I

THE GREAT MYSTERY

Solitary Worship. The Savage Philosopher. The Dual Mind.
Spiritual Gifts versus Material Progress. The Paradox of
"Christian Civilization."

The original attitude of the American Indian toward the Eternal,
the "Great Mystery" that surrounds and embraces us, was as simple
as it was exalted. To him it was the supreme conception, bringing
with it the fullest measure of joy and satisfaction possible in
this life.

The worship of the "Great Mystery" was silent, solitary, free
from all 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