The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1923-07-12
CAMP MEETING CLOSES.

The rendering of Daniel, . a fine
cantata, marked the closing session of
the famous Talmaks camp meeting at
Mason Butte Monday evening. The
eantata was given under the direction
of Rev. w. H. Roper, pastor of the
Presbyterian church at Lewiston.
About forty people composed the
chorus choir, selected from different
points on the reservation.
| A rather striking event took place
at the close of the musical program,
when a young couple marched into
the big tent and took seats in front,
accompanied by Rev. Conner, father
of the young lady. Rev. James Hayes,
superintendent of fhe camp meeting
association, called for the singing of
a hymn. Then he called the young
couple to the altar and announced
wedding, which he performed entire
ly in the Indian language in the pres
ence of the assembled mass. Sam Wa
ters and Miss Elizabeth Blanche Con-
ner were the contracting parties. The
groom is a resident of Juliaetta, while
the bride is native of Pendleton,
where her father has been pastor of q
Presbyterian mission on the Umatilla
Indian reservation. The bride was
beautifully attired and was charming
in personality. The young couple will
make their home, for the time being,
at Juliaetta. Mr.. Waters is q theo
logical steudent and win resume his
studies in the fall.
The attendance this year was not
equal to former years, but it was
by the number of dele
cations coming from distant points.
One woman Travelled about 1900 miles
to attend the meetings. She is a
white missionary among the Cheyenne
Indians in Colorado. Another woman,
also white, came from Portland She
is missionary in far-away Siam and
is spending year s vacation &C her /,
homo in Portland. Besides these,
there were delegations Of indians
from several reservations, fncluding
Pendleton, Havre and the Owyhees in
Nevada. 1t seemed rather odd to the
whites to note that the Indians from
Nevada and from Montana knew as
little about the language of the Nez
Perces as do any Of the whites. The
writer was informed by one OF the
that there is as wide
range of difference between the diff
Perent Indian dialects as there is. for
example, between the English and the !,
French. When the Nevada and Mon
ana Indians were called upon for Z
hort speeches. it was necessary TO
peak to the Nez Perces through an ?
Interpreter The speaker used his =
'wn language. His words were tran
lated by one of his tribesmen into !,
English. John Frank, a Nez Perce :
indian, took it up from the English
nd converted it into the vernacular
T the Nez Perces. The same proce- Il
lure was enacted when the Owyhees n
ddressed the audience. u
The meetings are invariably marked IL
2 deep spirit of devotion, which o.
j characteristic of all Indian revival L
,eetings. Applause is not resorted it
D. The Indian gives vent to his spir- 9
5ua1 emotions in song, not in shout 81
lg or hand clapping. Once they are II
Tell started with their native melo- j.
les, they keep it up till past mid tt
light. Though the attendance was m
OF up to the level of former years, cs
ie meetings did not fail TO quicken d'
q spiritual life of all who attended. ~
n their spiritual devotion, the In 10
ians are O wholesome example to M
heir white brethren. Everything is
one decently and in good order. The D
amp meetings are boon to the COM
unity for many miles around, in
the whites as well as the "
atives. it
The United States government, te
ANY years ago, set aside an entire D'
,ction of land for the use of the In VI
ians as camp meeting ground. q
here is an excellent spring contain m
lg very cold water that is wholes- m
,me to the palate. The camp ground tr
level plateau well covered with W
fine stand of large pine timber. 10
he Indians have installed an electric m
ght system of their own on the an
round, which furnishes light for the
,veral tents and for the grounds. iti
- ljo