The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-12-18
SIOUX ARE CHRISTIANS.
Tribe Of Indians, Once Warlike, Now
Workers in the Churches.
New York Sun.)

At least this much progress toward
ctvlliza ton, has been made by the erst-
while warlike Sioux Indians. nearly
half or them are communicants OF
Christian churches. And so enthusiasts
tie are they IN their religion that IN far
off China ard Africa missionaries sup
ported BY money contributed by These
supposed savages are teaching the gos-
pei 10 heathens. From being the sub
jeets of missionary work. they are
joining IN the task of Outstanding
the world
Sioux Indians arc divided among the
leading Christian denominations as fol-
lows:
Gatnolics ..,.",.., ...,....,.....,.. t0O
piscopaiians .,,....,..-., ..t..... 20e
IfeSDyteIlans .......... ........... 1888
congregational .......... ......... 1,0-2
Total ............ .............. .ls COS
Indians in other denominations win
bring the total TO more than 1900,
which, considering the fact that the
Sioux numbeRabout $4,000. is remark
able showing
Feryor net unlike that with which
they engaged in the fanatioal sun and
war dances perva6es their adherence to
the Christian religion. The Episcopa-
liam. Presbyterian and CONGREGATIONAL
indian churches have annual conVen-
lions and Indians sell their property
that they may buy ponies to carry
them 20 these meetings, or thew travel
as far as 2G0 miles on foot to take part
in the gatherings
The Indian is born debater. In ar
guing questions of impOrtance to tthe
church chiefs distin guished in years
past upon fields Of b. tile rise with dig
nifty and deliver impassioned orations
In The pest two years the Congrega-
tional and Presbyterian Indians for
example, have discussed such ques-
lions as the following:
How may cur Sabbath schools be i'm
proved?
Is the custom of making presents to
the dead Il good one?
What can be done 10 prevent church
members from backsliding at Fourth
Of July celebrations?
Should one be engaged in heather
and Christian practices at the same
time?
How may politics and religion help
each other?
When is the keeping of money good
or an evil thing?
The evils of dancing.
Il is strange to see Sioux sIndians,
who are surrounded on their reServa-
tons by many adhering strictly to the
immemorial tribal customs. rise in
these conventions ard with impas-
stoned speech denounce the dances
which their forefathers taught them,
denounce the burial of braves with to-
mahawks and guns and favorite horses
a. custom followed for untold genera
tons. and even denounce the giving OF
money 10 the Indians because il cor
rupts them.
Not only are the Sioux earnest
Christians in their meetings, but the
records also show that they give 10
The cause of religion far more in pro-
portion to their incomes than their
white brothers. The records of the
Congregational and Presbyterian
churches show that since the estsb-
lishment Of the churches in 1879 the IN
dams have given a total of S3S.Ss6 u.
OF this more than so. 600 came from
the suuaws societies. SQuaWs who are
compelled TO live in poverty through
out the year on account of the failure
of the government TO supply work Tor
the bucks sell their beads and baskets
not for food or clothing, but for church
contributions, denying themselves real
necessities. II is stated that every
snt1aw communicate has given an ave-
age of 81 annually to the church since
the missions were started.
Indians of the Episcopal and Catho-
| lie churches have given even more nd
erallv. for churches Of these denomina-
! lions are older and better organized.
It is natural that the Episcopal ana
Catholic churches should have the
/ largest membership among the indians.
/ The red man is ever lover OF show
and display The rituals Of the Catho-
/ lie and Episcopal churches appeal TO