Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-11-26

is now Safe all the way from
Ketchikan to Point Barrow When the Rus
slams discovered the country the natives were
savages; and 10 years after we took possession
Sitka and ST. Michael were armed trading
posts where the Eskimos were shut out at night
that the inhabitants might rest in safety. For
years not single whaler dared stay overnight
at Cape Prince of Wales, and the man who
travelled through the wilds took his life in his
hands Today one can go alone by sledge
through any part of Alaska and feel safe
The mission work has been done by
churches of many denominations, and it is
still going on in all parts OF the territory The
Presbyterians have stations at Haines, Sitka.
and otherWheres in southeastern Alaska, and
they are working far north as Point Bar
row on the shores Of the Arctic ocean. The
BaptistS are converting the Indians along
Cook inlet and they have an orphanage at
Wood Island, near Kodiak The Methodsts
have girls home al Unga Island. near Una
laslla, on the edge OF Bcring sea. and the
Swedish Lutheran church has missions al
Gakatat not far from Cordova and at Goog-
min, on the Seward peninsula and at Unaak-
lik. The Moravians are doing a great work
along the KuskollWim river and the Catholics
aud Episcopalians have mission stations in diff
ferent parts of the Yukon and Tanana basins
There is Catholic mission at Fort Gibbon.
presided over by Father Teddy, who has been
in Alaska almost 20 years, and there are resi-
dent Jesuit priests at Juneau, Douglas, Skag-
way, ketchikan Valdez and Fairbanks, as
we'll as at half dozen stations along the lower
Yukon, including Holy Cross where this let
ter is written
The first mission work done in Alaska was
that of the Russians They began to convert
the Indians of the Aleutian Islands more than
a hundred years ago and today there are more
Creek Christians among the natives of Alaska
than either Protestants or Catholics 1t is said
that the church has more than 10000 COM
muncants, whereas the Protestants and Cath
oics have altogether less than 2OOO The
Greek church has still something like 90 places
of worship scattered over the territory. 1t
has a cathedral at Sitka, a large church at Tu-
neau, and there are mission stations here and
there throughout the interior There is a mis-
sion at Anyk, and one at Andreafski. and
many Eskimos, Indians and Aleuts believe in
that religion.
The Presbyterians have done a great work
in Alaska. The board Of home missions sent
DIR. Sheldon Jackson here about 40 years ago.
He established the Indian training schools at
Sitka and girls home there and in connec-
ton with 5. Hall Young and others organized
missions throughout the Alexander archipe-
lago, including those of Wrangell. Sitka. How
kan and Hanes The farthest north mission
IL Alaska is at Point Barrow 1t does work
among the whalers and the lzskimos, and has
had great influence in that part of the ter
ritory. Altogether the Presbyterians have
about 10 churches. Of which II are for ma
lives. 1t was DR.. Jackson who did most in
the introduction OF the reindeer into Alaska and
thus established stock-raising industry, which
is making many of the Eskimos and Indians
ricll
The Society Of Friends is working in the
far north. 1t has three missions about kotze-
bue sound, which opens out upon the Arctic
ocean Its school there is one of the largest
among the Esltmos and its missions are noted
for their excellent work in training men to take
care of the reindeer.
The work of the Moravians is remarkable
They are in one OF the least known parts OF
Alaska. Their missions are along the Kus-
kokwim river and OH the west coast. The
largest is at Bethel, not far from the mouth Of
Tie river, place until recently reached only by
the native kayaks or skin boats Owing to the
work Of the coast survey, steamers can now 90
up the kuskokwm for hundreds of miles and
the mission supplies can come in on large ships.
The Bethel mission was established moro tI,,,,