The American Missionary — Volume 41, No. 8, August, 1887Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 41, No. 8, August, 1887
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
Tuesday evening was devoted to a literary entertainment. Space
allows only of a word or two in regard to it. A former graduate
of Santee, who is now one of its teachers, read an essay on
“Civilization” well worth repeating. He began with the earliest
known civilization before Christ; came down through the centuries
with examples proving Christianity to be the mainspring of modern
civilization, ending with a touching picture of the angels of God
looking down upon this, the greatest nation of the world, and
watching anxiously to see it turn a listening ear to the plea of
the poor Indian for this very knowledge of God, which he realizes
is his only salvation, his only path to the civilization for which
he longs. Beautifully pathetic were the words in which he spoke of
our common brotherhood and of the longing of his people for better
things.
On Wednesday morning the exercises opened with a battalion drill,
and later, time was given to an exhibition of the industrial
work of the students. The blacksmith, carpenter and shoe shops
held proof of good solid work on the part of the boys; while the
needle-work of the girls and small boys was exceptional. The talent
for free-hand drawing is very general among the Indians, and the
collection of specimens was good.
The exercises closed on Wednesday evening with a social gathering
in the large dining hall. There were present all the boys and
girls of the school, the teachers, employees, and many visitors.
Blanketed Indians mingled with the rest, and many nationalities
were represented. It was a novel company, but all were happy and
glad. With the close of the evening, Santee finished a successful
year. Very early on Thursday morning nearly a score of the students
were busy with preparations for departure. In the quiet of the dawn
some of us heard the sound of music, most unusual at this hour; and
one of the teachers venturing to the chapel, found the young men
holding a meeting for prayer. It was their own idea; they had waked
one another quietly for it. It was the surest safeguard against
the temptations they were going out to meet. This single incident
shows better than words the missionary spirit pervading the whole
school. And so, to-day, with the departure of the students, goes
out the gospel influence of Santee—far North into Canada, East into
Minnesota, and West into Montana, never to diminish, but to grow
and spread until the white man’s God shall be indeed the God of all
the Indians.
What is true of the advance of the pupils of Santee is indicative
of the advance of the whole people. There is surely a bright day
coming for the Indian.
MRS. CHAS. W. SHELTON.
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
* * * * *
IMPERIUM IN IMPERIO.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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