Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-30
WORK AMONG INDIANS
SOCIAL AND BUSINESS SESSION OF
AUxILIAHK ASSOCIATION.
Address by ORD Sheldon jackson on
Conditions IN Alaska-MuG-
calSEe4tures.

The Washington AUXILIARY of the National
Indian Association held a combined social
and business meeting, yesterday afternoon
from to o'clock in the parlors of the
First Congregational Church. One of the
features of the program was an address on
Alaska, delivered by DR.. Sheldon Jack
son, United States commissioner of educa-
ton for the territory.
Preceding the rendering of the program
the ladies' composing the auxiliary spent an
hour in exchange of social greet ings, during
which refreshments were served.
The exercises were presided over by Mrs.
NJ E. c. Wilbur. president of the auxiliary,
and was opened with piano solo by Miss
Nellie Herring. The reports of Mrs. A. w.
DOW, treasurer, and Mrs. II. H. Alexander.
corresponding secretary of the organizati ton
were respectively submitted. Both reports
indicated that the auxiliary has been doing
successful work in behalf of the Indians,
and that the finances of the society are in
good condition.
A number of members made brief ad-
dresses on current events affecting the
american america la aborigines following which DR..
jackson was introduced by Mrs. Wilbur
IN the beginning of his address the
speaker referred briefly to his work a
NUMBER or years ago as a Christian mis-
slonary among the Indians and cliff dwell
erS In Arizona and New Mexico. He spoke
IN high terms of praise of the Navajo
tribe, and stated his opinion that there
Is lack of continuous preaching of the
gospel among the aborigines of the south
west.
With regard to the natives of Alaska,
Or. jackson stated he would tell the worst
nrst. Among other things, he said:
Inc discovery of gold in Alaska means
almost the entire destruction of the abo-
rlslnal system and race In that territory
In the last six years one-half of the en-
tire native population in the section where
in gold has been discovered has passed
away. The intemperance and immortality
which have accompanied the advent of the
whites to the section have been communi-
Gated to the original inhabitants, with the
ERECT that they have become more sus-
ceptible to disease, and they have died
like flies
There is very little hope for the native
race In, Alaska, excepting for those who
are under the direct influence of the Chris
tan missionaries"
He told of the inhuman practices that
obtained among some of the native tribes
or Alaska. such as son killing his aged
mother at her request and the parents
taking the lives of their infants, in order
that there would be one less mouth to
feed, and thus lessen the burden of their
existence
In speaking of the more hopeful aspects
Of the situation, DR.. Jackson said that for
the past four years in the fields where mis-
slonar1es have been at work there has been
Il iIotdple revival OIL Inc CHRISTIAN religion
and that the people showed tendency to
readily embrace Christianity and renounce
their barbarous customs and religion.
The country Is in need of consecrated
Christian teachers, he said, and he is hope
full of an increased number of missionaries
being sent to the northern cline i'm the
future.
The address by Dr. Jackson marked the
close of the session. The Washington aux
1l1ary of the National Indian Association
was organized March 3, 1882 with the OBJ
1ect OF strengthening Christian public senti-
ment to aid the government in the abolition
of all oppression of Indians within the linn
its of the United States. and to grant them
the same protection of law vouchsafed to
other races in the nation