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Show Page 43<br><br>the day school and continued in that relation until September, 1890, when Fannie Coyner, formerly a co-teacher, was in charge for a year. Then Miss Fannie Galbraith was in charge for three years, when the present teacher, Miss Laura B. Work, who had been a co-teacher for a year, took charge. Miss Rea had been assisted by Miss Brown one year, and by Helen L. Cougle two or three years. The annual enrollment has ranged from thirty to sixty. For a number of years past, beginning in Miss Rea's time, Miss Louise Frost, from Galesburg, Ill., has conducted a kindergarten in close relation to the mission work, though not in direct connection with it, doing all at her own cost. Ephraim has always seemed to be hard ground for missionary work. <br><br>The Building.<br><br> The church is built of stone from the celebrated oolite quarries northeast of town, is neat and substantial, and is furnished with the best furniture and a good bell; the lot, building and furniture cost over $2100. Of that the Board of Church Erection paid $600; the Ladies' Missionary Society of the Synod of Long Island paid $875; the missionaries on the field paid $375, and members of the church and friends paid $250. The corner-stone was laid October 20, 1881, Rev. William Willson assisting, and the building was dedicated by Presbytery while in session in it August 20, 1882, Rev. George W. Leonard preaching the sermon.<br><br> PRESBYTERIAN MISSION WORK IN GUNNISON.<br><br> Gunnison, a town of over one thousand people, is pleasantly situated at the point of confluence of the San Pete and the Sevier valleys. It was named for the gallant Captain, J. W. Gunnison, who was murdered on the Sevier in November, 1853. The Mission school was opened by Miss Mary Crowell of Ohio, in May, 1881, who continued in charge until September, 1882. A small house on Mrs. Christensen's lot was first used. Then the present lot was purchased, and a small wooden house was thus obtained. Early in 1883 Miss M. E. Campbell began work, and remained in charge until October of that year, when Miss Clara Sanford of New York State took up the work. During that summer the chapel building was commenced, and it was finished for use in January, 1884. Miss Sanford was married in March, and in September, 1884, Mrs. M. M. Green and daughter, Miss Alice, from New York, took up the work, and they have continued to the present. Miss M. Black was in charge of the school in 1893 and 1894 to September, Miss Green working then among the Mission societies and churches East. The day school has usually been larger than one teacher could manage, and so Mrs. Green has taught more or less each year, while, being minister, physician and general benefactress to the community at the same time. The day school now enrolls nearly sixty pupils. The attendance upon the Sabbath school averages perhaps twenty-five or thirty. Preaching was held every two weeks, on a week night, for two or three years, about 1890, by Rev. G. W. Martin, after which Gunnison was put with Salina and became a separate field. Rev. P. D. Stoops became stated supply for a year or two, and then Rev. N. E. Clemenson was in the field for a few months. At one time about three years ago Rev. P. Bohback visited Gunnison and held some meetings. Six persons from Gunnison have united with the Manti church from time to time. "They say" Mrs. Green preaches! Certain it is that the people have wholesome Bible truth on the Sabbath, and on every day of the week. Sermons from Spurgeon, Talmage and others are often read. Before 1890 Mrs. Green had erected a reading-room at rear of chapel, and put up a neat belfrey and secured a bell, and her own large house, adjoining the chapel lot, now makes the entire property to be admired. The first Christian sermon was preached in Gunnison in March, 1884, by the Rev. G. W. Leonard, on the occasion of his viewing the new chapel as chairman of Presbytery's committee on Church Erection. The chapel was dedicated, free of debt, April, 1886, Rev. S. L. Gillespie preaching the sermon. The lot cost $225. The chapel, a neat stone building, cost $1825.94; total, $2050.94, of which the community contributed $137, the missionaries, $309.69; the Board of Church Erection fund, $600, and the Woman's Executive Committee of Home Missions the balance.<br> G. W. M.<br><br> SALINA-PRESBYTERIAN.<br><br> The Presbyterian church set her plow in the Salina soil in 1884, a school being opened at that time by a young missionary without the assistance of pastor or other teacher. He was followed by Miss Minnie Curry, who formally opened the work for the Church and remained on the ground about two years, being followed by Misses Reagan and Ordway. These, in turn, were succeeded by Miss Corbett and her mother; then came Misses Walker and Taylor, followed by Misses Throop and Dobbs. At present the school is in charge of Misses Walker and Perley, who have a healthy attendance of about fifty pupils. The Sunday-school is carried on by these, as they have not since February, 1895, had a pastor. The work of the ministry was begun in November, 1890, by Rev. P. D. Stoops who remained until 1894. Rev. N. E. Clemenson having resigned the work at Richfield was appointed to succeed Mr. Stoops and moved to Salina in February, 1894, remaining until August of that year, when he went to Logan, where he now resides in charge of the church at that place. Succeeding Mr. Clemenson come Rev. Charles Armstrong in February, 1895, remaining but six months, and at present there is no pastor. The teachers, as above stated, have their hands full looking after the interests of the work. A church of a dozen members was organized in June, 1895. The Sunday-school is well attended, and is a power for good in the town. A Christian Endeavor society of ten members holds weekly prayer-meetings, and the people are praying and hoping that the right man may soon be found for this needy field. The property of the church here consists of a chapel and lot, with out-buildings, and a fence, valued at $1800. <br><br>RICHFIELD-PRESBYTERIAN.<br><br> [From the World's Fair Ecclesiastical History of Utah.-Ed.] In 1880 sixteen new teachers were sent to Utah by the Presbyterian Board, and several new places were opened, among them being Richfield, the metropolis of Sevier county. The school here was opened in a small adobe, which had been a dwelling. Miss J. A. Olmstead was the first teacher, and remained there several years. She was assisted by Miss Giesy and other teachers following her. Rev. P. D. Stoops was sent to Richfield as preacher in 1881, and remained until 1885. Rev. N. E. Clemenson was there part of the time since, but retired in 1893. He has since been succeeded by Rev. J. H. Meteer, the present pastor in charge having the appointment of Monroe as well.<br><br> MONROE PRESBYTERIAN MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL.<br><br> The date of the organization of this Sunday-school is unknown, as no record of the school was kept until 1889, that the present Superintendent has been able to obtain, but it was in 1877 or 1878. That it was begun by the first workers, Miss Wheeler, and later that Miss Sanborn carried it on, there is no doubt. They met single-handed all the difficulties of pioneer work in Utah connected with our Church. Later, Miss C. C. Decker was sent to Monroe, and for years labored to build up the mission, carrying on the Sunday-school but leaving no data from which to gather any facts concerning it. After Miss Palmer and Miss McPheeters assumed control a record was kept of the attendance and contributions. The average enrollments were much the same as now. In 1891 Miss Palmer was called to enter a "higher service." The Master said, "It is enough; come up higher." Her associate soon after left the Mission and new workers were sent. These were succeeded by the Misses Rockwell in 1892, and during their year in Monroe, the Sunday-school increased in numbers, but the contributions, as shown by the book, were not nearly so-large as in Miss Palmer's time. The present Superintendent was sent to Monroe in 1893, and during the two years the enrollment has been about fifty. The last year the average was thirty-four. The school was open every Sabbath but one during the year. Many of the pupils of the Sabbath-school, especially girls, come to the Thursday evening service. A lady trained in this school in its early days, and who then went to Park College, Mo., where she spent several years, has been an efficient helper in this department of work since her return. The school makes contributions from time to time, and this year $26.90 has been expended for papers, etc., and Mission collections a little more than half to the latter. While the work done seems small, yet in the "great hereafter," when the "harvest home" of eternity is celebrated, some precious sheaves shall be the result of efforts made amid many discouragements, and by one and another who have seen but little fruit while here. The command is to us as it was when Israel came out of Egypt, "Go forward." MISS CATHERINE R. WATT, Superintendent of Monroe Presbyterian Mission Sabbath-school. |
