Robert Tomlinson Annual Letter 1878
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[1] Annual letter Kincolith Station
[2] March 1879
[3] Reverend and Dear Sirs
[4] God in his mercy and goodness has preserved us through
[5] another year and we are again called upon to give you a brief account
[6] of its principal events. Shortly after New years day we supplied
[7] a long felt want by erecting a school house at Kincolith.
[8] Notwithstanding the weather and short days we completed the
[9] building in two weeks. greatly to the astonishment in delight
[10] of B[isho]p Bonipas. School can now be more efficiently carried
[11] on and the progress of the scholars has consequently been greater.
[12] In March Br[other] Collinson was admitted to Deacon and Priests-
[13] orders on two several Sundays. The ordination took place at Kincolith
[14] in presence of many native [Chris]tians. Though I declined to take
[15] Priest’s orders myself. I felt none the less pleasure in presenting
[16] our dear brother for that sacred office as I felt well satisfied
[17] that he was a fit person to a adorn by his conversation and life.
[18] After the ordination we had a examination of Catechumen
[19] when B[isho]p Bonipas baptized 17 adults and 12 children.
[20] A few days after we bid adieu to B[isho]p Bonipas.
[21] I had long felt that the [Chris]tians at Kincolith, while always
[22] willing to assist in teaching Sunday school and in preaching the
[23] Gospel among those around them might do something towards
[24] the expense of maintaining native teachers among the N[as]s River
[25] and Kitikshean tribes. I brought the matter before them in the
[26] beginning of the year and asked them to give it their prayerful
[27] consideration. At a meeting held sometime after it was decided
[28] that subscriptions in kind or money should be secretly brought
[29] together to a certain place. When the subscriptions were all in
[30] a committee was appointed to value the several articles, without
[31] knowing from whom they had come. The value was set down
[32] in a book. and when added up resulted in a sum of £12.1.2
[33] towards the expenses of a native teacher for the Kitlacdamix
[34] 6000 for lumber lumber was also presented by the Kincolith saw mill
[35] towards the erection of a school house. and a Bell from another
[36] person. These gifts have tended to lesson the expense at that
[37] mission. In May Br[other] Collinson and I made a an extensive
[38] tour of the Kitiksheans. so as to get as good a knowledge
[39] of the necessities of a mission among those tribes as we
[40] could. at the same time so arranged as to have
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[1] an opportunity of presenting the word not only at the several
[2] villages but also frequently on the way. whenever we met with
[3] parties on their travels. We also took 3 native teachers with us
[4] and either left them at or sent them forward to some of the
[5] villages. The result of our journey tended to confirm the opinion
[6] I had previously formed that it will not be wise to confine
[7] ourselves to any one tribe. but to itinerate among them all
[8] from a central spot.
[9] In the beginning of July we were strengthened and
[10] cheered by a visit from Admiral Prevost. The missions oldest friend.
[11] Though his visit was much shorter than we could have wished, all
[12] felt the good effects of it. Several of the chiefs and principal [Chris]tians
[13] made most interesting and affecting speeches on the occasion.
[14] Two of them have since been called to their rest.
[15] According to instruction Br[other] Schult moved to Kincolith in July
[16] Shortly after his arrival. I started on a tour among the N[as]s river and
[17] Kitikshean tribes, principally the former who were there at their
[18] several fisheries. I had abundant opportunity for addressing
[19] them and I was much gratified to perceive a steadily increasing
[20] appreciation of the gospel and a wish to know more of it.
[21] On my return after a four week tour I went to Victoria, whither
[22] Mrs. Tomlinson and family had preceded me on a visit to
[23] her mother and family whom she had not seen since her fathers
[24] death. My object was to make my arrangements for moving
[25] inland as complete as possible in the autumn so as to free
[26] on the opening of the summer if it were Gods will to procreate
[27] the work there with as few things to distract my mind as possible
[28] and the same time have expenses to the Society. by getting
[29] exactly what we wanted. While in Victoria I was put upon the
[30] commission of the peace. The proposal was made to me quite
[31] unexpectedly by the head of the Government and I did not feel
[32] justified in declining the offer. Already good begins to result
[33] from it. The hearts of the well disposed or strengthened while the
[34] illdisposed whites are restrained from molesting the native
[35] settlers.
[36] The word preached has steadily been taking root in
[37] the hearts of some of those at the kKitlacdamix Village at the
[38] head of the navigation of the Naas river. We have had a native
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[1] teacher among them all the Summer and Autumn at their
[2] request .I prepared to erect a school house at the Village. The
[3] materials were all got ready at the Kincolith saw mill and
[4] then forwarded up the river. A little before [Chris]tmas we commenced
[5] to build. this was the signal for a rather savage attempt
[6] on the part of the heathen portion of the tribe to hinder us
[7] but the good hand of our God preserved us all. and the attempt
[8] has led to our taking a step. which we should eventually have
[9] had to do. as the present site of this Village is a very bad one viz
[10] to put up the school house on a capital spot; with all the
[11] requisites for a village site; about 2 miles below the present
[12] Village. Several families have promised to move to this place in
[13] the Summer. We built; roofed, lined and floored the school house
[14] in 10 days and then to the number of about 30 went to Kincolith
[15] for the [Christ]mas and after the new year to Metlakatla whither we
[16] were accompanied by a number of the Catechumens when
[17] at Metlakatla we held an examination of Catechumen when
[18] 11 adults and one child were accepted from Kincolith and one
[19] from the Kitlacdamix who has exhibited a great consistency of
[20] conduct for the past two years. After the Baptisms we all returned
[21] to Kincolith and I proceeded to Kitlackdamix where I remained
[22] till the middle middle of February.
[23] At Kincolith during the first half of the year there
[24] were ^signs of^ steady progress not in the spiritual life and moral conduct of
[25] the [Chris]tians. Nor were they behind hand in improving their temporal
[26] condition. 5 new two storey houses were put up and preparations
[27] made for the erection of several others. During the latter half of
[28] the year, however, a feeling of unrest has manifested itself, partially
[29] no doubt attributable to my removal. Any change must
[30] necessarily come more or less of such a feeling but I trust that
[31] God will so overrule matters that no serious stop may be put
[32] to the progress which has marked the last few years of the
[33] Kincolith mission.
[34] Our arrangement for the present year maybe shortly summed
[35] up as follows. Mr. Schutt at Kincolith, a native teacher Kitlacdamix
[36] another native teacher at Kitwingack on the Skeena River 100 miles
[37] from the Kitlackdamix. Myself and family to move inland to
[38] a central spot probably near the Kishpiyoux from which to
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[1] itinerate. Simple as these arrangements may appear on paper
[2] they have cost much deep thought and many weary miles of travelling
[3] in the effort to make them as efficient as possible and there are two
[4] points which still cause much anxiety. The first as to the Kincolith.
[5] Mr. Schutt after nearly 2 years at Metlakatla and now 6 months
[6] at Kincolith knows hardly anything of either language. less than B[isho]p
[7] Bonipas learned in the first few weeks he was here. Again as to medicine.
[8] instead of following in the footsteps of Br[other]s Doolan and Collinson
[9] who not having had the benefit of medical education endeavoured to
[10] supply the lack by diligent study and the use every source of information
[11] he has been content to remain in his ignorance and let the cases
[12] wait my arrival. In the keeping of accounts, too, in connection
[13] with the station, whether from inability or negligence great disorder
[14] was manifest. Kincolith is the door to the inland mission, and though
[15] comparatively small is capable of exercising a great influence upon them.
[16] Any‘ stagnation in the flow of a [Chris]tian spirit of usefulness among the [Chris]tians
[17] at Kincolith must necessarily affect them as we will be dependent, for
[18] some time, on Kincolith for a supply of native teachers. besides we would
[19] lose the influence which a flourishing mission always produces among
[20] those around it. What we want for Kincolith is a man who will make
[21] the language, habits, needs, spiritual and temporal of the people his chief
[22] aim. If Mr. Schutt has not the ability or energy for such a post
[23] then let him give place to one who has. I do not wish to speak in a degrading
[24] way but after the years that I have spent Kincolith it must ever
[25] be a burden and grief to me so long as there is any thing but steady
[26] progress at the station. The other point that weighs on my mind
[27] is to be left without any assistant in the inland work. My hope is that
[28] the central spot occupied by us may become a sort of depot where most
[29] of the supplies necessary for the missionary and native teachers may be grown
[30] and to which those as need of protection, relief, special instruction, or training
[31] might be sent. To be such there must be a resident whiteman, or I must
[32] give up itinerating, a step, which would prove fatal to the success of the mission.
[33] So strongly do I feel the need for immediate itineration and that I feel bound to
[34] bring the matter again to your notice. May our gracious God continue and
[35] in the loving care and keeping and may he bless and guide you in all your deliberations.
[36] Your sincerely Robt Tomlinson
