The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-11

ference Besides these, there were in
the territory two local preachers. Rev.
w. w. Anderson in Bozeman and
Brother Duncan in Sheridan.
My first appointment was to Mfssou-
IA, then an outpost of the territory
westward. We started from Helena on
our trip TO the Hellgate and passed
through beautiful Deer Lodge. There
were inside OF the coach IL or IL pas
sengers and as many on top of II. There
was a political campaign on i'm Montana
at mat time. Clagget was running for
congress against ~Cavanaugh, and Clag-
get was elected by a small majority.
There / was-one Methodist preacher
among o IS politicians. You know.
politicians usually have something in
their pockets. and on that occasion. of
course. II was passed around. Then the
cigars followed. ! say. believe me or
not. ] held my own with that crowd
n didn't touch a drink or smoke a
cigar, and held my religion. too.
The town of Missuuia had about 300
white inhabitants and in the valley
were 5000 Indians more or less. There
we were, " young, inexperienced pao-
pie, lar from home and relatives. The
nearest Protestant preacher to the east
was at Helena, $50 miles away: to the
west, Walla Walla. south, salt Lake.
ana north-none | guess. Don't think
there ever was a Methodist preacher at
the north pole. My instructions were
To lay the foundation of Methodism i'm
that section OF Montana, and / am
glad to know that ! had something 10
do with building the first Methodist
church on the West Side. | hauled the
lumber for the church, dug trenches.
carried shingles onto the roof and
helped to haul the lime necessary 20
make the mortar across the river, and
that part OF the work was risky indeed.
Now | look back and say that thai was
the proudest act of my ministerial life
that little church ] helped to build IN
Missoula in 1872. n nothing will liv,
with more freshness in the thoughts Of
my wife and myself thar our expert
ence IN the then isolated section of
Montana.
Not long after that other preachers
bega nto come to Montana. In 1872
Brother Van Orsdell came, followed
soon after by Brother Riggin. Dne
church in Helena. one i'm Bozeman and
the little church i'm Missoula-that was
the beginning of church extension in
Montana 2S years ago. Now look about
you. Your churches dot every part of
Montana. 1t is an indication of the re-
suit of the work of years. And with
this material prosperity has come to
this state, which Is at the head of The
list of metal producers. Montana's
name is great. It's grandeur is praised
in far-famed cities of the old world"
DIR. Tiff then dwelt at length upon the
general prosperity of the state and
spoke of the marvellous growth Of An
aconda during the past few years. He
also said that the new university near
Helena should be the pride of every
man whose interests are for the state.
He concluded with a few interesting
remarks on the old -fashioned mourners'
bench and related the story of his con-
version in an Ohio town when he vas
IA years of age.
II had been attending" said he. "a
Methodist revival, and for five days /
waited for some one to ask me to
go forward to the bench. one evening
an old friend of the family put his
hand on my shoulder and asked:
Won't you go up and embrace the
Lord?' ! went straight To that old
bench. There were ~ cushions-it was
a plain board affair, and the floor looked
as If ii hadn't been swept for weeks. |
didn't care hou thai | knelt down,
wept and cried. ! prayed and gave my
self to God. ] VAS converted. | was
young and felt the importance of tn"
step, and being an Irish lad, what else
could | do but shout. So | shouted
'Hallelujah! hallelujah!' That's where
learned the greatest secret of my life.
| have attended college and schools, but
I learned more at that old mourners'
bench than l did In all the delving for
Greek roots and astronomical sciences
i'm my whole schuo career. | returned
To my work the next day in my fash
er's sawmill. My mother came out and
put her dear old arms around my neck
and said:
Tommy, you've been converted?'
- have, mother says !.
God be praised. My first prayer has
been answered. My boy, before you
were born | prayed that you would be
.,pN,rtal 10 God and become "A mis-
sionary.'"
The audience sang Jesus, Lover of
My Soul" and then many of those
present gave testimony. Among the
number was Rev. j. j. McAllister of
Missoula. He said that DIR. lifts re-
marks abou the little church had in
spired him. Recently, the church was
repaired and enlarged. During the
course of the work some of the lumber
was torn away and in all its long years
of usefulness not a stick had shown
signs of deCay-all was firm and solid
and with "A hitting remark. Mr.. McAllis-
ter suggested that the comparison OF
lumber and builder was striking.
To-Day's Programme.
The programme for to-day is as fol
lows:
$50 a. m.-Devational and sacramento
services will be held 10y the bishop
after which the organization will TAXI
place and a business session held.
2:30 y. m. Missionary sermon by Rev
r. +. Smith. f.. l.. Buzzell to preside
and close with a revival service.
7:30 y. m~.-Devotional meeting, led b!
:. A. oliver.
s u. m.-Anniversary of the conference
claimants. Rev. John Hosking to pre-
side. Speakers, II. A. James, T.. Nj
Dugger w. G.. Gamble.
The Visiting Clergy.
The clergymen in attendance are:
j. w. Bennett, u. +. Bozeman district
T.. q. Cattermule, Dillon.
John g. Clark, Red Lodge.
+. :. Clemo. OVando
r.. NJ. Craven. kalispell.
q. II. Feese. Butte.
II. j. Forbes. Elkhorn.
II .,,.lar Meadow Crock