With the Harmony to Labrador: Notes of a visit to the Moravian mission stations on the north-east coast of LabradorLa Trobe, Benjamin
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With the Harmony to Labrador: Notes of a visit to the Moravian mission stations on the north-east coast of Labrador
La Trobe, Benjamin
Indians of North America -- Missions; Inuit -- Missions; Labrador (N.L.) -- Description and travel; Moravian Indians -- Missions
Amalie cried a little during the ceremony, and more as she followed
her husband out of the church, but the heathen custom of feigning
sorrow on such an occasion is dying out. At first she refused
William's offer, made through their missionary, but afterwards she
thought better of it. May the Lord give them a happy and holy union of
heart and life!
THREE NATIVE HELPERS.
I had a visit this afternoon from the three "native-helpers" here at
Hopedale. They came to interview the angajokak from London
(anga-yo-kak = chief or elder) and their pastor kindly interpreted. I
am pleased to know these worthy men. They are true Eskimoes in modes
of thought and expression, and they are true servants of God,
faithfully serving this congregation of their countrymen in many ways.
Among the duties of their office are, visiting the sick, admonishing
the negligent, settling disputes, and affectionately exhorting those
who are under Church discipline. They are also chapel-servants, and
evidently glad to be door-keepers in the house of their God. At the
fishing or hunting places they often hold services, and sometimes they
preside at the meetings at Hopedale. At the celebration of the recent
centenary each of the three delivered a powerful address.
Let me introduce them to my readers.
The first and oldest is JOSHUA, a decided Christian of many years'
standing. His wife Bertha is also a chapel-servant, a real mother in
the congregation, and a true helpmeet to her husband. They are a
thrifty, diligent, much respected couple, whose influence and example
is blessed to those around them. Next February 4th they will, D.V.,
celebrate their golden wedding, an event unknown as yet in Labrador.
Though Joshua cannot read, he frequently addresses the congregation
with power, suitability, spirituality, and some originality. In his
public prayers he almost invariably adds a petition "for our Queen
Victoria; because she is only a woman." On one occasion he said to his
countrymen: "Those of you who can read know that it says, they shall
come from the East and the West, and the North and the South, and
shall sit down in the kingdom, but the children of the kingdom shall
be cast out. Our fathers were heathen, but we are children of the
kingdom. If _we_ fail of the grace of God, we shall not only be cast
into hell, but into outer, _outer_, OUTER darkness." It made a great
impression on them. At another time he drew a comparison between the
Israelites, who entered Canaan with Joshua, and the spiritual
Israelites, who with Jesus shall enter on the millennium.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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