For many years the conversion of the heathen in Labrador, not only proceeded very slowly, but was attended with many discouraging circumstances.  The missionaries had patiently persevered in preaching to the natives, and watching every opportunity to make them attentive to the best interests of their soils:  but reaped little fruit from their labours.  Visits were frequent, and there was in general no want of hearers to address, but they showed no disposition to be instructed.  If even a salutary impression was occasionally made on their minds, it was not abiding.  Some families were indeed collected in the different settlements, but after staying there the winter, they mostly moved away again in summer, and apparently forgot all they had heard.

Before the close of the year 1804, a new period commenced.  A fire from the Lord was kindled among the Esquimaux, accompanied with the clearest evidence of being the effect of the operations of the divine Spirit on their hearts.  It commenced at Hopedale, the very place which presented the most discouraging prospect.

When the Esquimaux of that place returned from their summer excursions, the missionaries were delighted to find, that they not only had been preserved from sinful practices, but had greatly increased in the knowledge of divine truth.  They had obtained an humbling insight into the corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, and the wretched state of a person void of faith in Christ.  This constrained them to cry for mercy, and gladly to accept salvation on the terms of the gospel:  and some afforded encouraging hopes, that they had found forgiveness of sins in the blood of Christ, by which their souls were filled with peace in believing.  Out of the abundance of the heart their mouths spake of the love and power of Jesus.  Their artless but energetic declarations impressed the rest of the inhabitants.  They began to feel the necessity of true conversion; and in a short time all the adults appeared earnestly to seek peace with God.  Even several of the children were awakened.  The missionaries were daily visited by people, who either inquired “what they must do to be saved,” or testified of the grace of God manifested to their souls.

The progress of the mission, in the sequel, supplies sufficient proof, that the effect of the gospel, just related, was not a wild fire, or the mere consequence of a momentary impression, but a divine work wrought in the hearts of the natives by the Spirit of God himself.  The missionaries frequently mention the attention and diligence shown in the schools, both by adults, and children, and the delight and fervour with which they engage in their family devotions, and in conversations with each other respecting the influence of the gospel on their own souls.  Their behaviour at public worship likewise very strikingly differed from that of former years, with regard to the eagerness with which they now attended the house of God, and their deportment during the performance of divine service.  On one occasion the missionaries remark, “We no longer see bold, undaunted heathen sitting before us, with defiance or ridicule in their looks; but people expecting, a blessing, desirous to experience the power of the word of life, shedding tears of repentance, and their whole appearance evincing devotion and earnest inquiry.”