The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-30
RELIGION OF THE ESKIMO.
,r,vEs OF LABRADOR ARE FAST
EspOUsING CHRISTIANITY.

uunittes-AI Si"sscs a
Incentive Faculty in Matters sa-
cred.
From the Montreal Gazette.
In recent letter I directed attention
D., Rev. Canon Pilots interesting account
~ his visit last year to the Moravian
mission stations on the coast of Labrador,
,ubushed by the Colonial and Continent
-, church Society. Canon Pilot has the
,,arroest admiration for these devoted
missionaries, and describes in glowing
terms the good work done by them. The
change among the Eskinos under their
care is complete. They have left behind
ell their heather practices and supersti
tons, and though far from faultless.
they have become, in the majority of in
stances. exemplary Christians, and are
free from many vices that contaminate
their fellows in large centers of popula-
ton. Their simple childlike piety is often
very touching, and their conduct com
rnendable Drunkenness is unknown
among them at the stations, but at times
traders bring intoxicating liquors and ex-
change them for skins, and then the usual
evil consequences follow, but such sup
found it necessary to prohibit dancing in
the rules of the church.
The Eskirnos have no games peculiar TO
themselves, but the missionaries have in
troduced some, such as draughts and dom
iroes, which they have learned to play
with some skill and much enjoyment. their
highest stakes being three matches, Aunt
Sally a pole with tin can for head,
is SHE'D al with stones and is encouraged
among the children, as it leads to ac
curacy of aim.
The Children and Dogs.
Mimic seal and deer hunts are also prac-
ticed by the youngsters 1t is the privi-
lege and also the duty of the children 10
break in the pups. A tiny sleigh is pro-
vided and the dogs are harnessed and the
team started, parents watching all the
while with proud and eager eyes the lit
tie chaps that can keep in check and or
der the unruly, unframed team of baby
ours. Other games-"hide-and
"hockey' with sealskin cuff for BALD,
"cross tag Ga game something like
"tierce" played at Sunday school picncs
are engaged in, all introduced by the
missionaries. Thus even amid the ice
and SHOWS of dreary Labrador young life
vindicates its right to gladness.
These Eskimo dogs are very useful, al
most Indispensable, bua far from beauti-
full or amiable. Canon Pilot says they
are tierce-looking brutes, with long brist-
ling hair, treacherous eyes and ugly look
ing fangs. They are a cross-breed be-
tN cen a wolf and some native dog. They
are the scayengers of the place and de-
YOUR fish and fat. Last winter a child
years old was so mangled by these brutes
that II died within a short time l heard
Of a girl 1@ years old who tripped when
going TO the well for water and the hun
grv pack was upon her Instantly and
fIoxt how facA
cd human blood it is no longer safe to
keep them; they are shot to the no small
loss and inconvenience of their masters"
But without their dogs the Eskimos
would fare badly. When in winter they
travel far into the inferior in search of
game or fur these hardy brutes carry
them over the snow fields on their slelghS
with incredible speed, and in the spring
they are no less needed to hunt the seal
and walrus on the ice foes. They can
1ravel sixty miles in day and never
taste foct till the days work is over.
Their skill in driving a team of five to
thirteen dogs, harnessed in pairs, with
leader out some distance ahead, is mar
volous The driver, seated on his come
tic1 with long whip of walrus hide,
"can with 6 sudden flick take the top off
the ear of a leading dog, and, if he de-
sired, even cut it Off" All this rough,
hatJ lite i. natural 10 a native, but 90
FlrODCanS means ulScOuIOTIS lnnuIn6Fd-
be The Moravian missionaries bear it
| All cheerfufty, and after Il time become
experts in the use of the dogs and coms-
sticks DIR. Grenfell of the Deep Sea
mission is one of the most accomplished
dos drivers and has travelled thousands of
miles in his comestick when engaged IN
his arduous duties.
Missionaries wives.
The wives of the missionaries take part
n teaching the nat ves, but Canon Pilot
tbs thai in addition they perform all
the household Understanding wash
Ing, cooking etc Each one in turn is
4 nous mother for a wet k, and upon her
Gev-ltes the customary work. washing,
cooking and baking. in which she is as
sisted by an Eskimo woman, who comes
at o clock in the coming and retires to
her own hut outside at the same hour in
4he evening. No natives are permitted to
live in the house. The kitchen is a model
Of order and CLEANLINESS. Indeed. the law
# order and cl arliress seems TO be held
Of paramount importance among the
brethren and punctualty and method the
4 rule If their fe. They rise at in the
morning on the tollipg of the bell. After
lam iy aver each che goes to his work
TIL 8. when the bell summons them to
th4 frugal me1l provided by the house
4 wife. Work is resumed till ncon-the din
ntr hour-aud supper is taken at 6. There
a!e a morn ng and an evening f@ non
OF the litany with singing of in
the church for all ~
N In matters of church organizatf ley
claim that their orders are et al,
handed down from the church he
Onted Brethren. There are three es
q ministers-bishops presbyters and y
cons Bishops have no special position or
tho i.y as bi hops, but have seat and
vote in their synods, which are compos-
ea Of The ministers and delegates from
'he aggregation, and are convened peri
l'aIly. As a general rule the ministers
saari's are raised by the congre cations
as Tar as they are able. Their children are
educated at the general expense. Small
iepr.ns pensions are allowed to disabled
Missionaries and their widows. In the
case Of the Labrador mission part of the
expenditure on 1t is met by the profits of
we trade the remainder being furnished
rom subscriptions made to the general
turds of the church
III 3ddition to the simple fare provided
each missionary is allowed at the COM
u heement Of his work $50 year to pro-
we clothing This sum increases by