East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1920-09-23

missionary to FOLLOW up the work 81
boldly begun by DIR. Whitman and hi
co-laborers. Yet the present mission
has more direct and tangible con
nection with DIR. Whitman. For man,
years and down to the year 1908, Sar.
ah Mihthorn. or Ipna -tsu -la-talkt who
was a pupil in the Marcus Whitman
school at Waiilatpu was a member OF
the Tutiulla church. Several Others
who are children of those who were
| either in the school, or knew DR..
Whitman are still faithful members OF
the present Tutuilla church. When
some OF these Christian people thus
connected with the old Marcus Whit
man mission were taken to walla
Walla in 1906 when the whitman
monument was dedicated the people
of the city were much surprised 10
know that there was such a mission
In existance under the care of the
Presbyterian Home Mission Board.
Begins Mission Work
Many times / have been asked how
began the mission work among the
people here. and how got my know
ledge OF the Indian language. I have
in a way already explained how be-
gan. The mission work had just con-
years after the massacre. 1 will admit
that II was after a very sorry fashion
that It continued. and at very low
ebb. II is small wonder that 1t was
almost forgotten. But real credit is |
due those visiting Neg Perce minis |
ters who gave help an dencourage-
ment through all that dark half CEN
tUry with no white missionary to fol-
ioW nm md arry IN fha xvarlx Int
as to how got the writing and speak
ing knowledge of this Indian language
that is very assuredly, quite differ
ent story. 1t is very interesting and
long story. too long for such an article
as this. so / will have to pass 1t over
with saying. I got 1t very much like
another fellow told his friend how to
get sricR quick. The advice toi the
friend was-''work like the devil and
don't spend a cent 1t is the same
process that must be used in getting
hold of an Indian language which is
not a written language, and about
which no Indian knows enough to give
you any instruction other than to in
.erpret or to tell you the meaning of
he words Absolutely no Indian here,
40 matter how well he speaks the In
iian language. knows anything about .
he grammatical construction of the
language. It
To learn any language SO as to be Ii
lble to speak and write it one must
lnow 1t from a grammatical standpoint. [
res, that is exactly the way learned ]
he Indian language. I worked likeJ Z
he devil. / arrived in Pendleton May (
!, 1899. / preached my first sermon /
n Indian about the second Sunday inl /
Il ptember of the same year. just about /
i've months later. I taught these In-l
lians some brand new Indian they had
lever heard before. And they never t
leard II again after learned the lam I
.uage better. But they were patient {
With my mistakes and encouraged me "a
~ trying hard to understand me. So (,
he language came with mutual con- |
idence and love. In short that was 1
bout the same process used in carry (
ng forward the mission work in all its
,hases of teaching, preaching. and do
these good people. You !
must be continually on the job year in
md year out through a series of many ,
ears. 1t is the impact of continuity /
II service that finally gets results that !
will abide in such work This has ,
,een very true of the mission work
IN the Umatilla reservation. During
vas getting his bearings, gaining the /
confidence of the people, perfecting {
himself in the Language nothing seems