The American Missionary — Volume 37, No. 7, July, 1883Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 37, No. 7, July, 1883
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
Last summer I spoke of two promising young men whom I hoped would
be of great Christian service here. The most promising after doing
very well for a time, brought great disgrace upon himself and was
suspended from the church. I have tried to show him his error, but
thus far it has not produced the result desired.
These Indians have almost entirely lost faith in their old religion
as such, but naturally want one of some kind. They are, however,
unwilling to give up their horse-racing and some of them their
gambling. I have been asked by several to baptize them, but refused
because of these things. The Catholic religion allows all this, and
so they have turned to it. The consolidation of the three Puget
Sound agencies into one last fall has given us thus far less moral
force here.
There have been occasional light spots. A letter came from Pearl
Street Church, in Hartford, where I taught a Sabbath-school
class fourteen years ago, offering us a barrel. It seemed very
providential, as if God were saying: “You work on, and I will take
care of the support.” The barrel came and everything appeared to
be so good that the children squealed, as they do not often, while
each article was taken out, and their mother often said: “How very
thoughtful the people were,” and we all had to thank God for it.
I have just returned from a visit to the Clallam Indians. I found
some of them doing well and some very badly, the agent having
during the past seven months had six times as many Indians to look
after as formerly, and the best subordinates which he has been able
to obtain have disappointed him. On the other hand, some have done
quite well, especially those who have procured land for homes. The
Christian Indians thus far stand well. They are not perfect, but
progressing. Two were received into the church during my visit,
and three others joined last November. The school-teacher, who
had resigned, left while I was there, and it is thought best to
give them a long vacation before sending them another. He had
charge of the Sabbath-school. The church expects to keep up its
regular services, including that of the Sabbath-school and a weekly
prayer-meeting. I have been fortunate in procuring some large,
cheap Bible pictures, which have taken the fancy of the Indians
very much. They have been in demand by all classes. I have already
obtained or ordered about 185 of them. I can impart religious truth
by them better than in any other way.
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
* * * * *
ANNIVERSARIES—THE WORK DURING APRIL AND MAY.
REV. W. C. POND.
My report of progress in our Mission covers two months and even
more. It will be difficult to compress within my space all that I
would like to say.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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