita to all Indian schools is the
same and that the Catholics are receiv-
ing but their proportionate share OF the
entire appropriation according to attend
anee. It appears that the Episcopalians
are envious because of the small slice
they receive as compared with the Cath
olics, and would rather get none at all
than see the Catholics get the lions
share. The plumber of Indian schools in
1892 was 275, with an average attendance
of 1857 children. The cost of support
ing them aggregated $1,859,ll9.03. Now,
if the Catholic schools receive but 1866,
945, according to Rev. Wilkinson's au-
thority, what becomes of the other 81
493,l74?
The reverend gentleman has nothing
on bis list for the Methcdists who I'm
doubtedly receive larger share than the
Episcopalians. The fact is that the
Episcopalians have made slow progress
in converting the Indians to their creed
despite the Boosting Of Bishop Whipple
and other dignitaries of the American
branch of the English Established
Church. What Episcopaiian mission
aries can be compared to Father De
smet, Bishop Baraga, Of Northern Mich
igan, Bishop Marty, of South Dakota,
and the Franciscan Fathers, of Wiscon.
sin? While these apostolic mon have
been devoting their lives to the chris
tianizing of the red men and enduring
untold hardships and privations to bring
them to knowledge of Christ, the Prot
estant missionaries have been solicitous
Tor the maintenance Of their families and
have worked in more profitable fields for
obtaining the almighty dollar. The
large appropriation, given to Indian
schools under the charge OF the priests
and Sisters of the Catholic Church is
exceedingly suggestive" and is the legl-
innate result Of the unselfsh devotion OF
Catholic missionaries who penetrated
the wilderness at the risk of their lives
to preach the gospel of Christ for no fee
or reward that this world can bestow.
Rev. Wilkinson refers to the 'selt-
denying ordinance" Of the Episcopal
church in refusing the paltry approprla-
ton Of $1,000, but the fact is that there
is no self denial about the empty reeolu-
ton, for the church still get9 the money
and would take more If it got it. In the
history OF Indian civilization we fail to
find any heroic or seh-sacrifcing act per-
formed by the ministers OF his church
that approaches in sublimity the great
sacrifice which Bishop Baraga made for
the conversion Of the Ohippewa Indians
to christianity. The American Protest
ant biographer, James Parton, husband
OF aFanny Fern" gives fine sketch OF
this life and labors OF the Austrian no.
bleman. He resigned his commission IN
the Austrian army studied for the priest
hood, and after his ordination went to
the Lake Superior region whore he civ
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