Constructive Work

Sabbath Schools – Christmas Festivals – Christian Endeavor Societies -Women’s Work – Temperance Organization

In character reading, Kate was perfectly marvelous, often almost uncanny in the shrewdness and cleverness she displayed. This wondrous gift made her able to co-ordinate interests and people, to obtain results, and it largely explains her outstanding success in organizing and establishing work.

She not only made leaders of the Indians by carefully drilling them in presiding over assemblies, pushing them forward by every legitimate method, showing them how to do their own work in the best possible manner, but she succeeded in making them keep accurate records of all their proceedings.

Sabbath Schools were largely organized under the direction and supervision of Miss Kate, whose energy and good, practical common sense soon standardized them and made the effective agencies. There are now six Presbyterian churches among the Nez Perces, and each has a strong Sunday School with Indians serving as superintendents, teachers and musicians.

The suggestive facts are that all adults as well as children attend regularly, and that teachers and superintendents have had special training for their work in Miss Kate’s theological school. These Indians have thus practically worked out two points much mooted now – the universal appeal of the Sabbath School and the need of specially trained Sunday School teachers. The Workers Conference held each summer in connection with the Nez Perce camp meeting is as fine a Sunday School convention as I have ever attended anywhere. Addresses and debates are in the Nez Perce language, and of course much is lost through translation, but the interest, the spirit of cooperation and desire for good team work were perfectly apparent, while the deep, spiritual tone showed that the Indians realized the vital object of all Sunday School work.

Christmas trees and the joyous yule-time celebrations are inseparably associated by the Nez Perces with Kate McBeth. Years before college sports received much attention, or playgrounds were scientifically treated, this strict disciplinarian, domestic science pathfinder, social service pioneer and theological professor realized that play and relaxation were necessary factors in forming a well-developed and strong character. The Nez Perces love to sing – she encourage them to sing loud and lustily. In fact this is one of their chief amusements. But the happiest time of all the year is Christmas week with its gaily decorated tree, singing festival and church dinner. How eagerly the season is anticipated and how delightfully the community spirit is expressed in heartily working for if.

Countless committees are appointed and all are keenly anxious to do their special work in the best possible way – in fact there is much friendly rivalry among the committees to do their particular job better than it has ever been done before.

Come with me to the Lapwai church the day before Christmas. Strong arms have shoveled safe paths through the deep snow to the little meeting house where out of the reach of the blizzardly north wind how grateful is the warmth from the huge stove piled full of well selected hard wood. The short afternoon is fast slipping away – but only final touches remain to be done for the evening sport.

Two shapely, symmetrical trees of identical size fill the space on either side of the little pulpit. Involuntarily one appreciated the true eye and good judgement displayed in choosing these trees from the distant forest. Yes, the committee was absent several days selecting the finest trees and in cutting greens for the profuse garlands around the church.

On the tops of high ladders, Indian men are carefully balancing themselves as very gingerly they hang on the trees flimsy tinsel glittering accessories while their wives, mothers, sisters and sweethearts sit in comfortable chairs around the stove placidly filling bags with candy, nuts and raisins, apparently their most arduous task. It is a reversal of what one usually sees in our own white churches, for with us too often, the women make all the preparations.

Four men are carefully dusting the pews, while others are testing the lamps, for tonight no uneven wicks or cloudy chimneys shall impair the brightness!

The completing touches have now been given, all is in readiness for the evening sports, and the happy people slip away to their little camp houses near by, while you and I linger in the dull light of the waning day, enjoying the woodsy smell, the warmth and the spirit of the season. In the quietness, figures slip in cautiously, stealthily approach the trees, quickly and dexterously hang thereon a little love token – and fade away in the deepening shadows. Oh, it is indeed joy, to spend Christmas with our Indian friends!

Two hours later, brilliant lights are radiating from the well-polished lamps and the church is packed with an eager, expectant throng. Because you and I are friends from far way we have platform seats among the singers, and thus have an unforgettable memory picture of the dark-skinned, shining eyed crowd.

Little children fill the seats in the immediate front, back of them are the older boys, on the right, pew after pew is crowded with Nez Perce men, grave and dignified and yet with sparkling eyes, the women are on our left, nearly every one having a cunning baby in her arms, or in its beaded tekasse – while in the extreme rear of the church are visiting Indians, some from formerly unfriendly tribes in the far west, a few of them long haired heather, with gorgeous feathers and wonderful brass ornaments glistening in their black hair. It is an inspiring audience and a picture that one joys in remembering.

Much singing, rather tedious speeches from some of the men, because we can’t understand the language, recitations by little girls, a bit of really fine pantomime of Hiwatha by two small boys, then comes the great event of the year. Suddenly the doors swing wide open, and in a merry jingle of sleigh bells, Santa Claus with long while beard and fur clothes, bowing to right and left is hurrying down the aisle, and the wondrous trees begin to shed their fruit!

As the long Indian names are called off, the boys quite bravely the little girls very shyly, come forward to claim their gifts. No one is ever omitted – from the very oldest to the infant a few weeks old – each has something. Should a tiny baby be forgotten, the indignant mother would hold the beaded, much tasseled tecasse high up, and thus attracting the attention of the chairman of the distribution committee, something suitable for the wee thing would be forthcoming from the little reserve stock behind the trees.

Now Santa Claus has come to the men’s and women’s names and he seizes this opportunity of indulging in all sorts of pleasantries, jokes, funny anecdotes, any ridiculous experience of the past year is cleverly woven into each presentation speech – all are convulsed with laughter, the sport is definitely prolonged, while you may be slyly nudging Miss McBeth and begging for translation! You would so love to laugh with them and not at them as your are now.

And all the time, not one detail escapes the keen, critical eyes of the visiting heathen in the extreme rear of the little church! What are they thinking! No one knows. They are always made welcome, and such visits are sometimes followed by requests for the Nez Perce preachers to come over to their village and conduct evangelistic services.

The Indians never hurry. The fun goes steadily on, and we ‘soyappos’ are very weary long before the happy Nez Perce reluctantly say, "Taats gelarwit" (Good night)

Lights begin to twinkle in the little camp house houses, scattered around the church, and very weary, we are before long finding welcome rest in strange beds. Scarcely a moment later, it seems, the clanging church bell rouses one, and Miss Kate sleepily, yet very firmly calls out , "Get up and dress quickly – for sunrise prayer meeting in the church!" Why – its not possible – it cannot be Christmas morning. And you and I are away in the Idaho country, and an early morning prayer meeting is demanding our weary presence! But never mind what you may be thinking, get up, dress quickly, put on your warmest wraps, or Miss McBeth will be ready and off without you!

As you grope in the early dawn through the blinding snow storm, the bright lights in the little church encourage you forward. Did you think to find the trees still standing, the great stove dark and cold, the church mussy and disorderly? Oh no – early as it is now, others have been there long before , and while the Christmas garlands are yet in place, the trees and every evidence of the festivities of the night before are removed. Now the decorous Indians their wives and all the children are offering praise and thanksgiving to their Heavenly Father, and seeking His blessing for the new day. So it has ever been with Kate’s teaching – a joyous, happy, gay time – and earnest, uplifting , devotional services following in quick succession.

Latter, at mid day, we will be invited to a community dinner, prepared by the Indians themselves. A similar program, practically, is carried out in the five other churches, and a Christmas entertainment, with gifts for all the children is also provided for the government sanitarium.

The twenty-fifth anniversary of the Women’s Missionary Society of the Lapwai church occurred on January 8, 1916. This was the first missionary organization in Walla Walla Presbytery, antedating by a number of years any in the white churches. Miss Kate had difficulty in effecting this organization. Here, as in her other constructive work she was determined that all the prominent offices, including the presidency, should be held by Indian women. They are naturally shy, and must be encouraged in leadership. They told her their husbands would laugh and make fun of them and call them "women bosses" – which they promptly did. And for a long time the Indian husbands teased their wives about taking part in a meeting. Contrary to generally preconceived opinion, Indians are very fond of teasing one another, a joke is keenly enjoyed and soon becomes public property.

During all the years since it was started, the society has met regularly, contributed most generously to home and foreign missions and accomplished much local work. It is the only woman’s organization in the church, and here too, are workable suggestions which missionary societies in white churches could well copy:

The little children go with their mothers, and the older girls, as well as the young married women, are members; each has something to do, feels a personal responsibility for the success of the society, and all the women church members are members of the missionary society.

Each summer it has a picnic meeting, when an elaborate luncheon is provided, consisting of deliciously cooked food, attractively served, and the men are most happy to attend as invited guests. They no longer make fun of the "women bosses!"

While Lapwai has the oldest and the strongest missionary society, there are now womens organizations in all the Indian churches. They hold a rally and conference, occupying one entire afternoon at the summer camp meetings, which answers every practical purpose of a Presyterial annual meeting.

Christian Endeavor was introduced into western Idaho by Miss Kate McBeth. Shortly after Dr. Clark organized the first society, she sent for descriptive literature, and its wide scope and interdenominational character made her realize how valuable it could be for work in a government boarding school, where there were over two hundred Indian boys and girls.

A Roman Catholic priest conducted services for those whose families who were connected with that church, but Miss Kate and her niece, Miss Crawford, instructed the Protestant children, provided Christmas presents, good literature for all , and did much visiting, especially when any were ill. Since the old buildings have been converted into a sanitarium, the same policy has been continued. The Christian Endeavor plan or work proved a most happy way of interesting and instructing the young people. The first society in the government school antedated any in white churches in Idaho.

Before very long all the Nez Perces churches had similar organizations. Now the Indian Christian Endeavor Societies share their responsibilities in district and state conventions, and frequently pay travelling expenses of their delegates to meetings hundreds of miles distant. The Endeavor Societies also held a rally and conference at the summer camp meetings.

Temperance is a vital question among Indians of all tribes. The early Missionaries among the Nez Perce taught total abstinence. Many of the people in their own lives have experienced the evils of intemperance, others have suffered because of its effect in their families and among their friends.

In every possible way, Miss Kate encouraged the study of temperance. She found that the organization of temperance societies in all the churches was the most effective method. The leaders were held to strictest accountability, and before very many years, each church had a strong temperance society, whose membership includes men, women and children. Meetings are held twice a month and are always largely attended.

If a member weakens, yields to temptation and drinks, it is sufficient cause for church discipline. And the Nez Perce sessions have always been very keen in exercising their disciplinary prerogative. Faithful temperance instruction in the churches extending over a long period, proved a splendid training for these people and when the ballot was put into their hands, they knew how to use it. This phase of the subject is presented more fully in the following chapter.

In all these modern expressions of Christian activity, Kate McBeth showed exceptional ability in adapting the general principle or trend to the movement to the needs of the Nez Perce people

Today it is exceedingly doubtful if any group of six rural churches among while people anywhere in the land are as much abreast of the worship and religious activity of the times as are these six Indian churches in Idaho.