(4)

wlshed to be master. Not being allowed
to build a house on the public park at
Metlakahtla, he took a jump of
17 miles to Fort Simpson where he built
a house at a cost of between $2,000
and $3,000, in which he does not live,
and whether paid for by him or the so-
ciety, it may be looked upon as an entire
waste of money, having no adherents,
school or church there, the whole thing
showing a lack of judgment and a desire
to act without the advice of practical and
‘experienced men who have a knowledge
of the country and the Indians. The
bishop also finds fault with Mr. Duncan’s
translation of the prayers, and revives
the question of admitting some of the In-
dians to the Lord’s Table. The elders
and Mr. Duncan holding the same opin-
ions and giving the same reasons they
gave Bishop Bompas for not participating.

Mr. Duncan could see that the full
ritual and ecclesiastical accompaniments
of the Church of England were not suited
to a primitive people—(and here I will
mention how noticeable is the hold Chris-
tianity takes of a primitive people, and
the confidence and faith they have in
God’s word; and the love with which they
treasure their bibles is beautiful to be-
hold)—and that what they required was
the most simple form of gospel preaching.
Those ideas he communicated to the So-
ciety, with the request that Metlakahtla
should be allowed to manage its own
affairs. In reply they requested Mr.
Duncan to come to London to talk mat-
ters over. That he could not do owing
to pressure of business. A conference of
the missionaries, clerical and lay, in the
northern part of the country was held
last year, to which Mr. Duncan sub-
mitted the question, ‘‘ Whether they
would recommend the Society to allow
Metlakahtla to become a free mission?”
This they declined to do; but resolved to
recommend that it should be kept as it
always had been, a lay mission. The
bishop was strongly opposed to such a
recommendation, and wished it rescinded;
but the conference adhered to its opinion
and forwarded the resolution to the So-
ciety; and probably the bishop sent a re-
port and a different recommendation, and
it is now self-evident that about
this time the Society entertained the

idea of dispensing with Mr. Duncan’s
services on the ground that he would not
allow some of his people to partake of the
Lord’s supper, and that he did not ap-
prove of infant baptism, and that he had
declined at their request to visit Eng-
land—nene of those charges being in ac-
cordance with facts. Last November the
bishop came into Mr. Duncan’s room, and
after some conversation handed him a
letter of dismissal from the society, and
giving expression to words to the effect
that he was master now, and would take
charge of the society’s property.

Mr. Duncan at once prepared to leave
the mission house, and when what had
just transpired became known in the vil
lage a house was placed at his disposal by
one of the Indians, and hundreds of lov-
ing hands carried his furniture and books
to his new quarters. There was great ex-
citement; but, to the credit of the In-
dians be it said, there was no breach of
the peace. A meeting was held that
night, at which resolutions were passed
requesting Mr. Duncan to continue with
them, to be their minister and teacher.
He said he would not give them an an-
swer then, as they were excited and many
of the people were away. Shortly after
this another meeting was held, and the
same resolution come to; but Mr. Duncan
would not even then give them an an-
swer, wishing first of all to be certain
that all the people were with him.

Just about last Christmas a large meet-
ing was held in the church, the first time
it had been opened since Mr. Duncan’s
dismissal last November. A deputation
waited on Mr. Duncan, requesting him
to come to the church. He did so, and
found 600 or 700 persons there, and a
seat placed for him at the head of the
centre aisle. One of the elders then ap-
proached, carrying a bible in his hands,
and, facing the congregation, said: ‘You
are now asked to confirm with your own
voices your action at the different meet-
ings, and to say whether you wish Mr.
Duncan to continue as your teacher and
minister.” With one voice they said:
“We desire him to be our teacher and
minister.” The elder then turned to Mr.
Duncan, placing the bible in his hands
and saying: ‘‘Continue to be our minis-
ter, and go on teaching the Word of iG6d