Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1895-04-09
GREENLAND
IN THE LITTLE cHURct
AT suKKERToPPEN.
An Eskimo, Danish and Half Breed Cor
srcgatlon-- Christian Descendants Of PA.
gnns-'Lot Every kindred. Every Tribe
Grown Him Lord Of All"

An accident was accountable for our
sojourn here. The steamship Miranda
had run ON a sunken reef, and we had
put back to Sukkertoppon for relief.
Tho acquaintance Of tho Danish governor
and his assistant, with their wivoa and
families. had been made, and we had
been shown every courtesy and hospital
ity. The igloos or Eskimo huts had
been visited, and the faces and customs
Of these peculiar people were becoming
moro familiar, but q Sunday We had
not yet experienced.
My journal for Sunday Aug. 10, re-
cords the following: We had breakfast
at 8 this morning because Of the necos-
sary preparations to attend service at
the Eskimo church. rowed ashore i'm.
mediately after breakfast to interview
the governor and ascertain if it would
be agreeable for rs to hold service that
evening at ST. James church, tho Es-
kimos having their services at 10 and
o'clock. Mr.. Petersen, a half breed
who had studied at Copenhagen for two
years, was summoned, and all due ar
rungements made. Mr.. Petersen and his
father, an old man with a kind face,
act as lay readers, q regular priest com.
ing once year to administer the sacra-
ment confirm and marry. The service
is Lutheran. At 10 o'clock we were all
at the church to attend most curious
but reverently conducted service. Mr..
Peterson, ST., ofliciated, and his son
played. The church is Of stone, white
washed, with a wooden front, the wood
having been brought from Denmark, its
spire, surmounted by a cross, showing
how in every tribe and kindred the
symbol of our religion is being uplifted.
II was not long ago that these people
were pagan, and many of them farther
north On the eastern coast sill hold to
the crude faith Of their forofathers.
About the doors of tho church was
certainly strange gathering, the men
not very differently dressed from our
selves, except chat somo Of them wore
trousers Of sealskin and blouse of somo
coarse material lined with seal and a
short boot OF killick Of tanned leather;
the women-the married ones distin-
guished from tho unmarried by wearing
q blue ribbon, the latter wearing red,
wound about peculiar fashion Of head
dress-a loose fitting blouse with an
amowt OF bag attached to tho back for
carrying thier babies, broad beaded
necklace, short trousers Of sealskin,
long boot decorated with bright strips
of leather and no hats. At the ringing
Of the second bell moro church corners
hurried from their little igloos. No one
entered tho church until Mr.. Petersen
first went in. Tho front pews had been
reserved for us, and in our rear this
strange congregation-the men ON one
side and the women on tho other-ar-
ranged themselves, the children sitting
in front Of them, upon whom the watch
ful eye could rest and interrupt any en-
thusinstic diversions from the servics
itself A period OF the most violent
coughing ensued, consumption being
common, result Of careless living and
the mixture Of tho Danish and Eskimo
races.
The interior Of the church was neatly
painted in white and light blue, the
altar covered with q cloth Of red, with
fiower-de-luce embroidered in gold. On
tho altar were t,go euoharistic lights
and a cruoifix. Completing the chan
cells furnishings wero the lecterni and
old fashioned pulpit and a small reed
organ. A stove in which peat is burned,
near the center of the nave, afforded
the necessary heat Tho service was be-
gun in q low, fearful voice and main
tanned throughout in the same mono
tone. While nothing, Of course, could
be understood by us, the service wns
nevertheless impressive. A few opening
sentences were first read, then the
Lords Prayer. A chant followed, sung
in perfect harmony, but very slowly.
The Eskimos have good voices and an
excellent sense of harmony. It took 10
minutes 10 sing this chant A chapter
was thon read, after which, for the first
time, the congregation rose to repeat
somo short versiole A very unimpas-
stoned sermon of 20 minutes was read,
during which one man hesitatod not to
loudly snoIe At the close Of the sermon
they arose for tho asoription. A hymn
followed, then q prayer and the grace,
and the service was ended.
At @ o'clock that evening we return
ed for our own service. To my surprise
there were about 200 Eskimo waiting
around the church. Il was most Gu
rious congregation and impressed me
singulnrly. In tho front pews sat some
Of our universiiy professors, several
physicians, lawyers, men Of business.
college students, tho Danish governor,
his wifo and family, the assistant gov
ernor and his wife, about 80 Of the Mi
randa's crew, and In the rear closely
seated together were tho huakies, as
these Eskimo arc called, the poouliar
fashion Of wearing the hair, with their
colored ribbons producing a strange
effect A sermon Of DIR. Liddon's was
read. An Eskimo orgapist played the
hymns which I had arranged through
Mrs. Bistrup, the governors wife, as
interpreter, should bo played IN the or
der as marked whom / shook my head
We sang blessed Be the Tic That
Bind, ''Abide With Ne, f" Nearer,
Ny God, to Thee ard Coronation
Let every kindrod. ovory tribe,
On this tsrrCririil hall
TO him nn rpnicsiy ascribe
And crown him Lord Of an
saemed httingly appropriate
We remained after service TO hear tho
Eskimo sing. Music they do not seem
to acquire; Il Is a born talent with al
most al of them. Having been delight.
fully entertained BY the governor and
bis family our Sunday amid Green.
lands 10y mountains came 20 an end,
leaving impressions which will long b
ulenaantlv remembered. Churchman.