Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-10
FRIENDS OF THE INDIAN
National Association Begins
It's Labors Here.
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
PRINCIPAL FEATURE OF THE
SESSION THIS MORNING.
Officers Elected-Mrs. Roosevelt Will
Receive Delegates at White
House Tomorrow
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS

Representative women from many states
and territories of the United States gath
cred in the parlors of the Church Of the
Covenant this forenoon al the opening seS-
sion of the twenty-f1rst annual convention
of the National Indian Association. The
delegates Joined in singing a hymn aid
listened to scriptural reading and a prayer
by Rev. DR.. Teunis Hamlin, and also a
sacred solo by Miss Margaret Johnston be-
fore getting down to the work of the con-
vention.
The address of welcome was made by
Mrs. NJ. E. C. Wilbur of this city.
1.-The Washington Auxiliary extends to
you a glad and hearty welcome today" she
said. Mine years have winged their flight
since you last favored this city with you"
presence. In the interim we have followed
your annual conclaves in other cities with
absorbing interest. Our delegates have re-
turned with such glowing reports of the
work and progress of the association thai
we have earnestly desired your coming
again; that we might hear from your lips
the inspiring uckings that have quickened
our zeal and nerved us to renewed ell
deavor.
"Al things come to those who wait and
now you have come to us; and 1t is our
happy privilege to grasp your hands in the
sweet fellowship Of kindred sympathy in
this divinely appointed work of uplifting
the Indian"
Mrs. Wilbur, who has been for years an
earnest worker in the cause of uplifting
the Indian, reviewed to some extent the work
done by the association since its inception,
more than score of years. Her words
were listened to with interest by the del
egates, who attested their appreciation by
frequent and hearty applause.
DR.. Alice Seabrook of Philadelphia was
on the program to respond to Mrs Will
bur's address, but she sent word that her
work in the Woman's Hospital Of Philadel-
phia prevented her from being present. DR..
l.. Rose Minoka of Philadelphia. comedy
young Indian woman, read DR.. Seabrook S
| address.
The Presidents Address.
The address of the president of the asso-
citation, Mrs. Amelia S. Qunton of Phila-
delphia, was perhaps the most interesting
feature of the morning session. In part
she said:
For a people on the path upward from
barbarism at least three things are neces-
sary for best results, namely. legal sta
tus industrial knowledge and opportunity,
moral and Christian culture. To secure a
legal status your first five years work done
for Indians was the first such work, the as
ISOLATION whose living epistles' you are be-
ing the first one organized wholly for In
dian help, Systematically to labor for and
gain the popular ear for this justice. That
hearing gained, with what resulted by the
union of many forces, the desired status
LAS to industrial teaching and opportu-
nifty, our missionaries in fifty tribes and
remnants of tribes have served them six
days of the week since 1854 and with sure,
if at first slow, progress. Our loan depart
ment, introduced in 1886, was a further
progress on industrial lines, making loans
for business under our motto, Helping In
dams to help themselves Later q COM
mittee on Industries emerged from our IL
brary department and soon grew to be a
| separate society. Still later our department
of industries, in the hands Of Mrs. Double
day. became marked and widely acting
! power, introducing original features, NOV
| ing government to new work for the bust
| ness interests of Indians, opening many
| doors for the products of Indian labor and
| skill, securing sales to the extent of many
! thousands of dollars in the last two years.
| All this with what is said by the President
| in his late message to Congress regarding
native industries; with the attitude of the
| entire Indian office; with nineteen govern
ment Indian schools already fostering char
| acteristic Indian arts and Industries and
| with demand for Indian goods greatly ex-
| ceeding the supply, one cannot doubt that
| the day of Indian industrial helplessness is
| past.
! LAS to moral and Christian culture youl
| share in that began when in 1884 first
! missionaries reached three tribes in Indian
| territory. Since that time you have reached
| half a hundred tribes and separated PAL IS
| of tribes.
|