The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-23


dian Territory, New York and Alaska
among the aborigInes of America Edward
nj. Wister OF Philadelphia, president OF the
associated executive committee on Indian
affairs, was given fifteen minutes to start
the topic. He urged the joint relationship
and responsibility OF the yearly meetings
in connection with the associated commit
tees work. This committee has been an or
ganiZation for twenty-eigat years, and Is
the only organization which represents
united work on the part OF the various
meetings. Mr.. Wister said That nine mis-
sion stations and five schools have been
maintained in the past year. and mission
efforts have been extended 10 the schools
under government control at Quapaw,
Wyandotte and Shawnee. Continuing, he
said:
Ten recorded ministers and some other
interested Friends have had part in the goS-
pei work Fourteen hundred regular meet
lngs have been held at the several meeting
houses during the year and t6sides these
fifteen series of appointed meetings. AT
some places meetings are held twice on
first days. There are thirteen bible schools
of which eight were held throughout the
year with an average attendance of thirty
seven. Reports show net increase of thir-
ty-four members the past year, OF whom M
teen are Indians. the Indian members show
ing total of 191 at this time. Scar-faced
Charlie, who was an elder and valued MEM
Der of Modoc meeting, died utter much pa
tient suffering last autumn; but his excel
lent example and testimony as redeemed
and faithful servant live after aim and give
an example of faith and courage to those
who knew him. One thousand eight num-
dred and SlXty-tnfoo Ianlly visits are re-
ported for the year ana nearly 5000 miles
Travelled in attending meetings.
Speaking of the new stations the commit
tee has in charge, Mr.. WiSter Said
THE mission station among the lowas
may be classed as of those newly estab-
lished. This is also the case 'a'lth the work
among Big ,Jim's band OF me Apse eiltss
of these Indians to resist civilization, to re-
fuse allotments of their land ana - adhere
to their communal condition. Still, our
superinterdents who live within a day 5
journey of them have recently heeh aDle 10
report quite a change in the attitude OF a
part of the band and as IN encouraging
sign some of them have begun attending
meetings at the Shawnee meeting house and
evidence an interest when present.
1t is hoped to extend the work among the
Otie. the Usage the Delaware and shawnee
tribes Mr. Wister then spoke of the gov
eminent recognition extended to the Quaker
A DEBT OF GRATITUDE.
Mahala JAY of Richmond, Ind, followed
Mr. Wister She said there was double
reason to cherish the Indians. I'VE stepped
into their inheritance when we took away
their lands and now we should not deny to
them the inheritance which Christ has be-
queathed us. Many of the tribes believe in
a Great Spirit and it is therefore much
more easy to arouse their spirituality than
it is that of some> people whom we try to
convert
L. Ella Hartley, who is in the work with
her husband among the Indians in the In
dian Territory. said it was important work
to undertake to penetrate the veil of super
stition and darkness that enthralls the In
dian. She spoke of "Scar-faced Charley
Modoc Indian, as being model Christian
and praised the chief of the Sacs and Foxes
as having been a chief man OF God for sew
enteen years. She further said that the In
dams regarded the missionary as their Spe-
cial protector whose business it was to look
after their interests and this peculiar re-
lation in these times when the land is be-
ing allotted among them and they are be-
ing thrown into new conditions entails i'm
portant duties upon the missionary.
Harriet Green, of London. spoke of
visit she has made to the missionaries and
described their self-sacrificing work. She
told of pow-wow of the Modocs in which
she likened the talking OF the Indians to
the barking of dogs.
Emmaline futile made a very intertain-
ing address about the Indians, among
whom she is a worker. She was so anxious
to say as much as possible in the short
time allotted her that the conference felt
called upon to laugh. The speaker won all
hearts, however, by her enthusiasm She
described Steamboat Frank, whom she first
saw sitting on log alongside a river bank
without a stitch of clothing upon him. This
Indian afterward built meeting house and
was a great preacher to his own people.
When she died she hoped to meet first of
all about the great throne the zoo or 800 of
the MoGocs who died in the faith.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
James Moody, the chairman of the bust
ness committee next read a resolution
which was as follows:
Whereas, There has been from the early
history of Friends in America until the
present time an earnest concern regarding
the welfare of the native Indians and for
their advancement along the lines of Chris
tan civilization; and whereas, there grow
from such concern by successive steps an
organized united effort of the yearly meet
committee of Friends OH Indian affairs;
and, whereas, the said associated committee
OF delegates has continued and is row car
ry1ng forward active mission work among
remnants of several of the of the said In
dian tribes and represents the only united
organized work on the part IF the Ameri
can yearly meetings; and, whereas, accord
ing to the best judgment of those familiar
with the so-called Indian problem, the need
for fostering care of the religious bodies
engaged in missionary work has by no
means diminished.
Resolved, That this conference feels
unity and sympathy with the said commit
tee in its continued work, and desires its
encoura cement and financial support on the
part of the several yearly meetings here
Resolved, That the Friends have a pres
ent duty to the Indian which can best be
discharged by continued and earnest united
effort.
Edmund Stanley moved the adoption of
the resolution and said IF our Indian mis-
sionaries can take the Modocs that the
United States government could not control
and make ministers and elders and worthy
Christians that were an honor to the
Friends we ought ID indorse the work.
mfe next op was fS by the
ration and adoption Of a hymnal for the
church. The subject came up as a result
of memorial from the Western and Kan
sas yearly meetings. DR.. Cyrus r. Dixon.
of Lawrence, Kan. on behalf of the dele
gates of Kansas, delivered a fifteen-minute
speech.
Mr.. Dixon, in the outset of his remarks.
said that it seems the natural impulse of
the mind and heart TO celebrate great vic
tories in song, and singing of hymns thus
becomes a fitting mode of expression when
there are spiritual victories to celebrate.
The speaker then described the frequency
with which singing is mentioned in the
Bible, and went into an extended eulogy
of the Psalms of David. Continuing, he
said:
christian hymn writing began as early
as the second century. In the third and
fourth centuries it became a strong weapon
in the almost fierce disputes over doctrines.
The real era of Christian hymns began,
however, with the reformation and was
necessarily German in tongue. In the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the
English writer's have taken front rank and
among Englsh-speaking Christians the
names of Watts, Tonlady, Wesley and
CoWper, with many others, have become
household words
''The soul in it's conscious self-extremity
still loves 20 pray. Rock of Ages. cleft for
me. Let me hide myself in thee We still
stand in wondering love as we Survey the
wondrous cross on which the Prince of
Glory died In the storms of life we still
sing Jesus, lover of my soul. Let me to
thy bosom fly And certainly we may eX-
voton of loyal hearts until the sea gives
uD it's dead and earth and heaven join to
Grown Him Lord of All | think we may
consider ourselves practically unit in the
belief that hVmn singing done in the SDirit