red it to fragments forever.

In 1863, these Indians were transferred to Davenport, Iowa, where they
were confined in prison for three years. In 1866 they were released by
the government and returned to their native prairies, where they then
became the nuclei of other churches, other Sabbath schools and other
church organizations; and so these formerly savage Sioux became a
benediction rather than a terror to their neighbors on the plains of
the Dakotas. The church of the prison-pen became the prolific mother of
churches.

While these events were transpiring in the prison-pen at Mankato, a
similar work of grace was also in progress in the prison camp at Fort
Snelling, where fifteen hundred men, women and children, mainly the
families of the Mankato prisoners, were confined under guard. The
conditions, in both places, were very similar. In the camp as well as
in the prison, they were in grave troubles and great anxieties. In
their distresses they called mightily upon the Lord. Here John, the
Beloved (John P. Williamson D.D.) ministered to their temporal and
spiritual wants. The Lord heard and answered their burning and
agonizing cries. By gradual steps, but with overwhelming power came the
heavenly visitation. Many were convicted; confessions and professions
were made; idols reverenced for many generations were thrown away by
the score. More than one hundred and twenty were baptized and organized
into a Presbyterian church, which, after years of bitter wandering, was
united with the church of the Prison Pen and formed the large
congregation of the Pilgrim church.

Thus all that winter long, '62-3, there was in progress within the rude
walls of those terrible prison-pens at Mankato, one of the most
wonderful revivals since the day of Pentecost. And in February, '63,
Dr. Williamson and Rev. Gideon H. Pond spent a week in special services
amongst them.

The most careful examinations possible were made into their individual
spiritual condition and the most faithful instruction given them as to
their Christian duties; then those Indian warriors were all baptized,
received into the communion of the church and organized into a
Presbyterian church within the walls of the stockade; _three hundred
in a day_! Truly impressive was

THE BAPTISMAL SCENE.

The conditions of baptism were made very plain to the prisoners and it
was offered to only such as were willing to comply fully with those
conditions. All were forbidden to r