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CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY ARCHIVE

Section V: Missions to the Americas

Part 2: North West Canada, 1821-1880

Part 3: North West Canada, 1822-1930

Part 4: British Columbia, 1856-1925

Introduction to Part 3

Part 3 continues coverage of the papers for Canada with those for North-West Canada, 1822-1930.

Contained in Part 3 are more of the Original Papers for 1822-1880, the Original Papers for 1881-1930, Individual Letter Books for 1887-1914, Letter Books for 1862-1930 and Précis Books for 1881-1930.

The Individual Letter Books contain private letters on all manner of subjects written by the Secretary in London to missionaries in the field. Although the majority of the letters are those of condolence or censure the Secretary also writes on topics in which he had a special interest. Each Individual Letter Book contains an index of names.

The Letter Books contain copies of the correspondence, covering all sorts of subjects, from the Secretary in London to the mission secretary and others at the station concerned with mission affairs. The Letter Books all contain an index of names.

The Précis Books contain a précis of all incoming papers prepared for the Group Committee. The précis comprises the number, date, writer, date received, summary of contents, proposals for committee action to be taken and/or the Secretary’s remarks.

The Original Papers are the incoming papers sent by the missions to London. They contain letters regarding all manner of subjects: from missionaries describing their first impressions, requesting furloughs, increases in salary, permission to marry and descriptions of their travels around the mission area.

The majority of the Original Papers contain the Letters and Papers of individual missionaries, catechists and others. The Original Papers from 1822 to 1880 in Part 2 covered the missionaries from Rev William Bompas to Rev John Mackay. Part 3, covering up to 1880 also, continues with Rev William Mason to Rev Richard Young. The Original Papers from 1881-1930 are not organised by missionary.

The papers consist of a mixture of material: there are translations into Cree of Bible stories together with the Cree vocabulary; newspaper cuttings – for example the story of Bishop Stringer whose journey from Fort MacPherson brought him very close to death- “….he was reduced to eating his mucklucks and moccasins….” ; drawings of Indians and local life.. However the greater part of the papers consists of very detailed reports, journals and annual letters of the Bishops and missionaries as they travelled among the Indians throughout the mission area. They describe their meetings with the Indians and the way of life of the indigenous people and give very vivid descriptions. Their fascinating experiences are recorded also in the issues of The Moosonee Mailbag.

Contained also in the Original Papers are: Finance Committee papers; mission estimates; minutes of missionary conferences; minutes of the missions; medical board minutes; reports of meetings of the Synod of the Diocese of Saskatchewan; various illustrated issues of The Rupert’s Land Gleaner, The Canadian Church Magazine, The Moosonee Mailbag; pamphlets such as Missionary Leaves Association, Rupert’s Land Indian Industrial School. Life Conditions of the Native Races on the East Coast of Hudson’s Bay; statistics; reports from the various missions; translations and miscellaneous documents.

EXTRACTS

The following extracts give only a glimpse into the richness of the papers.

A Report of St Andrew’s Model-School for the nine months ending July 1857 by Caleb Baskett Mayhew:

On the evening of October 11th we arrived at the Grand Rapids Red River about 10pm. The sun had long sunk beneath the western horizon and we were enveloped in the shades of a calm and star-light night. Weary and fatigued in body, and somewhat depressed in spirits front the long and tedious passage of the day, we highly appreciated the sympathy and kind hospitality of the Rev Mr and Mrs Kirkby, who had passed over the same route a few years previously. After supper we retired to rest with feelings of gratitude to Him, whose arm had borne us safely over the unfathomable caves and swelling tides of the ocean, and whose mantle of love had been wrapped around us to preserve us from the destroying elements above and around, while passing up the country. Having taken no repose on the previous night our long and deep slumbers intruded too much into the sacred hours of the day of rest. On the following morning – the Sabbath – I took a view of the Rapids Station in company with Mr Kirkby. The coup d’oeil was pleasing indeed: the sun shone brightly in the soft blue sky, and the sparkling dew-drops glistened through the morning air. A light breeze wafted the murmurs of the gurgling rapid from whence the Station took its name in unbroken sounds, and raised the glittering ripples on the surface of the stream…. The eye caught sight of the pretty little Church, with it Gothic windows, shingle roof and modest tower surmounted by a conic spire, bearing a weather-cock on its summit….

Extract from The Metropolitan holding Confirmations and visiting new Churches in the Indian Missions by Robert Phair, Winnipeg, January 1890:

New Year’s Day was not the most inviting day to start on a long journey though the Indian Missions; otherwise I should most cordially invite interested friends of Missions to join us. However, as this cannot be, let me ask any reader to follow us in thought from place to place. I would emphasise this request from a conviction that more practical knowledge of missions is the great thing needed at this particular crisis.

Before leaving the Railway Station, it will be necessary to give one’s outfit a little thought. If it were Summer, one might think about mosquitoes, and troubles from flies; as it is now, none of these need to be considered – still, protection by day and by night must by no means be forgotten. First of all one’s ears need to be carefully attended to, and the cap, whether to be worn on an episcopal head or not, must fit well down over the ears. Then a muffler round the neck, to come well over the mouth and sometimes be drawn a little over the nose, completes the requirements for the face, except that now and then the large fur mittens are held up to protect it – when the thermometer indicates 38° or 40°. I will not wait to say how the man would get on, who was not to have two coats; some of us think three none too many, and some of them need a little extra lining as well. The most careful attention must be paid to one’s feet, not only to have the warmest socks, but to secure them well in duffle besides. Then comes the wherewith to sleep at night – and when thought is given to this, one must not forget the accommodation, or rather, the lack of accommodation sure to be met with. I cannot say whether one is very fortunate, when offered the luxury of an Indian bed to sleep on – something depends upon the height of the person thus favored; generally speaking, there is but one bed in the house, and strange to say, although the Indians are by no means diminutive creatures themselves, their beds are much too short for an ordinary white person.

…. A few hours steady travelling brought us in close proximity to the scattered settlements, a short distance from the south–eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg. Had time allowed, it would have been nice to have visited some of these isolated settlers; this, however, is done from time to time by the Rev Jas Settee, and others.

After passing alternately through swamps and bush for some distance, we came at last to the Reservation, on which the Mission is situated; here we were received most cordially by Mr John Sinclair, the catechist in charge, and arrangements were made for passing the night. Mr Sinclair’s house, while it meets all the requirements of his family, is not specially adapted for accommodating travellers. The portion of it, called a room, which was kindly placed at the Bishop’s disposal, could not be said to contain luxuries. There was a bed, which was at least a foot too short for the person for whom it was intended – a chair and little table completed the furniture. Here the Metropolitan made himself comfortable for the night. Numbers of Indians called, and some remained for prayers after which it was time to choose the best place on the floor to spread one’s blankets….

Review of the Missions by Rev Phair, 1891:

Before leaving for Eastern Canada in the interest of the Indian work I should like to say a few words about the different Missions.

The Indian Settlement

I think it well to say a word or two about this mission although it is no longer connected with the Society in the way the others are. And first of all in regard to the anxiety to the Finance Committee of which it has for the last few years especially been the cause. Roman Catholic priests and teachers have gone among the Indians and disturbed them, and have been the cause of much trouble. Then other strange teachers with their doctrines have tended to keep the minds of the settlers in a perfect ferment. The consequence has been a most unhealthy state of feeling in the whole parish, and one which called for much trouble and extra work for the clergyman….

Brokenhead River

Progress is slow in this mission, and I believe much of this slowness is due to the lack of efficient agency. There have been but few conversions among the heathen and but little to encourage. At our last Finance Committee meeting it was decided to make a change in this mission. This is to take place on the 30th of June when your catechist, Mr John Sinclair, will be set free, and a more active man sought for the work. Such changes are rendered imperative now that I am making a strong appeal for local support, about which I shall speak later on.

Rainy River District

This mission needs special attention. At present there is no ordained man in the whole district: there are numbers of new stations to be manned, and serious complications with other bodies may be looked for if our occupation of the field remains much longer, as it is, merely nominal. At present we have two devoted young men at Long Sault on the Rainy River, just in the centre of the Heathen darkness. One of them is a young man from Birmingham, who responded to an urgent appeal made there last year and who was considerably helped by the Rev G N H Tredennick, incumbent of Sparkbrook, in that city. He is a young man of promise, and with God’s blessing will make a useful missionary when he has acquired the language, in which, I am happy to say, he has made considerable progress….

White Dog

This mission has for many years been in charge of your old and tried missionary, The Rev B Spence, whose perfect knowledge of the language and of Indian life give him a peculiar advantage over the white man who is a stranger to both. The White Dog Mission is a small one, but one in which there are some real Christians to be found – men who will stand side by side with any men for their self denial and devotion to the cause of the Master. Mr Spence is not as active as when he was a younger man and needs more help from his people. They are now engaged in preparing for a new church ,the old one having become not only too dilapidated, but too small for the people, who are nearly all Christian….

An article by Rev J A M from The Moosonee Mailbag, October 1900:

From Churchill to York-on Snowshoes
Two hundred miles in seven days; six nights in the open air at 55 to 70 deg. below freezing point.

…. Our party consisted of the Rev R Faries, who had walked from York the week before, myself, an Indian guide, and six dogs, Mr A in charge of H B Co, Churchill, his two men, and six dogs…..

Our start was made at 6.20am on Jan 16, a clear, cold bright moon shining and, thermometer showing 75 deg. below freezing!…. Our course at first lay directly across the river, two or three miles from shore to shore, and most of the way across high hummocks of ice and snow, some of which we went round, and some we had to climb at great risk to our sled and load. At first R F and I ran ahead of the dogs to show them the way, but soon he had to wait and help the Indian driver to keep the sled upright, etc and I led the track. In spite of the roughness they kept me pretty well on the trot, no light matter when clad, as was necessary, in a hairy deer-skin coat and hood which reached to the knees. Though my body soon became almost too warm I had to keep perpetually rubbing my nose and cheeks to prevent their freezing…. The crust on the snow was good on the plains, so that we kept often on the trot, and could almost have done without snowshoes…. At last we reached a small wood at Stachekwun ridge, and were glad to find that Mr A and party already had some brush cut to sit on, and a great fire blazing, on which our meat cakes were thawing, and our kettles boiling. I felt that we had earned our breakfast (9.30) by our 15 mile run. I had better explain our “cuisine”, to save your quizzing us for luxuries!

We took no bread, as it would freeze so hard as to be invulnerable to axe till after a long thaw at the fire. We took a few scones or bannocks, with plenty of shortening, which keeps them from freezing quite so hard, but depended mainly on bannocks baked at each camp ( by Mr A).

For meat, we had some venison cooked and minced with bacon, and made into balls, or rissoles, with plenty of grease, and then frozen hard. Some of these were put into the frying-pan, thawed, broken up, and heated hot; but part would be again be slightly frozen before we finished our plate-full! We also had some few cooked pickled deer’s-tongues, treated ditto.

I had three large heavy solid “plum-duffs” which sometimes took the place of both bread and meat. These were capital, though rather heavy, when one was fatigued. They had been well-cooked before starting, and all we had to do was to thaw one sufficiently to be able to chop it into hunks or slices, and then prop these pieces near or round the fire, turning them till warm through, and then eat them.

We had coffee for morning meal, and tea and cocoa for other times. Of course we had to melt the snow for water, and to be careful that the snow did not “singe” or burn before it melted. We consumed a terrible number of cups!

Extract from The Moosonee and Keewatin Mailbag, April 1905. Letter from A E Woodall, August 12th 1904:

A Lady Missionary’s Letter

We shall all miss Bishop Newnham and his family very much. I was so sorry not to be able to see them again before they left Moose. Mrs Newnham very kindly sent me some geraniums and fuchsias, so I am getting quite a collection of flowers. My two rose bushes are doing well, and are still covered with buds.

The Indians came in early this year owing to an early spring. They are much more earnest than the coasters, and attend church well all the time they are here. My servant, Mary Sault, left me in the winter. Her husband did not seem satisfied with his work here, and they have gone to Fort Hope to live. I was so sorry to lose her; she was such a good woman, and a splendid worker. I suppose by this time Mr Woodall has nearly reached Mistassinnie; he has been away nineteen days. I had a letter from him last week, written at Namiscow, in which he told me they were over the most dangerous part of the river, and were going very quickly. He seems to be enjoying the trip very much. I hope it will do him good, and trust that his visit to Mistassinnie may not be in vain, and although his knowledge of Cree is small as yet, I hope he may be able to leave some message with those poor creatures, which will help them to become earnest Christians. I suppose the next excitement will be the arrival of our goods from Charlton, if the ship comes out safely. I shall be delighted with anything you may be sending.

Journal of J W Bilby for the year 1903-1904:

BLACKLEAD ISLAND

On Friday the ? during a snowstorm the “Gerda” came in sight of the Island, and owing to the gale ran into Nyattik harbour. On the following day a boat was sent here to fetch Mr Greenshield on board; his things were quickly packed, and put into the boat; we accompanied him aboard, and after a short chat with the captain we pulled for home, promising to return the next day for a last chance of seeing them, and to bring the last letters aboard. We met the ship as she was coming out the next morning and soon climbed aboard, to wish our friends and the crew a safe and speedy voyage home. We left her as she passed our island, and by dinner-time she was out of sight, and we were glad to be able to get a little sleep before beginning work again. In the evening we had Sunday Evening service as usual and then retired early.

During the next fortnight we did nothing as regards educational work on account of the many things to be finished before the winter’s work commenced, and because the people had not yet arrived from the deer country; so the time was spent in unpacking boxes and bales and in finishing the new house which is to be used as a hospital and store. To help us we had four men, two of whom were so old that they could do nothing except hold the ladders for the others, and hold the nails. One eventually tried to tar the roof, but everyone was glad when he ceased, for the scattered the tar over everyone within his radius, and over the sides of the house also.

The house was finished and the stores inside by the end of the fortnight, and then we began the work of finishing the inside of the dwelling-house. This was not an easy task, for there were stoves to take out and new stoves to put in, partitions to repair and wall paper to be patched. These things took us about a week to finish, and then we could honestly take a day or two before beginning our regular study and work. About this time also the people began to come in from hunting, until all but two boats were in. We heard that they were within a day’s journey of us, but they did not arrive. Instead a fearful gale from the South came upon us, and for a day or two nothing could be done. When this was abated and the sea gone down, two Eskimo of the missing boats’ crews arrived in their kyaks. They told us that they had run for shelter from the gale to a neighbouring island and camped, dragging their boats and stores on land as is the custom; but the tide came higher and higher, and the fury of the gale increased until in the middle of the night a heavy sea swept in and smashed both the boats to splinters; their meat and oil was lost, but their deer-skins were saved, fortunately. The men borrowed two boats from the natives here, and went back to fetch their friends. All arrived safe and well on the following day, none the worse for the accident, excepting the loss of their property.

On the 17th we opened school and 51 made their appearance. A few of the faces were missing, they having gone north or south with their parents during the summer; but 51 is as much as the school will conveniently hold. ….

November. All during this month it has been starvation times for the people. Gale after gale has swept over us and often the boats were not able to go out, and no seals were caught. Added to this the sea did not freeze at all. Consequently the Eskimo depended entirely on the Europeans for food. They were helped here daily, and the men had their meals from the trader. But even thus the poor natives were in a poor condition, for without meat they cannot thrive, and without seal there is no oil to give them light and warmth.

….The work goes on well. The school is full daily, 51 being on the registers. This work has been handed over to me entirely, and with the help of a native ex-scholar I manage very well, and I like the work. The medical work is also given into my hands. I have also one address to take on Sundays and one during the week. Otherwise Mr Peck takes the addresses and is going through the book of Acts which he brought out with him.

Here again the faith of the people is wonderfully seen for the Church is full constantly, and yet the times are as bad as they can well be. Yet none of them are lapsing into their old ways again but standing firm.

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