The morning journal-courier., 1908-03-02
TALKS ON ALASKA
Archdeacon Stuck Tells of the Hardships of Northern
 Mission.
SOME INCIDENTS RELATED
High Cost of Living Makes This Prob ably the Costliest Mission in
 the World.

Archdeacon Stuck of Alaska preach ed yesterday morning at Trinity P. E. church on mission work in Alaska. Tn the evening he conducted the service at Christ church. Rev. Mir Stuck gave a very interesting and impressive ad- dress at both churches. He spoke at length of the importance of the work which the church was carrying on throughout Alaska. and told of the many dangers and difficulties which had to be contended with in going from post to post in the mountain dis tricts. Reading matter MT Stuck said was eagerly sought after by the miners who, on the whole, were very intel- ligent body of men, and reading was the only manner they had in passing the long dreary winter days, and books were much required. Under the direc- tion of the mission some 19,o00 vol umes were distributed all over the in- terior last year.
 Mir. Stuck told in a graphic way of the dangers that had to be encountered in getting from one post to the other on the Yukon river,and of the eager ness with which the men attended tho services held at the various camps The men, he said, were not only glad to go to church, but longed for the opportunity. The people are courteous and hospitable in their reception The women are not only fsupporting but they were gentle. kind, loving and hospitable and eager to know and learn. The machinery for carrying ont the law in Alaska is very poor, and that the government in Washington is only beginning to wake up and req lize the importance of it's responsibility in Alaska.
 The church. he said is doing its best among the 30 900 miners by trying to look after their spiritual welfare At every station on the Yukon river there will be found Cody woman who was a trained nurse. In fact said Mir stuck, if it was not for the devotion and work of these noble women they would have to give up the work and re- tire from the field. They had conse- crsted themselves joyfully to the work. and were doing noble work for God
 touching story of letter was told by Mir Stuck. It happened after a service, that a young miner came to the preacher and told of the selfish fife he had been leading. and how na had, neglected his old mother. whom he had not written 10 for years. am u-bo was not aware whether he was dead or alive That very night be nromised Mir. Stuck he would write tba long delayed letter. and he did. The fo1iouine morning the minister carried the letter down the river with him and mailed it to his mother. This one in- cident. MT Stuck, would more than have repaid him for the hardships which he had to endure before reach ing that particular camp In closing. Nr Stuck said the mission was per hans one of the costliest to carry on i'm the world. The price of everything was high, transportation was difficult Inf inc work had to he done, and no asked that the congregations support in tbe carving out of the church $ ,,1ission i'm Alaska It was work that ali Protestant bodies recognized a s be longing to their church, and if was for them to do what lay in their power to do 10 help along the work