Various

“ Now that the buffalo has largely disappeared, the Indian is dependent on the Government supplies for food and clothing, unless, like the white man, he resorts to agriculture. In consequence, without any large display of military force, the Indian agents are able to preserve excellent order on the reservations. The Indians feel their dependence and recognize the power of the Government. If fairly treated by the white man they will give us little trouble hereafter. It is easy to see that modifications in their condition, all looking toward civilization, are constantly taking place. ”

“ Already this is true of many Indians, and the day is not far distant—I venture to prophesy that it is within the next twenty years—when, if these influences continue, the Indian will be so thoroughly absorbed among his white brethren that as a separate race he will be lost to sight, and the Indian question will be a question no more. ”

“ INDIAN BURYING GROUND.
At Oahe, fifteen miles west of Pierre, Dakota Territory, is a second mission station, under the charge of the American Missionary Association. Up and down the river, on what is known as the Peoria Bottom, are perhaps a hundred families of Indians, each living on their own homesteads, off reservation limits, cultivating their farms, dwelling in comfortable log-houses, dressed in civilized garb, and showing as much neatness and industry as the average white man. These people are recognized as citizens and are voters. ”

“ I overheard an intelligent gentleman, a member of Congress, and born in my native Massachusetts, express the duly considered opinion that the Chinese mind is so organized that it cannot be expected to entertain the Christian ideas. ”

“ These Indians have latterly made great advances in civilization. They have 800 acres under cultivation, all looking admirably and well fenced in, and they are taking great pride in their work and asking for more land to cultivate. They have comfortable homes, or "lodges," as they are called, made in an octagonal form, of logs completely covered with earth. They are eagerly obtaining from the Government such comforts of civilization as they can—reapers, cooking-stoves, baking-powder, and the like. ”

“ Besides, a demand arose for more than the hour of the Sunday-school service. The eagerness to learn and the increasing acquisition of some called for a more constant and continuous drill. So has come about the system of schools carried on, under the American Missionary Association's appropriations and our California gifts, by the "California Chinese Mission."
I bear glad witness to the large measure of devotion with which this work has been conducted. It is precisely the kind of work to bring out the best qualities of Christian character in those who are responsibly engaged in it. ”

“ California strikes hands with Massachusetts, Washington Territory and Utah range themselves with Florida, all of them wishing us God-speed, and promising help in our Indian work. We are glad to have received such encouragement as these letters give, and sincerely thank our brethren who took the trouble and time to answer our inquiries. We trust that none of them will fail to see that the promises are fulfilled. There will be in some cases need of special remembrance. Interests crowd in these days. Even what is lawful and regular has to fight for recognition. ”

“ We suppose there are indolent Chinese, but the immense majority of that vast people have an unparalleled power of work, care nothing about hours, and, so long as they are paid, will go on with a dogged steady persistence in toil for sixteen hours a day such as no European can rival. No English ship-carpenter will work like a Chinese, no laundress will wash as many clothes, and a Chinese compositor would be very soon expelled for over-toil by an English 'chapel' of the trade. ”

“ He took a business man's view of the subject, and has left an expression of judgment, supported by a princely benefaction, of great value to others who are prayerfully considering how they may best promote the interests of Christian civilization. Modest, consistent, dignified, courteous, a regular attendant at a Congregational church, a good neighbor, a good citizen beloved—such was John F. Slater. He has left a name better and more enduring than his great riches. ”

“ They are giving up their Indian dress. It is now rare to find an Indian whose dress is not in some way conformed to the white [Pg 178] man's. They are learning the comforts of civilization through the supplies from Government, and welcome the frame house, the sugar and syrup, the flour and beans, the tools and clothing which come to them from this source. They feel the pressure of the white population crowding upon them from every side. ”

“ Many of the men are terribly scarred on the shoulders, breast and arms with the cruel practices of the sun dance. Men and women alike wear the dress of their savage life. There has been as yet little success from schools or church work. ”

“ They are pure-blooded Indians. Their father is a chief at Fort Berthold, who has turned from his wild life to become a regular attendant at church and a thoughtful imitator of the white man's ways.
DAUGHTERS OF INDIAN CHIEF "POOR WOLF."
Two other cuts represent groups of school-children at Santee, all Indians. The artist has not exaggerated the bright and attractive look upon their faces. They come from all parts of Dakota and the Santee Reservation. In the ninth cut is represented an Indian who, with a white man's shirt, retains his native leggings, blanket, necklace and tomahawk. ”

“ Where a large proportion of the people can neither read nor write, there nothing but a fractional supply for human wants is to be expected. Inadequate buildings meagerly furnished, insufficient clothing for the young, lack of medical care and neglect of the aged and infirm—these are evil conditions only too common all over the South, rendering much that ministers to a thrifty and manly character impossible, as things are now. ”

“ The motives for engaging in it drawn from any other than the purest Christian fountains are few indeed. The men and women, who, within my knowledge, have given their time and heart to it, have long been among my "evidences of Christianity." To the poor the Gospel has been preached by them. Several of those most interested during the early years, as superintendents or teachers, have been laid aside or have "gone home." ”

“ If some school changing song-books would send our school a hundred or more well-preserved copies of those they lay aside, it would be a gift highly appreciated.
One of our neighbors is a good Mother in Israel, who has always taken a warm interest in this institution in all its departments and appreciated its uplifting influence upon her people. She belongs to one of the branches of the Methodist Church, and felt that she wanted something done for the improvement and revival of interest in the schools of that denomination in the vicinity. ”

“ We have a class of young girls in our church who ought to be in missionary work. Can you give us a little fuller account of the work? and do you have teachers among the poor white women of the South? Please let us hear soon from you; we want an object to work for. We may not be able to do very much, but would like to do something.
ALABAMA WOMAN'S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
MISS M. K. LUNT.
The annual meeting of the Alabama Woman's Missionary Association was held in the prayer-room of the Congregational church in Montgomery, Monday, March 31. ”

“ If his wild life has affected him unfavorably, it has not done him the same kind of harm that slavery has to the colored man. He is not crushed in spirit and ambition as was the colored slave at the time of the civil war. ”

“ Intelligence among the masses, coupled with true religion, would soon abolish it. Whatever is lacking of knowledge of God, of what He has promised, of what He has made for us, of what we can do for ourselves, must be supplied. It was an observation of Dean Stanley that we ought to teach the heathen how to count three before attempting to instruct them as to the doctrine of the Trinity. The great Preacher was the great Teacher also. If there be the greatest ignorance South, the appeal from the South to us to remember the poor is urgent and imperative. ”

“ It would be impossible for one new to the work to even grasp at the distorted images and superstitious misconceptions connected with religious subjects in the minds of the more ignorant colored people without the free interchange of personal conversation. ”

“ Their more thoughtful men, perceiving the necessity of the change and recognizing its advantage, are urging the establishment of schools and churches among them. There can be little doubt that as these processes continue the tribal relation will eventually cease, the reservation system will be abandoned, the Indian will come under ordinary laws, he will be assigned land in severalty, will cultivate it for his support, and become citizen. ”

“ Our Ladies' Benevolent Society wish to take one share in the expense of a lady missionary teacher, from whom we shall enjoy letters, hoping in this way to call out more interest in the work.
—A recent circular from you was read to our ladies by our pastor's wife, to whom it was sent. We have no separate organization for the Am. Miss. Assoc. [Pg 184] but our ladies contribute something to its funds—though probably not enough to take a full share in the support of a teacher. ”

“ How they should do it had been indicated by Him who said of his own labors "the poor have the gospel preached to them."
The expression "the poor" is comprehensive. All human wants relate to it. The poverty of some, however, is more complete than that of others, and the poorest have early, if not the first, claim to attention. The Pauls and Barnabases of our times may justly listen to appeals which arise from the following conditions:
1. Ignorance. In this country it may be said ignorance is the mother of poverty. Indeed, ignorance is one of the worst forms of poverty. ”

“ For this is pre-eminently the work which makes its appeal to the few. To sustain it pecuniarily as well as otherwise, must pertain to those who give, hoping for nothing in kind again. Those here who would give, perhaps, to help Africans on the Congo, cannot always be appealed to in behalf of this cause. A worthy Christian friend who has charge of a Sunday-school consulted me about a gift he was interesting his scholars to make to some missionary. Whom could I suggest? It was natural, being on this Pacific sea, to suggest a laborer in northern China. ”

“ The churches are Congregational, and the church and school go hand in hand. A careful survey of the necessities of these missions was made early in the year, and the estimate called for an appropriation of about $30,000. Repairs and improvements in old buildings and construction of [Pg 162] new buildings, imperatively demanded for the efficient prosecution of the work, forbade a lower estimate.
In surrendering our African missions, obedient to the voice of the churches that our appeal might be simplified, we gave up the proceeds of invested funds that in large part sustained that work ”

“ The cotton mills begun since January will cost over $325,000, and will add more than a hundred thousand spindles to the number now in the South. The Eagle and Phœnix Mills, Columbus, Ga., intend to erect a new structure at the cost of $1,000,000. At Rome, Ga., and at Birmingham, Ala., new cotton mills to cost $100,000 each are about to be erected. Confidence, which can only spring from intelligence and Christianity, is the one thing needful in order to secure the capital wanted for the development of the vast manufacturing interests of the southern portion of our country. ”

“ A Canadian Indian was recently seized by a party of masked Americans and hanged within the borders of the Dominion, in British Columbia, and the matter having come to the ears of the Government at Ottawa the question has been considered, and satisfaction is to be demanded of the United States Government. ”

“ The whole body was at the Boarding Hall of the Straight University for a lunch, when the President made the members a fine present of books from a Northern society.
The meeting of the Mississippi body was the second, and it revealed a maturing process. President Pope and Professor Hatch represented Tougaloo University—the president preaching a sermon on Christian Industry, and the professor reading a capital paper on Revivals. Rev. C. L. Harris, of Jackson, preached the opening sermon. He is finding a wide and effectual door at the Capital of the State. ”

“ INDIAN WOMAN AT FORT BERTHOLD.
INDIAN LODGE AT FORT BERTHOLD.
2. There, as elsewhere, the gospel proves the most efficient instrumentality. The United States Government is doing a noble work for the elevation of [Pg 177] the race by introducing the agencies of civilization. The Indian agents in Dakota are, as a rule, noble men, vieing with the missionaries in endeavors to benefit the race. The Board of Indian Commissioners are deserving of all praise for their great services. ”

“ The Sunday-school of this Institution has always—under the present management at least—been considered one of the most important, if not the most important means of grace and spiritual enlightenment. The power of sustained attention and consecutive thought is greatly lacking in all untrained minds ”

“ The Indians at these places are all wild—that is, still wear blankets, breech-cloths, and leggings, feathers and geegaws, do little toward cultivating the land, and are ignorant heathen. A Sabbath in a village on the Cheyenne showed what wild Indians were. ”