believe that Christianity and modern civilization are opposed and
irreconcilable, and that the spirit of Christianity and of our
ancient religion is essentially the same.





II

THE FAMILY ALTAR



THE FAMILY ALTAR

Pre-natal Influence. Early Religious Teaching. The Function of
the Aged. Woman, Marriage and the Family. Loyalty, Hospitality,
Friendship.

The American Indian was an individualist in religion as in war. He
had neither a national army nor an organized church. There was no
priest to assume responsibility for another's soul. That is, we
believed, the supreme duty of the parent, who only was permitted to
claim in some degree the priestly office and function, since it is
his creative and protecting power which alone approaches the
solemn function of Deity.

The Indian was a religious man from his mother's womb. From
the moment of her recognition of the fact of conception to the end