The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-04-24
INDIAN MISSION
Former DakOtatn Writes of Work
Among the Indians

We have received a copy of the
Wolf Point (Mont.) Herald, will
a write.up of this new town ane
among the other articles is on,
from the pen of Mr.. w. T. Smith
who was some years ago a well
known resident of Rooerts coun
ty and one of the instructors a.
the Sisseton agency. He is now
Industrial Instructor at the Vol
Point Mission under the Presby
teran board of home missions
The story Of the mission asgiven
by Mr.. Smith is as follows:
In 1880 the Board OF Foreign Mis-.
siOns of the Presby yterian church, who
then had charge of the Indian work,
decided to send the Gospel to the In.
dians of Montana and Rev. George
Wood, then of Poplar was transferred
to Wolf Point. A one and halt story
house was built, which was used for
dwelling, school and meetings. The
first instruction was given in the
native tongue and afterwards il Eng
liSh. Mr.. Wood remained at Wolf
Point five years.
In 1893 this field was transferred to
the Board of Home Missions. No re-
gular missionary occupied the field
until the fall of that year, when Mr..
and Mrs. Richard King were sent
there. Mr.. King died shortly after.
wards and Mrs. King has continued
the work, The work done by Mr..
Wood and his native helpers was not
lost in the lives of some of those who
attended his school and sabbath
services. AS the work grew q log
cabin was built; the house repaired
and the unfinished rooms completed.
A church of eleven members was or
ganized in 1896.
1t is with the Indian the same as
with other people-the parents can be
reached through the children-so q
beginning was made in this direction
by gathering few from the agency
and teaching them an hour or more
had so increased that permission to
open day school was asked and
granted. The average attendance
that year was sixteen. The school
was held in one room of the house.
equipment was few states. (left by
Mr.. Wood) few readers scarcely
two alike and 4 yard Of shiny slated
cloth for a blackboard. The work
rapidly advanced more room and ex-
ira help was needed and Jonah Wynde
and his wife were sent here to care for
the work. During his stay girls
dormitOry was built. including a
l0r
ment. Jonah Wynde remained in the
work but three years, returning to
his home in South Dakota.
In the spring OF 1908 Mr.. and Mrs.
II. I. Smith were sent to the mission
by the board of Home Missions, Mrs.
Smith as matron and Mr.. Smith as
Industrial teacher
1t was clearly seen that we should
have more room and better facilities
to conduct the increasing work so ia
1905 boys dormitory was built with
larger school room and better
teacher $ quarters. The working
force consists of the Superintendent,
two school room teachers a matron
and an industrial teacher.
The main object of this school is to
give these children Christian home
training. Outside of the school room
work, the girls are taught general
housewOrk to be neat and systematic,
to take care of and be responsible for
everything. The boys do their
own dormitory work, do all outside
work, as cutting wood, care for stock
etc.
In comparing the condition of the
people and the progress made since
1898, it may be seen that Indians have
largely given up the old customs, ex.
cept it be among the few remaining old
people.
Legal marriages are now solomnized
improvements in the homes has been
made and since the ration system has
been abolished, many have found that
they can work and fairly compete
with their white brothers.
With the new manner of life new
principles must be instilled. This Is
the hope Of the mission school, that
the boys and girls who go out from
it into business and into homes of
their own shall take away with them
Christian principles. which will keep
them firm in the midst Of sin and
H. T. SMITH