Motanic Bad Indian No More

1908

Cayuse Chief Becomes a Christian — Makes Dramatic Confession

Spokane, Washington. — Motanic, bad Indian, terror of the Umatilla reservation southwest of Spokane and leader of pagan customs among the Cayuse braves, has embraced the Christian religion, and, as a consequence, there is rejoicing among the faithful in the Tutilla Presbyterian mission. The conversion of the chieftain was the dramatic climax to the ordination of Rev. Edward Conner, a full-blooded Cayuse, as minister of the gospel a few days ago.

Following the singing of the Cayuse version of "Washed in the Blood of the Lamb," in which braves and squaws joined heartily, Motanic, dressed in barbaric splendor, arose from his seat and, facing the congregation, declared his intention to live a better life. He vowed he would abandon the pagan customs, bid goodbye forever to the feathered headdress and the red and orange paint, to participate no more in the festal parades nor partake of the white man's firewater. He would not steal, gamble or cheat his fellow man or brother. Motanic had become a Christian. It was a fitting close to the ordination of Conner.

At the conclusion of the services which made Conner a full-fledged minister of the gospel there was stillness. Motanic walked to the front of the altar. Tears streamed down his weather-bronzed cheeks and his big frame shook with sobs. He looked neither to the right nor to the left. Motanic confessed his sins to the world and swore allegiance to a new king.

Suddenly a glad note burst from the throat of a little brown woman in the corner. It was the signal for a spontaneous outburst of song from the Indian congregation. Then his faithful squaw went home with the chief.

Rev. Samuel Fallows: "Odin Fell Before Jehovah"

1918

From a sermon by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Samuel Fallows, D.D., of the Reformed Episcopal church, delivered in Chicago, November 24.

We come to the closing of the war and the beginning of the conferences on peace with devout Thanksgiving to God for the multitude of His mercies toward us. We have now to reaffirm the great truth that "He hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth."

One nation had forgotten its lineage and its obligations to other nations. Nay, its ruthless rulers had forsworn the God and Father of all mankind, and worshipped the pagan tribal god Odin.

In that greatest of all wars Odin was pitted against Jehovah. All the basest passions of barbaric men were let loose. All the resources of science were used to blast and blind and destroy.

Jehovah triumphed. Our glorious, victorious boys are coming home crowned with immortal honor. The recreant foes are begging for bread. We will give it, but for repentant rebels. Its strength must be used to help pay the immense debt it owes to the countries it has ravished and ravaged.

—Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Fort Wayne, IN, Dec. 2, 1918, p. 4.


Thanksgiving Day Prayer by British

The Rt. Rev. Samuel Fallows Offers Thanks for Victorious Peace

CHICAGO, Nov. 28. — The Rt. Rev. Samuel Fallows, Episcopal bishop today offered the following Thanksgiving day prayer, recommending its general use.

"O God the ruler of the nations, we devoutly thank Thee for the splendid victory Thou hast given us who have been contending for the right over the arch enemies of mankind.

"The peoples who sat in darkness have seen a great light, the light of liberty. Songs of unutterable joy have broken from their lips. Tears of gladness have bedewed their cheeks. The prisoners have leaped exultantly from their chains.

"Despotic rulers are fleeing in hottest haste. The reign of the Lord's anointed has begun.

"Confusion may exist before the foundations of justice and righteousness are fully established. But Thou who didst crown our arms with triumph will ever rule for lasting good.

"Give us the grace to re-arrange speedily for the best all our industrial and economic affairs. Unite more closely together all our varied nationalities at home and our faithful allies abroad.

"Bring into one great unity of brotherhood all diversified believers of every faith and creed. And as our brave boys come back we thank Thee that we can so joyously sing:

"Let all the nations know to earth's remotest bounds,

"The year of jubilee has come, return ye glorious heroes home.

"And to Thee be all the praise for ever. Amen."

—Sandusky Star Journal, Sandusky, OH, Nov. 28, 1918, p. 6.

The War In China (1900) — The Will of God?

Massillon, Ohio, 1900

THE WAR IN CHINA.

Mrs. Guinn Believes 'tis the Will of God.

GROFF SAYS SATAN RULES.

The Well Known Bible Student Sees in the Situation the Beginning the Fulfillment of God's Prophecy — John O'Connor Says the Rich Man Makes Wars and Should Fight them.

The Rev. Mrs. Guinn, of Allegheny, who will appear at the African Methodist church on Sunday for the first time since her appointment to the charge, expects to shortly deliver a sermon having to do with the war in China. Mrs. Guinn has carefully studied the situation in the East, in connection with biblical assertions and prophecies, and her ideas on the subject are interesting in the extreme.

"Millions will be killed,," said Mrs. Guinn today, "but when the war is over I think we will see that it was a blessing in disguise. Every great good that has ever been accomplished has been through suffering. Many Chinese have already embraced the Christian religion, and the war will bring many more to Christ. The war, I believe, is the will of God, and its sole purpose is the betterment of the world. I feel that this will be the last war the world will ever see. At its close all nations will point to Christ. Paganism will exist no more."

A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT VIEW.

Dr. F. Z. Groff, well known as a student of the Bible, takes a somewhat different view of the situation. "Satan rules," remarked he Saturday. "The prophecy of the Lord that perilous times shall come and men shall become lovers of their own selves, covetous and so on, was fulfilled many centuries ago. Even in the Dark Ages such a condition existed. Now that other prophecy, appearing in the twenty-fifth chapter of Jeremiah, is being fulfilled. All the nations of the world are at war, as the prophet predicts; all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms, of the world are involved. And as Jehovah says, 'they shall drink and spew and fall and rise no more, because of the sword I shall send among you.' We are now beginning to realize what was meant by those words. The ministers of all creeds and all religious men are saying that we are on the verge of some great climax. What is it? Let them read their Bibles. Let them look to the prophecies. It is a great situation. All the people of the world perished once before. The Bible tells of what now is to happen."

AS JOHN CONNORS SEES IT.

"We've got no business sending troops to fight those poor people," said John Connors Saturday. "Why can't we leave them alone? If Americans want to go over to make money they ought to take their chances of being killed, and not expect this country to send troops to fight their battles for them. And if all the people were like me there would be no troops sent. I would not take up a gun and go to China, and it they'd all say the same thing there'd be no one to go. Why should free Americans be forced to lay down their lives in a heathen land? Make the men that's getting the money out of the war do the fighting, not the poor man who can figure on nothing but a bullet. This war business is all wrong anyhow. It's no concern of this country if the Chinese want to be heathens. That's their right."

—The Massillon Independent, Massillon, Ohio, July 30, 1900, p. 1.