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FROM MONTANA TO VICTORIA.

REV. THOS. ROGERS, D.D., ELBRIDGE, N. Y.

Before going on to Puget Sound, a brief description of our experience in Yellowstone National Park may not fail of interest. We left Livingstone in the afternoon on account of the delay of the daily express train from the West. It was near midnight when we reached Cinnabar, the terminus of the branch railroad running southward from Livingstone; and where tourists take stages for Mammoth Hot Springs, nine miles farther on. Two coaches were waiting the arrival of the train, and by one of those happy directions of Providence we passed the larger coach, and took the forward and smaller one: and thereby we missed by just one chance the experience of being robbed. The "road agents" allowed us to pass unmolested, but they "called up " the coach following us, and under cover of their revolvers ordered the passengers out, and took all the money they could find. Moral: When you travel West leave all costly jewelry at home, and take only currency enough to meet immediate wants.

But it is worth while to run risks and endure fatigue to see the wonders of this surprising land. Here God speaks out of the earth and from mountain peaks. His works praise him. He utters his voice and the mountains tremble, the earth shakes and palpitates beneath your feet. Extinct volcanoes, boiling "paint pots," mammoth hot springs, terrific geysers, and safety vents, where steam rushes forth from the pent-up depths with deafening roar; declare the glory and might of our God. Every new wonder of giddy waterfall and deep cañon inspires the sober mind with reverence and awe; truly we are in the manifest presence of the Almighty, "and only man is vile.”

At Mammoth Hot Springs we first inhaled the sulphur laden air, which, with the dazzling brightness of the sun's rays pouring down on acres of snow-white "gyserite," is almost overpowering. At first we were at a loss to decide whether these sulphurous fumes issued from the bowels of the earth, or were caused by the Titanic profanity of a hotel clerk. Possibly both conspired to produce the effect. I remember to have heard it said in my boyhood that in particularly godless regions "the sulphur lies only a foot beneath the surface." Both conditions seem to be met in this land, where the awe-in

spiring presence of heaven and the recklessness of evil seem so near each other.

Any description of a tour of Yellowstone Park would be incomplete without the statement that we visited the place where the fisherman catches his trout out of the snow cold mountain stream, and without leaving his position, swings it over into a boiling spring, where it is quickly cooked, and then takes it from the hook all ready to serve for his lunch. Not being expert with the rod, and having no rod with us we did not accomplish the feat, but saw more than one place where it could doubtless be done. The method of proceedure is according to the formula of an old cook-book, "First catch your fish." Candor, however, compels the statement that we saw no place where the "fish can be caught and cooked in the same water."

After doing the Park, we rested at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel over Sunday, and Monday found us with "the course of empire," taking our way westward. I will not detain the reader with an account of our journey up the first great mountain barrier of 116 feet grade per mile to Helena-the run along the bank of the Missouri in the direction of the current of that great river before it rushes through the gate of the mountains on its journey of four thousand five hundred miles to the Gulf of the passage through Idaho, skirting the shores of the beautiful isle-studded lake Pend d'Oreille—or of the far-reaching pasture lands and lava beds of Eastern Washington. On the morning of the second day we stopped off at "The Dalles." and continued our journey by steamer through the magnificent scenery of the middle Columbia. At the cascades we visited a salmon fish wheel, wonderful in its methods and magnitudes. This wheel has a capacity of an average catch of ten tons of fish per day. It is turned by the current, and literally scoops the salmon out of the water. Having some regard for future generations, and not believing in the maxim, "After us the deluge," we protested against such a ruthless destruction of this now plentiful fish. But our protest was unheeded, and by way of poetic retribution we prophesy that in the not distant future the industry of salmon fishery on the Columbia will, for the same cause, meet the same fate that put an end to the further military career of the Macedonian Alexander: "No more to conquer."

Puget Sound, beautiful for situation, restful to the car-wearied passenger who sails over its tranquil waters, invigorating with its salt air,

and capacious for commerce; we reached it by railroad one hundred and forty-five miles from Portland, and we saw it first from the high bluff on which the city of Tacoma is located. On the shores of this deep and capacious sound lie three rival towns within the limits of Washington Territory. Tacoma has the advantage of being the terminus of the Northern Pacific railroad. Seattle, the second town, is noted for its excellent harbor, its steady and substantial growth, and the excellent character of its inhabitants. This latter feature is indicated, and in part accounted for, by the fact that it contains within its limits a vigorous Baptist church. Here is located the Pacific Chautauqua Association, of which the pastor of the aforesaid church is president. The third city is Port Townsend, which lies opposite the Straits San Juan de Fuca, a broad and safe entrance from the Pacific. This

town is the port of entry for the Alaska and Pacific commerce, but otherwise not so favorably situated as either of the other places. Still further north on the dividing line between Puget Sound and the Gulf of Georgia is the terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway. On these inland waters are great numbers of harbors affording facilities for commerce unsurpassed in any part of the world. The Pacific Ocean, easy accessible for the largest ships, lies in front of them. Behind them stretch large forests of valuable timber, great mineral possibilities, and yet-to-be-developed agricultural resources. the shores of these waters will be located the Boston or New York of the Pacific coast. Not many years hence that growing city will rival, possibly outbid, San Francisco for the commerce of Asia.

On

We passed over these waters by the day steamer from Tacoma to Victoria, Vancouver's Island. We are now in the Queen's dominions and note the change. The city is Canadian, almost English, in appearance; buildings substantial, sidewalks good, streets well paved, and macadamized roads extending far into the country, over which it is a pleasure to ride. On the outskirts of the city are cosy cottage homes, whose yards are adorned with blooming roses, and porches embowered with luxurious honeysuckles.

Sunday morning we easily found our way to the Baptist church, and were glad to go to the house of God in company with worshippers of the Scriptural apostolic faith. Rev. W. Barss, a graduate of Rochester Theological Seminary, has done a good work here, aided by one of

Rochester's fair daughters, who has proved herself a help meet for a missionary pastor. The Baptist cause had been at a low ebb. The old meeting house had been sold to be used as a temperance hall. But now the church has a pleasant meeting house; builded literally on a rock--fit emblem of the church itself, which is founded on that Spiritual Rock against which the gates of hell cannot prevail.

One of the incidents most interesting was the coming in of ten or fifteen sailors from Her Britannic Majesty's war ship, stationed in the harbor, all of whom had been baptized into the fellowship of this church by the present pastor. Brave sailors these; brave soldiers of Jesus Christ; each one of them carried a Bible under his arm-"the sword of the spirit," and the true symbol of his faith. The pastor preached in the morning to an interesting and interested congregation, and in the afternoon at an outstation twelve miles away. In the evening Brother Daniels preached, who had just come over from Vancouver on the mainland, where a Baptist church has been recently organized. At the close of the sermon an after meeting was held, which indicated a waiting and working Christian life. This was noticeable in the prayers and testimony of the sailors. Each one of these seemed to have a shipmate on his heart for whom he was praying and laboring. Returning to our hotel we thanked God for the heavenly manna of this Lord's day, and for the good work wrought through the timely aid of the Home Mission Society in the far-off land of Vancouver's Island.

ISSIONARY DEPARTMENT.

THE NEW POLISH MISSION IN THE UNITED STATES.

REV. C. R. HENDERSON, D.D., DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

The Home Mission Society, having begun a most needed work among the Poles of this country, it is thought desirable to give from reliable sources some essential facts respecting them. It will naturally be asked by the patron

of the Society whether this branch is of sufficient magnitude and importance to justify the special effort and interest of American Baptists, and whether there is a reasonable hope of gaining access to them and of doing them good.

1. Certain facts as to the extent of this field.The number of people speaking the Polish language is set down at about 10,000,000, mostly in Prussia, Austria and Russia. But there are many persons of the race who have begun to use other languages-the tongues of their conquerors. The census of 1880 gives only 48,557 persons of Polish birth resident in the United States, but the descendants of Poles are not counted, and many were probably set down as Russians, Austrians or Germans. It is claimed by Polish newspapers that there are now 700,000 of this race in our country. This may be an overestimate. The immigration has been very large since the census, is constantly growing, and the families are as prolific as the Germans. Other considerations emphasize the importance of this work. Poland is at the gateway between our German Baptist brethren and the vast empire of Russia; and the German Baptists are pushing forward with great aggressiveness. The Russian and Polish work abroad is just now taken under the fostering care of the Missionary Union, owing largely to Mr. Alf's recent visit to this country and to Mr. Schiewe's intercession. The friendly relations of Russia to the United States promise toleration of this movement. Baptists are not mixed up with politics and do not come under the ban against the aggressions of Lutherans and Catholics.

2. As to the hopefulness of this work.--Some of the Catholics have said that these people have been Romanists for a thousand years and that they will not leave the faith of their ancestors to join an upstart sect like the Baptists. And some of our own members look upon the work as one of the utmost difficulty. But if the church apostolic had waited to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus until all the obstacles were removed and until the pagans came of their own accord asking for the Gospel, there never would have been a church. He who has the pure Gospel is bound to make a patient offer of it to those who are ignorant. God opens doors as we advance in the direction of his commands, and He opens the door, as a rule, only when we knock. But aside from the encouragement of the command there is reason in certain facts to hope for success in persistent toil.

The fact is that the Romish boasts are not true. It is supposed that Poland received the truths of Christianity from missionaries of the eastern church, one of whom at least was afterward persecuted as a heretic by the papal agents. While Poland has been well subdued under the heavy hand of Rome it has not been without protest and struggle for liberty. There have been protests by the nobles, who have always been the ruling body. At various times able men have urged Protestant doctrines, but the nation feared sword and flame from the Tiber. And it must be confessed that the slavery has been accepted by the people themselves. They have, as a nation, never known the sweets of freedom. During the ages before the partition, Poland meant a minority of nobles, a merchant class of Jews, and a majority of serfs. There was no great middle class. Lords and priests have enslaved a nation, and it was reserved for the despotic Russian to relieve the weight of the bonds and begin a system of education. The Greek church has never ceased its efforts in Poland, and has never been without numerous adherents. The Hussites before Luther made many converts. Poland once had a Protestant king, but he could not stem the current of superstition. It is estimated that there are now 3,900,000 Catholics of the Romish church, 236,000 who belong to the Greek church, 300,000 Protestants, and 660,000 Jews, besides some Mohammedans and Gypsies. The Mennonites have made considerable advance, but are crippled by their doctrine of infant church membership and by absence of missionary zeal. Lutheranism from the German side is chiefly the result of immigration into the provinces once laid waste in wars and recently conquered by Prussia. A new day has dawned upon this afflicted people. A middle class is growing up, feudalism is abolished, serfs are free, education is promised to all, the Bible is being circulated by societies having depots in London and Warsaw, and the various Protestant bodies are urging their work. Something may in time be expected from the influence of the immigrants to America. In America the persecution can be covert only, and will not be backed by the political power of a dominant priesthood. We have already proved that by patience and care we can introduce the Word of God into the families of this nationality, and can induce them to read it.

The history of Baptist work for Poles is a part of the German Baptist history, at least in our

day. In contrast with Lutherans and Catholics, the German Baptist influence is favorable to evangelical doctrine, to a spiritual church | membership, to believer's baptism, to temperance in the use of alcoholic drinks, and to separation of state and church.

In later articles we may give examples of the martyr courage and heroism of Alf, Schiewe and Antoschevski, the last of whom is now in Detroit as a missionary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society.

THE PREACHER OF THE ULTIMATE WEST.

REV. G. J. BURCHETT, D.D., GENERAL

MISSIONARY FOR OREGON.

The ultimate West has been permanently located. It was once thought to lie along the Atlantic; then it was placed somewhere near the Ohio River; again beyond the Mississippi; but now it lies between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, where it must remain.

Without undertaking the impossible task of describing this great country, a few things may be said about that small part of it known as Oregon. Though many times given, it may be well here to recall the fact that Oregon alone is much larger than all New England. The writer was trying to impress the last convention of Baptists in Oregon with the vastness of their own country, telling them that this State of Oregon is larger than all New England--in fact, would cover all the New England States and two thirds of Ohio besides. A good ministerial brother from Ohio was in the audience, and, after the address closed, that Ohio brother came around and said: "Now I understand why there are no winds nor cyclones in your State: you ministers have the wind all mortgaged."

That Ohio brother should not be wondered at. He is like many others, East and West, who do not even get a glimpse of this country's greatness.

And it should be remembered that this vast region is not a great desert. A noted scholar, who has investigated this State, says: valleys and plains are fertile beyond belief, and our mountains contain untold treasures."

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A few years ago we were connected with the outside world by a transcontinental railroad. A few days ago the golden spike was driven at Ashland, completing another transcontinental line to our State. Over these lines the world is sending to us her restless thousands. Steamships from all parts of the globe anchor in our ports, bringing to us of every tribe and nation.

The two Easts-the old and the new-are meeting in the ultimate West, and it would seem that a new race of beings is to be the result.

Shall we have a preacher for this new race? This is a problem; it is the religious problem of this marvelous country. It is a vital question. There is a deep conviction that this great and new country must have a preacher of its own. Where to look for him is a question that troubles them. They are somewhat afraid to look for him out of the schools. Perhaps in their perplexity it might be well for them to look to the Lord for him. If the source is an unpopular one, the West has a reputation for transforming things.

It may be hard to obtain the needed preacher, but he is easily described. He is to be the man separated by the Holy Ghost unto this work. (See Acts 13: 2.)

A preacher might be a success in Maine and a failure in Oregon. If the Holy Spirit should separate unto this work any one, then that mistake would not be made. A further description can be found in Acts 6:5: "A man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost."

A "MAN"-a person who has lost that element from his make-up and wants to find a home here for what is left of him is not the one to do the needed work here. These new fields need to be impressed with manhood in every department of life.

Again, this preacher should possess versatile capabilities. He may need to do various things here, and do them in various ways. The preacher who is made of pot metal in a given mould goes to pieces in his first efforts here.

Then, let it be further suggested, that there are some things which should be left at home and some should be brought here. He may leave his sermons. There are some plants that will not flourish when transplanted to our soil; the sermon is one of them. He may bring his heart along but leave his work there. The preacher who leaves his heart will soon go back; this is bad. His work he may safely leave; we can furnish that for him.

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Sometimes preachers come and say that they have brought their "knitting; we prefer them to leave their knitting; we can furnish that for them when they get here. Certainly the preacher for this country should bring his wife, and his sons, and his son's wives, and any other relatives he may wish to see during the present lifetime. The fact is an important one. Preachers coming here, getting well acquainted with our work and then leaving us, have done us no good. That coming preacher will need to have staying qualities." We have the best class of preachers leading our churches at this hour that we have ever had. We want them to remain and more to come, and it will not be long till a new day will dawn upon us.

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Our hearts are now greatly cheered with news from Brother Henry, who has been in Europe, and about whom we had become alarmed. And those on the field are doing grandly. Let this force continue as at present, and our State will be held largely for the Master.

One more item should be mentioned: the preacher who comes here should come not because he can here find a large salary, cultured church and a grand opening, but he should come to make all these. He should not come here to entrance the multitudes with his brilliance, but to aid the wayward to see the light of the Gospel. He should not come here to be a star admired by all, but to get all to admire the star of Bethlehem. In short, he should not come here to find a country to sacrifice on his altar, but he should come here to sacrifice himself on Christ's altar for the country.

OUR WORK AT THE WICHITA AGENCY, IND. TER.

REV. DANIEL ROGERS, TAHLEQUAH, GENERAL

MISSIONARY.

One of the most inviting fields for Christian work in the Indian Territory is now open at the Wichita Agency. Included in this agency are the Comanches, Kiowas and Apaches on the south part of the Washita River, and the Wichitas - including three bands, Towaconies, Anadarkos and Wacoes- the Kechis, Delawares, Iowas and Caddoes on the north side. All these tribes speak different languages. The Comanche language is the most widely understood. They have a sign language which is understood by all these tribes and in which all readily converse. In this sign language ideas can be expressed almost as rapidly and as clearly as with words. The Wichitas and some other of the affiliated tribes are turning their attention to farming. Many have good farms, some are this spring enlarging and making improve

ments.

The result of Christian work among the tribes located on the north side of the Washita River is very encouraging. Some twelve years ago a Baptist Creek Indian minister, by the name of Rev. John McIntosh, visited these Indians and preached Christ to them. Ere long some professed conversion. They were subsequently visited by Rev. John Jumper, a Semi

Such preachers can now build most wisely nole Indian. A white missionary by the name here.

The Home Mission Society has done a most noble work for this field. Devoted churches are rising up to bless them for it. Those who have contributed of their means for this work will find the returns coming back increased many fold.

With these things before us, perhaps we shall be pardoned for trying to occupy all this great land for Jesus. May the time hasten on when it shall all belong to Jesus.

"Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."II. Tim. iv. 2, 5.

of Holt was also there for a short time. A Baptist church was organized. One after another came into the church. Black Beaver, chief of a small band of Delawares at this Agency, was converted and became an active, earnest, influential member. He had a wide influence among all the tribes in this vicinity and helped much to advance the cause. With some aid from abroad a house of worship was erected. It is a framed building 20x34 ft. The membership of the church is now seventy-one. Rev. George W. Hicks, a missionary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, is at this place. He is the highly esteemed pastor of the church. Brother Hicks is doing a good work. He gives good, sound Bible instruction in such simple terms that they understand and appreciate it. He spent a vacation here after graduating at Indian University, Muskogee, Ind. Ter., and

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