The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-08-28
HOSTETTER'S
STOMACH BITTERS.

seemingly from behind every sage
brush; on foot and horseback, in wag-
ons and carriages, oldand young, chief
| and papoose, they gathered until the
house was crowded. One feature in
| the opening exercises of the school
worthy of mention was the singing.
The organist, who had been in attend
ance at the Government Indian School,
surrounded by number of Indian boys
and girls who could sing well our Cos
pei songs, sang with feeling and
earnestness that would have been a
credit to any Sunday school. The
school was well classified into Pri-
mary intermediate and Bible classes.
1t was my pleasure to teach the Bible
class through an Indian interpreter
who stood at my side. There was one
or two minor incidents that caught my
eye, viz: The chief was fine looking
man and well dressed, and l was par
ticularly impressed with the attention
he gave to the children, and in seeing
that his people we're properly seated
the men and boys on one side and the
women and girls on the other. This
school, although composed of what the
world calls savages, came nearer being
the ideal Sunday school than any
have ever seen. The entire church
was there to study Gods word. As
the hour for preaching grew near
must confess that | grew little ner-
vous. The pastor had assured me that
he would give me the best interpreter
in the tribe, his own helper, Joseph
Mcdonald by name, and that l would
get through all right. Nevertheless
was somewhat apprehensive. First,
because had not anticipated such a
large congregation, there were 300
present, and second, l had never spok-
en- through an interpreter.
However, my fears somewhat sub
sided after the opening prayer. l OBJ
served that nearly every man, woman
and child with closed eyes and bowed
heads, joined audibly in the Lords
prayer. Such reverence and devout-
ness of spirit | have seldom, if ever,
witnessed. The theme of the hour
was Jesus the Divine Healer" or
1.-The Great Medicine Man" While
the sermon was broken into short SEN
fences, yet there was the advantage of
watching the congregation while my
interpreter was talking. | was also
fortunate in having at my side Mr..
Herbert Martin, who has spent the
past five years among the Indians
studying the language and is now pre-
pairing a grammar and collection OF
Indian idioms. He kindly took down a
portion of my sermon in shorthand
and number of the more significant
| words which were or deep interest to
| me. At the close of the service, as
| the custom is, the congregation was
| seated and waited until the preacher
and interpreter pass around and shake
hands with each one.
| Notwithstanding the thermometer
had stood at ia degrees during the
| day, was informed by the pastor thai
he had made an appointment for me a.
another part of the reservation, some
| five miles away. The ride is some
| what romantic as we pass through IHS
| iungles of the river and around by the
base of large mountain range. Oul
arrival had been anticipated and bis
watermelon feast was in waiting fo1
us. This was an open air meeting anC
was attended by about one hundred.
was provided with a new interprete
this evening. He seemed very earn
est in telling his people the story o
the Prodigal Son in his own language
My companion in travel, Mr.. Black
made some very appropriate and i'm
pressive remarks at the close of tn
sermon. In closing the service we re
uuested that all heads and hands b.
lifted to the stars while we repeatet
in concert the Lords prayer. 1t was
scene we never can forget; and CAV
us a new meaning to the words, "Ou
Father" that shall abide forever.
Our serious conclusion of the Who'll
matter is that the most potent factor
for civilization and Christianizine
whether among the Pimas or Filipinos
is the public school and the church.
c. V. Cowan.