EARLY LIFE
Mr. Horden had not only a wonderful power of acquiring languages,
but a wonderful power of adapting himself to all things, people, and
circumstances. This stood him in good stead throughout his career. Born
in Exeter, January 20, 1828, in humble circumstances, simply educated,
apprenticed to a trade in early boyhood, he lived to attain a high
position. All difficulties were overcome by his dauntless energy of
purpose and unwavering perseverance.
He wished to study, but his father put him to a smithy. He desired to
become a missionary, but his relatives discouraged the idea. He did not
rebel, he did not kick against authority, but he neglected no opportunity
to further his purpose. He read and thought, he attended evening Bible
readings, he taught in the Sunday school, and when his indentures were
out he left the anvil for the desk. He obtained the post of usher in a
boys’ school. And now being independent, he offered himself to the Church
Missionary Society, with a view to going to India as a lay agent, and
he was accepted with the understanding that he would await a suitable
opening, which might perhaps not occur for two or three years.
He was willing to wait, but his patience was not to be tried. The society
learnt that the Wesleyans had withdrawn from Hudson’s Bay, and that there
was great need of a teacher at Moose Fort. Here was an opening for a
young man such as John Horden appeared to be. Hastily he was telegraphed
for—Hudson’s Bay was not India! But he was willing to go. It were better
he should take a wife with him. The lady was ready, like-minded with
himself. They must start in three weeks. They agreed to do it. He went
home, got married, and returned to London. The needful outfit was hastily
prepared, and they started, as we have seen. Such in short is the story
of our hero’s earlier life.
Large and varied were to be his experiences in his later years. The
society at home hearing of his success with the Indians, his great
progress in learning the language, and his ready adaptability to all
the requirements of the post, had determined to send him to the Bishop
of Rupert’s Land for ordination. ‘But,’ said the bishop, ‘this plan was
formed in ignorance of the distance and difficulties of travelling in
this part of the country, and I did not wish to expose Mr. Horden with
wife and baby to it.’ Bishop Anderson chose rather to traverse his huge
diocese and ordain the young missionary at Moose.
On the morning of June 28, in the year 1852, the start was made from St.
Andrews, Red River, in a canoe decorated by one of the bishop’s scholars
with a mitre and the Union flag at the stern, and at the bow a rose and
duck. For the latter ‘I might have substituted the dove with the olive
branch, had I known of it in time,’ says the bishop, ‘but it was done to
surprise me, and the more familiar object was naturally enough selected.’
The provisions consisted largely of flour and pemmican, the clothing, of
the bishop’s robes and a few necessaries, the bedding, of a pillow with
a buffalo robe and blankets. The journey lasted six weeks. Throughout it
the bishop confirmed, married, and baptized as he passed from post to
post, and on arriving at Moose Fort the work was repeated. He found the
Indians full of love and regard for their teacher. ‘He has their hearts
and affections,’ he wrote, ‘and their eyes turn to him at once. This is
his best testimonial for holy orders.’
Careful examination of the candidate still further convinced the bishop
of his suitability, and when the annual ship arrived bringing an English
clergyman, the Rev. E. A. Watkins, destined for Fort George, he no longer
delayed, but ordained Mr. Horden both deacon and priest, Mr. Watkins
presenting. The bishop and Mr. Watkins had then to hasten on their
several ways, lest early winter might overtake them ere they reached
their destinations. And so the ardent, earnest young catechist was left
at Moose, pastor as well as teacher of his flock, known to and esteemed
by every man, woman and child of the Indian families who resorted thither
during the summer season, and supremely happy in his work and position.
The home in which he and his wife dwelt was of the simplest, its walls
were of plain pine wood; but within it was enlivened by the baby prattle
of their first-born child, baptized by the bishop, Elizabeth Anderson.
Without, it was surrounded by a garden, in which some hardy flowers
grew side by side with potatoes, turnips, peas, and barley. Moose is
not by any means bare of wild flowers, and in mosses it is very rich,
whilst goodly clumps of trees waved their branches in the breeze on an
island only five minutes’ walk from the house. During the winter the
missionary and his family, together with the three or four gentlemen of
the Hudson’s Bay Company, with their servants, and a few sick and aged
Indians and children, were the sole inhabitants of the settlement. Then
Mr. Horden gave himself up to his little school, to his translation work,
and to such building operations as in course of time became necessary—a
school-house, a church, a new dwelling-house. After dinner he was
occupied with hammer, chisel, saw and plane until dark. In the evening he
gave instruction to a few young men.
One such, whom he employed for a time as a school assistant in later
years, he had the pleasure of sending in due course for ordination by
the Bishop of Rupert’s Land, who appointed him to the charge of Albany
station, one hundred miles north of Moose, an important outpost, at
which eighty families of Indians congregated during the summer. Hannah
Bay, another post, fifty miles east of Moose, was resorted to by fifty
families; Rupert’s House, one hundred miles east, was frequented by
sixty families; and Kevoogoonisse, 430 miles south, by thirty families.
All these places were to be visited by Mr. Horden, as well as Martin’s
Falls, three hundred miles from Albany, and Osnaburg, two hundred miles
further on; also Flying Post, one hundred from Kevoogoonisse, and New
Brunswick, one hundred from Flying Post.
This was sufficient to appal the mind and daunt the courage of one still
young and inexperienced. It did not daunt John Horden. He longed only to
teach all who were thus placed under his ministerial charge. The journeys
must be made at particular seasons, as throughout the greater part of the
year no Indians were at the trading-posts.