صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

11, "And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid." He spoke also about the spiritual building up that would be assisted by the services held in the future church, of which we had just laid the foundation-stone. Our service was then ended by prayer for a blessing on all the work by D. Stephen, and Mr. Stone gave the benediction.

The evening sun in all its golden glory, which is so peculiarly beautiful in this climate, had now sunk, and it was getting dusk. Friends gathered in little groups to talk; some wandered all round the foundations to see what the size of the church would be; others crowded around the boarding boys, who had struck up a peal with the hand-bells, as soon as the service was over; and so the time passed for about half an hour, when it became quite dark and the stars shone out. Through the kindness of Colonel Phelips (a friend of ours in Masulipatam), a large gift of fireworks had arrived to be sent off at the end of this day. There were coloured lights, sky rockets, and pots to be placed on a stand, containing

[graphic][subsumed][merged small]

stars and coloured balls, and a whole blaze of brightness came from them on being set fire to. The Christians had raised a little money to procure torches also, so that when we had all been fully satisfied with the fireworks, there still was light to guide us here and there. Some of the agents had brought fiddles and native musical instruments, also native bells, and they began singing again. It was nearly 8 P.M., and time to be going home, so we made our way through the remaining crowds, who one after the other made "salaams" to us, and we all felt that a day had just ended which would be treasured up in our memories during the remainder of our lives.

Through the efforts of the Rev. T. Y. Darling the greater part of the money required for the building of this church was collected about ten

[ocr errors]

or twelve years ago, and although for the last five years we have been looking forward to commencing it, yet with completing the bungalow, and building the Girls' Boarding School, we have not been able to do so till now. Perhaps one of the most interesting events of the day was counting the money collected, after our return home. The collection consisted of rupees (2s.), 30; half rupees (1s.), 13; quarter rupees (6d.), 23; one-eighth rupee (3d.), 30; half annas (d.), 231; one quarter of an anna (1 farthings), 197; a pair of ear-rings, a slip of paper giving a young buffalo, and a good many pieces of paper with promises of various A few Christians and some heathen gave their contributions afterwards. The total collection will amount to about 80 to 85 rupees (or £8 to £8 10s.). The number of small coins will help to show the

sums.

RAGHAVAPURAM, APRIL 9TH, 1883: THE SERVICE.

large number who gave, and the hearty interest shown in the event by all classes of the Hindu community, both Christian and heathen. In this collection was included four rupees, the last contribution of D. Stephen towards the 40 rupees (£4) he has saved by care and selfdenial in order to make the church site a freehold. A considerable sum more will be needed for the completion of the edifice and the duly fitting it up with readingdesk, communion rails, &c.

In conclusion, we commend it to Him who can supply all our need, trusting that the building may not only be a witness to the heathen around, but that in God's own good time it may prove to be to them "the gate to heaven."

ALICE CAMERON STONE.

[We have great pleasure in adding that the money required has since been supplied; indeed it had already been raised when Mrs. Stone wrote. It was collected in England by the Rev. A. W. Poole, formerly of the same Telugu Mission, and now Bishop-designate for Japan. A sum of £110 reached Mr. Stone on Whit-Sunday, and £50 more has been sent since. It was quite unexpected, and was received with great thankfulness.-ED.]

[graphic]

THE MONTH.

THE Valedictory Dismissal of missionaries is fixed for Monday, Oct. 1st, at the Vestry Hall, Kensington. Among those returning to the field will be the Rev. J. B. Wood, to Lagos; the Rev. J. W. Handford, to Frere Town; Mr. C. Stokes, to Central Africa; the Rev. C. T. Wilson, late of Uganda, now going to Palestine; the Rev. G. Litchfield, late of Uganda, now going to the Bheel Mission, North India; the Rev. T. R. Hodgson, late of North India, going to Baghdad; the Rev. F. A. P. Shirreff, to Lahore; the Rev. W. J. Richards, to Travancore; the Rev. A. R. Cavalier, formerly of Ceylon, to Tinnevelly; the Rev. J. D. Valentine, to Mid China; and probably three or four others; besides several new men whose appointments have been mentioned before.

THE Rev. J. H. Horsburgh, M.A., of Trinity College, Cambridge, the Rev. G. E. A. Pargiter, B.A., of Merton College, Oxford, and the Rev. E. W. Elliott, B.A., of St. Catherine's College, Cambridge, whose acceptance by the Society has been previously mentioned, have been appointed respectively to the Mid China Mission, to St. John's College, Agra, and to the Rugby-Fox Mastership at Masulipatam.

WE ought before to have mentioned the appointment of the Rev. C. A. Blackburn to Mauritius, and of Mr. J. B. McCullagh as a lay missionary to the North Pacific Mission. Both sailed in June.

IT is with special pleasure that we announce the appointment, by the Church of England Zenana Society, of Miss Marion Gray, daughter of the Rev. W. Gray, Secretary of the C.M.S., to the head teachership of the Alexandra Christian Girls' Boarding School at Amritsar. This important school belongs to the C.M.S., but is conducted by ladies of the C.E.Z.M.S.

THE same society has accepted Miss Gough, daughter of the veteran C.M.S. missionary in China, the Rev. F. F. Gough, as a missionary to the Chinese women of Fuh-Chow. This is an important move forward on the part of that society, which has hitherto been confined to India; and it is partly due to the efforts of Mrs. Fagg, the writer of the interesting articles in our pages entitled "Listen."

THE Indian Female Normal School and Instruction Society has appointed as its Clerical Secretary the Rev. A. H. Lash, late C.M.S. missionary in Tinnevelly, who is so well known to our friends for his work in connection with the Sarah Tucker Female Institution.

THE Telugu Mission has had many losses of late years. We cannot grudge the Rev. A. W. Poole to the Japan Bishopric; but we are truly sorry that the Revs. W. Clayton and W. G. Baker are forbidden by the Medical Board to return to a tropical climate. The former has been appointed to act as Association Secretary of the Society for the counties of Hants, Berks, Bucks, and Oxon, during the Rev. J. Hamilton's absence in West Africa.

THE Bishop of Saskatchewan has appointed the Rev. J. A. Mackay, one of the C.M.S. missionaries in his diocese, to the office of Archdeacon.

By the death of the Rev. James Abner Lamb, at Lagos, on July 1st, the C.M.S. has lost one of its most faithful and whole-hearted missionaries. He was a solicitor before devoting himself to missionary work, and had been educated at Cheltenham College. On his offer of service to the Society being accepted, he spent a few months at the Islington College to read divinity, and was then ordained, in September, 1861. In November

of that year he went out to Lagos as Secretary of the Yoruba Mission, which then included in its ranks veterans like Townsend, Gollmer, and Hinderer. In 1870 he was transferred to Sierra Leone, and acted as Secretary there; but in 1873, his health failing, he returned home, and was soon appointed Vicar of Hoyland, in Yorkshire. This was a valuable living, but in 1876 he gave it up to go out to East Africa, to succeed Mr. Price at Frere Town, where he laboured most earnestly for two years. In 1879 he was again sent to Sierra Leone as Secretary for West Africa; and only last spring he left England for the sixth time to go back to his old post, Lagos. In fact, he has always been a man for an emergency. Again and again the Committee invited him to fill special vacancies; and

he and Mrs. Lamb were ever ready to sail in any direction where they could serve the cause they loved. His loss just now, when there are so few missionaries on the West African coast, seems to our eyes irreparable; but He who has taken His servant to Himself will not forsake the work. Mr. Lamb was buried in the churchyard of Christ Church, Lagos, which church he himself built fourteen years ago. The Governor of Lagos attended the funeral, and an immense concourse of Native Christians.

THE Rev. William Johnson, Minister of Christ Church, Madras, who died suddenly in that city on July 13th, had been a C.M.S. missionary for eleven years in Travancore, from 1866 to 1877. He was, indeed, closely connected with the Society in many ways. His father was a Travancore missionary, and died there in 1816. His mother (who survives) is a daughter of Henry Baker, sen., and sister of Henry Baker, jun. He himself was born at Cottayam, educated at the C.M. Children's Home, and prepared for orders at the C.M. College; and he married a sister of the Rev. R. C. Macdonald, for some years C.M.S. missionary at Madras. He was the author of a Catechism of Sacred Geography, and a translation of Bishop Wilberforce's Agathos, in Malayalam.

OTHER recent deaths must also be mentioned with deep regret in these pages. Mrs. Sargent, the excellent wife of the venerable Bishop who superintends the C.M.S. Missions in Tinnevelly, entered into her rest on June 19th. She will be greatly lamented and missed by the Tinnevelly Christians. Canon Battersby, of Keswick, who died on July 23rd, was an Hon. Life Governor of the Society, and had done much for it by his influence in Cumberland and Westmoreland. Professor Birks also was an old and hearty friend. He delivered a remarkable speech at the Anniversary of 1859. The Dean of Exeter, Dr. Boyd, preached the Annual Sermon at St. Bride's-one of great power and eloquence-in 1864; and he frequently presided at the large meetings which are held balf-yearly at Exeter.

THE death of the venerable Dr. Robert Moffat removes the patriarch of English missionaries. He went out to Africa in 1816, the very year in which the C.M.S. began its Mission in Sierra Leone; so that almost the whole of the Society's vast work has been accomplished, not during the lifetime merely, but during the missionary career, of one man now taken from our midst. All Christendom should honour the apostle of South Africa and the father-in-law of Livingstone.

THE third Annual Meeting of the Bengal C.M.S. Native Church Council was held on May 9th and 10th, at Calcutta. There was a Communion service at Trinity Church at 7.30 A.M., with a sermon by the Raj Kristo Bose "on true Christian liberty as distinguished from that which often passes under the name of independence, but is in reality a slavery to the carnal nature." During the meetings reports were presented from the various pastorates; and papers were read, followed by animated discussion, on missionary work among non-Christians, and on education for Native Christian children. The Rev. W. R. Blackett presided, and among those present were the Rev. Piari Mohun Rudra, Secretary; Babu Omesh Chunder Dutt, Treasurer; the Revs. Modhu Sudan Seal, Molam Biswas, and Sartok Biswas; Messrs. H. H. Sandal, P. M. Mukerji, &c.

BISHOP SARGENT is appealing for help to restore, and almost entirely rebuild, the church at Kadatchapuram, Tinnevelly, where the Rev. John Devasayagam formerly ministered. Mr. Devasayagam was the first Native clergyman in South India, and was ordained in 1830. He died in 1864, the Rev. Jesudasen John, is now universally respected. One of his sons, pastor of Palamcotta, and another, the Rev. Samuel John, is a missionary to educated Hindus at Madras. Mrs. Satthianadhan of Madras is his daughter. Bishop Sargent wants about £500, of which the Native Christians on the spot will raise £100. There are 1,259 Church members in the Kadatchapuram district, of whom 442 are communicants.

THE Rev. G. Maunsell, our missionary at Opotiki, New Zealand, has made, at the request of the Bishop of Auckland, a Maori version of Canon Norris's Key to the Acts of the Apostles. He had previously translated the Key to the Four Gospels.

RECEIVED.-M. P., Sale of Plants (all now sold) £2 12s.

N. M. 1st
F. Q. 9th ....

THE CHURCH MISSIONARY GLEANER.

MISSIONARY ALMANACK.

5.54 a.m. 10.20 a.m.

OCTOBER, 1883.

October. FM 16,6.45am | L.Q.22,11.19pm

THE LOVE OF GOD.

N.M. Suth

11.57 p.m.

1 M God is love, 1 John 4. 8. [Jo. 3. 16. 2 T God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, 3 W God commendeth His love toward us, Ro. 5. 8. [the end, Jo. 13. 1. 4T Rebmann d., 1876. Having loved His own, He loved them unto 5 F Bp. Russell d, 1879. The Lord loveth the righteous, Ps. 146. 8. 6 S Bp Cotton drowned, 1866. Who shall separate us from the love [of Christ? Ro. 8. 35. 7S 20th aft. Trin. Our Father, which hath loved us, 2 Th. 2. 16. M. Ez. 34. Phil. 1. E. Ez. 37 or Dan. 1. Lu. 8. 1-26.

8 M He that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, Jo. 14. 21. 9T Bp. Hadfield consec., 1870. His love is perfected in us, 1 Jo. 4. 12. 10 W Price sailed for E. Africa, 1874. O continue Thy lovingkindness, 11 T How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, Ps. 36. 7. [Ps. 36. 10. 12 F It is a good thing...to show forth Thy lovingkindness, Ps. 92. 2. [utterly take from him, Ps. 89. 33. 13 S Miss. expelled fr. Abeokuta, 1867. My lovingkindness will I not [midst of Thy temple, Ps. 48. 9. 14 S 21st. aft. Trin. We have thought of Thy lovingkindness in the M. Dan. 3. Col. 3. 1-18. E. Dan. 4 or 5. Lu. 11. 29.

15 M D. Fenn d., '78. Thy lovingkindness is better than life, Ps. 63. 3. 16 T Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, Heb. 12. 6. 17 W Noble d., 1865. I love them that love Me, Prov. 8. 17.

[kindness, Ps. 103. 4. 18 T St. Luke. Healeth all thy diseases...crowneth thee with loving19 F Mrs. Crowther d., 1880. In His love He redeemed them, Is. 63. 9. 20 S I have loved thee with an everlasting love, Jer. 31. 3. [hath to us, 1 Jo. 4. 16. 21 S 22nd aft. Trin. We have known and believed the love that Gol M. Dan. 6. 2 Thess. 1. E. Dan. 7. 9, or 12. Lu. 15. 11.

22 M Ragland d., '58. Bp. Barclay d., '81. More than conquerors thro' 23 I will love them freely, Hos. 14. 4. [Him that loved us, Ro. 8. 37. 24 W To know the love of Christ, wh. passeth knowledge, Eph. 3. 19. 25 T He will rest in His love, Zeph. 3. 17. [love, Cant. 2. 4. 26 F Townsend sailed for W. Africa, 1836. His banner over me was 27 S 1st Stone Childr. Home, 1851. The Father Himself loveth you, [Jo. 16. 27. 28 S 23rd aft. Trin. SS. Simon & Jude. Bp. Moule consec., 1880. Christ [loved the Church, and gave Himself for it, Eph. 5. 25. M. Hos. 14, or Is. 28. 9-17. 1 Tim. 5. E. Joel 2. 21, or 3. 9, or Jer. 3. 12-19. 29 M 1st Sikh ord., 1854. Continue ye in My love, Jo. 15. 9. [Lu. 19. 28. 30 T We love Him because He first loved us, 1 Jo. 4. 19.

31 W. If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another, 1 Jo. 4. 11.

MORE JERSEY BREEZES.

IX. Our Daily Blessings.

"All His benefits."- Ps. ciii. 2.

UR daily blessings! How much does that short epitome contain! It is the much in little of bounteous benediction. According as our temperaments differ, so does one or another of the Christian graces seem to us the more attractive. The young, beaming with hope, will take Joy to heart, and long to see much of it gushing forth among the ransomed of the Lord. The aged asks only to be permitted to lie down in Peace with God and man. Woman finds rest for her yearning sympathy in the endearments of home Love; while man, panting for conflict, grasps the strong shield of Faith. Long-suffering is perfected in the ailing and the evil-entreated; while Temperance braces the healthful and sends him onward with elastic footstep.

But the lovely grace, wherein all others take root and flourish, is GRATITUDE. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits" is a stirring exhortation continually needed by our sluggish souls. With meek, heaven-gazing eye and onwardpressing step, the sweet spirit of thankfulness is always within call. She is our best helper and friend, the unobtrusive guardian of all things lovely and of good report. Perhaps we have neglected to invoke this kind angel when clouds obscured the ever-during sun. We have grieved her and made her weep, as we passed, in cheerless despondency, amid the countless gifts of

the All-Bountiful. It may help us to enumerate some of what we are apt to call "common mercies, because they come to so many. And, when we pause to reflect, what have we that we have not received? Think of the perfection of our marvellous body, and how all its magic machinery goes on, without our care or forethought. How unbearable should we find such responsibility, even for one hour! The pliant hand, the sensitive eye, the brain with its fairy network-can we help standing in awe? Shall we not consecrate all we are and have to our Creator's service? When we awake refreshed each new morning, let us say, I laid me down and slept; I awaked, for the Lord sustained me. As we step over the threshold of the chamber which has heard our grateful, trustful outpourings, let us be joyous and brave, quite sure the Lord's good gifts will meet us at every turn. Each happy circumstance is undeserved; each sorrowful one might be sadder. Candour will readily admit that Gratitude is If we delight to record God's mercies, they will spring up for us on every side, for a thankful heart, like a true philosopher's stone, turns seemingly adverse combinations to pure gold.

never out of season.

Let us open our eyes and see; may the Lord open our lips, that they may show forth His praise. Even our special needs and tastes are tenderly noted and gratified. And how much do earthly benefactions brighten our daily life! Suppose wo adopt the beautiful expression of Oriental gratitude: "I thank God for thy goodness to me." There is too little counting-up of our mercies, too much murmuring, fretting, and anxiety. Comes not our every experience from the appointment of a pitiful Father? Shall not He, the Judge of all the earth, do right? The whole day takes its colouring from the thoughts of the morning hour; the whole life, from the blossoms of its spring-tide. Those who are labouring, in whatsoever place or capacity, to spread the glad tidings of Salvation, specially need to gird themselves continually with the invincible panoply of gratitude. Their poor hearts must often be so weary; the frail flesh so willing, the fainting spirit so weak. Let them make gratitude their constant companion. Let them, when in danger of losing courage, "set their foot on the lost Ebenezer " in their journey, and give a spring." The effort shall be rewarded. Sudden brightness shall illumine the dark and dreaded passage, and with the happy confidence of obedient, loving children, they shall own what a joyous and pleasant thing

it is to be thankful.

[ocr errors]

A. M. V.

THE DIOCESE OF SASKATCHEWAN. [The pictures in the present number are all illustrative of this article.] ANY of our readers have heard some of the always vigorous and interesting speeches of the Bishop of Saskatchewan. We give some pictures illustrative of his Diocese, and take the opportunity to add a brief summary of C.M.S. work in it.

The see was founded in 1874, as part of the wise and farseeing plan formed by the present Bishop of Rupert's Land, Dr. Machray, for dividing his then enormous Diocese into the four dioceses of Rupert's Land, Moosonee, Athabasca, and Saskatchewan. To Moosonee and Athabasca two C.M.S. missionaries were appointed, Dr. Horden and Dr. Bompas; and to Saskatchewan a clergyman who was helping Bishop Machray in St. John's College at Winnipeg, Dr. Maclean. The four dioceses form an Ecclesiastical Province, of which the Bishop of Rupert's Land is Metropolitan.

The Diocese of Saskatchewan, speaking roughly, lies between

SASKATCHEWAN: THE CATHEDRAL, PRINCE ALBERT.

lat. 49° and 55°, and between long. 105° and 117°. It is bounded | on the south by the boundary line between British America and the United States, on the north by the Diocese of Athabasca, on the east by the Diocese of Rupert's Land, and on the west by the Rocky Mountains.* It is about 700 miles square, and comprises an area of nearly half a million of square miles. When the Bishopric was founded in 1874, this vast country was peopled by some 30,000 heathen Indians, a small number relatively to the extent of territory occupied, but larger than that of the Indian population in the other dioceses of the North-West put together. There were a few small settlements of white people; but there was not a single missionary in the Saskatchewan territory proper, though there was one on English River, in a remote corner of the diocese. "There were," as the Bishop has lately said, "no endowments, no missionaries, no churches; everything had to be begun as far as the Church of England is concerned."

These words are quoted from the Bishop's address at the first meeting of his Diocesan Synod on August 31st, last year, when he was able to report that he had sixteen clergymen on his list, of whom eight were C.M.S. men, six S.P.G., and two supported by private contributions. The eight of the C.M.S. were Archdeacon J. A. Mackay, the Revs. J. Hines, T. A. Clarke, S. Trivett, J. Settee, J. Sinclair, and D. Stranger, together with another, who was expecting to go out last autumn, but has been prevented by the illness of his wife. Another, however, one of this year's Islington men, the Rev. J. W. Tims, has started in his stead. Of the seven above named, Mr. Settee, Mr. Sinclair, and Mr. Stranger are Indians; and Mr. Mackay also is a native of the country.

Meanwhile, English immigrants are pouring into the Saskatchewan territory; the Canadian Pacific Railroad is being laid down at the rate of four miles a day; and the Fertile Belt, as a large part of the country is called, promises to become in a few years the home of a mighty people. To provide for their spiritual wants is not the work of the C.M.S.; but we may rejoice that other Societies are able in some degree to supply the need, and that the indefatigable Bishop has been enabled to do so much for the development of the Church of

Since the above was written, we find that the Provincial Synod has somewhat modified the boundaries.

England in the Diocese during the last seven years. But it is of the greatest importance that the Indians should be brought at least under Christian ministrations before the tide of immigration fills the land; and this Society may thank God for the part it is permitted to take in spreading the Gospel amongst them.

The first principal C.M.S. station as we leave the eastern boundary of the Diocese and move westward is PRINCE ALBERT, on the North Saskatchewan river, a little above the confluence of the two great branches. Here the Bishop resides, and here are located Archdeacon Mackay and the Rev. J. Settee. The latter venerable Indian brother-who writes, "Give my Christian love to the Committee, and tell them I am now an old man, having served the beloved Society now 52 years"-has charge of the Cree congregations at South Branch and Nepowewin, comprising together 344 baptized Native Christians, of whom 110 are communicants. The latter district, including Sturgeon Lake, has been dignified by the Bishop with the title of a rural deanery, and Mr. Settee is the first rural dean. Mr. Mackay acts as Secretary of the Society's Saskatchewan Mission, and is also Cree tutor in Emmanuel College, the training institution for the Diocese. This college, though quite in its infancy, has thirty students; twelve in the college classes, and the remainder in the collegiate school. Six students have been ordained since it was opened, and five others are employed as catechists and schoolmasters. The Society maintains four Indian students in the college, and that number have been sent out into mission work during the past year, one of them being the Rev. D. Stranger. Mr. Mackay is also engaged in linguistic work, both in Cree and Sioux. In the former tongue he has prepared a volume of family prayers, of which 4,000 copies have been printed by the S.P.C.K. for the use of Indian families.

At BATTLEFORD, higher up the north river, is stationed the Rev. T. A. Clarke. There are 230 Christian adherents connected with this post. A local newspaper, the Prince Albert Times and Saskatchewan Review, in its issue of December 27th

[graphic]
[graphic]

SASKATCHEWAN EMMANUEL COLLEGE, PRINCE ALBERT.

last, has the following account of the Indians of the neighbourhood:

Six Indian reserves have been located and surveyed in the neighbourhood. These are inhabited by the Cree and Stoney Indians, who are cultivating their farms extensively, and have made for themselves comfortable homes, through the liberality of the Dominion Government, which assists them largely in every way. As an instance of the progress they are making in farming pursuits, we may mention that one of them at Eagle Hills has raised this summer 630 bushels of grain, and about 200 bushels of potatoes. There are about 450 of the latter, and 800 Crees. Schools have been established on three of the aforesaid reserves, under the auspices of the Church Missionary Society of England. The native children exhibit a great aptitude for acquiring knowledge, and it is gratifying to see the wonderful progress they have made in the various subjects taught them. The Rev. T. A. Clarke superintends the schools, visits the reserves alternately on Sundays, and conducts an English service in Battleford every Sunday evening. He has been greatly encouraged in the work by the success which has attended his humble efforts to disseminate the glorious Gospel amongst the aboriginal tribes. Although a noble work has been achieved by the Church, yet the majority of the Indians are still heathen, and much still remains to be done.

In the still wild country north of Prince Albert and Battleford is the station of ASISIPPI, which owes its existence to the untiring labours of the Rev. John Hines. Mr. Hines was on a visit to this country during a large part of the year, and the newly-ordained Native clergyman, the Rev. D. Stranger, has been in charge. There are 159 Christian adherents, of whom 35 are communicants. (See GLEANER of Sept., 1881.)

Nearly 200 miles to the north-east of Prince Albert, as the crow flies, is STANLEY, on English River, which is almost at the point where the three dioceses of Rupert's Land, Saskatchewan, and Athabasca join. There are here, and at the out-stations of Pelican Lake and Lac la Ronge, 550 baptized Indian Christians, of whom 140 are communicants. The Rev. John Sinclair, a Cree Indian trained at Emmanuel College, is the pastor. In June last year the Bishop and Mr. Mackay visited this station, the journey thither, by boat, occupying a fortnight. At Stanley 75 converts were confirmed, and 19 at Pelican Narrows.

ARCHDEACON J. A. MACKAY,

HE Rev. J. A. Mackay, who has lately been appointed to the office of Archdeacon by the Bishop of Saskatchewan, is a native of Moosonee, and of mixed Scottish and Indian descent. In his younger days he was a pupil of Mr. Horden, now the Bishop of Moosonee, and was afterwards employed as a catechist at various missionary posts on the shores of Hudson's Bay. He was afterwards a schoolmaster at Red River, and in 1862 was ordained by Bishop Anderson of Rupert's Land. For many years he laboured at Stanley, on English River; but when the Bishop of Saskatchewan began to organise his new diocese, and founded Emmanuel College at Prince Albert, Mr. Mackay was moved thither in order that he might be the Cree-speaking tutor in that institution, where (as above mentioned) young natives are trained for missionary work. Prior to this, however, he paid his first and only visit to England, in the summer of 1876, when he laid before the C.M.S. Committee the plans which have

THE VEN. ARCHDEACON J. A. MACKAY, Of Saskatchewan.

The remaining C.M.S. station is FORT MACLEOD, in the extreme south-west corner of the diocese, on a branch of the South Saskatchewan, almost at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, and more than 400 miles, as the crow flies, from Prince Albert. Near Fort Macleod is a large reserve for the Blood Indians, a branch of the great Blackfoot nation; and among them the Rev. Samuel Trivett is earnestly labouring. He has also visited the Crees at Cypress Hills, 150 miles to the east, and the Blackfeet proper on Bow River, nearly 100 miles to the north. It is for work among these latter that an additional missionary is now being sent out.

"I am not a Dog."

HE opposition of the Buddhists in Ceylon to the preaching of the Gospel is very bitter, and is being constantly stirred up by the influence of the American Agnostic, Colonel Olcott. This gentleman is most active in his antagonism to the Mission. He warned the priests in the Baddegama district that "Mr. Allcock (the missionary) was like a spider, and his village schools like a spider's web spread over the district to catch the little Buddhist boys and girls.' An ex-priest who had embraced Christianity he tried to persuade back into Buddhism. "I am not a dog," said the convert, "to return to my vomit." The Colonel offered to show him 145 falsehoods in the Bible. "If you could show me one," was the reply, "I would renounce it. Pray spare your pity. If you can believe there is no right, no wrong, no God, no judgment, no soul, no responsibility, no conscience, you need for yourself all the pity you possess, and more."

since led to a considerable extension of the Society's work in the Diocese of Saskatchewan.

Mr. Mackay has taken an active share in translational work. He helped Bishop Horden in his version of the Four Gospels and the Prayer Book in the Moose Cree dialect; and he has prepared in the Cree language a Manual of Family Prayers, a Hymn-book, a Catechism, First Books for Children, a translation of Bishop. Oxenden's Pathway of Safety, &c.

[graphic]

BISHOP HORDEN'S CONFIRMATIONS.

HE Bishop of Moosonee, who returned to his Diocese last year, writes as follows:

On August 27th, after due examination, I confirmed forty-five young Indian men and women, and subsequently three others, the whole of whom had been carefully prepared by Mr. Vincent. Except two, whose knowledge did not satisfy me, these were all the persons of the Indian congregation of a suitable age for confirmation. Our Indian congregation there is composed of the entire Indian population, excepting such as are attached to the English congregation. The conduct of the candidates at the time of the service was marked with

deep solemnity, and I could not but feel assured that the prayer at the imposition of hands was, in many cases, fully realised.

Then, on November 26th, I confirmed all the English-speaking young people, half-caste and Indian, between the ages of fifteen and twenty. There was not a single exception; and during the preparation for the rite, which extended over many weeks, scarcely one was ever absent from the class. They came, too, from many quarters-from Moose, Albany, New Post, Matawakumma, and East Main; all spoke English fluently; all could read their English Bibles; all were well acquainted with the Church Catechism; all appeared deeply impressed with the gravity of the step they were about to take. The number was seventeen.

Another would have been present, but he had already "come to the company of just men made perfect." He was a young Indian, Benjamin Sutherland by name, who received his education at our Mission School. When old enough he entered the service of the Hudson's Bay Company, and was sent into the interior, whence he returned to Moose last summer in feeble health, and when I first saw him he was confined to his bed. There I confirmed him; there, too, I administered to him the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper; and within a few days he passed away in peace, firmly believing that for him, individually, Christ had poured out His blood on Calvary.

Besides those confirmations, I held one at Albany on the last Sunday of the year, when I confirmed twenty-three candidates.

« السابقةمتابعة »