Amos Cushan.
Kook-shin (or Kicking-foot) was our first convert to Christianity, and for many years a most valuable assistant in the work among his people. He was a youth of some twenty-five years of age when first I took up my work at Nanaimo. As a lad Kook-shin was trained in heathenism, and later when a young man learned to love the white man’s “fire-water.”
As a servant in the employ of the Hudson’s Bay Company he had acquired a little knowledge of English, and for some time served us in the capacity of interpreter.
His conversion was very clear, and so real to him that in after years he always referred to it with delight. When the enemy came to tempt him as to his conversion, to use his own words, “I pointed him to that place in the mission-house garden on the spring morning when I was working, where God spoke peace to my soul and made me, oh, so happy. For a long time before this I had had two hearts, but now Jesus became chief in my heart. Only one chief now. Jesus is my great Chief.”
When he was baptized he was named “Amos Cushan,” and almost immediately became a local preacher, and to the end of his life was always concerned for the salvation of his people.
No one who has not known the awful power of the drink habit can fully appreciate the struggle he had with this demon. More than once he was overcome, but finally he prevailed over his enemy and triumphed over every foe.
As an agent of the Missionary Society he spent many years in evangelistic labors among his own people on the east coast of Vancouver Island and up the Fraser River, and later visited the west coast of the island, the first Protestant missionary to carry the Gospel to Alberni and the country of the Ats. He made many long and trying trips, preaching in the open air and sleeping where he could, which finally, after many years of toil, brought on consumption, to which fell disease he finally succumbed. Notwithstanding the fact that he lingered long, and the poor body was racked with pain and suffering, yet his spirit was always bright; he was never heard to murmur. “In fact,” says one who visited him during his last sickness, “it was a great comfort to be with him, he was constantly praising God.”
It was Cushan who stood by the missionary in the great battle in Qual-la-kup’s house, and where, it is said, they saved the lives of half-a-dozen people. At camp-meetings and on other occasions he often preached with great power on the terrors of the law, from such texts as, “In hell he lifted up his eyes,” and “These shall go away into everlasting punishment.” He was an earnest advocate of missions, and was in demand at the various missionary meetings held in the district.
During his last illness a big potlatch was held at his native village, which brought many hundreds of heathen together. And here he never lost an opportunity to urge all to give their hearts to Jesus. Just before his death he called all his children to his side, bade them good-bye, and urged them to be good and serve God. “All, all is peace. Jesus is very precious,” were among the final words of this devoted servant of Jesus Christ.
AMOS CUSHAN.
[p. 206]
DAVID SALLOSALTON.
[p. 209]
SARAH SHEE-AT-STON.
[p. 229]
“CAPTAIN JOHN” SU-A-LIS.
[p. 187]
He was generally respected, and a large number attended his funeral. Some of the hardest hearts were softened as he was laid away until the resurrection morn.
“Servant of God well done,
Thy glorious warfare’s past,
The battle’s fought, the race is won,
And thou art crowned at last.”