CHARGE OF THE BISHOP OF RUPERT'S LAND. 203 



fied with smaller attainments ; they rest contented with a 

 lower level, and do not press forward to the measure of 

 the stature of a perfect man. Their condition is a matter 

 of rejoicing to the minister of God at first, as they are 

 eager to hear. It is in their after-course that he suffers 

 disappointment. The building stops before he is pre- 

 pared ; the growth terminates suddenly, after advancing 

 for a time with rapidity, and there is not the higher 

 experience of the divine life. 



" There is, morever, an additional check in the Indian 

 work. It is a transition period ; change is anticipated. 

 An excitement has seized the Indian mind, and he is little 

 inclined to give a calm and patient attention to the claims 

 of the Gospel. A wider competition is afloat, and baits 

 are held out by the unscrupulous which the poor Indian 

 is too weak to resist. A greater difficulty has thus been 

 found in selecting and planting new stations, while at the 

 old-established missions the steadfastness of the convert 

 has been very sorely tried, if not, in some cases, too suc- 

 cessfully shaken. Direct conversions have in consequence 

 been less numerous during the last two years, and I much 

 fear that the next two or three may continue to tell the 

 same tale. At all events, the Indian is less hopeful, and 

 more difficult to act upon, than he was found to be five 

 years ago. 



" With these and other causes impeding the progress 

 of our work, and materially affecting its character, the 

 testimony of all of us would, if I mistake not, be some- 

 what similar to-clay ; our common acknowledgment would 

 be, that the interval since we last met has not been marked 

 with such distinct success as previous periods ; that 

 some of our more sanguine expectations have only been 

 faintly realized. Now, if such be your feelings, brethren, 

 is there no deeper agency to which we may trace this ? 



