Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1894-08-02
METHODISM.
The North Montana Mission, Its Pastors and
Its Work

The Montana Christia Advocate OF
July 18th contains n resume of the
work OF the Methodist church i'm the
North Montana mission and also a
brief sketch of the lives OF the
brethren who are now laboring in
this section of Christ's vineyard. The
mission includes the parishes OF Sand
Coulee, Lewistown, Philbrook, Havre,
Glasgow, Augusta, Neihart. Cascade,
Fort Benton and Great Falls, and is
presided over by Rev. w. w. Van
Orsdel.
In generally reviewing the work OF
his charge, Elder Van Orsdel states;
''The work has necessit ated the trav-
cling oi about 5000 miles and has
averaged more than one service each
day in the year. Over $4,000 has
been raised and expended on churches
and parsonages during the year" He
pays n compliment to the wives in
saying: The real heroes of war and
worship are the wives OF the world.
The wives of these Methodist preach
ers out i'll this frontier are the equal
OF any at any time in the history OF
Alethodism."
Rev. II. III. Garvin, who has been
stationed at Sand.Coulee, contributes
a brief autobiography and also a
statement of the results of his labors.
Rev. L. F. Hawk of Lewistown, in
writing of his own life, INDUCES in con-
siderable levity concerning his wife's
maiden name "Place" The letter
deals of Lewistown, the surrounding
country and its residents. The fol-
at Lewistown:
''ln September, 1852, w. w. Van
Orsdel held the first protestant SER
vices in the Judith basin at Philbrook.
He visited the basin again in 1888,
also in 1884, at which time he was
accompanied by Rev. Nj. j. Hall, who
preached the first sermon at Lewis
town At the conference OF 1854 the
basin was made the Fort Bento on and
I.ewist own circuit and placed in
charge of Rev. Jacob Mills and Rev j.
ID. Phinney.
elm SS5 w. w. Van Orsdel and j.
ID. Phinney had charge of the work.
and in 1856 Van Orsdel had the work
alone, in which year the present
church was erected and formally
opened in October.
''In the following year Rev. j. ii.
Smith was stationed at Lewistown.
Rev. j. w. Bennett was appointed 10
Philbrook circuit which he served for
three years, the last year Rev. Allen
Roger being his junior preacher. Rev.
III. ID. Wadsworth was appointed to
both Philbrook and Iewistown
charges in $50, with Rev. Allen Roger
at Wolf creek. Rev. X. NJ. Craven,
Bishop of the Judith, came to Phil
since labored, doing faithful work as
a loyal preacher. In the same year
Rev. Wilder Nutting was appointed to
Lewistown but failed to respond.
leaving the place without a preacher
for one year. L. +. Hawk, the pres
ent pastor, came to the work in 1892.
During his pastorate the church has
been remodeled, papered and carpeted.
A large parsonage has been erected at
the cost OF 81 500. Forty have been
received into church membership and
are proving loyal workers for the Mas
ter's cause"
Brother Craven, IN a style distinctly
his own, enlarges upon the ups and
downs OF his career previous to his
being cast upon the good people of
Philbrook. For one years work in
the Gallatin valley he received S15O
from the Missionary society and S43
from the people. In conclusion Mr..
Craven says:
During the past seven years 1 have
received 131 into the church. The
past year | have held 134 services (be-
sides revival services), Travelled 5000
miles, slept in forty beds, held eleven
weeks protracted meetings, attended