Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 27, 2025
At Okkak they believed that the Saviour had granted a particular blessing to their feeble testimony of his love to sinners, in preaching the word of his cross. They had at these two last stations, however, much cause for mingling grief with their joy; for several of those of whom they hoped well drew back, and some of the baptized even forsook them and returned to the heathen.
When brother Kohlmeister was in Europe, it was arranged with the Synodal Committee for the management of the missions of the United Brethren, that an exploratory voyage should be undertaken, for which Kohlmeister made preparation on his return to Labrador, and on the 17th of June, he and brother Kmoch set out from Okkak.
Whoever is acquainted with this people in their natural and unconverted state, and sees them met together at the church, attentively listening to the word of God, tears flowing down the cheeks of many, or beholds a company of converted Esquimaux surrounding the table of the Lord, and favoured to enjoy his body and blood sacramentally, under a deep and comfortable sense of his gracious presence, must stand astonished at the power of Jesus' love, which is able to melt the hardest heart, and make them partake of heavenly blessings." 1803 was a year of trial at Okkak; several of their members were seduced to go south among the heathen, and the arrival of some Europeans who came to hunt, and took up their habitation within the bounds of the settlement, caused the brethren many a heavy hour.
The missionaries endeavoured to persuade him to follow the above mentioned company to Okkak; but it was in vain, and they did not feel at liberty to insist upon it, not being sufficiently acquainted with the circumstances.
The missionaries report, that they considered this the greatest hardship they had to endure, for they had not a dry thread about them, nor a dry place to lie down in. On the 16th the sky cleared, but the fine particles of snow were driven about like clouds. Joel and Kassigiak resolved to pursue their journey to Okkak by the way of Nuasornak, and set out with the wind and snow full in their faces.
Two years ago, he had been on a trading voyage to Okkak, from Killinek, where he then dwelt, and intended to return, in the summer following, to Ungava, his native country, but an illness, which befel his son, detained him.
Solomon, who has left our communion, was also here. He had formerly been a communicant member of Okkak congregation, but could not resist the temptation of going to the north to feast with the heathen Esquimaux, whenever they had caught a live, or found a dead whale.
In Okkak, during the last winter, eight adults and thirteen children were baptized, and six persons are longing for the enjoyment of the holy supper for the first time. In the harvest of 1830 a malignant cold and cough raged in Okkak, of which eighteen persons died, but last winter the weather was very mild. I have been 34 and my wife 19 years in Labrador.
But his day of retribution did not long linger. Having boasted that his Torngak had killed a man, Kullugak's two wives, who died suddenly within a few hours of each other at Okkak, where the family had obtained leave to settle, Kullugak, in company with another Esquimaux, assassinated the poor wretch within eight days after he had sacrificed the unfortunate infant.
Certainly the hospital move on the part of the Moravians deserved every commendation; though I understand that at their little hospital in Okkak they have not always been able to have a qualified medical man in residence. One old man, a patient on whose hip I had operated, came and insisted that I should examine the scars.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking