The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-09
MISSIONS TO THE YUKON.
Various Denominations Preparing for Ac'
tive Work In the Spring.


Church mission boards are making al
most as active preparations for the
opening of the Yukon as are intending
miners and transportation managers.
The estimate that from 100000 to 200, 600
viii go to Alaska in March has aroused
the churches to the necessity of doing
their part in this mission field. Much Is
being planned and more would be If the
board had more money. Alaska mission
work is carried on by Baptists, Pres
byterians Congregationalists, Episco-
palians and Roman Catholics. OF these
the Baptists are not now exerting them
selves and the Congregationalists are
maintaining merely their one mission
station that was started before the Iu-
kon excitement.
Roman Catholic work there has not
been much changed in method by the
gold excitement and just at this mo-
ment is crippled to some extent by the
illness Of the head worker, who is in
California convalescent. The Episcopal
church and the Church Of England,
which are working in close harmony,
have two bishops there, together with
almost 100 clergy, deacons, male lay as
sistants and deaconesses. A shallow bot
tom boat has been built on the Yukon
and in small places which II visits serN-
ices are held on board this boat, At
larger places. where rooms can be had,
which has been abandoned through the
shifting Of population, is believed by the
EpiscDpalians to be certain to spring
into life again when spring opens. Ae-
cordingly, they have secured desrab BILE
quarters and are ready for the crowd
The English mission boards are pre-
pairing to send to Alaska next spring
five priests and three deaconesses, to-
gether with equipments and outfits. The
American mission board works In con-
junction with the bishop and is pre-
pared to render him every assistance.
Money and volunteers are asked for.
Rather oddly money is coming in faster
than volunteers. OF the latter, clergy
man without family is desired to work
at Circle City and another is wanted al
Anyik-one who can get on with boys,
for his work will be in a school for
boys. Another single clergyman is
wanted for Point Hope and teachers are
desired at many stations to train native
helpers. Along the Yukon and the Klon-
dyke two men are wanted who under
stand fishing and fishing tackle, and
who are warranted not to get the gold
fever. There is plenty of fish in the
rivers. but the natives do not know
how TO catch them and hence often
starye. The pay IS small for these vol
unteers and the hardships great. But
the churches stand ready to send them
if the men can be found.
Quite as active as the Episcopalians
are the Presbyterians. Two mission
aries sent out by the Presbyterian home
board have already reached the Klon-
dyke country. They took every posi-
BILE equipment with them and are now
doing good work. one is a clergyman
and the other a physician. AS they are
but two among so many Rev. DIR. Shell
don jackson. moderator Of the general
assembly and educational agent Of the
United States government, says he
hopes to send at least Is Presbyterian
clergymen into the Klondyke country
by April at the farthest