Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-01-31

newspaper term meaning "the end"
where the few settlers that were gath
cred then could be assembled together
usually preaching at Virginia City and
Salmon City every other Sunday.
Riggin held the services in the
towns and at the same periods Rev
Van Orsdel would be occupying the
country appointments roundabout. but
his natural bent was for settlement
work in the agricultural regions. Their
circuit, by roundabout way, would
reach from 300 to 400 miles in extent.
The old Rocky Mountain conference
held but one session in Montana in
1876, at which time Riggin was APP
pointed presiding elder of the Helena
district while Brother VAN" stin a
lay preacher, was minister at large.
Rev. Mr.. Riggin was appointed super
intendent OF missions when the first
Montana conference was organized in
1880 with Brother Van" as his field
assistant, and for seven years they
labored together in this fashion.
The Rev. Mr.. Riggin built the first
Protestant church in Butte, organizing
the Mountain View church with three
members, subsequently organizing 9TH
er churches in that city and assisted
in the securing of sites and the erec-
ton of church edifices at Virginia
City, Sheridan, Whitehall, Twin Bridg-
eS, Dillon, Salmon City, Idaho, and
Meadow Greek in the Madison valley.
With Van Orsdel he also organized
churches in the Bitter Root valley as
far up as Hamilton, as well as in
Missoula, making the trip to Missoula
400 miles by horseback to hold services
when the church had but one mem
Der. During those days it was nothing
for either Riggin or Van Ors-
lei to travel 200 to 300 miles on horse
Jack or by buggy to conduct a funeral.
There was scarcely a farmhouse in the
erritory to which they were not well
;ome and the early settlers cooper
tied with them most fully in their
york.
PASTOR at Great Falls
The Rev. Mr.. Riggin and Brother
Tan" went into northern Montana in !
1877 and 1888 when they took over
he work at Fort Benton and along
he Great Northern railway to Da-
,ota. The Rev. Mr.. Riggin was the
irst residential pastor at Great Falls. |
md raised the funds for the erection |
Il building upon a site donated by
he townsite company. He was again
tationed at Great Falls in 1894-1895 |
When he organized the Warren Meth
dist church on the west side.
During 1896 and 1897 the Rev. Mr..
Siggin was superintendent Of the
North Montana mission, at which time
re introduced the deaconeSs work and
'uilt the first DeaconeSs hospital in
Great Falls with funds borrowed from
!. b. Hamilton of Great Falls.
The early ministry Of these two
'reachers has only been equaled in
he early period of Methodism in other
ocalties. The success of their early
york together was the cause OF their |
emaining so long In the west.
Riggin retired in 1912 while Brother |
Fan" continued his labors until the
llness which preceded his death at |
treat Falls, Dec. 10, 1919. Those two
PREACHERS had seen the work In Mon
ana grow from four or five preachers
o 100 or more, and the small churches
row from few in number to mem
erships of 1000 or more. They had |
rganized the church In Great Falls
nth two members, that in Billings
nth two members while all the other
reat churches of the present time
7ere either schoolhouse appointments
r little village congregations.
Their early trips, while fraught with
lore or less labor and discomfort,
ad their humorous sides. These trips
vere usually taken on horseback along
he mountain trails In isolated parts
T the state. On their first trip to
Ialmon City, Idaho, they stopped at
be foot of the continental divide be-
ween Idaho and Montana at a way
de inn maintained by a Mr.. Hamil-
IN, a typical old-timer. There were
lree in the party, the third being
II. Lockridge, a layman. without IN
Jrming the innkeeper who they were
ley obtained accommodations and
ne following morning asked the
mount Of their bill, whereupon the
lnkeeper said:
gamblers or Preachers
Gentlemen, have been wondering
no you fellows might be. I am i'm
ressed that you either are gamblers
preachers. Nobody wears a billed
lirt in this locality except those two
asses Of men. NOW, If you are gam-
ers want the fun price, think