/' / J o PAM. N. AM£Ri OFFICE OF TfiE Indian Rights Association, No. 1305 Arch Street, Phila. PLEA FOR AN INDIAN CHURCH BOARDING SCHOOL ON THE STANDING ROCK RESERVATION, DAKOTA. I am trying to raise the sum of S(i,000 to enable Bishop Hare to erect a Boarding School for Indian children at St. Elizabeth’s Mission Station on the Standing Rock Reservation, Dakota. A word as to the reasons for undertaking this enterprise, and as to the incident which suggested it to my mind. I was seated in the Indian Agent’s office, on the Cheyenne River Reserve, one after- noon late in the month of June past when, as I happened to glance out over the dry dusty space of laud lying between the Agency buildings and the Missouri, I saw a tall, serious-faced Indian in civilized dress passing by. It was Philip Deloria, Missionary at St. Elizabeth’s Station, on the Standing Rock Re- serve. I ran out to meet him, much surprised to find him at the Agency, which is ninety miles distant from his home. His first words told me that he was in deep grief, his wife having died from sudden illness, two days previous. He had travelled by wagon sixty miles that day on his way to his old home at Yank- ton Agency, with his little daughter, an attractive child of six, whom he intended placing under the care of a relative. But Philip’s personal trouble did not make him forget the needs of his people, and as we sat that evening at the door of his tent while the sun sank beyond the furthest edge of the western prairie, he said to me, in his slow, halting way, occasioned by his imperfect knowledge of English : “ Mr. Welsh, my people want a Church Boarding School for their children ; the Government School at Standing Rock is in the hands of the Roman Catholics, and the children of our Christian Indians, if they go there, will be brought up outside the faith of their parents. Won’t you tell good people, when you go east, of our great need, and ask them 1 2 to help us build a Church Boarding School at St. Elizabeth’s, like St. John’s school at this*Agency?” I answered that I would speak of this need, which I knew to be a real and pressing one, when I had an opportunity, but that I could not promise to do much in pressing it, as so many other financial burdens were resting upon me. The next day Philip Deloria started on his southward journey, and I have not seen him since ; but as I travelled northward on my way to Standing Rock, I had an opportunity to see and talk with the Indians connected with St. Elizabeth’s Mission. I became convinced that their request for a school was well founded, and that the interest which they have already shown in helping themselves entitles them to the help of eastern friends. Upon my return to the east I wrote to a lady of New England, who is well known for her deep interest in the cause of the Indians and her intelligent and zealous labors to promote their welfare. Through her instrumentality $250 were soon contributed for the school by Trinity Church, Boston ; and since then other gifts from friends have increased this amount to $831.56. The following letter from Philip Deloria to myself, written in acknowledgment of the generosity of Boston friends and of their interest in the school, will at least show that the heart of the Indian is not incapable of gratitude : — St. Elizabeth’s, Dec. 8, 1887. Mr. Herbert Welsh: Dear Friend : — I was arrived here on the first part of Oct. last. I found that all my people been doing well. And they are doing very well ever since. There was quite number of them are now candidate for confirmation, and some are seeking for baptism. And there was some children being baptized after I was coming home here. Some of our people living 15 miles away from us, therefore I had to go there for holding services with them. When we have services all the responses and prayers are said by nearly all the congregations. And made the services very interesting to all. When I received your letter, and have found that there are now $250 for the proposed boarding school my heart is leap for joy, and I read the letter to my people and when I had come to the word $250, they all having smiles on 3 their faces and said, “ Haye,” that is to say, “ Thanks.” There was three prominent men aside from our own men are still wish- ing to have the (church boarding school) for their children. There names are as follows : John Grass, Gaul, and Two Packs, and many others. My own desiring is that this people ought to have the school. I have many thanks to the kindness of Rev. Mr. Brooks and all the other good people who has been working with him. God bless them. Sincerely Yours, P. J. Deloria. Letter from a Christian Indian woman to Rev. Philip Delo- ria : — INIoreau, Dakota, Nov. 22d, 1887. Mr. Deloria : Mr. Peter No Heart has coming back here this evening, to one of our meeting, and he has telling us all about your works, also he told us that your people are doing well. He also has telling us that they wished to have a church boarding school for their children. And wishing us very much to help for what we can, so we at once have the matter talked it over among ourselfs, and had collected these small amount of money which is $7.50 for the proposed boarding school, and, we are very gladly to assuring you, that this coming winter we all going to work hard and raise some money for the same object. We believe that Good Lord will hear our prayers and give us strong hearts to do more for him. We all shaking hand wdth you, I am one of your friends. Nancy Oyanke Wakan Win, Secretary of Women’s Aux. This school, when built, will be under the care and direction of Rt. Rev. Wm. H. Hare, d.d., and within the diocese of Southern Dakota. I shall be glad to receive toward this fund any gifts with which I may be entrusted, and to deposit them in bank as they are received. I trust that those who feel interested in the work, but who can only contribute very small sums, will not on that account hesitate to do what they can. HERBERT AVELSH. March 24, 1888. i- ! . >■ ' ( .11 • 7 ;j«'' ■'• .Mill ■ I .■'’IJ'. • /.' h ' J <’r L->ri < Yjb'f »■«> v.iiiif l.v *■ .'»#y5 *l)M . H vr .' ■ '.«« .n!| " O ^ 4 *■.■ ' ; •■.■..<]■: At .-DJi ■i" ■_. / • :: 7 1 ,?rcui-'i- ;V I*V. ■ '■i- i ? '‘^k^ Iv* ' ' *' ■ ^ * ,ii..n 'I'fnVm -lu ' * : 'vi:* Fi'j ' JiVNt-, ** “i > a’/t : • 1 ,. .•■ tV/' • \ ■."•/■•y. • 1 f * . N . 'i . '.;v . Ml ^ ' It ' .. M 1 U iV- 1 ! ■ .•') t.,il 'i'l.r.'i'i ' ■ it ^ 4 tV't'-r* w .r‘VV*^ tfj V’ ‘ i'mI t ..1: ■ » » -i :. f. 1 ... ,'i ^ I '■' '. 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