Chafe] SENECA THANKSGIVING RITUALS 97 



Ji-. The Faith Keepers 



(244) And now we are expressing our gratitude; that is all we can 

 do. (245) And now this is what the Creator intended, when he 

 finished the creation of the earth. (246) He decided, "I shall have 

 helpers (247) who will be persons among those who move about on 

 the earth. (248) It will be their responsibility to get up the cere- 

 monies, the Four Rituals, the ceremonies I laid down for myself." 

 That is what he intended. (249) And these are the moiety partners 

 who are called Faith Keepers. (250) It continues unchanged, they 

 are standing there by the pole set up for the Creator.*^ (251) Indeed, 

 they are carrying out their responsibility. When the ceremonies are 

 due, they decide that it is the proper time. (252) And then they 

 get up whatever ceremony it is, announcing that a ceremony is indi- 

 cated. (253) And indeed, those who are called Faith Keepers have 

 been getting up the ceremonies. (254) It must also be so: the trees 

 are of equal height ^ among the moiety partners who are called Faith 

 Keepers. (255) And there will be consent shown toward the Faith 

 Keepers by those dependent on them, those who are called the ones 

 with no assigned responsibility. (256) They aU work together as 

 one when they deliberate. They decided when the time comes, ac- 

 cording to the way the Creator arranged the sequence of ceremonies. 



(257) And it is true: this is the manner in which it continues to operate. 



(258) They are carrying out the responsibihty that was assigned to 

 them. (259) Up to the present time, too, this is their responsibility. 

 (260) And therefore let there be gratitude that it stiU contiuues un- 

 changed, operating as he planned it. (261) And the entire group is 



«« Reference is to the support for the kettle containing soup prepared by the Faith Keepers (Fenton, 1936, p. 7) . 

 w I.e., there is no difference in rank. See p. 10. 



