The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-04-02
EAT UP a CHURCH.
Eskimo Dogs DevOur "a Tent Set Up by
the Missionaries.

Many strange experiences fall to the
lot of missionaries among primitive
races. but 1 think that an incident res
Gently narrated to me by Il pioneer of
the Gospel deserves special mention for
its oddity.
Among my friends is DR.. Grenfell,
the British evangelist, who founded and
endowed a number of missions among
the deep-sea fishermen. DR.. Grenfell
fitted out his own ship and tool her
across the Atlantic TO pursue his la
boTs among the cod fisheries off the
coasts Of Newfoundland and IOWA
Scotia. In this way he became inter-
ested in the Eskimos of Labrador,
and decided to found a mission among
them. The mission was fairly success
full, the Eskimos Of this region being
far more amenable to discipline than
those OF more northerly ATTITUDES.
DR.. Grenfell preached all through
one the EsBimos coming from
far and near in their sledges to hear
him. Next summer he decided to re
turn and build a church in Labrador.
But when he preached the project to
his Eskimo converts he found that
hides and skins were the only available
material whereof a church could be
built. The only stone house in the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of the Hudson Bay
company's agent - had been on
structed OF bricks brought from New
foundland. 1t was too late in the sea-
son to get amy bricks,s so DIR. Grenfell had
10 be content with the proffer OF skins.
A great day of gathering was an
nounced. The Eskimos came from far
and near, each converts sledge being
heaped high with skins, mostly fresh,
of seal and bear.
Under Grenfell's orders they set to
work, and before evening a really rer
spectacle church had been built out of
pelts. To celebrate the occasion every
body was invited to attend a junket
under the real brick roof of the Hudson
Bay company's h~ospitable agent.
During the celebration the Eskimo
dogs attached to the many sledges were
embarrassed, according TO custom, and
allowed TO roam about the settlement
at their own sweet wills. The dogs were
ravenously hungry, having come very
long distances, and howled around the
house for food. No attention was paid
to their starving cries, however, for Dr..
Grenfell and his converts were busy
within exchanging fluctuations on the
building Of the church.
At last, however, the dinner and the
speeches ended. Every one arose and
went out for another look at the
church. What was their horror to pre-
ceive no church at alll Only a few
poles and two or three strips of parti-
cularly tough skins remained to show
where the newly erected house of wor-
ship had stood.
DR.. Grenfell and his Eskimo friends
were utterly dumfounded Tor a time,
and some superstitious members of the
congregation had begun to hint at
magic or the Intervention of the evil
one, when a quick-witted convert dis
covered the truth regarding this re-
markable disappearance. The Eskimo
dogs, driven wild by hunger and by the
smell of the food from the banquet hall,
had attacked the church and devoured
its walls, down to the very last eatable
skin.
DR.. Grenfell did not attempt the cree
ton of another skin church, but wise.
ly waited until the next season, when he
could bring with him sufficient bricks
for the purpose.-W. Lewis Fraser. in
Century.