New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-25
MISSION TR0TBLES IN 1LASKA.

For some time past there have been rumors, more
or less vague of disorders and irregularities at one
of the mission stations In Alaska. These rumors ap
| pear to be confirmed by The San Francisco Chronicle
of recent date which tells shocking story Of fan
atheism and immortality. The facts were furnished
to it by gentleman who has just come from Wran-
GEL and whom it vouches for asbeing entirely trust
| worthy.
At Wrangel, the second largest settlement on the
Southern Alaskan Islands, there is mission, sup
ported and controlled by the American Presbyterian
Home Missionary Society of this city The Rev. NJ.
A. Young is the pastor Of this mission, but has been
absent for long time partly the business OF the
society," In his absence the work of the mission has
been managed by Mrs. j. Mcfarland, who en-
ployed as pastor her nephew, the Rev. DR.. j. h.
Mcfarland Soon after Mr.. Young's departure Ut.
Mcfarland and his wife organized sort OF Saliva
ton Army among the ignorant natives. Mcfarland
called himself second Christ, and horribly beat
and maltreated all who would not acknowledge his
claims. He was finally arrested and brought before
Deputy Collector J. s. Garfield Mcfarland openly
defed the Collector and stated that he was "dolng
Gods will.n Great Indignation was shown at his
conduct by both whites and natives, but the super
intendent, his aunt, allowed him to hold his posi-
ton. She demonstrated with him, however, FOR his
cruelties to which he replied by preaching violent
and abusive sermon the following Sunday, in which
he assured his aunt that she was leading all the
children to perdition" When his aunt arose to
DENY this, Dr. Mcfarland rushed from his pulpit
and knocked her down. AT last accounts this DR..
Mcfarland was sent as q missionary 20 another set
Element.
But there is worse still to tell. Anative girl, Annie
Graham named after Mrs. Graham, OF this city,
who paid for her education, succumbed to evil in
fuences and another girl substituted for her III
the school, She also went wrong, and third Annie
Graham was put in her place. In the same way
there have been two or three Nellie Hamltons
named for wealthy Boston lady. These ladies and
many other philanthropic people In the East have
been in the habit of giving 800 or more annually
as a scholarship for the education of native girls;
and of course it was to the interest of the mission TO
be able TO report that these scholarships being
used. In fact, it looks very much as though the
methods and work Of the mission were both lax and
defective the principal object being to keep up the
regular appropriation OF money from the East.
Now, OF course, no one will suppose for a moment
that the Presbyterian Home Missionary Society OF
this city is to blame for these disorders in this re-
mote outpost. The gentleman who makes these
charges says that it is his intention to lay the whole
matter before the society II the charges are sub
stantiated the evils complained Of will doubtless be
speedily remedled and the mission put on new
basis. But WhlIe lne society may hOI po uiOV'iS
cupable, it is responsible for the acts of its ac-
credited agents. If these agents shall prove to be
unworthy, the missionary society which sent them
will suffer in reputation. 1t is di fficut for many
reasons always to get the best persons to go as
mission workers TO suoh lonely outposts; and the
temptation must be great TO send mediocre or
crotchety men who have been failures every place
else and who having nothing TO lose are ready 10 do
ANYTHING for q change. But missionary societies
should remember that such men are likely to be
greater failures as missionaries than as regular pas
tors And II they persist in sending such badly
equipped men into the mission field, they need not
be- surprised if the cause of missions should Ian