The Gospel Among the Red Men "The History of Sourthern Baptist Indian Missions", Author: Robert Hamilton. Nashville, TN Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention - 1930.

So far as I know, a history of Baptist missions to the Indians in the South has never been written. It seems due the noble men and women who from time to time have heard the call of God to service among the aborigines of their country, that their story should be told. They laid their all upon the altar, and amid dangers, hardships, and loneliness entered the wilderness, took their families into climates reeking with malaria, far from friends and relatives, deprived of social amenities; were separated from their children for years during their school ages; traveled in primitive fashion through woods and over prairies, often over all but impassable trails, across unbridged streams, through rain and blizzard, dust and blistering sun, that the Indians might know Jesus.

They were impelled by no other motive than that of being faithful to him whose they were and whom they served. I have no word of censure for those who found it too hard and returned to the States. All honor to those who continued through long years of faithful service and counted it a joy to have fellowship with him in his service, and counted it a joy to have fellowship with him in his suffering, well knowing that if they would save others, they could not save themselves. In the annals of Indian missions it is recorded again and again, "After but a year of service, he (or she) entered into rest."

The graves of the early missionaries to the Indians, often in lonely or neglected places, are mute testimonials that they were faithful unto death. I count it a rare privilege to have had the honor to gather from many sources the fragments of records; and this information, combined with the knowledge resulting from more than thirty years of personal observation and fellowship with these noble men and women of God, is now to be published as a permanent record of the story of their work.

To these, together with the kindly secretaries and Home Mission Board members, whose sympathy and counsel were like balm to the often tired and troubled spirits of those in the field, to the churches who, by their prayers and gifts, were fellow helpers to the truth, I dedicate this book.

The Author

J. G. Brendel was born 13 July 1862, in Haywood County, North Carolina. He married Lydia Adeline Haygood on October 26, 1880. This marriage produced five children; Dovie Alice, James Cleveland, Ollie, Myrna Dee Nettie and Pearlie Mae.

Reverend Brendel started his missionary work at the age of 44 after serving several Baptist congregations in Arkansas and Oklahoma. He may have also served congregations in Georgia since his first four children were born in Georgia. My mother Pearlie Mae was born in Siloan Springs, Arkansas twelve years prior to starting his missionary work.

In 1908 or 09, Rev. Brendel moved on to California where he ministered to the Indians of that area until his death in 1925 according to this account. My mother’s records show the death date as 11 February 1926, at 1:00 pm in Long Beach, California. He is buried in Inglewood Cemetery, Los Angeles, California. I am told that all his Indian artifacts were turned over to the University of California.

J.(Joseph) D. Murchison, Grandson

THE INDIANS OF THE PLAINS

I. Pawnees

I. PAWNEES

During the winter, 1905-6, a party of Pawnees visited the Arapaho tribe. The missionaries working among the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians came together each winter and held a week's meeting at or near each church, usually beginning a week before Christmas and lasting through January. The Pawnees attended one of these meetings, held that year in Chief Left Hand's grove, on the North Canadian River. The meeting was well attended and there was good interest, a number being converted.

A young Pawnee man of some education and intelligence was a member of the party. He was greatly impressed with the work, and on his return to the tribe a council was held in their mud lodge. He told of what they had witnessed among the Arapahoes and the interest of the Indians themselves manifested in their church work. He especially emphasized the fact that the Baptists had furnished their Indian neighbors with a neat church house at each mission station, and missionaries seemed earnest in their effort to help the Indians to learn the Bible and walk the Jesus road, and that the Indians themselves were neat and clean, adopting the white man's ways and seemed to like it. His speech was backed up by those members of the party who were with him in the visit, and made a strong impression on the council.

The question was asked why the Pawnees could not have that kind of work in their tribe. After some discussion, it was decided that the young man should make an effort to have the Baptists undertake a work among the Pawnees. He sought out the pastor of the white Baptist church in Pawnee, who counseled with the Indians. It so happened that the pastor was the brother of J. G. Brendel, who had been for some years employed by the Oklahoma Baptist State Mission Board as missionary to the Cherokee Indians, and because of a reorganization of the work was available for the new work. He was recommended to the Home Board and in due time was app9inted and came to the Pawnees. He found the field already ripe for a great harvest. He soon made for himself a great place in the hearts of the Indians. He found the Methodists willing to give over the field to the Baptists, with their lease on twenty-eight acres of land, afterward deeded to the Home Board by the Government. The old buildings were purchased late in 1907, and adequate buildings erected. A wonderful work was begun, which soon spread through the tribe.

The events of those first days constitute an illuminating record of pioneer missionary work among the Indians. August 1, 1906, Rev. J. G. Brendel entered upon his duties as missionary to the Pawnee Indians in Oklahoma. There was said to be only one Christian in the tribe. When Brother Brendel received notice of his appointment, he said; "I thank the brethren with all my heart for their interest in this long neglected tribe. I long to be helpful to them." Dr. Love, then associate secretary of the Home Mission Board, was present to install him, and in a brief note to the Board, said: "The conference with the Pawnees was very satisfactory. Eagle Chief was in the conference, and talked freely. We are on good terms with him henceforth."

Three months later Mr. Brendel wrote of his work, saying: "We have no meeting-house. I hold services wherever I can get a few Indians together, in their tent, out in the open air, or in their mud loge, where they have their dance. I hold services each Sunday evening at the Indian school. I have one hundred and six in my class. On one occasion I went to see a sick man. His bed consisted of a quilt spread over some straw on the ground in his tent. I read God's word and prayed with him. He broke down and wept, saying: 'I am so glad you came. Come every day and talk to me about God. I want to be good.'"

A little later he writes: "My first effort was to get acquainted with them. They were constantly having their dances in their mud lodge, and their sun-dance, which is a religious ceremony. I go to these big gatherings, walk around among their camps, and distribute papers and tracts, when they will take them. Often they would not take them or look at me. But they found out that I was their friend and not there to interfere with them, and one day the leader asked me to come inside. I did so. And oh! such a sight! The maneuvers and ceremonies were beyond description. They had a bed of coals of fire in the center of the mud lodge, and at the beat of the drum they danced around this bed of coals until some of them became frantic. The women sitting around on the ground on their blankets would weep and wail. Then the dance would come to a stop. One after another they would get up and speak. Captain Jim, whom they called their 'priest,' has a rod with a bunch of feathers on the end of it. The priest would rub his hands over a roll, which they claim God gave them; then he would rub their hands and heads and bless them. These ceremonies would last half a day. The next day they were talking about their meeting just like Christians talk about a big revival service.

"Sometimes these ceremonies would last several days. These people are just as much pagan as the people of Burma. Oh! why have God's people neglected them so long? I called a council of the leading men and their chief. Eight of them came. I had a heart-to-heart talk with them and told them why I was here. This will go down in history as the most important period in their tribal life. Their leaders received me as their missionary, and invited me to come to all their gatherings. The next day they were to have a big dance. I went. They gave me a chair, and I sat and looked on. When there came a stop in the dance the leader got up and said, 'You see this white man, sitting among us. He is our friend. He had a council with our chief and leading men. We have received him as our missionary and preacher. You will see him among us at all our ceremonies. You must receive him and let him talk to us. He has come to teach us the religion of Jesus. It is time something was being done for the Pawnees religiously. The people who sent him are going to build us a church and mission. When this is done we must go on Sundays and hear him preach. It won't be long until some of you will want to join him in his work. That is your privilege.' Then turning to me he said, 'Now, we are ready to hear you talk.'

"The drum was laid down and they all spread their blankets on the ground and sat down on them while I preached to them about Jesus. After I closed, one of the chiefs arose and said it was the first time anyone had come to them that way, and they ought to listen to what I said, and help me in my work, since I had been invited to speak at all their dances.

"I go among them during the week and wherever I can get a few together I talk to them. I go inside their tepees and sit down on the blanket beside them and tell them of Jesus. An old squaw came and stood by me and wept while I explained a picture roll. I asked her if she wanted to be a Christian. She said, 'Yes, she wanted to love and serve Jesus, so that he would take her to his home.' I feel sure the Spirit had touched her hear. Oh! For a chapel where we could gather these 'sons of nature' and teach them the true way to God. We must have a chapel. As long as we go to their meetings and dances and preach to them, they will associate our religion with theirs."

One year after the work was begun, Missionary Brendel wrote: "They have received me very kindly, having permitted me to speak at a number of their gatherings. They have asked me to conduct several funerals, which show their respect for Christian burial. Two couples have called on me to marry them, which shows they are respecting the missionary and his work. We have been very much handicapped in our work by not having a place of our own in which to gather them for worship. They have become very much interested in hearing about Jesus. They have always believed in a great power they call 'Tira-wan-atis.' Now they call this power God.

"Two weeks ago I spoke to about two hundred of them at one of their ceremonies. The Spirit of the Lord was present in great power. Eleven came and gave their hands for prayer, many weeping. One chief came and said: 'We have been hunting for Jesus; we wanted to know him, and now I have found him, and my heart is happy.' I believe I can see signs of a great work of grace among these Indians. Our prospect is so much brighter since the Home Board has made the appropriation for the mission buildings."

In October, 1907, Rev. Brendel wrote again: "Your letter was full of cheer and encouragement. Such a letter does so much good to a frontier missionary. We moved into the cottage October 1st, and that week the whole tribe of Indians came together for their annual 'Ghost-Dance.' They invited me to speak to them, and I spoke to them four days that week. I cannot tell how much good I did, as they were so frantic and wild at times. The next week I spent straightening up and visiting the sick Indians. Was out several nights until twelve o'clock.

"We had set October twentieth for the opening of the church. Now I want to give you a history of a week at the Baptist Mission. Monday, the 14th, I found the contractor had failed to get the church seated, so had to phone to Oklahoma City and Tulsa for material. The afternoons were all spent at camp, visiting the sick and getting them something they could eat. Got home at seven o'clock. Tuesday morning I made and hung the barn doors so I could store away my horse feed. Afternoon, drove to different camps. Helped to carry a sick woman to a hack to be taken to town and put in a house. In a tent a girl is dying of consumption. In another is a little blind girl. We stayed until dark and then drove home to get something to eat, then back again to find the consumptive dead. Oh, how sad! Out here in a tent in the woods, where you can hear the coyotes howling and the wail of the mourners. If you could have been there that night when the world was wrapped in slumber, you would have seen the lone missionary, first in the tent, then out under the trees, trying to comfort the mourners and pointing them to Jesus. Thus the week was filled with 'labors more abundant.'"

The time came for the first service in the new chapel. He writes of the anxiety and dread which possessed him as the day approaches. "Oh! the anxiety and mental strain! Will the Indians come or not? Will they come at this first attempt or will it be a failure? This is to be the first Baptist church service among the Pawnees. I started out to invite them and was hard at it until 4 P>M>, when here comes a runner saying little Blind Annie Brown is dead. I go to the camp to find her father all broken-hearted. His wife has been dead two years, and now his only little girl is dead. In the tent with them is a very sick woman, and she cannot stand to hear them crying. What will they do? I suggested taking the body of the little girl to the mission. I prepared for the funeral, and went to bed ate Saturday night. Sunday morning I have a headache, caused from overstrain. Oh, what will the day be! It means so much for the future of the mission. At nine o'clock the interpreter comes to go over the sermon with me. I ring the new bell at ten o'clock for the first time. Its deep tones ring out over the reservation, calling these sons of nature from their tents and amusements and gambling to the 'Jesus House.' Before I finished ringing the bell a hack load of Indians arrived. By eleven o'clock we had a good crowd. Then came the people from the Government School, with the boys and girls. Promptly at eleven "nearer, My God, to Thee' was sung, the first song in the new house. Then a prayer, and we sang, 'Bringing in the Sheaves.' A short lesson from Haggai 11: 6-10. Then the sermon on the theme, 'God Making This House Glorious.' At the close of the sermon, five old Indians gave me their hands for prayer. It was a glorious service. One hundred and forty-six Indians and seventeen white persons were present."

Mrs. Brendel, wife of the missionary, who was as active and as devoted to the Indians as her noble husband, writes of a Thanksgiving service in 1910, as follows: "I do wish you could have been with us on Thanksgiving Day - or rather both day and night, for our Thanksgiving meeting continued all day and almost all night. The Indians began to come into camp for this occasion on Tuesday. All day Wednesday they were as lively as a swarm of bees. Thursday was a beautiful day and the Indians came from all directions - men, women, and children, until about 350 were present.

"At ten o'clock in the morning the meeting began. The first three men who were baptized each made an address; then Mr. Brendel preached. There was a great solemnity and interest on all the assembly. The women were weeping and were waiting and praying. It was a great time. The worship lasted until one-thirty, and then there was a dinner, at which about three hundred persons ate. An hour later everybody was in the building again, earnestly engaged in worship.

"We lighted the lamps and the Indians continued talking and singing and praying. It was nine o'clock when we dismissed. Even then the congregation was loath to leave the church, and they continued to stand and sit around and talk about the great meeting for almost an hour longer. About 10 o'clock we got over to the cottage and we were followed by one of the Christian Indians, who was so happy in his religion that he wanted to tell us about it. Before he finished telling his story, here came a deacon and with him a woman who wanted to be shown the way to Jesus. So our meeting began again there in the parsonage, and a little before midnight the woman left for her home happy in the new-born faith. We were very, very tired missionaries before we went to bed that night. I do not think the Christian Indians at the camp went to sleep at all.

"It was the greatest meeting we have ever had, and now there are seventeen new converts asking for baptism."

Such a record shows why the Indians listened to this man of God, why they were willing to turn from age-old customs and beliefs to follow this new teacher. What was the secret of his success? He loved them. He spared not himself, that they might know Jesus. He sleeps in an untimely grave among the Indians in California, but hundreds of the Red Race live, in this and the world beyond, because J. G. Brendel spent his life with and for them.

Some of the choicest Christians to be found anywhere are to be found among the Pawnees. Rev. J. G. Brendel remained but two years when, because of failing health, he resigned and went to California, where, in that climate, he was able to accomplish a wonderful work among the Indians in that state, under the Home Mission Society. He died in 1925. He was succeeded at the Pawnee Mission by Rev. Harry Bock, under whose ministry the work continued to prosper.