THE CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 



209 



St. Peter there are 116 Protestants and but two Eoman 

 Catholic families, and in the parishes of Upper and Lower 

 St. Andrew's there are 206 Protestant to eight Eoman 

 Catholic families. 



A very short stay in Eed Eiver is sufficient to create 

 both admiration and surprise at what may not be inaptly 

 termed, the condition of religion in Assinniboia. Admiration 

 is aroused by the extent and design of the charities of the 

 different societies in England, who sustain such a large 

 ecclesiastical corps in connection with the Church of Eng- 

 land as resident missionaries in the settlement, and who 

 have contributed very munificently to the erection of the 

 excellent churches which are now constructed. In ad- 

 dition to these demands upon their liberality, the home 

 societies give large sums towards the maintenance of 

 missions in different parts of Eupert's Land, so that at 

 the present time there are scattered over this immense 

 country nineteen clergymen of the Church of England, 

 costing between 6000/. and 7000/. sterling, annually. The 

 Church Missionary Society have expended, up to the date 

 of their last report, very nearly the sum of 60,000/. ster- 

 ling upon missionary operations in Eupert's Land. While, 

 however, so much is done by those in England for cha- 

 rity's sake, it is much to be wondered that so little is 

 contributed by the wealthy residents of Eed Eiver, such 

 as the retired factors of the Hudson's Bay Company, the 

 merchants, traders, and better class of farmers, towards 

 the maintenance of the clergy, the support and extension 

 of schools, and to the christianising of the heathen Indians, 

 whose medicine-drum, accompanying the monotonous 

 song of the conjuror, can almost always be heard in sum- 

 mer during the hours of service. 



The outward appearance of many among the congrega- 

 tions of the episcopal churches as they come and go in 



vol. i. p 



