The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-11
A DELICATE QUESTION.
Difficulty of Applying Civilized Laws
to All Cases.

Ine lndlan 5 FRIEND.
There are some problems in the work of
missionaries among Indians that those out
side cannot well realize. 1t may seem easy
to the latter to apply promptly the precepts
of the New Testament to all situations, and
difficult to understand that in some in
stances it is a delicate task to demand in
slant and entire obedience to these, and
yet not shock sense of justice regarding
the sacred rights of others to whom obliga-
tons have for years been confessed and
obeyed. 1t is useful now and then TO look
at things from the standpoint of those who
have had only the light of nature the
teaching of paganism, in order to see row
carefully and gently these must be led to
avoid violating in them a generous and sin
cere sense OF justice; a tender regard for
years OF personal loyalty to, themselves;
sense OF marital and parental responsibility,
and yet not suffer a lowering of the divine
standard of marriage and purity.
A speech made at a large missionary
meeting byAan Indian of magnanimous ma
ture reveals the difficulties of such case
and suggests the inevitable griefs of those
rejected and put out of ties made sincerely,
though in ignorance and paganism But
since for ties thus made in America. seven
teen millions of Christians who have with
held the light of Christs teachings are re-
sponsible. al may well be sympathetic and
make all possible haste to send Christian
teachers to all such.
The speech alluded to was as follows:
Before Jesus came to me He was kind to
me and gave me two wives and ten pa
pooses. and l love them all. Last winter
Jesus took me by the scalplock and pulled
me frontward to the church. and j told the
Jesus man was saved and / wanted TO be
baptized. He said, No, no, no; you have
two wives. My heart stood still. 1t moved
not. The water came on my cheeks and
fell to the ground. The door was shut, and
the big Book was inside. The key went
round and my pony aud / were on the road
cut off from the Jesus house the Jesus
Book and the Jesus way. / cried hard but
Jesus was with my heart and said to me,
My arm is thick: the Jesus mans is thin
Do not be afraid. He has cut you off, but
/ have not The tongue in my heart said,
i will keep near TO Jesus He is stronger
than all the Jesus men, for he knows my
heart and the Jesus men only know that |
have two wives. Jesus is my strong friend
| talk to him every day and listen to His
talk in my heart. And all the talk at the
camp meeting ] have put in the pocket of
my heart, and SeWed ii UP so nothing will
be lost. 1.-THE pocket is very heavy Mems
hearts are hard like stone. Women's are
not hard. They pretty soon cry. / want
you to think wisely and tell me what road
] am on. Jesus is with me- so maybe He
has left His own road to catch me- The
big Jesus Book is locked away from me-
but l want you to buy little one, to
carry with me. and l will pay you for it.
and / will try to keep close enough to Jesus
every day so that ! can hold on to Him
hind me with the other. with all our pa
pooses on our backs. When we get to the
wonderful door it will open without key
and the Great Father will say, Come in
come in. come in: you have got here with
all / gave you. You didn't throw any of
them away. will not cut you off. And
He will take us in his arms, Botone, his
two wives. and his ten papooses, and our
sick hearts will cut us like a knife no
more,'