Page:Journal of John H. Frost, 1840-42 part 1.pdf/18

 of the mission in the interiour; who was waiting for the Co. to furnish him with a boat, with which to return to Wal a Wal a. So we could sympathise with each other, in our dependent situation, and unite in prayr to the God of missions for preservation & prosperity in our soul trying work. While conversing with Mr. Rogers, he made this observation, "This endeavouring to do so much, with so little means, is bringing the missionary cause into disrepute." Our being so dependent upon the Hudson Bay Co. for means to carry our designs into effect was the cause of the above remark, and I have since that time, been induced to come to the same conclusion. Here we are, professing to be sustained by our patrons at home, for the purpose of converting the heathen. The H. B. Co is engaged in the trafick of the country. They have means for the purpose of carrying forward and executing their plans; but they are called upon, from time to time, by missionaries for their boats &c &c. Well, they are professedly gentlemen, and will not refuse, if it is possible for them to render the assistance required, but by accommodating the missionary they are straightened in carrying forward their own plans, and say to themselves, and to one another, these men are professing to do much for the Heathen, but surely they are very lame in all their operations; they can effect nothing with out our assistance; and as they, the Co. design, as far as possible to monopolize all the trade of the country, they will make the necessity of the missionaries turn to their advantage. Whereas if the missions were in possession of means of their own, in the use of which they could, without embarresment accomplish their purposes, much less money would be expended in performing a given amount of work, for two reasons: first, that time would be saved which must be employed in going to the Co for this & that; and when the object was accomplished, there would be no draw back. And at the same time the missionary would not have the mortification to hear it said that we will assist you; but we are very much driven with our own work, or that the Co. has assisted you when they were very much driven with their own business, and now you should do so & so. Perhaps the objector may say, the missions are in their infancy, and therefore it can not be expected that they can do that at the