Church Review Historical Edition/Vol. 4/No. 1

Church Review Historical Edition/Vol. 4/No. 1/pg. 41

Page 41<br><br>which filled the house every Sabbath. But it was not all sunshine for the lone missionary, 100 miles by stage from any Christian brother or Gentile friend. Brigham Young and several of his Apostles came to Mt. Pleasant. Two days were spent in publicly abusing the missionary, and at night in devising a scheme for his expulsion from the community. These operations scattered the congregation and decimated the ranks of the school. However, in September the loss in both was more than regained, and a Sabbath-school of thirty-five scholars organized. In the meantime, days were spent in appeal and nights in prayer before the financial obligation so bravely undertaken was fully met. The determined missionary used his private means not only to meet the first payment, but to make a trip East to solicit help, getting help to the amount of $1000 in pledges, but he only realized $350. At the next crisis he borrowed at 2 per cent per month and simply changed creditors at that advance. He became more persistent in taking the matter to God, and in due time help came. One check of $500 came from a source which had not been discovered at the time of the writing of the pencil notes from which this sketch is condensed. One other shadow should be reproduced here, and the reason will be very obvious to Christian people. Mr. McMillan, after receiving a grant of some days of grace from his creditors, having applied his first quarter's salary upon the note and made arrangements for an indefinite extension of time on his board bill, had appeals for help made through the church papers; one notable response came: "Any fool that would attempt such a mission ought to starve or be driven out." But the sunshine of the mountain valleys prevailed as it always does. "The work steadily advanced. In April, 1877, two persons, Miss Delia R. Snow and Mrs. Lucy M. McGuire, made profession of their faith. The following month there were three others. The organization of the church was not perfected, however, until January 11, 1880. Dr. McMillan was called to the work of Superintendent of Missions about the beginning of the year 1881. The ministers who have been on the field since that time, as shown by the minutes of session, are Revs. William Willson, J. H. Kyle (now U. S. Senator from South Dakota), A. R. Crawford, E. N. Murphy and Hugh H. McCreery. REV. H. H. McCRERY.<br><br> Sunday School.<br><br> The Sunday-school of the Mt. Pleasant First Presbyterian Church was organized with thirty-five pupils in the fall of 1875, by Dr. D. J. McMillan, founder of the church and school work In Mt. Pleasant. Through these years of patient toil, it has been principally under the supervision of the pastor and teachers, with the exception of a term of faithful service rendered by S. J. Neilson. In the winter of 1893, the Master called him to higher service with the redeemed above, and Miss Serena Neilson took up the work which he laid down, and gave the Sunday-school two years of highly acceptable service as Superintendent. At present the enrollment is seventy-five pupils and six teachers. The most encouraging feature of the work is a yearly increase in the attendance of our day-school pupils at the Sunday-school. The kindergarten school in connection with the academy and conducted by Miss Katie S. Smith, is a most effectual means of securing and holding the very young children in the Sunday-school. JENNIE T. BUCHANAN, Supt.<br><br> Presbyterian Girls' Home.<br><br> The venerable mother of the Rev. D. J. McMillan inaugurated this Home in a quiet way by taking one or two girls into her own household. But it was not until some years later that a regularly appointed matron, Miss Crowell, was placed in charge. Mrs. E. N. Murphy succeeded in September, 1886, and during the three years of her acceptable work more than fifty girls were enrolled as members of the family. Miss Mitchell was for one year her successor, and September 1, 1890, Mrs. Alice Logan Burnet, widow of the Rev. Thomas Burnet of Chicago Presbytery, came from Minneapolis, Minn., to take charge. She has entered upon the sixth year of her work there, during which time sixty-six different girls, coming from Hyrum at the north to Parowan at the south of the State, have been in the Home. Many teachers and Christian workers, both in Utah and the East, have here received the impetus that started them upon a life of usefulness. Mrs. Burnet is a native of the State of Maine, a life-long public school teacher, and for several years the wife of a Presbyterian pastor. She has been actively identified with the W. C. T. U. work of the Territory, having been twice elected first vice-president of the Territory. She was the organizer of the branch at Mt. Pleasant and is its president. (She is true to her training, having once been a student under Miss Frances E. Willard in the Northwestern University.)-[Ed. <br><br>MOUNT PLEASANT CIRCUIT.<br><br> "San Pete Valley Circuit.-P. A. H. Franklin" was one of the appointments made by Bishop Isaac W. Wiley at the conference of 1883, but this was for Scandinavian work, yet it was Methodist. The English work was first served in this valley by J. P. Morris of the Rock River conference, who was there from April to August, 1887. It was organized as a separate work in 1889, of four members who were transferred from the Scandinavian side of the church- the nucleus around which others have gathered. Rev. Robert L. Steed of the Illinois conference was appointed to the work by Bishop Joyce and reached the field in January, 1889. With the assistance of Presiding Elder Jayne and Evangelist Jesse Smith a successful revival was held from which several members were received into the church. Mr. Steed was reappointed at the conference of 1889 and 1890, serving to the close of the conference year in 1891. Joseph Wilks followed, remaining until 1894. G. W. Comer, appointed then remained but a few weeks and was succeeded by Charles McCoard, the present encumbent and member of the Central Ohio conference. There are upon our class-book the names of twenty members. The average Sunday school attendance is twenty-five. The pastor is the superintendent as well as president of the Epworth League, which at present is not flourishing. The following teachers have been employed by the Woman's Home Missionary Society since the opening of that department of the work in 1888: Miss Mary Helgesen, 1888, 1889, 1891; Miss Nora Omenn, 1888, 1889; Misses Mary Iverson and Elenora Nelson, 1890; Miss Petria Larson, Mrs. R. L. Steed, part of 1890; Miss Emma Graham, 1892 to 1894; Miss Mary Evans, part of 1894; Miss Clara Holt, 1895. The school was discontinued in June, 1895. The progress of the work has been slow from the beginning, but a steady growth has been had. The prospect for the year is for honest work. <br><br>Charles McCoard, Pastor,<br><br> Was born at St. Louis, Mo., September 26, 1863. Ten years later his parents, with their family, removed to Salt Lake City. Charles attended St. Mark's (Episcopal) school until 1876, when his parents again moved to American Fork, Utah. While at work in the magnificent American Fork canyon, "The Yosemite of Utah," Charles became impressed with his need of salvation and of his obligations to Him who had founded those rugged mountains which towered above him. With these feelings came the impression that he ought to preach the Gospel. That thought was dis- [PHOTO: CHARLES McCOARD.] tasteful to the boy, for he had other plans for the future. The impression that he ought to preach deepened until the situation seemed desperate. To settle the matter Charles decided positively that he would not yield. Soon after this decision came a severe illness. Before he had thoroughly recovered the family moved to Provo, Utah. In the old Methodist church at Provo, under the ministration of Rev. T. W. Lincoln, the young man with whom God had wrestled so long yielded and found the peace which for years he had sought in vain. In January of 1887 he left the loved ones at home and started for Delaware, Ohio, to complete a course of study preparatory to entering the ministry. Those years were not without spiritual as well as intellectual struggles; yet they were pleasant and profitable years. In June of 1893 he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In Sep-