The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1919-03-20
Will We Do It?

NV S''oN wv io6 NuDhho VA lu~
Harmony Mission family We
learned accidentally that he would be
willing to sell the thirty acres upon
which was situate the cabin homes,
the school building and other do
mestic improvements. the large well.
at reasonable price. He also called
attention to the fact that the public
road running directly south from
Mission Branch school house could
be readily and without expense, ex-
tended. south and east to junction
with the main public road running
north from Papinsville, passing
through the said thirty acres. This
would open this historic spot to the
public, and it would be readily ac-
cessible from Butler and all points
north; from Rich Hill and all points
west; from Rockville and all points
east. 1t would be delightful auto
drive for Butler people who could go
down over Shuster hill, or the low
line route through the Kern-Allison
ranch, pass out via the village of
Papmsvile, thence over the ancient
bridge across the Marais DIES Cygnes
TO Rich Hill, and home. The people
OF Rich Hill could go over via Pap
insville, visit this historic ground and
return by the iron bridge route. In
cidentally. the sight seers might visit
iIalley's Bluff and the seat of Chou
teau's American Fur Company at
Rapids de Kaw.
do not know any place more APP
|pealing i'll this section OF Missouri
for days outing than this trip sug-
gcsts; but can not go into that fea~
ture.
! have no franchise on these col
umns; and hence can use only such
space y" forhearance and courtesy
permits me. But III this connection
would like to burn into the minds of
some good people in this commune
ity thought or two.
Harmony Mission was established
nlncty-eight years ago next August
This was then a land OF wild In
dians. wild buffaloes, wild bears. wild
, turkeys, wild everything! -- even
glorious wild flowers and wild
strawberries 1t was then, as now, a
glorious country: but - it was
heather and Goddess.
The consccrated Missionaries
came to redeem the heathen. They
were backed and sustained by great
church organization called the Unit
Jed Foreign Missionary Society--notc
that word Foreign with the Ges
r'"' in one hand and school books in
the other. they came to Chris,ianize
and educate the wild children of
darkness, and to bring them into the
light of the Gospel and relation to
|cSns Christ. For about thirteen
years these devoted men and women,
with their small children and their
youth. resided on these premises and
wrought nightly for the Master. 1t
is 4 touching story when it is told;
but | can not tell it here.
This first settlement of pale
faces" in all this boundless South
west is the greatest and most far
reaching single TACT in the history Of
Bates county, It was Presbyterian
family-in all the reports the word
Family is printed with a capital +.
From this first planting of the Cos
Ell in this heather land--this for
eign country-ultimately arose the
Usage Presbytery OF the Presbyter-
ian church, later absorbed by or in
to the Kansas City Prcsbytery; and
it is shameful to think how nearly
the consecrated and effective labors
OF such pioneers as DR.. Amasa Jones
and w. c. Requa are forgotten by
this generation. | might go on by
lodging the bludgeon OF the editor,
and try to touch the hearts of those
who are today in many ways the re-
cipents OF the labor of the Joneses,
Requas. Dodges, PiXley's and Mont
gomerys. by all appeal wholly within
historic facts: but must be content.
for the present, to make my point
and quit
Why not get a few men and wo-
men together and organize a society |
for the purpose of recovering this |
historic ground for the public, re- |
store it by rebuilding at least one or
more OF the Missionary cabins. erect
ingGa suitable monument. and other
wise make it place of public resort |
and interest: and so preserve it his
toricAly to athc honor and glory Of
this generation. We could thus per-
petuate tne memory OI tnoSe WIN
sacrificed so much for the establish
nient OF Christian civilization right
here under our noses, and at the |
same time hand forward to the COM
ing generation at least some evil
dence of our appreciation OF the
heros and heroines who first planted
and nurtured Christianity in this
great county,
1t would not take much money to
do all that ought to be done. 1t can
easily be made beautiful resort and
the most interesting place in Bates
But why say more to the
needless herd' throw this out as
bread upon the waters. If the church
is Indifferent, the members of the
State Historical Society might get
busy on this proposition. The Mis-
,ionaries settled on the banks of the
Marais des Cygnes just four days be.
ore Missouri became State and
he called the place Harmony
w. o. Atkeson.
Allies to Share Proceeds From the
Sale of U-Boats.