Rice Lake Indians - 1828


COPYRIGHT (c) 2004 Michael Stephenson

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted by any means including photocopying or electronic transfers, without written permission.


RICE LAKE

During the past year, another body of Pagan Indians have received the gospel. They reside on the borders of Rice Lake, Mud Lake, and Schoogog Lake. Tho’ this body were less addicted to intemperance than some others, yet they were sufficiently fond of spirits to expend annually the avails of their huntings, and often to involve themselves deeply in debt. They now appear entirely reformed; no instances of intemperance are known, but with three individuals in a body of 800 adults; and wherever the Indian Wigwam is found in a circle of 100 miles, there the devotions of prayer and praise are heard three times in the day.

The commencement of this great work was at Hamilton, New Castle District, during the sitting of the Conference in September last. About 20 attended on the means of instruction with great attention for several days, and shewed an increasing concern for the comforts of religion, and in the afternoon of the anniversary of the society, while their religious friends were engaged in prayer on their behalf, the whole number of twenty professed to experience a change.

On the return of these young converts to their friends, two native Christians (Beaver and Moses) were employed to accompany them, for the purpose of strengthening their faith, and explaining to their pagan brethren the religion of Christ. They met a large body of them on an Island in Rice Lake, and here, for several days, they exhorted the multitude to repentance and faith in the Saviour. The effects were, that those who practiced enchantments threw away their “Medicine bag”—the use of spirits was discontinued—they became more cleanly in their apparel, and decent in their mode of living, and the wranglings of drunkenness were exchanged for the “good will” of the gospel and the devotions of religion. The mode of instruction now pursued was, to employ some of the more experienced of the native Christians, who with the assistance of our ministers taught them to memorize in their own language, certain portions of the Scriptures, such as the ten commandments and the Lord’s prayer—As often as the converts have been instructed in these portions, as well as in the nature of the ordinances, they have been admitted to Baptism and afterwards to the Lord’s supper. Their love for the word is ardent, and they improve every opportunity of hearing it; and for this purpose they generally attend our quarterly visitations. Sometimes the itinerant preachers visit their encampments, where they are sure to find a place set apart for religious worship, built of branches and barks of trees; here the missionary explains to them the truths of religion by comparisons, and in language adapted to their capacity. Three of these Indian Chapels are now standing on three Islands in different parts of Rice Lake, where these “Christians of the woods” hold their devotions when encamped in those places. This body has often expressed their wishes for a school, and they are also earnestly desirous for a home where they may cultivate the soil and enjoy more regularly the means of Grace.


Search the Ontario (Upper Canada) Genealogy Website - Make sure to use all known variations of a family name in your search!

index sitemap advanced
site search by freefind


Historical Tales From the Archives - A Selection of Stories, Recollections, Reminiscences and Travel Experiences in Times Gone By  New Site 2021

20th Century Ontario Genealogy Newspaper Notices Index New March 2020

Upper Canada Ontario Surrogate Court Estate Files and Will Database New March 2019

Ontario Canada Historical Map Site New December 2018

Ontario Place Locator - 19th Century Ontario Town and Village Locations and Inhabitants

Upper Canada (Ontario) Pioneer Settler Land Locations, Census Records and Property Descriptions 

Historical Visits to Ontario Villages and Towns  Take a trip back in time to the late 19th century and explore the towns and villages where your ancestors lived, loved, laboured, laughed and played.

Ontario Images of the Past Thousands of Images of City, Town, Village and Country Life

Ontario Land Registry Records Research Thousands of your ancestors and where they lived in Ontario 

Upper Canada (Ontario) Newspaper Notices Database 

Ontario Genealogy Newspaper Notices Database

Ontario (Upper Canada) History and Pioneer Family Research 

Queen's Own Rifles - Old Photos of Members

Upper Canada District Maps (Circa 1800)

Upper Canada (Ontario) History Books On-Line Index

Ontario County Directories Victoria, Haliburton, Hastings, Peterborough, Durham, Northumberland, Muskoka, and Old Ontario County

Central Upper Canada (Ontario) Marriage Database 22650 Marriage Records Indexed 

Central Upper Canada Baptism Database 25000 Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland Marriages indexed 

Upper Canada (Central Ontario) Burial Database 4500 Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist and Church of Scotland Burials indexed 

Eastern Upper Canada Marriage Database Anglican, Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland Marriages indexed 

Eastern Upper Canada Baptism Database Anglican, Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland Baptisms indexed 

Eastern Upper Canada Burial Database 

Upper Canada (Western Ontario) Marriage Database

Upper Canada (Western Ontario) Baptism Database  

Upper Canada (Western Ontario) Burial Database 

Upper Canada Land Petitions 51000 Records Indexed

Upper Canada Land Leases and Miscellaneous Petitions 10000 Records Indexed

Upper Canada (Ontario) Sundries Database

Upper Canada (Ontario) Toronto Insane Asylum Database

Upper Canada (Ontario) Kingston Insane Asylum Database

Upper Canada (Ontario) London Insane Asylum Database

Upper Canada (Ontario) Malden Insane Asylum Database

Upper Canada (Ontario) Hamilton Insane Asylum Database

Ontario Genealogy Historical Newspaper Collection Historical Newspaper Files from various regions of Ontario

Newspaper Genealogical and Historical Records - Thousands of entries

Ontario (Upper Canada) Map Collection  Great site for locating your ancestors in Ontario

Ontario Genealogy Postcard Site - Great old-time landscape views

Upper Canada and Ontario CRIMINAL Database 

Ontario Genealogy Database Index Site 500000 Genealogy Records Indexed

Need HELP With Your Family Research?

Northumberland County Genealogy and History

Victoria County Genealogy and History

Durham County Genealogy and History

Haliburton County Genealogy and History

Peterborough County History and Genealogy

Newcastle District (Upper Canada) History and Genealogy

Ontario County History and Genealogy

Upper Canada History and Genealogy

Echoes of the Past - Ontario Genealogy Home


Search the Ontario (Upper Canada) Genealogy Website - Make sure to use all known variations of a family name in your search!

index sitemap advanced
site search by freefind


Contact Ontario Genealogy