At this time the large expense of an establishment like Prince Albert
was meeting opposition in the Church and this, along with the other
considerations stated, brought much trouble to the venerable convener in
regard to the mission which he loved as a child of his own. In 1872 Dr.
Moore, of Ottawa, went as a delegate to the Saskatchewan, in behalf of
the General Assembly. His report led to the discontinuance of the
industrial phase of the mission, but it also rendered a tribute of
commendation and praise to the faithful work that had been done by the
founder, to the high reputation borne by the mission among all the bands
of Crees, and to the steady influence for righteousness attached to the
name of James Nisbet. In the course of time the Indian mission at Prince
Albert ceased to be, unless the mission school among a wandering band of
Sioux still maintained there be so regarded. John McKay, afterwards
ordained, was invited to a band of Crees north of Carlton, and till his
death ministered to Mistawasis' band. Other churches have taken hold of
the bands about Prince Albert, and to-day as a result direct or
indirect, of James Nisbet's work, few Indians of the district are
without the Gospel.
Shortly after Dr. Moore's visit to Prince Albert, Mr. Nisbet and his
wife visited his old home in Ontario, and he was present at the General
Assembly of 1873. He returned to his dear Prince Albert, but being left
alone by the resignation of Rev. Edward Vincent who had come to
Manitoba, and finding his plans somewhat changed by the action of the
Church, he arrived with his wife at Kildonan, in September, seeking a
temporary rest. The writer well remembers them as they returned. Their
work seemed to be done, and the Presbytery soon decided to lay hands on
Hugh McKellar, an earnest student, and license and ordain him for the
work in Prince Albert. Mrs. Nisbet soon passed away in the home where
she was born, and eleven days afterward her husband followed her. They
are together in Kildonan churchyard. His grave marks the spot where lies
as true, brave and single-minded a man as ever laid a foundation stone
in the work of missions.
A NEW DEPARTURE.
Though Mr. Black as Convener of the Foreign Mission Committee of the
Presbytery had some sympathy for the industrial ideal of Missions among
the Indians held by Mr. Nisbet, yet, on the decision of the General
Assembly being given, he loyally accepted the plan proposed, of
attending simply to evangelistic work among the tribes and to teaching
the young. It is to be remembered, however, that between 1866 and 1874
circumstances had changed. It was evident in 1874 that the buffalo was
soon to be a thing of the past, and the Canadian Government approved the
plan of settling the Indians upon reserves and of teaching them to be
farmers. The policy of the Government thus left the Church to pursue its
own method.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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