The Word Carrier (Santee, Nebraska), 1895-08 - 1895-09

              The Word Carrier
C)
VOLUME   XXIV.
HELPING    THE    RIGHT,   EXPOSING   TIIK   WRONG.
NTJMRERS 8-9.
SANTEE AGENCY, NEBRASKA.
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER, 1805.
FIFTY CENTS PEE YEAR-
OUR   PLATFORM.
For Indians we want American Edu
cation! We want American Homes!
We want American Rights! The re
suits of which is American Citizenship!
And the gospel is the Poiver of God for
tlieir Salvation'     	
The article on the second page of
this number, on the religions attitude of the Indian child is a paper
presented at the Indian Teachers
Convention, held at Sioux City,
Iowa, July 1-6.
James Constantine Pilling, the
ethnologist who died July 26, had a
world wide reputation as a scholar,
and as a student of the Indian
languages. His works are his abiding monument. But that for which
we wish particularly to remember
him here is for his appreciation
of missionaries and their labors.
Many were the kind words they
have received from him.
The Indian Teachers Convention,
meeting in Sioux City, July 1-6 was
a success. It is highly creditable
to the energy and tact of the Superintendent of Indian Schools, W. H.
Hailman, that it was so, and that
the system of Indian teachers institutes or conventions has come
into orderly shape so soon and is
an established institution. While
most people would have acknowledged the theoretical value of the
institute, few would have considered it practicable. The more honor
to Dr. Hailman.
A most interesting feature of the
convention was the missionary idea
in it. Not because by the courtesy
of Director Hailman the mission
force was so well represented in the
house and on the program, nor that
missionaries intruded their policy
upon the convention,but the Government educators themselves were inspired with this idea, that their
work is nothing if not missionary
in both aim and spirit. This at
once creates a bond of sympathy in
the whole field among government
and missionary forces. And we are
convinced that these conventions
will prove of infinite advantage.
WHAT  EDUCATION MEANS  TO US.
Graduation Oration of Frank H. Peterson.
Twenty years ago my people were
bound by superstition. They were
groping in the darkness of heathenism. They practiced all the customs of Indian life regardless of
the restrictions of our Government.
They were wild and unmanageable.
It was necessary for the Government of the United States to satisfy
their ' unreasonableness by issuing
blankets and rations. These fulfilled their utmost desires. They
were unaware that a better age for
the Indian race was about to
dawn.
By the influence and teachings of
a Christian agent they were gradually weaned from their wild, rebellious life. They began to appreciate and adopt the customs of civilization. It is evident that the Indians of this interior country have
been likewise changed. It was
their chief pleasure to be constantly on   the  war   path,   destroying
whatever came within their reach.
They were proud, ignorant, superstitious and barbarous. No wonder
the very thought of Indians caused
the settlers sleepless nights. Ttiey
expected at any moment to hear
the shrill and wicked war-whoop
sound within their premises.
Today, the Indian has forgotten
the war cry. He meets his white
brother with a hearty hand shake
and a pleasant word" Instead of
roaming about he now has a home.
Every thing in that home is the token of comfort and happiness. Instead of plotting and thieving, he
has learned to labor,—to cultivate
the soil, to earn his bread honestly.
His ignorance, pride and selfishness are gradually vanishing. Indian customs will soon be counted
among the past. Even now, if we
look back fifty years, we find that
education has made a wonderful
change among our people. And as
time rolls by, education means
more and more to us. It seems
that we, as an Indian race needed
education more than any race on
this continent. But by this same
process were developed all the nations of the civilized world.
There are a large number of Indian young men and women today
in the process of education. And
perhaps a number are now applying
their knowledge in practical ways.
But how many are there, who are
working for the welfare of their fellow men and for the advancement of
christian education ?
I am personally acquainted with
some Indian young men who are
graduates from reputable white
schools, yet they are as haughty and
selfish as though brought up in the
wilds by their savage parents. Indeed they are much the worse, because they know better. Perhaps
you also know of such young men.
Their tendency is to become loafers
and drunkards. They become more
degraded than brutes. It is said
that a drunkard and a pig were
found lying on opposite sides of a
slough in the mud. But the pig
showing that he would not be found
even in such close company with
the human beast, got up and left.
It is not only among the Indians
that this great evil exists, but in all
nations. You pick up a newspaper
and you notice column after column
concerning educated criminals.
These facts show us that there must
be difference in qualities of education. We find first in our every day
life that physical education is necessary. A man who does not train his
body to be what it was intended,
stands outside of his Creator's great
plan. The truest self-respect, the
noblest independence can not be
found in such a man. No idle man
can feel the genuine independence
of him who earns honestly and manfully his daily bread.
Then mental education brings us
much pleasure. It makes the world
in which we live seem larger and
more beautiful. We become more
attentive and desirous to discover
the hidden treasures of nature.
When we are able to analyze a single
flower, we begin to appreciate its
spotless beauty. When we want to
mark the ages past, we go to our
books in the corner of our room and
they instantly transport us to all
places in all times. They join us
with the great and good men of the
ancient world, and to our individual
satisfaction we can have them act
over the most noted of their exploits. The orators speak for us,
the historians recite and the poets
sing.
But there is another side. While
education has afforded us the advantages and privileges of a civilized
life, yet it has brought evils of the
worst kind to our people. By this
we know that there must be a
moral element in a complete edu
cation.
We are endowed with mental faculties susceptible of the highest improvement. But furthermore we
are subjects of immortality. Why
then, should we acquire our education without the principles of morality ? Aud morality rests on
Christianity. Milton well says,—
"Childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day." And if we do
not form our characters when we
are here in our school life, wre can
never reach the moral condition for
which we strive. You perhaps would
say that there are moral men who
are not christians. Yes. But such
men have had religious training
when young by which their characters were formed. Such men however, are as birds with one wing fluttering in the current of life.
Edward Gibbon, one of the greatest
historians brings us a sad thought
in view of the dark side of his life.
His name and his works shall be remembered as long as nations exist.
But those who pity will only remember him with regrets that his works
are so full of infidelity and opposition to the teachings of the divine
book.
Not only does the want of moral
principles stain
stroy the soul of
causes destruction to nations. It
was the want of moral principles
that over-threw the very foundations
of the great Empire of Rome. We
as law abiding citizens of our country should bear in mind that the
moral principles of individuals are
the supporting pillars of political
institutions. We should improve
every opportunity to help sustain
those institutions. And we can
not do it till we acquire the right
kind of education.
Look back to the time of Moses.
It is very probable that he was educated according to the best that the
proudest nation on earth could have
given. He possessed the qualities of
a great man. He was a great general, a great statesman and a great
ruler. He was a great philosopher
and a poet. He was brave but
gentle and meek. And because his
education was founded upon moral
principles he possessed all those
qualifications. And because of his
moral principles, he was so closely
connected with his God who called
him the name he well deserved,
"The man of God."
As the education of Moses meant
the deliverance of his people from
the bondage of slavery. So may our
education be the means of delivering
our people from the bondage of
drunkeness, ignorance and super-
stition.	
Santee Normal Training School Press,
Santee Agency, Neb.
THE WOKK AT PLUM CREEK.
On the south side of the Cheyenne river, and at the mouth of
Plum Creek, is an Indian Mission
school under the supervision of
Rev. Thomas L. Riggs. There is
a log building situated in a very
pleasant place, having on every
side, excepting the east, beautiful
trees which in spring time are a
most exquisite sight.
The school was established in
January, 1894; and though young
has many reasons to rejoice. The
master directed His servant to
plant such a work at Plum Creek.
The work was started with very
little support and at the close ofthe
school year 1894 it was in debt.
Notwithstanding this, the school
opened again in October with eight
pupils, the majority of whom had
not even a change of clothing when
brought to school. This was rather
depressing to the workers, for Indian children are not always free
from dirt, soap and water not being considered essentials.
Regardless of these facts the Lord
prompted and watched the work
and we are pleased to say that this
year we are out of debt. But again
the question comes to us, what
about next year? The children
have gone home for vacation and
expect to return in September.
Shall we close the doors and say
you cannot come. God forbid!
May this thought impress some one
of the need at Plum Creek, as well
as elsewhere among the Indians.
There is much to be done, and that
can be done, if the followers of
Christ would heed the call that
comes for help. May we not be
the name and de- ! weary in well doing. Here is a
individuals, but it I splendid opportunity for practical
christian work.
The object of the work is to train
the children in things relating to
the household as well as preparing
them for higher work elsewhere.
With this the Bible and Christian
principles are taught and impressed as the true guide in life. It is
very encouraging to see how full
heartedly the children lay hold of
the Bible as taught them, and how
thoughtful they are when blessing
is asked and during prayers. They
have great reverence for all things
pertaining to God,and though young
they hold the name of Jesus sacred
in their little hearts. They are
obedient and enjoy doing anything
that gives pleasure to their teachers. One girl was proud to tell her
parents she had made thirteen
loaves one day and the children
liked the bread and pies she made,
"and eat very lot," as she said.
We want this good work to continue, and we ask a special interest
in your prayers to this end.
W. M. Griffiths.
At Remington Station, Moreau
River, the people have on hand
three hundred and twelve dollars
for their building fund. Besides
this they have from a friend in tne
East $50.00 and a pledge from the
native preacher of $100. So they
will soon make a begining.