Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1895-02-26

p ~ tbs llTrLe cHuRcr
At suKKERToPPEN.

crswn MIN Essd % AM
An accident was accountable for cur
eojoum here The steamship Miranda
ind run on q sunkon reef. and We had
Tt back 70 sukkortoppon for relief
ho acquaintance Of the Danish governor
nd bis assistant. with their wives and
Families. had been made, and we had
en- shown every courtesy and hospital
The igloos or Eskimo huts had
en- visited. and the faces and customs
these peculiar people were becoming
ire familiar, bnt a Sunday we had
not yet experienced.
Ny journal for Sunday, Aug 12. re-.
cords the following: We had breakfast
~ 5 this morning because Of the neces-
sary preparations 70 attend service at
the Eskimo church. I rowed ashore i'm
mediately after breakfast 70 interview
the governor and ascertain II it would
b agreeable for us TO hold service that
evening At Sc. James church, tho KS
KINDS having their services at 10 and
4 O'Clock. Mr.. Peterson, a half breed
who had studied at Copenhagen for two
years. wns summoned, and all due mr.
Tangemonts made Mr.. Petersen and his
father, m old man with a kind face,
act as lay readers, q regular priest com.
ing nee a year to administer tho sacra.
ncnt. confirm and marry. The service
Is Lutheran. At 10 o'clock wo were all
nt the church 20 attend n most curious
but reyorently conducted service Mr..
Petersen, ST., OBLIGATED, 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 overy tribe and kindred tho
symbol OF our religion Is being uplifted.
Il was not long ago that these people
were pagan, and many Of them farther
north Of tho eastern coast still hold to
the crude faith OF their fo~rcfathers.
About the doors Of the church was
certainly a strange gathering, the men
not very differently dressed from our
selves, except that some Of them wore
trousers Of soalskin and a blouse Of some
coarse material lined with seal and n
short boot OF killick Of tanned leather;
the women-the married ones distin-
guished from the unmarried by wearing
a blue ribbon, the latter wearing red,
wound about q peculiar fashion Of head
dreas-a loose fitting blouse with an
nmowt or bag attached to the back for
carrying thier babies, q broad beaded
necklace, short trousers Of sealskin, n
long boot decorated with bright strips
Of leather and no hats. At the ringing
Of tho second bell more church corners
hurried from their little igloos. No One
entered the church until Mr. Petersen
first went In. The front pews had been
reserved for az, and in our rear this
strange congregntion-tho men on one
Eido and the women ON the othor-ar-
ranged themselves, the children sitting
ia front Of them, upon whom the watch
full eye could rest and interrupt any On
thusiastic diversions from the service
itself. A period Of the most violent
coughing ensued, consumption being
common. n result Of careless living and
the mixture Of the Danish and Eskimo
races
Tho interior Of tho church was neatly
painted in white and light blue, the
altar covered with a cloth Of red, with
hower-de-luco embroidered in gold. On
tho altar wero two euoharistio lights
and a crucifx. Completing the chan
cells furnishings were the lectern 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. The service was be-
gun In n low, fearful voice and main
taincd throughout In the same mono
tone While nothing, Of course. could
be understood by us, the service was
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. II took rs
minutes to sing this chant. A chapter
was then read, after which, for the first
time. the congregation rose 70 repeat
some short versicle. A very unimpas-
stoned sermon Of % minutes was read,
during which ono man hesitated not 60
loudly snoro. At the close Of the sermon
they arose for the ascription. A hymn
followed, then = prayer. and the grace.
ana tno hofflco was euueO.
At 8 o'clock that evening we return
Cd for our own service. To my surprise
there were about 200 Eskimo waiting
around the church. II was a most Gu
rions congregation and impressed me
s~inguiarly. In the front pews sat some
Of a university professors. several
physicians, lawyers. men Of business.
college students, tho Danish governor,
his wife aud family, the assistant gov
Ornor and his wife, about 30 Of the Mi
Fanda's crew, and In the raar closely
seated together were the huskies, as
these Eskimo are called, the peculiar
fashion Of wearing the hair. with their
colored ribbons, producing . strange
effect A sermon Of DR. Liddon's was
read An Eskimo Organist played the
hymns which I had arranged through
NrA Bistrup. the governors wife, az
interpreter, should be played in the or
der a. marked when / shook my head.
We sang blessed Be the Tic That
Bind" abide With Me-" Nearer.
Ny God. 70 Thee" aud Coronation.
Let every kindred, evory tribe,
On this Terrestrial ball
To him an majesty ascTibe
And crown him Lord Of All
seemed httingly appropriate.
We remained after service to hear tho
Eskimo sing. Music they do not seem
20 acquire; Il Il a born talent with al
most an Of them. Having been delight
fully entertained by the governor and
his family, our Sunday amid Green
leaving impressions which will long 30
pleasantly remembered -ChurchmaD.
&C., 49,. p..s--