Robert Tomlinson Annual Letter 1876
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[1] Annual Letter Kincolith Station
[2] March 12, 1877
[3] Reverend and Dear Sirs
[4] By the goodness of our ever gracious Father
[5] we have been spared to see the close of another year, and when
[6] you read this letter, through of necessity it can only give a mere
[7] outline of events, I feel sure you will see the good hand of
[8] our God prospering us. and join us in praising his Holy
[9] name.
[10] Ever since we settled at Kincolith we have suffered from a
[11] want of proper lumber at a reasonable price. This want
[12] has crippled us in all our building operations and moreover
[13] precluded the possibility^of the natives^ building suitable and substantial
[14] dwellings. In January 1876 the Village council met to deliberate
[15] on this matter. as many of those who have been settlers here now
[16] for some years are anxious to change their present cottage for
[17] houses that will supply the needs of their improved civilization
[18] and those who have lately joined us do not wish to keep pace
[19] with them. They all seemed unanimous that we ought to have a sawmill.
[20] Now to propose a sawmill and two dilate on the advantages it would
[21] bring to the village is easy enough. But the erection of a sawmill
[22] is a very serious matter and requires the outlay of not less than £300
[23] However there appeared to be no other solution of the difficulty. Shortly
[24] after the meeting I visited Metlakahtla and while there consulted with
[25] Brother Duncan on the matter. He fully agreed with us that a sawmill
[26] was what we wanted. but not only so. but he immediately threw
[27] himself into the matter as one which concerned him as much
[28] as ourselves and I may add that had it not been for his
[29] advice and assistance we could not have attempted it for
[30] another year. At Metlakatla they had long been anxious
[31] to change their vertical for a circular saw. and it was decided
[32] that the machinery for both Sawmills should be purchased
[33] at the same time. For this purpose I visited Victoria in
[34] February. The winter had been so severe and gardening operations
[35] consequently so delayed that it was not until the beginning of June
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[1] we commenced work on the mill. I employed none but the native
[2] settlers in the erection of the mill. And while it was building
[3] many were the shouts of triumph and amazement as piece
[4] by piece the large water wheel was put together and the headway
[5] filled. Often too when some part on which we had spent much
[6] time and labour would not fit right. Blank looks of dismay
[7] accompanied by such expression as “we always knew it would
[8] not work. who were ever heard of Indians succeeding in what many
[9] white men have failed to make work.” Our difficulties were
[10] increased by my never having had any experience of sawmills
[11] and indeed I had never even seen but two circular sawmills
[12] in my life and then were only a couple of hours. We persevered, however
[13] and by the 7th of November we had the Sawmill completed
[14] and began sawing lumber. And though a few alterations are
[15] needed. the mill works even better than we had expected and we
[16] can now have all the lumber we want for a little over half
[17] what the lumber cost us before. moreover the continual supply
[18] of saw logs needed gives employment to a class among the
[19] settlers. who not being fur hunters or skilled workmen often
[20] found it hard to eke a living before. On making
[21] up the accounts I find we will only have to draw on you for a little
[22] over £24.0.0 twenty four pounds. and this only as loan to be repaid
[23] on lumber as the mission buildings need it. so much for the
[24] sawmill. Already we are beginning to feel the advantage of it.
[25] But this is not the only proof that God has given us of his
[26] ^hand^ being upon us for good. During the summer a change was silently
[27] going on at Naas. and many were led to look into and
[28] examine their position. The result was a conviction that the
[29] days in their old superstitions were numbered and that if
[30] they did not decide for God they would be left with only the
[31] shadow of what their fathers believes in as a reality.
[32] One and another joined us and when we assembled
[33] last new years day to enter on the village roll the names
[34] of those who would come during the year and who wished
[35] to be enrolled as a bona fide settler at Kincolith
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[1] We enrolled ten families numbering with a few single individuals
[2] and one who is too sick at the time to attend. 50 souls. Among
[3] these three of the Head chiefs. One of them once the fiercest savage
[4] on this river. Is anything too hard for the Lord? I may add that
[5] these results are in great measure due to the efforts of the
[6] [Chris]tians here and we may truly look upon them as a sign from
[7] God. that he approves of and will bless any true efforts for the
[8] spread of his truth however humble it may be. We had long
[9] been expecting a visit from brother Duncan to join us in
[10] the examination of the Catechumens with the view to the Baptism
[11] of such as were approved of. Hitherto something had always
[12] interfered with his coming. On the 3rd of January last I wrote
[13] to him to try and come. He came. nor did he come alone. When
[14] the [chris]tians of Metlakatla heard of the move at Naas and how
[15] many have joined us. many of them volunteered to accompany
[16] him and this feeling was so strong that several had to be
[17] refused for fear, as he thought, of overcrowding us. This is but
[18] another proof of the brotherly feeling which existed between
[19] these two missions from the first. Brother Duncan and
[20] his party spent from Saturday evening to the following Thursday
[21] with us. On the Wednesday evening previous to their departure we
[22] had a special service at which 14 adults were baptized.
[23] During his stay we also have the opportunity of consulting him
[24] as to how best we can lay our ground so as to give the
[25] new houses the greatest advantages and prevent {crirveling?}. Also
[26] as to best kind of house for the settlers. As he had had this
[27] matter under consideration for the last few years of Metlakatla
[28] he was able to give the result of much thought and experimenting.
[29] We are at present engaged in drawing up the plan and expect
[30] Please God to you have three or four houses built during the
[31] summer. Meanwhile we must not expect that the devil
[32] will let go of his hold without a struggle. and already we see
[33] signs of opposition cropping up. This opposition arises
[34] from a party who hate anything like vital religion. they
[35] are joined by a few white men ^to^ whose immoral lives the [Chris]tian
[36] conduct of many of the native [Chris]tians is a standing rebuke
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[1] Shortly after the receipt of Mr. Wright’s ^letter^ suggesting the propriety
[2] of taking up work on the Kitiksheans through the native
[3] [Chris]tians. Brother Duncan and I held a consultation on the subject.
[4] It seemed proper in the first place to gauge the actual state of their
[5] minds for though I had visited them myself several times and
[6] had good reason to think that the Gospel was taking hold in the
[7] hearts of many. yet I well knew that it is hard for me to form
[8] an accurate judgement as a whiteman going among them
[9] is always sure to excite some interest. We decided to send two
[10] native teachers to make a tour among their tribes. The weather
[11] proved so unfavourable that they were unable to visit the three
[12] most distant Villages but the results from the four visited are
[13] most cheering. They were well received and at each of the Villages
[14] they were found a little knot of anxious inquiries. At one Village
[15] they found a man who after fishing last spring had spent
[16] a couple of months at Kincolith where he had learned from
[17] one of the [chris]tains a few him prayers and texts in his own language
[18] these he retained in his memory and when he returned to his Village
[19] he regularly held a little service every Sunday in his house. and taught
[20] such as joined him what he knew. Nor was is this the only case.
[21] At the Kitlackdamix a village at the head of the navigation of the Naas
[22] where resides a chief who driven some two years ago to seek medicine out
[23] at Kincolith there learned about God. Of this man I could say much
[24] but must propose it for another opportunity. at present I would
[25] only add that few, if any, among the Nishkahs have shewn a
[26] more childlike faith coupled with an earnestness and anxiety
[27] to spread the Gospel. I have reached the end of my paper and so must
[28] close. Pray for us dear brethren that as we grow in years we have more
[29] grace and increase in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
[30] Yours very sincerely
[31] Robt Tomlinson
Statistics for the year ending December 31st 1876
Clergymen: 1
Lay teachers and others
European: 1 female
Native Christians: 5 male; 3 female
Total of christian teachers: 9
Native christian adherents: 150
Baptisms during the year
Children: 1; Total 1
Native scholars and seminarists
Boys: 21; Girls 27; Seminarists 5: Total 53
