' S- , ••■•••••■■••■••••••<•■••■■■ ■•••■•■••■•■•■•••■•■■•••••■■•■•■•■••■■■■•••■■■■■•■■■■•■•■••■••■■■•■••■■■■••■■•■••••■■•■••■■I REPOR ON IN TIIK STATKS OK NEW YORK, MICHIGAN, AND WISCONSIN BY REV. A. B. jJONARO, D.D. ( OKUKSPONIHNf; SKi’HKTAHV (PKIMXErJ liV OKDECR OK THE: OOARO.l |vw* VI' J REPORT ON 6 -’ .4 Indian Missions IN THE STATES OF NEW YORK, MICHIGAN, AND WISCONSIN BY Rev. a. B. LEONARD, D.D. Corresponding Secretary ^PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE BOARD.1 NEW YORK HUNT &■ EATON 1890 Report on Indian Missions IN THE STATES OF NEW YORK, MICHIGAN, AND WISCONSIN. By Corresponding Secretary A. B. LEONARD. Presented to the Board of Managers June 17, 1890. In obedience to the instructions of this Board I set out on the 5 th of May to visit, as far as practicable, our Indian Missions in New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It being impracticable to visit all the reservations in these States where we have Indian work, I selected such points as could be reached with comparative con- venience and would fairly represent the average condition of the Missions in the States named. In addition to personal visita- tion I have gathered considerable information by correspondence with presiding elders having charge of the districts including In- dian Reservations, and from missionaries who minister to these neglected people. Onondagas. My first visit was to the Onondagas, whose reservation lies a short distance south of the city of Syracuse, N. Y., and is within the bounds of the Central New York Conference. The tribal relation, which is a fatal barrier to even a fair civilization, is here main- tained. The land is held in common, and its occupancy by a member of the tribe is subject to the decision of a council con- stituted of chiefs. This greatly obstructs any important improve- ments in the line of agriculture or buildings, such as dwelling-- houses, barns, etc. No one knows how long he will be allowed to occupy the land he may improve or live in the house he may erect. This reservation system promotes idleness and roaming from one part of the reservation to another. Then there is uncertainty in the minds of the Indians as to what policy the Slate will pursue concerning these reservations. Reports are circulated among the tribe of a contemplated allot- men,t lands by the State. The man who improves a farm may 3 find when allotment comes that in part or in whole his improve- ments become the property of another. There is, therefore, nothing to stimulate the Indian to industry and to a bettering of his temporal condition. He does not have the motive to labor which ordinarily inspires the white man, namely, that he will certainly reap the results of his industry. The tribal relation, moreover, promotes domestic and social immorality. Not being citizens, the Indians are not subject to State law except in fla- grantly criminal matters. For theft or murder they are tried and punished by the State, but of their social and domestic relations the State takes no notice. The marriage relation is almost ut- terly disregarded among the pagan Indians, who constitute fully three fourths of the tribe. Indian marriages consist of simply living together as husband and wife, and such relations continue only while both parties are satisfied. Separations are numerous and often cause neighborhood disturbances and crimes. Family ties are very weak and uncertain. Lewdness and intemperance abound. The social and domestic relations and moral condition of these Indians do not admit of description. What is true of the Onondagas is true also of the other tribes within the State of New York. The Indian reservations of New York are like ulcers upon a fair and beautiful face. The very first step toward the elevation of these Indian tribes is the destruction of the tribal re- lation through allotment of their lands. It is said that there are serious difficulties in the way of such allotment, but the State of New York should find some way to solve those difficulties and rid the State of a condition of things that is simply a disgrace to the civilization of the age. The Onondagas number about four hun- dred. The State supports a school for their benefit, but as there is no law to compel attendance, and the parents either oppose or take little interest in educational matters, the attendance is small and irregular. The language of the Onondagas has not been written, and so they have no literature. A few of them have learned to read the Mohawk, and some of these have the Script- ures in that dialect. The hymns used by our Christian Indians are in the Mohawk language. We have here a comfortable, neatly- kept house of worship and a modest little parsonage, which is as bright and sweet as a Christian home can be ; made so by the ex- cellent wife of the missionary. Rev. Abraham Fancher, who gives all of his time to this work. The membership of the church is about sixty. There are a few more who claim to be Methodists, but they are of very unceriain character. The missionary re- ceives $500 missionary money, which constitutes his entire 4 support. The amount contributed by the Indians no more than provides meagerly for current expenses. In view of my visit the missionary had appointed a service which was held on a week-day at three o’clock in the afternoon. There were seventy-five Indians present, who listened with ap- parent interest to what was said (through an interpreter), and who manifested their appreciation by the frequent utterance of a hearty Amen ! They had excellent singing, and a brass band, whose members are Indians, rendered excellent music. There is also a lodge of Good Templars, which meets in the Council House, and which is said to be accomplishing a good work. The Protestant Episcopal Church has a Mission located near to ours, served by a missionary who also teaches the State school. The Tonawanda Reservation, in the bounds of the Genesee Conference, is occupied by the Sene- cas. The tribe numbers between six hundred and seven hundred persons, and their moral condition is the same as that of the On- ondagas. The Mission is served, so far as it is served at all, by the Rev. T. C. Bell, pastor of Alabama charge, which is con- tiguous to the reservation. We have here a small chapel, built about two years ago. The membership is small, consisting of fourteen full members and four probationers. Brother Bell preaches to these people every Friday evening, and this is the only attention they receive. The attendance upon religious serv- ices is small, never reaching more than forty, and frequently a much smaller number. There is no Sunday-school. The mission- ary sometimes holds class-meeting in connection with his Friday evening service. Here also there is a lodge of Good Templars, numbering about forty. The only Sunday service is held by an Indian who is a Presbyterian, who is allowed to preach on Sab- bath evenings, and receives for his services what the people choose to give. Judging from the appearance of this brother he probably receives as much as his work is worth. The amount of missionary money appropriated here is $133 33, which, though sup- posed to be for the benefit of the Indians, is in fact quite as much an appropriation to aid the white work to which the reservation is attached. These Indians are sadly neglected. The Baptists have a commodious brick church near ours, in which an old Indian preaches on the Sabbath, but no missionary money is appropriated for his support. The Presbyterians have a house of worship, but they do not sustain a regular service. It 5 was reported that they were about to begin their work anew. The Christian Indians are about equally divided between the Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists. Our work is the most important, but it is so weak that it is scarcely better than nothing at all. The leading chief of the tribe, a member of the Baptist Church, with whom I conversed at length, says that fully one fourth of his people are pagans. They sacrifice the white dog annually and keep up their pagan customs, while far the greatest number pro- fess no religion at all. Our work should be better served at this point or entirely discontinued. If it must be connected with white work, then it should be so arranged as that at least one half the time of the missionary could be given to this tribe. It would be better still if the missionary could be placed upon the reserva- tion, to give all his time to these needy people ; but to do this would require an appropriation of not less than $500 missionary money. The Cattaraugus Reservation is also in the Genesee Conference, and is occupied by the Seneca Indians. The tribal relation and the social and moral conditions inseparably connected with that relation are found here as in the other cases. There are about fifteen hundred Indians on this res- ervation. We have a membership of thirty, with twenty proba- tioners. They are served in connection with Gowanda station by the Rev. J. W. Wright, who preaches to them every Sabbath after- noon, for which service he receives $266 67 missionary money. There is no Sunday-school, but prayer and class-meetings are sustained somewhat irregularly. Our house of worship, built about fifty years ago, is in a dilapidated condition, and must be repaired if our work is continued. The foundation is worthless, and much of the plaster has fallen from the ceiling and walls. The Indians are not able to repair it at their own expense. At least $200 should be appropriated at once to enable them to put their house in condition for use. At this point, also, we ought to support a missionary who should live on the reservation and give his whole time to this work. The Presbyterians have a good church and parsonage and support a missionary. Their membership numbers eighty-six active and seventy-three nominal members. The State has built and sus- tains an asylum here for Indian orphans, children under sixteen years of age. It now contains over one hundred orphans, is well managed, and is doing an excellent work. 6 The St. Regis Reservation is on the St. Lawrence River, in the bounds of the Northern New York Conference. It is so far from the other reservations that I did not reach it. They number about three thousand, among whom there are about three hundred Protestants and seven hundred Roman Catholics, the balance being pagan or destitute of any religion. We have a church with a membership, including probationers, of about sixty persons, and a Sunday-school is sus- tained. Our missionary. Rev. A. Wills, says that what we most need to enable us to compete with the Roman Catholics is a good boarding-school. In Michigan the condition of the Indians is somewhat better than in the State of New York. Here the reservation, as such, has been abolished. The Indians, so far as they have lands at all, hold them in severalty. A great mistake was made by the gov- ernment, when the allotment was made, in giving to the Indians titles for their lands without any restriction as to their right to sell. As soon as the allotments w'ere made, land-sharks went among the Indians and bought their lands for trivial sums, or loaned them small sums of money at high rates of interest secured by mortgage on short time, and then foreclosed as soon as the law would permit them so to do. If the lands had been simply patented to them for a term of twenty-five or thirty years, during which time they should have had neither power to give away, sell, or mortgage, they would have been protected against the “ sharks ” that have already largely robbed them. The tribal relation does not here exist. They are citizens and subject to the laws of the State. Their domestic and social relations, though shockingly bad sometimes, are better than in the State of New York. They are more indus- trious and enterprising, and upon the whole, upon a higher plane of morality and civilization. The Isabella Mission is in Isabella County, in the Michigan Conference. The Indian population numbers about six hundred. We have about two hun- dred church members, including probationers. There are four congregations. Three of the houses of worship are made of logs, while the fourth is a frame structure. This work receives an ap- propriation of $ioo missionary money, and is attached to a white charge. They are served by the Rev. C. H. Benson, who preaches for them occasionally on week days, and supplies them as best he can on Sabbath by local preachers. There are no Sunday-schools and the work, as a whole, is very feebly sustained. Here there is 7 ample work to occupy the time of a missionary. At present we are trifling with an important work. At least $400 should be appro- priated to this Mission, which, together with what the Indians can give, would give a moderate support to a missionary. Here a week-day service was held and I preached, through an interpreter, to an attentive congregation of about seventy persons. At the close of the sermon an interesting testimony service was held, and many testified to the saving power of the Gospel. In Mason and Oceana Counties there is an Indian population of fourteen hundred. We have one congregation in Mason County attached to Scottville Charge, served by Rev. J. W. Perkins. The missionary appropriation is $100. There being no church building the services are held in a school-house. In Oceana County we have no work, and the Indians have no attention except from the Roman Catholics. These two counties should be constituted a Mission and a missionary should give them his entire time. He is needed, not only to instruct them in religion, but to help them in the management of their tem- poral affairs. He could by wise counsel protect them against the unprincipled white people who are robbing them of their lands, and could also aid them in business, social, and domestic matters. Petoskey Mission, bordering upon Lake Michigan on the west, is an important work. , The Indians are a mixture of Chippeways and Ottawas. They are the best dressed and most civilized of any Indians I had the opportunity of seeing in the State of Michigan. There are three congregations, Petoskey, Horton’s Bay, and Susan Lake. The aggregate membership is about ninety, and is served by the Rev. J. P. Holliday, who receives $100 missionary money. Though receiving the amount of missionary money named, Brother Holliday, who has charge of white work also, was rendering but little service to the Indians. A young Indian, fairly well educated, a local preacher, was serv- ing the Mission, and receiving as compensation what the Indians could give. Brother Holliday should not be blamed for not giv- ing more attention to these Indians, but the policy should be blamed which attaches the Indian work to the white work, and makes it impossible for them to receive the service they should have. The young Indian local minister to whom I have already referred, could serve these Indians very acceptably and profitably provided the sum of about $300 could be appropriated. Here, also, the Roman 8 Catholics are doing some work, but the difference between the Prot- estant Indians and the Catholics here, as elsewhere, is so marked that all who come in contact with them note at once the superior- ity of the former over the latter. Here I preached to a congrega- tion of about seventy well-dressed, well-behaved, attentive people. The Kewawenon Mission is located on the east side of Kewena Bay, which extends south- ward from Lake Superior. The Mission property contains thirty acres of land, about fifteen acres of which is cultivated by the missionaries. Ten years ago the Missionary Society sold the lake or bay front of about twenty acres for $4 per acre. Soon after- ward it was sold again for ^20 per acre. The sale of this — the most valuable part of the property — renders what remains much less valuable than it was before. In my judgment the sale was a mistake, but it is now too late to retrieve it. At about the same time the Missionary Society sold an adjoining forty acres to a camp- meeting association at $5 per acre. It was the purpose of the association to establish a summer resort, but the location was too remote and the project failed. The camp-meeting association is in debt and about to go into the hands of a receiver. About $200 would buy back the property, and I think the Missionary Society would do well to consider the propriety of making the purchase. The land is covered with a growth of timber and underbrush of but little value except for fuel. It is very likely that at some not very distant period the land will be quite valuable because of its beau- tiful situation on the bay. The village of L’Anse, situated at the head of the bay, is about three miles south of this property, and may become a point of considerable importance. It is very cer- tain that there can be no risk in purchasing the property upon the terms now offered. Our present mission property, in addition to the land, consists of a good, neat chapel, built three years ago at a cost of about ^1,500, and a parsonage with six rooms built five years ago at a cost of $800. A mill company, Hibbard & Son, doing business about five miles distant, though not Methodists themselves, have contributed liberally to the erection of both chapel and parsonage, and regularly contributed to the current expenses of the Mission. We here have, also, a missionary horse of uncertain age and practically superannuated, and a missionary cow which is rendering excellent service to our missionary family. The Indian population is about two hundred. Our church mem- bership is eighty-five. A Sunday-school and prayer and class-meet- ings are fairly sustained. The social and domestic relations of 9 these Indians are not what could be desired, but there is gradual improvement in these regards. Rev. J. D. Holliday serves the Mission and is doing faithful work. In connection with this Mission there are two white congrega- tions, but the Indians have preaching once every Sabbath, and the missionary lives among them. The present appropriation of mis- sionary money is only $49. Next year no appropriation will be needed here, as, in connection with the white work, it will be self- supporting. Other Missions. We have several other Missions in this State, which I did not visit. In Iosco and Alcona Counties there are about eighty Indians of the Chippewa tribe, among whom we have a membership num- bering twenty-five. We have a neat church building, but of its value I have no information. They have no Sabbath-school, for the reason that there is no one competent to superintend one. A common public school is taught six months in the year. The Mission is under the care of our church at Oscoda, in the Detroit Conference, of which Rev. R. W. Muholland is pastor, but the Indians are served by Rev. John Ta-duh-quah-song, an Indian. Of the amount of missionary money appropriated I have no information. In Saginaw County there are about two hundred Indians of the Chippewa tribe, among whom we have two prosperous churches with a membership of twenty-seven in one and eighteen in the other. Our missionary, the Rev. T. Daniels, receives $150 missionary money, and gives all his time to these two congregations. In the western part of Antrim County there are one hundred and fifty Chippewa Indians, among whom we have a church of twenty-six members and four probationers, and the work is served by Rev. S. P. Jewett, in connection with white churches. The amount of missionary money appropriated is $50. At Northport, in the north-east part of Leehanaw County, there are about four hundred Indians, among whom we have fifty-nine church members and ten probationers. There is a Sunday-school also, averaging an attendance of twenty-seven. This work is con- nected with white work and is served by the Rev. I. Eagle, who receives $100 missionary money. Both the Presbyterians and the Roman Catholics are doing some work among these Indians, the latter having a school. In Calhoun, Allegan, and Ottawa Coun- ties there are about one hundred and fifty-eight Indians of the Pottawattamie and Ottawa tribes, among whom we have a church 10 of sixty-two members and ten probationers. It is connected with white work and is served by the Rev. Isaac Bennett. Munissing Mission, Alger County, has an Indian population of one hundred, among whom we have a society of forty worship- ing in a log church. They are served in connection with white work, and have preaching once in four weeks by the Rev. A. Wood, who receives ^75 missionary money. Next year it is pro- posed to separate this Mission from the white work, and have it served by an educated Indian now at school, who will also teach an Indian school. To do this an appropriation of $100 will be needed. Bay Mills Mission, Chippewa County, has a population of one hundred and seventy-five Indians. Here we have a small frame church and parsonage, worth about $400. There are fifty mem- bers. The missionary preaches to them every Sabbath, and re- ceives $roo missionary money. He also serves two white con- gregations. These Indians are represented as being very poor. Hannaville Mission, Menominee County, has a population of about seventy-five Indians. Here we have a small log meeting- house, and a membership of thirty-five. Missionary money ap- propriated this year, $75. The missionary preaches to these people once in two weeks on a week day. The Mission must necessarily be served in connection with the white work, but an arrangement should be made by which they could receive preach- ing on the Sabbath day. The Oneida Indian Mission in Wisconsin is located twelve miles north-east of Appleton. The reservation is twelve by ten miles, and the Indian population is one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five. These Indians are said to be increasing in numbers. Their lands have been re- cently allotted. They cannot sell, mortgage, or give away their lands for twenty-five years. Here we have a valuable Mission property of 77 acres, 30 acres of which are under cultivation, and 47 are covered with a good growth of timber. Of the 30 acres improved, 18 acres are planted, and 12 acres used for pasture land. The land, including the improvements, is worth at this time not less than $40 per acre. We have a good comfortable parsonage and a very poor house of worship, which was erected fifty years ago by the Missionary Society. Our church has a membership of two hundred and sixty-five with fifty-five proba- tioners. A Sunday-school and prayer and class meetings are well sustained. The domestic and social relations of these Indians 11 compare favorably with their white neighbors. They are altogether superior in every way to any of the tribes I have been permitted to visit. Here also I preached on a week day to about seventy intelligent, devout Methodists, and listened to singing, in the In- dian tongue, of old Methodist hymns to familiar tunes in which I could join in my own tongue, and though we could not understand each other, we could make melody in our hearts unto the Lord. They need, and must have, a new house of worship. They are able to contribute to the extent of $2,000 for this purpose, but they cannot build such a house as they need. The Episcopalians have a Mission here. Recently they erected a stone church at a cost of about $15,000, which places our people at a great disad- vantage so far as church accommodations are concerned. The Missionary Society should appropriate, in my judgment, not less than $3,000 to enable our people to build such a house as their necessities demand. I suggest that this Board recommend the General Committee at its next session to appropriate the sum named to aid in the erection of a church edifice for these people. Our missionary now receives an appropriation of $175 missionary money. In addition to his missionary labors he teaches the gov- ernment school. The work, however, demands the entire time of the missionary, and there should be appropriated for his support at least $350, which amount, together with what the Indians can contribute, and the products of the missionary farm, would enable him to obtain a comfortable support. The Navajo Indians occupy a reservation in north-eastern Arizona and north-western New Mexico, ninety miles long and sixty miles wide. They num- ber twenty thousand; are wholly pagan, and without Christian missionaries. They are represented as peaceful, somewhat intelli- gent, and disposed to be industrious. They have herds of horses and cattle, and flocks of sheep and goats. Their wool-clip a year ago was over one million pounds. Their women manufacture excellent blankets and the men are skillful in the manufacture of trinkets for ornamental purposes. The Department of the Interior offers us every facility for mis- sionary work among these Indians. A house belonging to the government can be occupied temporarily, and the government school building can be used on the Sabbath for Sunday-school and preaching services. The General Committee, at its session last autumn, authorized a mission to these Indians and made an appropriation of $5,000, contingent upon its being contributed for that purpose. About $3,000 has been pledged and contrib- uted, and the Mission will be opened at an early day. APPENDIX Through correspondence with presiding elders and mission- aries I have obtained information concerning our Indian work in several States and Territories not visited, which I think will prove interesting to the members of the Board. Montana. There are about twenty thousand Indians in Montana, but we have no organized work among them. The tribes are as follows : Bloods, Blackfeet, Piegans, Crows, Gros-Ventres, Assinaboines, Sioux, Flat-Heads, Pend d’Oreilles, and Kootenais. Several years ago we had a contract school at Fort Peck Agency under the supervision of the United States Indian Agency. In i88i Rev. S. E. Snyder, now Presiding Elder of Helena District, Montana Conference, was sent out by this Board as superintendent of an industrial boarding-school, and served successfully in that capacity until he was appointed Indian Agent by the government. After Brother Snyder’s removal another superintendent was appointed, who remained a short time and was succeeded by still another, who occupied the position but a little while. We failed to find a suit- able person to fill the vacancy, and the contract with the government was not renewed. The school has since been under the super- vision of the government ; the Sunday-school has been continued, and has been supplied with literature from our Sunday-School Union. A lieutenant in the United States Army, who is a Meth- odist, is superintendent of the Sunday-school. Brother Snyder thinks we should renew our work among these Indians at once under the contract system if possible. The cost to the Missionary Society would be very small, and a competent man and woman are known to him who would fill the position of superintendent and matron successfully, and who would do missionary work through the school. 13 Washington. Nooksack Mission is located on the Nooksack River. Number of Indians, about 200; membership, 150; with a Sunday-school of 30 pupils. This Mission is represented as being in a thriving condition. Rev. J. \V. Patterson is the missionary. Brother Tat- terson says we should have a Mission at once among the Quillaiute Indians. He says ; “ I have preached among them, and they said to me again and again, ‘We want the white man to come and tell us about Jesus and how to be good.’ We anxiously hoped last year that something could be done to give these thirsting people the water of life.” Brother Patterson further says: “The Klamath Indians are in the same needy state and should have a missionary at once.” The Lummi and Neah Bays greatly need missionaries. The Roman Church has a school among the Quillaiutes, and the government has a school at the Neah Bay and Lummi’s. No other work is done among the tribes except what is done by our Church. Yakama Nation. This Nation numbers 3,273 persons ; 1,572 are on the reserva- tion, and 1,701 are in the adjoining country. Our missionary, Brother Gascoigne, says : “ The condition of the church is pros- perous. There is much true piety among our people. Seven hundred Indians are members of our congregation, and consider themselves Methodists ; 152 are members of our church, 75 chil- dren are in the Sunday-scliool ; 700 of these Indians are pagans, and 172 are Romanists. There are fewer Romanists than in for- mer years.” These are the Indians among whom Father Wilbur, of precious memory, labored so long and so successfully. Three churches and a parsonage were built on the reservation, for which no deeds were secured. Rev. G. W. Booth, Presiding Elder, has been try- ing to secure deeds, but at last advices had not succeeded. Indian Territory. From a letter by Rev. B. C. Swartz, Superintendent of our In- dian Mission Conference, I gather the following; Osage Nation. Saybrook Mission has twenty-two members, sixteen of whom are girls in Mrs. Gladdis’s school at Pawhuska. There are thirty- two members, one half of whom are Indians. u Cherokee Nation. On Eig Creek, among the Cherokee freedmen, we have one hun- dred and fifty members and probationers. Island Ford Mission has four preaching-places and thirty members, many of whom are colored Cherokee freedmen. Two small houses of worship are greatly needed. A primary school is in operation supported mainly by the government. Catoosa Mission has two mixed societies, the Indians numbering twenty-five. Delaware has one society, with twenty members. Clarimore has six Indian members. Ashton has sixteen members ; two churches are greatly needed, in which, when erected, schools would immediately be opened for both white and Indian pupils, and would be practically self-supporting. Wy- andotte Mission has three preaching-places, one house of worship, and a parsonage. One more church is greatly needed. Talleguah has thirty-five members, all of whom are Indians except seven. There are six preaching-places; four houses of worship are greatly needed, and there should be three primary-schools opened. Choctaw Nation. Cameron Mission has eight preaching-places with about one hundred members, two thirds of whom are Indians. Five churches are greatly needed and several schools should be opened. Cowling- ton has four preaching-places, and two small churches are needed. Poteau has four preaching-places and needs two small churches. Creek Nation. At Tulsa we have a society (number not given), about one third of the members being Indians. A school has been kept here for more than two years by the daughters of our missionary. Rev. B. Mowbray, for which they have received but about $25. Unless support can be obtained the school will be closed. It will require about $100 per year to continue this school, and that sum should be appropriated. The Creek Nation is very favorably disposed toward our Church, and a little assistance now would establish our work among them on a permanent basis. There is probably no portion of the Indian Territory where we could accomplish a greater work. At Broken Arrow Mission there are four preaching-places, with about fifty members, all Indians, and a full-blood Creek is pas- tor. A new church is needed. Salt Creek Mission has four appointments and fifty members, all Creek Indians. They have commenced to build two churches and need assistance. When these churches are finished schools will be opened in them at once. 15 Chickasaw Nation. Here work has been opened at three or four points, and there is good prospect of success. Three schools should be opened at once. In the territory belonging to this Nation there are about twenty-five thousand white people, many of whom are destitute of both school and church privileges. Pawnee and Ponco Mis- sion is reported in a flourishing condition, but no statistics are received. There are several tribes, as the Sac and Fo.x, Seminoles, Chey- ennes, Arrapahoes, lowas, Wichitas, Kiowas, Comanches, Kick- apoos, and Kaws, among whom we have no work, but where there are open doors to very needy peoples. The whole Indian Territory is a mission field which has been too long neglected, and to which the General Missionary Committee should give special attention at its ensuing annual session. Schools. — New Hope Seminary and McCabe Seminary, under the auspices of the Woman’s Home Missionary Society, are doing excellent work. Our school work in the Territory needs to be increased many fold. Observations. I will conclude this report with some observations upon our Indian policy in the States visited. The policy of connecting the Indian work with the white work is, except in rare cases, in my judgment unwise. There is no more affinity between the whites and the Indians in Church matters than there is between the whites and the negroes. To connect an Indian Mission with white work is to practically do almost nothing for the former. The white churches get just as much preaching usually as they would if the Indian work was not associated with them, and pay less than they would for the support of their pastors by the sum supposed to have been appropriated for the benefit of the Indians. This policy renders effective missionary, evangelistic, and educational work among the Indians utterly impossible. The missionaries go to the Indian churches at such times as they are not required to serve their white congregations. Only the Christian or favorably disposed Indians attend the services that are held, as a rule, and but slight effort is made to reach the pagan element. With the present methods the majority of the Indians on all the reserva- tions I have seen, except the Oneidas, in Wisconsin; the Kewawe- non Mission, in Michigan; and the Onondagas, in New York, who 16 have missionaries living among them, will be as thoroughly pagan a century hence as they are now. The Tonawanda and Cattaraugus Missions, in New York; the Isabella, Mason, and Oceana County and Petoskey Missions, in Michigan, ought to have missionaries to live among them and de- vote all their time to their interests. These people not only need to be preached to, they need also the presence of the missionary in their homes, and to give them counsel in secular affairs. He should also use his influence to secure the attendance of their chil- dren upon the schools, that they may learn the English language and be prepared for citizenship. An energetic evangelistic move- ment needs to be inaugurated among the pagan portions of these tribes, that they may be converted to Christianity and brought into the enjoyment of Christian civilization. I do not intend by any thing I have said to reflect upon the missionaries or upon the Bishops who have administered these Missions. They have done as well as they could in view of the policy that has been adopted by the Missionary Society. The evil is in the policy, which should be changed at once. I recommend most earnestly that this Board commend our Indian policy to the prayerful and thoughtful consideration of our General Committee at its next session, with a request that such appropriations shall be made for the support of our Indian work as will admit of its being made effective in the conversion and civilization of a long neglected and sometimes cruelly treated race. A. B. LEONARD. New York, June 17, 1890.