The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-13
SIOUX CHRISTIAN INDIANS
IN GREAT ANNUAL COUNCIL
More Than Fifteen Hundred Attend Gospel Meeting of
Congregationalists and Presbyterians at
Fort Totten, N. D.

n. D., Rev. p. J. Lindsay Of Poplar,
Mont, and other younger missionaries
took an active part in the exercises.
The morning sessions were devoted to
general discussions of such themes as:
why Do I belong to the church,"
ilization of the Indian7" sThe Rela-
ton of the Kingdom Of God on Earth
to Human Governments. Chow May
the Weak Churches Be Made Strongao
"The Attitude Of the Christian Toward
Worldliness.' - "The Importance Of tho
Children Attending Church with the
Parents "What Is the Fourth Of
July, and How 1t Should Be OBJ
Flow of Native oratory.
The audiences took great delight in
these general discussions. The great
council tent overlooked with an eager
and attentive audience for hours daily.
Here the Indian orator shines. He is
a born debater. The speeches were
brief and pointed; the arguments keen
and strong; the illustrations striking
and humorous. Addresses, helpful, up
lifting and strengthening, were deliv-
cred by the missionaries and white Wis
itors.
On Thursday, DR.. Williamson spoke
on baptism, and on Thursday and Fri
Qdy interesting SIeieoptiCOu iGCIuiOo on
Palestine were given by DR.. Riggs and
his son Professor Riggs. In the after
moons of Friday and Saturday, business
meetings of the Dakota presbytery and
the Congregational associations were
held and, also of the WomeR's mission
ary societies. It was thrilling scene
with hundreds of nut-brown women Of
the plains singing sweet missionary
hymns, reading carefully prepared pa
pers on important mission themes, bow
ing in prayer and bringing rich gifts
for their Lords treasury
Societies for the Young.
In the evening the meetings of the
Y. M. C. A. and 7. P. S. c. were held.
These are important factors in the CIV
iliization of the Sioux. With the
young men and women Of the tribe IN
careful training i'm scriptural knowledge
and for christian knowledge, there
must be far-reaching and beneticent re-
For seventy years the Presbyterians
and Conereeationalists have wrought
in harmony in this great work: Thir-
tv Presbyterian and thirteen Congrega-
tional churches have been built up
among them, aggregating $500 COM
| lubricants and 1000 Sabbath school
members with all the modern machln-
cry Of these two great denomlhatlohs
in efficient operation. The annual con-
| tribuations to Christian work and mis-
sions are very generous.
Sunday the Great Day.
Sabbath was the crowning, day for
| this week. Hundreds Of Indians and
scores of whites sat down together and
reverently observed the sacrament OF
the Lords supper. At 2 pm: meet
ing was held in English for whites ties, only Fly
| the different bands, held their farewell
! gatherings in various tents. There
We're sounds of sweet music-joyons
ones-echoing and re-echoing over the
plains blending in the sweet clos
| ing refrain:
| = Blest be the tie that binds
/ Our hearts in Christian love;
! 10 The fellowship Of Christian minds
Is like to that above.
The great council ten is in darknessl
The lights go out in the tepees. The
council of 1905 has passed into history.
l-' R. J. Creswel.