The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-09-12
INDIANS GIVEN TO
MISSION CAUSE
THOUSAND INDIANS ASSEMBLED
ON CHEYENNE AGENCY FOR
MISSIONARY MEETINNG-
GIVE MUCH MONEY.

city yesterday on their way TO their
homes on the Santee, Yankton and
PINE Ridge Agencies, havinfg been
UP TO the Cheyenne reservation to at
tend the annual missionary gathering
of the Presbyterian and Congrega-
tional churches.
Back to old grounds. :. -. .
Harking back to the scenes OF the
days when they were engaged in war
fare with the whites for the posses
sion of their land and whom they
Killed relentlessly, more than one
thousand Indian men and women
Monday concluded a religious con-
v%ention of five days. held near La
Plant on the Cheyenne Indian agency.
They were the representatives of the
Presbyterian ard Congregational
churches from the several agencies
in the North west, notably the Yank-
ton, Santee and Pine Ridge, where
these religious denominations are
maintained and are in a flourishing
condition.
Missionaries Were in Charge.
The meetings We're conducted in a
missionary way, and were in charge
of Rev. j. p. Williamson, of Green
wood, who has seen more than thirty
years OF service among the redmen,
Rev. A.. l.. Riggs, of Santee agency,
Rev. j. Johnson of Pine Ridge, Rev.
G. w. Reed of Standing Rock, and
Rev. T. H. RIGGS OF, Oahe. Among
the Indians present were many of
the oldtime warriors of the Sioux
who in their younger days covered
the same section OF country but on a
different mission than the present
visit. Then they were engaged in kill
ling the white settlers, and the
change from then to now marks a
Ibig advancement in the civinization of
the Indian, and that he shows pro-
gress is displayed in his intelligence
in religious work, to which they are
devoted on a scale as fully devout
and full OF self denial as the whites.
Study Their Own Conditions.
The program for the five days was
filled with conferences and brief adj
dresses from the leaders mentioned
and from the Indian preachers" said
Rev. Williams. 1.-The lives of the In
dams were freely discussed for the
purpose to show where they could be
bettered, both in a religious as we'll
as in a civic way. There discussions
brought out the fact that the Indians
have become very progressive in their
lives and that they are making the
most OF the opportunities hat are Of
fered them. The spirit of progression
is inculcated among the Indian bod
les by the preachers who go among
the different agencies and dissemin-
ate the ideas OF religious and civic
jtjfn II lac had tho nffarf nf hcjpping
the redmen to a realizing sense Of his
more than ever able to rely upon his
o~,n resources, and less upon the help
of the government. To this end he is
engaged in farming, and raising corn,
wheat and oats along with his white
successfully. Through the teachings
of his religious and civic life the next
generation of Indians will occupy a
different place in the Northwest"
Their Customs ne Changing.
There was a vast difference in the
manner in which the Indians lived
during their missionary meeting. 1t
has been the custom for the enter
tanning Indians on the reservations
to provide the food for the visitors,
and the cattle that We're aDportioned
for the meat, were formerly taken
out on the prairie and shot by the
Indians. and they made a great sport
of it. With the cattle killed the most
interesting part took place when the
animals were skinned, and then cut
into great hunks and then divided
among the Indians. There was mighty
little of the animal left when the di-
vision vas made complete. At the
present time a regular comissary
department was conducted, and after
the cattle We're killed the meat was
apportioned among the indians. and
was delivered at the different tents.
Tepees Discarded for Tents.
Another departure from the form
er days is the discarding of the old
time Indian tepee. In the former
days of these religious gatherings,
when the Indians had come to appre-
ciate the better way of living. they
used the tepee altogether. but these
have been done away with, ami sew
| eral hundred white tents made an
attractive tented city on the prairie
where the Indians lived in much the
same style and comfort as would the
white man. 1t was little thought tina
the tepee would be banished from the
life of the Indian, but at this gath.
ering there was not one OF them or
the reserve.
Give Money for Missions.
The Indians make very heavy con
tributions for missionary work
among their own people, and at the
present meeting the Presbyterians
turned in a fund of $4,000 and the
Congregationalists $1,000. This mon.
ely was raised in greater proportion
by the Indian women by serving din
ners on election days. and at big
gatherings on other holidays. Then
too, the Indian women go forth owe
the state to dispose of their beaded
work, in which they spend their idle
hours making. This money is giver
freely, and they practice a great dea
of self denial in order that they car
make their contributions to help theil
fellow men and women.
Stand by Administration.
DIR. Williams said that the Indians
are taking a more active interest il
politics now than EVER before, but