THE MISSIONS 239 



No continuous presentment of Christ's evangel by hu- 

 man agency can ever hope to be free from deserving criti- 

 cism. In an environment where sectarianism is still 

 mediaeval, opposition to Christian work of an unsectarian 

 nature is inevitable. The staff of this Mission have felt 

 it part of their privilege and duty to endeavour to induce 

 new social conditions, though that involved conflict with 

 previously existing powers. They have also endeavoured 

 to inaugurate enterprises which appeared to them truer 

 forms of charitable work than the easy but ever recurring 

 distribution of clothes and nourishing food to people who 

 only needed saving from a system that was alone responsible 

 for their nakedness and hunger. When the Gospel comes 

 in conflict with what some consider the "real business of 

 life," that is, money-making, it should be prepared for 

 hostility. The following brief table illustrates the inter- 

 pretation which the Mission, with its limited capacities, 

 has considered most likely to commend the Gospel in the 

 circumstances prevailing in Labrador : 



1892. The hospital vessel Albert sailed from England 

 with one doctor in charge. He spent three months on the 

 coast holding services, and treating nine hundred sick folk. 

 A large amount of clothing and reading matter was dis- 

 tributed. 



1893. Battle Harbour hospital was presented by friends 

 in St. John's, Newfoundland, and opened during the sum- 

 mer under a qualified nurse and doctor. The launch 

 Princess May was added to enable the ship to do more work. 

 Work was instituted and help given to the poorest ac- 

 cording to their needs ; they providing wood fuel for the 

 steamer in return. 



