The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-19

church. Tho superintendent had a wise
and kindly manner with him that wen all
thing. We raised $500 that ensuing year
besides running expenses. and a large slice
ont OF our debt.
Msanwhile ws gained in favor among tho
people; additions we're made ~ nearly every
audiences incrsassdi The sun
day school grew. and q Young Peoples
society o. Christian Endeayor" wns 0 Ran-
lied. Spiritually 70 seemed 10 grow atrong-
eat In our Wednesday evening prayer meet
ina, which has always been q marked feat-
ure of our hiatofy thus far-marked by at
tendanc and by the freedom every one a.
rem In one family. and without fear OF Grit
icism from any, all have been free to speak
a word on any topic.
And this leads me to romark upon the
unity Of spirit IN this church; we have never
yet had a divisi II among us. There has
been no spirit OF faction Or party. or clicguo
among MS. Often has 1t bssn remarked
that at our annual meetings We have sucn
delightful gatherings without clnshinR Or
diacord. We never yet have taken q vote
upon amy topic but what tho vote was u
practically unanimous vote! This is a re-
markable eight years history and II has
been accomplished by never pressing q mat
ter to vote until plenty OF time had been
given for n full oonsidetati OF the subject
from all aides and from all the voters: Ii
IA utuGIVACGb VI oRAhtpA HtcpSs W " NN'
never pressed a vote until by discussion
and patient Adjournments We all came to q
substantial unity and all felt that whatever
the vote might be, 1t would be a consoien-
tious expression Of opinion on tho merits OF
the case, and not o victory for this o. that
set or ~clicqus; may the good God continue
such a history OF brotherly unity for this
church in all coming time.
Notwithstanding the apparently hope
less task. financially. before us In 1885. wo
saw that mountain Of difficulty. removed.
For three years we have been a~elf-suppott-
ing, receiving not n dollar Of aid from the
missionary sooiety-ths only s~elf-support-
ing Congregational church In a vast region.
This fnct has concentrated the eyes of many
thousands Of Christian people upo rs. and
the Importance of this little band Of Chris
tians 10 estimated very far beyond the nu-
merical figures In Our denominational year
bo~k. In New England a church OF 100 to
125 members 10 a very ANAL affair; but the
importance OF a light depends upon its po-
sition as we'll as brilliancy; our little light
is set upon o golden candlestick of the
Rocky mountains, and is n prominent feat
urs in q magnificent state, large enough to
enfold some of the grand kingdoms OF the
earth. Moreover, we stand whore churches
are especially needed; where ain doth
abound their grace is the mo 9 required.
In New England Christian institutions
for centuries nave stamped society with
Christian features; but In all our great
west the struggle OF tho lower and immoral
element with the religious and higher
forms Of society has exchanged the ratios.
The so-called wild and woody west" has
a meaning Of tremendous account. In
early times desperadoes and unscrupu-
lous men rushed to every new
Eldorado, and the spirit Of Mammon, a
haste to get rich, a determination to look
upon eve y question merely on the financial
side, have formulated society. The refining
81 Araroaa ~ Ohnrohaa THAR nNnQtank earn
eat protest against greed, their quiet adj
vocacy of treasures laid up in heaven, oil
these things are especially needed in our
great west; a church set here counts 70
far more than IN an eastern town where N
early times the pattern OF things were set
by earnest Christians like the pilgrims and
puritans.
We sometimes grow discouraged over GU
apparent feebleness. Many q blue Mon
day. has found your pastor under Elijah
: juniper tree of disconsolation. Thing
: looked so small. Back east would be fount
. pipe organs, and f~rescoes and large au
; diences. No gambling hells to entrap tn
. children, and the saloon business looke'
9 down upon as in ancient days were Roman
. publicans regarded by pious and loya
lsrselites. But q great mistake is made 9
: ''blue Monday" estimates. Notwlthstand
n ing all draw backs to our church work. tn
+ pastors in our western city work, are dom
Just as faithful service and far more rela
0 lively imI ortnnt work than many pastor
9 Of fame back east. Our homo missionar
superintendent find it very dif11cuit to on
tain men In such seminaries as Yal
q and Andover, or even Chicago to fill the In
d portant western centers. The work appearSt
n suoh men small-and no wonder. EiRt
y Years ago it looked outtageously presump
d tuous for this little chu CHI OF about thu
le teen to telegraph a man in New EnRlant
rs pastor of a church of over 200 members,
call to some to Montana. But for q Ion
1t time had | been longing for and bcllevln
h in this westein work, and / came. On. thf
d my experience might reach hundreds
! theological students and toll them "a
al though in the west they might fail to IN
n inc organs and fresooed walls and larl
audiences, yet ont here their lives will tf
le ten to one. Here true merit Will be spec
's lily recognized; here n man becomes mo
IS than a mere link in a succession OF change
OF here his individuality counts for muc
here he is a leader of mon, instead of I
~ unimportant piece of church furnituI
in Hero things are new, and people are reat
e. and eager to try new methods. Here far
IS, lily and neighborhood feuds count for lit
il or do not exist. Here a man OF energ
%: snap and talent is set loose on his beld az
of told: Now 60 ahead" Here the brlEl
cd est and best of the sons of the east q
cd found, men who came here meaning to
and dnI o, and glad to welcome a pastor
In progressive energy. Here. If a man has
,s- him any REGULAR merit in any given c
%rection, he is soon recognized. Hora
Il. Greeley's Injunction, go west, you
ais man." is peculiarly fitting for young mi
of listers of talent, snap and common sense.
he AS this applies to ministers, SO has u
n bearing on our churches; you appear n
ret merically weak, but when tempted to 81
MS gloomy forecast recall your position,
1t member your noble and magnificent sta
int two and a half times the size of all N
I'D England. where we fnd Boston. eprii
field, Providence, Portland. Bangor. N
Haven, Hartford, Lawrence, Lowell, Pit
ny field, lewiston, Bath, and many ott
re- cities of wealth and renown; but II roc
II New England can develop such cities, wi
dy must be in store for Helena, Butte, Nj
ms SCUBA, Deer Lodge, Anaconda, Great fal
not Bozeman. Livingston, Billings. Miles Oh
sed Lewiston and our other proud and wort
led sister cities of Montana, drawing tn
rty power and supplies from mines and cat
horses, sheep and grasses-such grasses
OF are found now here else. When dark fe
tor a;e upon YOU, beloved little flock. RENE
me ber this gem of a city in which you Ii
ave Men may croak till death eeizes them,
d / thew cannot alter the fact that HELENA
ole the pride of the northwest; Helena Is
oil CITY of destiny in these Rocky mountai
God bless our sister cities. God has
ave the day when ungenerous rivalry al
cen cease in Montana between her many no
rts. cities and all see that if one suffers all 3
pile fer, and in the harm of any one, all will
BON injured.
lea. Without anv unpeuerous coluparisons
1nl g l.