The Word Carrier (Santee, Nebraska), 1892-08

              The Word Carrier.
VOLUME   XXI.
SANTEE AGENCY, NEBBASKA.
HELPING   THE   RIGHT,   EXPOSING   THE   WRONG.
NUMBER   8.
AUGUST, i8q2.
FIFTY CENTS PEB YEAB,
OUR   PLATFORM.
For Indians we want American Education! We want American Homes!
We want American Rights! The results of which is American Citizenship!
And tlie gospel is the Power of God for
their Salvation!	
PROGRAM OF THE DAKOTA CONFERENCE.
TORT YATES, N. E. SEPT. 8—ii, 1892.
1. Opening Sermon by Bev. A.
Ehnamani.
2. Making Out the Boll.
3. Election of Officers.
4. Subjects for Discussion.
(1.) For whom did Christ come to
earth.
(2.) Home Bible Training.
(3.) Is it beneficial to the Indians
to have lands interspersed among
White people.
(1.) Kepentance that is acceptable
to God.
(5.) Is the custom of preparing a
meal for those who come to church
beneficial.
(6.) Which branch of the church
will secure the favor of God.
(7.) What affection and care
should our churches bestow upon
their pastors.
(8.) Hoav can Indians be made free
citizens and yet be able to Avithstand
strong drink.
(9.) How ought church members
to spend their time on the Sabbath.
5. Question drawer.
6. Beport of Native Missionary
Society.
1. Beport of Treasurer of Missionary society, and appointment of
Auditing Committee.
8. Election of Native Missionary
Directors.
9. Beport on Iapi Oaye.
10. Selection of place for next
meeting.
Illustrated lectures on the History
of Civilization, and The Life of Christ
will be given Wednesday and Thursday evenings by J. W. Davis of Boston, and Frederick B. Biggs.
John P. Williamson.
EnwiN Phelps.
During the Educational Conference held by the Lake Superior Con-
gregationalClub at Madeline Island,
July 12, there was a memorable celebration of the old time Indian
mission work on La Pointe Island.
This mission was started in 1829,
the church organized in 1833, and
the building erected in 1837. It is
the oldest church building of the
oldest Congregational church in the
whole Northwest. An Indian church,
and the Plymouth Bock of western
Congregationalism. The work so
long under the care of Missionary
Wheeler was given up for some time,
but has recently been taken up by
Rev. E. P. Wheeler, son of the original missionary and pastor of the
Ashland Church. On this historical
daythe Bibleusedwasthe copy given
the church in 1831. A large company
were present from Duluth, Minneapolis, Chicago and adjacent parts.
The native pastor Bev. Henry
Blatchford, a dignified and cultivated looking man, led the devotions
and his people sang with him in the
Ojibway tongue. Mr. J. F. Patten
of Duluth presided over the gathering. Bev. J. N. Davidson of Milwaukee read a historical sketch of
Indian Missions from the earliest
times. Dr. Boy in his paper, "From
Plymouth Bock to La Pointe,"
showed the influence of missions
among the Indians on the work at
home and abroad. The portion
which had reference to the Dakota
mission is printed in this number
of the Word Carrier. Bev. Judson
1 its worth of Milwaukee delivered
an address on the "The Pilgrim
Faith." Bev. E. P. Wheeler formally delivered the deed of the old
church building to the Lake Superior Club, to be kept as a sacred
memorial. The response in behalf
of the club Avas made by Vice President Stover and the memorial prayer by Dr. Blaisdell of Beloit.
OUR WEDDING.
The Avorkers among the Indians
seem so closely bound together that
what interests one mission sends its
ripple of excitement along to the
others, especially Avhenit isconnect-
Avith Dr. Biggs, whose kindly Avis-
dom has constituted him the head
of the family of Indian schools.
The event that the scattered
members will want to know all
about is the wedding of Dr. and
Mrs. A. L. Biggs' eldest daughter,
Cora Isabella, to Mr. F. Alsworth
Waples,Avhichtook place August 18.
During the summer, feAv scholars
remained during the vacation, and
the mission has taken on its annual
rejuvenescence iutheway of repairs
so that even the chapel looks fresh.
With its decorations of golden rod in
bouquets and festoons, and clusters
of vines and branches, hiding blackboards and stretches of plainness it
seemed for once to be all sunshine.
Many of the friends from the agency were present, and some of the Indians with their families, so that
with those spending the summer at
the mission, the room was comfortably filled. At five o'clock the wedding party came in under the arch
at the rear entrance while Miss
Mabel Biggs played the wedding
march.
The bride was preceded by her
sister Miss Olive Biggs and by Miss
Bideout, and the bride-groom by
the bride's brothers, Stephen and
Mr. Fred Biggs. Just here every one
would like to ask if the bride looked
pretty, and we are sorry they could
not have seen for themselves, how
like a bit of rare and delicate
china she seemed. As the party
reached tbe platform Dr. Biggs met
them, and in his own gracious
way, performed the simple ceremony. It seemed short, but into
it was put the father's heart and the
heavenly benediction.
After receiving the congratulations
and best wishes of their friends, Mr.
and Mrs. Waples held a small reception at Dr. Biggs' house,where he and
Mrs. Biggs had provided a dainty tea.
Among the many expressions of regard to the bride and groom was a
collection of gold coins from the
friends at Santee.
As the time came for the newly
married couple to leave, a goodly
number of friends found conveyances in which to go as far on the
wedding journey as they could, and
at sunset a merry procession was
seen going to the river, where the
boat was in waiting to take Mr. and
Mrs. Waples away. Their home is
to be in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Fannie M. Whitcomb.
UNDER THE LAWS.
Several months ago we noticed
the organization of a Committee of
Justice to promote the operation of
law among the Santee Indians. At
this time we are able to report substantial progress in several lines.
In the first place, there is a groAv-
ing respect for laAv in the community, both among the Indians themselves and among their white neighbors.
Proceedings have been begun
against four parties for the illegal
sale of liquor. One was dismissed
for lack of evidence, two were bound
over to the district court, while the
fourth is living outside the state, a
fugitive from justice. The warrant
is ready, but as long as he will stay
aAvay we shall not ask for extradition papers. While it is not for a
moment supposed that the sale and
use of intoxicants has entirely stopped, there has certainly been much
less open drunkenness this summer
than formerly.
Perhaps the most marked influence of the law is seen in the disposal of adultery cases. Several
prosecutions have been begun. No
less than six couples have been legally married to avoid prosecution,
Avhile divorce proceedings have
been instituted in nearly as many
more cases, Avhere a former marriage stands in the way of the legalization of the present union.
In some respects the Indians are
more easily reconciled to the new
order of things than their white
neighbors. These prosecutions necessarily bring more or less expense
upon the county, while the Indian
has as yet but little taxable property.
Hence when an offender is committed to the county jail, a hue-and-
cry is raised, and strenuous exertions are made to set him at liberty
"to save expense to the county."
The measure now before Congress,
providing for the payment of the
taxes on the Indian land by the general government is a just one. If it
becomes a laAv, it will greatly aid in
this work, by removing prejudice
against the Indians on this score.
Not long ago a writ of habeas corpus was illegally issued for the
purpose of releasing a prisoner who
was serving his time. The matter
Avas carried up to the district court,
and the judge promptly overruled
the action of the lower court and
remanded the prisoner to the custody of the sheriff. Thus our white
neighbors are learning to respect
the law.
In order that our position might
be better understood throughout
the county, a sub-committee from
the Committee of Justice, consisting of Dr. Biggs and Mr. J. A. Chadbourne, went before the County
Board at their last meeting and
made a statement of the condition
of things here. This committee
met with a very cordial reception,
and we believe the interview will
have a favorable influence upon all
concerned.
In the prosecution of this work
it has been necessary in two cases
to employ counsel. This is liable
to happen again. The -committee
is not large, so the expense is somewhat heavy upon the individual
members. If any friends of the Indian wish to have a part in this le
gal-missionary AA-ork they can do so
by communicating with Dr. G. W.
Ira, the treasurer of the Committee
of Justice, Santee Agency, Neb.
 ,T. A. C.
OMAHAS   DKINKING.
The condition of the Omahas generally, during the past months has
been deplorable in the extreme.
Liquor drinking has been the order
of the day and night, not alone
among the men, but many of the
women have also yielded to the
temptation. It has not only become unsafe to venture out over
the Beservation after night fall, but
the streets of the adjacent toAvns
have also been rendered dangerous
on account of the numbers of intoxicated Indians. One man offered
a good farm horse for sale for ten
dollars but the one to whom he
offered it first being too honorable
to take it at tbat price, he finally
sold it to another for three dollars
and fifty cents, and went home in a
state of beastly intoxication. Why
we should say beastly I hardly
know, for no animal in our barn, or
pens, would so lower itself.
No law has been able to enforce
itself, and it has not been enforced.
There is hoAvever a brighter side to
the picture.   Thepeople themselves
are becoming aroused, and Ave have
hope of better things.    Very recently a gathering Avas held at Wajeppa's
in   the   interests   of   temperance.
Wajeppa is one of the very best of
the Omaha farmers.   He has quite
a herd of young cattle, and seventy-
five acres or more in corn, together
with other crops.   He is with that
a thorough temperance man.    The
increase of intemperance   among
his people must have been a grief
and shame to him, and apparently
he has been considering Avhat he
could do to prevent it.  Accordingly
he made a feast and bade many,
among them the most influential
men in the tribe.  Major Ashley, U.
S. Indian Agent, with Mrs. Ashley,
was there.    Dr. Susan La Flesche
and Mrs. Marguerite Picotte were
also present, all of them interested
and   earnest.     Wajeppa   himself
made a rousing temperance speech,
which was followed by others.   The
men seemed to recognize the fact
that the prosperity of their host was
largerly owing to the fact that he
had  not fallen into the degrading
habit of intemperance.    It was decided to send a memorial to the
Indian Department, asking that a
fund be created for the purpose of
enforcing the laws.    The proposition was made that an assessment
of two dollars for each member of
the tribe should be taken from the
"grassmoney,"and that should form
thenucleus ofthe fund.    This paper
received a hundred signatures.every
man   present affixing   his   name.
Most, if not all of them; seemed to
realize the evils that are fast com-
ingon their people in consequence of
their yielding to the temptations to
drink, and they seemed also anxious to devise some way by which
the curse might be removed.   Many
of the men who signed their names
had themselves been tempted, and
had been lacking in the strength
to   resist  the  temptation.     Some
of these seemed to be specially in
earnest  in their   desire  to   fight
King Alcohol. H.
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