132 Our North Land. 



At one side, near the railing, was an old melodeon that has been 

 in use at Churchill for about a quarter of a century. I could not 

 learn where it came from. It is sadly out of tune, very rickety, and 

 can't last much longer without repairs. 



When we had all been seated, the parson wearing his surplice 

 behind the desk, Mrs. Spencer at the melodeon, and the congre- 

 gation on the high-backed benches, numbering altogether nearly 

 forty, the service commenced in the usual Episcopalian style ; but 

 when we came to the following very appropriate references in the 

 canticle, I was so forcibly reminded of our experiences in Hudson 

 Strait as to forget my devotions : — 



" ye dews and frosts, bless ye the Lord, praise him and magnify 

 him forever." 



" ye frost and cold, bless ye the Lord, praise him, and magnify 

 him forever." 



" ye ice and snow, bless ye the Lord, praise him, and magnify 

 him. forever." 



I had always regarded the Church of England ritual as a master- 

 piece of English, but never before supposed it to contain so many 

 special references to the peculiar characteristics of Hudson's Bay and 

 Strait. 



The reverend gentleman read his text in a clear voice : Isaiah lv. : 

 6 and 7 : " Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon 

 him while he is near ; " 



" Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his 

 thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy 

 upon him, and to our God for he will abundantly pardon." 



In the first place we were impressed with the idea that the price 

 of salvation was the asking or seeking it ; but to be found it must be 

 sought while it may be found, as there was a time coming to each 

 person, who failed to seek, when it cannot be found. The method 

 of seeking was very simple. The command was : call upon God. 

 " There was life for a call on the merciful One." A good many 

 people stumbled over this simplicity. The call was to be made 

 " while he is near," as there are times in the life of every one when, 

 through special providences and otherwise, God is nearer than at 



