The Daily Missoulian., 1918-04-15
HONOR SOLDIERS
AND old PASTOR
Meth0dists Hold Impressive
Service in Tribute to
DR.. Tiff.
UNFURL SERVICE FLAG
% Boys and One Girl Serve
Country in War; Take
Loyalty Oath.
UNFURL SERVICE FLAG

Thomas G. Tiff, the first pastor, and
the members of the congregation now
serving their country in the field were
held at the First Methodist church
yesterday.
The memorial services for DR.. Tiff,
who founded the church here in 1871,
were held In the morning, with Rev.
". w. Van Orsdel. Rev. Jacob Mills,
Mrs. Emma c. Dickinson and Rev.
Charles D. Crouch speaking In eulogy
OF the pioneer preacher
The patriotic meeting was held in
the evening. 1t was marked by the un-
furling of the church's service flag.
bearing % stars and one red cross, and
the singing Of national hymns.
Both meetings We're attended by
large crowds and were unusually i'm
pressive.
Pioneers Tell Of Former Pastor.
DIR. Van Orsdell and Mrs. Dickinson
gave the principal talks at the morn
ing meeting. The latter Is the only
surviving member of the little congre-
cation which heard DR.. lifts first
sermon here. Brother Van" as Dr.
Van Orsdell Is known, was Dr. lifts
companion in pioneer missionary work
! III Montana Territory.
Mrs. Dickinson came to Missoula two
years before the Methodist church was
organized. She spoke briefly Of those
early days and of the organization Of
the church.
Courthouse Only Meeting Place.
There was neither church nor
school house In Missoua when Brother
Tiff came here" she said THE court
house was the only place then for gath
crings of any kind. Brother Comfort
had preached there in 1859 the first
protestant preacher in this part Of the
territory.
Brother Tiff and his bride arrived
In 1871. and Immediately arrangements
were made for the building of a church.
Mr.. Tiff himself donned overalls that
summer and worked with the other
laborers to erect the building.
Seven Members in First Church.
Mrs. Dana and were the only
members of the Methodist church here
az that time. and when the church was
organized there were seven charter
members.
In the fall of II Mr.. Dickinson and
] were married by Brother Tiff. Ours
was the first marriage by protestant
preacher in Montana, west of Deer
Lodge
Brother .Iliff and his wife sang
themselves into the hearts of the
people. They brought the Moody
hymns. then new. with them and used
70 sit on their porch and sing them,
to the delight of us all. In our social
gatherings he was always the one who
made the most fun. He was Il we'll
loved man."
eraved Frontier Hardships.
DR.. Van Orsdell paid an eloquent
tribute to his former companion.
Nearly 90 years have passed since
hs came to this then new frontier and
braved the hardships in a most heroic
manner" he said. "He never faltered
always ready. no matter how difficult
the task. Is there a chance to do good
Hnd save souls? This to him was para
mount to all else. He, under God. was
great leader, not only Of the Meth
Odi5ts, but to all Christendom,
Dedicated 500 Churches.
During his ministry, because of his
ability In raising funds, he either dcdi :
Gated or assisted in dedicating over
b0O churches and raised over SO ,oOO, 900
Tor that purpose.
In the early history of the territory.
before railroads, we made long Jour-
neys together, sometimes by stage
coach. At different times we took our
IVes IN our hands. as 1t were, i'm cross
Ing rivers and dangerous mountain
streams. and sometimes amidst hostile
Indians was often the first to hold
christian service in some frontier set
tlement"
Associates Pay Tributes.
DIR, Jacob Mills. who came to Mon
tana ten years after Or. Tiff. told of
MS experiences with the pioneer. and
testified to the power of his preach
ing and the purity of his gospel. DIR.
Grouch, pastor of the church. added his
tribute, remarking that DR.. Tiff was
the 'irst protestant preacher he ever
neard and that the influence Of his
preaching changed his life.
Service Flag Unfurled.
At the evening services the church
service flag was unfurled with the
stars and Stripes at the conclusion of
q patriotic service.
As the flags We're let down the Boy
Scouts OF the church stood at attention
and the congregation sang God Bless
Onr Men, During the singing of the
second stanza the audience raised right
hands in a pledge to stand by our
men," and at the conclusion all re-
pested the oath of allegiance.
Twenty-three boys from the church
ere serving with the colors, and the
flag bears also red cross in honor of
Aaiss Zola Clark. who Is q Red Cross
nurse at the Presiiio.
The flags were unfurled by the two
little children OF Judge and Mrs. John
r Patterson. The boy wore khaki and
the girl the uniform Of q Red Cross
\ nurse.
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