The Moravians in Labrador

by Anonymous

CHAPTER IX.[ToC]

The Brethren obtain a further grant of land on the east coast of Labrador.—projected fourth settlement delayed.—Progress of the three settlements in the interval.—Instances of wonderful preservation—Ephraim—of Conrad, Peter, and Titus.—Report of the Superintendant, Kohlmeister, on the general state of the Mission.—Commencement and progress of Hebron, the fourth station.

Much as the brethren desired to establish a settlement on the Ungava country, and anxious as the Esquimaux there were, that they should reside among them, providential difficulties, as above alluded to, prevented what appeared so urgent a call from being complied with, and, in a manner, forced upon the brethren's consideration the propriety of forming a fourth station on the east coast. They had, therefore, applied to the British Government for a further grant of land; and the report of Captain Martin having been so highly favourable, all obstructions were removed, and next year the order which had been granted by the Prince Regent in Council, 13th May 1818, securing to them the possession of the coast from Okkak to the 56th deg N.L., including the bays of Napartok, Kangertluksoak, and Saeglak, was transmitted to Nain through Governor Hamilton, accompanied by a letter written under his own hand, wishing them every success in their Christian undertaking. From the great increase of the population at Okkak, the attention of the missionaries was principally directed to Kangertluksoak as the fittest place for a new station; as, in the spring, a great many of their own Esquimaux went thither to obtain a livelihood, the distance being about sixty miles yet several years elapsed before they were able to carry their plan into execution. During this interval, the missionaries had the pleasure of seeing the work of the Lord continue to prosper in the three settlements, and a spirit of love spread abroad among their flocks. "Our Saviour's grace and power," say they, July 1822, "have been made manifest in young and old, and the word of his cross, sufferings, and death, performs the same miracles, as in the earliest periods of Christianity. When we met to celebrate the holy communion, as well as on the different festival and memorial days of the church, the grace and presence of our Lord and Saviour revived our hearts and filled us with joy, and with praise and thanksgiving to him for all the good which he has done unto this people."—Procuring their food almost always at the hazard of their lives, instances of wonderful preservations were not uncommon among the Esquimaux, and their observations on their deliverances had generally a pious simplicity, which rendered them extremely pleasant. This year, Ephraim, a communicant, went with five others to catch seals at the edge of the ice, about sixty miles from Nain. Being at some distance from his party, the ice broke under him, and he had only time to grasp the rim of the hole made in the ice to prevent his sinking under it. In this situation, hanging over the sea, the cold being intense, his fingers froze fast to the ice, which helped to support him; for his immediate cries for assistance were not heard, and he remained for a quarter of an hour in dreadful suspense. At length, just when his voice failed him, he was perceived by his companions and his life saved. Though his fright and anxiety were in the beginning very great, he said, that he committed himself to our Saviour, and felt resigned to his will; and when the danger seemed most imminent, help was afforded, for which he gave thanks to Him who alone could deliver in such distress.

But an interposition of providence, which rescued two Christian Esquimaux, belonging to the congregation at Hopedale, who were carried out to sea on a field of ice, and were nine days driven about at the mercy of the waves, is not the least extraordinary among the many which occurred. A party of three, Conrad, Peter, and Titus, being engaged in fishing on the ice, that part on which they were standing broke loose from the shore, and was driven by a strong south-west wind out to sea. Conrad having a sledge with him, fastened some seal-skins and bladders to it to keep him buoyant, and turning it upside down used it as a raft; in this he paddled a full English mile back to the firm ice, being commissioned by his companions to procure a boat, and send it to their assistance. The sea, by God's mercy, being calm, he reached the shore in safety, but before he could procure the boat, the field of ice with his two companions on it had drifted nearly out of sight, and there was no possibility of overtaking it. The size and strength of the ice was such that it afforded them the means of building a snow-house upon it, in which they took shelter during the night, and in rainy weather. They had caught eight seals on the day of their departure, which afforded them nourishment, though for want of fuel they could make no fire, but ate the meat raw and drank the blood. Of their feelings during nine dreadful days of anxiety and suspense, they wrote the following affecting account. Peter for himself says, "When on the 4th of June (1824,) we were driven off the coast upon the field of ice, I was not much alarmed, for I did not apprehend much danger. At night when we lay down to rest we commended ourselves in prayer to God our Saviour, and gave up our lives into his hands, which we always continued to do. On the 5th, as we were floating pretty near to the point of Tikkerarsuk, I hoped that our brother Conrad, who had been with us, would come to help us with kaiaks. We repeatedly thought we heard the report of fire-arms, and therefore fired off our pieces, but towards evening, we perceived that we had been mistaken. Now I began to feel great fears about the preservation of my life, and thinking of my poor family, I wept much. With many tears I cried fervently to Jesus to save me. I could speak with him as if he stood by me, and said; 'I pray that I may not be carried to the other side of the water, nor to the south, nor too far to the north among the unbelievers, but that my body may have a decent burial in the earth. O! shew mercy to me, and do thou, the only helper in need, take care of my poor family!' Then these words occurred to my mind, 'Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown,' which made me shed tears of gratitude and love to our Saviour, like a child, though at so great a distance from home. I entered our snow-house weeping, and we both joined in calling upon Jesus for help and comfort. This we did every morning and evening. On the 6th, in the morning, finding ourselves carried far away from the land into the ocean, we again looked for comfort to Jesus, and prayed to him with many tears to help us, and direct our course. We sung that verse together, 'O lift up thy countenance upon us,' and these words were impressed upon my mind, 'I am the good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.' I felt my unworthiness deeply, and nothing but the words of Jesus could give me joy. I prayed fervently to him, that he would give his angels charge over me. I spent the whole day in prayer, and as I walked about alone, several parts of Scripture occurred to my recollection, especially the account of my Saviour's being taken captive. The prayer he offered up for his disciples, John XVII. was peculiarly precious to me, and gave me great comfort. Frequently I felt joy in my heart on remembering our Saviour's words, and that he said to his disciples, 'Receive ye the Holy Ghost.' On the 7th, the fog was so dense that we could not see whither we were driven. I cried to Jesus, 'O! help,' and his words came sweetly into my mind, 'Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.' Then I felt comforted. On the 8th, 9th, and 10th, we could see nothing on account of the fog. I wept, and longed only to enjoy the inexpressible love of Jesus. I remembered how the apostle Peter was frightened in the storm, and was comforted by our Saviour. Thus also he comforted us in our dreadful situation. I cried continually to him to bring us again to the shore, for the thought of my poor bereaved family caused many tears to flow from my eyes." At length, on the 12th, the field of ice on which they were, was driven nearer the shore, and on the 13th, they reached home by travelling over the drift.

This year the superintendant, Kohlmeister, who had served the Labrador mission thirty-four years, was constrained, by his increased infirmities, and by the severe indisposition both of himself and his wife, to return to Europe. His last report respecting the state of the settlements, is therefore too important to be abridged or omitted—it is as follows: "The work of God in the hearts of our dear Esquimaux, proceeds in the power of the Spirit, and with rich blessing; and I may with truth assert, that they grow in grace, and in the love and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Their number is likewise on the increase. The congregation at Okkak, in particular, obtains a great increase from year to year, by the arrival of heathen from the coast to the north of the settlement; the number of heathen Esquimaux in their neighbourhood is indeed decreasing, but Okkak may yet be called a mission among the heathen. Nain and Hopedale are now Christian settlements, all the inhabitants being initiated into the Christian church by holy baptism, except a few children, and no heathen live in their neighbourhood. Their increase, therefore, depends upon the rising generation, and upon the accession of persons coming from a distance to reside among them. On this account the endeavours of the missionaries, in these two settlements, are particularly directed to instil into the minds of the youth the principles and precepts of vital Christianity; and to see to it, that by the grace of our Saviour, all the souls committed to their care become more firmly grounded and established in faith and love, and walk worthy of their high and heavenly calling. This is done by faithful admonition, accompanied with watchfulness and prayer. The most efficacious means of promoting their growth in grace, is the reading of the New Testament, which they have now in their hands through the generosity of the venerable British and Foreign Bible Society. They read therein daily in their houses and tents with the greatest earnestness, delight, and edification. We have, indeed, ever since the arrival of this most precious gift, observed a great change. Their understanding of the word of God, and the doctrines which it contains, has greatly increased; and the influence upon their moral conduct is manifest, for they now more than ever desire to regulate their walk and conversation in conformity to truly Christian principles.

"The schools, which are held, with both children and adults, from November to April, are a most powerful means of forwarding their improvement in every thing good and profitable for them. Most of the people attend them with great diligence, and with an earnest desire to be soon able to read the New Testament for themselves. There are among the children some of five, and even of four years of age, who read well. The severest punishment than can be inflicted on a child is to keep him from school. The new Hymn Book is a truly valuable present. The whole number of Christian Esquimaux under the care of the brethren, at present, is 705, old and young."

Excepting that their numbers continued gradually to increase, the above report may be considered as a correct view of the state of the Moravian settlements in Labrador for several succeeding years.

Some Ladies in Scotland, who had admired the exertions of the Moravians in Labrador, had about this time sent as a token of their Christian affection a small present to the beloved labourers in that distant inhospitable clime; they were gratified, nearly under the above date [at the close of 1831,] by the following letter from two aged servants of the Lord, the venerable missionary Kmoch and his wife, who, after nearly half a century of active exertion, reluctantly retired from the heat of the day—it was addressed to a friend in Edinburgh, and shortly but sweetly corroborates the account of Kohlmeister.

"The Saviour continues," say they, "to bless his own work in Labrador. In Okkak, during the last winter, eight adults and thirteen children were baptized, and six persons are longing for the enjoyment of the holy supper for the first time. In the harvest of 1830 a malignant cold and cough raged in Okkak, of which eighteen persons died, but last winter the weather was very mild. I have been 34 and my wife 19 years in Labrador. I would willingly have remained among our dear Esquimaux much longer, but old age and sickness are the cause of our return. The parting with our Esquimaux, and our dear fellow-labourers, was very affecting."