The new era., 1860-04-19
Written for the New Era.
"reminiscences of Missionary
Life in the Northwest
No. 3.
BY REV. SHERMAN HALL.

BY REV. SHERMAN HALL.
Machinaw is an Island which rises
out of Lake Huron, near its upper eX-
tremity. 1t is not large, but its central
part is considerably elevated, and in its
shape it some what resembles the turtle,
which its name imports. 1t is, in fact,
a huge limestone rock whose base lies
deep down in the water, and its top j.
elevated above it. Its upper surface IS
partially decomposed by the long action
of the atmosphere, thus forming hard
and rocky soil.
At the time of our arrival there, it
was the headquarters Of the American
Fur Company's business in the fur
trade in the Northwest There was
also a military fort there garrisone by
United States troops, and the mission
school. These three institutions made
nearly all the business Of the place, cX-
cept a small commerce in Mackinaw
white fish and trout of world fame.
The place had been settled for many
years before the date Of our narrative -
The houses Of the early settlers were
still standing. They were built of logs,
and covered with cedar bark, which
occupied the place Of both clapboards
and shingles. This bark covering was
now grown over with moss which had
been years in forming, and gave the
buildings very sombre and antique ap-
pearance.
The Mission was Boarding School
for the education of Indian and half
breed children, maintained by the Amer
lean Board Of Commissioners for For
eign Missions. 1t was at this time in
prosperous condition under the superin-
tendence Of Rev. w. NJ Ferry, who
was aided by several school-teachers
and other assistants The school had
already been in operation several years,
and was exerting a good moral and re
ligious influence on the place, and far
beyond it, 1t was composed of a large
number of Indian and half-breed child
rem of both sexes, who were gathered
into it from the surrounding neighbor-
hood, and the remote parts OF the OIlb-
wa country. These children were taxi
en- into the Mission family, and treated
as members of it, clothed, housed, fed,
taught the various arts of domestic life,
learned to speak the English language,
given a good common education, and
fitted, as far as they could be, for various
kinds of business. Many of the traders
brought their children here, where they
acquired very respectable English
education They generally paid most
of the expenses of their children while
they remained i'll the school. But most
of the children in the school were kept
and taught gratutously. The Mis-
sionaries received no pecuniary COM
pensation for their services, except
their board and clothing while laborlng
in the mission. The Mission School
was continued several years after this
time but was finally discontinued on
account Of the difficulty of managing
sucb aa institution, and of the very
large expense of maintaining it. 1t was
not however, a failure. 1t exerted
rood and lasting influence on many IN
dividuaIs who enjoyed its advantages,
and upon the whole Indian country
about Lake Superior, and It's influence
is still felt. Many individuals were re-
deemed from ignorance and barbarism,
and became useful and intelligent mem
hers of society through the instrument
ta,;ty of that school. But there were
others whose education rendered them,
through its perversion, more miserable
and greater pests to society, than they
would have been.
The plan of operation decided upon