The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-26

mere ana there, out by no means comprising
the bulk of the Indian residents of the coun-
try. 1t was thus easy for Agent Eels, by
straining point of his plenary authority to
make it unpleasant for the Shakers He
Went so far in fact, in one instance as to
Danish disciple, known by the euphonious
cognomen of Billy CLAIMS, from tho Puyallup
reservation, OF which he was d prosecuting
resident. This action created much dissatis-
faction, which was intensified when Eels
capped the climax by imprisoning number
of the converts of the new faith.
At this juncture an event occurred of the
greatest Importance to the followers of
Tschadum. A white man, being arrested
for selling whisky to a Puyallup Indian,
was defended by Hon. James Wickersham,
of Tacoma, by appointment of the Federal
court. Mr.. Wicbersham based his defense
upon the Indian and seyeralty act, which
decreed that all Indians who had taken
land, paid taxes and adopted the practices
OF civilization were privileged to the RICH is
and immunities of full-fledged citizens.
The decision was given in his favor and
opened a fioodgate of hitherto unrecognized
privileges
The Shakers rode in on the wave and
promptly organized and incorporated their
church at general conference held at Mud
Bay in the autumn of 1892. Judge Wicker
sham, who had thus suddenly become the
champion of the Indian, was engaged by
them to look after the legal features of the
incorporation and assist them in doing
things decently and in order. The follow
ing extracts from the testimony of Soclum
who had seen visions and was the
leader of the church, are, by permission
of the judge, copied from the verbatim re-
ports Of the proceedings at this conference
1t may be added that these reports form the
basis Of dogma ON which the theology of
Tschadam is founded.
Said Slocun:
''I was sick about two weeks. had five
Indian doctors. Doctor Jim was there. They
staid three hours at time. At night my
breath was out and 1 died. All at once
saw a shining light-great hght-rying my
soul. [ looked and saw my body had no
soul-look ell at my own body. 1t was dead.
came through the first time-told my
friends, when 1 die don't cry and then
died again. Angels told me to look back
and see my body. ] did and saw it lying
down. 1t was very poor. My soul left body
and went up to judgment seat of God. l do
not know about body after o'clock.
have seen great light i'll my soul from that
good land. Angel in heaven said to me :;
You must go back and turn alive again on
earth OF you will be punished My soul
was told that 1 m ust come back and live
four days on earth When l came back L
told my people. There is a Gods; there is
a Christian people, When 1 came back
alive L told my friends, good times in
heaven. God is kind to us. If you all try to
help me we will all be better here on earth,
and now we all feel that it is SO. A good
Christian man prayed with me four days.
After four days a voice said: you shall live
on earth four weeks My soul was told they
must build a church for me in four weeks
L had lumber for house and my friends
built church. Had it all done in four
weeks, but feet of roof, and they spread q
mat over that. Soon as the church was fin
ished the people came and filled the house
and began to worship God. feel strong
bigger than today All these men know
this. My friends worked hard, and 1 am
here because they finished the church in
four weeks. My soul was told to remain on
earth four weeks more. All my friends
came and every Sunday we worshipped
God. In four weeks more my soul was told
to remain on earth four years if did right
and preached for God. All felt thankful,
and people joined the church-about fifty
people. L was promised more if we wor-
shipped God.
They know in heaven what we think.
"When people are sick we pray to God to
cure Them. We pray that He take the evil
away and leave the good.
'sWhen our body and heart feel warm we
do good and sing songs.
"While one may try to start religion here
on earth it don't do much good; they don't
believe him much. That is why we join to
worship.
SIT don't make any difference if one prays
good and does good, God gives him he lip
and words to speak. Makes no difference if
Boston man or Indian-if God helps we
know it.
"We learn good while we pray-voice says:
"Do good
eve learn to help oursel yes when sick.
When our friend is sick we kneel and ask
for help to cure him. We learn something
once in while to cure him. If we don't
care to help him we generally lose him.