Fiftieth anniversary of the missionary vessel's first arrival in
Labrador--jubilee of the mission celebrated at Nain.--Summary
view of the success of the gospel in Labrador during that
period.--Instance of maternal affection.--Esquimaux contribute
to the Bible Society.--British sloop of war, Clinker, visits
Hopedale.--Captain Martin's testimony to the good effect of the
brethren's labours--visits Nain and Okkak--consequences of his
favourable report.
Fifty years had now elapsed since the first ship arrived at Nain, 9th
August 1771, with missionaries on board for the service of the
Esquimaux, and in the morning of the same day of the same month,
August the 9th, 1820, at eight o'clock, the Harmony cast anchor in the
same bay, bringing stores and provisions for a Christian settlement
containing one hundred and sixty-eight inhabitants, chiefly gathered
from among the heathen, and exercising the habits of civilized life,
instead of roaming the wilds as rude savages, or infesting the seas
as ruthless pirates. The day of the vessel's arrival was always a day
of gladness, as she brought tidings from their Christian friends in
Europe to the missionaries; and good tidings from a far country,
especially when brought to such a secluded spot, were doubly welcome.
That this communication should, notwithstanding all risks, have been
uninterrupted, afforded much subject for thanksgiving, which the
brethren expressed by hymns, and likewise endeavoured to show by some
little external tokens. They hoisted two old small flags and a white
one, on which the sisters had marked, in large figures, the number 50,
surrounded by a wreath of green laurel; their small cannon fired
several shot, which were answered by the ship, and the Esquimaux fired
their pieces as long as their powder lasted. Meanwhile, some tunes of
hymns, expressing thanksgiving to God for his mercies, were played on
wind instruments, which altogether made a good impression on the
Esquimaux, and gave them an idea of a jubilee rejoicing. Brother
Kohlmeister explained to them the meaning of the number 50 on the
flag, and made them understand that it was the fifteenth time that a
ship had come safely to Nain for their sakes, and how it had been
preserved, by the wonder-working hand of God, from all harm in these
dangerous seas, and that this was the cause of these extraordinary
demonstrations of a joyful gratitude; they listened with great
attention, and then exclaimed, "Yes! Jesus is worthy of thanks!" nor
were the sailors unmoved.
Next year, 1821, completed half a century which the brethren had spent
in Labrador, and was celebrated as the jubilee year at the three
settlements. At Nain the commemoration day was the 9th of August, in
all the services of which a spirit of joy and thanksgiving prevailed
throughout the whole congregation. The baptism of two adults tended
much to solemnize the festival. "We praised the Lord," say the
missionaries, "with heart and voice, for all the wonders he has
wrought in behalf of the mission in Labrador during half a century, in
which he has led, preserved, and blessed us abundantly. His mighty arm
has protected us in many dangers, and the preaching of his cross has
been attended with power and the demonstration of his Spirit in many
hearts; and many heathen have been brought in as a reward for the
travail of his soul." An account of the beginning of the mission, and
of all the remarkable incidents and proofs of the mercy and grace of
our Saviour during that period, was read to all the congregations in
their native tongue, and heard with the greatest attention and
surprise. Since the commencement, 48 brethren and 28 sisters had been
employed, and at this time there were 15 brethren and 10 sisters at
the three mission stations of Nain, Okkak and Hopedale. Of the
Esquimaux nation, there had been baptized 392 adults and 388 children;
and at the end of this year, there were residing in the different
settlements, 471 baptized, 45 candidates for baptism, and 68 new
people, making a total of 584 persons. Truly it might be said of the
Esquimaux nation, that for them who sat in the shadow of death, under
the cruel bondage of Satan, God our Saviour wrought deliverance, and
brought many of them into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Many had, during that period, departed full of hope, and in the
preceding summer, among others, a sister of much worth, Joanna, had
been taken away at Hopedale, under very interesting circumstances.
While on the ice with her daughter, it gave way, and they both fell
in. The mother made great exertions to save her child, and with much
difficulty succeeded, but, her strength failing, she was unable to
extricate herself, and was drowned. She had led a humble, consistent,
and exemplary life, and her last words, when in the act of sinking,
was to commend her departing spirit to the mercy of her Saviour. This
happy year was likewise marked as that on which the Esquimaux received
complete copies of the New Testament in their own language, printed at
the expense of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and also for the
proof they gave of the value they set upon the Holy Scriptures, by the
desire they express that other nations should enjoy similar advantage.
Having been informed of the nature and aim of the Bible Society, and
of its labours in the distribution of the Scriptures, the Esquimaux of
their own accord, began to collect seals' blubber, as a contribution
towards the expenses of the Society. Some brought whole seals, or half
seals, or pieces, as they could afford it. Others brought portions of
blubber in the name of their children, requesting that their poor
gifts might be accepted. And when they heard that other converted
heathen, even poorer than they, had contributed to spread the word of
God, they exclaimed: "How long have not _we_ heard the pleasant and
comfortable words concerning Jesus Christ our Saviour, and how many
books have _we_ not received, treating of Him, and yet we have never
known and considered whence they come. We have indeed sometimes spoken
together, and observed that these many books given to us without pay,
must cost a great deal somewhere; but we never have before now known,
that even poor people bring their money out of pure love, that we may
get these comfortable words of God. We are indeed poor, but yet might
now and then bring some blubber, that others who are as ignorant as we
were formerly, may receive the same gospel which has been so sweet to
our souls, and thereby be taught to find the way to Jesus and believe
on him." The donations of these poor Esquimaux were accompanied with
expressions of thanks for the favours they had received, and earnest
requests to the Society, that more heathen might be presented with
"that Book, so far more precious than any thing else in the world."
Various hindrances had prevented the formation of a fourth settlement,
and during this interval, the tongue of slander had not been silent.
Mercenary traders had represented to the British authorities, the
brethren's conduct as hostile to the interest of the colony and their
traffic with the natives: but fortunately the authorities were not
disposed to receive implicitly these reports, and the governor of
Newfoundland, Sir Charles Hamilton, dispatched a sloop of war, the
Clinker, Captain William Martin, to examine the coast of Labrador, and
with an express direction to visit the different Moravian stations. He
arrived a few days after the celebration of the jubilee, and the
missionaries, in their diary, give the following account of his visit:
"August 15th, in the afternoon, we received a letter from William
Martin, Esq., commander of a British ship of war, which lay at anchor
four hours from this, informing us that the governor of Newfoundland
had ordered him to take a survey of that part of the coast of Labrador
where the brethren's settlements were situated, and to visit the
settlements. On hearing this, the Captain (Fraser) of the mission
vessel, at present lying at anchor here, sent the pilot in a boat, to
bring the Clinker into the harbour, and at three o'clock P.M. a ship
of war, with three masts and fourteen cannon, anchored in our harbour,
not far from us. Immediately two of us, with Captain Fraser, went on
board to welcome the commander, who repeated his commission, and
conversed with us in the most friendly manner. We expressed our
happiness at his arrival, and invited him on shore to examine
minutely into every thing of which he wished to obtain information. He
accordingly landed in the evening, and came to the mission-house.
"Soon after his arrival, our usual meeting was held with the
Esquimaux, whose good conduct, quietness, and piety, seemed to strike
him; and he afterwards confessed his expectation in this respect had
been greatly exceeded. He asked us several questions--First, What
means we had used to civilize such rude and savage men? We answered
that whatever good he observed in the Esquimaux, was entirely to be
ascribed to the power of the gospel, the preaching of which was the
only purpose of our being here; besides this, we possessed no other
power, nor did we believe any other could deliver savage men,
accustomed to murder, and given up to every vice, from their
detestable habits, and introduce them into the circle of social order.
Nothing but the operation of the Spirit of God on their hearts,
convincing them of the truth of the gospel, and the happiness of true
Christians, could induce them to deny their evil propensities, and
incline them to receive instruction, and walk according to the
commandments of Jesus; it is this, we said, that causes them to live
in peaceful and happy society together.
"He next wished to be informed of the reason of our conduct with
regard to merchandize, as he had heard that we did not wish our
Esquimaux to trade with the Europeans in the south; and when they did
so, if we did not drive them away from our settlements? To this we
replied as follows: 'Nothing is so painful to us, as when any of the
members of our congregation fall back into heathenism, which easily
happens when they go to the south to trade with the Europeans, where
they are exposed to many temptations. On this account we find it
necessary to warn them against such journeys, and if they pay no
attention to these admonitions, intended chiefly for their own
advantage, we cannot regard them as any longer belonging to us. And
our conduct is the same towards those who reside among us, who have
not received the gospel, when we find all our affectionate and serious
exhortations in vain, and they persist in returning thither to trade.
But no Esquimaux is driven away from our settlements on this account,
for he does not sell his merchandize to us alone, but to any person
with whom he chooses to trade. It must, however, be remarked, that
many Esquimaux when pressed by hunger in winter, take refuge with us,
to whom we give every possible assistance; there are also some, who,
during their harvest, save a portion against a time of need, which we
lay up for them, and they receive the full value, when their
necessities require it. Now, when these, regardless of their
obligations to us, take their articles elsewhere to barter, we frankly
tell them our opinion of their conduct, and endeavour to impress their
minds with a sense of their ingratitude, not only to us, but to the
Society in England, who from love to them, sends every year a ship
with the necessary supplies. If any one take offence at our reproofs,
and leave us in anger for the south, we cannot help it, but we are
certain he dare not affirm any such falsehood to the Europeans, as to
say, that he was driven from our settlement because he treated with
them.' Captain Martin replied that he had not the least doubt of what
we said, and was perfectly satisfied, by what he had seen and heard,
that we laboured to promote the best interests of the Esquimaux."
On Sunday, 19th, "All the officers and forty of the crew of the ship
of war, assembled with us in our meeting for public worship, when we
recommended them to the gracious protection of our almighty Lord and
God; and we have much pleasure in being able to say, that, during the
whole time they remained here, their behaviour was as orderly and
friendly as we could have wished. The Captain having lodged a night
with us, at taking leave together with the surgeon, shook us heartily
by the hand, and thanked us for our kind attention, and expressed his
delight at the happy results of our endeavours to improve the
Esquimaux. All the officers likewise bade us farewell in the most
friendly manner, and said they would always reflect with pleasure on
their visit to us. After they went on board Captain Martin sent us a
letter, in which he thus expressed himself: 'My Dear Friends--I cannot
leave this place without expressing my thanks in a few lines to the
worthy brethren who received me in so friendly a manner, and by their
attention rendered my stay here so pleasant. I regret that it has been
so short, but it has been sufficiently long, to convince me that your
labours have been crowned by a blessed success; this must animate you
under many difficulties, to continue to devote yourselves with zeal to
the service of our Lord, your great example. One must be an
eye-witness to judge of the mighty change that has already taken place
in these Esquimaux, both in regard to body and mind. It will give me
the most heart-felt joy, to communicate this to his Excellency, the
governor of St John's, and also to bear testimony in England, to the
happy progress of your labours.' Next day, at 6 A.M. the ship of war
set sail, when we, with our Esquimaux, ascended the height nearest the
shore, and by signs took our last farewell of the crew.
"Continuing her course, the Clinker reached Nain on the 21st, where
Captain Martin behaved in the same friendly manner. He was frequently
on shore at the mission-house, and likewise attended worship in the
church. On the 23d he invited the missionaries aboard, and shewed them
the arrangement in a sloop of war. His vessel was decorated with fifty
flags of different nations, in honour of the commemoration of the
jubilee. The day after, he furnished a feast of boiled pease and
biscuit, for all the Esquimaux living on the missionaries' land, and
was himself present at the entertainment. The Esquimaux sat on pieces
of timber, placed in a square. Before they began their meal, they sang
a hymn, 'Now let us praise the Lord, &c.' and at the close, 'Praise
God for ever.' All of them expressed great thankfulness for this
condescending mark of the Captain's good will; and each of them had a
goodly portion of biscuit left to carry home."
From Nain the Clinker sailed for Hopedale in company with the Harmony,
on board of which were the superintendant Kohlmeister and his wife.
The latter thus speaks of the excursion, which she appears to have
highly enjoyed: "We had the pleasure to sail in company with his sloop
[Captain Martin's] to Hopedale, and had a most agreeable voyage. He
came twice on board the Harmony to pay us a visit. As we approached
Hopedale, the brethren and the Esquimaux not having received any
account of the arrival of the sloop of war, were rather alarmed at its
appearance, but we found means before we cast anchor, to send them
word that all was peace and friendship, upon which the music began to
play a hymn of praise, and the Esquimaux afterwards fired a salute
with their pieces. The sloop answered with the great guns, but the
Esquimaux were determined to have the last word, and went on firing
after the cannon had ceased to roar. It was a calm night without moon,
but the brilliant display of numberless stars, and a glorious Aurora
Borealis, increased the enjoyment. The brethren, Stock and Haller,
coming on board, we could not quit the deck till midnight; sleep was
not thought of. Captain Martin also displayed a number of blue
lights, to the great astonishment and gratification of the Esquimaux."
The Captain having here also given a feast of bread and pease, she
adds, "We were present, and were pleased to hear how the Esquimaux
expressed their thankfulness, and afterwards sung the anthem, 'Glory
to God in the highest,' and 'Hosanna.'" When he had accomplished the
object of his cruise, Captain Martin returned to St John's.
By this extraordinary and friendly visit, the brethren remarked, "the
celebration of the jubilee of the mission acquired a peculiar and new
feature, as we were at the same time assured of the favour of those,
whom God has appointed to rule over us, and may hope in future also to
experience a continuance of that protection we have hitherto enjoyed.
The Lord has also caused his work to be glorified in the sight of
men." But this visit was still further important, as it tended to
accelerate the formation of a fourth settlement.