The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-28
SPREADING GOSPEL IN
The LUMBER CAMPS
HOW THE s'sKY PILOT, DOES HIS
WORK.
Man Who Has Lived Among Lumber
jacks Tells of Noble Efforts of
Rev. T. e. Higgins of Be1nidji, Mimi,
In Behalf of ssthe Boys Of the
5 Northern Pineries.

An interesting missionary movement
which is little known by the general
public is that of spreading the gospel
among the hundreds of laboring men
who every winter fill the logging camps
thruout northern Minnesota.
: To these men life becomes monoto-
nous round. They are to great extent
cut off from the rest of the world. A
newspaper several weeks old is luxury
and their only amusements are such as
they can get among themselves. Any
innovation is welcomed.
I The following account Of the work
carried on among the lumber camps by
Rev. F. E. Higgins of Bemidji, Mimi,
called "The Sky Pilot of the Lumber
iacks,'' is furnished by man who has
lived in the camps of the north:
: "Mr. Higgins is a big, jovial fellow,
always ready to crack a joke with any
one and he has a, way Of forcing respect
from the most willful Of his listeners.
He commenced his education at the age
of 20. He was a poor boy and had to
make his own way in the world, but
despite his own hardships he had one
thought continually in mind--the up
lifting Of the lumberiack. He has &C.
quired considerable learning, fitting him
for his life work.
st.. Fooled Plot to Kill.
= :tAbout the age Of rs he spent sew
eral months sharing the lot of q COM
mon laborer in order that he might
gain more practical knowledge Of his
future vocation. Once in Oregon when
working with a railroad gang, he heard
of a plot being Matched to kill him. He
investigated and found the story to be
true. A gang Of jailbirds' thought he
was a. detective on their tack and de-
cided to do away with him at the first
opportunity. Mr.. Higgins found out
who the men were and spoke to them
about it. He told them the object of
his being there and proved it by the
credentials he had from his church
The action saved his life. Many times
when working in or near towns he
tried to induce some of his fellow labor
ers to 20 to church with him, but never
did he succeed. This only made him
more determined in his efforts to helI
the laboring class.
"With the object Of getting help, he
came to Minneapolis and stated his de
sires to the Presbyterian Missionary So
ciety. The result was the society gave
him the northern Minnesota woods fol-
his field Of labor.
\ "Without any assistance at first, he
went into the logging camps ane
preached the gospel. AS time went OF
he noticed that his efforts were appre
ciated by the employers and the men al
we'll and he became more enthusiastic
in his work, winning the support O.
many generous individuals.
The Present Force.
ellis force now, after eleven year
Of devotion to the cause, consists Of fv
men and one woman. Even this numbe
is wholly inadequate for the work tina
should be done. The. men, like Nj
Higgins, 60 from camp to camp preach
ing the word of God. The woman goe
about the hospitals cheering the dis
heartened.
cit must not be thought that tn
only work Mr.. Higgins has is directin
his helpers and teaching the lessons G
the Bible, for, altho his salary is pal
by the society, he must raise the wage
of his co-workers himself. This is a.
complished by donations from char
table institutions, individuals and tt
laborers. Usually when the winter
work commences, a subscription
taken at each camp and this secure
semi monthly services for 'the boys
until breaking-up time in the spring.
" "The sky pilot and his little band {
missionaries are making nearly or
hundred camps this year and distri
uting dozen tons of literature.