Missionary Work Among the Ojebway IndiansWilson, Edward Francis
History
Missionary Work Among the Ojebway Indians
Wilson, Edward Francis
Indians of North America -- Missions; Ojibwa Indians
When we arrived we found eight pagans, including two old women of 80
and 75 years old, one girl and four children. After many friendly
'boozhoos' and hearty expressions of welcome, the Missionary and guide
seated on shingoob branches rested their wearied limbs beside a blazing
fire, whilst the two old women smoking their pipes and preparing
rabbits and pike for dinner, were heard to say 'pooch tah pukedawaug
pooch tah-kadishkhusk-enawug' (they must be very hungry and must have a
hearty meal). After dinner the Indian New Testament was introduced, the
simple Gospel expounded and some of Christ's beautiful invitations
read. I tried to prove to them from God's own Word that we all need a
Saviour, for that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;
that there is one way only by which we can be saved, namely, by
entering the fold of the good Shepherd; that Jesus Christ himself is
the door, 'He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.'
It appears that nearly two months ago these nine pagans had
unanimously agreed to become Christians and join our mission at
Ningwinnenang. The seed sown two years ago was not sown in vain, the
bread cast upon the waters is found after many days, God's word will
not return to Him void. One of the old women, 80 years old, with only
one eye, determines to return with the Missionary, a distance of 40
miles through the dense bush and over frozen lakes, to be instructed at
the Mission and prepared for baptism. The young woman and four children
were baptized. The rest of the family, namely an old man of 75,
'Kebuk,' and his wife will (D.V.) be baptized in the spring in our
little church, and then we hope to have quite a nice congregation.
In conclusion, let me add that poor old Wesqua, who returned with us
to the Mission, has not yet recovered from the fatigue of the journey,
the last day's travelling in particular for her was very trying. We had
to cross an arm of the lake about 15 miles in breadth, and the piercing
north wind was too much for an old woman of 80, whose entire clothing
consisted of an old canvass bag rent in two and rolled around her legs
for leggings, her skirts of blue calico did not reach much below her
knees, and a piece of old blanket thrown over her head and shoulders
was all that she had to save her from the sharp wind which blows at
intervals across the Neepigon Lake. When she arrived the blood had
almost ceased to circulate, her hands were numb, and she was indeed in
a pitiable condition. Half a teaspoonful of stimulant in a cup of warm
water was all we had to give. She revived, and after a supper of bread
and tea was soon herself again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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