Evening journal., 1920-07-24
They WORSHIP
in SILENCE
Indians Sit About Tiny Fire
Fasting and Praying But
Never Speaking
NO FURNITURE
IN THEIR CHURCH

OKLAHOMA CITY, July 23.-The
American Indian worships the Great
Spirit In his own peculiar way. lie
may be taught the Christian religion
las Il is practlced by any OF The de-
nominations which have been active
among The red mon. and he may seem
10 be lmbucd fully with the spirit
~ those doctrines. nut let him alone
q while and ne Will have a religion
Of his cwn
\ wgwam-shapod church building
located miles from any white mans
huhlation and long distance from
The nearest lnlian's domlclle Is IN
the vicinity of DEVILS HolOw. several
miles cast o. Quapaw. Here the Qua
raw flll-hlOods congregate regularly
to worship tho Great Spirit In silence.
slttlng about tiny fre that has been
built on stone base in The middle
OF the dirt floor from Saturday night
at sundown till sunday noon. fasting
and praying, but never speaking a
word.
There is not piece OF furniture
In the room and the worshipers sit
on the ground, wrapped in their blan-
kets There are certain spots marked
or on The stone fireplace where GER
tain men OF rank are to sit, and a
lhole where the sacred arrow Is TO be
plantei; nothing more except two OF
three oil lamps on the wall. There is
no chimney, but the smoke from the
fre goes out The top OF The teepoe-
shaped building as IL used TO do in the
tents OF The Indians
on top OF the church building is a
lcroSs, for the Indians are Christians
In a way, but they have no preach
ing, no spoken prayers, In fact no
white man seems to understand their
religion and they worship the Father
In their own way.
Chief John Quapaw says: I'VE
can't read The Bible none OF us can
preach, so we do the best we can
and sit In the presence OF the Great
Spirit, praying to him TO make us
better"
The old chief says that spirit has
worked wonders among his people.
lie SAYS a few years ago they drank,
fought and were bad, but That rcli-
gion has done a great work among
) them. and one OF their greatest
sources Of enjoyment Is going 10
church. He and one or two Others
have built little houses right by the
/ church building and are In a position
, Ito live in The shadow OF the SACRED
Inhliuiilh 40 i'ho 80 MY N' W. 90
< feature OF the church meeting.
Is the feast that follows the fast ant
= the religious rites. This meal u
served In a little mess house nearby
and when the eerv ices are over th'
sduaws. who have slipped out a Few
, lhours before time 10 clese. are read.
, for the dinner and all SIT down u
partake Of the food that is always
y part OF the program. 49,
0uapaw Country Almost inaccess'Die
T The Indian church is located In
4 section of the country that Is almos
inaccessible. and the full-hlood Qua
lpaNVs live in a country where ~ d
p almost impossible 10 ind them or D
rei to them N one knows where tne
live When all OF the Indians ha
s reccivcU a certain number on acre
n of -, land In the allotment IL wa
n fnun lai there was tract east o
lSprmg river which must De DIVIDED
- When the division was made uer
was iO-acre tract for each. ana
nnmher ~ the ul-bloods went ther
e lo live seeming 10 want 10 get ava
J. nom civilization as far as possible
d, rho church was built there man
- wears aro. so that the residents Nigh
lhaVe a place 90 worship, a custor
a they still keep. regardless OF the rae
that there Is no preacnef, no ciol
! nothing 30 call hem but me tru
RELIGIOUS spirit that is strong IN IN
n heart of the Indian
r. Chiei yHapSW n ~ ,,lbite man n,
sloNv 10 take up with The white man
Navs lie and Mrs. Quapaw oW
" ncarlv 1000 acres OF land. but whe
NJ lhe was oflered $4,000 for few acr
Of "A that lay in the city OF Qu~paN
which was named after him. he r
n fused because he knew the wnlM ma
ID would try 10 get the money, but cou
moi get the land away from MN. J
Is a good citizen, the type thN com
from doing the pest we VAh ~
nraying 10 The Great Spirit 10 ma
+" us better