Next | 1. New York | 2. Virginia | 3. Ohio | 4. Kansas | 5. California | 6. Dakota | 7. Africa | 8. England Contact Ron | Foreword | Preface | Index | Tellout
6C. Full Blooded Sioux Indian Brothers 
The Bishop was encouraged however that many Sioux workers like Noisy Hawk, a Point Blacklance, Wesley Bob, Estes and Sister Hawk had become Christian leaders among their own people. These Sioux Officers, speaking their native Indian language, had a great advantage over whites. It helped Captain Estes once when two Mormon visitors arrived on the reservation. As they tried to persuade the natives with their Mormon teaching, he very graciously explained in Sioux the difference between their beliefs and those of the mainstream Christian Church.
He especially emphasized the Mormon teaching that Jesus was not truly God.
Sioux Brothers
I need not be concerned. The Indians had a lovely story about an early white missionary's meeting with a Sioux warrior. The visitor enquired, "How do you make a full-blooded Indian into a Christian?" The tall bronzed native replied, "Only a full-blooded Christian can turn a full-blooded Indian into a Christian!" Those early Christian missionaries and clergy were known for their disciplined lives. There were stories of them marching two by two along the street all in identical dark trousers, black coats and starched clerical collars with the bishop at the head.
The Great Spirit
One day, George Pierce and I traveled together from the Reservation in Parkway Pine. We talked about our ministry to over seven hundred boys at the very fashionable Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia. To help illustrate my address from the pulpit in the Chapel, I held up two well-known pictures of Indians. The first one showed a warrior on horseback against the setting sun with his head dejectedly bowed to his chest. This was called "The End of the Trail." In marked contrast the second picture portrayed another Chief, this time with his hands triumphantly stretched upwards toward the heavens called "the Appeal to the Great Spirit."
Holy Spirit
As I showed both to the students, I explained what they meant. The Sioux Indians have not only perceived the Great Spirit creator of the universe but also the Holy Spirit revealed to the Church in New Testament times. To the boys' surprise I then ordered "Stand up everyone." Raise your hands high to the heavens like this Indian Chief and in honour of the Holy Spirit shout, "Praise God!" When they did, I called out "Say it again!" The tumultuous cry came back "Praise God!" Leaving the pulpit, I heard the Chaplain muttering to himself in amazement. "They did it! They did it!" Apparently he had been trying to encourage them without success to reply at Easter time with "The Lord is risen!"
Inter Church Blessing
On the Lower Bulle Reservation near Fort Thompson, we looked and hoped for a similar positive response in October 1972. The Episcopal, Roman Catholic and Presbyterian congregations there had decided to join for a Gospel Revival in the spacious Tribal Halls. The clergy and I worked as a team with amusing consequences. A Roman Catholic Priest and I went out visiting together. If we thought it was a Protestant home I would introduce him. If a Catholic one, he would say "this is Captain Lewis, we're having a mission together!" Each denomination made its own particular contribution. The Roman Catholic nuns sang Gospel songs with an accompaniment .Our Episcopal choir led the hymn singing and we all took turns to read, preach, and lead the meetings each day. Arm Clementine, the Roman Catholic Priest, invited us to a time of prayer and blessing. He surprised us all by walking up and down the aisle showing everyone a picture called "Come to Jesus."
One of those who came forward to the rail and knelt for blessing was the Roman Catholic mother of the Priest, who was visiting from Ireland. Afterwards the team blessed each other. I naturally stayed in the body of the Church. As I hesitated, the Roman Catholic Priest, a man of great humility, came and knelt before me. "I need the blessing from you" he told me. We were both blessed.
"You've gotta have a glory in the things you do, an alleluia chorus in the heart of you" 
