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 
medieval, 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. 
