The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-29
CONDITION OF THE INDIANS.
Gen. r.. j. Morgan and Others Talk mt
baptist Mission Meeting.

The second ard last days session OF the
convocation OF Home Missions OF the Bap-
fist Church opened yesterday afternoon WITH
Rev. j. :. Holmes. of Terre Haute. presid-
ing. After the opening exercises OF prayer
Scripture reading and hymns. an address
was made by Rev y. Il. Rairdcn. Of Omaha
who is the superintendent OF the Missouri
river district. Mr. Rairden is forcible
speaker and his subject was "Our Wards
OF Forest and Plain" Mr.. Rairden has
worked as a missionary largely among the
Indians and IL was OF the wild Indians who
live in the Oklahoma Territory that he
spoke. He says they are veritable heather.
They have some knowledge OF the Great
Spirit, but none Of the Christians God
They worship the sun, moon, stars, rain and
wind. and In fact almost everything that is
greater than themselves. They are very SUI
perstitious. They are largely under the in
fiuence of the medicine men. who not only
treat them for their illnesses, but they also
direct them spiritually. Mr.. Rairden told OF
a camp where measles broke out and the
medicine man was called. He said there
was fire in the children and that water
would put out fire, so all the children and
those who had the disease were carried to
the river on cold day and put in the water.
to land and about 200 persisted. He believes
the Indian has noble mind and is patriotic.
One of their best traits is love for their fam
ilies. and il is a trait which is helping to
demned the treatment they have received
from the government. They have been
grossly cheated, and this had made them
suspicious of white men. Many have been
taught to believe in the white mans God,
but there are thirty tribes yet that have
never had the gospel preached TO them.
fC hat txrht
ministers who receiving as much as
$1,000 year. who are willing to give this
up and leave their churches TO go to do mis-
sion work among the Indians for little more
than half that amount, there is not enough
money in the treasury to send them ''The
Lords treasury is to-day cverdrawn $ll2.-
was sung and then there was a general dis
cussion of the subject led by Rev. c. E. w.
Dobbs, ID. d., and others took part.
Last evening, at the closing session, Rev
ID. j. Ellison. pastor Of the First Baptist
Church, occupied the chair, and Rev. Lee
Fisher. of Brightwood, made the invocation.
The Scripture lesson was read by Rev. Il. q.
Duncan and the prayer was offered by Rev.
NJ. L. Haines, of the First Presbyterian
Church; The speakers of the evening were
Gen. Thomas j. Morgan. corresponding Sec
rotary from New York, who told of the
Gathering of the Nations, relating to the
vast number of foreigners who seek these
shores and are in need of Christian teaching
and the great work that has been done
among them, and Rev. H. L. MorehouSe
who has given the best part of his life to
missionary work, spoke of "Romanism in
Mexico" The Romanists have the strongest
hold in Mexico, but the work of the Baptist
Mission Society has opened schools, built
churches and carried the gospel into that
land until 1t too has strong foothold there.
When it Is considered that the society's
missionaries last year maintained 1.242 Sun
day-schools, in which there was an attend
ance Of 72.115 scholars, 1t may be seen what
is being done. There is great need for
money to carry on the work, for there are
more to-day who need the gospel than ever
before A collection was taken after Cor
onation" had been sung. The meeting of the
Baptist Home Mission Society was held in
Indianapolis for educational purposes and it
is hoped that better knowledge of it's work
has been distributed in this State. Most of
those in attendance will return home to-day