The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-25
INDIAN FAITH AT
LAST EXPLAINED
PASTOR DISCOVERS TRUE RE
ILGIoN OF IOWA INDIANS.
Rev. DR.. J. II. Ward Makes Interesting
Report to Unitarian Conference to
Be Filed with State Historical So
ciety-Chief of Tribe Tells Of the
Great Manitoa.
Journal Special Service.

Journal Special Service.
Des Moines, Iowa, Oct. 25.-Rev. Duren J.
b. Ward after three months with the Musqua-
k1e Indians ut Tama City, Iowa, has at last
discovered the religion and faith Of the only
band Of redskins left on Iowa soil.
For years the chiefs of the tribes of this peo-
pie Lave baffed all efforts Of missionaries to find
out their beliefs. 1t took DR.. Ward three
creed. In few days he will file with the State
Historical society the result of his summers
work. -.. -.
"For years our Christian people have marveled
because Of the unbelief of the Indians" said
DR.. Ward, who returned yesterday to report at
the Iowa Unitarian conference. "Now we find
that their faith Is not different from ours.
After had been with the tribe three months
| I succeeded in getting council Of war.
1T was only after an hours conversation with
aid Of an interpreter that was able to make
Chief Pashatanequa believe that I meant his
| tribe no harm. When with his counselors he
appeared before me. explained that was the
agent Of the State Historical society and that
all wanted was some record to place under the
| great gilded at the statehouse. The
chief said that he would talk. Then he told me
| the legend of Manitoa, the great spirit. In
this legend Is all the religion Of the Indians Of
| Iowa, and it is a beautiful religion too, If we
will but study it, -.-s ''-.-
The legend as it will appear in the state rec
ords when DR.. Ward files his report, will read
! as follows:
'In the beginning when the great Manitoa
! created the clouds and the sky and the earth
| and the big rivers, he looked at them and said
1t Is all good Then he looked about him and
he said What shall I make?' And he cut
| out piece of his own heart bright and red and
| he made man and spoke life into him and
spoke to him, and said Look at yourself and
| tell me what you see,' and he answered. I see
Musquakie' (Which means made from the rec
heart).
1.-The great Manitoa took yellow and red ant
black earth and made other and we have
told them this legend they liked 1t not. Strife
arose, and that the beginning Of war. Th
Is the true story of the crea tion.
DR.. Ward says that all the religion that cal
ever be pounded into the Musquakie Indians i
, contained in this legend. 1t is their bible.
after my long interview with Pasha tanequ
' 1 knew that the faith could never be shaken.
) said DR.. Ward. II knew that the best we ca
3 ever do for the Indian Is to incite In him dc
sire to be good Musquakie, and that Is wha
r 1 tried to do during the remaining portion Of m
visit. If we send missionaries must sen
men who will leave out the story Of the Chris
and dwell upon the Mantoa instead. After al
s If the Indians honest Industrious and sober
1 and lovers of right, what does it matter whethe
7 they emulate the example of Manitoa som
9 other spirit or being which could mean nothin
= | more to Them
DR.. Wards report will show that there are 81
! Indians now in the tribe. They own their ow
Y farms and are not on reservation as common]
e supposed. They have increased in twenty veal
n from eighty to 342. The death of thirty
4 their number from smallpox last year sobere
them up Their doctors could not treat tt
cases. Paleface doctors had to be called
q and the efforts Of the state to stop the plagr
e caused kindlier feeling than would any numb
q of missionary teachers.