ONEIDA MISSION by William Covert

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 20, 1901

ONEIDA MISSION.

By William Covert

BROTHER MATTHEW HILL, by invitation of the Conference, came from Ontario to Wisconsin about June of last year, and began work among the Oneidas, near Green Bay. After a time he found it necessary to pitch a tent and get additional help in order properly to meet the interest which was awakened.

During the tent season twenty-five or thirty persons accepted the faith and began the observance of the Sabbath. It was essential for these, like other people who are moved upon by the Spirit of God, to let go of many habits, and solidify in Christian character. When they had passed through the sifting period, some had halted, and a few others joined the faithful ones. During the winter, one of their number, a young lady, attended our school at Bethel, and in the spring was baptized and united with the church there. Others attended the camp-meeting at Grand Rapids, and two of them were baptized. Brother Hill was ordained at the camp-meeting. He can teach the truth in the six languages spoken by the Indians of the country. After camp-meeting Elder H. W. Reed united with Brother Hill in getting the company ready for organization. They did careful work for a month or more, studying with them a second time all the leading features of Christian truth and living for these days. I was then invited to join with them in organizing a church. This I gladly did August 10 and 11, speaking upon the subjects of baptism and church organization, while Brother Hill interpreted. On the Sabbath fifteen were baptized by Elder Reed, and on Sunday four others went forward in the divine rite, making, in all, twenty-two of their number baptized. Brother Hill also united in their church organization, and became their elder. The church was fully officered from their number, with twenty-three members, one other of their number being a member of the church at Bethel.

These two days of labor were as interesting as any of my experience in the gospel ministry. It was estimated that about two hundred and fifty persons were present at the baptism on the Sabbath. A talk

was given to the people at the water before the baptism, which was well received. While the ordinance was being administered, the Holy Spirit moved upon those upon the bank of the stream until very many wept for joy. No such testimony for the truth had ever before been borne in the Oneida Reservation, and God was acknowledging the service. It was good to be there.

On Sunday, just before the enrollment of members, a social meeting was held, first in the Oneida language, and then with the English-speaking friends who had come in to the meeting. The visitors testified that it was the best social service of all their experience. It is indeed refreshing to come in touch with the unfeigned faith manifested in the Oneida’s reception of the Lord’s promises. They simply believe, and therefore their souls are filled with the living word. That word, alive in a heart of faith, sets ablaze the divine aspirations.

Elder Shreve visited the reservation last fall, and helped to secure a schoolhouse from the government to be used for meeting purposes. The house is worth five or six hundred dollars, but was bought for seventy-five dollars. We are considering the advisability of establishing a local school with this church, and arrangements are being made for two of the young women to attend our preparatory school this year, having as an object missionary work among the Indians of this State. The Third Angel’s Message in the heart begets a desire to save souls, and our Christian schools now stand ready to prepare laborers for the Lord’s work. This must be done in all languages.

There are two thousand Oneidas in the reservation. These are civilized, and for the most part are engaged in farming. Seven thousand Indians in the Menominee Reservation, fifty miles north of the one where our church is organized, should have the message.

In this report the opposition is not described,—that is the enemy’s work, not ours, and he can do his own advertising. We know the Lord is good, and He is able to perfect that which He has so well begun. To His name be all the praise.

WM. COVERT.