The Alaska daily empire., 1917-01-11

hNllflklto Ol LLlG LAlboAOaAeAiNo NNhNAN ed to the Alentian Islands, the main land and as far as Yakutat. Tek- hmenlev in his historical review says that there were about 12,OOO natives baptised in the first few years. The real work of christlanizing the na- tives began with the arrival of Fath. CT John Veniaminof. the real apostle of Alaska and the greatest missionary that ever lived in this Territory
 Taught Handlcrafts
 Father Veniammorf laborel among the natives of the Aleutian Islands for ten years, from 1924 to 1884. Be- ing a practical missionary, he taught the natives all handicrafts, at the same time he undertook the study oG the native language. How well he mastered 1t is seen by the works he left among the people where he labored There Is found the gospel in the Aleutian language, the liturgy and vast number of prayers used in church and at home.
 At Sltka, or New Archangelsky as it was then called, no real work among the natives was seriously at- tempted until the arrival Of Father Veniaminoft in 1884. The Thlinget tribe differed from the Aleuts in appearance as well as in character. They were not acquainted with the Christian religion and were hostile to the Russians which greatly hin. dered the work
 Father Veniaminoff commenced his work among the Thlingets in the same manner that he had done in the Aleutian Islands. He studied their language, customs and beliefs. Then he began to preach the word of God to them. He gave freely of his health and strength. He preach ed in the church and when possible visited them in their homes. The Koloshas learned 10 love their teach CT, to have confidence in him, and began to receive him with a wei come, willingly and attentively listen ing to their lessons. Father Ven laminofr opened schools for the chill dren and taught them from books he had himself compiled.
 Extension Of Church
 Knowing from experience that the field of labor was rapidly growing and beyond the few missionaries in the field, Father Veniaminofr sailed for Russia in 1888 to intarcode with the authorities of the church for the extension or the church aCtiyi- ties.
 On June 25, 1889 he presented his petition to the Holy Synod. The church authorities realizing that they could not find better man than the one before them, consecrated him to the rank of Bishop of Alaska, | giving him the name of Innocent. | On September 27th, after a long and ! tiresome voyage, Bishop Innocent reached Sitka. New strength and i life was inaugurated into the work | of the church and schools were open ed and theological seminarics came | into existence.
 The old church was found to be too dllapidated and the construction of the present cathedral of St. Mich ael the Archangel was started. The corner stone was laid in 1S44 After four years of labor, on November S, 1S4S, the cathedral was dedicated. A few years later a separate church was built for the natives on the line running along the stOckade. This church was dedicated in honor of the Holy Trinity. Among the early and earnest laborers the names of Arch. priest Peter Litvintseff, Father John and Father Jacob Petelin are to be especially mentioned
 Church is Sacked
 The church passed through many trials and misfortunes in the follow Ing years of it's existence. On the l1th day of March, 1855, the Indian Church of the Holy Trinity was sacked and partially destroyed by he Indians who gained entrance by , ligging under the stockade They rrayed themselves in the priests yestments and danced around the The gun fire from the , ,astle battery drove them into the , ,hurch building which protected them or the time. When finally driven I way the interior of the church was ound to be desecrated. The Holy q cons were slashed with knives and I pears, the vestment5 torn and f meared with blood and the secred f essels carried off or bent out of f hape Two years later, on the End t f February after the church had f cen given a thorough renovation, f was again consecrated in honor K f the Holy Trinity. Il
 Preventing Disease |, The clergy of the early Russian a hurch also had much labor and .. leasles broke out and the people |, jed by the three and four daily. N gain in 1853 an epidemic of scur- y ragged in the town and in F 35S typhoid fever made its appear. F lce. In 1862 pneumonia carried off il large number of the citizens. Dur. f, ,p all OF fhesp eDidamics thp nrinsts IT,