Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-28
WOMANNLLS
lCentinued Fron, Page u

SO0ntAmu eu 1EDM EW8S -
Of the strongest and most influential
units Of the church in the state.
His service among his parishioners
0 0 brought him the name of the
Bishop Of All Outdoors" Indians,
cowmen, women of the plains and
homesteaders all shared in the con-
fidence placed in the rector and they
attached the unusual cognomen to
him because his service was always to
be depended upon, because be fought
for them until the last ditch and be-
cause he was always ready to stake
with confidence any one who needed
a friend, despite adverse criticism Or
effect on his personal reputation or
happiness.
Those who knew the Rev. Mr..
Christler credited him with being a
MAI among men. For an fastener. he
rapidly assimilated the spirit and ideas
of the west and he made even the
most God-defying character respect
and like him. He spread the gospel
by deed as well as tongue and the
story is told of him that he once i'm
pressed upon a blaekguard. who had
berated his church, that he could carry
home his ideas of Christianity with the
force of his fists.
A Fighting Preacher
While especially on good terms with
everybody, there were occasions when
the Bishop of All Outdoors" found
it Imperative to put upon the words
of the Great Teacher, Unto him that
smiteth thee on the one cheek, of
fer also the other" just exactly the
Interpretation intended. that is. so
the rector said, when with your adj
versary, exercise of reasonable degree
of patience, but after that the scrip
ture is silent; them hit between the
eyes
Mingling among the passengers on
d ''skiddoo train one day enroute
to a mission station to hold services,
a couple of rough fellows took occa-
sion to BLACKBOARD the clergy and the
church in general. These remarks
aroused the ire of the rector and ris-
ing from his seat, he took hold Of the
necks of the b1asphemers and said:
Now, fellows, you have shoveled
into my face about all the corral dust
| am going to stand. A reasonable
pdilcItC Will NOu Il AdfE CAcEIiScI-
Either you fellows or the parson viii
take the damnedest licking ever ad-
ministered."
The rector thereupon lifted both
from their feet with uppercuts to
the jaws and they sprawled flat into
the aisle of the coach. Upon recovery
from the folly of their attempt to be-
rate the church. the men ambled back
to the rector and one acting as spokes-
man in a spirit of half apology said:
Say, preacher, where the hell is
your church located, anyhow. We want
more of your hard sense, but in your
regular way. Amt this kind a Bit
i~rreglar?"
Another typical trait of the Bishop
of the All Outdoors" can be found IN
the closing words of his first sermon
in Havre, 10 years ago:
Native of New York
Good Lord, keep me in all my
ministry from becoming a trump or a
pious %nonentity, and grant me SUI
ficient good sense to fall not into the
ways Of the shabby. snobhish or ig-
Of the world in order to be
good and manly"
The Rev. Mr.. Christler was born on
a farm near Union Springs, Cayuga
county. New York, November "a, 1875.
After attending the public schools at
Waterloo, New York, he entered
Brown university. On the completion
of his studies there, he entered St
Andrews seminary at Syracuse, n. Z.
for 8 four-year theological course For
the subsequent four years, the Rev.
Mr.. ChristIer was rector Of the Cal
way Episcopal church at Homer, New
York, and then from 1900 to 1907 was
curate Of st. Peters church st Auburn.
New York. It was there that he met
Mrs. Christler. the daughter OF g
family.
The Rev. Mr.. Christler was a mem
Der of several fraternal organizations,
having membership in all branches Of
the Masonic organization. the Eastern
Star. the Elks. the Eagles, the Knights
of Pythias and the Independent Order
of Eoresters.