The funds for the Northfield mission were given by quite a number of people here and the Indians who could be reached by it from the opening of the reservation during the last few months had nearly doubled. They had organized one church only a few weeks ago some distance off, and expected to organize another there within a few months.
"What do you want now?" said Mr. Moody at this point. Mr. Shelton replied: "We haven't a dollar for carrying on a single one of these missions after the first of September. It costs from $300 to $350 to carry each of them on. But I believe that God has started this work and will carry it on. Let me add a word with regard to the whole Indian problem. It is not the problem I presented to you two years ago; it has changed in the two years, and, thank God, it will change in two years more, if we do the work we ought to. Do we realize that our Indians are getting beyond the wild life? Forty thousand Indian people have come out of the tepee life into little homes that these Indian men have built for themselves, taking their people forward toward Christ. We talk of the Indian in his paint and blanket, forgetting that he is coming forth into life. His game is gone, his wild roving life is gone, his reservation is going. They understand their position; the old life is back of them forever. What is before them? Old Gall showed a scar reaching from his shoulder to his hip, and said: 'A white man gave me that; shall I trust him, dare I trust him, can I trust him?' The Indian takes a step ahead, and stops and trembles, doesn't know if he dare take another.
"Do you want to know the solution of the Indian problem to-day? In Christ's love take the Indians by the hand and lead them out into the same light, the same love, and to the same Christ that you have. You can talk about the government and land in severalty. Grand and good as these are, the first and all-important thing in that problem is the gospel of Christ. It must do it, it can do it, it is doing it, it will do it. The Women's Missionary Societies of fifteen Indian churches gave $200 more for home missionary work outside themselves than the Women's Missionary Societies in one hundred and forty churches of white people in the same time. They have Christian Endeavor societies there, and all kinds of Christian work. I saw one morning delegates from the Christian Endeavor Society going out to teach a white Sunday-school nine miles off in one direction, and another similar school four and one-half miles off in another.
"It is said that the young people will go back to the blanket. In ten years we have had only one case of that in our Santee school, and that was the case of a young girl who had only been in the school six months; 95 per cent. of all that come to the schools go back consecrated young men and women.
"When you think that your five stations have gathered in two or three hundred scholars and of the possibility for each, can you tell what will be the result of this work? There are thirty thousand poor Indians in Dakota alone, lifting up their cry to the Christian church for light and hope." He added: "I have turned my back to many storms on the Dakota prairies, but God grant you may never turn your back on a soul praying for light. I sometimes dread the day of judgment, because there is to stand the Indian. I would rather stand there in his place than to hear him say: 'I was hungry and ye gave me no food.' How shall we meet it, how shall we answer it? for to meet it and answer it we must before the throne."
Here Mr Shelton finished and sat down. "Now let's pay our debts," said Mr. Moody. "How many people will give $100 toward that $1,800 for sustaining those missions?" It didn't seem as though there were many responses at first, but in a few minutes eighteen names were handed to H.M. Moore of Boston, who was keeping account, and then Mr. Moody asked if there wasn't anything else he wanted—a new mission anywhere? Mr. Shelton of course said there was, and spoke of a place on the Rosebud Agency where $500 was needed to build a school, and $300 to take care of it for a year. Here was Mr. Moody's chance again, and he asked if some one wouldn't give $100 for that. One or two contributions of $100 were forthcoming, and any number of fifties came in, so that it was only a few minutes when Mr. Moore announced that they had $875 for that. Then Mr. Moody said he wanted to have the people start one more new mission and proposed that unfailing American resource, a collection. The hats were soon busy in all parts of the house, and at the end of the meeting it was found that $640 had been collected for another mission, making a grand total of $3,315.04, to be exact, raised within twenty minutes, for the work among the Dakota Indians. Mr. Moody looked more bright and cheerful than he has during the conference, as he kept calling for more contributions, and his method of applying for one seldom failed. "Col. Esty, of Brattleboro, isn't here, but he's all right, so we'll put him down for $100," he remarked, as the interest flagged for a moment, and that was the signal for a laugh and another name was sent up. Altogether it was the most enthusiastic and thoroughly roused audience of the session.
The Widow's Mite.
We gladly subjoin the following brief note from Mrs. Mary E. Fairbanks, of St. Johnsbury, Vt., addressed to Rev. Mr. Shelton. We appreciate, as she does, the gift of the widow.
"Please find enclosed (stamps) .50 for the Indian work. A few days after you were with us, a poor widow, aged and feeble, brought some sewing which she had done for me, and for which I paid her $2.50. She handed back fifty cents, asking me if I could in any way send it to Mr. Shelton for the work among the Indians. 'A widow's mite,' she said. I told her I would be very glad to do it. I think the Lord must have looked with favor on her gift. I have often sent to her missionary papers, magazines, etc., and know she had greatly enjoyed the reading. You certainly touched her heart, as you did many others. I hope the Lord is fulfilling your desires."