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Show Page 47<br><br> lett of Phillips church is the pastor in charge of this work. Rev. George Ritchie has for the past year preached quite regularly at this church, and his services are greatly appreciated by the people. If outside aid could be secured a kindergarten ought at once to be started in connection with this church. Sandy is a smelter town just twelve miles south of Salt Lake City.<br><br> LEHI CONGREGATIONAL MISSION.<br><br> A very successful New West school has for many years been conducted in this settlement. The teachers have teen without exception consecrated Christian workers, carrying on a Sunday school and Christian Endeavor and oftimes conducting an evening service. This mission has never had a resident pastor, but for the past two years, the Congregational pastor at Provo has regularly conducted week night preaching service. It is to be hoped that very soon we may be able to secure more helpers, that more aggressive work may be commenced in this and other mission fields.<br><br> ST. GEORGE.<br><br> Was settled in 1861 by a missionary company sent by Brigham Young. The people came in covered wagons and pitched their tents on the sage-brush plain, and after much suffering and many privations, they have made it a lovely place. Here they built a temple costing over a million dollars, they erected a tabernacle of red sandstone, which is one of the finest in Utah. They planted trees and vines and flowers, and made homes for themselves and their children. Brigham Young had a winter residence here. St. George is situated in a valley nearly surrounded by mountains. It is about eight miles from the Arizona line and is three thousand feet above sea-level, being elevated enough so that it is a luxury to breathe the pure air. The water is alkaline and unhealthy, but the climate is delightful. Figs, almonds, and pomegranates do well, but the trouble is to secure a market for all that is raised. There is a telegraph line, but no railway. The people are Intelligent, and the schools are good. It is the strongest Mormon city in the world. On October 11, 1880, the Presbyterians opened a school in the First ward. A lady by the name of Stephenson had charge of the school and Rev. A. B. Cort preached the Gospel. The school was poorly patronized, and no pupils came regularly, so in November of the same year it was removed to the Third ward. Within a month fourteen pupils were enrolled and there was an average attendance of ten. Mr. Cort was a vigorous, active man who pushed things. He purchased the present mission-house and enlarged it, and planted the seed for the cause of God in St. George. He went over to Washington and purchased the old John D. Lee place, the home of the man, of Mountain Meadow notoriety, and fitted it up for a mission-house. He preached at Silver Reef and Toquerville. Miss Stephenson married and moved to California. Miss Maggie J. Cort, a sister of the missionary, taught for a while. Then Mrs. Blackburn came and remained seven years. She was assisted by her daughter, Miss Nellie Blackburn. Mrs. Blackburn was followed by Miss C. R. Watt, a returned missionary from Africa. She was assisted by Miss Rever. The present incumbents, Rev. G. M. Hardy and wife, reached St. George in October, 1893. They have enrolled seventy day pupils and more than one hundred Sabbath-school scholars. The attendance has been irregular. The Latter-Day Saints are courteous, but frank to say: "We do not want you to teach our children." Our congregations at times are larger than can be accommodated in our hall. We need a church building very much. This mission shows the faith of the Home Mission Board. For fifteen years Presbyterians have kept the work moving and only one soul can tell of the gift of the Holy Spirit as the result of this mission work so far as our knowledge extends, but pupils who have been taught here are scattered over many parts of Utah and Nevada. Our wishes are that the Holy Spirit will fall upon the people and there may be a large harvest of precious souls. One good result from this mission has been an increase of charity among the people, and heaven and eternity may astonish us with revelations of glory and power resulting from the prayers and efforts made in Southern Utah for Christ. GALEN M. HARDY.<br><br> AMERICAN FORK.<br><br> The American Fork Mission was opened by the Rev. George R. Bird in what was then known as Social hall on the 9th of September, 1877. On the 30th of September of the same year the Sabbath-school was organized, with a membership of thirty pupils. On November 27, 1877, the First Presbyterian Church was organized by the authority of the Presbytery, consisting of five members. On December 4, 1877, the first board of trustees was elected, consisting of W. G. Higley, John Bennet and Robert Peters, members of the church; the other two members of which were the pastor's wife and the wife of Mr. Higley. During the following year a small building and lot on Merchant street was secured and the former reconstructed for a chapel by the aid of funds secured from the Board of Church Erection, together with the subscriptions of the members and other local friends of the church, amounting in all to $754. In 1879 this chapel was replaced by a new one, built with funds secured in a similar manner at an outlay of $352. On the 25th of August, 1880, the Rev. T. F. Day succeeded the Rev. George R. Bird, and remained in charge until September, 1890, during which time he erected the present commodious chapel and also built the present parsonage as a private residence. The total cost of these buildings was about $4600, and that of the lot $1400, making the entire cost of the present church property $6000. On October 29, 1890, Rev. F. G. Webster succeeded Rev. T. F. Day, who, in October, 1893, was succeeded by the Rev. J. A. Livingston Smith, the present minister in charge. During the three years ministry of the Rev. George R. Bird, seven members were received into the church; during the ten years ministry of the Rev. T. F. Day thirty-two members were received; during the three years ministry of the Rev. F. G. Webster twenty-four members were received, and during the first two years ministry of the Rev. J. A. Livingston Smith fourteen members have been received, making a total membership of seventy-seven, of which number seven have died and fifty-four have removed, leaving a present membership of sixteen. The Mission School of this church was opened by Miss Ada A. Kingsbury (now Mrs. T. F. Day) in September, 1879, and has continued until the present with the following teachers: Miss Clemmice A. Brown, from September, 1880, until September, 1882; Miss Clara Pierce, from September, 1883, until September, 1892; Miss Abbie M. Whitney, from September, 1883, until September, 1884; Miss Carrie E. Martin, from September, 1886, until September, 1887; Miss Fannie Taylor, from September, 1887, until September, 1892; Miss Florence Taylor, from September, 1890, until September, 1892; Miss Grace E. Jones, from September, 1891, until September, 1894; Miss M. H. McCullough, from September, 1892, until September, 1895; Mrs. Sarah Reed, from September, 1894, until September, 1895; Miss Ella C. Herron, from September, 1895, until the present. Four ministers and eleven teachers have devoted in all eighteen years of service to the Master's cause in this difficult but important and not wholly unfruitful field. During these years over $35,000 has been expended upon this mission by the Presbyterian Church through its Home Missionary Board in the purchase of lots, erection of buildings and payment of salaries and contingent expenses, the final results of which can only be known in the great day of final accounts, when the reapers return bringing their sheaves with them. J. A. LIVINGSTON SMITH, Pastor.<br><br> J. A. Livingston Smith,<br><br> Was born near York, Pa., March 12, 1853. Being born in humble circumstances, he is practically a "self-made man," having worked his way through his [PHOTO: J. A. LIVINGSTON SMITH.] educational course by the "sweat of his brow" and the use of "midnight oil." After a preparatory education in the academy at Stewarstown, and afterward at Perrysville, in his native State, he entered Princeton College, N. J., in 1872, and graduated with his class in 1876. |
