Wisconsin by T. B. Snow

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 11, 1902

Wisconsin

By T. B. Snow

LAST DECEMBER I had the pleasure of visiting our brethren and sisters of the Oneida Reservation. Elder Matthew Hill has labored among this people for some time, and has been instrumental in raising up a church of about twenty-five members. Church officers were elected, and a building belonging to the government, formerly used for a schoolhouse, was purchased, and converted into a meeting-house. Here these sons of the forest gather every Sabbath to listen to the story of salvation, to relate their experiences, and to tell of the love of God to them.

I arrived at Oneida, Friday evening, in time for a service. I found the audience seated and quietly waiting. The house had been tastefully decorated with cedar boughs. The singing was in the Mohawk tongue, as the Oneida is not a written language. The testimonies were in the Oneida tongue.

I was never in a meeting where the deep movings of the Spirit of God were more marked. The young people were all absent, as they are compelled to attend school. The United States government maintains a school at Oneida, and all who do not attend some other school are required to attend this one. Two of these young people have attended school at Woodland Academy. One of these is now at the sanitarium at Madison, taking the nurses' course, while the other is still at Woodland.

These brethren have all discarded the use of tobacco, and many of them are anxious to have their children brought in contact with our people and schools. Any one wishing to know more about the work here may obtain the desired information by corresponding with Elder Matthew Hill, West Green Bay, Wis. Many of these Indians are manifesting a good degree of interest in the message for this time, and if those who have already accepted the truth remain steadfast, there will soon be a large ingathering of fruit from this part of the Lord's vineyard. There are two thousand Indians in this reservation, and about seven thousand in the Menomonee Reservation, which is located farther north. Brethren, pray for the work among these Indians. The message must go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. T. B. Snow.