Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-09-20

While Methodism In Montana dates
back TO the winter Of 1863-64 when
few Methodists who had drifted intc
Virginia City met for prayer services
and to the year 1854 when a church
was organized at Virginia City, 1t was
not until 10 years later that pioneer
Methodist ministers and missionaries
of the territory met in Helena for their
first district conference, TO be known
as the First district conference OF the
Methodist Episcopal church Of the
Rocky Mountain Conference.
This meeting was attended by most
of the Methodist missionaries working
In the territory, including the Rever-
ends T. G. Tiff, j. A. Van Anda, W. q
Shipper, F. A. Riggin and w. W. van
Orsdel. During this meeting Of plo-
neer churchmen the group photograph
above, was taken. OF these five, only
one is now living, the Rev. F. A. Rig
gin. who resides at Barr, in the north
ern part of the state.
The meeting opened January 70,
1874, and continued for two days. There
was but one layman present, Thomas
Lochridge, Of Bannack, but the Rev.
w. G. Rommel, Presbyterian min
lister, was invited to participate in the
conference.
The Rev. J. A. Van Anda presided
over the conference, while the Rev.
F. A. Riggin was elected secretary and
historian Of the Montana district.
Travelled 1900 Miles
In the reports Of the work performed
during the previous year by the va
rious ministers it was shown that the
Rev. Mr.. Riggin had Travelled 1000
miles on horseback and IS miles on
foot to reach the various congregations
in his charge, had preached 100 times,
had baptized q persons, and, In COM
pany with his colleague, the Rev. w. w.
Van Orsdel, who even in that early
day was referred to in the conference
minutes as BRO. Van," had enjoyed
gracious revivals, nearly 100 being
converted, and a strong feeling being
manifested among the people"
The Rev Mr.. Riggin, whose location
was then at Sheridan, reported that
his circuit was 215 miles through, and
600 miles around, with church mem
bership of 1874, additions Of 100, ag-
gregate congregations 1000, and eight
Sunday schools.
BRO. Van" reported that he felt
very joyful in his ministerial labors
with his excellent colleague; his faith
was strong and his soul happy"
The Rev. Mr.. Tiff, of Bozeman, re-
ported a membership Of "a with ~ adj
ditions, an average attendance of $50
and a Sunday school of about 100. He
said there was a great prosperity In
the Sunday school and promising pros
poets for the future in his charge.
The Rev. Mr.. Shipper, OF Helena,
reported a steady increase in his con-
gregations; Sabbath school prosperous;
that he had held one protracted meet
ing with good results, five conversions
and II accessions, and that the spir1-
tllaI interest was increasing.
The Rev. Hugh Duncan, Of Deer
Lodge. who was not present at the
opening of the conference, reported a
membership of is with seven additions
during the year, and average congre-
gational attendance Of 70 and an av-
erage Sunday school Of 80.
Craig Preached Sermons
In the printed minutes Of the Sew
enth annual session Of the Montana
mission of the Methodist Episcopal
church, held al. Bozeman in 1886, is a
brief early history of the Methodist
church in Montana written by the
Rev. Hugh Duncan, from which ex-
tracts are taken as follows:
"a. I find that q brother by the
name of Craig was the first preacher
of ours in this territory. I am as
sured his first sermon was preached
in Bannack, January 10, 1864. What
Brother Craig held in our
church am unable to say, but find
that in addition to preaching the word,
he also performed marriage ceremo-
MES.
"Ihe following spring a brother by
the name of Thompson commenced
holding regular services, which he con-
tinued to do until the spring Of 1865.
About the first of June, 1854, a COM
pany of brethren consisting Of William
James, Elijah Harris, Roberts and Ber-
rynan came to Alder Gulch from Boise