The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-02-19
PLAN MEMORIAL
TO VAN ORSDEL
METHODISTS TO ERECT BUILD
ING IN HONOR OF PIONEER
MISSIONARY
Hundreds Have Voiced Their Will
ingness to Support the Building of
a Memorial to Brother Van;"
Rev. John Chirgwin Will Under
take to Finance Memorial.

A 100000 memorial building in
honor of the memory of Rev. w. w.
Van Orsdel will be constructed on the
school in the Helena valley, as a re-
suit of a decision reached by Metho-
dists. The memorial building rested
with either Montana Wesleyan or the
Deaconess school, but it has been def
initely decided to give it to the
school.
Rev. John Chirgwin has been sell
ected to take charge of the campaign
for the funds and will make it state
wide. Hundreds have voiced their
willingness to support the building
of a memorial in honor of the pioneer
missionary and others willing to
contribute now and boost the move
ment are requested to communicate
with Rev. Chirgwin.
More Room Imperative
Need of more room at the Dea-
coness school is imperative, accord
ing to Mr.. Chirgwin. He says as
many children were turned away last
September as were in the school, ow-
ing to the lack of space. For three
years, the school has been running
at crowded capacity, he states, and
another building is necessary, if the
school is to keep pace with the
growth of the state.
The school was conceived by "Bro.
VAN and Miss Louise Stork, a dea-
coness, then in Montana, and others
associated with them in the work of
the M. E. church. They established
the school for children under the
management of the deaconesses of
the M. e. church to give them the
conditions of both home and school
under Christian influences, there be-
ing nothing in this or adjoining
states under Protestant management
calculated to fill such a position in
the development of the youth.
One of the factors leading up to
the ultimate success of the plan was
the sorrow and regret expressed at
the sight of the university building
in the valley and the desire to put
the property to some use. 1t was
considered ideal for the establish
ment of such a school as the one pro-
posed. Arrangements were made
with the Montana wesleyan univer-
sity for a 20-year lease upon the pro-
perty, which since has been purchas-
ed and on July 8, 1909, the Montana
Deaconess preparatory school was
incorporated and the school opened
in September of that year.
Statement of Campaign
From that time on the progress of
the school has been forward and its
influence has been felt throughout
the state. OF late years, the facili-
ties for handling scholars have been
Inadequate to meet the demand. In
announcing the campaign, the follow
statement vas authorized:
1--WE must have more room, and
the death of our brother and
,o-worker, a movement has been
to erect upon the campus a
1ew building as a memorial to Bro
her Van.
1--WE feel that our record for the
,ast ten years and the large place
school is filling in it's own uni
Tue position among the educational
Institutions of the state, entitle US
the fullest consideration and sup
'ort from all, not alone from those
Who would rejoice to see the memory
# u beloved brother perpetuated,
tut as well from those who are in
crested in the welfare of the chill
lren of this great state, whose train
ng In such an institution with its
christian influence cannot but fit
hem to take their places among the
'est qualified leaders of the thought
nd action in the time so neal at
land when the qualities of right and
must prevail in the adjust
nent of present conditions"