Along Alaska's Seacoast by Fred M. Temple

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 28, 1911

Along Alaska's Seacoast

By Fred M. Temple

In giving a report of our work in this field, I can tell only of my personal experience. I am all alone in this great northern territory, but my courage is good. The only Sabbath-school in Alaska is composed of one other person besides myself,—a Sabbath-school of two. At times when I see the great need in this field, I wish that I possessed an aeroplane, equipped with wireless telegraphy, with which to spread the good news of the gospel.

The words of an old Indian chief to whom I was giving a Bible reading while seated on the end of a block of stove-wood in his humble camp, keep ringing in my ears: “We poor natives, we need help; we poor natives, we need help.” This has spurred me on to some definite action to give them help.

I have nearly completed a boat, a power-cruiser, with sleeping accommodations for six persons, bath-room, toilet, medicine- and emergency-case, and room for two or three tons of freight, for carrying a stock of books and papers. This boat is of special design, and being well built, will withstand the roughest seas. My plan is to spend another year in southern Alaska, then to work along the coast toward Nome, a distance of about three thousand miles.

Though not so far away as many imagine, Alaska has been neglected. We are dealing with a floating population of all nationalities, a rough, hardy class of fishermen, miners, and trappers.

A short time ago, while visiting the dirty little shack of an old hermit, he showed me a dollar which had been lying on his table for over two years. It had been given to him by a noted checker player, whom he had beaten. He said: “That dollar ain’t doin’ me any good layin’ there. Could I buy a Bible with it?” I assured him that he could. That dollar may yet lead him to a new life.

A native to whom I had shown the book “Daniel and the Revelation,” said, with tears in his eyes: “That’s just the book I want; I have been tangled up on those things for a long time.”

In this section of the United States the people need the Word of God. Truly it is a neglected and needy field.

FRED M. TEMPLE.