The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-07-04
Home Field.
INDIAN INCIDENTS.
By S. L. Morris, D. D., Secretary.


imagine a member of white Presbytery called
upon to stand before the body and translate
dozen or more pages, eXtemporaneously, into
dlherent language, and some idea will be furnish
ed OF the task being undertaken by the Indian
preacher as he attempted to translate the English
Minutes into the Choctaw for the benefit of his
brethren.
The meeting of the Indian Presbytery is an
event in the Territory. 1t draws upon the Indian
population throughout its whole extent Not only
did they arrive upon railroad trains but it is said
that some rode forty-fve miles on horseback to
attend this meeting. The house was jammed and
packed, and the whole surrounding country COW
cred with tents for their great encampment An
attempt to keep order would have been a waste
OF ones time. There a constant stream
pouring into the house, and another stream pour
ing out OF the house. The Secretary attempted
to count the number of babies that were CRYING
at one time, but gave up the effort as useless; but
there were fifty other babies in the audience be-
having themselves with the greatest decorum
surely no one could say that they were out of
place. The noise and confusion neither nterfered
with the business of the Presbytery nor with the
preaching of the Gospel, as the Indian brethren
seemed as calm and undisturbed in the midst of
the confusion as white Presbytery would be Oh
the gravest occasion.
1he Indian brethren expressed their apprecia-
ton OF 'iIe presence of the Secretarys wife by
motion adopted with a rising VOTE and suggested
that they would not be averse to having from
This modest little woman was profoundly thankful
to take refuge behind the fact, that the Presbv-
terrain Church still obeys the injunction of Paul.
who said: Let your women keen silence in +bc
churches"
Several full-blood Choctaw Indians appeared
before the Presbytery as candidates for lcensure
he questions were asked them in English and
translated to them in Choctaw. The reply was in
Choctaw and then translated to the Presbyterv in
English. Is it any wonder that MANY in the all
dlenCe could Of he
doxy OF the candidates. Of the extent of their
literary and theological attanments? The SER
mons were also preached in Choctaw, and then
someone undertook to say in English what the
candidates had saidsin Choctaw. A white minis
ter, who could not understand word of Choc-
taw, considered it incumbent upon himself to try
by some other method to find out whether the
candidate should be licensed. Accordingly he
asked the candidate, in English how much time
he had spent upon his sermon for censure The
reply fairly took away the breath of the white
brother, as the Indian candidate answered, "Three
years. 1t is needless to say no further questions
were asked. Two out of the three applicants
satisfied the Presbyery in regard to their attain
ments, and duly licensed
The Secretary of Home Missions is not ALWAYS
sure when white minister rises to preach ser
mon that he will learn something; but whenever
an Indian preacher arises and undertakes to
preach in broken English, he settles himself to
listen with the conviction that he will assuredlv
receive some information Take the following as
a specimen One Choctaw preacher in broken
English, asked the question in his sermon: "Who
was Eljah| and then answered his own questior
by saying: Elijah was the superintendent of the
educational system Of God" Can anyone fur
nish better illustration Of the worthlessness of
the effort of the modern moral reformers" than
the following In the midst Of his sermon, al
luding to the fiery serpents in the wilderness and
the plague among the people, he asked this ques-
ton: What remedy did Moses undertake to rid
oil he cnr,2. he
of men and go out with sticks and undertake to
Kill the serpents; did he use the divine
remedy? His comment was: There are some
preachers to-day who think they can kill sins in