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but even that is far from what they expected three or four weeks ago.

I believe the outlook is promising and encouraging at Sterling, but we are going to have a great deal to contend with here at Steele, for a few months at any rate. If we can get the local option law passed this fall, there will be some hope for the place; if not, the prospect will not be by any means bright.

MELLETTE, D. T.

REV. A. W. CLAYTON.

The past three months have been the most prosperous of all the year for the church at Mellette. At our last communion service four new members were added on profession of faith. Our congregations have been remarkably good every Sabbath. The Sabbath-school organized last February has been increasing in interest and numbers. We have an average attendance of between thirty and forty scholars, and regard this as one of the most promising features for the future prosperity of the church.

The congregations at Sims School-house continue about the same as usual, and the Sabbath-school has a very healthy influence on the community. I have been unanimously invited to labor on this charge another year, and have concluded to do so, with the endorsement of the Presbytery of Aberdeen.

We shall have to call upon the Board for nearly the same amount as last year. Owing to the failure of last year's crops, the people are poor, yet they seem willing to do all they possibly can. The outlook in this region of country promises an average yield, but no more. Upon the whole, I feel much encouraged to labor on with renewed zeal and greater activity in this good cause.

STEVENSVILLE, MONTANA.

REV. EDWIN M. ELLIS.

We are still pressing on. Another church was organized this quarter, this time at Grantsdale, which is soon to be the terminus of a new railroad. The road will probably be completed by fall. Eleven have been received into the church thus far this quarter, and two infants were baptized.

We are busily engaged this summer in erecting a house of worship for the Grantsdale church. All hands are busy at work. Seldom has there

been more united, earnest effort on the part of so many in such work anywhere as at that place. We expect to complete the church by the first of September. Among the interesting experiences of your missionary this quarter is the one of his camping out again. Important matters of church work required him to travel eight miles after dark to the home of a Christian brother. Of course the missionary arrived very late. He put up his horse by "picketing" him out, without attempting to waken the family, and then gently knocked at the door and listened, but there was no sound within. A louder knock and another listening resulted in a similar way. Louder knocks and longer, but still no one roused within. We listened for even one lone snore to break the stillness, but none was heard. All was still save the gentle rustling of the leaves, and the contented, happy grunts from a "burch" of some fifty pigs in the neighboring

pen.

Prolonged knocking with one hand, and a vigorous shaking of the door with the other, echoed on the nightly air, and died away in silence, an unpropitious silence as it were, that betokened no comfortable rest for a weary traveller. "We tried, tried again," but all in vain. A large freight wagon stood in the yard, with a handful of straw on the bottom for our bed. A feed of oats in a bag from our carriage was the pillow. Two handkerchiefs were our sleeping caps. Our overcoats and the side curtains of our carriage were the blankets, the star-bejewelled sky our roof, and the King of kings our guardian angel, whose holy name we thanked and praised in that we had where to lay our head, and then dropped away into refreshing sleep till suddenly aroused by "Mister, can I get these gum boots under your head?" and then the good brother's hand seized our pillow, remarking with a laugh, "Oh, these are oats, arn't they? Well, what in the world are you doing here, anyway, Brother Ellis ?" 'Getting ready for another day's work for the Lord; what are you doing?" was our reply. At which he laughed and explained that he and his family were sleeping in the granary nowadays.

Can you not send another man to this field? Here are now four organized churches and only one man to minister to their wants. The labor is too much for one man to do. Please get somebody to come over into Bitter Root Valley and help us.

[We would gladly correspond with any who may be seeking work in a new and growing field of labor.]

EUGENE CITY, OREGON.

REV. GEORGE A. M'KINLAY.

This is the only Presbyterian church in Lane county, a county nearly as large as Vermont and not unlike it in shape. I have often thought there must be many people living in its uplands and valleys without the gospel, and my attention has been called to the possibilities of our being able to supply destitute regions. With this in view I spent part of a week in Junction and Harrisburg stations, fifteen to twenty miles away on the railroad to Portland. I spoke at each place on temperance to small audiences, and ascertained as well as I could the religious needs and their supply.

At Harrisburg they have five hundred people, with a Methodist Episcopal South Church building abandoned, though in good condition. A Campbellite building also, where a Sabbath-school is held, and preaching about once in two weeks by that people and the Methodist Episcopal North alternating. A Universalist preacher has preached there too till people quit coming to hear him. Two doctors live here, belonging to the Cumberland church, lately disbanded, who are anxious for earnest religious work to be done. One is a large landholder, and could aid materially if the work suited him. They would probably go in with us in an effort. Unbelief, spiritualism and liquor have thoroughly impregnated the community, till the better portion have given up disheartened or moved away. Anything done here would require a long, tireless effort, but would repay the toil, as it is a well-to-do locality, being in the centre of a rich farming region.

Junction is this way five miles across the Willamette river, located even in a better region; has five hundred people too, and will probably be the end of the railroad division, with round-house, machine shops and a branch from Corvallis built as soon as the new management can effect it. They have one house of worship, belonging to the Cumberland Presbyterians, though used by all denominations. Preaching there now every Sabbath, which seems to be about the only obstacle to our going in. The Cumberland Presbyterian is the only resident minister. The Cumberlands have

only seven members, while we have six families and perhaps a dozen members in and about the place. Two men stand ready to give $75 to $100 a year toward the support of a resident minister they liked. One could live there and preach at Harrisburg and around, and with possibly $400 and not more than $500 to start on from the Board, get a support on a salary of $800. If you know a young home missionary with pluck and common sense who would like such a work as this in the fairest part of our fair western Oregon, send him on. I don't know of a more inviting field where we could have almost our own way than at Junction and Harrisburg.

Our own work in Eugene has gone on after the usual sort. Congregations have kept up well, and the members are united and hopeful.

NAPAVINE, WASH. TER.

REV. T. BROUILLETTE.

This quarter has seemed like a very short one. A few trips to this part of the country and a few to that, a few services held here and a few there, and three months have gone before we have realized it, leaving much undone that we should like to have done. Still, by the grace of God, we have been permitted to do something, and we feel that our labors have not been without fruit. Five Sabbathschools have been watched over and strengthened from time to time, according to our opportunities, and five preaching stations have been supplied regularly. This is simply said, but yet it implies very much and very exhausting work. It means walking and horseback riding more than one-half of the time. It means sleeping in a different bed every night one is out, or about one-half of the time. It means sleeping in barns and sheds with little covering and much vermin to keep one in an active frame of mind and body, while the rest of mankind slumbers peacefully. And it means that he who is commissioned to perform this species of labor does not by any means live or fare sumptuously every day."

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But, blessed be the Lord, it means souls won to Christ; it means the establishment of his kingdom in these uttermost parts of the earth; it means a consciousness of being in the service of our glorious King, and it means a sense of his approbation and blessing. And that is greater reward than the world can give, and happiness of a kind that the world knows not of

Our mission stations are growing little by little, and it is my opinion that the growth will continue year by year until even this agricultural district shall become self-supporting. When that state of the church here shall be depends upon circumstances over which the missionary can have but little control. The problem will be solved largely by the tide of immigration and the general prosperity of the country. Both these elements are at the present time quite encouraging. And whenever we become sufficiently populous to invite (and to some extent guarantee) the prosperity of creameries, cheese factories, woollen factories, as well as factories for making boots and shoes, wagons and farming implements, we shall have money in circulation and people can contribute freely toward the support of the gospel, and then stop begging. But so long as we depend upon eastern factories for everything that we consume and use on the farm; so long as we must pay enormous freights for everything we use, except food; so long as we are compelled to satisfy a host of hungry middle

men,

‚—we cannot expect our farming population to rely upon themselves alone in the support of the ministry. They can, and do, give us meat, potatoes, oats and hay. At least some can do that much, whilst very many can do nothing; for they raise as yet, on their new farms in the woods, hardly enough for their own use.

But we think we see the good time coming. We hear them talk of creameries and cheese factories, and of clothes factories, and therefore, if these signs of the times do not deceive us, we may before very long be self-sustaining. The Lord hasten the time. Meanwhile, God bless and prosper our Home Board.

NORTH YAKIMA, WASH. TER.

REV. F. F. YOUNG.

I love to report to you, for it renews the impression of the truth that I am not alone in this work, and that the whole church is watching my feeble efforts with interest, and anxiously awaiting the manifestations of God's power in my work.

I commenced this work soon after the meeting of Presbytery, but have not been able to do as much as I ought to have done, because of sickness in my family, and the taking of a severe cold myself by walking over the Cascade Mountains between the ends of the uncompleted Switchback. But now the road is completed, I and my family are

well, and I will bring them here as soon as I can They are now on the other side of the Cascade Range, where we first intended to remain, near Tacoma, and where Brothers Mackay and Strange wished me to stay; but this field having been so neglected, and their request being so urgent and the place so important, I was persuaded to come here, although getting my family here and settled again is very expensive.

I preach at Yakima and two stations. At Yakima in our church every Sunday; at the Eureka school-house once in two weeks; in the Natches valley, fourteen miles from town, and am to preach at a school-house in the Moxie valley once in two weeks, fifteen miles from town by the only road.

North Yakima is now growing, and the sur rounding country is rich and improving fast. There are some of the richest valleys in the territory that are tributary to this place, as they all concentrate in the Yakima valley at this place, and this is the county seat of Yakima county. They claim a population of 1600. Both the Natches and Moxie stations are Scotch Presbyterian settlements.

I am sure the Lord has blessed and will yet more abundantly bless my labors here. I only find ten members to this church, and only three of those living in the city; but there are others to join, and a goodly number of adherents, and I think the outlook is good and promises well.

VINITA, IND. TER.

A. W. FOREMAN, M.D., ELDER.

The outlook for our church in the Cherokee nation is bright indeed. It seems to me that the words "Go in and possess the land" are very applicable to the Presbyterian Church to-day. I am a Presbyterian by birth (a son of the Rev. Stephen Foreman) and choice, and a Cherokee by blood. Is the church ready to obey the command? I believe she is, at least to the extent of her ability.

There are a number of fields, if not ready for the harvest, certainly ready for cultivation and seedsowing. The seed furnished by the Presbyterian Church is well adapted to this soil, as has been fully shown by the ingathered harvest of bygone days, as well as by its reproductiveness. In my medical practice I meet quite a number of persons who have sat under the preaching of the missionaries of our church, who request me to send our minister to their community and hold meetings

with a view of opening the way for continued work among them. We comply as often as we can without neglecting our home work. A distinctive work on this line is lasting in its results. Too much care cannot be exercised in selecting men to do pioneer work and organize churches. It is well to multiply churches if they are cared for, but not otherwise.

The men or churches who do a permanent work on this line are the ones who will gain and hold the confidence of the Indian people. Can the Board give us at least two men, or more if we can have them, to help us hold our present fields and enter upon the cultivation of others?

A word as to our own (Vinita) work. Contrasted with a year ago, we have made quite steady progress. Then we were discouraged, divided; now united and in a limited sense a working church. Our minister, ever ready to aid and advise, declines to do our work for us. Especially is this true in reference to our trustee and elders' work. We are becoming more self-reliant, straining every nerve to meet our current expenses as they become due. We are learners in giving and in helping ourselves. Our people are mostly in moderate circumstances. As a church we are reaching the poorer classes. Our Sunday-school observed Children's Day.

EAGLE TOWN, CHOCTAW NATION, I. T.

REV. JAMES DYER.

At the Wheelock Presbytery I was placed in charge of the work of Mountain Fork, Big Lick and Mt. Zion churches. Mountain Fork church has three preaching stations-Buck Creek, three miles from my house; Good Water, eleven miles; and Hocha Town, twenty miles. Big Lick church is forty-six miles from my house, and Mt. Zion church is fifty-eight miles from my house, and to attend my appointments at these two last-named places I have to pass through a wilderness country and over high and steep mountains without any road.

I filled all my appointments during the year, and had many good meetings at all the places. I took up collections at all my meetings, but the collections were very small on account of drought that prevailed over our country last year.

During the year I received in connection with my work twenty-four adult members by profession,

and baptized thirty-eight children, besides restoring many backsliders.

We have organized one Sunday-school in connection with Mountain Fork church, with an average attendance of about forty; whole number connected with Sunday-school, eighty-six.

I was very much disappointed in not getting my salary as formerly, and my family would have suffered had it not been for the kindness of my merchant, for the want of food is distressingly great among my people this year on account of the failure of crops last year. My health was very good during the time above reported, but at present I am just recovering from a very severe sickness, brought on by exposure in trying to serve my far-away churches, as I have to swim the deep streams and lie out on the damp ground at night. When I am out from home on preaching tours I never have any better bed than the blanket that I carry with me, for my people have no comfortable lodging to offer me. I do not mind that, for the blessed gospel of Christ has done so much for me and my people that I am not content unless engaged in preaching it. I know that my people cannot come to the full measure of civilization or attain to eternal life without Christianity.

HOME MISSION APPOINTMENTS FOR JULY, 1887.
Rev. W. E. Cobb, Mt. Nebo and York Furnace,
Rev. J. A. B. Oglevee, Conklingville,
Rev. D. Macdougall, Taunton,

Rev. R. Macquesten, Fall River, Westminster,
Rev. F. R. Wade, Ellicottville,
Rev. W. I. Sweet, Fair Haven,
Rev. J. H. Sargent, Peru,

Rev. G. S. Swezey, Stone Church,
Rev. F. E. Allen, Selden,

Rev. A. W. Hallock, Holbrook and vicinity,
Rev. J. S. Brockington, Speonk and Brookfield,
Rev. F. W. Cutler, Wood Haven,
Rev. J. Miner, Malden,

Rev. W. Fry, Shavertown,
Rev. J. S. Root, Rochester, Emmanuel,
Rev. N. B. Andrews, Leray and Plessis,

Rev. S. P. Heron, Dekalb and Dekalb Junction,
Rev. R. P. Gibson, Somers,

Rev. E. S. Schenck, North Salem,
Rev. J. C. Barr, Monaghan,

Rev. J. B. Caruthers, Brockwayville and Elkton,
Rev. H. Webster, Fairview,

Rev. J. A. Muir, Bangor,

Rev. D. Kennedy, St. Mary's, Shiloh,

Rev. P. B. Van Syckel, Leidytown and Chalfont,
Rev. T. Thompson, Lancaster, Memorial,
Rev. R. H. Williams, Annapolis,
Rev. J. M. Nourse, Alexandria, 1st,
Rev. J. H. Potter, Eustis,

Rev. C. C. Gould, Ebenezer, Murphyville and Valley,
Rev. A. W. McConnell, Falmouth and New Concord,
Rev. W. P. Nicholas, Williamstown and Burlington,
Rev. W. O. Good loe, Greenup,

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