The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-08-01
CALL FOR A PIONEERS, ASSOCIATION.
To Meet In Helena Sept. 10, 1884.

MT. John R.Wilson, of Dillon, the pioneer
newspaper man of Montana, realizing the
desirability of organizing Pioneers Asso.
citation In Montana, has, at the suggestion of
friends, kindly undertaken the preliminary
labor of starting such an organization, and
has published call as below, to which con-
| siderable number of pioneers have appended
their names. We would have been pleased
had time enabled him to secure larger num-
Der OF names from the many pioneers Of this
county, but are assured they will anyhow
gladly participate in the organization. When
once started its reunions will be attended by
hundreds who otherwise would never meet,
and they will have "old-fashioned times"
Following is the CALLED. n. NV
All pioneer citizens of Montana who were
residents within its limits at the date of the
creation of the Territory-May IS, 1s64-are
cordially invited to attend a meeting TO be
held at the Court House in the city of Helena,
the Capital of the Territory, on Wednesday,
Sept 10. 1884, at 10 o'clock a. m, (the day be-
ing during Fair Week. for the purpose of
organizing Pioneers Association or Soci-
ETY. of Pioneers.
This society will not be organized in any
hostility to or as rival of the Historical So
ciety, but in its scope and purpose it will rad
ically differ from that corporation.
While it is probable that membership will
be permitted to those reaching Montana at
more recent date than the Goth of May, 1864,
1t has been thought best to confne the pres
ent call to those who were here at the time
Montana was created Territory by act of
Congress.
The time indicated will be fitting for the
organization of an ASSOCIATION. The events
of our early or pioneer history are rapidly
fading from the memory of Montanians.
The actors themsslves-scattered to nearly
every part of the habitable earth-are as rap
idly passing away. Change has already been
inetaceably impressed upon all of the do
main west of the Missouri river. Nowhere
Is that change more marked than within the
limits OF our own peerless Montana. The
isolation of the past has been broken by the
welcome invasion of the iron horse forever.
The tragic chapters of our pioneer history
have all been written and recorded. We
have aided in planting q civilization and
commonwealth on the head waters OF the
mighty Missouri and on the babbling brooks
and streams that feed the Columbia of the
West. The merciless Indian savage has been
subdued and subjected to the rules and regu-
lations of our own civilization. The epoch
OF highway robberies has passed away. No
weary weeks are required to reach our once
isolated Montana, for railroad trains have
superseded the rickety coaches and snail-like
ox-team expresses. We are no longer Deepen
dent on Mormon supplies, but can now reach
to the far West and distant East for all our
needs. The strange and exceptional envi-
ronment which made pioneers responsible
for order and good government in the alb
sence of law, and tested the courage, pru.
dence, integrity, fortitude, intelligence and
inventive genius of oldtime Montanians,
has forever passed away. We are entering
upon an era which is to be the Second Chap
ter of our history.
Pioneers will be pardoned by the pilgrim
or newcomer for clinging with a vivid, re-
freshed, and affectionate memory to the |
changeless Pioneer Past, and for recalling, |
with feelings akin to pride, the days that are |
no more. The panorama of human progress, |
from semi barbarous life to our present Gull |
ture, has moved before our eyes and its re-
'pORsible actors have achieved more than |
we appreciate, and for which they will never |
be properly credited.
The coming meeting will be the occasion
Tor retrospection and congratuIation. 1t
will add new but light responsibilities to the
pioneers, and most assuredly it will be pro-
iuctive of gratifying results. Once organize
The society and yearly thereafter it will be a
proud day in the memory of each pioneer
when he recalls the event of its organza.
ion.
Pioneers included in this call and those
who desire TO sign the same and attend the
meeting hereby called are respectfully re-
luested to send their names to Mr.. Charles
Rumley, at Helena.
In addition it has been suggested that pio-
ieers prepare papers relating their early ex-
'eriences to be read at the coming meeting.