The American Missionary — Volume 54, No. 04, October, 1900Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 54, No. 04, October, 1900
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
As this magazine goes to press our missionaries are leaving for the
work of the new year in Porto Rico. During the summer they have been
busy among churches, Sunday-schools and Endeavor Societies seeking to
stimulate a larger interest for the wonderful work opening in this
island territory. An extensive campaign has been carried on
throughout Ohio and Michigan by Prof. Scott and Rev. Mr. Edwards. In
the East, Miss Blowers has told the story of the needs and
possibilities of the Porto Rican children. We appreciate the cordial
interest manifested in this work. These missions need reinforcement
by the increase of the number in teachers and evangelists. There
should be buildings erected for the schools and chapels at different
points. New fields should be occupied in the near future. The work
demands a large place in the interest and contributions of our
Sunday-schools and Endeavor Societies as well as our churches.
* * * * *
AMONG THE INDIANS.
Missionary Work in Out-Stations.
REV. G. W. REED, NORTH DAKOTA.
In some of our Indian mission fields the name out-station is a
misnomer. It is especially so on the Standing Rock Reservation where
there has never been a mission boarding-school to make prominent a
central station. Ten years ago all of the 3,700 Indians came to the
agency every two weeks for their rations of meat, flour, etc. For
four or five days, including Sunday, they all camped in a radius of
five miles. Here was a fine opportunity for religious work. Here
naturally was built the first chapel which was the home of the first
church organization though the original members lived in South
Dakota, 32 miles from their chapel, which was in North Dakota.
[Illustration: GREAT EXPECTATIONS.]
But to-day the out-station is emphatically the in-station, in the
heart of the various Indian communities; for four sub issue stations
have been established, and with few exceptions the people are
compelled to travel not over twenty-five miles to get their bi-weekly
rations. There is no good reason why they should be away from home
more than two days for this purpose. This arrangement has given great
prominence to the so-called out-station--which is in charge of a
native preacher and his wife, both of like importance in the work, in
the heart of an Indian community, letting its light shine every day
in the year. The people are becoming more and more scattered, making
the day-school well nigh an impossibility and greatly diminishing the
attendance at all but Sunday religious meetings.
[Illustration: OUR FIRST CHAPEL, STANDING ROCK, N. D.]
It is no uncommon thing to find a family with no neighbor within a
mile. They have found it easier to haul a few loads of wood in
winter than many loads of hay 10 to 15 miles in summer. They are
living out where they can find a good range and plenty of hay for
their cattle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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