The Butte inter mountain., 1903-09-14
WORD OF GOD He
GIVES THE INDIANS
SECOND GENERATION OF THOSE
WORKED AMONG BY MISSION
AIRY ARE IMPROVING.
REV. ROBERTS, ENDEAvORS
Strange Personality of Man Who Has
Devoted His Life to Evangeiizing
Shoshones and Arapahoes.

Boise, Idaho. Sept. r4.--Rcv. John
Roberts of Wind River agency. Wyoming,
who was in Boise the past week, in atter-
dance upon the missionary convocaton Of
the Episcopal clergy held the past week, is
a man of wonderful personality. His en-
tire life for 20 years past has been de
voted to the helping OF mankind, and now
his efforts are crowned with success.
Twenty years ago, being dcsrous Of en-
tering the missionary field, he applied to
the general board of missions OF the lIpis-
copal church for an assignment and was
sent to the Indian agency in Wyoming
then only government post. He entered
upon his work there with nothing to en-
courage him but his own hope.
Two Differing Tribes.
At this agency he found two tribes of
Indians, as radically different in appear
ancc. manners and customs as could he
imagined. The Arapahocs, Of noble build.
fine mind and good principles, eager for
education. and ready to grasp every oppor-
tunity The Shoshones, branch OF the
Snake Indians small in stature. slow to
learn and revcngeful in disposition.
After spending one year. under the di-
rection of the church. the funds gave out,
dlu III bIutI 10 ItIlldIH NV. NbbtilS
tered the employ OF the government and
worked under its direction for two years.
At this time the church was again able TO
support missionary and Rev Roberts
went to work for the salvation OF the peo-
pie with whom he had been closely allied
for three years.
Learned Language.
He had by this time learned something
Of their language and on small scale
opened a school, Here the crudest forms
prevailed and for long time results were
slow TO show themselves. but by careful
and prayerful effort the Indians attended
and learned the benefits Of civilization.
There are about $500 Indians now on the
reservation and the government has estab-
lished and supported schools, as has also
the Roman Catholic and Episcopal
churches.
Under Rev. Roberts supervision three
native churches have been organized and
one Indian youth, Coolidge by name. Of the
Arapahoe tribe, has been ordained a min
ister. He was taken captive when a mere
child and was brought up by one Of the
army officers, receiving the careful train
ing and education Of the American boy. He
has been one Of the greatest helps in Mr..
Roberts career and has added much to the
success OF that gcnicman's work. Rev.
Coolidge now has charge OF the church
among the Arapahoe Indians.
Are improving.
The second generation OF Indians is now
attending the church school. and while no
very great change has been effected in the
lives OF the older people, it is marked in
the rising generation.
a school for India- irs has been cs-
tablished quite recca nd is doing a
wonderful amount Of ea,l. About $4,000
is expended annually in this mission by the
church. besides donations of clothing from
many sources. The students at the girls
school are clothed boarded and educated
at the church's expense. They are taught
10 sew cook and to be good housekeepers,
aside from the school course, which is a
very good one.
Rev. Roberts says he has never mastered
the Indian language and while he can make
himself understood readily, his CONVERSE
tional ability is limited.
Marked Difference in Talk
He says the difference between the
Arapahoc and Shoshone tribes is so
marked that they can scarcely understand
each other. The Arapahoe Indians have a
secret society, whose object is to perpetuate
the traditions, which have been in exist
encc for hundreds Of years. One Of these
is that the tribe from which they are de-
scended came from India and crossed to
this country on the ice at Bering strait.
The ice broke in passing and drowned a
large number Of their party. Those who
survived came into America but many Of
them returned from whence they came.
The features Of the Arapahoe Indians
closely resemble those Of the natives Of
India, and similar features are found
among a tribe Of Indians in Siberia. They
are race easily taught and great students.
They have high sense OF honor among
friends, but are treacherous and unscrupu-
lous with enemies.
The Shonshone Indians are vastly differ
ent in every way They are small in
stature, lazy and not easily taught. They
have little, if any sense Of honor, and are
Al.