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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 1920)
W Tmm' mm w ?W iwf VV !W LET 'EH EUCX t -.- "-t- - - '" " ' lVl' East Oregonian Round-Up Souvenir Edition Pendleton, Oregon, Thursday, "September 23, 1920 Page Beven nui. wtt-ttt iriT Her .M ut tl 1' ff.Y Tl W TO W7T fT 1"IT T. f T !T 1rit TTT TT' f? n TT T "H 'I UMATILLA INDIANS FIRST LEARNED OF CHRISTIANITYfROM DR. WHITMAN r " . l!!"aM'"wiK. '. " . " ". Tutuilla Mission Directed for Many years by Rev. 3. M. Oornclison, Has Accomplished Much. twwirlSly su ' JL 7 - bi ; . (By-Rev. J. M. Cornellnon). . Back to the Rttrrlnir-day. In tho aiKhtlea, when Dr. Marcua Whitman and Rev. H.- K. Moulding ri-oml the plnln to teach phiintlarilty to the let' dlun, date the 'bfftrlnntng'of mliwilon ary work unon( the Umatilla Indian of the reaervatlon. Moat people In the Norlhwcat know In ffeqeral way about the early m1 alon work among the Indiana, begun In 1836 by !". Whitman and Hev. ' Bpauldlng lw cumo west In that year with, their youruf bride, . They a!no know that on Nov,' 27, 1847 Dr. and Mr Whitman, twfrther lth about a dozen other were ' maJwncred at Walllatpu where a mliwlnn church and "achonl had been begun for the chrla tlanlKatlon and education of the In diana. lXw people have read furthor of rementber any more relative to the Indian mlaaion work ao bravely begun and carried on by Dr. Whitman. Tho general Imjireiwkm haa gone forth that the RiliMlon work wan dropped at - the time of the maaeacre at Walllatpu. . near Walla Walla Waah.. and that : Whitman College waa later built up at , TValla Walla In honor of Dr. Whitman; and that, nothing ever became tf hta mlulon venture. Juch Is wide of the real truth. It haprwned that Dr. Whitman and Itev. HpaUlding were eent out aa mlHHionarien under the Am ertcan Board of - COm'mlieilonfra for Foreign Mlaelona whrch wna the joint MifMlon Board of tw )ngrcgatloiial and Irebytjrian Miurvhe. tiiurclica fionaratrd "When the two churches aeparated their miKHlon work a few years later the Indian mlmlnn work formerly at Walllatpu, but Inter moved to the Umatilla reservation, Ml 'to the lot of the Presbyterian Home Mission Board, as' also the Indian mission work on the l-npwal reservation In Idaho which was tieaun by Hev. and Mrs. Spaniel lujt, co-laborera of Ir. and Mrs. Whit. man. The good aeed sown, the gospel preached, the devoted Uvea lived were not In vain. Those of the Indians that hr-d become Christiana under Dr. Whitman kept up their religious faith. The Christian flrea still burned In many hearts. Prayers were offered - up and gospel songs were sung around many a topee fire aa the, years went y. These faithful Christian people were encouraged from time to time by visits from Rev. Bpauldlng. some Christian Indians or a minister trained In the faith In Idaho whero a contem porary mission work had been estab lished by Rev and Mrs. Rpaulding among tho Ne Perce. Tho Walllatpu people later moved to the great grassy plains and valley now called the Uma tilla reservation for the reason that they were rich In Cay use ponies. This outstanding feature of their wealth ,ln such ponies seems to have gotten them ! the name of Cayuse Indians among the White settlers, so the name persists til today, wne never hears the name Walllatpu supplied to these people. - On June 17, 182, through the help of some visiting Nea Perce minister and Rev. O. U Deffenbaugh who had been missionary among .Jhe Nes Perce- and at that time waa head of the Oovernmefipgrfcool rm the-L'mattl la Indian reservation, a church rganl sat Ion was effected In the home of Chre.f Wlnnamanoot. - Later a school church was built on the Tutuilla flat. or valley which served the people as a place of worship til the new churcn was built In 1902 In a new location. During all this time from 1847 to 1882 a apace of 35 years, no organhted mission work had been -done and no white missionary had labored among these people, yet the work of Dr. Whit man still abided In the hearts of the people. ' - -i ' " IJcv. OncncHaon Accepts ' A. little over a half century had passed when a few of the Christian Indians made overture to the old I-resbytery of Rastern Oregon, and through It to the Homo Mission Board of the Presbyterian church to send them a missionary to live among them who would learn their language nd help them In every way possible. This request was made In 1898. It was granted and such a life work was presented to the graduating class of 1899 at the Son Francisco Theological Beminary at Ban Anselmo, Cat., One young man of that class accepted the Indian work and came to the field on May 6, '1899. I was that young man and I have been at the mission con tinuously for the past tl years, with the exception of about T6 months on the way to and In France In Y. M. C. A. war work. . Thus the mission work at Tutuilla on tho Umatilla reservation Is seen to be a continuation of the Dr. Marcu Whitman mission ao early cut down. Hut It had taken Just a little over a half centruy for the cjiuroh. and Christian people to wake up to their responsibility and send a REV. J. M. QORNELISON f. "-". -TV Y to have been done so far as visible ro-Jand later on over the atrongest part eulta were tnoerned. Jt seemed to of tha Hlpdenburg line where the St.' Quintln canal runs through a five mile ; Top view shows him as a Y. M. C. A. worker pvemeus and the cut below is one made f i oni a picture taken In 1903. . 1 ' , missionary to follow up the work so boldly begun by Dr. Whitman and his co-laborers. Yet tho present mission has a more direct and tangible con nection with Dr. Whitman. For many years and down to the year 1908, Har ah Mlhthorn, or Ipna-tsu-la-talkt who was a puiill in the Marcus Whitman school at Walllatpu was a member of the Tutlulla church. . Several others who are children of those who were either, In the school, or hew Dr. Whltmun are still faithful members of the present Tutuilla church. When soma of these Christian people thus connected 'With the old Morcua Whit man mission were taken to Walla Walla In 190 when the Whitman mounment was dedicated the people of the city were much surprised to know that there was such A mission J In exlstance under the care of the Presbyterian Home Mission Board. Ilc-glna Mission Work - Many time I have been asked how I began the mission work among the people here, and how I got my know ledge of the Indian language. I have in a way already explained how I be gnn. The mission work had Just con tinued after a fashion through all the years after the mnssacre. I will admit that It was after a very orry fashion hat it continued, and at a very low ebb. It la small wonder that it was almost forgotten. Rut real credit Is due those visiting Xes Perce minis ters who gave help an dencourage ment through all that dark half cen tury with no white missionary to fol low up and carry on the work. But as to how I got the 'Writing and speak ing knowledge of this Indian language that is very assuredly, quite a differ ent story. It In a very Interesting and long story, too long for such an article as this, so, 1 will have to pass it over with saying. I got it very much like another fellow told his friend how to gt Jiclt quick. .The advice, to-. -the friend waa "Work like the devil and don't and a cent." It Is the same process that must be used in getting hold of an Indian language which Is not a written language, and about which no Indian knows enough to give you any Instruction other than to In terpret or to tell you the meaning of the words. Absolutely no Indian here, no matter how well he speaks the In dian language, knows anything about the grammatical construction of the language. ' To learn any language so as to be able to speak and write It one must know it from a pramntloul standpoint.' Yea that I exactly the way I learned the Indian language. I worked like the devil. I arrived in Pendleton May S, 1899. I preached my first sermon 1n Indian about the second Handay in, scptetnner or tne same year, just aooui five months Inter. 1 taught these In diana some brand new Indian they had' never heard before. And they never heard It again after I learned the lan guage better: But they were patient with my mistakes and encouraged me by trying hard to understand m. So the language came with mutual con fidence and love. In short that was about the same process used in carry ing forward the mission work In all Its phases of teaching, preaching, and do mesticating these good people. You must be continually on the Job year In and year out through a scries of many years. It is the Impact of continuity of service that finally gete results that will abide In such work. This has been very true of the mission work on the Umatilla reservation. During was getting his bearings, gaining the confidence of the people, perfecting himself In the lnngunire nothing seems Pendleton Cycle Co. HARTMAN IjOfO, Prop. REVERE AJAX KOKOMO SAVAGE Tires Bicycles and Supplies Vulcanizing 228 E. Court Phone 144 have been just marking time to some critics- of those early days. Bo much so that some at least urged that the mission be discontinued. But the Im pact of faithfulness and continuity of service In teaching and preaching - like the prophet of old "Precept upon proeept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line, h'-ro a little and t;idre a llfthj'- began to fructify In the transformed lives of many of the people, both Old and young, after a nu rubor of years. Then the power of example of those already converted began to exert its Influence. It at once became trueas In any other line of endeavor that "nothing succeeds like success." Men and women seeing ine transformed lives of their fellow men began to realize that there must surely be some real "kick" In such a religious faith, if It so worked in others' lives. They too were wllllna toe infected witti the same microbe. I have seen tnese Inu:an people de velope mentally, morally, religiously and socially during these 21 year In many remarkable ways. The gov ernment ha maintained a splendid boarding school for all the children. Two years ago this school was replac ed by several day schools. Morul and religious Instruction has been given by a Catholic mission which has a school in connection; and by tho Presbyter ian 'Homo Mission Beard through Its mission though no school. In many 'business and social ways most i of these people have made Just aa good progreaa. Tepees have given way to cottages,' and many have very nice homes well cared for and furnished In years past the people have always had' good means of transportation in the form of good driving teams, hacks and buggies. These have in turn given Place to the best of automobiles. Much business is done by the Indiana In Pendleton and other towns near the reservation. Their credit is good as that 'of other citizens. The merchants know their Indian trade as their white trade and treat them the acme. The Christian Indians are in terested In the elections and generally cast their votes as other citizens. This was especially true when the "wet" and "dry" campaign was on in Oregon, The Tutuilla temperance society roll ed up a solid "dry"' vote which helped to swell the "dry totals very mater ially. During the war the Indians were good loyal citizens and played the gum in, every detail. Their eons crossed the seas in the service of their country and liberty bonds were bought to the amount of many thousands of dollars. Generous contributions were made for all war work. Someone haa asked about the ties of friendship and love between the white missionary and the Indian people. Is such relationship mutual? In the first place let me say so as to avoid all mis understanding, Jn any business enter prise. Institution, project or mission you will find some objector. But the other side has been more prevalent and (dominant. The -mutual esteem and love existing between the mission ary arid the people has been far more often to the front. Love for all and service for all haa been the policy. Just one example from many will show something of the esteem. Wrhen I waa leaving for France to enter the service In Y. M. C. A. war work it happened to be Memorial Day 1918. A service was being held at the grave yard Just back of the Tutuilla church. Uy re quest of the crowd of Christian In diana present the. missionary was ask- j ed to designate a resting place in the grave yard for his body In case he did not return alive. He was also asked to make arrangements in his will and through hi insurance that his body be returned to be buried in that designat ed tipot. This was all done In good faith and such arrangements made. It- waS' a touching Incident and got under the skin of the missionary to think thut the Teople to whom and for whom he had gii'en his life and train ing desired his bones to rest with them till the resurrection morn. Then there was another tug of heart when at the close of the Service the mission ary found three big cars lined up each vielng with the other for the distinc tion of taking the missionary for his last ride to the train before leaving for New York and on to France. There waa a Hudson six and two Ruick sixes. In the Hudson there was not a soul except a little 17 year old girl whom the missionary had baptiz ed In Infancy and later received Into the church. Which should It 'be? All waited the decision. I did not -wish to Blv any offense to any one-of the peo ple yet It wna a physical Impossibility to ride to town in three cars. While h thua hesitated a sharp command come from that little black eyea giri which wna heard by all the rest In line. "You get in here Mr. Cornel Ison, you asked me several days ago to take you to the train, and now I am here to do it. " She flashed defiance at the other drivers who were men. Tho missionary humbly obeyed. The car plunged forward and the other cars ate her dust al the way to town. It waa thua I left .the mission work at Tutuilla and by consent of the Pres bytery of 'Pendleton entered overseas Y, M. C. A. work. I Joined the motor transport department as a truck driv er for the reason that I desired to get right Into the thick of the fight and work right down among the men and Jtist as near the front lines as a wel fare worker -waB allowed to go. I got my desire to my hearts delight. In Pari after a conference I was assign ed to the 2"th New York division which waa at the time of my arrival fighting In Belgium "in Flanders fields" Just back of Kcmmel Hill and Ypres. Then the "Y" was very short: of transportation so I wa sent for about ten days to conduct a canteen clone behind the lines, so close that we were not allowed to open the can teen till dark. For Just as soon as any one got out In the road .before the can teen the whia bungs began to come over. Before we left Belgium I got my Fordi truck. I did my first motor transport work In and around Proven, Belgium. I had my first experience in driving in the pitch darkness on strange roads where no lights were al lowed. I finally developed regular owl eyea and didn't need any lights. 1 , followed that same 27th division dur ing tht rati of tut war into rest camp Hied My ' tunnel. Thin the German had fi!U: with a whole division of troopH. old Kurd wus Ken going and coming eo much and I wan always oh It or; under It no a to keep ft rolling1 that It became known a "Jlmmy'n Kwet- mtart inrougnoui.ine oivnnon. i nv ; i vow nrmirl or m v fwftrf1 uttri thul i name Ford. It waff old When It came Itito my hand, yet 1 kept It In rpa4r i and rolHnir for the nine month that ; ' "-4 I wan driving1 In th hardest puHnlble j wrvice. ' Two other new Kord that) werft handled bv other drive were done for and In the Junk pilo ft they ! 3 tried to do what my old Ford wai do ing alone. While the 27th and 30th. diviftfom were helping the lirUinh army to break the Hlndenburg line at the St. Quintln canal we wero In Btich devnutated country and where no civi lians had hern tor nearly four yeani that H waa impowible to get a cook for the" 20 or more "Y" men that were following the 27th. division. I con seiited to get dewn from my Ford throne and coek fw nearly a month tilt we were ready to come out of the llnea late in October. After that I continued to drive till In May 1919 I wa nent out from head quarters Into the Ballon region out of : Le Mans to do repair work on Ford I cars. Home time later In May the large Cafeteria opened In Ie Mans by the T. M. C. A. wai having trouble. A phone message came to Ballon say- iiiK. 'Tell Jtmmy to comp into Le Miins bag and baggage." When I arrived the management showed me the big Cafeteria and Its possibilities. 1 began that work and enjoyed it very much for It was a place where one could do real service for the men as they came through that embarkation center. We fed from 1500 to 2000 per day. with the bent of food and at a most reason- : ntJe rate. Later In June we started an !ce cream factory in one side of the big "Y" building where we made from 100 to 150 gallons of ice cream per day. Kvery bit of this ice tream was served to the men in the various camps and billets absolutely free of cost. It was done as, welfare work. The Cafeteria and ,ke cream plant were conducted till August 1919 when! the embarkation center waa closed. While operating the Cafeteria and ice cream plant fl had at my service a ton truck, a lighter truck and a touring car. I turned two of them into head quarters and drove the touring car into Paris where I turned it Into head quarters there. I left Paris about the middle of August 1919 and came home by way of Brest. I left New York about August 25 visiting Washington D. C. and then my old home and peo ple at Richmond. Ky. for a Tew days. arrived in Pendleton September 15, 919 during the week when the Vlctor Hound-Up was on. I am glad to be home still In one piece for I am re minded of the fact aa I look over my daily diary which I kept carefully while in France, that I muwed hun dreds of good chances to be killed. When shells were coming over either night or day I am wilting' to-say that I never sought safety in a dougout, but I am just aa frank to say that I duck ed my head on several occasions on tho principle of "safety first' so aa to let them go by, even though the pass ing' whiz banga might have Tieen 100 to 600 feet above my head. Those that went on far and those that drop per nearby made the same tune till they hit somewhere, so what could a fellow do but instinctively duck. -A Their t-conomic Service ScrveS your moneyl Their Hyqierttc Service Saves your health. " ' Their Style Service Saves your figure. Self-Reducang Corsets (No. 327 illustrated) are made in 19 styles for various types of stout figure. They permanently reduce the abdomen $5.25 to $9 Wonderlift Corsets (No. 560 illustrated) are made in 11 styles. They prevent and care for certain physical weaknesses and improve the figure. $6.50 to $25 Kop Service Corsets (No. 514 illustrated) are made in 14 styles. Each does some specific thing to improve the style of the wearer $4.50 to $9.25 r ' i- v ; -nj LI v.. ". i ! I ii I M Blue Ribbon Flour MADE FROM CHOICE BLUESTEM WHEAT. 'EVERY SACK GUARANTEED Byers Turkey Red Flour For those who are used to a hard-wheat flour. Pendleton Roller Mills