The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-11-22
THE BISHOP OF THE
INDIANS.

Among the names given by the In
dians to Bishop Whipple, who has just
died, one was Straight Tongue, be-
cause they said, he never told Them a
lie. He was man of great and ten
der heart, and he gave his affection
unreservedly to the Indians Of his dio-
cese, during his long ministry they
respected him with loyal affection,
which was his greatest happiness. His
warm heart, eloquent tongue, vivid
imagination and devoted piety made
him unique pleader for the cause of
the Indians. Many of the narratives
he told of them, showing an insight in
to their character as keen as his SYM
pathy was strong, will long live in lit
erature. One of these picture we take
from Bishop Whipple's volume, Lights
and Shadows of long Episcopate, as
follows:
Rev. Lord Charles Harvey paid me
visit to learn about our Indian mis-
sions. He went with me to White
Earth, where consecrated the Church
of St. Columbia and confirmed large
class. The Indian women had pre-
pared forest feast for US, and, un-
known to me, a pantomime for my
friend. We were sitting on the green
sward in front of log house when the
chief, Wahbonaquot, said to me:
"Your friend comes from across the
great water; would he like to know
the history Of my people 2"
Lord Charles said he should be very
glad to hear it, and the chief began:
"Before tue white man came the
forests and praries were full of game,
the lakes and rivers were full of fish,
and the wild rice was everywhere
the gift of Manitou to his red children.
l will show you some OF my people as
they were before the white man came" "
He clapped his hands and the door
of the log house opened, and man
and woman appeared, fine specimens
of the free born native American,
dressed in skins ornamen,ed with col
ored porcupine quilts, and with bril-
liant feathers in their hair.
"These ale my people before the
white man came," said the chief.
"Shall l show you what the white
man did for US? He told US that we
had no houses. no fire horses, no fire.
canoes, no books, and that if we would
give him our land he would make US
like the white men. He had forked
tongue. This is what he did for u.s."
He again clapped his hands, and
there appeared in the doorway a
wretched looking Indian in tattered
blanket, without leggings, and by his
side miserable woman in ragged
gown.
20 Manitou ~ cried the chief, "are
these my people? How came it?"
The man drew black bottle from
under his blanket, and answered:
"lsh-ko-te-~abo (fre water) the gift
of the white man u
Turning to Lord Charles, the chief
continued:
II would not have told you this,
but there is more to tell. Many moons
ago pale faced man came to see US.
We hated white men, and would not
listen to his words. Each year when
the sun was 80 high we saw this white
man coming through the forest. One
day called my people in council. l
said:
"'Why does this pale face come to
see US? He does not trade; he does
not ask anything Of US; perhaps the
Great Spirit has sent him. Our ears
must be OPEN When we listened to
his story; we took it to our hearts.
This is what it has done for u.s."
He clapped his hands, and manly
young Indian clergyman in clerical
clothes appeared, and by his side
gentle woman in a neat little gown.
"My friends said the chief, "there
is only one religion that can lift a man
from the mire and tell him to call the
Great Spirit Father, and that is the
religion of Jesus Christ"
A skeptical friend who was with me
grasped my hand and exclaimed
Bishop, all the arguments which l
have ever read in deiese of Christiani-
ty are not equal to what | have seen
today"