Among First Nations
There are many reasons to be ashamed of the history we share with First Nations in Canada. But there are also some parts of our shared history, particularly our history as Fellowship Baptists, that we can celebrate.
A government report published in 1930 details the history of the Mohawk Institute in Brantford, ON. Among the many accomplishments listed of its graduates includes one of the unsung heroes of our Fellowship Baptist family:
“Three graduates of the Mohawk Institute, in addition to Isaac Barefoot, have entered the Christian ministry. The Rev. Thomas Whitebeans, a graduate of 1888, is the United Church minister on the Sarnia reserve. S. Brigham pursued his studies at Huron College, London, and became a Church of England clergyman on the Walpole Island Indian reserve. Melchie Henry, who graduated as recently as 1917, is the incumbent of a Baptist Church on the Six Nation Reserve. Several graduates of the 80's made their living as artisans in white communities. In this connection, the names of Isaac Williams, John Russell, Harry Jones, and Louis Jacques might be mentioned. A great number of the graduates of the Mohawk Institute became successful farmers. Special mention might be made of Nelson Moses, a graduate of 1878, and Archie Lickers, Frank Miller, William Powless, Jesse Moses, and William Smith, who are prominent in reserve matters at the present time. Foster Lickers, a graduate of 1899, and an honoured veteran of the Great War, is now fruit farming near Grimsby. The business world claimed Joseph Deslile, Thomas Green, Jacob Miller, and John Elliott, graduates of the 70's. The last named had a fine reputation as an orator. One of the earliest graduates of the school was Chief George Johnson, who was interpreter to the missionaries and was assistant to the Superintendent of the Six Nations. He left the Mohawk Institute about 1835 and was one of the finest Indians on the reserve. He built a splendid home and named it "Chiefswood." It was here that his daughter, Pauline Johnson, the famous Indian poetess, was born.” [1]
The story of the Medina Baptist Church, appropriately located on Chiefswood Road, predates the Fellowship. The church was organized in 1850, making it older than the Dominion of Canada.
Melchie Henry was not only a graduate of the Institute but also of Ontario Bible College, now part of Tyndale University in Toronto, ON. A note in a 1977 edition of the school’s publication celebrated not only his graduation but his many years of faithful service working among the residents of the Six Nations Reserve.
“Alumnus Rev. Melchie Henry '27, has set some kind of a record by completing 50 years at Medina Baptist Church on the Six Nations Indian Reservation near Brantford. The O.B.C. Alumni join all his friends in congratulating Melchie, and in prayer for a continued long and fruitful ministry.”[2]
Melchie Henry’s earthly remains rest in the Medina Baptist Church Cemetery, beside the church where he faithfully pastored. His heavenly legacy is yet to be fully determined.
[1] https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?id=1930-IAAR-RAAI&op=pdf&app=indianaffairs
[2] https://archive.org/stream/evangelicalrecor832toro/evangelicalrecor832toro_djvu.txt