The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-09-21
CASCADE COUNTY METHOD|SM
Its Beginning in the Early Days
First Religious Services in
Great Falls.
Laying the Foundation For Another
New Methodist Church on
Sunday Last,

The TRIBUNE reporter was fortunate
enough to meet Monday Rev. f. A.
Riggin and Rev. w. w. Van Orsdel,
two of the PIONEER Protestant clergymen
of northern Montana, and in converse
ton with them learned a great many
interesting facts relating to the early
work Of the Methodist church in this
section, with which both gentlemen
have been prominently identified. Some
Of the facts stated by these gentlemen
are reproduced for the benefit of readers
of the TRIBUNE who may know but lit
tie of the difficulties of church work in
early days, and to preserve a brief his
tory of the commencement and progress
of the Methodist church in this county.
The first Protestant church work done in
this section of Montana was at Sun
River. Rev. Mr.. Riggan was at that
time presiding elder Of a diocese which
extended over all Of Idaho and Montana
and a portion of Wyoming. Rev. w. W.
Van Orsdel first preached at Sun River
in 1872. At that time it was sparsely
settled, a few Indian traders and cattle
men living there. About 1879 Rev.
Riggan and Rev. Van Orsdell went to
Sun River and the latter was regularly
appointed to preach at Sun River and
Smith river, going on horseback be-
tween the two places and holding ser
vices every alternate Sunday in each.
Prior to this only occasional services had
been held at irregular intervals In
1883 Rev. Jacob Mills was made pastor
and with the assistance of Brothers Rig
gan and Van Orsdel raised a sub
scription to build the present brick
church, which cost in those days
of expensive building something over
5000. However the wealthy cattle
men were liberal with their subscriptions
and the money was easily raised, and the
church has been well sustained ever
since. AS the county is now being set
tied up permanently the church at Sun
River has brighter prospects today han
ever since its first commencement. 1t is
practically out of debt and has a church
membership Of about 10 active workers.
Il, A. Armstrong is the present pastor.
Preceding him the pastor was Rev. John
Logan, and for five years prior TO MI.
Logan's installation Rev. j. Little had
charge Of the work.
The next point at which the energetic
and jealous pioneer Methodists directed
their missionary efforts was Great Falls.
The first religious service held in this
city was by Rev. j. Mills in w. p. Beach
ly's store building, on the corner of
Central avenue and Fourth street. DC
caslonal services were held after that by
Rev. J. Nigus, Van Orsdel, Riggan and
others In "a carpenter shop, La
peyre Bros. old frame building
and other places until the
old South-side school was built, and
after this was put up it was used Sun
days for divine services till the cree
ton in 1888 Of the present brick struct-
ure occupied by the Methodist Episcopal
church, which was the first church
building in Great Falls. Ii took faith
in God and faith in the future OF Great
Falls to Justify the erection Of the
church, which was considered a very fine
structure in those early days, for there
was scarcely a single church member
belonging to the Methodist denomina-
ton in the city when it was projected,
and only a total population of about 800,
mostly non-church goers. However,
Brother Riggin and Van Orsdell had
faith in both in God and the town and
by earnest work the church was erected
and has been steadily built up till today
it has a membership of about 80, has
been obliged to build an addition this
year at a cost of about $1,000, has an
audience which fills the church
every Sunday and is practically
out Of debt. The prosperous con-
dition Of the church is due largely to
the labors Of it's Jealous pastors, COM
mencing with Bros. Riggan and Van
Orsdel, who have been almost like twin
disciples in the pioneer work Of the
church, and followed by Rev. w. B.
Coombe and j. w. Bennett. Mr.. Rig
gan is once more in charge Of the church
as pastor, having given up his place as
presiding elder of the BoZeman district
to return to the scene OF his early
labors, while his companion, Rev. Van
Orsdel, is presiding elder Of the Great
Falls district.
The next Methodist church was To-
Gated in Sand Coulee. 1t was organized
by Revs. Van Orsdel and Riggan in 1888.
Their labors were supplemented by X. A.
Armstrong, and in 1891 under the pas
torate of Rev. Allan Rogers the present
church building WAS erected. Since
then the church has had two pastors,
Rev. Il. II. Garvin and the present in
cumbent, Rev. r. M. Craven. 1t has
now a membership of forty.five and is in
a prosperous and growing condition.
The Methodist church at st. Clair was
built in 1891 under the pastorate Of Rev.
J. Little. 1t has been ALWAYS considered
as a part of the Sun River circuit and
has been generally under the same pas
tor as that located at the earlier church.
The church cost about 5000, which is
all paid for except about 800. 1t has a
membership of about forty at present
and is growing rapidly.
The Scandinavian Methodist chapel at
North Great Falls, the new church Of
the same denomination, whose corner
stone was laid Sunday, and a chdrch
building which will be erected at Belt
before snow flies, complete the record OF
Methodist energy, faith and perseyering
work in pioneer fields and make a story
OF solid achievements, which will cause
the future historian of early church