Arizona republican., 1899-10-16
AT BETHANY MISSION.

1 Highly interesting exercises were held ! yesterday afternoon at Bethany mis-
 sion, Alta and Desert streets. A del
 egation of fifteen or more Pima Indians
 who have been converted to Chris
 tianity were present and two of their
 number made short addresses express
 i've of their pleasure at meeting the
 Bethany school.
 l The exercises were opened with singing, prayer and responsive read ing. followed by a recitation by Miss
 Lillie Peers. Mrs. Walter Hill, who recently visited Bethany Sunday school
 in Philadelphia, of which John Wana- maker is superintendent, gave an in teresting account of the scene that she witnessed there. MT. Wanamaker was
 greatly interested, she said, in the Phoenix mission that has taken the
 same name as his own great Sunday
 school, and told to the school itself the
 story of the Arizona infant. He asked
 for pledges on the part of those pres
 ent that each Sunday afternoon they
 would offer up a silent prayer for the
 success of the Phoenix Bethany. 1t
 seemed that the entire membership of
 the school arose in response. MT.
 Wanamaker was so greatly pleased
  Hill to mount the rostrum and see for herself the earnest purpose of those present. This was the message that Mrs. Hill brought back with her.
 Calvin Emerson, a Pima Indian, made a short address in broken Eng fish, stating that he prized the bible highly and expressing his thanks to the white people, for having made him and his people acquainted with it. Another Pima Indian delegate spoke to the same effect through the medium of an interpreter, and then Professor BIount described the mission work that he and MT. Gill have accomplished these Indians in the past three years. Although the white race has been thrown in contact with these h. dians for the past twenty-five years, it is only in the time mentioned that Protestant missionaries have addressed themselves to this field. The work a t first was a personal undertaking, but as it grew it was placed under the care of the Presbyterian mission board. The confidence of the PiInas WAS rot It first easily gained, but having secured | it. many converts were secured A dn- nation of $2OO was obtained from the mission board and a church was built l inc however ndO no WAL OL judging the hour for church services | and through their exertions d Del was bought. Next an organ was consid- | cred necessary and the Indians are [ to learn to sing. \ day | school has also been esta bIished bY | the government and has an atten19nce of forty-foUr scholars. One of the | features of the mission work is the | of the converts. They hon sstly endeavor to cary out the teach ngs of Christianity and the men are sincere. The Indians are so we'll impressed with the Christian life hat on the first of the year they Will send a missionary to the Papagoes.
 Rev. Dr. McATee expressed his hanks to the Indians for their attend lnce and the large audience present Lrose to it's feet. This was interpreted o the visitors, who thereupOn arose to heir feet to express their pleasure at ,eing able to make the visit.
 Miss Sargent delighted all present with a solo.
 An offering for the mission work -mong the Papago Indians was taken, esulting in $65 being raised. The ben .diction then followed.
 pr. c. H. Ellis preached lasAight at he Bethany mission.