The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-05-02
THEIR SPRING MEETING.
The Morristowu indian Association
Meets on Wednesday Morning.


The Morristowu Indian Association
Meets on Wednesday Morning
! The Morristown Indian Association
held its Spring meeting on Wednesday
morning at 1890 in the parlor Of the
South st. Church, Mrs. w r Brooks
/ presiding.
The treasurer reported a balance Of
s6l. 81 and it was decided by vote to
send $1,000 at once to the National
Association to be used at its discfe-
! ton,
| A letter from the mission worker at
Tuba, Arizona, stated that the Christi
mas box sent in October by this Aux
Hilary did not reach there until Janu-
airy Both.
The box in preparation now is des-
tined for the Indian Orphanage at
Atoka, | r., and to avoid all possible
ity Of such disappointing delay it viii
be packed and sent in early summer.
The meeting was addressed by Rev.
J. E. Epp, who has worked among the
Hopis, in Arizona, for the past two
years and is very soon to return to
thai station These Indians have
never been supported by Government,
for the reason that their possessions
| are so undesirable that white settlers
have left them undisturbed They
live on high nlesas and their crops Of
corn are raised with much labor, scar
city of rain being their chief difficulty
Unlike many other tribes, they have
no BELIEF in one Great Spirit, but have
many detties, their religion consisting
chiefly in propitiating the gods of
rain. They address prayers to the
clouds, to lightning, thunder the ris-
ing sun, and the burden of their petit
tions is always for rain Their beliefs
are vague and indefinite. and mission
aries find it difficult to bring them to
any conception of true worship of one
God Mission work has been carried
on among them for about twelve
years The bad influence and exam-
Pile OF irreligious Americans binders
the work, as they draw unfayorable
comparisons between these so-ealled
Christians and their own more moral
people.
Mormons have tried to win them
but have failed absolutely, polygamy
being abhorrent to them Theirprin-
cipal reason for opposing government
schools, is that these tend to Amer
icanize the children, and they desire
to remain Hops, Oraibi, their prin-
cipal village or center, has about half
the tribe, which number about 1000
in all.
In dry times, which prevail during
che greater part Of the year, their
meagre supply of water is carried a
mile or a mile and half from point
six or seven hundred feet below their
level Ia most laborious task. 1t they
had facilities for irrigation, life would
be much easier and happier. There
is a river-bed through which much
water flows at times and is lost to
them. With some outlay and under
intelligent direction this could be
utilized instead Of going to waste. A
man is already there who, if he could
be supported among them, would give
all his time to helping them to live
better, and to securing this great i'm
proyement. He knows their lang
uage and has their confidence but
there is the usual obstacle. The funds
are not forthcoming. The people are
Industrious and peaceful. They sub
sist chiefly on corn, which is ground
by small hand-mills. They have few
Industries, although they do a little
basket-making and Misunderstanding.
To help such needy ones is the object
of the National Indian Association.