THOMAS CROSBY.
From a photo taken in 1874
Among the
An-ko-me-nums
Or Flathead Tribes of Indians
of the Pacific Coast,
BY
REV. THOMAS CROSBY
Missionary to the Indians of British
Columbia.
TORONTO
WILLIAM BRIGGS
1907
Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year
one thousand nine hundred and seven, by
William Briggs,
at the Department of Agriculture.
INTRODUCTION.
I have been requested to write a few words ofintroduction to this deeply interesting volume, andI gladly comply, although the task may seem to bequite superfluous. Thomas Crosby, or anything hemay write, needs no introduction, at least in Methodistcircles. For a generation his name has beena household word, and from time to time briefaccounts of his heroic labors have found their waythrough the press into many homes. But theseaccounts were fragmentary and incomplete. Theypresented some striking incidents, but no connectedstory of the man and his work. Such a storyCrosby alone could supply, and many will be gladthat he has been induced to begin it; and the hopewill be general that other volumes may follow,covering what is by far the most interesting periodof his life.
It is but seldom that men who lay the foundationsof empire get credit for the achievement. Theirwork, for the most part, is done underground andout of sight. They are content to take up the workthat lies nearest, leaving results with God, and aremore concerned about doing their work faithfullythan claiming credit for themselves. And yet allthe while they are laying the only foundations on[iv]which an enduring civilization can rest, and arebetter entitled to the name and fame of empire-buildersthan some who have claimed the creditwithout doing the work. If it be true that he is abenefactor of his race who makes two blades ofgrass grow where one grew before, much more ishe a benefactor whose spiritual husbandry transformsa savage into a citizen—a pagan into a saint.
A conflict like that in which Thomas Crosbyspent his life was no mere holiday parade. It wasa grapple to the death with the powers of evil, inwhich no qu