Tárogató, 1940-1941 (3. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1940-10-01 / 4. szám
14 CANADAN VIESTI Hudson’s Bay Company, in the great York Boat Brigades. These Christian Indians, in their desire to ‘live’ the religion that James Evans had taught them, refused to labour on the Sabbath Day, and this brought down upon the head of James Evans much persecution and contumely, from the Governor and officials of the great Company, who thought they saw in him, an antagonist. It is related with considerable detail, in Rev. Egerton R. Young’s book ‘The Apostle of the North,’ that James Evans endeavoured to convince the Governor of the Company, of the wisdom of steadfast obedience to the Commandment ‘Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it Holy,’ by actual test. James Evans would start in his canoe, with a couple of Indian canoemen at the same time as the Company were sending, in one of their swiftest canoes manned by well trained men, important dispatches to some far distant post. James Evans would, with his men, always rest on the Sabbath Day, while the other canoe would push on without any cessation. James Evans and his men showed that by so doing no time was lost travelling from point to point. The Christian Indians in the great York Boat Brigades also tested the matter, and they too, were victorious. They would insist on the Sabbath Day’s rest; and when that day came around, they would unload their freight; cover it carefully with tarpaulins; pull up their York Boats; change into what better clothes they might have. On Sunday morning sitting about the camp fire, service was held as hymns were sung from the Cree hymn book James Evans had prepared and the Gospel of Jesus was read in their own language. They were away again very early on Monday morning, rested and refreshed, and ready once more for the task of rowing. The other crews however, kept on at their work all through Sunday, without recognizing the day as being different from any other day. However, by the time Wednesday came, the Christian Indians generally caught up with the others, and then the struggle began, to see who could keep ahead. On Sunday the Christian Indians rested again while the others continued. Yet when the first destination was reached the Christian Indians arrived just as early as those who worked seven days of the week. One hundred years have passed and the relationship between church and Trades is a happy one. Let me quote from the Hudson’s Bay Companys “Post Managers in Training” “It is the Company’s policy that Sunday should be suitably observed at all posts and, in particular, that there should be a cessation of the ordinary week-day duties on that day. Teach the clerk to make Sunday different from other days — after all, Sunday observance is one of the marks of our “white man’s civilization.” Fly the flag, put on your “Sunday best,” go to church (as you please) but if work cannot be entirely avoided, then at all events, do as little as possible. As an active missionary I can say that this policy is loyally upheld and every cooperation is given by Company and Traders to the Missionary in Sunday Observance. THE ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF THOMAS HASSELL (By Rev. J. E. Jones) Tragedy struck James Evans a stunning blow. On one occasion he started out on a summer preaching trip, with two of his Indian canoemen; one named Thomas Hassell, a Chipewayan Indian from the Athabasca country, was a successful teacher, speaking Cree, French, and English fluently. The other Indian was named Oig. During the course of the trip, Mr. Evans was handing a gun to Thomas Hassell to shoot some game, when the gun was accidently discharged, and Thomas Hassell was instantly killed. Stricken with grief, Mr. Evans, with his remaining Indian companion turned homewards. Then Mr. Evans bid his family Good-bye, and started out alone by the water route to the Athabasca country, in the full knowledge that the Indians would, according to custom, demand the life of the killer, even though the killing had been unintentional. He sought out the wigwam of Thomas Hassell’s family, and sat down with them in the attitude of mourning, and in tears told them the story of Thomas Hassell’s untimely
