STATISTICS.
| Churches | 5 |
| Members | 301 |
| Ministers | 7 |
| Schools | 15 |
| Teachers | 52 |
| Pupils | 706 |
| Sunday-school scholars | 776 |
Our Indian work is chiefly in Nebraska and Dakota, among the great Sioux nation that numbers about sixty thousand, and the tribes that mingle with, or are located around, them. We have three main stations, Santee, Oahe and Fort Berthold, all situated on the Missouri River, and at points strategic for pushing missions out among the people.
Santee.—Here is planted the Santee Normal School, under the care of Rev. A. L. Riggs. This institution, pioneer of its kind, began work for the higher training of Indian pupils fifteen years ago. Its history and experience show the great advancement that has been made by the Indian mind. At first the pupils came as to a sort of picnic, and expected to slip out when the fun stopped. But now the discipline, attendance and class work are of a high order and will compare favorably with schools of similar grade elsewhere. One thing quite noteworthy about Santee is that while it is often impossible to fill the desired quota of girls for other schools, applications at Santee from girls and young women far exceed the ability to receive them. This school, with its 177 pupils busily engaged in their studies under the instruction of an able corps of teachers, in possession of buildings that are up to the times in all their equipments, reaching by its influence every Indian village of the great empire of the Missouri River basin, is an institution from which, with God's blessing upon its work, we have a right to expect great things in the future.
Pilgrim Church, under the joint pastorate of the Rev. Artemas Ehnamani and Rev. A. L. Riggs, honors the faith and polity of the Pilgrim Fathers in its co-operation with the school, nurturing and extending the cause of Christian education. Its roll numbers 164 names, and its Sabbath-school reports an attendance of 183.
Great and urgent fields inviting missionary occupancy lie all around Santee. Swift Bear's colony, numbering sixteen families, an offshoot from Rosebud agency, has located along the Niobrara. Others are coming down this fall as soon as their little crops are harvested. All the land on the north side of the Niobrara, twenty miles east of the mouth of the Keya-paba, and much of the land on the Ponca Creek close by, is now taken. Here has just been built a school-house given by Deacon Burrill, of Oberlin, Ohio, a little building of two rooms, one for the teacher's residence, and the other for the school room and chapel. A son of Pastor Ehnamani, of the Santee Church, is to take charge of this station.
Among the Poncas, since last December, we have had a missionary, Rev. J. E. Smith, who, while maintaining Sabbath services with good attendance, has during the week taught a government school. At the Upper Ponca settlement, during the months of February and March, a mission day school was kept by Albert Frazier, a native teacher.
Oahe.—This mission, with its out-stations, is in charge of Rev. T. L. Riggs. The native helpers are Titus Jugg, Elizabeth Winjan, William Lee, Daniel Lee, Samuel Smiley, Stephen Yellow Hawk and Edwin Phelps, all, with one exception, full-blood Dakota Indians.
The Indians of the Rosebud Agency on the White River have long been calling for missionaries to be sent among them. The Park Street Church, Boston, has given $400 to open a mission in that needy region, and Mr. Riggs expects to have a well-established out-station on the White River before the beginning of the coming winter.
During the year a movement has been made to establish an industrial school at Oahe. The Indian Bureau gave twenty scholarships. Alonzo Trask, Esq., executor in the Marquand estate, gave $1,500 toward a building, on condition that an additional $1,500 be raised. This additional amount Mr. Riggs secured. The beginning of the school was made in January. Twelve scholars were all that could be accommodated. They were promptly secured. The school has been continued by the exercise of strictest economy and the willing self-sacrifices of all concerned. The experiment has proved a success, and a good beginning has been made for another year. The new building is now about, if not quite, ready, and fitted to receive forty scholars.
The church at Oahe bears the significant name of Shiloh. A place of rest it has proved to many a weary soul—yet of rest only as it has prepared for activity. During the year God has been pleased to manifest His grace in saving power. Seventeen new members have been received on profession of their faith and three by letter. The total membership is 54. The greater part of these are young men and women, not more than half being over thirty years of age and not more than five being past forty-five years. This church enjoys the ministrations of Stephen Yellow Hawk and David Lee.
Fort Berthold.—This point with the territory adjacent is held by Rev. C. L. Hall. The day school has had 129 pupils during the year. Six of the Indian girls have been taken into the teachers' home, with marked benefit to the mission work. Increased interest has been manifested in the church services, the average attendance being 75. At Fort Stevenson a Government school (75 pupils) has been kept by Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Wells. Religious meetings have been held fortnightly on Thursday evening and Sabbath school each Sunday. The Crow agency, after waiting two years, is still begging for us to send a missionary.
Leaving Fort Berthold and striking westward about 1,000 miles, we come to Skokomish Agency, Washington Territory, where Rev. Myron Eells stands almost alone to represent the interest our denomination takes in the salvation of the Indians of that region. At Skokomish he has a church of 46 members; at Dunginess a church of 28 members, where he spends two Sabbaths and the intervening week each month; and at Squakson, a small reservation formerly in charge of the Presbyterians, who have now withdrawn, he conducts public worship once a month. In these three places he has under his pastoral care 102 families; average attendance at public worship, 150; at Sabbath school, 84; at prayer meeting, 62. Infant baptisms, 19; adult baptisms and reception to church membership, 11. Many of the Christian Indians are efficient helpers in the prayer meeting and the Sunday school, assisting Mr. Eells when he is present and carrying on the work when he is absent.
At Santa Fé, New Mexico, we have maintained during part of the year four teachers who have had under instruction Pueblo Indian children, for whom Government scholarships had been secured.