"I have great reason to bless God for the privileges and mercies I have
had from him. I am so glad to be with you to-day in his house. I try
to arrange all my huntings and journeys so as to be present at all of
these love-feasts and sacraments. Since I decided, many years ago, to
give up paganism and become a Christian, I have never missed one of
these meetings, though sometimes I have had to take several days and
travel hundreds of miles to get here. I only had to travel sixty miles
on my snow-shoes to be here to-day. It has paid me well to come. I
rejoice that God has enabled me to be faithful all these years since I
started in His service. When I first began, I had a great many doubts
and fears. The way seemed very long ahead of me. I felt so weak and so
prone to sin. It seemed impossible that such a weak, unworthy creature
as I could stand true and faithful; but trusting in God, and constantly
endeavouring to exercise a living faith in Christ, I have been kept to
this day, and I can say I realise a daily growth in grace. I ask God to
give me His Holy Spirit to help me to follow Christ's example and to
keep all of God's commandments. May I, too, prove faithful."
Mary Cook, a very old woman, who has had to endure persecution for
Christ's sake, spoke next. She said:
"I am very glad to be here once more. I have many pagan relatives who
have no feeling of friendship towards me, because I am a follower of
Jesus. But He is my Friend, so it is all right. I have been very sick,
and thought that God was going to take me home to heaven. That thought
made me very happy in my sickness. My poor little room often seemed
light with the presence of my Lord. I love to dwell with God's people.
It is my chief joy. I refused to go and live with my relatives in the
woods, even though I should be better off, because I love the house of
God, and because I so love to worship with God's people."
Mary Oig said:
"Very happy do I feel in my heart to-day. My heart is filled with his
love. I knew I love Him and his people; and His service is to me a
great delight. Once, like many others, I was in the great darkness,
wandering in sin; but God sought me by His Holy Spirit, and convinced me
of my lost condition, and shewed me Himself as my only Hope, and enabled
me to rejoice in his pardoning mercy through faith in the Atonement.
May God keep me faithful, that with you I may join around the Throne
above."
Thomas Mamanowatum, generally known as "Big Tom," on account of his
almost gigantic size, was the next to speak. He is one of the best of
men. I have used him to help me a good deal, and have ever found him
one of the worthiest and truest assistants. His people all love and
trust him. He is perhaps the most influential Indian in the village.
Tom said:
"I, too, desire to express my gratitude to God for His great blessings
and mercies to me. I am like David, who said, `Come, all ye who fear
the Lord, and I will tell you what He hath done for my soul.' He has
taken me out of the pit of sin, and set me on the rock. So I rejoice,
for I have felt and tasted of His love. When I think of what he has
done for me, and then think of what I have been, I feel that I am not
worthy even to stand up in such a place as this. But He is worthy, and
so I must praise Him. I have a comfortable assurance that He, my good
Father, is contented with me. But it is only because the grace of God
is sufficient to keep me. I am growing in grace, and I desire more than
ever to glorify God in all I think, or speak, or do. I have been
helping our Missionary at Beren's River in the good work among the
people there. I often felt happy while endeavouring to point my heathen
brethren to Jesus Christ, Who takes away the sins of the world. My
first consecration was of myself, when converted to Christ. My second
was of my family to Him. My third is of my class. I am often very
happy while trying to lead them on in the way to heaven. To-day I renew
my vows of consecration. I offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, for He
is my God and my portion for ever. As He is the Source of Love and
Light and Safety, I want to be continually drawing nearer to Him."