The Word Carrier of Santee Normal Training School (Santee, Nebraska), 1905-05 - 1905-06

              the Word Carrier
of SANTEE NORMAL TRAINING SCHOOL.
volume xxxiv.
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SANTEE, NEBRASKA.
MAY-JUNE, 1905..
THIRTY CENTS PER YEAR.
Our   Platform.
For Indians we want American Education!
We want American Homes! We want American Rights! The result of which is American Citizenship! And the Gospel is the power
0f God for their Salvation!
Henry Cloud and Tennent Church.
Dear Friends: Perhaps you wonder why I
am here in New Jersey and not at Mt. Hermon,
jgftss. This is the reason. My purse needed
replenishing so I have worked all this year on
a farm. I am going right back to Mt. Hermon
and finish my last year, 1906.
It has been hard for me to stay out of school
so long, but I would not take gold for tbe experience that I have had this winter. I can say
from experience that manliness and self-reliance
are the results of working for an education.    I
and self-reliant
be, but I mean
wouueifuliy  to-
are
do not mean that I am manly
to the extent I would like to
that such an experience helps
wards making any one stronger in every way.
The farm on which I am
working is called, "The Battle Ground Farm," for over
the fields of this farm the
memorable battle of "Monmouth'' took place. If you
were here I could take you
over the different hills where
the British and the Americans drew up their lines of
battle.
I could show you the swamp
where the heaviest fighting
was done. From the window
I can see "Molly Pitcher's
well;" the spot where General
Washington rebuked Lee, and
where the two main armies
met. Once in a while we
plow up a cannon ball. We
plaee these old cannon balls
on the front stoop for visitors
to see.
Bur this is not all. I attend Old Tennent
ehureh, built tbe day George Washington was
born, in midst of a burying ground. There it
stands almost as solid and strong as when it
was first built. Tlie church belfry has no bell.
That I ower has stood ever since the church was
built. Washington himseR marched right past
the door of the church to seize a height several
hundred yards east of the church. Some of the
cliuivh-members of Tennent showed me the
blood stains of a wounded British soldier on
one of tbe pews where he had lain.
The most interesting fact to me is that which
concerns the Indians. Long years ago Rev.
David Brainerd, missionary to the Indians in
this vicinity, preached in Tennent church.
He says of the Indians: "Being desired by
the Bev. Wdliam Tennent to be his assistant in
the administration of the Lord's supper, I this
.morning rode to Freehold to render that assistance. My people (the Indians) also being invited to attend the sacramental solemnity; the}'
cheerfully embraced the opportunity', aud this
day attended the preparatory services with me."
The next day h? writes, "A number of my dear
people sat clown by themselves at the last table ;
at which time God seemed to be in the midst of
them." Rev. William Tennent writes of the
Indians as follows :"As I live not far from the
Indians, I have been much conversant with
them, both at their own place, and in my own
parish, where they generally convene for public
worship in Mr. Brainerd's absence, and I think
it my duty to acknowledge that their conversation, hath often, under God, refreshed
my soul."
■ The elders and deacons also attest the grace
°i God among the Indians as foRows:    "We
whose names are underwritten, being elders
and deacons of the Presbyterian ehureh in
Freehold do hereby testify, that in our humble opinion, God, even our Saviour, has brought
a considerable number of the Indians in these
parts to saving union with himself. Of this
we are persuaded from a personal acquaintance
with them: whom we not only hear speak of
the great doctrines of the gospel with humility,
affection, and understanding, but we see, walk,
as far as man can judge, soberly, righteously,
and godly. We have joined with them at the
Lord's Supper, and do, from our hearts, esteem
them as our brethren in Jesus.
"For, these who were not God's people, may
now be -ailed the children of the living God;
It is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in
our eyes. Oh that he may go on conquering
and to conquer, until he has subdued all things
to hinueir! This is, and shall be our unfeigned
desire and prayer."
The communion table upon which the Indiaps
took the sacrament is still in the church.    I at-
THE   OLD  TENNENT   CHURCH
tend this church Sabbath after Sabbath and at
times it fills me with joy and reverence as I
ponder how Christian Indians walked up and
down the church aisles,and how God has called
home these Indians of long ago. God loves the
American Indian and he has put within the Indian's breast a heart that will respond to God's
goodness, providence and mercy.
David Branierd, himself speaking of the
Indians in his diary, dated June 25, 1744,
says, "To an eye of reason every tiling that respects the Heathen is as dark as midnight."
But as it was then and now, we who live on
the western plains have seen the light that has
lit up this great darkness.
I have been requested to state my life-purpose and also my present work. I could put on
paper a great many good works which I am
ambitious to do mankind, especially my own
people. But it would sound like boasting, it
seems to me. All I can boast of now is that I
can plow a straight furrow behind a pair of
mules. If my straight furrows and harvest
crops lead an uneducated, unchristian Indian to
a better life I would be happy. I would not
hesitate to work out this ambition, for in order
to plow a straight furrow I must constantly
watch what I am doing, and a good harvest
crop means diligence in the fullest sense.
I indulge iu pleasant memories when I recaR
the three happy years I spent at Santee. The
teachings of Santee Training School come back
to me again and again. I think that this is so
because they are a part of me, and these teachings have become vital in my life. This attachment to Santee is unlike what is termed
"The College Spirit." I have been subject to
missionary influences in communities compara
tively heathen, and I have been in civilization
in thoroughly christian communities. I cannot help notice the contrast. I have visited such
Colleges as Wesleyan University of Connecticut, Williams, Yale and Princeton. The College students carry you away with their enthusiasm. When you are in Williams everything
is Williams. But go to Yale and every other
College in the land fades away. To use a
Santee expression, "you can walk on air" at
Yale. The College student in New England
may laud his University out of pride and out of
love for achievement and honor, but the Sautee
student has recourse not to the fame of his institution but the gladder tune comes by catching
the spirit of his missionary teachers.
To see these teachers day by day, month by
month, and year in and year out laboring that
he may see the true end of life and know how to
live is enough to set a young man or woman to
thinking bow he might be of most use in tbe
world. He comes to see that this superlative
kindness by the teachers is shown only thro the
constraining love of Christ in their hearts. In
Dr. Riggs' own words, "after receiving a soul-
awakening as well as an inteRectual awakening
he becomes a working christian." Surely we
the sons and daughters of Santee ought to strive
to be worthy of the confidence the Santee faculty has put in us. If we are loyal to Christ
we are loyal to Santee. Like the guardian angel
hovering over and fostering the life of an infant, so Santee has taken the infant life of the
Indian race, and with the gospel food is nurturing it. The handful of us who have been quickened must stand by and uphold her hands.
Santee has adopted its curriculum of studies
and course of manual training suited to our
needs. She is able to equip us with an education of head and heart to be men and women of
solid worth wherever our lot may be cast.
I have written a long letter. Let me conclude by saying that after next year I expect to
enter some college in New England. I am
striving to be a missionary in some capacity. Whether I be a minister, a medical missionary, a layman, or a Christian farmer it is
to God's glory. I send the Santee faculty, students, alumni and friends of Santee a hearty
greeting. May God make his face to shine upon you is the prayer of your sincere friend.
Tennent, N. J. HENRY CLOUD.
Our Mission Council.
The annual council of Congregational missionary workers met this year at Santee from
May 19 to 21. The following were present from
the other stations of the Mission : Rev. and Mrs.
T. L. Riggs, Rev. and Mrs. G. W. Reed and Raymond Reed, Rev. J. G. Burgess, Rev. J. F.
Cross, Rev. C. L. Hall, Rev. Mary C. Collins,
Miss Hurlburt of Oahe, and Rev. F. P. Woodbury, D. D., Secretary of the A.M. A.; Mrs. Alice
G. West, Worcester, Mass. and Miss Beecroft,
Talledega, Alabama were also with us.
These topics were well debated and then estimates were made for the needs of the coming
missionary year.      T0PICS.
How to secure the needed instruction in our native
ministers and missionaries of Congregational ideas and
church work.
What meetings for general conference and missionary enthusiasm would best meet the needs of our
churches.
The new conditions on the field requiring a new adjustment of support for the native missionaries.
Do we need a probationary period, like the Methodists, before admitting to full church membership?
Is there a basis for the baptism of infants other than
the covenant of believing parents?
If individual Indians are to control their share of
tribal funds available for education, so far as choice
of place and kind of education is concerned, snail we
take steps to secure for our sebools the funds that may
thus be put within our reach?
How may we best secure self-government and self-
support in our native churches?
Readjustments and Reorganization of mission forces.
Secondary schools as an adjunct to missionary effort-