SUPREME BEING
All the Lenape so far questioned, whether followers of the native or of
the Christian religion, unite in saying that their people have always believed
in a chief Mani'to, a leader of all the gods, in short, in a
Great Spirit or Supreme Being, the other mani'towk for the greater
part being merely agents appointed by him. His name, according to present Unami
usage, is Gicelěmû”ka-ong', usually translated. “great spirit,” but
meaning literally, “creator.” Directly, or through the mani'towůk his agents, he created the earth and every- thing in it, and gave to
the Lenape all they possessed, “the trees, the waters, the fire that springs
from flint,-every- thing.” To him the people pray in their greatest ceremonies,
and give thanks for the benefits he has given them. Most of their direct
worship, however, is addressed to the mani'towůk his agents, to
whom he has given charge of the elements, and with whom the people feel they
have a closer personal relation, as their actions are seen in every sunrise and
thunder-storm, and felt in every wind that blows across woodland and prairie.
Moreover, as the Creator lives in the twelfth or highest heaven above the
earth, it takes twelve shouts or cries to reach his ear. An account of the
worship of the Creator will be given later in connection with the description
of the Annual Ceremony. The Minsi had similar beliefs, but the current name for
the Great Spirit in that dialect today is Pa”'tňmawas, interpreted “He
who is petitioned,” or Kěttanito'-wět, “Great Spirit.” (Religion and Ceremonies of the Lenape, ed. F. W. Hodge [Indian Notes and
Monographs; New York: Museum of the American Indian/Heye Foundation, 1921],
19-20)
