Wyoming Mission Field by E. T. RUSSELL

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Dec 15, 1904

_Wyoming Mission Field_

By E. T. RUSSELL

SEPT. 17, 1904, the nine western counties of Nebraska,—namely, Sheridan, Dawes, Box Butte, Sioux, Deuel, Cheyenne, Scotts Bluff, Banner, and Kimball,—and five counties in southwest South Dakota,—namely, Meade, Fall River, Custer, Pennington, and Lawrence,—belonging to the Nebraska Conference, with the State of Wyoming, were received from the Nebraska Conference by the Central Union Conference, to be operated as a mission field.

This territory has for some time been worked by the Nebraska Conference as part of its territory. It has a population of about one hundred and seventy-five thousand, with seven churches and about one hundred and sixty Sabbath-keepers. Among the early laborers in this field might be mentioned O. S. Ferren, H. Ketring, and Brother Armitage. Brother Ferren is now asleep in Jesus, Brother Ketring is in Chile, South America, and Brother Armitage has for many years been laboring in Africa. This has ever proved a fruitful field for the amount of labor put forth, and, as it is developing in population and financial resources, I see no reason why it could not become a strong conference.

During the month of November, in company with Elder J. H. Wheeler, I visited Hemingford, Neb. At this place there is located a good schoolhouse, and Brother and Sister E. C. Cushman are conducting a successful church-school. From Hemingford we went to Oelrichs, S. D., where we organized a church of about eighteen members. We next visited Custer, S. D., and while there organized a church of about sixteen members. Others will unite with this organization in the near future. Brother R. T. Baer and his wife are conducting a church-school at this place, with which the students and patrons seem well pleased. We then visited Lead and Deadwood, S. D., where we also organized a church of sixteen members.

This organization takes the name of the Deadwood church. At Deadwood there is being conducted quite a successful church-school by Miss Addie Wheeler. The school is held in the home of Brother R. V. Cheney, elder of the church.

These companies which have been organized do not represent new Sabbath-keepers, but are integral parts of what was termed the Black Hills church, which extended over the Black Hills of South Dakota and a portion of Wyoming. In a short time another church will be organized at Sheridan, Wyo., and these churches will include all the Sabbath-keepers in the territory formerly occupied by the Black Hills church.

The tithe from this field will amount to about three thousand five hundred dollars a year. The following-named laborers are in the field: J. H. Wheeler, E. L. Cook, B. M. Garton, G. A. Kirkle, L. B. Porter; church-school teachers, E. C. Cushman, Mrs. E. C. Cushman, R. T. Baer, Mrs. R. T. Baer, Miss Addie Wheeler, and Miss Stella Allred. The officers are as follows: Director, J. H. Wheeler; Executive Committee, J. H. Wheeler, E. T. Russell, G. A. Kirkle, E. L. Cook,; Secretary, Miss Iva Leach; Treasurer, L. B. Hall. The mission office is located at Crawford, Neb. We have every reason to believe that this field will yet develop into one of our best conferences.

E. T. RUSSELL.