The Word Carrier of Santee Normal Training School (Santee, Nebraska), 1909-09 - 1909-10

              the Word Carrier
OF
SANTEE NORMAL TRAINING SCHOOL.
VOLUME XXXVIII.
HELPING THE RIGHT, EXPOSING THE WRONG.
NUMBER  5.
SANTEE, NEBRASKA.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER, 1909.
THIRTY CENTS PER YEAR.
Our   Platform
For Indians we want American Education I We want American Homes I We want American Rights! The result of which is
Aroer.can Citizenship ! And the Gospel is the Power of God [or
their Salvation!
The Mission Meeting
The Indians of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches of the Dakota Mission
held their yearly Mission Meeting, Sept. 1st
to Sept. 5th, at Ascension church, near Sisseton, The neat little church stands alone, on a
wid; long ridge with higher hills to the north,
and little wooded ravines between the hills and
on "very side. The large tent for the meetings
was placed near the tents, and the other tents,
as usual were arranged around these in a large,
im   ular circle.
The G, M. & St. Paul R'y. gave reduced
fans, and a special train of ten passenger cars
am: two baggage cars carried more than five
hundred people to the meeting. Others came
on arlier and later trains, and in wagons. It
was estimated that there were nearly two thou-
sai    people in attendance.
Tlie services of the conference began onWed-
nes lay afternoon, but quite a number of the
Im ans had been camping there since the Sat-
un : y before, and during those days preceding
the ' onference, evangelistic meetings were held
by Or. Bergen of Dubuque, Iowa, assisted by
Mi -. Bergen as musician, and Mr. Frank Wright
an udian evangelist from Oklahoma. Dr. and
Mr.-. Bergen and Mr. Wright also stayed through
thi conference, and assisted at some of the
otli'-r services, especially in the evenings. The
Indian people seemed interested in them, and
aft.! ward spoke heartily of having found their
services helpful. While most of the Indians
pn .nt were already professing Christians, we
believe that many were strengthened and renewed in purpose, by the influence of these new
sp kers, their sympathy, their earnest words
ami their songs.
"> lie weather on the whole, was favorable.
Tin -e was one day of drizzling rain which made
people uncomfortable until it was over. But
it was clear after that with a cool breeze, and
those who had a plenty of warm clothing were
al)I.' to enjoy the other days.
The meetings were well attended and the interest was well sustained. Among the topics
weiv these:
How can the Dakota churches be revived?
Low should the Dakotas care for their land?
flow to teach the Bible.
Ilow to study the Bible.
is the no-ticket society beneficial to the
people?
The meaning of the last question had to be
explained to many in the audience, even of the
Indians themselves. It seems that in some parts
of the Indian country those who have given up
their ration tickets and are receiving little from
the government, have formed a society that
holds dances where they sing their old songs
and keep up an interest in the old customs.
The Christian Indians who are in a position to
know about this society, consider its spirit hostile to the United States government. After
the discussion, it was voted that the Conference
send a memorial to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, asking that these dances should
be stopped.
The animation of those who took part in all
these discussions and the close attention given,
snow that these people were thinking, and that
they considered the questions under discussion
°f vital importance.
Oue of the interesting meetings was that of
the Santee Students Association At the very
beginning of this meeting Rev. John Eastman
moved that a committee be appointed to prepare a letter to be sent to Dr. A. L. Riggs, the
principal of the school, expressing the rever
ence and affection of the former students for
him, and their regret that he was unable to be
with them. The report of the treasurer showed that two hundred and forty-seven dollars
had been collected for the school since the last
meeting, making the total contributed by the
students to the endowment fund, six hundred
and ninety-six dollars.    '
The missionary meetings of the two denominations were also of great interest, but I can
only speak of the Congregational meeting. The
report of the treasurer showed that fourteen
hundred dollars had been given for missions
during the year, about two-thirds of which was
raised by the women's societies. Reports were
given from the three mission schools, at Elbowoods, Oahe, and Santee, and it was voted to
give each school two hundred dollars to aid in
its support for the next year. The Presbyterians raised more missionary money than the
Congregationalists.
The Sunday morning service included a sermon followed by the communion. It was more
than two hours long, but the people did not
seem weary. At the English preaching in the
afternoon, a considerable number of white people from Sisseton were present, and the sermon was given by Rev. Frank Wright.
For myself, I felt that the inspiration given
by the meetings of these five days is a blessed
preparation for the work ahead of us. There
is so much that is encouraging, in seeing how
much has been accomplished, and in feeling the
appreciation and gratitude of the better ones
among the Indian people. At the same time,
we see, as we do not see in the schools, how
near they still are to their primitive condition,
and how much remains to be done.
Then there are short but precious fragments
of time for conference among the missionaries
of different stations, where we gain some help
from the experiences of others; and especially
receive some incentive to greater devotion, from
the example of those who have cheerfully given
the labor of a life time, amid discouragements
and difficulties, to building up God's kingdom
among the Indians. Edith Leonard.
Santee Association
The Santee Students Association held a meeting September 2 at Ascension, S. D.,during the
meeting of the mission conference. On the report of a nominating committee, the same general officers were reelected, and they were empowered to appoint the District Vice Presidents. A committee was appointed to express
to Dr. A. L. Riggs, who was absent on account
of sickness, the appreciation of the Association.
The district treasurers brought in the gifts of
the district societies. Then a contribution was
taken up, all of which is reported below.
Rev. Frank Wright of Oklahoma gave an encouraging talk on different kinds of schools,
and expressed himself as most interested in the
mission schools, because there was where the
boys and girls receive a Christian education.
OFFICERS  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION:
President, Rev. Arthur Tibbetts,
Cannon Ball, N. D.
Treasurer, Rev. Louis De Coteau,
Wilmot, S. D.
Secretary, Mrs. Lizzie P. Arthur,
Vice Presidents: PoPlar> Mont-
Mrs. Eunice Baskin, Santee, Neb.
Henry Kennedy, Poplar, Mont.
Charles W. Hoffman, Elbowoods, N. D.
Oscar Goodboy, Shields, N. D.
Rev. H. Wakutemani, Little Eagle, S. D.
Owlking, Cheyenne River, S. D.
Mrs. Mary Likehim, Grosse, S. D.
Hugh M. Jones, Dixon, S. D.
Albert Tatankayuta, Rosebud, S. D.
Rev. Samuel Rouillard, Pine Ridge, S. D.
Mrs. Victoria Simmons,  Greenwood,  S. D.
Mrs. Fannie Allen, Flandreau, S. D.
Thomas Standfast, Sisseton, S. D.
Solomon Meinrad, Fort Totten, N. D.
Harry Whiteblanket,   Allen, S.  D.
THE  ENDOWMENT  FUND :
Yankton Agency Association, by Mrs.
Alice C. Keeler $85 00
Santee Association, by Mrs. Eunice Baskin     18 00
Flandreau Association, by Samuel Allen 18 10
Poplar Creek Association, by Mrs. Lizzie P. Arthur     3 05
Grand River Association, by H. Wakutemani      5 55
Dixon,   S.   D.   Association,   by   Hugh
Jones     4 50
Sisseton Association, by Thomas Standfast      5 25
Collection at meeting   32 74
Mrs. Julia Conger     5 00
Henry Cloud     5 00
Grace Eastman     5 00
Mrs. Ellen Phelps   10 00
197 19
Reported  previously  in  Word   Carrier
and Iapi Oaye    434 94
Interest on funds in bank      14 00
$646 13
Rev. Frank Wright, note payable Jan.
1,  1910      50 00
The Story of a Sweet Life.
On the 26th of August, just before our people began to come back from vacation, Grace
Lawson died. She had been failing for three
years; we knew her life could not be long; yet
the end seemed sudden. A few days before,
she had a stroke of paralysis. She waked from
sleep unable to move her arm. From that time
she failed rapidly.
Grace was twenty-four years old, and during
most of her life, her home was at Santee mission. She grew up among us "a fair, meek
blossom"—just a sweet, modest, gentle girl.
There were nearly seven years of school life
away from home, filled with joyful enthusiasm
and interest in the broadening life. These were
happy years.
Then came the three years at home of delicate
health. During much of this time she was not
able to share the active life of the mission as
she would have been glad to do. She was interested in all that was going on, glad to help
where she could, glad to see any who went to
see her, and always anxious to go to church, or
to anything that was being done on the mission
as long as she was able. Her life seems short.
And yet, it was a victorious one.
Grace never complained; she very rarely talked of herself and her troubles, and if she did,
spoke lightly of them. This last summer in
writing to one of the teachers, all she said of
her health, after a long newsy letter, was simply, "I am still playing lady."
She always seemed hopeful, and glad to live,
even with all her weakness and discomfort, for
the sake of the good things God had made, and
for the dear ones He had given her. Almost up
to the last she was planning for the flowers
they would have next winter, and wanting to
paint the flower pots.
She was never idle, when she was able to do
anything. She did much to help in the home,
and even when growing weak, she always had
some sewing or light fancy work near.
Though she talked very little about religion,
she had a simple trust in God, and a loving
heart. She united with Pilgrim church while
she was yet very young, and was a faithful
member of it. To those who knew her well,
her memory will always be sweet and beautiful. E. L