From a, Hopi Indian Christian's letter to H. A. Ironside on the destruction ,of the idols of their clan:

Dear brother:-We had some very interesting days since our coming home from the Conference. Our bro. Johnson's old aunt died, and with her the "Bow-and-Arrow" clan came to an end, as far as succession is concerned-for the clanship succession belongs to the female line:Dora, her only daughter, being a Christian, and so is her niece. These are the only ones that could continue the clan.

Bro. Johnson proposed to destroy the clan's idols, and said, "The war gods are in my old aunt's home, but I don't know where the altar is. I wish to bring them all out next Sunday and break them to pieces, after reading the chapter on idols, before the Hopi Indians and the tourists who have come to see the snake dance. Will that be scriptural?"

As I also believed it according to God's word, he made ready to carry it out. The following evening at our prayer-meeting we put the matter before the Christians, and they all agreed to put away the idols.

The next day, Johnson learned the war gods belonged to another household, but the altar and the idols belonging to the clan were taken to Hotevela by chief Mukimwa. We went there, called the chief from the kiva (the underground association room) and after a lengthy talk obtained our object. Many white tourists were there for the snake dance on the next day, and we invited them to come to see a bonfire of idols.

On Sunday morning two young girls were baptized on their confession of faith in Christ; after which we had the Lord's supper.

Three white strangers then came in, saying they were very interested in antiquities, and wished to see the altar and the idols we had put in the chapel's back room as prisoners on trial for murder. These strangers pleaded to have them sent to the National Museum, as a clue to ancient history. One man said he was a geologist, and the woman a scientist. We knew they might be so, and that Johnson might receive a good sum of money, but we declined.

Finally Johnson, said, "Let my words be final. You have now seen these things. They kept me from receiving Christ for many years, and have been the means of sending souls to perdition. Though only wood, under the power of Satan they would yet send hundreds more into hell. Knowledge and money can never save our souls; and I am determined that they shall be burned." 1^ then asked them, "Have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour ? Are your future interests resting upon the atoning work done at Calvary?" They dodged the questions by saying they were Congregationalists, and one of them left immediately.

Johnson spoke more to them; they seemed struck, and in silence. After this they gently thanked him for his words, and left. We are praying that God may save them. That afternoon we loaded the idols and altar pieces and took them up the hill in the lower village where they should be burned. A crowd of tourists had gathered to see these idols that had never been shown before. We had singing, and one of the missionaries that had come from Hotevella and other places offered prayer. Mr. Karl Friesen addressed the people saying this event was not of his urging, but of the Holy Spirit, as Johnson had not even mentioned it to him until all arrangements had been made. Then, while Johnson assembled the idols and altar pieces to be burned, I spoke to our people of their need of Christ, and of a new and better way than the snake dance; and I ended by saying to the tourists, "If you do not need Christ in civilization, do let ms have Him."

Johnson then read Psalm 115:4-8, and spoke to the crowd in English:"Look at these idols:they have eyes but they see not; they have noses but cannot smell; they have ears but cannot hear, and legs have they, but cannot walk. Yet they have kept me away from Christ for many years. Hundreds of my people have been sent to perdition by them. Should we save them? I would gladly sacrifice myself to save our people from these idols.

"Let me tell you a story which you have not heard before. A blind boy was born to a Hopi family. His parents loved him, and his father made him a smooth staff by which he was led. One day he said he wanted his eyes to be opened. His father couldn't do that, but told him that a great doctor was coming who then would open his eyes. Finally, the doctor came when he was about 36 years old. The operation and the medicines hurt him much; but it was successful. For the first three weeks he saw, but faintly; afterward more. Then, one day, he saw something like a buzzard swoop down on a dead horse. Afterwards, others came-always increasing in numbers.

"Now the interpretation:This boy is myself. The great doctor that opened my eyes is the Holy Spirit. The medicine is the gospel, and it did hurt as it told me of my sins. The stinking dead horse is the snake dance, and the buzzards are the tourists, Friends! feed on the Living Bread, not on a snake dance!"

After this Johnson spoke in Hopi to the Indians, urging our people to forsake idols, and accept Jesus.
OTTO LOMAVITA