Tárogató, 1940-1941 (3. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1940-10-01 / 4. szám
TÁROGATÓ 13 1840 ------ 1940 THE JAMES EVANS CENTENARY at Norway House, June 19, and 20, 1940 INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT TO SCENE TEN. A century has passed since James Evans laid the foundation for the development of the Christian Way of Life in this great north country, by his preaching of the gospel, the establishment of the Mission work, his invention of the Cree syllabics, and his educational efforts among old and young. Were he able, in this day, to visit, the great parish that was his, he would realize with a great joy in his heart that his labour of love, his years of sacrifice and hardship were not in vain. His work has been carried on during these hundred years among the people he loved by the missions and schools which have come into being and developed. His heart would rejoice to see the training given the Indian youth through the program of both religious and secular education in the Missions, and the residential and day schools, for he believed as we do, that, the future of the Indian people depends on the training of their youth in Christian character and ideals, and a Christian view of life. His heart would go out to our youth of this day because of the many problems and temptations they face, and the trying experiences through which they are forced to pass, because it is a stage reached in the long period of transition from the old life to the new, which they feel more acutely than their fathers. A period when they need more than ever before one stabalizing influence of the Church and School and their youth organizations and the guidance, ideals, moral support and spiritual strength which these give through their combined programmes. Our last scene in the pageant calls us to remember the Indian youth and their problems and needs in this day, and to afford us just a glimpse of them and part of their club activities. These children belong to different clubs which meet weekly. The president of one of their clubs presides, as they conduct their devotional period. Following this “A Drill,” by the Senior girls; “A dramatized song” by the Junior children; “Pyramids and acrobatics” by Junior and Senior boys. The work James Evans began, still goes on! May God continue to bless and to raise up workers for this part of His vineyard. THE AFTERNOON’S MEETING The following speech was delivered by Rev. D. J. Scoates, Missionary at the Oxford House, 150 miles N.E. from Norway House. THE YORK BOAT RACE AND THE RESULT One Hundred Years ago, when James Evans lived and worked here, the Norway House Post of the Hudson’s Bay Company was a very important place indeed. The Governor and other great men of the Company held the Council of the North at the Fort. The great quantities of rich furs caught in the vast northland, and much other freight, were transported along the rivers in the Company’s York Boats, to and from Norway House, this being the clearing centre, for eventual shipment of the furs to London and the markets of the world, and provisions of all kinds to the various posts the Company had, scattered abroad in the north. Norway House was then a great Trading Post, but, its glory, and the need for York Boats, have departed with the passing of time. In this transportation of goods by York Boat, SPEED, and MORE SPEED, was the essence of the contract, so to speak and nothing was allowed to interfere with that. Now, as a result of James Evans’ earnest missionary labours, there were many Christian Indians in this district, and some of these were engaged in the labourous task of rowing, and handling the York Boats in the transportation of the precious cargoes of freight for the JR ENGLISH SECTION.
