Another in the line of preachers who occupied the Indian Church pulpit
was Rev. Phineas Fish of Sandwich. He annoyed his early American
parishioners, because, while accepting a salary, he held church for the
whites and discouraged attendance by the Indians. At a meeting of the
elders some strong sentiments were expressed and ultimately Mr. Fish
was forcibly ejected, after which “the lock on the door of the chapel
was changed.”
Mrs. Gardner many years ago originated the Richard Bourne Day ceremony,
in celebration of the ordination of the pioneer missionary. In August
of each year the colorful pageantry of braves in their great feather
head-dresses, their squaws with beaded buckskins, tom-toms, tepees and
even papooses was witnessed at the Indian Church. The Indians came
from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and other parts. Their
ancient rites were re-enacted and they exchanged reminiscenses of their
family lines, while large crowds of white visitors looked on and let
their imaginations roll backward. The war came and the curtain was
drawn--for the duration, at least--on this picturesque ceremony at the
257-year-old Indian Church in Mashpee.