The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-10-19
RELIGIOUS CONVENTION.
Sessions of the Colorado and Wyo-
ming Presbytery.

ming Presbytery.
From the Colorado Springs Gazette
we obtain the following respecting the
meeting Of the Colorado and Wyoming
presbytery: The opening session was
held on Friday evening, Oct. 10th.
Rev. w. Claggett, young evange-
list from the east, preached the opening
sermon. Then DR.. Bliss formally con-
vened the presbytery. After DR.. Kerr
called the roll the election of amodera-
tor was declared in order, and Rev. j..
Y. Cowhick, of Cheyenne, was unani-
mously elected. A. T. Blachly was
elected temporary clerk. After the
transaction of minor business the ses-
sion adjourned.
Saturday mornings proceedings be-
gan with Moderator Cowhick in the
chair. An interesting feature of the
meeting of the presbytery was the pres
ence of three Mexican church elders,
representatives of Mexican churches in
Costilla county. These churches were
organized through the indefatigable ex-
ertions Of the Rev. A. NJ. Darby, and
to such an extent have his labors among
the Mexicans been successful and ac-
csptable that petition to the presby-
terry to commission him as missionary
among the Mexicans exclusively was
sent In at this meeting, and acted on
favorably.
A motion was introduced to divide
the presbytery into a northern and a
southern Colorado presbytery, but the
action on this was deferred until the
spring meeting. The dividing line will
probably run between Colorado Springs
and Monument.
In the evening the church was crowd
ed to hear the address by Rev. D.
Sheldon jackson, upon missionary mat
ters in Alaska. DIR. Jackson explained
that the grossest forms of idolatry and
the crudest features of heathsndom
characterize these Alaska Indians. The
women are degraded into slaves and
are sold to the highest bidder. Human
sacrifices are not uncommon. Under
each post Of rich mans large and
comfortable house lies one skeleton of
murdered woman, and whenever one
of these natives gives house warning
he slaughters some of his women
slaves, frequently to the number Of a
dozen, to impress his guests with the
idea of his wealth and power. They
believe in witchcraft, and slay without
remorse any poor woman who may be
suspected of practicing the witchcraft
art.
Zone Sunday" said the speaker,
"when 1 was at Fort Wrangle, an Indi-
an came into the village, and announc-
ing that he had killed his wife, invited
all his friends to attend the funeral.
Such an act and invitation excited no
surprise, for with those Indians mans
wife is his property, he has bought her,
has paid for her as he would for dog,
and has right to kill her. That man
is alive to-day and has never been ques-
toned by the law concerning his muir
derous deed. There is no law in Alas
ka, which, under the stars and stripes,
is worse off than under the despotic
rule of Russia
The visiting clergyman occupied the
various pulpits in the city on Sunday.
The final session was held on Mon
day, Moderator Cowhick in the chair.
Reports of various committees were
presented, also reports from pastors of
the formation of new churches. The
question of establishing Presbyterian
college was brought up and committee
appointed to consider the matter, which
committee consists Of Rev. DR.. Bliss,
Rev. DR.. kirkland and Elder Blake.
The choosing of place for the next
meeting of the presbytery was then dis
cussed and Pueblo was chosen.
After the adoption of resolution of
thanks to the people of Colorado Springs
a prayer was offered by the moderator,
a hymn was sung, and the presbytery
dismissed with the benediction.