CMS Correspondence and Journals Red River Mission 1821 - 1825
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CMS Correspondence and Journals Red River Mission 1821 - 1825 1 Church Missionary Society C.1 NORTH WEST AMERICA MISSION (Rupertsland) (John West) C.1/M Mission Books Vol. 1 TWENTY-SECOND YEAR MINUTE OF BENJAMIN HARRISON ESQUIRE ON THE POINT OF A MISSION AMONG THE INDIANS IN THE HUDSON BAY COMPANY'S TERRITORIES. 1822 It is long been a subject of great anxiety to afford religious instruction, and to better the condition of the inhabitants and native tribes of Indians, in Hudson bay. The arrangements for the regulation of the fur trade which have recently taken place, have restored tranquillity to the country over which the Hudson Bay's company have trade establishments, extending from Canada to the Pacific Ocean, and as far to the north as has hitherto been explored. Opportunity is now afforded for every exertion, and all the parties who have influence in that country, appear ready to render their Cordele cooperation, in the plans under consideration for the extension of religious instruction, civilization, and education, over this immense extent of country. But the great difficulty is to provide funds, for that part of the arrangement which is for the benefit of the Native Heathens, and to the points connected with this subject the attention of the missionary society is most earnestly solicit. It may be necessary, in the first instance, to call the attention of the society to the steps which they have already taken in regard to the plan for civilizing and instructing the native Indian children. It appears in the 20th report. Page 219. That the Rev. Mr. West offered his services and to establish schools, and that the sum of 100 lbs., was placed at his disposal for the year 1820. To enable him to make a trial of the proposed plan. A letter from Mr. West dated Red River Colony, June 4, 1821, states, that the Indians were willing to part with their children for the purpose of their been instructed; that he had several children under his care; that a school house was erecting, and nearly completed; and that many more children would be consigned to him, when the House was ready for their reception. The Journal kept by Mr. West from the time of his arrival in Hudson's Bay, has been forwarded to this society. In it, allusion is repeatedly made to his frequent intercourse with the Indians, and the favorable manner in which Page 1 he was received by them. The officers and servants of the Hudson Bay Company are distributed over the whole extent of country before mentioned; but at the Red River Colony is established, consisting of 600 or 700 settlers, besides Canadians and half breeds, who are very numerous. 2 At this spot the Roman Catholics of Montreal have built the church and established a minister: Here it would be desirable to form a Protestant missionary station; and from the energy and zeal which Mr. West has the evinced no person can be better calculated for such an appointment. He will be surrounded by misery and distress, and will have frequent calls on his benevolence: to enable him to meet these claims of charity his salary, as the resident missionary should be liberal. In consideration of his clerical duties, half of the stipend which will be requisite, can be provided from other sources; but the performance of these duties will be perfectly consistent with his objects as a missionary. The benefit which will result from the residence of a clergyman in such a situation, and the example of a well regulated and pious family, are incalculable. Assistant Missionary It has been confidently stated that in New Caledonia and the Rocky Mountains, the Indians are living in a state bordering on civilization. These remote districts should all be visited, and equal opportunities afforded them of having their children educated. It is highly desirable that a missionary [clergymen of the Church of England] should be appointed, who would take under his charge such catechists and teachers as may be useful in different situations. He would be to hold communication with the chief missionary station at the Red River settlement, and it is confidently expected that the blessings of Christianity may thus be extended through these wide regions. Whichever way the missionary made direct his steps he will have the assistant of the resident officer at the neck station and he would thus never be a loss for an interpreter Page 2 Schools It is unnecessary to enter into many particulars on this heading as the most promising means of promoting the instruction of the Indians in the territories of the Hudson Bay Company, are already entered on the journals of the society. See 20th report of 12, page 370. The expense of provision for the children will on year be diminished, as the garden ground and land are broken into improved cultivation. The greater the number of children the less will be the proportional expense. A hunter must in the first instance, be attached to the Establishment, to procure a supply of provisions. Twelve lbs. per annum will be required for each child; and upon the production of certificates that the benefits have been afforded, to what number of children would the society extended their liberality? School Master & Mistress & Assistant With a view to carry into effect the plan proposed by the Society for the education of the Indian children, a young man was taken out by Mr. West, who was educated at Christ Hospital and apprenticed to Bridewell. He appears to have succeeded in his management of the Indian children, and to of reconciled them to civilized life and habits of Industry, and therefore seems well qualified for the charge of the school. If he were appointed by the Society he would remain in Hudson bay. 3 Protestant Church Although temporary accommodation has been afforded for the purpose of divine worship, it is to be hoped for the credit of the religion of the country to which the colony belongs, the Protestant church is not the last business to be erected: so zealous were the Catholics of Montreal, that, no sooner was the settlement contemplated, than they procured the means, and have actually completed the building of a church, and have provided for, and established a minister. Page 3 The European population, for want of religious instruction, may be considered as Heathan! the women and children are certainly such! These, together with the children educated in the Indian School, unless a church be provided, will form part of the Catholic congregation. It may be proper to state that with some assistance towards building the church, all the other buildings requisite will be provided from other funds; and land will be alloted for the church, the missionaries, schoolmaster, and assistant. Mr. Gary, a member of the Committee of the Hudson’s Bay Company, during the last summer, visited their territories in North America, and had the satisfaction of witnessing the improvements which have taken place in the morals of the inhabitants, from the religious instruction which had been afforded. And from every information which he could obtain, as well as that which has been received from those who are most conversant with the country, there is every reason to believe that the various plans in contemplation can be carried into effect. REV. MR. EASTON'S SUGGESTIONS RELATIVE TO THE FORMATION OF AN INDIAN COLLEGE IN CANADA 1822 The laudable zeal of many Christians of the present age to extend the benefits of Christianity among the pagan nations, renders it a matter of some surprise that the British Indians of North America have had so little share in this exalted benevolence, notwithstanding their natural claimed to the consideration of their fellow subjects of the same paternal government. As they are scattered over an extensive territory mostly unexplored, it is impossible to calculate their numbers with any degree of accuracy, but one thing is certain, that there Tribes, and the individuals composing those tribes, are so considerable, that their favor is highly valued in the time of war, and the prosperity of the Hudson Bay and Northwest companies is chiefly owing to their numerical importance. Their condition is truly deplorable in common with that of all other savages, in the view of those who put at just value on the principles of Christianity and the art of civilization. PAGE 4 The difficulty of enlightening the Indians and changing the bits of life, is by no means of that stubborn nature which has been noted by certain writers, who appear to have taken only a superficial view of the subject. The fact is, but the difficulty is less than among many other barbarians, if we may be allowed to form a judgment from the reflective turn of mind and strong blank which evidently belonged to the Indian character. 4 The prosperous state of the Moravian missionary among the Esquimaux, shows what may be accomplished in other parts of the continent. The success also of the Roman Catholic missionaries among the Indians of Lower Canada before the transfer of the country to Britain, continues to this day, and might have been carried much further, if a greater degree of it had been contemplated by the Roman church. These examples furnished incontestable evidence, that the Indians are not only capable of great improvement, but that their prejudices are not in vincible when they apprehend that an affectionate interest is taken in their welfare. Besides the numerous tribes of Indians in having the North West Territory, it appears that there is a mixed progeny, the offspring of European and Canadian traders, abandoned to the same evils of ignorance and immorality.