longer?

* * * * *

THE DAKOTA MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Its annual meeting was held in connection with the Dakota Conference, at
the Santee Agency and in the dining-room of the Normal and Training
School. There were two hundred Indian sisters present, besides the white
lady teachers. They represented six mission stations and twice as many
churches, each church having a wide awake woman's missionary society.
After a hymn, the President, Mrs. Tasinasawin, led in prayer and read
the first three verses of the 21st chapter of Luke, following it with a
few words about that widow's mite, saying that it was not the amount
given, but the _spirit_ in which it was given. That was the important
thing. The Indian women are able to give but little, but if they give
willingly, as to the Lord, He will bless it. The minutes were then read,
and a new president and secretary elected. Two candidates were put in
nomination for each office. As the roll was called each woman arose and
voted _viva voce_. Mrs. Brascaw was elected president, and Miss Mary C.
Collins, secretary. I was delighted to see the cheery way in which these
sisters-in-red did their voting. There were several sallies of laughter.

Then the delegates made each a report of the work done in their
societies and how much money had been raised. One woman from the Brown
Earth Colony said: "We are poor, but we are interested in the work and
have done what we could. Mr. Williamson taught me to read, and when I
was young he taught many others to read. Now I am nearly blind but still
I have done what I could."

Another said: When the pastor's wife was well she had helped them very
much and had taught them many things, but now she was sick and could not
attend many of their meetings, but they worked on and did the best they
could.

Another said: "The gospel was sent to us when we were in darkness, and
now though we are few and scattered far apart, yet we are anxious to
send the same gospel to those who have not yet heard of it, and to help
those around us to love our Saviour and to love each other, and we give
gladly of the little that we have. It is not in our own strength that we
do this, but it is in God who helps us."

It was found that the women had raised this year over five hundred
dollars. This goes into the treasury of the Dakota Society to help to
sustain four native preachers, who are also teachers, out among the wild
Indians. One of the s