With the Harmony to Labrador: Notes of a visit to the Moravian mission stations on the north-east coast of LabradorLa Trobe, Benjamin
History
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
Mr. Kaestner's sermon on 1 John iii. 1 was followed by a baptism, in
Labrador suitably the closing part of the public service. The
congregation as ever take up the long responses well and devotionally,
and in this service the children repeat portions of Scripture (1 Pet.
iii. 21, Tit. iii. 5, and Matt. xix. 14). These were spoken distinctly
and simultaneously by the boys and girls. The infant having been
brought up to the table by the parents, the minister baptized it with
the formula Susannah, Jesusib tokkun-ganut baptipagit Atatab,
Ernerublo, Anernerublo ajunginerub attinganut. (Susannah, into the
death of Jesus I baptize thee, in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost.)
I took the English service at three o'clock. Soon after we again
assembled in the church, for the Eskimo choir had sent a deputation to
request that they might sing some more of their pieces for us. The
programme of their really excellent performance included such pieces
as Hosanna, Christians Awake, Stille Nacht, Morgernstern (Morning
Star), and an anthem (Ps. 96) containing effective duets for tenor and
alto. When they had finished I spoke a few words of thanks and
farewell, and then Mr. Dam bade good-bye to the people he had loved
and served for ten years. They were much moved at the thought of
parting with their faithful pastor and his wife.
Shall I ever forget that communion at seven? I felt it a great
privilege to partake of the Lord's Supper with my brethren and sisters
in Labrador. How much He has done for these dear missionaries, simple
earnest Christians, experienced in the things of God, men and women of
mighty faith, who do "move mountains." How much hath God wrought for
these dear Eskimo Christians, who sit down at His table with beautiful
reverence and real appreciation of this act of faith.
The benches not needed for the communicant congregation had been
removed from the centre of the church. On the men's side two empty
benches stood together, on the women's three or four. After the
trombonists had played a solemn chorale outside, the first chapel
servant Joshua and his wife Bertha opened their respective doors, and
about twenty men and more than thirty women entered from right and
left and took their seats. Both men and women were all attired in
their light braided sillapaks, and they are very particular to have
clean ones for this service. The women who are communicants have a
lock of their hair plaited in front of each ear. The vessels used on
this occasion were presented to this congregation by two American
ladies, who recently visited Hopedale. They were present on a similar
occasion and were much struck by the solemnity and reality of the
service. In grateful remembrance of the kindness of our missionaries
they have sent this valuable and beautiful gift of communion plate.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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