The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1911-05-11
INDIAN SHAKERS.
Remarkable Story Of New Sect
Among the Red Men.

Dul SlSdullg d
little band of Indian Shakers, ad-
| here nts of a new Indian religion,
are doing much to stamp out intem-
peTance in the Northwest, says an
exchange. Asking no help from the
whites or from the Indians them
selves, but believing that they are
directde by the spirit of their de-
sect, John Slocum the priest of the
sect, John SlOcum the prieses of the
belief are found in nearly all the In
dian villages of Washington and Or
egon.
They teach the doctrine-temper-
ance-cry continually against the
evils of the liquor habit and eX-
pound crudely the teachings of the
Bible. John Slocum, the Moses of
the Shakers, though dead is their
prophet. Through him the Great
Spirit is directing the work of saw
ing the red men from their greatest
curse-whiskey."
Since the Shaker priests have
started their crusade the authori-
ties have tried to stop illegal traffic
of liquor among Indians. When an
Indian, member of the faith, back
slides and falls by the wayside the
prieses or the priestesses find out
who sold the liquor and report the
seller to the authorities. Convic-
ttons are assured as the Indians will
testify against the prisoner, some
thing that has never been true in
the Northwest before.
| few months ago The Shakers
dedicated a handsome new church
at Mud Bay, near Olympia, the cap
ltal of Washington, the home and
birthplace of the new faith. The
church is a substantial structure
built entirely by the Indians. Peter
kalama, highly educated, wealthy
priest of the faith, donated the mon
ey to buy the materials with and
other Mud Bay Indians did the
manual labor upon the building.
Mud Bay Sam donated to the church
an acre of ground upon which the
building stands.
The Shaker faith was started by
old John Slocum, a Mud Bay In
dian, several years ago. Slocum was
an Intelligent man, but a great
drunkard. Often he would lie in a
drunken stupor for days, and it was
during one of these drunken stupors
that the Indians thought him dead
and made all preparations for his
! burial.
| He had lain like log for several
days and all signs of life had disap-
peared. Arrangements for the bur
lal went on and Indians from all
/ parts. of the Northwest arrived to
take part in the services.
On the day set for the interment
Slocum suddenly aroused himself.
He told the astonished Indians pre-
sent that he had been dead He
told of having gone to Heaven and
OF having seen the great Spirit. He
described Heaven in terms that the
indians appreciate.
Slocum told the Indians that he
mad been reprimanded for his drum
Renness and sent back by the Great
spirit to show them that the use of
ilquor was robbing them of their
olrthright, OF their homes, money
and OF everything that would come
IN the great hereafter. He told of
the new religion that God had com
manded him to preach TO his tribes
men. told how he was able to take
the Book of God and spread the
word among the Indians of the
| world.
Accepting his word as the word of
their greatest chief, the Indians be-
gan 10 look upon Slocum as a god.
he became the leader of the tribe.
the biggest man from the Indians
viewpoint in the world. His religion
was formally adopted and the Shak-
| er faith came into existence.
The devotional services of the
Shakers is copied from those of sew
eral denominations. The Methodist
church furnishes the hymns. the
catholic church furnishes the old
custom of making the sign of the
cross and the bowling of the knee
when IN the name of the Saviour
the Deity is mentioned, the Episco-
PAL church furnishes the idea of
chantlng prayers. A small altar is
used upon which three lighted can
dies are kept burning, an old Ma
sonic ritual and one that is attract
ing the attention of Masons. Two
small brass bells are kept on the al
Tar tor use during the singing.
ne sick of the church are taken
10 the church, where they are pray
ed and sung over by the entire con
gregation. The Indian Shakers are
IN way mental science healers:
they believe that the sick can be-
come well if they only place their
faith in God.
Upon the death of John Slocum.
VINO spread the religion to all parts
or the State by making missionary
Journeys in canoe and bv wav nf
wagon and by the holding of great
potlatches. Mud Bay Louis was
elected as Bishop.
Louis was one of the largest hold
ers or oyster lands in the village
winch at one time was the wealthiest
Ihdian settlement in the West. He
made long trips to the great North
west, to Alaska and to the far South
lnto california, preaching the word
OF the Bible and explaining the
wonderful story of John Slocum.
VINO, although dead, is still believed
10 be lowering in spirit over the In
dlans and will some day return to
lead them into the happy hunting