Montana by W. F. Martin

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 21, 1907

Montana

By W. F. Martin

Since reporting to the Review, I have visited Townsend and Helena, and made a tour through Bitter Root Valley. At Townsend there is a small company that has not been organized into a church. This is one of the more active companies in the State. They hold their regular meetings, and are doing all in their power to spread the knowledge of the truth. It was my privilege to celebrate the ordinances with them. It was the first time many of them had ever taken part in this service, and the Lord came very near by his Holy Spirit. The meeting was a great encouragement to those present.

Sabbath, January 12, I spent at Helena. The church here is small, but a few souls are doing something to hold up this light. We celebrated the ordinances at Helena also. This is the capital of the State, and ever since coming to Montana I have felt a burden to work there.

There is an excellent opening for medical work both in Helena and Butte. A large number of people have gone from these cities to Battle Creek and other sanitariums, and there is considerable demand for that line of treatments. The writer would like to correspond with some consecrated physicians and nurses relative to opening work in these places. Elder Gosmer and his wife are now located in Helena.

In the Bitter Root Valley I visited Stevensville and Hamilton, spending a Sabbath at each place. The Bitter Root country is the strongest part of the Montana Conference, both numerically and financially. It is a very rich valley. Most fruits flourish here abundantly. Mount Ellis Academy has been well attended the past year. We now employ four teachers, and have an enrolment of about sixty.

Last year was a good year for Montana. The tithe increased about one thousand dollars, and there was a general increase of offerings. At the close of the year, the wages of all the workers were raised, and still there was money on hand to pay them. This is a very expensive field to operate, as the distances are great, and living is high. It is an excellent place for a wage-earner, as wages are high. All our workers are of good courage, and feel to press on to victory. W. F. MARTIN.