Other Recent Publications

The Lumbee Methodists: Getting to Know Them, A Folk History is a primarily anecdotal account of the spread and influence of Methodism among native Americans in the Robeson County, North Carolina, vicinity. Researched and written by two Lumbee Indians—Joseph Michael Smith, a Cary attorney, and his mother, Lula Jane Smith, former bilingual education supervisor for Wake County schools—The Lumbee Methodists is both a rewarding and frustrating volume. It is a cheerful, partisan narrative, containing much isolated data probably not found elsewhere; but it lacks the organization, analysis, and documentation without which any attempt at writing history falls short of its potential. The volume, with justifiable pride, celebrates the distinct religious and educational accomplishments of the Lumbee community in six chapters, which examine the origins of the Lumbee people, early days of the Methodist church in the region, brief histories of fourteen native American congregations in the Robeson area, important people and events in Lumbee church and secular history, Lumbee educators, and prospects for the future. Five appendixes present miscellaneous material ranging from poetry and sermon notes to a detailed chart listing pastors' service at the Lumbee Methodist churches. The book has a name index but no index of places or subjects. Additionally, biographical sketches of key figures mentioned in the text are scattered throughout the volume. Highlighted on a gray background, they are useful but are not integrated with the text and sometimes make it difficult to follow chapter narratives. The book contains discussion of Indian churches as part of the overall Methodist network and the benefits that that inclusion has had for small, struggling congregations. Also discussed are the church's role in defeating the "double-voting" system and possible effects of "open itineracy" on Lumbee clergy and congregations. Unfortunately, treatment of the question of Indian black relations and intermarriage in general is purely anecdotal. Published in Raleigh in 1990 by the Commission of Archives and History, North Carolina Methodist Conference, this 121-page book sells for $8.95 paper, $14.95 cloth.— E. T. Malone, Jr., Division of Archives and History.