CHURCH—CHRISTMAS—BIBLES.
REV. MYRON EELLS, S’KOKOMISH, WASH. TER.
The first Sabbath in this year we received five members into our church, three of them on profession of faith, two of whom were our older scholars. One of the scholars whom we received a year ago died some time since. It was on the Sabbath, and after his brother, also a member, had returned from church, he took his brother’s hand and held it until he died, urging him to hold steadfast to his Christian profession to the end.
We have, to our great regret, been obliged to discipline two others for misconduct, suspending them for three months.
On Christmas I arranged so that a dinner was prepared for the oldest Indians, who are unable to support themselves. They enjoyed it, coming through storm, snow and cold in order to get it. It was the first affair of the kind we have had for them alone. Between Government and the Indians, feasts have been prepared for the Indians in general, but never for the old decrepit ones. They are nearly always neglected.
For more than two years I have been serving as Local Agent of our Territorial Bible Society. On making my report for the last year, I find that I have sold books to the amount of $32.19, viz. thirty Bibles and forty-five Testaments. Of these, twenty-one Bibles and eighteen Testaments have been bought by the Indians, for which they have paid $22.72. These have varied in price from the five-cent Testament to the royal octavo Bible, gilt, reference, the latter having been for a newly married couple, both of whom have been in school.