J 94 



RED RIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



CHAP. IX. 



THE MISSIONS AT RED RIVER. 



Religious Denominations. — Missionaries, Stations, and Congregations. — The 

 Protestant Congregations. — St. John's Church. — St. Andrew's Church 

 and Parsonage. — The Parish of St. Andrew. — Its History.— St. Paul's 

 Church. — St. James's Church. — Church at the Indian Settlement. — ■ 

 Service. — A Novel Night Bell. — A Contrast. — Peguis. — Prairie Portage. — 

 A Congregation. — Wild Indians. — The Presbyterian Church. — The Presby- 

 terian Congregation. — The Roman Catholic Churches. — The Cathedral of 

 St. Boniface. — St. Norbert. — St. Francois Xavier. — The Congregations at 

 Red River. — Their Demeanour and Appearance. — Protestant and Roman 

 Catholic Parishes. — Extent of the Charities of the Home Missionary So- 

 cieties. —Apathy of the wealthy at Red River. — Difficulties of Missionary 

 Enterprise at present. — Privations and Difficulties at remote Stations. 



There are three religious denominations in Assirmiboia 

 —Church of England, Presbyterian, and Eoman Catholic. 

 In the census of 1843 and 1849, two divisions only were 

 recognised — Protestant and Eoman Catholic — and the 

 numbers of members were stated to be 2798 Eoman 

 Catholics and 2345 Protestants. In 1849 the Episco- 

 palian families were stated to number 539, and the 

 Eoman Catholic families 513. In 1856, a division in the 

 enumeration of the Protestant element was made, pro- 

 bably on account of the advent of a Presbyterian minister, 

 who responded to the call of a numerous body belonging 

 to that denomination, yet in the absence of a minister, 

 formerly enumerated with the Episcopalians. In 1856, 

 the census, according to religions, stood thus : 



