The three principal stations in the North are Santee, Oahe, and Fort Berthold. The work has been strengthened in each of these stations during the year. The Santee Normal School celebrated its seventeenth birthday during the past year. It was the first school of its kind established among this nation and its fruitful history abundantly proves the wisdom of its planting. Superior normal training is given the students in this school. The enrollment this year was 195. Twenty-six students were gathered in the theological department, many of whom will doubtless become missionaries to their own people. Pilgrim Church at Santee has enjoyed a year of prosperity. Eighteen have been added to the membership, eleven on the confession of their faith.
At Rosebud Agency three villages, including about 8,000 Indians, are open to missionary influence, and the work is being pushed with increased vigor. Jacob Good Dog, a converted Indian, was the Boniface in this field.
Among the Ponca Indians, in Nebraska, the work had been carried on with about the usual results.
Oahe.—This mission includes a training school and eleven out-stations on the Cheyenne and Grand rivers. Nineteen have been added to the Oahe church, on confession of their faith, during the year. A young man has been ordained as missionary to the Indians, and enters this field on Grand river for his life work. He has caught the spirit of Edwards, and Eliot and Brainard.
Fort Berthold has passed a year of prosperity. New work is opening in this field. I quote from a recent letter: “Since my last letter we have had very interesting and serious developments. The Gros Ventres and Mandan tribes, situated 20 and 40 miles from us, have little or no religious instruction, only as they come to us. These two tribes we are hoping some of our young men who are away at school will be ready soon to work with.”
S’kokomish Agency lies 1,000 miles to the west of Fort Berthold, in Washington Territory. The church here has also been blessed during the year with revival influences and four have united with it on confession of faith.
These Indian missions have been visited personally during the year by two of the Secretaries of the Association, and the work has been carefully inspected.
Santa Fe, New Mexico, still receives a fixed appropriation from the Association for the Indian department of its University, the Principal and teachers being appointed by the Association. Fourteen Apache girls have been among the pupils during the year—the first Apaches that have ever been gathered in our schools. They prove to be bright and docile pupils.