The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-01-28
Headquarters In The Saddle.

OF the Rev. l.. j. Christler, who
has been the missionary Of the Milk
River country for eight years, it can
be said that he has made his "head-
quarters in the saddle:" borrowing
a phrase from Civil war history in
the account Of Major General John
Pope, who issued his fighting orders
from the saddle. As the Milk River
Valley Mission field continued to
grow from less than half Dozen
places to several score of places COW
ering an area OF more than five miles
of country, and the battles OF the
missionary s army swelled ia advance
and victory, he found himself obliged
10 give his orders, lay his plans,
make his wads and fire his powder
from the saddle. In other words.
the area Of the country covered in
Northern Montana, the number of
places reached for religious ministra-
tions, and the singularly interesting
diversity Of work done by the mis-
sionary kept him on the travel; either
by train, carriage, aut, afoot and
horseback both night and day for the
last eight years.
He has practically lived in a suit
case all this time! The same old tat
tered and torn case furnishing a
pillow for his head in railroad wait
ing rooms and out on the prairies,
It has been strenuous eight
years, filled to the brim with count
less experiences.
No wonder the recent division of
this field has attracted general at
ton. The entire line of the mission
ary's activities from the North Da-
kota boundary to the Glacier park
country, and from the Missouri riy-
er to the Canadian border is vocal
with stories of genuine humanism,
pathos, mirth and humor. relative to
the mission work of the ''Arch Dea-
con all Out Doors title first used
50 it is said, by the Rev. F. b. Lewis
of the Gallatin Valley country, and
hitched to Mr.. Christler sby Mr..
Lewis at a gathering fin Bozeman a
few years ago, and since used by
those familiar with the scope and
breath of the Milk river missionary
work
A new epoch began with the Milk
River Valley Mission field on JAN
uary the first, 1915. The old field
was prepared for it's second period
of development. This was set in
motion by the division of the large
field of the present missionary
strenuous work into two fields, the
Rev. s. G. Blackstone, Butte's long
time-loyed rector, taking charge of
the eastern division with headquarters
at Glasgow, and the Rev. T.. J.
Christler retaining the west division
with headquarters at Havre.
1t is necessary to know the old
field, in order to understand the new.
1t was new day and decidedly new
experience for the missionary of the
old field, when in 1907 on cold
March day he arrived in Havre from
Auburn "Sweet Auburn" New York,
to take charge of the then half dozen
missions in the Milk river field.
Havre, the missionary's headquar-
ters, was given the first service the
day after his arrival. In passing it
might be interesting to relate that
the arrival will no doubt be long re-
membered by the missionary because
Of the heterogeneous party. he assum-
ed to be the reception committee de-
tailed to meet him at the railway
station.
Back of the q. s. mail carts paced
with measured step, a gentleman of
marked military bearing: in the
station door stood an honest-jawed
man of Irish extraction with Shrine
pin on the lapel of his coat as big as
a tin plate, emblazoning fraternal
propensities from heart equally as