Page:The Red Man and the White Man in North America.djvu/492

472 suggestion that the beginnings of the work set the example which has substantially been followed since by both parties of Christians. That missionary work among the Indians has never to this day been given over. In spite of all the perplexities and embarrassments which have attended it, and notwithstanding all the discouragements, thwartings, and failures which have clouded it, the inspiration of faith and duty has always won to it earnest and zealous laborers, and has secured to them the full sympathy and the generous patronage so essential to its support. Driven from one field of labor by war or ruin, the missionaries have sought another; disappointed in the trial of one scheme, they have soon devised a substitute. As each new organization or society, starting with hopefulness in friends and funds, has languished and been left to die, a fresh enterprise finds a ready rallying at its call. And all this is true, notwithstanding the frequent rebuke that heathen across the seas engage the sympathy which is needed for those at home.

It is further to be observed that Roman Catholics and Protestants, in their continued and unintermitted missionary efforts, still pursue substantially the same divergent aims and methods in their service among the Indians which we have found were adopted by them at the first. Perhaps, however, this statement should be subjected to the following qualifications: namely, that the Jesuit missionaries have of late been more regardful of the obligation and necessity of direct efforts for civilizing the Indians, while Protestant missionaries have to a certain extent subordinated direct religious, or at least dogmatical, teaching to preparatory training in secular education, manual industry, and morals. The Jesuit has adapted his efforts to the changes in the circumstances of the lives and conditions of some Indian tribes incident upon their removals, the crowding upon them of the whites, and their increasing dependence upon the helps of civilization. Let us take the testimony of two Jesuit missionaries in quite recent years.