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Articles by John Redford Scott

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By Rev. John R.  Scott, B.A. of Dawson Creek, B.C.
The United Church Record and Missionary Review
1937

It is a winter's day in Dawson Creek.  Around the livery barns and along the streets are tens of sleds, most of them fitted with grain boxes.  Some of them have brought grain to the elevators from three or four to fifty or sixty miles.  Others have brought in stock from the same distances.

During the entire winter, freighters are always on the trail.  On days when the sun shines gloriously, or when it is hidden by a heavy mist; on days when it is calm and the sound of creaking sleds penetrates the frosty air, or when a light breeze plays with wisps of snow; on days when the temperature is far below zero and chimney smoke ascends in a straight line, or when a soft Chinook wind warms the air and melts the snow, freighters are making their trips. Numbers of them have small enclosures built on the front part of the sled, thus giving them protection against extremely low temperatures, and nipping winds.  On stock shipping days especially, one may see them moving along the road with a curl of smoke coming from the cabin chimney.  This arrangement is used by those who travel long distances, often requiring two days to reach town.  Those who have no enclosures walk beside the sled when they are cold.

While the great bulk of the grain is brought to town by trucks, many people to whom a few cents mean necessary food and clothing do their own hauling.  It is a happy day for the homesteader, when from his once "raw quarter" he can take grain and stock to town.  From the country west of Dawson Creek, and then from north of the Peace,  in the Fort St. John and Montney  area loads of stock and grain are brought to town all winter.  Many of these people were prosperous prairie farmers who have begun homesteading again with what stock and implements they could salvage from the wreck of dried-out areas.  To secure and maintain equipment, as well as clear land, requires years of hard work as well as undaunted courage.

These people are extending the agricultural frontiers of Canada.  It is they on whom future generations will lavish praise for the farms they wrested from the virgin country.  A leader has stated that the farmer farms the land and everybody farms the farmer.  Depending on his work the elevators market grain, the packers handle stock, merchants sell groceries, railways carry freight. and banks finance trade.  Whether or not the Church is on hand, homes, communities and businesses are being built.  The foundations on which they rest and the principles by which they develop determine the future of new Canada.  If in the early stages of settlement the Church is pouring the Gospel of Christ into the stream of pioneer life, the new homes, communities and businesses will receive at a critical time the influence of the Church, above all others having power to ennoble and uplift.

Dr. Clarence Mackinnon in his biography of the late Principal Oliver states, "In remote and lonely districts the pastor's work is largely done through conversation, and a well-informed mind can give direction and courage, where they are often greatly needed." While we try to arrange for meetings at times and places convenient for our people, many, are untouched by them.  Some are located too far from the places of meeting.  Then, as everywhere, so here, large numbers for various reasons get out of the habit of attending church and drift away from its influence.  Among all, we have pastoral visits to make.  Often the conversation will turn to the Church, the Bible, Religious Denominations, or Christianity when the opportunities of our work are no less great than in the pulpit.   Recently a man was telling me about the work of our students in his area and remarked,"It has always been a pleasure to talk with them." Long ago the Apostle Peter thought "that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives." So may the words of the pastor in the normal course of conversation,  and when the opportunity arises,  uphold the truths of eternal life.