The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-20
Special to The Journal.

Special to The journal.
Santee, Neb., Sept. 20.-The great coun-
Gil of the Sioux Indian Christians con-
vened Sept. 1914 in and around the group
of mission buildings Of the Congregational
church. The weather was very favorable.
More than 1000 Indians were in attend
ance from Nebraska, Montana, the TWO
Dakotas and Minnesota. One hundreo
and fifty delegates were enrolled. 1hsv
represented every church ana every Or
ganiza ton of an educational or re-
ligious character under the auspices OF the
Presbyterian and Congregational ue-
nomina tons, among the Sioux nation.
For sixty eight years these two great
bodies of Christians have been carrying
on the work Of missions among the saw
age and superstitious tribes. These ef-
forts have been crowned with much sue
cess Of the 80, 900 Sioux Indians in the
United States, fully onefourth are under
the ominating influences Of these two
great churches. There are organized
among them some thirty Presbyterian
congregations. with an aggregate mem
bership Of 1900 communicates and 500
Sunday school scholars. The statistics OF
the Congrega tionalists show two-thirds as
many as the Presbyterians, making in all
some $500 communicates among this
former fierce tribe of prairie warriors.
They have churches, Sunday schools,
prayer meetings, the Y. M. G. A. Y. P. S.
G. E. societies,-all the machinery Of
church organization, in efficient operation.
This annual council is to them, however,
the browning gathering Of the whole
year. Thus for thirty-twO years they
have come together from far and near. 1t
was a grand sight-their white teepees,
grouped like an army, round about great
mission buildings.
Biennially two moderators are chosen,
who not only moderate but manage the
yIo1o h,,ri ~%o1 %Ioie
annual gathering. At present these joint
moderators are Rev. A I. Riggs, D. D.,
for the whites. and Rev. Charles A.
Crawford for the Indians.
DR.. A. l.. Riggs is the eldest son Of Rev.
Dr. Stephen Riggs the famous mission
airy. author and linguist. The son has
proven himself to be a worthy successor
of his honored sire. He is now superin-
tendent of the Santee mission. He and
his brother, DR.. Thomas Riggs of Oahe,
S. D., are the acknowledged leaders Of
Congregational missions among the
Sioux.
Rev. Charles A. Crawford Of Good VIII.
S. D.. is the Of the old shrewd
Scotch fur trader, Crawford, and a full
blood Sioux mother. He was born more
than fifty years ago at Fort Crawford,
Wis. He is an honored Presbyterian pas
tor. These men proved themselves to be
very capable officials.
During Wednesday, Thursday and Fri
day there was a general discussion of the
following themes:
1-Should not the Dakota Gndian)
churches support their pastors them
selves?
2-When is the keeping of money good
or evil thing?
3-The progress Of the kingdom of God.
4-The evils of dancing.
5-Will the sale Of the inherited Indian
ha n n n
people?
In such discussions as these the Indian
orator shines. He is born debater. In
these discussions, the concensus seemed
to be that the Indian churches should
speedily become self supporting; and that
money kept for useful purposes is a
"benefit," but boarded for wrong and sell
fish ends is an EVIL thing They spoke
encouragingly of the growth of their
churches and denounced bitterly the evils
OF their dancing customs. The sale Of the
allotments of deceased Indians to white
spectators fell under the condemnation
of the wise men Of the tribe During
these animated discussions, the Indians
thronged the council chamber. standing
around the entranceways and listening in
tently to the different speakers. Former.
ly Indian audiences listened in glun
silence; now they applaud or oppose, ges
ticulate, laugh or cry as the hearers O.
other races do under similar circum
stances.
On Friday, the presbytery Of Dakots
and the Congregational Association o
Dakota convened for the transaction o
important business 1t is wonderful hov
admirably these converted Indian war
riors discharge the grave duties Of pres
byters and councillors in these churcl
courts.
On Saturday the anniversary meeting o
the womens missionary societies wa
held. This was one of the most interest
ing Of the5whole series. 1t was a gram
sight to see that large auditorium
thronged with these nut-brown women o
the plains, singing missionary hymns
bowling In prayer together, discussing in
telligently the different phases Of mission
work and bringing rich gifts out Of thei
poverty into the treasury of their Lor
and Savior. But all this and much NOR
witnessed that day at Santee. These In
dian women's gifts to missions hav
averaged 81 apiece annually for man
years.
Anniversaries Of the Young Men