The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-10-21
SUN DANCES YIELD
To CAMP MEETING
Christian Sioux Indians Gather
on Historic Ground
10000 CAMP IN $500 TENTS
When Poor lo Embraces Christianity
There Is No Baekslldlne, Though
He May Return to
His Blanket.

Santee Sioux Indian Reservation, Neb.,
Saturday.-The most sacred spot In the
world to the Sioux Indians, the ancient
site Of the sun dance, where the young
men proved their rights to become full
fledged warriors, has been turned into a
Christian camp meeting ground. writes
j. r. Parter, and where once the young
warriors, with sinews thrust through
knife Sits In their breasts danced round
pole until the flesh broke and they fell
exhausted, today there are 10000 Chris
tan Sioux Indians caInped while they at
tend the annual convocation of the Ne
braska deanery of the Episcopal church.
1t Is the largest number of Christian
Indians ever gathered together at one
place and large delegations are present
from each of the ten tribes of the great
Sioux nation. Among those present are
warriors whose names a quarter of a
century ago brought terror to the from
tier settlers, but who have since then
forsaken the warpath and the dog feast
and have adopted the ways of the white
man aud his religion.
1t Is not generally known that 70 per
cent Of the Sioux have adopted Chris
tianity and are now as earnest Christians
as they were once earnest barbarians.
But the Indian as a Christian is not Just
what white man Is who lays claim to
religion.
Christian Indian Safe.
For instance, there are no sbacksliders"
among the Indians, so far as religion Is
concerned. An Indian may leave civili-
cation and return to the blanket" state
after he leaves school, but he never for
sakes Christianity once he embraces 1t.
And while his religious code is never just
the same as a white mans, Christian
Indian is a pretty safe proposition.
These ten thousand Indians who are
camped around the Santee agency all
came from their own reservations in
wagons and on horses, and for days and
days they have been arriving at the
camp grounds. where once they gathered
for the sun dance.
1t is g. strange mixture of the new and
the old, this great Indian camp-1o 900
Indians, in $500 Indian tepees, camped
around great circle several miles in
circumference, in the center of which.
Just where the sun dance pole was once
erected, now stands a large booth In
which has been built temporary altar,
and instead OF dancing around the med
icine" on the top of the pole. the Indiaps
now gather to pray to the God of the
white man.
Most of the sermons preached are In
the Sioux language and by Sioux Indian
preachers. Whenever a white man who
cannot speak Sioux breaches there are
Interpreters to translate his words into
the Indian language.
Thomas H. Tibbles, the populist, him
self a member of the Omaha tribe, by
adoption. says that the most eloquent
man he ever heard preach or lecture was
the famous old Indian White Cloud.
White Cloud was a Sioux, and mean
one, too He was noted for his fierce and
blood thirsty nature and was one of the
great war lords of the Dakota tribe.
White Cloud Sentenced.
But White Cloud and his band had a
battle with General Sydney during one
of their wars and many red men were
killed. The others were captured, taken
to Davenport, Iowa. and tried. White
| Cloud was sentenced to death, but was
pardoned by President Lincoln.
With the remnants of his band the old
chief went back to the plains and set
tied along the Missouri river, near this
place Afterward 1t was named Santee
after noted Indian chief
Alfred Riggs established school al
White Clouds camp and as the chiefs
followers were as poor as church mice
the children were sent to Riggs to learr
to read--and to eat.
In time many of them became Chris
tians and finally old White Cloud was
converted and Joined the church. Al
though man of probably fifty years Of
age, White Cloud learned to read, en-
tered theological seminary, studied fol
the ministry and was finally ordained q
minister of the Congregational church
II heard White Cloud preach a sermon
once, and 1 will never forget him." says
Tibbles HE fairly took my breath
away. He was the greatest orator l have
ever heard
And where White Cloud preached tc
the Indians of his tribe is now the pulpit
| from which Indians are today preaching
| the same gospel.
A perfect religious mania seems to have
| swept over the Sioux this year, and thu
| increase of Christian Indians has beer
phenomenal Probably rs per cent of thu
| Sioux tribes are now church members
| and the tribes at the annual convocation,
| contribute about ten thousand dollars tc
| the foreign mission fund of the church.
COMFORTS OF LAWMAKERS.