S’KOKOMISH, WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
REV. MYRON EELLS.
On the first Sabbath in April, we had the privilege of receiving three more into our church, all on profession of faith, two of them Indians from the school, and the other a young lady who has been assistant-matron in the boarding department. The Twanas and Clallams were formerly at war with each other, and even now there is not always the best of feeling between the two tribes: a like unpleasant feeling has often been shown between the whites and Indians: yet, on that Sabbath, representatives of the three classes received baptism, there being one Twana, one Clallam, and one white person.
Another noticeable fact was the motive which induced them to become Christians. In reply to my question on this point, each one unknown to the other said, that it was because he had noticed that Christians were so much happier than other people. Two of them had tried the wrong road very earnestly, and had found to their great sorrow that “the way of the transgressor is hard.” I was led then to think of two or three others who had united with the church on profession of faith within about a year, employees on the Reservation, who had made similar statements. “If the Bible were not true, and yet I could only believe it to be true, I would gladly do so, if it would bring me the happiness that Christians profess to have,” said one. Since becoming a Christian, he has often spoken of his happiness, and has great pity for those who are skeptical, for he knows how they feel, even if they do argue against Christianity. Another of the number, who was for three years very skeptical, a talented writer, and who used her talents against Christianity so strongly that her companions feared to enter the lists against her, and who was supposed to be thoroughly contented in her unbelief, became a Christian, and now speaks of those years, as “three years of horrible darkness.”
On the third Sabbath of April, I was at Dunginess, where I received four more into our church, three on profession of faith. Two Indians and two whites stood side by side to enter the church. The communion season was very pleasant. One white lady, who had not been to the Lord’s table for a year, and who was just recovering from sickness, was so anxious to be present, that as she was unable to walk the distance, a little more than a quarter of a mile, she was carried by her husband more than half the way in a wheelbarrow. Another lady, seventy-six years old, walked three miles to be present, then another mile to where I should preach to the whites in the afternoon, and home again in the evening, about eight miles in all. Ten of the whites sat down there with the four Indians in the Indian church to celebrate Christ’s love.
One person, who lives half a mile from the Indian village, said to me, as we came away, “It is a shame, it is a shame, that the Indians here are going ahead of the whites in religious affairs. It is a wonder how they are making advancement, considering the examples around them.” Two marriages, one infant and three adult baptisms, four received to the church, one communion service, one funeral, three prayer-meetings, and other services to the amount of fourteen in all, were the result of the eighteen days I was away from home.
I had been at home but a few days when I was sent for by an Indian on the Reservation who has been an invalid for some time, and who asked to be received as a member of the church. After considerable consultation, he was so received week ago last Sabbath.
Last Sabbath, my work at Seabeck culminated in a small church organization among the whites. I have written you that I have preached at that place, thirty miles distant, about once a month, when not called on some distant trip. The work has amounted to about eight visits a year.
Some six weeks ago, I felt that it was best for the few Christians there to be banded together. I immediately tried to obtain some assistance in organizing, but after three efforts failed entirely, and hence, armed with authority from this church, I proceeded with the organization. Nine entered it, two on profession of faith. The heterogeneousness of the population may be seen from the fact that of the seven who joined from other churches, one came from a Congregational church and two from a Protestant Methodist church in this Territory, one from a Congregational church in California, one from a Presbyterian church in British Columbia, one from the Episcopal church in England, and one from the Lutheran church in Norway, who, however, does not believe that he was a Christian until after he left Norway. “It is the Lord’s doings and it is marvellous in our eyes.”
In the civilization of the Indians we feel somewhat encouraged. One fact has appeared quite plainly during the past winter. It has been the most severe winter known here for twenty-five years—the snow at one time lying five feet deep—and although it was nearly gone on the tide flats in six weeks, yet on most of the Reservation it lay for more than three months from six inches to two feet deep. As late as four or five years ago, the Indians generally lost a large number of cattle or horses every winter for want of feed, even when there were only two or three weeks of snow, selling altogether too much of their hay in the fall; but during the past winter not one of their animals has died for want of food, as far as I have been able to learn. Experience and observation have taught them to secure sufficient food and to keep it until all danger is over.