The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-03-22

away in Olympia waiting Tor nm 10
die.
The resurrected Indian told a GU
rious story Soon after his soul left
his body he came to a fine looking
house, but could not see anybody in
yard. As he approached. the front
door opened apparently of its own
accord. He entered the front room,
but it was empty AS he looked he
heard voice say:
$50 into the next ROOM"
The door swung open before he
reached it and he stepped into the
next room, where he found a fine look
ing, we'll dressed man, who greeted
him pleasantly. The man at once
asked him:
"Did you believe God while you
were on earth?"
"Yes," responded the Indian.
"No, you didn't" said the man.
Slocum was then shown in to side
room, where he saw something that
looked like large photograph. This
picture showed him all his bad deeds,
and he saw that he had been terri
bly, wicked man. Then the man said:
~ will take you where you can see
fire."
They went into another room,
which was really the mouth of large
furnace. out eff which came terrible
blast of fire. Slocum looked into the
horrible pit and saw a large number
of men who had died before him, also
serpents writhing and fighting and
biting each other. 1t was an awful
place.
The man then took him out on top
of the house or into an upper room
where everything was beautiful.
There was bright light and a great
many other things to make a man
happy. While they were in this room
the man told him that all who be-
lieved God while on earth would go to
the bright and happy place, while
those who did not believe and obey
Him would be thrown into the fire.
Slocum was told to go back to the
HI
after the man told him this, he came
back to life and threw the blankets
off his body.
Slocum changed his mode of living
and became good Indian. He soon
gained converts and now the Shaker
faith is we'll established among the
Indians of the Western Washington
reservations. There are seven or eight
missionaries besides Slocum, who still
breaches Mud Bay Louie, one of the
leading men, had an experience SINH
lar to Slocum's and now travels all
over the Sound country tell about it
and urging the Indians to live better
lives. A short time ago DR.. Jim, one
of the Indians who tried to make away
with Slocum Ii years ago, had a
trance and saw enough of the "fire" to
convince him that he had better be a
good Indian.
Shakers can be found amoug the
Squadron, Puyallup, Cowlitz, Klickitat,
Chehalis, Skokomish, Mud bay and
{ Oyster bay Indians. When Shaker
ism first made its appearance it was
looked upon as species of the Indian
) medicine man doctrine, and quite a
number of the preachers were put in
, Jail by the government agents. Those
who thus suffered now regard them
, selves as martyrs and are fond of tell
about their sufferings for the faith.
They have meeting houses at several
points. The house near the Chehalis
reservation between Black river and
the Chehalis river, is favorite gather
) ing point. They hold camp-meetings
) and have good times generally.
The creed of the Shakers is very
, practical. They are required not to
swear, lie, steal, fight, kill, work on
| Sunday, gamble, use whisky or tobac'
t co, Cypress anybody, or do anything
they know to be wrong. Great en-
: phasis is placed ON abstenance from
e tobacco and whisky. They do not use
bible or printed book of any kind
e The experience of Slocum, together
, with the traditions Of the leaders, form
, the basis of the religion.
8 A man or woman who wants to be-
S come Shaker expresses willingness
{ for the believers to operate the
q peculiar entertainments that they deem
8 necessary to get the meanness out ol
/ the heart OF the applicant before he Oh
o she can become Shaker. The candi-
! date is placed in the middle of the
v room and the head man puts some O.
Goods medicine" in the palms of his
4 hands. The members then join hands
! and march around, ringing bells anc
n rushing up and striking the mournel
+ on the shoulders and head. This il
!. done to drive the devil out. Some
:. times 1t takes q week to get the deyi