Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-02-08
CHURCHES GROWING.
A HISTORY OF THE METHODIST
CHURCH IN NORTH MONTANA.
Gratifying Testimony Regarding Religious
Sentiment at Great Falls-A Moral
and Law-Abiding City Where
Church Members Abound.

The HfSt service OF the MetnOulSt
Episcopal church held in Northern Mon
tana was in the summer of 1872, by Rev.
W. W. Van Orsdel at Fort Benton, who
came to this country, prompted only by
his ardent desire to bring the influence of
the gospel to the then far off frontier. He
came at his own expense and landed at
Fort Benton, coming from Pennsylvania.
He walked through the plains skirting
the Missouri river, preaching, visiting
and scattering the seed of the gospel,
by his ardent spirit, some of which has
borne, and still bears golden fruit in the
hearts and homes of the few scattered
settlers of that time. Continuously from
that time on he has devoted his life and
labor to the development of the church
in all parts of Montana, and is now one
Of the pastors of the circuit embracing
Benton, Great Falls and vicinity.
Rev. Hugh Duncan, now deceased, was
appointed a teacher at the Blackfoot
agency in 1875, and made occasional visits
to Sun River. Rev. w. G. Shipper, P. E.,
also visited, in his district work, Sun
River and Fort Benton in 1S7475, and
taking up collection for the church de-
posted part of the money with W. G.
Conrad, who purchased with it four lots
on which the Methodist parsonage at
Fort Benton now stands.
A CONFERENCE WITH INDIANS.
In 1876 the writer, who succeeded Mr..
Shipper as presiding elder, accompanied
by Rev. Clark Wright of Helena, now of
New 7 ork, visited the work of Northern
Montana, preaching at Sun River and
travelling eighty miles to visit the Black
foot agency on Badger creek. An inter
| view with the chiefs was held on Dupuyer
creek, in reference to educational and
church work, lasting all night. That was
in November, and the mercury was
twenty degrees below zero. We had
| travelled about twenty five miles and the
the severe cold of that day. The Indians
terpreter entertained us all night. We
|
cold and exposure of the trip. In 1878
| ing in May, and the day of the arrival of
our services in the cabin of the boat, which
was filled with an intelligent audience
from Fort Benton and it's vicinity Rev.
j. J. Garvin, D. D., became presiding
elder and made occasional visits during
1S79-so. Rev. NJ. j. Hall was the first
regular pastor of the Sun River circuit
who preached at Sun River, Chestnut and
| Augusta regularly from 1880 to 1882, and
occasionally visited Fort Benton. Rev. W.
j. Hunter succeeded him and was followed
by the now popular pastor Rev. Fl. Little,
! who for nearly three years has so accept
ably filled the appointments at Sun River,
Chestnut, Smith River, Augusta and
Choteau.
Rev. Jacob Mills was the first regular
pastor of Fort Benton and vicinity. He
received his appointment in 1882 Assisted
by the writer, who was then superintend
ent of Montana missions, he organized the
society at Benton and obtained subscrip
tions for the Sun River church. He
built the parsonage at Fort Benton and
the church at Sun River, and by his in
dustry, energy and ability, and giving
largely of his own means, lald grane
foundations throughout all this region fol
others to build upon. He is now the pre-
siding elder of the district, and still re
tains the deepest interest in the work.
THE FIRST SERMON HERE.
Rev, Mr.. Mills preached the first Pro
testant sermon delivered in Great Falls