The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-22
HOSPITALS, NOT CHURCHES.
Methodist Missions I'm Alaska,
Gives Results OF Experience
Next Year VIII See Another Rssh.

The regular session Q. the Seattle Neine-
dist preachers meeting was held at me
FRS. n e chgrc. yesterday forenoon
Or. Harrington presided. Rev. Z. NJ
Randall. chairman os the programme COM
mi,fee, reported the programme for the
year. whicn had been prepared by the
committee
The matter OF attending the inauguration
exercises u President Graves OF the tnl-
yerz!;y Of Washington. next Monday after
noon came Up. and a motion w2s made
that the Methodist preachers accept the m
yitai!ons Issued and attend IN q body 1ne
secretary was instructed 10 inform the aD-
saztess O. the action OF the meeting ana
inform them that the Methodist preachers
expected 10 take the car 1T L IL next MOI
day for the university.
DR.. Harrington read a paper on the
Ideal Pastor" in which he described IN
detail the duties Of pastor. IL was wen
received and fully ildorseG
Rev. c. j. Larsen. superintendent Of the
Methodist missions il Alaska, who was
present, told about the work "a that coun-
try. Mr. Larsen was sent into Alaska by
Bishop McCabe Just about the time the
excitement over gold discoveries started
the rush 10 that country. Since that time
he has made the trip 10 Dawson and re-
turned via St. Michael He built
church In Dyea last year. and claims the
distinction OF being the first Methods:
preacher to hold a service in Dawson.
Among other things he said:
There IS a total misunderstanding about
the nature Of the missionary work il
Alaska Some Of the authorities OF the
church seem 10 think that missionary
can go into that country and pick up his
i:y4ne much as they used TO do in the
mining camps Of the West, but my expert
erce is that the situation is entirely differ
ent. II preacher goes into Alaska 10
4fzh kn da ca 14ESsr N
cry. and the church must make full pro-
VISION for him. One man offered 10 go IN
Tor his transportation TO Dawson. but If
ne should do so he would either starve or
be compelled to stake out claim and
shift for himself. A preacher who expects
to stake out claim Will not be able 10
They are keen. wide awake fellows and IL
they think man is there for what he
can get out OF the country and net for
thtlI religious welfare they VII drop him
VIII do something for him. However,
money Is scarce ana gold dust is not plensi-
fnl. | had opportunities TO have staked
Out Claims, but cid not do SO because knew
l would thereby lose my influence with the
picsieetors. "A missionary should have
at least $500 per year He viii have to
time the churches can be made sef-sup-
porting. could not establish station
in Dawson because II is in the Canadian
territory; Soon after | was there the Ca
$4,000 10 use in starting up church. That
is business. They VIII get every dollar
Of II back. The kind Of work that counts
for the most among the men In Alaska is
hospital work and nursing. The mission
AIRY can win the hearts OF the men with
little trouble II he viii take the pains to
look after those who get sick. / have cut
wcoG and cooked the food for more than
one SEX miner and / tell you 1t counts
Tie ETiscopaIans and Presbyterians are
getting a strong hold in that way. /
really think IL would be better for the
Methodist church 10 Invest money In small
hospitals In the camps IL the place OF
churches al first and h0id services wher-
ever a gathering can be had. /, is fOo.
isaness to build churches until the coun-
try becomes more settled. Stampedes are
continually occurring. and camp rarely
ever lasts more than six months,
II believe there VIII ba another rush 10
Alaska next summer after the reports Of
the discoveries on the American SIDE have
been published. There is gold there, and
1t is being found in paying quantities"
Ir. Larsen is taking his family TO Ju-
-ssu where ma kill ma kra c haadrparsars