The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-31
FLORIDA INDIAN MISSIONS.
Work of bishops Gray and Whfpple
Already Bearing Good Fruit.

Already bearing OOou rru1t.
Orlando, Fla. March SO.-There is now
In this city gathering of consecrated wo-
men of the Episcopal churches in the d.
ocese of Southern Florida that deserves
more than a passing notice.
They are the Masys and Marthas and
Decreases who have SO nobly held up the
hands of Bishop Gray in his arduous la
bors in this young missionary diocese.
And more than this, they have needed
the Macedonian cry from foreign mis-
sionary fields ard out of their limited
means they have helped the cause in many
lands.
On this occasion they have with them
jealous missionary, Mrs. Thompson,
from China, lately returned. who is to tell
them of her labors and experiences in that
great field OF missionary movements, by
many denominations. But the chief inter
est centers on the constantly widening
field of labor here at home-all over South
ern Florida
And in this field there is no feature of
missionary work that appeals more earn
estly to Christian men and women than
the movement to win to Christ and civil
lied methods of living the remnant,
weak and SMALL" of the once powerful
Seminole tribe of Indians that still re-
mains in the wilds of the Everglades. AL
though less than 500 in number these red
men have long kept at bay the various
civiizng and Outstanding influences of
the white man.
Happily, under bishop Grays Jealous
and persistent efforts a foothold, secure
and beneficial has at last been secured al
most-in their very midst, and every day
witnesses the steady Improvement of the
more tractable of the tribe. And yet SEN
sational penny-a-liners would have the
outside world believe that all manner Of
injustice rs done these Indians and that
they are In sad and degraded condition.
Nothing could be further from the truth
than these sensational newspaper arti-
cles. Religiously their condition was new
er as good as now. Bishop Gray has not
only erected a church edifice near the
indian agency at Inmakalee, some forty
miles from any other church, with Rev.
Henry Gibbs in charge. but this jealous
missionary and his devoted wife have
schools OF various kinds that are bene-
nting children and adults of both sexes
in marked degree.
Following closely in the wake of this
religious and intellectual development. and
as natural outcome of the same. is the
industrial Improvement that has started
revolution in the manner of living on
the part OF this tribe. The progressive In
dams are adopting our manner of dress.
our methods of farming, modern improved
agricultural implements and more com
Portable and commodious houses for their
families. Thus Christianity, with it's many
civiizing and enrolling influences, is do
ing its work, slowly tbs true, yet as sure
~, for the redemption of this lone remnant
of Seminoles from savage methods of life
The venerable Bishop Whipple, a famous
and almost lifelong missionary to the In :
dams of Minnesota is here helping Bishop
Gray in these meetings, and having him
self visited the Everglades and become
familiar with the improved state of af-
fairs there, he expresses great hopefulness
for the work in all its bearings. Bishop
Whippie emphasizes three things that as
sure success:
First, the folly of teaching Indian child
rem in their own language; for after
learning they have no bookslto read. Sec
ond, the impossibility of the Indian be-
coming civilized without government. as
they need the same protection as the white
man. Third, the individual rights Of pro
perty. These. with the religion of Christ
viii give 10 the Indian manhood and free
dom. There is no room for being dis
couraged Gods hand is over US, and the
end is sure. Let us put our shoulder to
the wheel, and do all we can"
It is this spirit that not only keeps Bish-
dian mission work, but It pervades the
good women of the Woman's Auxiliary
Societies of the diocese who are in session
here and will hold their business meeting
tomorrow. In their hands, with Bishop
Gray and Bishop Whipple, who is also a
member of the United States Board of In
dian commissioners, to encourage counsel
and assist them, this good work will go on
until every Indian, man, woman and child
in Florida shall have come under the pow
er and ennobling influences of the relig-
ion of Christ and its civilizing processes.
Both the government at Washington and
the state Of Florida is giving this work
substantial aid in its care and protection
of these Indians, who are to be made to
feel that when they shall have made good
farms and comfortable homes for their
families. their lands and firesides shall be
defended by the same laws and authority
that throws a shield around the white
mans home and family