The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-06
COMPLETES FOURTH YEAR
Mr.. McAllister's Passionate a
Very Successful One.
CHURCH HAS PROSPERED
An Encouraging Growth of the Society.
One Hundred and Fifty-Five Mem
bers Have Been Received While
He Has Been in Charge.

Missoula, Aug. 4.-Tomorrow lSun-
day. Rev. ]. j. McAllister will complete
his fourth year as pastor of the Meth
odist Episcopal church in this city. Mr..
McAlister's paStorate has been a re-
markedly successful one and under his
charge the church has prospered, sp.r-
itually and from a material stand
point. He found the church property
in a dilapidated condition. The build
ings were worn and shabby and the
grounds We're neglected. The corner of
the church property was then occupied
by couple of unsightly frame build
ings which hid the church and disfg-
ured the parsonage grounds. Mr.. Me
Allister attacked the existing condi-
tions vigorously and now the church,
remodeled and enlarged, stands in
handsome, spacious grounds, the old
sheds having been torn down and re-
moved, and the parsonage is hand
some residence in its appointments and
surroundings. The church has been
largely refurnished. and in all the sum
that has been expended upon the i'm
prOvements of the church property
amounts to $2.400. The transformation
been great and the corner is now one
of the most attractive in the central
part Of the city.
The growth of the church society in
these four years has also been very
encouraging. During the four years of
his pastorate here Mr.. McAllister has
received into his church by letter and
upon profession of faith 1855 members.
There have been but five deaths in the
church in this time and the present
active membership is 101. There are is
pfobationists and there have been sew
eral dismissals by letter. The church
has raised during the past year for
benevolent purposes STAG. The congre-
cations from Sunday to Sunday at this
church average the largest in the city.
The regular attendance at the morning
and evening services are excellent and
has shown an increase since Mr.. Meal
lister came here that must be very
gratifying to him.
Four years ago the roll of member
ship in the Sunday school showed 43
names. There are now enrolled the
names of 1875 active members and the
work Of the Sunday school has been
strong and effective. The membership
in the Epworth League has increased
from u to As and this society is an
earnest sincere organization, whose
membership includes some of the best
of Missoula's young men and women.
In this connection it is not out of place
to refer to the splendid accomplish
ments of Mrs. MCAllister in the Sunday
school and league work. Much of the
success of this branch of the church
work and much of the growth in mem
bershp was due to the earnest efforts
and devotion of this noble woman. She
was an example for the young people
and they were proud to look up to
he hn hoI lain
and admiration and was able to do
much for them and with them. Sell
dom has the death of any persCn in
this city called forth so earnest and
sincere expressions of grief as did the
sad departure of Mrs. McAllister. Her
memory is held in fondest remem-
brance by the many young people to
whom she had pointed out the right
way, and whom, by example and by
precept, she had encouraged to follow
that way. Mrs. McAllister's death is
the single sad incident connected with
the long pastorate of her husband in
this city.
1t is apparently the wish of the church
here that Mr.. McAlliSter be assigned 70
this church for another year, which
will be the limit that is allowed by the
church regulations. His connection
with the church has at all times been
pleasant, and as far as can be learned
there is no other feeling in the society
than the desire that he be returned to
the MissOula church. Mr.. McAllist ter
has. during the time that he has been
here, conducted several series Of spe-
cial meetings. and in these he has been
assisted by evangelists of note from
other cities in Montana and from out
side the state. These special meetings
have been marked by the straightfor-
wardness of the sermons and the plain
ness and earneStness of the words that
have been addressed to the young peo-
pie. OF special note were the services
which We're conducted by Mr.. McAllis-
ter and Rev Custer of Anaconda.
Mr.. McAllister, when asked yesterday
by Standard reporter for some state
ment regarding his work in Mssoula
replied: You have the figures. Fur
Their than that I do not care to say any
thing more than that my stay here has
been very pleasant. I attribute what
ever success has attended my work
here to the untiring efforts of Mrs. Nc
Allister; to the earnest work of the
| members of the church and to the
ready and generous response that the
citizens of Missoula have made to the
requests for financial aid. AS to my re,
turning for another year. do not care
to discuss that matter. 1t lies with the
conference entirely, and whatever &C
ton is taken there will determine the
matter I have not heard it discussed
here, and you know as much about il
as | do I will say that my relations
with the people of Missoula have been
extremely pleasant and that I have
made many friends here whom I shall
always esteem highly"
Mr. McAllister will leave Monday for
Livingston to attend the conference
which will be held there this year.