The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-06-25


tum.
Fuel i. a scarce article here-that IS.
wood IS. Il IS not to be had at any price.
/ found, however. that some good friend or
friends had unlosded two big wagon loads
Of cobs into my barn yesterday. Corn cobs
will be plentiful in the fall. Coal IS not at
all dear. but the weather is too warm Tor |
us now to barn that kind Of fuel. At pres
en-. we are using our gasoline stove. Gas
oline costs IS cents gallon.
This is very beautiful country round
here as far as We have..seen it. 1t is very
level and one canno, see very far by reason
Of so many groves. And yet. after all. one
misses the rugged granduer1 Of Montana.
They raise corn and wheat principally
here They are now cutting their FIRST
crop of alfalfa.
Utica itself is town Of between 500 and
900 inhabitants. and it seems = live up-ts-
date place. although il is we'll advanced in
years. There are some very good business
houses and stores. two national banks.
one newspaper. three elevators. lumber
yard, etc, and many beautiful homes all
surrounded with lawns, flowers. shade and
fruit trees. The streets are all lighted
| with gas, and the sidewalks are mostly OF
cement or brick. even in the residence part
of the town. The merchants here are very
good to the preacher. as they give him a
discount of 10 per cent on all purchases.
Things also are much cheaper here than in
Culbertson. We have three Protestant
churches in the town. the Presbyterian. the
Methodist Episcopal and German Luth-
eran, and they ara all good. strong, self
supporting churches. As far as we can
now Judge. this is certainly church going
community. Last Sabbath when the
churches same out, the side walks were
lined with people coming frsm the services.
would like to give you an account OF
my first Sunday here. In the morning at
10 o'clock came the Sunday School and
taught the Bible class had about 30
grownup people in my class. Then came
the preaching services. and vas greeted
with good sized auiience-considerabl
more than 100 being present. In the eve
ming the church was filled to its utmost
limit. and they had 10 bring in extra chairs
and place them in the aisles to seat the
people. The Methods, Episcopal minister
gave up his service for that evening. and
he and his people came over in a body to
our church to hear the new preacher"
certainly did appreciate the courtesy very
much. We must have had between a5c
and 900 in the church. Ii was indeed ar
inspiration to preach to such a congrega
ton as that. considering what had beer
accustomed to in Montana.
There seems to be an excellent feeling
between the Presbyterian and Methods
churches of this place. like the Metho
dist pastor very much. and | think tina, w
will get along and work splendidly together
This week there was w. c. T. U. con
: ven,ion in the town that would have dom
your mothers heart good to attend. inter
es,ed as know she Is in this work. Wed
nesday evening was the gold medal contest
and Mrs. Butter and myself and lecture
from Kansas City-the sister Of Bisho
Hart.el Of Africa-were the Judges.
Our church building is very beautiful
I one. 1t is seated with circular oak pews
and lighted with gas There is Sabbat
: School room for the smaller children. d
I vided from the main room by sliding door.
We had 4 good choir On Sunday with abou
Q dszen voices in it. There is a colore
9 janitor to take care Of the church. hav
to preach once every two weeks in the fors
= noon at place six miles east Of this.
intend to begin this york week from ne,
Sunday
i The weather here has been quite war;
. TOR us. but the people complain tina, i,
not warm enough for the corn. ! sineere
J. hope that it will not get much warmer. I
P else will be wanting 70 hike back to MOI
. tana right away. They havs had lots
. rain here. and the season is somewh
. backward. But verything looks so bea
titul with the grass 20 green, and trees al
e flowers everywhere. think that We VI
:. like this place very much. and belle
y that have made . change 10 decided q
70 vantage. am getting acquainted but
g will be some time before am able to kno
y all the people by name. was very mus
u and asresably surprised at the large nun
'e Der OF young men attending the Sunds
:. School and the church.
% have been we'll since came here. b,
Mrs. Butter caught severe cold and
+ settled upon her lungs. She vas quite sic
% for few days but now she is some bette
y We look for our daughter. lean home frol
q Europe about the middle Of next month.
u ! hope that you will have good croI
u around culbertson this year. and that e,
= cry body will be prosperous and happ,