1875-1876.--Annual Meeting of 1875.--Homestead Settlement on the Big Sioux.--Interest of the Conference.--_Iapi Oaye._--Inception of Native Missionary Work.--Theological Class.--The Dakota Home.--Charles L. Hall Ordained.--Dr. Magoun of Iowa.--Mr. and Mrs. Hall Sent to Berthold by the American Board.--_The Word Carrier's_ Good Words to Them.--The Conference of 1876.--In J. B. Renville's Church.--Coming to the Meeting from Sully.--Miss Whipple's Story.--"Dakota Missionary Society."--Miss Collins' Story.--Impressions of the Meeting.
More and more the important events of the year culminate in, and are brought out by, the meeting of our Annual Conference. Heretofore this gathering had been in June. In the year 1875, it was held in September, at the Homestead Settlement on the Big Sioux. Only four years had passed since we were here before, but in this time great changes had taken place. They had erected a log church, and outgrown it, and sold it to the government for a school-house, and had just completed, or nearly completed, a commodious frame building. In this our meetings were held. Their farms and dwelling-houses had also greatly improved. In several of these years they had been visited by the grasshoppers, and by this visitation they had lost their crops. But they held on--somewhat discouraged, it is true. When their prospects and hopes from Mother Earth failed, they went to hunting, and thus they had worked along. This year they had a fair crop, and by exerting themselves they were able to entertain more than a hundred Dakota guests. Besides what they could furnish from their own farms, they had raised about $70 in money, which they expended in fresh beef. Thus they made princely provision for the meeting, which was, as usual, rich and full of interest.
Our Conference meetings began on the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 16, and by that time we were all on the ground and ready. We had journeyed, camping by the way, some over from the Missouri and others down from the head of the Coteau. The native delegates and visitors were encamped by the river-side, convenient to wood and water and the place of meeting. The missionaries pitched their tents by the house and enjoyed the hospitality of P. A. Vannice and his good wife.