THREE NATIVE HELPERS.

I had a visit this afternoon from the three “native-helpers” here at Hopedale.  They came to interview the angajokak from London (anga-yo-kak = chief or elder) and their pastor kindly interpreted.  I am pleased to know these worthy men.  They are true Eskimoes in modes of thought and expression, and they are true servants of God, faithfully serving this congregation of their countrymen in many ways.  Among the duties of their office are, visiting the sick, admonishing the negligent, settling disputes, and affectionately exhorting those who are under Church discipline.  They are also chapel-servants, and evidently glad to be door-keepers in the house of their God.  At the fishing or hunting places they often hold services, and sometimes they preside at the meetings at Hopedale.  At the celebration of the recent centenary each of the three delivered a powerful address.

Let me introduce them to my readers.

The first and oldest is JOSHUA, a decided Christian of many years’ standing.  His wife Bertha is also a chapel-servant, a real mother in the congregation, and a true helpmeet to her husband.  They are a thrifty, diligent, much respected couple, whose influence and example is blessed to those around them.  Next February 4th they will, D.V., celebrate their golden wedding, an event unknown as yet in Labrador.  Though Joshua cannot read, he frequently addresses the congregation with power, suitability, spirituality, and some originality.  In his public prayers he almost invariably adds a petition “for our Queen Victoria; because she is only a woman.”  On one occasion he said to his countrymen:  “Those of you who can read know that it says, they shall come from the East and the West, and the North and the South, and shall sit down in the kingdom, but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out.  Our fathers were heathen, but we are children of the kingdom.  If we fail of the grace of God, we shall not only be cast into hell, but into outer, outer, OUTER darkness.”  It made a great impression on them.  At another time he drew a comparison between the Israelites, who entered Canaan with Joshua, and the spiritual Israelites, who with Jesus shall enter on the millennium.

The second is DANIEL, a gifted man with a humble spirit and considerable missionary zeal.  Year by year, as Epiphany, “the Heathen Festival,” comes round, he has sleepless nights of deep sorrow in his heart for those who know not Jesus, the Salvation of God.  Twenty years ago, stirred by the example of John King, the bush-negro evangelist in Surinam, Daniel went in his own boat to his heathen countrymen in the far north of Labrador.  He found a companion of like sentiment in Gottlob of Hebron, who afterwards rendered such excellent service at Ramah.  More recently Daniel induced Titus of Hopedale to accompany him on a winter journey to some of the European settlers