The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1912-08-22
CONFERENCE At
FORT BENTON
TWO PIONEER METHODIST MIN.
listers PLACED ON RE-
TIRED LIST.

The Northern Montana Methodist
conference held in Fort Benton last
week closed Sunday night and the
ministers have all returned to their
respective homes. Most CT them have
been reinstated in their former char
ges and few new ones have been
added. The people of Whitefish
will be greatly pleased to know that
Rev. v. E. Hall has consented to
take charge of this district for
another year. Heretofore he had to
serve Eureka also, but arrangements
were made at the ccnferecne SO that
Rev. Hall will not have to go to
Eureka any more, as man has
been appointed to take charge of
that parish. Libby is to be without
a minister for a while until Super
intendent White can find man to
fill the vacancy.
Two veteran ministers, who have
labored long in the Methodist church
in Montana have been retired by
the North Montana conference They
are the Rev. F. A. Riggin and the
Rev. ]. H. Little. Both requested re-
tirement en- account of advancing
years and i'll health and the confer
ence acceded with considerable re-
gret.
The Rev. Mr. Riggin is we'll known
all over Montana, Idaho and Utah
for his energy in establishing church
es and securing property, particularly
in the pioneer days of this state.
The Rev. Mr.. Little has spent many
years in pioneer work in Montana.
most of it in the vicinity of Sun
river and Cascade. Touching ad-
dresses were made by the retiring
ministers and their fellow members
when the matter was under discus
sion.
The pioneers banquet participat-
ed in by about a hundred members
Of the conference, visitors and cit
liens at the Grand Union hotel,was
a unique departure from the routine
work of the busy body and was pro-
nounced by all who were fortunate
enough to get in as an event long
to be remembered. The Rev. G. M.
Donaldson, Methodist pastor at Fort
Benton, conceived the idea that
little celebration of this kind on the
fortieth anniversary cf the landing
in Fort Benton of the Rev. w. w.
Van Orsdel would be an appropriate
recognition of the honor in which
he and several of the old-time mem
bers of the conference are held and
the plan was carried out with graf
flying success.
Mr. r.Donaldson,w who acted as toast
master, introduced six veteran mem
bers of the conference. The Revs.
Van Orsdel, Craven, Little, Jacob
Mills, Logan and Riggin, each Of
whom related with great enthusiasm
scme of the events connected with
his early life in Monana, many re-
lating to life in Fort Benton and
vicinity Brother Van" related how
the first services conducted by him
in Montana were held in log build
ing which stood on the present site
of the hoted in which the banquet
was being enjoyed. Many amusing
incidents and adventures were re-
lated by the pioneers, each taking
great delight in telling something
that put the laugh on another.
DR.. Bovard of Helena introduced
the Rev. Jacob Mills and w. G. Con-
rad in speech in which he warmly
eulogized both for their well-known
generosity to Methodist institutions.
Mr.. Conrad responded in a happy
vein, expressing himself as highly
pleased that he was able to be pres
ent with so many old friends of early
days,i in the town where he had spent
quarter of century of the hap
piest days of his life.
At the conclusion of the speak
ing Bishop Lucccck, in behalf of
conference presented each of the
the members of the North Montana
honored pioneers with a beautiful
gold fob,suitably engraved with date
and name, and he declared them
Knights Of the Order of Calib. With
the singing of the doxology, this de-
lightful event came to a close.
Arthur E. Brown, formerly secre-
tary for Supt. w. R. Smith, but now