The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-06
LIFE AMONG THE INDIANS.
A Methodist Missionary Tells of Her Work
In tho Great Northwest.

A missionary address took the place Of
the usual Sunday morning preaching
service at the Pine Street Methodist
church, yesterday. Mrs. Emily C.Miller
of Fort Simcoe, Washington, was the
speaker, and her address was descriptive
of her work among the Indians in that
far off state.
Mrs. Miller is a native of Massachu-
sets. Seven yeans ago she began her
missionary labors in the Yakima Indian
reservation. The reservation, which is
located east of the Cascade mountains.
and Is miles from the Columbia river,
contains 1850 square miles. There are
ITO Indians on the reservation and she
is the only female missionary stationed
among them.
1t was Jason Lee who first brought to
the East the knowledge of the needs
of missionary work in that settlement
La 1859 the first treaty with the savages
was made by Gov. Stevens whose name
is still revered there. A primitive form
OF government was Immediately estab-
lished among them. In 1868 James H.
Wilbur, a Methodist. became superin-
tendent of the government school at
the agency and began also to preach
among the Indians. The government
agent at that time was an arrogant, illit-
crate man, and Father Wilbur made the
hazardous journey to Washington to
make a personal appeal for the appoint
ment of a new agent. He secured the
removal of the Objectionable person, but
the authorities being unable to find a
successor they finally appointed Father
Wilbur the government representative
there. He built a church, improved the
school, assisted the Indians in irrigating
their lands, and established methods of
peace and support amongst them. He
also laid the foundation for the mission
airy work now being Systematically con-
Quoted in the reservation.
1t was at the request of the converted
Indians that white woman was sent to
minister among them. They set apart
strip of land for her and built upon it
little home much better than her own.
There Mrs. Miller has labored success
fully and happily seven years, her pres
ent visit in New England being her first
respite since she took up the work.
In an interesting, practical way she de-
scribed the nature of her labors, pictured
customs and traits of the Ind ans, cited
of their eagerness to learn,
and related numerous incidents connect
ed with her experience as missionary
The nearest white family. except that of
the pastor at the parsonage, is located
six miles away, and the nearest white
away, on the Northern Pacific railroad.
The church will easily seat 500 and is
often filled with Indians, especially at
Christmas and on other special occa-
sions. An aged Indian, one of Father
Wilburs converts, acts as interpreter,
standing beside the pulpit and translat-
ing, sentence by sentence. the words of
the preacher.
The mission includes so large a tract
of country, and the Indian settlements
are SO widely scattered, that it is impos-
sible to hold services more than one day
a week, so Sunday is filled with meet
ings, beginning with a prayer and praise
service, then sermon, followed by a
class meeting and finally Sunday
School. The Indians are attentive lis
teners and keenly appreciate Christian
and interest in their welfare.
They readily learn by observation:and are
quick to copy civilized methods and
The children are all taught
the English language-s'Boston Ian
guage,3' they term it. White people at
the village who labor on Sunday and do
other things not in conformity with |
Christian teaching are put down in the
Indian vocabulary as wild whites" an
which to the converted Red
Men is the embodiment of censure
Mrs. Miller's reference to the CONVEX |
sion of an old Indian whose Boston
name" is Sally Martin was especially en-
Seven years ago Sally lived |
IN filth and wickedness, and was a dis
grace to the tribe. Under the Christian
Influence of her missionary friends she
has changed her whole life. Her home
is now one of the cleanest on the reser-
vation and her best energy is daily de-
voted to the uplifting of the moral tone
Of her many dusky associates.
MEMORIAL SERVICE.