September 1881
Rev J. C. Lowrie D.D. (& Mr Rankin)
$100.00 of the above fund, I have mentally appropriated to giving Robert an opportunity to acquire a better knowledge of English speaking & writing & composition which he so much needs. And he has long earnestly craved such an opportunity. With Dr Lindsleys cordial approval Robert purposes - unless there should be some preventing Providence - to remain and study in Oregon, for some months, when he (D.V.) goes to Synod this fall (at Salem Or.) The study of the English Language would be paramount, his chief study, and, if the friends thought best, his only one. But I though, perhaps too, while there, he could get some insight into printing so that he, with what I learned could teach our boys how to handle the printing press, (should the Master please we should have it) enough to be able to strike off English & translations, from the blackboard to study at home, and so facilitate their own acquisition of English. These strikings off too, could be sent to those who (D.V.) go from us to work among other tribes and so those workers too, continue their studies with us as they need. (This country is so filling up with whites. They will need English wherever they go.)
Roberts expenses to Synod could be paid from the funds for that purpose and the $100.00 be used for board, and other nescessary expenses while studying. (There is no need for Roberts abstaining from going to Synod to take the money to buy books. He has quite a respectable little library now, has access to the school library and Miss McBeth with the help of friends can furnish him with all the books he needs, or can use. All our boys have already foundations of a little library of their own thanks to thoughtful friends.)
Robert can go so much better now while our licentiates are still here to supply his pulpit in his absence. I hope the New York friends approve of this plan for Robert (i.e. his studying for some months this winter (D.V.) Please tell me Dr Lindsley did [illegible] much, when we talked about it in Portland last month. I wish we could send all our boys, one by one. Perhaps God will open the way, if He pleases.
Dr Lindsley was kind enough to send me a ‘pass’ to P and early in August I went ‘down the river and up the Sound’ to Victoria, the first time I have been out of Kamiah for two years. My sister accompanied me to P and returned for a visit to Lapwai. We were absent about four weeks. My boys were busy in their harvest fields. Those weeks of absence was the only time my school room door has been ‘closed’ since last fall, after the regular morning sessions, ceased nescssarily, about the 1st of July. Since then any day, at any hour, when their work would allow, their teacher was ready to attend to them one at a time although some of them are still absent (one logging) coming and going, gathering food for winter needs. They have gained much forethought and knowledge in providing for self and family and are all as ‘hungry’ to learn as when they first began their studies.
The licentiates supplying the pulpits here and at Lapwai in Mr D & Roberts
absences, superintending the Sabbath School here (the only one on the Reservation)
by turns, gaining a good practical preparation for their own future work (D.V.). They
still go to Lapwai, by turns, to assist Mr D on Sabbath, something being wrong with his
Indian Interpreter there. Our Sabbath School is one of the most interesting things at
Kamiah and is doing good work. Robert makes an admirable superintendent (our boys too, in
his absence), my sister with her large class of woman (I hope Mrs. Deffenbaugh will be a
worker at Lapwai). My sisters pupils, some of them the wives of our boys.
I have only definitely promised twelve pupils for the present year. I purposed more until Mr D told me of the Dr Lowries wishes that the licentiates should go to work in neighboring tribes in the Spring (D.V.). Then I thought it would be wiser perhaps, instead of adding to my class (save those already promised) to spend the most of the strength the Master may give me, in trying to fit our present class of boys the better for His work. Pray earnestly that they may be worthy men ‘needing not to be ashamed.’ I have had much comfort listening to their sermons in the little church here and I’m not afraid to trust their Gospel truth anywhere, with Gods grace, and the help of His Spirit.
It did me good to get out ‘into the world’ and mingle with white friends for a little time – good both mentally and physically. A person gets very ‘small minded’ living in such a limited horizon. Molehills grow to seem like mountains and that is not good for the body too sometimes.
It did me good to come back, too, and see the ‘gladness’ of the people at the return of ‘Pika.’ ("the Mother" as even the old grey haired men and women, Chiefs and all, call Miss McB) and listen to their prayer (even Jimmy Lawyers) for her, by name in the Sanctuary. ‘Pika’ has very much comfort from her children and has had very much care too in the year past – although thank God, everything is so peaceful now. "I have very much to thank God for" I said to Mr D on his return from Gen. Assembly’ a united class, and a united church by Gods grace and help. To His name be all the praise.’ And the thanksgiving continues up to the present. And the future as the past is in His Hand.
Looking back over the year from our present standpoint, I can see, so clearly, the ‘Guiding Hand’ although, while passing through, some of the road seemed very dark and rough. But, doubtless every such rough place had its use. Let us very briefly glance over the ‘situation’ in the past year, i.e. at Kamiah. A people (the mass) in a transition state: from darkness into Gospel light from barbarism to civilization: from serfdom to freedom so long unable to realize their enfranchisement (from Chiefs). So many still not free from influence of old superstitions and customs; bewildered by the absence of their old arbitrary ‘Head’ with no native civil officer (save temporarily two police) not even a ‘Justice of the Peace’ to take the place of the old regime: left so much to work out their problem themselves. (The Agent has not been at Kamiah for more than a year, Mr D but once since last fall, late, too busy at Lapwai perhaps. The deposed Chiefs opposite the police as interfering with their assumption, trying to retard progress and to restore the old order of things and regain their lost power even at the expense of trying to lead the tribe back into heathenism. It was heathenism and barbarism not politics with which the Church had to contend. To understand this at Kamiah:
All save four, of the ‘piisolaulakin’ or ‘full grown’ Kamiah men have been baptized into the church. Three of these four non professing men (& still heathen hearted) men are Chiefs, or Chiefs sons. Two of those still heathen hearted Chiefs, Jimmy Lawyer appointed his ‘sub-chiefs’ or aids, last winter at the time he proclaimed himself ‘Head Chief’ by government appointment and restored the old custom as far as he could. (In this time the Government School here was stopped, but is to be reopened this fall D.V.) Nescessarily, the ambitious Chiefs must work in the Church through such of their numbers as were connected with the Church. Work divisions & work hindrance to that which stood in their way, or work the church into their own hands and so, gradually do away with it.
As when Father Spaulding was driven away after the Whitman Massacre the people sank back gradually into their original heathenism & barbarism). This plan was shewn in Jimmys short reign in even last winter by the backward tendency of so many of his adherents, the lengthening locks & resumed blankets, even of some who had made good progress in civilization had the tendency to resume the old ways.
The first efficient check (at Kamiah) to this scheme, was the ‘shapatkukt’ (straightening or disciplining) of Jimmy Lawyer the planning and moving spirit, by the church session here, last winter. For the first time in their annals a Chief was ‘shapatkukt by the ‘common people.’ His offence (offences) was lying, and ‘railing’ loud after one of his defeats against the Church, Church members, Elders, Licentiates, Ministers and all who had stood in the way of his ambition. This shapatkukt struck right at the root of some of their old superstitions & traditions. I did not know they purposed doing it until it was over. (I had left ‘Church’ matters so entirely in Mr Ds care – where they belong) and could scarcely believe they had had the courage. But its effect upon him, and upon the church & people was most salutary. For a time we had most delightful peace & quiet then.
Many visitors pass through Kamiah the first weeks of July to & from the Kamas grounds – the old gathering place of the tribes. It was (& is) for the sake of these ‘sojourners’ principally the July camp meeting was begun and is continued. The Kamians had our July camp meetings for many years in their old heathen ‘play ground’ with its adjacent race course where they celebrated their heathen games and where in Hudson Bay times they paraded and raced &c&c on the 4th for the amusement of the traders and other whites from whom they had their first knowledge of the 4th of July. The place, over the river where until last year and was (is) very plainly seen outside of Kamiah."We have to hedge up both sides of the day with worship still" they say. Even then it requires much care and trouble to restrain the young (not Christians) men and wild visitors from the tempting racecourse near the old ground.
For this reason, they changed the Camp ground to this side of the river last year. Some of the friends, not knowing this (because not understanding well the language traditions &c of the people) early last Spring (before Presbytery) very needlessly and unwisely it seemed to me resurrected again the subject of ‘this side’ and the ‘other side’ ordering that the Camp meeting be held this year on ‘the other side’ in the old place. Then went away and left the Church to meet the trouble as best it might.
On the strength of the above order Jimmy and his confederates again commenced operations, horses & trappings were put in preparations for a display on the 4th of July & invitations sent out to wild bands. The Christian leaders were determined not to have anything which savored of the old days. The policemen declared that if the meeting was on the other side, they could not prevent racing and much wickedness, so a lovely spot, near the ferry, on this side, with no place for parade or racing near it was chosen.
Then began desperate efforts to win over Robert (to move a ‘Rock’) to divide the Church (as last 4th) to win over, or divide the licentiates so as to set up a rival meeting on the other side (Archie now being absent) and so divide the Church. . (James Hines was not here. Is there anything linking him with the others? May I say I do not think him to be wise, I like him well enough, but if I had thought him a promising Candidate for the ministry, I would have him continue his studies with Robert & Archie. He was entirely too old when Mr Ainslie put him in hand to study (a ‘gossipy Grandmother’ he reminded me of) good natured enough usually, not always promoting harmony among the people, although he gets along peaceably enough with other licentiates, is not in (much) sympathy with Jimmy, is unenergetic in Church work. He lives at North Fork has been entirely in Mr Ds hands since he came. I say this now as a duty knowing James so long and well.)
Nothing was left untried with our boys. The ‘Methodist’ card was played, and the bribe of a ‘Chiefs Church’ while Robert was at the Spokanes in June. Only the Master knows that was passed through in those days. The whole story is too long to write, and to read now. And they are with the past and were overruled to the strengthening of the Cause and the workers. Enough that I do not think there were many happier ‘mothers’ than the little woman who sat in the large, pleasant new tent-church by the riverside, that Sabbath 3rd of July, with a united class and a united Church, her whole ‘family,’ chiefs and all, around her and listened to the good earnest sermons of our five, new licentiates and watched them and the Elders with Robert, the leading spirit crossing the [illegible] of a congregation of 600 or 800 Indians (Nez Perces and some visitors from neighboring tribes) The tent went up with grateful thanksgiving and she would not change places with any of the Angels who watched the scene.
So on the ‘4th’ and until the meeting broke up ‘the best and happiest July’ we ever had at Kamiah’ said the people. All save the foiled and up to this time quieted Chiefs. At the camp meetings twelve ‘backsliders’ restored, and two from among the heathen visitors professed faith in Christ. Mr D spent three Sabbaths at Kamiah after his return from the East, but there was nothing to do in the Church then, save usual Sabbath services, communion, last Sabbath, and a little talk to the people about helping Robert in his work and by contributing, which Robert shrinks from talking about himself.
In those first days of July, Miss McB realized that she had men ‘sons’ to deal with now (in the Church leaders) by Gods grace instead of the children she first knew and that given a knowledge or right principles they can manage their own Church matters better than we whites can, knowing better the hears of their people, and how to manage them.
Looking back, at the end of a year she believes that the Kamians, as a whole made substantial progress in civilization even after the partial ‘lapse’of some last winter. The ‘slipping ones’ have, I think nearly all gained their foothold again. Blankets and long hair of the men are the exception, and frowned upon. She thinks that they have gained in ‘backbone and manliness’ (i.e. the men). To stand alone so much was good for them in the end; and with the ‘Government studies of our boys, disseminated among people with Gods help to prepare the Kamians for citizenship [missing] future, if God please.
She is glad now too that she saw ‘our boys’ tempted and tested. She would not now have had them spared one trial save one hard blow to Robert, of which she could not see the need, nor so far, the good, but perhaps, it too has its uses.) She would have less fear now to have them go out to other fields where other perhaps similar trials perhaps await them & though they are very human still, and weak, and imperfect (as is their teacher).
And best of all after what she has seen R pass through, she believes that the Church has the elements of continuance in itself, implanted by Gods Spirit so that if the Master should send for her, she could leave it in His Hands with a ‘quiet heart’ as His Own, even though it is yet only in its childhood and ignorance. Is not that belief worth passing through a great deal to gain? But I had not thought of writing one half so much when I began. Miss McB has ‘reported’ so much of the inside of Kamiah, because no one else save Robert has such personal knowledge of it (and ‘hearsay’ is not always reliable) and Robert has not yet command of enough English to report). And she has ‘uncovered’ Kamiah alone, leaving others to report outside of it, (I am in doubt sometimes, if we do not carry this principle too far at times) and each one of the workers to report their own work themselves; they knowing it best. She has tried to avoid penning even disturbing influences from outside which came into Kamiah, when it was possible to omit them without leaving a wrong impression, a difficult report to write when those influences were so interwoven.
One thing which makes such a report possible is the fact that with the exception of a few families at Wililip, about sixteen miles from here, Kamiah is one community, the largest and most advanced on the Reservation, as Dr L perhaps knows. (The small settlement at North Fork hold membership at Lapwai, now nearly as large as at Kamiah. (For instance the ten new converts, if I remember rightly whom Robert baptized at North Fork during his visit there last winter had their names added to the Lapwai church although North Fork is about equally distant from Lapwai & Kamiah.)
But, I can scarcely stop when I begin talking ‘Nez Perce’ to Dr Lowrie. He is
glad, I know, that my sister has interrupted me until it is growing too dark to write more
now. And I may have an opportunity (rare now) to send it to mail in the morning (I have
been so interrupted & hindered since I began this, and must not delay longer. Shall
I now have an answer to it, soon. (Two answers?) Please. I have not heard from
New York for so long and I want a good long letter if I can have it. If Dr L is too
busy please tell me, at least, will he not? that this long disconnected ‘talk‘
has reached him safely? Pray for the Nez Perces for the Masters Cause and the
workers among them. They need it.
Respectfully Yours
S.L. McBeth