The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-15
INDIAN ASSOCIATION.
Report o. the Secretary, Mise Alice Blan-
chard.

The following Is the report Of Miss
Alice blanchard, Secretary OF the Maine
Indian Association. read at the meeting
on Tuesday:
1t is with senes Of peculiar empar-
rassment that your secretary brings you
her report this year. For in fact, aside
from posting the records into the book
OF the association and sending out the
monthly notices to churches, directors
and papers, she has done nothing, nol
even been able to attend single inaian
meeting since our last annual meeting
10 Miss erie, who has reported all the
meetings, Is due the thanks OF the score
tary and association for the labor OF love
no cheerfuiiy and faithfully performed.
Last year was the browning year OF
long years OF patient hope and diligent
work In that we realized the goal 80 long
set before us, and turned over ITO one oil
the larger boards" the Friends, our
Maine State Missions among Big Jim's
Band Of Absentee Shawnees. 1t cost Us
q pang to officially give up the mission,
even though we were 80 gratsful Tor tne
privilege OF having planted little spot
Ia the wilderness where Christianity and
civilization would be seen and enjoyed
by our red hrothers and sisters, ~ was
deep satisfaction to feel that through
the blessing OF the Lord we had been the
means OF starting work considered large
enough and Important enough 70 %
taken up and carried on by Friends who
could do so much more than we for the
Indians. So our forty acres, on which
stood mission house, farm, milk shed and
on much OF ID the forest primevai. with
the never failing well which nearly
caused bankruptcy on our part before
water could be reached, we gladly and
thankfully decided to the Friends Bond.
They have watched over It and guarded
Its int srests and missions as we could
not. John and Mary Mardock with their
two little girls, live at the mission house,
even keeping It open to extend hospitality
to the Indians who come TO them with
increasing numbers on visits OF friend
ship or advice. Nearly every Sunday the
reception room sees the Indians attend
ing services Of worship, not carried on
exactly as we are accustomed to Sunday
worship, from the fact that the Indians
are coming and going all day, the nrst
arriving about 10 a. m, and the last
about p m. So MIR. Mardock holds
several services during the day at such
times as best suits the arriving COM
panies who come In small groups, gen.
orally OF two or three. He speaks to
them through an Interpreter. Singing
has a large place In the service, while
sacred pictures often help entertain them
and arouse their curiosity between the
services
Little Jim, the chiefs son, comes
sometimes TO the mission, Some of you
may remember his colored pictures sent
a year or two ago and made with paints
our ladies sent him. He is inclined to
Jim, has never. think, bean but once
to the mission. Then his curiosity got
he better OF his conservatism. But he
Il on friendly terms with the Mardocks,
and allows Mr. Mardook sometimes to
attend the Indian councils. Mrs. Mardock
teaches the women 20 sew and out out
garments at the mission. Both she and
her husband visit the Indians In their
homes and make them welcome to theirs,
Some OF the Indian men take much inter-
est in MIR. Mardock's farming. Through
the iniiuence of the mission Big Jim has
at last consented to three OF the band
being ssnt to the nearest government
day school, the White Turkeys band OF
Abortion Shawneee. for there are two
tribes, Big Jim's being the widest and
smallest. One of the men of White
Turkey band exercised, | am told, the
right to vote. privilege denied the more
enlightened women OF Maine.
line. barrel sent last Christmas was
greatly appreciated, and the box which
went to MIR. and Mrs. Blackly also. The
great need Of the mission now is chapsl
and bell-the chapel to hold services In,
for the reception room at the mission is
not large enough, as thirty Indians are
sometimes present; the bell to call the
Indians all together at one time, an ini-
possibility now, as they have no clocks,
and seem to have little idea Of time be-
You'd the rising and setting OF the sun.
At the February meeting held with our
treasurer, Mrs. Baxter, 1t was voted to
build this chapel whenever we should
have the necessary $3.50. this bsing the
estimated cost OF chapel suitable for
school purposes as we'll This chapel we
should have built before giving up the
mission, had our means allowed, as Is
customary for all Indian Associations
connected with she W. N. 1. A, SO we
are anxious to do IL now, before turning
elsewhere for work. We are often asked
why we do not work for our Maine In
dians. but the way has never opened for
this as yet. A few have been permitted
to leave the State to attend school, Our
treasurer going 70 California for several
months, Mrs. Watts was acting treasurer
during her absenue. Monthly meetings
were held In churches, as usual. Indian
leaflets have been distributed over the
city and State A delightful board meet
ing was held with Mrs. Frye In Septem
Der to meet the national president, Mrs.
ID S. Quine, who told of the work OF the
Women's National Indian Association,
and especially of that among the Nava-
joes. Refreshments and flowers were
provided at the close OF the meeting, as
is the presidents usual custom when en-
tertaining the executive.
The statistical section OF the secretary s
report was as follows: Number Of
monthly meetings, seven; amount re-
ceived for dues, SAC; number OF members,
%; number OF Indian friends received, 10 I;
dues sent to National Association. So. 20 |;
amount subscribed toward chapel, $50;
value of box sent to Snawnees, 50.