October 4

1597: The Guale rebellion began. Guale were natives of what is today the coastal region of Georgia and occupied the Sea Islands, too. They are believed to belong to the Missiissippian culture group and their language may have had links to the Muskogean or Creek languages. They resided along the Atlantic coastal region since at least 1150 and archaeologists divide their culture into two phases, the earlier phase lasting to 1300 was the Savannah phase and the latter was the Irene phase. While they had related characteristics to other cultures in the area, they were a distinct group with distinguishing habits and their own chiefdom. They were mound builders and had a command over their environment in areas of agriculture and engineering.

Guale first made contact with Europeans when Jean Ribault of France explored the Atlantic coast and met the natives. They remained friendly with the French who had established a settlement on Parris Island in what is today South Carolina. The Spanish also entered into the colonization and settlement of the Atlantic coast and built at St. Augustine in Spanish Florida. They also made contact with the Guale and attempted to bring them into their mission system. The Spanish had four major mission provinces in their new land, the other three being the Timucua, Mocama, and Apalachee Provinces. Each was named after the chiefdoms found already living there.

The Spanish Guale Province was north of the Altamaha River and south of the Savannah River as well as including the coastal islands. By the mid 1600s they had established six Catholic missions within the Guale Province with their largest on St. Catherine’s Island. The Guale was the least stable of their four provinces and on this day, the first Guale rebellion began. It was also known as Juanillo’s Revolt, named after the Guale chief. He was attempting to stop the Franciscans from taking over his cultural identity and to allow his people to live freely, as they had prior to the Spanish invasion.

Guale were allowed to practice polygamy, divorce, dancing, and games, all of which affronted the sensibilities of the Franciscans as well as the governor of the territory. On September 13, 1597 Jaunillo led his men in a raid against the missionary and killed and decapitated Friar Corpa. He then went to other tribes and created a coalition to defy the Spanish incursion. Their concerted efforts began on this day and they eventually attacked all the missions in Guale and killed the missionaries. The Spanish were unable to capture the Natives but were finally able to use some other tribal allies to do so. Juanillo was captured in May 1598 and killed. While this stopped the present revolt, another was instituted in 1645 and nearly succeeded. The continual influx of Spaniards and the spread of European diseases led to the destruction of the Guale with their few remaining survivors teaming up with other decimated Natives to form the people known as Yamasee. Even though they were successful is destroying the missions, the Europeans remained.

In the past, missionaries have traveled to far countries with the message of the gospel – with great hardship and often with the loss of life. In contrast, we can reach millions instantly from the comfort of our homes by merely hitting the ‘send’ button on our computers, or with iPads, or phones. – Ray Comfort

The missionaries go forth to Christianize the savages – as if the savages weren’t dangerous enough already. – Edward Abbey

People have the idea of missionaries as going out with the Bible and hitting natives with it. It’s not really what they were doing. They were all doing something rather different. – Colin Firth

All missionaries, younger and older, serve with the sole hope of making life better for other people. – Russell M. Nelson