The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-03-07
MISSIONARY HIKES 10
VISIT REMOTE PLACES

ssose es ssOSss0O OVoNasA0O 6ssssO OssaONy
Selsels ID Seiiienels DotD1eale
ri eleel Is noD. !.
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Clad iu lumherjack outf1t, wear
ing cruiser boots and hiking long
distances through deep snows aud
over lonely trails through the great
forest solitndes of the northern
part:-,ot St. Louie county. doing
missionary work In the most remote
and primitive settlements-such is
the. line Of endeayor that has been
chosen by Rev. F. L. Preetidge, 4
young clergyman of physical
stature which entities him 10 be
called a "strapping fellow. Before
accepting the North" " foods 40 bis
feid Mr.. Pres,idge. held pastorate
of Methodist church down in the
Older settled part of the state come
where. Now he is 4 pioueer In the
missionary field, working among
the pioneers who have penetrated
the deep woods and gone far from
the toot of the locomotive whistle
and the rumble of the train to make
homes in what 10 today a wilderness
but which in most instances they
expect will in a few years hence be
uear some new town on line of
new railsoad.>' = > '5>-|.''
Rev. Pres,idge makes his base in
Virginia but he only gets back TO
the city once week, or once in two
week., from his long hikes and
visits TO the settlements. He is the
agent of the American Sunday
School Union with headq uarters in
Philadelphia and the office of the
Minnesota district in Minneapolis,
The OFT. aniza,ion intends TO: do
pioneer work ONLY. The mipslouayy
passes by every immunity where
there is a church and q pastor. He
also leaves the field he commences
.just as soon az the Sunday school
organization grows and interest 10
worked up to the place where the
people organize and engage 4.
pastor to hold meetings. perhaps
only occasionally. The work 10 en-.
tire,y undenominational aud it 10
left optional with the people Of the
com munity what tdenominaaioss,the
church! reorganization shsli adopt. 4
AT one place in new n,i1ine sli.-
1trsca % the Range III tSs S...fSl..,ts
sctool 1ssheTd &, ! Z 4 iie carf, iItss
and s'lsct t.tniih ffor Z & yae.r.. &
The schaol now has better qnsFfsrs
and has nm enrollnhentsof % psspiis.:
Schools have been establishes at
Gheen and at7Bear River. Recently
Mr.. Prersidse. aud Rev. John @.
Fsrris of Minneapolis held meet
iugs the same day at Alborn,
Nunger and Five Corners. Mr..
Prestidge has a. times hiked Is
miles on . Sunday holding meet
ings at different places, morning,
afternoon and evening. Very? often
school houses are used for the
meetings. but there are instances
where the missionary has gone to
the CON m unity even in advance of
the public school and the Sunday
school has been held in a settlers
home or in the warmer season .uu.
der the forest trees. At Molde, six.
teen miles from Duluth, the super
intendent of the Sunday school 10
Miss Savers, only six
teen years of age who, attends the
Duluth High school all week and
goes into the country at each week
end in order that the children. may
have the Sunday school and church
privileges. Here an Easter program
is being prepared and Mr.. Prestidge
will attend although it 10 in the
newer parts of the Range and the
new agricultural regions North
that he spends the greater part of
his time. His territory extends
North to Gheen, West to Bear River
and South to Palmers on the Du.
luth 4 Iron Range and not many
miles from Duluth. Mr.. Prestid9e
has visited homes in the wilderness
where he was the first mao from
the outside world who had visited
the place in year. He has several
Sunday schools ready to open just
40 soon as the spring is here 80 the
children can walk the distances re-
quired to attend. In recent time he
has visited 800 homes, held 20 Ser
vices, reached 875 people who have
no other service privileges and dis
tributed many bibles, testaments
and hymn books. He has since
commencing the work few months
ago travelled 500 miles nearly the
entire distance on foot. He has
officiated at three baptisms and has
three more awaiting his coming.
Mr.. Prestidge states that he 6nds
the people in the new communitiee
yearning for the truth snd that
they appreciate what he In his
capacity of missionary can do for
them and that they neverfajl at any
place he visits to give him atheaTty