216 THE LIFE OF E. J. PECK 



their hymns, repeating verses of Scripture, or en- 

 deavouring to master the syllabic character. 



At an early date after their arrival the mis- 

 sionaries took a census of the population of Black- 

 lead Island. They found there were forty tents, 

 and the people inhabiting them numbered 171. 

 Perhaps the reader will exclaim, What a handful 

 of persons to call forth two men from home 

 comforts to the dreary surroundings of an Arctic 

 whaling station. Surely there is waste of energy 

 and time and money here ! 



Well, the fewer and more degraded the people, 

 the more is our admiration compelled for those 

 who will go forth to care for them. For they are 

 far removed from any hope of honour or distinction 

 in this world. Anyhow, we should bear in mind that 

 Jesus Christ before He came to earth was not moved 

 by specious arguments about waste. He left count- 

 less realms of glory to come to our poor, dark, 

 fallen corner of God's great universe. Mr. Peck, 

 too, did not view his position as wanting in im- 

 portance. His exclamation about the 171 persons 

 is, " Quite a number of precious souls for which to 

 give an account to the Master ! May He fill me 

 with a burning zeal for their salvation ! " 



One thing the new mission stood in need of, and 

 that was a place of meeting where the people could 

 assemble for worship and instruction and the 

 children could come together for school. This 



