Cree Bible History (3)

**List: Cree Ministry the Bible ( the Bible ) Cree... CREE. "THE most northerly of the Algonquin-Lenape nations are the Knisteneaux, or Kristeneaux, by abbreviation called the Crees.   Their national designation is N{e(}heth{v'}wuck, that is, "exact beings, or people."   They occupy a greater extent of territory than any other nation of their race, being spread through all, or nearly all, the region watered by the numerous rivers which discharge themselves into Hudson Bay.   In Canada, and in the country on the river St. Lawrence, they are more numerous than any other race of Indians; yet in many districts they are so intermingled with other tribes, that it is didicult to form a correct estimate of their numbers.   According to Gallatin, the northern branch of the Algonquin-Lenape family, which includes, besides the Crees, the Algonquins, the Chippewas, the Ottawas, the Pottawattomies, and the Mississagues, number as many as 35,000 or 40,000 souls.    The Cree language, which partakes of all the peculiarities, as above described, of the American class, has been reduced to writing, and an excellent grammar has been compiled by Mr. Howse.   A translation of the Liturgy of the Church of England into the Cree language, in Roman characters, has been made by Archdeacon Hunter, of the Church My. Society's North-west American mission, and an edition of 1000 copies was printed, in 1854, at the expense of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.   Two years later, this work was reprinted (at the expense of the same Society) in stereo- graphic or syllabic characters, which have been found a much easier vehicle for conveying instruc- tion to the Indians than the ordinary Roman letters.   The words used in the North American Indian dialects assume an unusually long appearance when exhibited in the ordinary Roman letters.    It was not until 1852 that any portion of the Scriptures was printed in the Cree language; the Gospel of St. Matthew was in that year printed, in Roman characters, at the cost of the Church My. Society.   In 1854, the British and Foreign Bible Society undertook an edition of the Gospel of St. John in the syllabic character (a specimen of which is given above), prepared by the Rev. J. Mason, one of the mies. connected with the Church My. Society.   Mr. Mason has prepared a Cree version of the Psalms, both in the syllabic and the Roman character.   Subsequently, an edition of 1000 copies of the Gospels of St. Mark and St. John, translated by Archdeacon Hunter, was printed at London, under the auspices of the Bible Society, and the Committee afterwards undertook an edition of 5000 copies of the entire New Testament in the Cree version, using the syllabic characters. This work was completed in London, in 1859, under Mr. Mason's superintendence.   A corresponding edition of the Old Testament is now in progress."--The Bible of Every Land. (1860, Second Edition)   Samuel Bagster   [Info only] CREE.--1860   S. Bagster   [Info only: Roman Character   n.d. Matthew 3:13-17 unknown; @ Matthew 3:13,14,16 WRONG mode of baptism has been inserted into the text.   It should read immersed, NOT poured.] CREE.--1860   S. Bagster   [Info only: Roman Character   n.d. John 1:1-10 unknown.] [For the following Specimen of the same Passage in the Syllabic Character, we are indebted to Mr. W. M. Watts, Temple Bar.] CREE.--1860   S. Bagster   [Info only: Syllabic Character   n.d. John 1:1-10 unknown; See above.]

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