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self…seeking。 It was silent； because all speech is of necessity feeble and
imperfect； therefore the souls of my ancestors ascended to God in
wordless adoration。 It was solitary； because they believed that He is
nearer to us in solitude； and there were no priests authorized to come
between a man and his Maker。 None might exhort or confess or in any
way meddle with the religious experience of another。 Among us all men
were created sons of God and stood erect； as conscious of their divinity。
Our faith might not be formulated in creeds； nor forced upon any who
were unwilling to receive it； hence there was no preaching； proselyting；
nor persecution； neither were there any scoffers or atheists。
There were no temples or shrines among us save those of nature。
Being a natural man； the Indian was intensely poetical。 He would deem
it sacrilege to build a house for Him who may be met face to face in the
mysterious； shadowy aisles of the primeval forest； or on the sunlit bosom
of virgin prairies； upon dizzy spires and pinnacles of naked rock； and
yonder in the jeweled vault of the night sky！ He who enrobes Himself in
filmy veils of cloud； there on the rim of the visible world where our Great…
Grandfather Sun kindles his evening camp…fire； He who rides upon the
rigorous wind of the north； or breathes forth His spirit upon aromatic
southern airs； whose war…canoe is launched upon majestic rivers and
inland seasHe needs no lesser cathedral！
That solitary communion with the Unseen which was the highest
expression of our religious life is partly described in the word bambeday；
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THE SOUL OF THE INDIAN
literally 〃mysterious feeling；〃 which has been variously translated
〃fasting〃 and 〃dreaming。〃 It may better be interpreted as 〃consciousness of
the divine。〃
The first bambeday； or religious retreat； marked an epoch in the life of
the youth； which may be compared to that of confirmation or conversion
in Christian experience。 Having first prepared himself by means of the
purifying vapor…bath； and cast off as far as possible all human or fleshly
influences； the young man sought out the noblest height； the most
commanding summit in all the surrounding region。 Knowing that God
sets no value upon material things； he took with him no offerings or
sacrifices other than symbolic objects； such as paints and tobacco。
Wishing to appear before Him in all humility； he wore no clothing save his
moccasins and breech…clout。 At the solemn hour of sunrise or sunset he
took up his position； overlooking the glories of earth and facing the 〃Great
Mystery；〃 and there he remained； naked； erect； silent； and motionless；
exposed to the elements and forces of His arming； for a night and a day to
two days and nights； but rarely longer。 Sometimes he would chant a
hymn without words； or offer the ceremonial 〃filled pipe。〃 In this holy
trance or ecstasy the Indian mystic found his highest happiness and the
motive power of his existence。
When he returned to the camp； he must remain at a distance until he
had again entered the vapor…bath and prepared himself for intercourse with
his fellows。 Of the vision or sign vouchsafed to him he did not speak；
unless it had included some commission which must be publicly fulfilled。
Sometimes an old man； standing upon the brink of eternity； might reveal to
a chosen few the oracle of his long…past youth。
The native American has been generally despised by his white
conquerors for his poverty and simplicity。 They forget； perhaps； that his
religion forbade the accumulation of wealth and the enjoyment of luxury。
To him； as to other single…minded men in every age and race； from
Diogenes to the brothers of Saint Francis； from the Montanists to the
Shakers； the love of possessions has appeared a snare； and the burdens of a
complex society a source of needless peril and temptation。 Furthermore；
it was the rule of his life to share the fruits of his skill and success with his
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THE SOUL OF THE INDIAN
less fortunate brothers。 Thus he kept his spirit free from the clog of pride；
cupidity； or envy； and carried out； as he believed； the divine decreea
matter profoundly important to him。
It was not； then； wholly from ignorance or improvidence that he failed
to establish permanent towns and to develop a material civilization。 To
the untutored sage； the concentration of population was the prolific mother
of all evils； moral no less than physical。 He argued that food is good；
while surfeit kills； that love is good； but lust destroys； and not less dreaded
than the pestilence following upon crowded and unsanitary dwellings was
the loss of spiritual power inseparable from too close contact with one's
fellow…men。 All who have lived much out of doors know that there is a
magnetic and nervous force that accumulates in solitude and that is
quickly dissipated by life in a crowd； and even his enemies have
recognized the fact that for a certain innate power and self…poise； wholly
independent of circumstances； the American Indian is unsurpassed among
men。
The red man divided mind into two parts；the spiritual mind and the
physical mind。 The first is pure spirit； concerned only with the essence
of things； and it was this he sought to strengthen by spiritual prayer； during
which the body is subdued by fasting and hardship。 In this type of prayer
there was no beseeching of favor or help。 All matters of personal or
selfish concern； as success in hunting or warfare； relief from sickness； or
the sparing of a beloved life； were definitely relegated to the plane of the
lower or material mind； and all ceremonies； charms； or incantations
designed to secure a benefit or to avert a danger； were recognized as
emanating from the physical self。
The rites of this physical worship； again； were wholly symbolic； and
the Indian n