 | Selected Works of Charles Gibson |  |
5. Passing of the Indian's Religion
(from Indian Journal, August 1, 1902)
In this so-called free country of America, where a citizen can worship according to the dictates of his own conscience, or party, the Indian is fast losing his religion. In a few more years the religion whispered to him in the wind will be lost entirely.
The Indian's religion was a poor makeshift, but the Great Spirit1 was satisfied with it. When the wild vine and tree brought forth fruit, the Indians rejoiced saying, "It is well. He that looks over us has given us fruits to eat. Therefore let us gather at our Big House2 and rejoice, cleansing our bodies of the past year's impurities and our minds of the evil thoughts that we hold against one another."
Thus the Indians worshiped. There was nothing mean--nothing vulgar to mar the occasion. Good will prevailed. The young men were given good advice as well as the young girls. Everyone went away wiser and better. There was no thirst for red whiskey--no intoxication. There was no stealing.
The Indian is now asked, nay, almost compelled to discard this simple, wholesome religion for the religion of the white man. How pitiful is a race of people under the foot of the conqueror! Their customs, religion, everything that made their existence tolerable, wiped out as evils! They must not hunt; they must not fish; they must not be heathens; but they can drink red whiskey and indulge in all the vices!
Not a being or deity, but the system of nature of life that provided for the people. Creeks also used the term "Master of Breath."
Each tribal town had a town house or "big house" which was used for public and ceremonial purposes. The one at Tuckabatchee was known for its size and was the only one known to have replicated the town house abandoned in Alabama upon removal to the West.
| Selected Works of Charles Gibson | |