CHAPTER XII.THE CHURCH AT JULIANASHAAB.
Theday following our return from Krakortok being Sunday, I gladly availed myself of Mr. Anthon’s invitation to attend service at his little church.
Julianashaab is not at any time a particularly lively place, but there is sufficient activity during six days of the week to make the silence of the seventh very marked. Solemnly silent it was to me, as I landed on the beach, and then, beside the stream which flows through the town, made my way towards the temple dedicated to God among the majestic hills. The people, savage and civilized alike, had rested from their labors—the fishermen from their lines and nets; the hunters from their search after game in the valleys; the sound of the cooper’s hammer, and the ring of the blacksmith’s anvil were no longer heard; even the voices of the inhabitants seemed to be hushed, as if awed by the presence of that divinely ordained day which, it is commanded, shall be remembered and kept holy.
It was delightfully calm; the sun gave a pleasant autumnal warmth to the atmosphere; and altogether it was one of those peaceful Sunday mornings which one enjoys so much at home in the country, when the mind instinctively dwells upon the wonders of nature, and the very soul goes out to the great universal Father whose dwelling-place is everywhere, and whose presence is nowhere felt more strongly than amidst the solemn grandeur of the cloud-piercing hills.
As I approached the church, the only sounds that greetedme were those made by the tumbling waters of the brook until I came very near, when the sweet music of an organ rose above the voice of the glad stream. It was a most agreeable surprise; for I had hardly expected to find here in Greenland any such artificial means of inspiring religious feeling. How far this circumstance may have had an influence with me I can not say; but certain it is, I would not exchange the memory of the notes of that little organ of the small Julianashaab church, as I first caught them there on that peaceful Sunday morning in that Greenland dell, for those of any other church-organ that I ever heard. Afterwards, when I had taken my seat among the congregation, the effect was not the less pleasing as I listened to the voices of the choir, and reflected that they were the voices of God’s children, who, through the instrumentality of Christian love, had been reclaimed from barbarism.
As sometimes happens elsewhere, a large majority of the worshippers were women. They generally appeared to be inspired with a devout feeling, which even the presence of strangers could not disturb, and they sang the hymns in a manner peculiarly agreeable.
The Esquimaux language is by no means lacking in euphonious sounds, and, as pronounced by a native, is often music itself. Mr. Anthon had caught the accent and pronunciation perfectly, and the entire service, sermon included, was in the common tongue—a language peculiar to the Esquimaux, and the same with all the tribes.
The organ of the little church is of the quaint device of a hundred years ago, having been presented to the mission by Queen Juliana, in recognition of the compliment paid her by the naming of the town. A native played it with reasonable skill, and the catechist led the singing, in which the entire congregation joined with a good voice.
I have never seen a congregation pay closer attention to their pastor than these rude people paid to Mr. Anthon. They seemed eager for instruction, and drank in his every word. The sermon was well adapted to the minds of a people exposed to the dangers of the sea, as they are continually. As I sat looking at their upturned faces, I could not but reflect upon the great change that had come over the people who subdued the Northmen. Then they were steeped in the worst form of barbarous superstition. Earth, sea, and air were peopled with horrid spirits; now the love of Christ rules in every heart, and they are all, without exception, converts to the Christian faith.
As a specimen of their language, I quote a stanza from one of the hymns sung (with a literal translation appended), which no doubt my readers will find no difficulty in singing for themselves.
Aut nellekangitsok,That blood, that inestimable,Pirsaunekangarpok,Hath a very great power;Kuttingub attausingut,A single drop,Innuit nunametut,The men that are upon earth,Annau-sinna-kullugitThat it has power to redeem themKringarsairsub karnanit.From the cruel hater’s jaws.
Aut nellekangitsok,That blood, that inestimable,
Aut nellekangitsok,
Aut nellekangitsok,
That blood, that inestimable,
That blood, that inestimable,
Pirsaunekangarpok,Hath a very great power;
Pirsaunekangarpok,
Pirsaunekangarpok,
Hath a very great power;
Hath a very great power;
Kuttingub attausingut,A single drop,
Kuttingub attausingut,
Kuttingub attausingut,
A single drop,
A single drop,
Innuit nunametut,The men that are upon earth,
Innuit nunametut,
Innuit nunametut,
The men that are upon earth,
The men that are upon earth,
Annau-sinna-kullugitThat it has power to redeem them
Annau-sinna-kullugit
Annau-sinna-kullugit
That it has power to redeem them
That it has power to redeem them
Kringarsairsub karnanit.From the cruel hater’s jaws.
Kringarsairsub karnanit.
Kringarsairsub karnanit.
From the cruel hater’s jaws.
From the cruel hater’s jaws.
Another, which was an exhortation to all men to come to Jesus, began thus:
“KrikiektorsimarsokJesuse innulerkipok.”
“KrikiektorsimarsokJesuse innulerkipok.”
“KrikiektorsimarsokJesuse innulerkipok.”
“Krikiektorsimarsok
Jesuse innulerkipok.”
The services ended, I went with Mr. Anthon to the parsonage, and passed the greater part of the day with his agreeable family. The pastor himself has devoted much attention to gathering the traditions and legends of the people, and in his recital of them I found much entertainment.