Year: 1863

ust. respected Elder in the Mission
church, at Yellow Medicine, by whom
they had been recorded as candidates for
Christian baptism. 1t was satisfactorily
evident to us that the reception of the rite
on their part was an open remuneration of
Paganism, and an acceptance of the Chris
tim religion,


They had also entered into an agree
ment among themselves, that as many of
them as might escape execution, if any of
them should, would reform their domestic
relations, so that, as far as possible, they
should accord with the rules of Gods
Word in relation to that matter. We
found that only one individual Of the Lake
Calhoun band had entered his name on
the list. This is the band with whom my
brother, Samuel Pond, and myself had la
bored most of the time from | 1874 till 1851,
with unsatisfactory results. AS we enter
ed the prison on that morning, the men cf
this band, about fifty in number, request
ed that I should baptize them, on the
ground that we had been their first and
chief instructors in religion. That they
should prefer this request for this reason,
was, of course, gratifying to my feelings


AS was intended, we announced the
conditions of paptism, and our purpose to
administer the rite to as many as were
ready heartily to comply with them, com.
handing that none should offer themselves
except those who were prepared to do it
unto the heart-seeing God of heaven. By
response, apparently hearty, all signifi-
ed their desire to be baptized on the pro.
posed conditions.


Having provided ourselves with basin
of water, after few words of explanation
and exhortation suggested by the occasion,





singing, and praying for the blessing of
God on them, they came one by one, most
of whom wore chains on their ankles, and
were baptized with water applied to their
heads in the name of the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Ghost, while the subject
stood generally with the right hand raised
and eyes closed, with an appearance of in
tense interest and profound reverence. As
they passed along from the place of bap-
tism, one or the otherof US stopped each,
and in low voice addressed to him few
words, such as the solemnites of the oc-
casion or our knowledge of his previous
character indicated. The effect of this, in
most cases. seemed much to deepen sense
of responsibility. When gray-haired
Medicine men stood literally trembling
before me, as some of them did while |
laid one hand on his head and the other
on his bosom. the effect on my own mind
was such at times. as to make my tongue
falter, and when he replied Yes, will, "
it thrilled me.


The time occupied in administering the
ordinance was about three hours, and the
whole time spent in that and the accom-
panying exercises about four hours.


After we we're through, had sung hymn
and "kneeled down and prayed with them
ALL" l said to them, l." HitLertoo l Have
been accustomed to address you as Friends
now | call you Brothers. For years
VIC have been in religious contention.
Now our contentious cease. We now have
one Father. We are one family. From
this time God, who sits in heaven and
looks into your hearts is your Father.
His mark is now placed on you, which
you cannot cast of. You will carry il
while you live. He regards not your
heads or your lips, but his eye is on the
heart. Be strong, Brother remember
your father and honor him. | must leave
you here in prison, and in chains, under
sentence of death, and shall probably see
you no more. While you remain here,
you have time to attend to religion. You
can do nothing else. Your adherance to
the Medicine Sack, and to the War Proph.
ct has brought you to ruin. Onr lord Je.
sus can save you. Seek him with all the
heart" Then, in allusion to an impress.
vel ceremony of brotherly salutation t.