Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-31
Attempt to Kill the Preacher.

Attempt to Kill the Preacher.
week later an attempt was made to as
sassinate the preacher. 1t failed only be-
cause not even all feudists are dead shots
every time. Then threats galore were
poured In upon the muscular gospel ex-
pousder, but he stuck 1t out. finally by his
display of grit. winning the admiration and
frtendlness of the entire region. But be-
fore he had done this, his forehead had
been grooyed by a bullet. and there he
bears slight scar to this day.
Rev. Harry Milford Is known throughout
| northern Wisconsin as 1.-THE Lumber Jack
Preacher. One day, in his travels through
the great lumber regions, he struck town
with closed church and five saloons rum
ming seven days In the week and all night
In the bargain. After he had opened the
church several mothers of the place ap-
peaied to him to use his influence to get
the town board to make the saloons OBJ
serve the state Sunday closing law
When Milford sought out the officials they
laughed in his face. Then he went to the
saloonkeepers and tried to reason with
them Result, one of the men threatened
TO shoot him on sight the following Sunday
II ne made any move then TO have the
saloons closed.
Milford had been a lumberman for years:
ne understood the lumbermans makeup
ana ne knew that the threat was not an
Idle one. Nevertheless, he declared to one
ana all that the saloons must be closed
on Sunday, or the inn keepers prepared to
take the consequences of violating the law.
After delivering this counter ultimatum
he went to showing logs, in order to get
bread and butter for his family When Sun
aay came he started out to visit the sa-
looms. The first one he made for was
crowded, but when the men saw him COM
ing there was great scramble out of the
back door, and the proprietor began hastily
to clean off the bar and shut the doors A
similar scene was enacted at three more
he nrarto tnf-
waiting with gun for the missionary
The latter had told the former that he
couldnt hit man at ten yards. The
missionary's statement was borne out by
actual demonstration, after which the
saloon keeper was induced, through the
combined efforts of the missionary and the
Justice of the peace, to close up shop Then,
for the first time in eight years the little
town experienced dry" Sunday. because
the lumber jack preacher had dared to
take his life in his own hands The mis-
sionary In a foreign field does not dare
more
Facing Arctic Dangers
Peril, adventure, hardship are daily por-
tons, practically, of the home missionary
In Alaska.
Last year the Rev. Hudson Stuck. arch
deacon of the interior of Alaska. travelled
1,500 miles by sled in the dead of winter
visiting the various stations under his care
Ills only companions on his trip were his
guide and helper, Charlie Pitgu. a native
and his dogs. Several times the missionary
lost his way In the trackless interior. Arc
TIC storms compelled him. time and again
TO bury himself deep In the snow-a moor
shelter at best- His food the greater mart
OF the trip was frozen fish, washed down
with melted Ice or snow and at times IT
was all he could do to keep from freez-
Z, q or III
below, - e'''i'S
IN these days of Indian peace the mis-
sioLIsiS 20 an indian tribe leads a prosaic
sort OF existence. But back in the seventies
ana as late, even, as the early eighties in
the southwest, he did not know when a.
pand of war-painted bucks would be- seek
ing the scalpS of himself and family This
past phase or the home missionary's life is
embai lined in various church board records
A concrete idea OF the vastness OF the
nome missionary work may be gained from
inc rolioWing partial summary OF the re-
suits OF the work of the Presbyterian board
as set down In the latest annual report.
Number of missionary teachers Sis. ad-
diuons on profession Of faith, bS41; addi-
ions on certificate, S,e10; total member
ship, 52,931: total in CONGREGATIONS n S43.
adult baptisms 1908; infant baptfsms. 761 :.
Sunday schools organized 207; number OF
Sunday schools, Liza; membership of sun
day schools, so, $50; church edifices (value of
same. 81, 6S2. $3.50. 1.217; church ediflces built
(cost Of same, 5000, 923), IS; church edifices
repaired and enlarged cost of same So
429) 1874; church debts Cancelled SEQ Ala:
churches having reached self-support, So
churches organized, 70; number of parson-
ages (value of same, $522, 800 4O4
1t is only necessary to add that this one
board alone spent last year $500. 600 and
the Protestant Episcopal board nearly $780,
O0t. Millions are spent annually by the va
rious boards, for the home missionary field
is wide. with only 81 .000,00 of our so coo coo
population actual church members.