By Canoe and Dog Train Among the Cree and Salteaux Indians

“Except for the priests who accompanied Cortez, Pizarro, and other military adventurers in the early sixteenth century, priests were only laboring in Florida and the Rio Grande country for the conversion of the natives. They counted their converts by thousands long before any considerable settlement of English speaking people had been formed on the continent.””

— Egerton Ryerson Young

“More laws have been enacted to legislate him out of existence than to lift him up into the condition of a loyal citizen and the enjoyment of a consistent Christianity. In these so-called Christian lands, many forget the doctrine of the universal brotherhood of humanity and the universality of the atonement.””

— Egerton Ryerson Young

“race. In too many instances, the gospel of bullets has been preached more loudly than the gospel of love to the Indian.””

— Egerton Ryerson Young

“Happy woman! Better live in a log hut without a chair or table or bedstead, without flour or tea or potatoes, entirely dependent upon the nets in the lake for food, if the Lord Jesus is a constant Guest, than in a mansion of a millionaire, surrounded by every luxury, but destitute of His presence.””

— Egerton Ryerson Young

“But stern measures had to be adopted in this year of the small-pox plague. A proclamation was issued by the Governor of the Province of Manitoba, absolutely prohibiting any trade or communication in any way with the infected district. Not a single cart or traveller was permitted to go on the trail. This meant a good deal of suffering and many privations for the isolated Missionaries and traders and other whites who, for purposes of settlement or adventure, had gone into that remote interior country.””

— Egerton Ryerson Young

“When some of the Indians were getting excited about their lands, and the treaties which were soon to be made with the Government, William, in writing to a friend, said: “I care for none of these things; they will all come right. My only desire is to love Jesus more and more, so as to see Him by-and-by.””

— Egerton Ryerson Young

“I know it must be hard work for you white people to sleep with your heads completely covered up, but you will have to do it here, or you will freeze to death. You must be very careful, for this seems to be a very cold night indeed.””

— Egerton Ryerson Young

“At first, long years ago, the Hudson’s Bay Company’s officials bitterly opposed the observance of the Sabbath by their boatmen and tripmen; but the missionaries were true and firm, and although persecution for a time abounded, eventually right and truth prevailed, and our Christian Indians were left to keep the day without molestation. And, as has always been found to be the case in such instances, there was no loss, but rather gain. Our Christian Indians, who rested the Sabbath day, were never behindhand. On the long trips into the interior or down to York Factory or Hudson Bay, these Indian canoe brigades used to make better time, have better health, and bring up their boats and cargoes in better shape, than the Catholic Half-breeds or pagan Indians, who pushed on without any day of rest. Years of studying this question, judging from the standpoint of the work accomplished and its effects on men’s physical constitution, apart altogether from its moral and religious aspect, most conclusively taught me that the institution of the one day in seven as a day of rest is for man’s highest good.””

— Egerton Ryerson Young

“Our Sabbaths were days of quiet rest and delightful communion with God. Together we worshipped Him Who dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Many were the precious communions we had with Him Who had been our Comforter and our Refuge under other circumstances, and Who, having now called us to this new work and novel life, was sweetly fulfilling in us the blessed promise: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.””

— Egerton Ryerson Young