Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-09-09

dent in Boston, Mass, dissatisfied with
being a preacher in a small New England
factory town. He wanted to 60 out west
where he wouldn't be hedged in by
small minds. The tendency of his n
~gregation to thwart every proposal he
before" became very distasteful to him.
So finally he packed his grip n went
to Montana-"out where the west
begins"
What Mecklenburg Sought
Some idea of what Mr.. Mecklenburg
sought in the west is to be found in his
words: Out where civilization is new.
Out where there are nc backgrounds,
and no stultifying traditions. Out where
men dare to disbelieve. Where men dare
to believe. Out where religion must
stand on its w feet. Out where the
church is not endowed or supported by a
few rich families. Where men will not
walk across the street to hear a man just
because he is a minister, but where they
go miles to hear a man with a message
from God"
After coming to Montana, Mr.. Mecklen-
burg was assigned to Waller in What Is
now Pondera county. He couldn't fnd
the town on the map, and made this fact
known to one of the veteran preachers at
the conference, whereupon he was told:
"Map-makers can't keep up to the rapid
growth OF this state. We grow cities over
night out here"
Of hat year. had been a piece of bound
less, stakeless prairie. BY fall, when Mr..
Mecklenburg arrived, 1t had a population
of ZOO people. Half of the people lived
in tents and temporary shacks.
Montana 16 Years Ago
His advent to his first pastorate in
Montana is interesting enough to be re-
lated here. 1t is a sidelight on Montana
life 16 years ago which will be Of histori-
cal Importance as time goes on. Mr..
Mecklenburg, writing in the third person,
says:
HE stepped off the train. Alone, I'M
known, unheralded, unwanted. And 1t
continued to rain. There was no paving,
no sidewalk. Mud. mud, mud, six inches
deep everywhere. The sound Of the ham
mer was everywhere. Everybody was
building houses. Little bungalow houses.
Built for the day only. No one expected
to stay long. Get rich quick and go
back east. That was In the air. And 1T
continued to rain. 1t had rained for two
days.
mot knowing anyone, he stepped into
the Big Store There he picked out a
kin~dly-looking clerk and him
self as the new preacher. The clerk
shrugged his shoulders and said, That's
So and went of waiting on a customer.
1.-THE people were in a ~feverish rush.
Nobody noticed anyone being new. All
were new. Nobody knew anybody else.
All were rushing for themselves. Every
thing was high priced, money was easy,
wages were high; and the future seemed
bright. Everybody predicted Waller would
have $4,000 people in two years. Get
land, buy lots, grab now when the grab
bling is good These thoughts were in
everyone's mind.
Hotel Overlooking
Then he went to the hotel. There is
no more interesting institution tina a
western hotel, or any small town hotel
for that matter. This was a big hotel.
1t wa built by the boom An eastern
company was booming the city and SELL
ing irrigated lane in 40-acre lots. The
company owned every lot in the city to
begin with. This company spent a mint
OF money in advertising the project as
they called 1t.
Though the hotel was big. there was
nc room in the inn for the new preach
err. In two weeks we may have a room
for YOU said the curt clerk at the desk.
A great land-selling Labor day celebra-
ton was being promoted. People had
come from every state in the Union.
There was never a more cosmopolitan
group assembled this side of heaven. The
preached discovered later thai this city
" A,ooo ilau iou SoiitBc graduates AAc
flower OF adventure loving America was
there.
What would the preacher do2 Where
would he sleep2 He could not inc a
soul Interested in his coming or in his
work.
THE city had built a church. No
great city, they said. could be without a
church And 1t was to be one church.
No conflict If denomination Ia this new
city. Catholic or Protestant was all the
same TO the city boosters. To get @