230 THE LIFE OF E. j. PECK 



The visit to this station was distinctly encou- 

 raging and interesting. The people came together 

 in large numbers to hear the Word of God and for 

 instruction. And there was unlimited room in the 

 church for all to gather together who would. It 

 certainly was Catholic in the sense that none need 

 be shut out. We have looked into the iron church 

 at Whale River, and we have seen the skin and 

 whalebone church of Blacklead Island, and we have 

 read the fate that overtook it. But at Kikkerton 

 we see one which was more commodious than either 

 of these, cheaper to erect, and proof against attacks 

 of dogs, or fire or earthquake. We will hear Mr. 

 Peck describe his own edifice : " Having no house 

 in which the people could assemble, I requested 

 some Eskimos to build a large circular wall of snow, 

 about 6 feet high, to keep out the piercing wind. 

 The seats if such I may call them were made of 

 square blocks of snow, which were placed close to 

 the snow wall. This was our Arctic church. Our 

 service consisted of hymns and prayer, and I then 

 told them some simple Scriptural truths. What a 

 strange sight these walls of snow, with nothing 

 between us in an upward direction but the blue 

 heavens ! Truly the angels of God might look 

 down upon such a gathering with wonder and joy." 



Here then the people met on Sunday. " Many 

 came, and we had a grand time. Services gene- 

 rally lasted about an hour. Some friends might 



