THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN ALASKA, 
 
 AN OFFICIAL SKETCH 
 
 OF ITS 
 
 RISE AND PROGRESS 
 
 1877-1884, , 
 
 WITH 
 
 THE MINUTES OF THE FIRST MEETING 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PRESBYTEKY OF ALASKA. 
 
 SHELDON JACKSON, D.D., 
 Stated Clerk. 
 
 WASHIN8TON. D. c. : 
 Press of Thomas McGill & Co., 1107 B street. 
 1886. 
 
I 
 
 HISTORICAL STATEMENT, 
 
 An Official Sketch of the Rise and Progress of the Presby- 
 terian Church in Alaska from 1877 to 1884, Adopted 
 by the Presbytery of Alaska* in Session at Sitka, 
 Alaska, September IStJi, 1884.i 
 
 On the 1 8th of October, 1867, Alaska was formally surrendered by 
 Russia to the United States, and the call of God' s providence came to the 
 American churches to enter in and possess the land for Christ. 
 
 The response to that call was very slow, and for the first ten years only 
 a few spasmodic efforts were made by individuals either to commence the 
 work or arouse public sentiment to its claims. 
 
 Among- others, the Rev. E. D. Saunders, D. D., of the Board of Domes- 
 tic Missions of the Presbyterian Church (O. S.), soon after the purchase, 
 offered a resolution in that Board, that they send a missionary to Alaska. 
 
 About the same time a similar proposition was discussed by the Com- 
 mittee of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church (N. S. ) 
 
 At different times from 1867 to 1877 the Rev. George H. Atkinson, D. D., 
 Superintendent of Congregational Missions in the Northwest, urged the 
 Mission Board of his denomination to undertake the work. 
 
 Major General O. O. Howard, U. S. A., in command of the Military De- 
 partment covering Alaska, again and again pressed the religious needs of 
 that section upon the attention of the country through the religious news- 
 papers. 
 
 Mr. Vincent Colyer, Secretary of the Board of Indian Commissioners, 
 made a special visit to Alaska in 1869, and upon his return sought to 
 awaken the public interest. He so far succeeded that Congress, in its ses- 
 sion of 1870 and 1871, appropriated $50,000 for education in Alaska. But 
 no one was found to administer the fund, and it was not used. 
 
 During 1875 and 1876 Rev. Thomas Crosby, of the Wesleyan Church 
 of Canada, stationed at Port Simpson, B. C, was in active correspondence 
 with the Board of Missions of his own church, with the missionary society 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States, and with one of 
 the Presbyterian Churches of Canada, pleading with them to secure mis- 
 sionaries for Alaska. 
 
 In 1877 Rev. A. L. Lindsley, D. D. , was in correspondence with the Pres- 
 
 * See page 13. 
 
 t Every member of the Presbytery of Alaska, except Rev. Joliii G. Brady, was pres- 
 ent at the meeting. Upon his return to Sitka Mr. Brady, having read the historical 
 statement, wrote a letter to the stated clerk expressing his approval, and stating that, 
 had he been present, he would have voted for its adoption. 
 
 The report, before it was given to the Presbytery, was submitted to Mrs. A. R. Mc- 
 Farland, and her suggestions and corrections were embodied into it. It is thus the 
 joint action of all the pioneers in the Alaska Mission work, and at a time when the 
 work was still fresh in their memories. — Stated Clerk. 
 
2 
 
 byterian Board of Foreign Missions with reference to their undertaking the 
 work. 
 
 In the Spring of that year, through Major General Howard, U. S. A., 
 he secured the position of paymaster's clerk in the U. S. Army for Mr. 
 John C. Mallory, (who was passing through Portland in search of health 
 and a position), and had him sent north to ascertain and report the condi- 
 tion of affairs. Mr. Mallory was, however, so far gone with consumption 
 that he was confined to his bed much of the three or four weeks that he 
 was at Fort Wrangell. 
 
 Christian women, wives of officers of the Army, Government officials 
 and civilians stationed in Alaska, were continually writing their friends 
 concerning the need of missionaries. Some of them during their stay at 
 Sitka carried on a day and Sabbath school. 
 
 But these appeals to the mission boards were in vain, and the efforts of 
 individuals were short-lived and finally abandoned. 
 
 No permanent missions were established or adequate provision made 
 until Rev. Sheldon Jackson, D. D., entered the field in 1877. 
 
 He had for nineteen years been engaged in pioneer mission work west 
 of the Mississippi River and in the Rocky Mountain Territories, from British 
 America to Old Mexico. During the latter portion of that time his thoughts 
 often went out towards Alaska. In the winter of 1875, and again in 1876, 
 he wrote to the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church, 
 urging the commencement of a mission in Alaska. 
 
 While his sympathies were growing, events were transpiring in Alaska 
 itself that were destined to quicken those sympathies into action. 
 
 In the Spring of 1876 Clah (Philip McKay), Sugah-na-te, (his brother), 
 Ta-lik, John Ryan, Lewis Ween, Andrew Moss, Peter Pollard, George 
 Pemberton, and James Ross, Tsimpsean Indians, went from Port Simpson 
 to Fort Wrangell to obtain work. They secured a contract to cut wood 
 for the Government. 
 
 On Sabbath, .as was their custom, they met together for worship. 
 
 They found a protector and warm personal friend in Capt. S. P. Joce- 
 lyn, of the 21st U. S. Infantry, who was then in command at that station. 
 
 In September of that year Rev. Thomas Crosby visited Fort Wrangell, 
 and encouraged Clah to remain during the winter, teaching and preaching 
 as he had opportunity. About $100 in money and blankets were sub- 
 scribed by the natives towards a church building. During the winter 
 there was so much religious interest and such a marked change in the lives 
 of some of the natives that Mr. J. S. Brown, connected with the military, 
 wrote a letter to Maj. Gen. Howard, asking that some church might be 
 persuaded to send a missionary to Fort Wrangell. 
 
 This letter was placed in Dr. Jackson's hands at the General Assembly 
 of 1877 at Chicago. 
 
 He immediately published it in the Chicago Daily Tribune, and soon 
 after in the leading Presbyterian newspapers of the country. The original 
 letter he forwarded to the Board of Home Missions, with an urgent request 
 that they send a missionary to Alaska. The Board responded favorably, 
 and at its first meeting after the reception of the letter appointed, early in 
 June, the Rev. F"rancis H. Robinson as missionary to Alaska. But before 
 the Commission reached him he had accepted an invitation to a church in 
 CaHfornia, At the close of the General Assembly Dr. Jackson was sent 
 by the secretaries of the Board of Home Missions on a special mission 
 through Idaho, Eastern Oregon, and Eastern Washington Territory. 
 Arriving at Walla - Walla, he found the whole region agitated by the out- 
 break of Chief Joseph's Band of Nez Perce, and, on that account, mission 
 work impossible. This enabled him to extend his mission trip to Alaska. 
 
3 
 
 At Portland he found awaiting his arrival Mrs. A. R. McFarland, who 
 had been in former years with her husband, associated with him in mission 
 work in New Mexico. 
 
 Mrs. McFarland apphed to Dr. Jackson for some mission work, and 
 expressed a willingness to accompany him to Alaska. Mr. Mallory having 
 returned with good accounts of an open door at Fort Wrangell, it was 
 arranged between them that she should accompany him to Alaska and 
 remain at Fort Wrangell as teacher. 
 
 At noon on the loth of August, 1877, Dr. Jackson and Mrs. McFarland 
 reached Fort Wrangell and commenced Presbyterian missions in Alaska. 
 
 Leaving Mrs. McFarland in charge of the missions, with Clah as her 
 assistant and Mrs. Sarah Dickinson as interpreter, Dr. Jackson returned 
 to the East to arouse the church and secure missionaries and money. 
 
 To secure the money he published a lengthy series of articles on Alaska 
 in the Presbyterian newspapers and made public addresses in nearly all 
 the leading cities of the country. His public addresses in cities and vil- 
 lages, at General Assemblies, Synods, and Presbyteries, at missionary and 
 educational conventions, from October, 1877, to June, 1884, numbered 
 over nine hundred. 
 
 These articles and addresses, together with the deeply-interestmg let- 
 ters of Mrs. McFarland in the Rocky Mountain Presbyterian, resulted in 
 securing, between October, 1877, and December, 1879, special funds ag- 
 gregating over $12,000, which enabled the Board of Home Missions to 
 erect the buildings for the McFarland Home at Fort Wrangell and largely 
 pay the salaries of the missionaries without drawing upon their general 
 mission funds. 
 
 The addresses, together with personal letters, also enabled Dr. Jackson 
 to raise the funds by which he erected in 1881 the Mission buildings at 
 Haines and Boyd at an expense of about $1500 each ; the Boys' Dormitory at 
 Sitka in 1882 at an expense of about $7000, and the Central Mission building 
 at Sitka in 1884 at an expense of about $10,000. 
 
 They also created so much public interest that he was able to go to 
 Congress and secure in the spring of 1884 $15,000 for industrial schools 
 and $25,000 for general education in, as well as to gready assist in secur- 
 ing a government for, the District of Alaska. 
 
 FORT WRANGELL. 
 
 To return to Fort Wrangell, Mrs. McFarland, upon the departure of Dr. 
 Jackson, set herself with rare consecraUon and wisdom to the organization 
 of the Mission. 
 
 On the 28th of August she opened school with about 30 pupils. On the 
 1st of October she opened a sewing-school for women and girls, in which 
 moral and religious instruction were judiciously combined with sewing 
 
 lessons. , , , , 
 
 On the 15th of October Clah, her assistant and preacher, had a hemor- 
 rhage of the lungs, and was never again able to take part in the public 
 services of the sanctuary. On the 28th of December he fell asleep in 
 Jesus, and loving hands bore his body to Port Simpson, where it rests in 
 the Mission Cemetery. 
 
 On February 3d, 1878, at a convention held by the Natives, Mrs. Mc- 
 Farland was elected the presiding officer. This convention resulted in 
 the appointment of a native police force that rendered valuable service in 
 preserving order. , . . 
 
 Early in her work Mrs. McFarland felt the need of a building into which 
 
4 
 
 she could gather the girls in danger of being sold by their own parents, 
 or enticed and ruined by the more vicious element among the whites. 
 
 The conviction so grew upon her that her letters became full of it, and 
 she never ceased to press it until the Home was established October 12th, 
 1878, in the building formerly used as a military hospital. The School 
 was named by admiring friends " The McFarland Home." 
 
 To secure a suitable building for the new Home Dr. Jackson and Mrs. 
 Julia McNair Wright wrote a series of articles to the newspapers asking 
 from Christian people a Christmas gift for the building. The gifts flowed 
 in, and the Home was erected in 1879 and 1880. 
 
 On March 15th, 1878, Rev. John G. Brady arrived at Fort Wrangell, 
 and on the 24th of the same month celebrated the first Christian marriage 
 among the Alaskans. He remained a month at Wrangell, then passed on 
 to establish the Mission at Sitka. 
 
 On the 8th of August, 1878, Rev. S. Hall Young arrived and took 
 charge of the work at Fort Wrangell with earnestness and vigor. 
 
 On the 23d of June, 1879, Rev. W. H. R. Corlies and family reached 
 Fort Wrangell as independent missionaries to Alaska, and for about three 
 years remained at Wrangell, acting as medical missionary and general 
 assistant at that station. In June, 1882, he opened an independent mission 
 among the Takoo. 
 
 On July 14th, 1879, Miss Maggie J. Dunbar arrived as principal teacher 
 at Fort Wrangell. 
 
 A notable event in the history of the Mission was the visit in July and 
 August, 1879, of Rev. Henry Kendall, D.D., Senior Secretary of the 
 Board of Home Missions, and his wife. Rev. Sheldon Jackson, D.D., and 
 wife, and Rev. A. L. Lindsley, D.D., and wife. 
 
 The presence of the visiting ministers made it a suitable time to organize 
 the Christian Natives into a church. Consequently, on August 3d, 1879, 
 a church of eighteen Native and five white communicants was organized 
 by Rev. S. Hall Young, the missionary, assisted by Rev. Messrs. Kendall, 
 Jackson, Lindsley, and Corlies. 
 
 October 5th the congregation occupied for the first time their new 
 church building, towards the erection of which about $500 had been raised 
 by Rev. A. L. Lindsley, D.D., from friends in Portland. 
 
 The year 1880 opened with the Mission in mourning at the loss of Toy-a- 
 att and Moses, two of the leading Christian Natives, who were shot dead 
 in troubles which arose from the introduction of Hoochinoo into their village 
 by members of another tribe. 
 
 On the 8th of August, 1880, the McFarland Home entered their new 
 building with religious services, an appropriate address being delivered by 
 Rev. S. Hall Young. 
 
 In October, 1881, Mrs. S. Hall Young published in "Presbyterian 
 Home Missions ' ' an appeal for funds for a hospital. 
 
 On March 13th, 1882, Rev. John W. McFarland joined the station as 
 medical missionary and teacher of the boys' department of the day school. 
 
 On September nth, 1882, Miss Kate A. Rankin reached Fort Wrangell, 
 as assistant to Mrs. A. R. McFarland. 
 
 February gth, 1883, the McFarland Home building was burned to the 
 ground, and the school returned to the old military hospital. 
 
 In September, 1884, Mrs. A. R. McFarland and her school were 
 removed to Sitka. 
 
 The early history of this Mission, with its trials and triumphs, hopes and 
 fears, is fully portrayed in the letters of Mrs. A. R. McFarland and Rev. 
 S. Hall Young, published in "Jackson's Alaska and Missions on the North 
 Pacific Coast." 
 
5 
 
 SITKA. 
 
 April nth, 1878, Rev. John G. Brady and Miss Fannie Kelloggf reached 
 Sitka and opened the Presbyterian Mission. The following December 
 Miss Kellogg was married to Rev. S. Hall Young, and removed to Fort 
 Wrangell. The school she had opened was discontinued. 
 
 On the 25th of March, 1880, Miss Olinda A. Austin reached Sitka, and 
 opened school April 5th, in one of the rooms of the guard-house, with 103 
 pupils present. 
 
 In July the school was removed to the old hospital building, which had 
 been kindly cleaned up for the purpose by Commander Beardslee, U. S. N. 
 
 In November a few boys applied for permission to live at the school, 
 and an Industrial Boarding Department was established, being greatly 
 assisted by Commander Henry Glass, U. S. N. 
 
 The school was afterwards named by the missionaries " The Sheldon 
 Jackson Institute." 
 
 May, 1880, the Rev. John G. Brady having resigned his connection with 
 the Mission, the Rev. G. W. Lyon and wife arrived, remaining one year. 
 
 March 25th, 1881, Mr. Alonzo E. Austin, and November 22d, Mrs. A. E. 
 Austin were commissioned for the Sitka school. 
 
 On the 24th of January, 1882, the old hospital building burned to the 
 ground, and on the 12th of September, Dr. Jackson commenced a new 
 building, on ground presented the Mission by Rev. John G. Brady. The 
 new Mission building was occupied the following winter. 
 
 In the summer of 1882, Mr. Walter B. Styles and wife were transferred 
 from the Hoonyah Mission to Sitka. 
 
 In December, 1882, a girls' department was added to the " Sheldon 
 Jackson Institute." 
 
 During the winter and spring of 1884, through the blessing of the Holy 
 Spirit on the earnest labors of Mr. Austin and family, a precious revival 
 occurred, in which some fifty were brought to Christ — among them being 
 nearly all the older pupils in the boarding department of the school. 
 
 The same spring Dr. Jackson secured from Congress an appropriation 
 of $15,000 for the enlargement of the industrial department of the Sitka 
 school. 
 
 On the i2th of August, 1884, the Sitka Mission was re-enforced by the 
 arrival of Dr. and Mrs. Sheldon Jackson and Miss Margaret Dauphin. 
 
 The erection of a laundry and bakery, 25 x 35 feet in size, and of a central 
 building, 130x50 feet in size, was commenced. 
 
 September 7th, 1884, the First Presbyterian Church of Sitka was organ- 
 ized by Dr. Jackson, assisted by Rev. E. S. Willard and Mr. Alonzo E. 
 Austin, with fort3^-four Native and five white communicants. Mr. Alonzo 
 E. Austin was elected and ordained Ruling Elder. 
 
 September 14th, 1884, the boarding school for girls at Fort Wrangell 
 having been transferred by the Board of Home Missions from there to 
 Sitka, Mrs. A. R. McFarland arrived with twenty-four girls. 
 
 HAINES. 
 
 Almost from the first commencement of the work in Alaska a Mission 
 to the Chilcats was in contemplation. In the fall of 1879, Rev. S. Hall 
 Young visited one of their lower villages, and in 1880 visited all of them. 
 Upon his return he recommended the establishment of a Mission among 
 them. 
 
 In the winter of 1879 and '80, Dr. Jackson raised from personal friends 
 over $500 towards the establishment of a Mission at Kadiak. 
 
The needs of the Chilcat Mission became so pressing that in 1880 he 
 paid the nione}' to the Board of Home Missions for the commencement of 
 work among the Chilcats. And in August, 1880, Mrs. Sarah Diclvinson 
 was selected by Mr. Young and commissioned by the Board of Missions 
 as teacher among the Cliilcats. 
 
 The Mission, however, was not permanently located until July 20th, 
 1881, when Rev. Eugene S. Willard and family arrived at Portage Bay and 
 commenced work. He was accompanied by Dr. Jackson and Rev. W. H. 
 R. Corlies. A site was selected and a Mission house erected by Dr. Jack- 
 son. The station was named Haines, after the secretary of the Woman's 
 Executive" Committee of Home Missions. 
 
 February 4th, 1882, Dr. Jackson secured from the General Post Office 
 Department, Washington, D. C, the establishment of a post office at 
 Haines. The carrying of the mail commenced with July, 1883. 
 
 In the summer of 18S2, Miss Bessie L. Matthews was added to the Mis- 
 sion force. 
 
 During 1883 an industrial department was added to the Mission at 
 Haines, and in 1884 a commodious log house was erected by Mr. Willard 
 from funds contributed by their friends in response to the appeals of Mrs. 
 Willard. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Willard had charge of all the Chilcat and Chilcoot villages^ 
 and endured with his family many hardships and privations. 
 
 A complete history of their workfrom 1881 to 1884 may be found in the 
 volume entitled " Life in Alaska," by Mrs. Willard. 
 
 WILLARD. 
 
 This village was visited bv Rev. S. Hall Young in 1880, and by Rev. 
 Sheldon Jackson and Rev. Eugene S. Willard in July, 1881, at which time 
 Mr. Willard commenced regular work among its inhabitants. 
 
 In 1882 Louis and Tillie Paul, native converts, kept a school and erected 
 a Mission building. 
 
 BOYD. 
 
 In June, 1878, Rev. John G. Brady, missionary at Sitka, make a mis- 
 sionary trip to the Hoonyah villages, and called the attention of the Board 
 of Missions to the desirability of establishing a Mission among them. 
 
 In October, 1879, Rev. S. Hall Young visited the principal Hoonyah 
 village and recommended it as a Mission station. 
 
 The Mission was established by Dr. Jackson, August 5th, 1881, and 
 named Boyd, after the treasurer of the Woman's Executive Committee of 
 Home Missions. 
 
 He left lumber and carpenters for the erection of a house, and placed 
 Mr. and Mrs. Walter B. Styles in charge of the station. They opened 
 school November 7th with sixty pupils. The following December they 
 were commissioned by the Board of Home Missions. In 1882 they were 
 transferred to Sitka, and the station remained vacant until the fall of 1883, 
 when Mr. James E. Chapman was commissioned as teacher for six months. 
 
 In the summer of 1884 Rev. and Mrs. J. W. McFarland were trans- 
 ferred from Fort Wrangell to Boyd. 
 
 JACKSON. 
 
 During April, 1880, Rev. S. Hail Young and Rev. G. W. Lyon made a 
 canoe trip around the Prince of Wales Archipelago, visiting and preaching 
 in the Hydah villages. The Mission, however, was not established until 
 
7 
 
 August 22d, 1881, when Dr. Jackson, accompanied by Rev. W. H. R. 
 Corlies and Mr. James E. Chapman, visited their villages and located the 
 station at Howcan. 
 
 Mr. Chapman was placed in charge and named the station Jackson. Mr. 
 Chapman opened school September 12th. 
 
 February 4th, 1882, the new station was created a post office. In May, 
 1882, Rev. J. Looniis Gould arrived and took charge of the Mission, and 
 was soon after joined by his family. 
 
 September loth, 1882, Miss Clara A. Gould arrived as teacher, and a 
 small saw mill, purchased with funds raised by Mrs. James M. Ham and 
 Dr. Jackson, was landed. 
 
 July, 1883, the first regular mail service was commenced by canoe from 
 Jackson to Wrangell. 
 
 The same season Rev. R. W. Hill and Mr. W. Donald McLeod reached 
 Jackson and commenced the erection of the saw mill. 
 
 ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION. 
 
 Upon examination of the records, it is found that the General Assembly 
 of 1870, in the reconstruction of the Synods (Minutes of General Assembly 
 of 1870, page 97) constituted the Synod of the Pacific "to consist of the 
 Presbyteries and parts of Presbyteries west of the Rocky Mountains." 
 This may or may not have included Alaska. If it did, then Alaska was 
 made k part of the Synod of the Pacific. 
 
 The General Assembly, in session at Brooklyn, New York, May 30th, 
 1876, took the following action : 
 
 Overture No. 6, from the Presbytery of Oregon, asking the General As- 
 sembly to erect a Synod on the territory now embraced within the bounds 
 of said Presbytery, as herein described, under the name of the Synod of 
 the Columbia, with the following Presbyteries, viz. : 
 
 1st. The Presbytery of Oregon, which shall be defined as within that 
 part of the State of Oregon situated between the Columbia River on the 
 north and a line beginning at the southwest corner of Benton County, and 
 running along the south line of said county to the southeast corner, thence 
 along the east line to the southwest corner of Linn County, thence along 
 the south line of said county to the summit of the Cascade Mountains, 
 also the counties of Wasco, Umatilla, Union, Grant and Baker, in eastern 
 Oregon, together with the Territory of Idaho. * * * 
 
 2d. The Presbytery of Puget Sound to be reorganized under the same 
 name. * * This Presbytery to include all the Territory of Washington.* * * 
 
 3d. The Presbytery of South Oregon to be constituted and to include 
 all of the rest of the State of Oregon not heretofore described. * * — Min- 
 utes of General Assembly of i8j6, page 75. 
 
 In this action the boundaries of the Synod of the Columbia are distinctly 
 given, and Alaska is not included. 
 
 But it has been asserted that although Alaska is not included in the 
 printed minutes of the General Assembly, that it was included in the 
 original written paper which passed the Assembly. 
 
 To ascertain the truth of this Dr. Jackson addressed the following letter 
 to Rev. Edwin F. Hatfield, D. D., the stated clerk of the Assembly, and 
 the custodian of all its papers, written or printed : 
 
 "New York, fune 6th, 18S1. 
 
 "Rev. Edwin F. Hatfiei<d, D. D., 
 
 Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. 
 " Dear Brother : Do the records of the Assembly or papers in your possession 
 
8 
 
 show that Alaska was incorporated in or made a portion of tlie vSynod of tlie Cokimbia 
 by the General Assembly of 1876? 
 
 " Truly yours, SHELDON JACKSON." 
 
 To the above Dr. Hatfield wrote : 
 ' ' I have not discovered anything of the kind. 
 
 ED. F. HATFIELD." 
 
 In 1880 Rev. S. Hall Young and Rev. G. W. Lyon petitioned the Gen- 
 eral Assembly in session at Madison, Wis., to create the Presbytery of 
 Alaska. This petition was joined in by Dr. Jackson. As there was not a 
 sufficient number of ministers resident in Alaska to enable the Assembly 
 to create a Presbytery, Rev. Dr. Jackson asked the Committee on Church 
 Polity to recommend that Alaska be attached to the Presbytery of Puget 
 Sound as the nearest Presbytery, and Rev. Dr. Lindsley asked that it might 
 be connected with the Presbytery of Oregon. 
 
 The committee recommended as follows : 
 
 " Ovetture No. (5 is a memorial from S. Hall Young, George W. Lyon and Sheldon 
 Jackson, requesting that the General Assembly organize the Presbytery of Alaska to 
 include all the Territory of Alaska ; or, if this cannot be done, to place the minis- 
 ters in Alaska in connection with the Presbytery of Puget Sound. The Committee 
 recommend that for the present no action be taken in these matters." — Minutes of 
 General Assembly, 18S0, page ff. 
 
 On the iith of May, 1881, the Presbytery of Oregon overtured the 
 General Assembly at Buffalo, N. Y., to define the ecclesiastical relations 
 of Alaska, laying claim to the jurisdiction, to which the General Assembly 
 made the following response : 
 
 "That the Territory of Alaska be attached to the Synod of the Columbia, who shall 
 take orders in relation to the Presbyterial connection of its nunisters and churches." 
 — Minutes of General Assembly, 188 1, page 5510. 
 
 This shows that the General Assembly did not consider Alaska as already 
 belonging to the Synod, but as unorganized territory ; therefore, by its 
 own power, the Assembly attached it to the Synod. 
 
 Alaska having been attached to the Synod of the Columbia by the 
 General Assembly of 1881, and a sufficient number of ministers having 
 moved into it to constitute a Presbytery, the General Assembly of 1883, in 
 session at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., May 25th, in response to the peti- 
 tions of all the ministers in Alaska and an overture from the Presbytery 
 of Oregon, created the Presbytery of Alaska. 
 
9 
 
 PRESBYTEKY OF ALASKA. 
 
 .VIIiNUTES OF THE FIRST MEETING. 
 
 The Presbytery of Alaska met at the Mission House, Sitka, September 14th, 1884, 
 at 10 o'clock A. M., pursuant to the following action of the General Assembly of the 
 Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, in session at Saratoga Springs, 
 May 25th, 1883: 
 
 ''Overture No. ig, from the Presbytery of Oregon, asking that ministers John G. 
 Brady, of Sitka ; S. Hall Young, of Fort Wrangell ; Eugene S. Willard, of Haines ; 
 John W. McFarland, of Fort Wrangell, and J. Loomis Gould, of Jackson, be set 
 apart as the Presbytery of Alaska. 
 
 "Your committee recommend that the request be granted, and that the above- 
 named ministefs are hereby directed to meet at Sitka, Alaska, on the second Tuesday 
 of September next, or as soon thereafter as may be practicable, to perfect the 
 organization of said Presbytery ; that the Rev. John G. Brady he appointed Con- 
 vener ; that the boundaries of the Presbytery be coterminous with the Territory of 
 Alaska, and that the Presbytery of Alaska be attached to the Synod of the 
 Columbia'. ' 
 
 "The recommendation of the committee was adopted." — Minutes of General 
 Assembly of 1S83, page (5j/. 
 
 In the absence of Rev. John G. Brady, Convener, Rev. S. Hall Young was elected 
 Moderator, and constituted Presbytery with prayer. 
 Rev. Sheldon Jackson was elected temporary clerk. 
 
 The roll was made out, and is as follows : Rev. S. Hall Young, Rev. Eugene S. 
 Willard, Rev. J. Loomis Gould, and Rev. John W. McFarland. 
 
 Absent. — Rev. John G. Brady. 
 
 Unrepresented. — Church at Fort Wrangell. 
 ^ The Rev. Sh^don Jackson presented a certificate of dismission and recommenda- 
 tion from the Presbytery of Santa Fe, and requested that he may be received as a 
 member of this Presbytery. 
 
 The certificate being found in order. Rev. Sheldon Jackson was received and en- 
 rolled. 
 
 Rev. Sheldon Jackson introduced to Presbytery Mr. Alonzo E. Austin, a ruling 
 Elder in the Church at Sitka, and recommended him as a suitable person to be 
 taken on trials as a candidate for licensure. 
 
 The Presbytery proceeded to examine Mr. Austin respecting his experimental 
 acquaintance with religion, and the motives which influence him to desire the sacred 
 office. 
 
 The examination having proved satisfactory to the Presbytery, it was sustained, 
 and Mr. Austin was taken on trials as a candidate for licensure. 
 
 The Moderator was appointed a committee to assign Mr. Austin his trial pieces. 
 
 The Moderator reported recommending that Mr Austin preach a popular sermon 
 at II o'clock A. M. from Matthew 15:25, and that, in the absence of Mr. Brady, who 
 was appointed to preach the opening sermon, the popular sermon shall be considered 
 the opening sermon of Presbytery. 
 
 The report was adopted. 
 
 Presbytery took a recess until 11 o'clock. 
 
 After the recess Presbytery met in the school room of the Mission, and listened to 
 a popular sermon by Mr. Alonzo E. Austin. 
 
 Presbytery then adjourned to meet to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock in Mr. Jack- 
 son's study. 
 
 Concluded with prayer. 
 
 Monday, September rsth, 1SS4. 
 Presbytery met pursuant to its adjournment, and was opened with prayer by Rev 
 E. S. Willard. 
 The roll was then called. 
 
 The minutes of the proceedings of yesterday were read and approved. 
 
 Rev. Sheldon Jackson reported the organization, on the 7th of September, 1884, of 
 
10 
 
 the First Presbyterian Church of Sitka with forty-aine members; of whom four were 
 received on certificates from other churches and forty-five on the profession of their 
 faith; and that Alonzo E. Austin was elected and ordained Ruling Elder, and is now 
 present as the representative of the session, and requested that the church be taken 
 under the care of the Presbytery and Mr. Austin be received as its representative. 
 The request was granted. 
 
 The next stated meeting of the Presbytery was appointed to be holden in the 
 Presbyterian Church in Fort Wrangell on the fourth Thursday of June, 1885. 
 
 The Moderator was appointed a committee to invite the attendance of those 
 engaged in neighboring missions. 
 
 Rev. E. vS. Willard and Rev. S. Hall Young were appointed a committee to appor- 
 tion the several tribes of vSoutheastern Alaska to the several missionaries. 
 
 Reverends Gould, Willard, Jackson, and Young were appointed a committee to 
 draft a paper to present to the Government officials concerning the treatment of the 
 natives by the Government. 
 
 Reverends Jackson and Gould and Elder Austin were appointed a committee to 
 prepare an historical statement as a preface to the Minutes of Presbytery. 
 
 The following persons were recommended to the Board of Home Missions for 
 appointment, the sums set opposite their names being selected by ballot: 
 
 TEACHERS. 
 
 Miss Annie Glen, Fort Wrangell I500 and travelling expenses. 
 
 Miss Bessie L. Matthews, Haines 500 
 
 Mrs. Eugene S. Willard, Haines 300 « ■ 
 
 Mrs. Alonzo E. Austin, vSitka 300 
 
 Mr. A. J. Davis, Sitka 1,200 
 
 Mrs. A. J. Davis, Sitka 300 
 
 Mrs. A. R. McFarland, Sitka 800 
 
 Miss Kate A. Rankin, Sitka 500 
 
 Miss Margaret Dauphin, Sitka 500 
 
 Mrs. J. L. Gould, Jackson 300 
 
 Miss Clara A. Gould, Jackson 500 
 
 Mr. W. Donald McLeod, Jackson, at his present salary, provided it does not exceed 
 
 |l,0OO. 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 Rev. S. Hall Young, Fort Wrangell ; |i,2oo 
 
 Rev. Eugene S. Willard, Haines j i'2oo 
 
 Rev. J. Loomis Gould, Jackson 1200 
 
 Rev. Sheldon Jackson as Presbyterial Missionary, with a salary of |i,5oo. 
 
 Rev. S. Hall Young reported from the Committee of Apportionment the following 
 paper, which was adopted : 
 
 Your Committee on the Assignment of Territory would respectfully submit the 
 following report : 
 
 1st. It is important that no tribe or settlement in Southeast Alaska should be left 
 entirely without such supervision as will tend to its future education and enlighten- 
 ment. 
 
 2d. There should be such a partition of this section of Presbytery as to prevent 
 the neglect of any portion of it or the conflict of interests ou the part of different 
 missions. 
 
 Therefore your committee would recommend that the following assignment of 
 territory be made, and that each missionary in charge be instructed to visit the whole 
 of his field if practicable and to otherwise endeavor to reach, the people assigned to 
 his care, and to report upon his whole field at each annual meeting of Presbytery : 
 
 1st. The Missionary in charge at Plaines shall, in addition to that town, have the 
 oversight of the three villages on the Chilcat river, the Chilcoot village, and the two 
 fishing settlements on Pyramid Harbor. He shall ascertain the condition of the 
 inland tribes accessible from his station, and shall employ all means at his command 
 for reaching them. And he shall also exercise supervision over the Auke tribe so 
 far as he may deem expedient, not conflicting with the work of Rev. W. R. H. Corlies. 
 
 2d. The Missionary at Hoonyah shall have charge of the villages of Cross Sound 
 and Chitchagoff Island. 
 
 3d. The head of the mission at Sitka shall, in addition to that town, have over- 
 sight of the several villages of the Hoochinoos and of the settlement at Killisnoo. 
 And he shall, if practicable, visit and report upon the Yakutats and tribes further to 
 the northwest. 
 
11 
 
 4th. The head of the mission at Fort Wrangell shall, in addition to that town, 
 have supervision over the Kakes and Kouyous, the mission at Tongass, with the 
 towns and fishing settlements in the region inhabited hy that tribe; and shall, as far 
 as practicable, ascertain the number and condition of the inland tribes accessible 
 from the vStickeen river, and employ all available means for reachilig them. 
 
 5th. The Missionary in charge at Jackson shall have charge of the various settle- 
 ments in the Prince of Wales Archipelago, with the exception of the fishing settle- 
 ments of Red Bay and Salmon Bay. 
 
 We recommend that Rev. W. H. R. Corlies, Independent Baptist, be left in charge 
 of the Takoo and Smiiduni villages, and the inland tribes accessible from the Takoo 
 river, with such supervision over the town of Juneau as .shall be agreed upon between 
 him and the committee appointed by this Presbytery. 
 
 The Board of Home Missions was recommended to appoint withovit delay a man 
 and his wife as assistants to Mr. Willard at Haines. 
 
 It was further recommended to the Board of Home Missions to appoint one 
 teacher in the schools in this Presbytery for every fifty pupils, and an additional 
 teacher for every additional fifty pupils or one-tenth thereof ; the apportionment to 
 be based on the average attendance of the winter months. 
 
 . The Board of Home Missions was requested to allow those in charge of schools, 
 as far as practicable, the selection of their own subordinates. 
 
 The Board of Home Missions was urged to establish as soon as possible a Mission 
 Station at Killisnoo, and another among the Hanegas, with a man and his wife in 
 charge of each. 
 
 Moved and carried that the Board of Home Missions be recommended to provide 
 money, not to exceed two hundred dollars, for the erection and completion of a 
 church among the Tongass Indians, in case it is found expedient ; the nionc}' to be 
 expended under the direction and upon the responsibility of Rev. S. Hall Young. 
 
 Rev. E. S. Willard was appointed a committee to adjust, with Rev. Mr. Corlies, 
 the mission work at Juneau and adjacent mining camps. 
 
 Rev. S. Hall Young was appointed a committee to visit at an early period the 
 Cape Fox and Fort Tongass Natives, and urge them to unite in one school ; also to 
 start Louis and Tillie Paul in their school work among those people, to whom they 
 are already commissioned. 
 
 Upon motion Presbytery proceeded to examine Mr, Alonzo E. Austin as a candi- 
 date for the ministry. 
 
 It was moved and carried that the usual examination in the classics and the pop- 
 ular lecture be dispensed with. 
 
 The Moderator was appointed a committee to examine the candidate in theology 
 and church government ; Rev. E. S. Willard a committee to examine him on the 
 sacraments, and Rev. J. L. Gould a committee to examine him on ecclesiastical 
 history. 
 
 The examination in each of these parts being sustained, and a popular sermon 
 having been delivered by direction of the Presbytery before the congregation, the 
 final vote was taken, and it was 
 
 Resolved, That the Presbytery having been satisfied with the several parts of 
 trial of the candidate, will now proceed to license him to preach the Gospel as a 
 probationer for the holy ministry. 
 
 The candidate was then licensed in the manner and form prescribed in the " Form 
 of Government, " chapter 14, sections 7 and 8. 
 
 It being expedient that the Presbytery should ordain Mr. Austin as an Evangelist,* 
 
 * Rev. Alonzo B. Austin united with the Broadway Tabernacle Church, New York City, on profes- 
 sion of his faith, in 1S55, when 18 years of age. 
 
 In 1860 he was dismissed to unite with Camp Chapel Church, New York City, where he was made 
 deacon. 
 
 Camp Chapel was organized by a Congregational Council, and was the fruit of the labors of Rev. 
 Mr. Camp, for thirty years City Missionary in the Sixth Ward, New York. 
 
 Upon the death of Rev. Mr. Camp, in 1864, Mr. Austin was invited by the congregation to supply 
 the pulpit. His services were so acceptable to the congregation that in 1865 they made out a regular 
 call for him to be ordained and installed as their pastor. 
 
 This Mr. Austin declined, but continued as in the past to support himself by his business during the 
 week, and preach to them on Sabbath. 
 
 This arrangement continued until 1879, when his health failing from overwork, he removed to Alaska 
 for relief 
 
 Ris health improving, he entered the mission work in Alaska, and in connection with his daughter, 
 Miss Linnie Austin, established and built up the Boys' Training School at Sitka. Under his lay min- 
 istry at Sitka a precious revival was had, in which forty-five were gathered into the Church. 
 
 When, therefore. Presbytery met and considered Mr. Austin's successful lay ministry of fifteen years 
 in New York City and five years in Alaska, it seemed very appropriate to ordain him to the full work 
 of the ministry. — Stated Clerk. 
 
12 
 
 the Moderator was appointed a committee to confer with him concerning his ordi- 
 nation. 
 
 Presbytery took a recess until one o'clock. 
 
 Presbytery came together at one o'clock. Prayer by Rev. J. W. McFarlaud. 
 
 The Committee on Ordination recommended that the Presbytery proceed to or- 
 dain Mr. Alonzo E. Austin as an Evangelist, at 7 o'clock this evening ; that Rev. 
 Sheldon Jackson preside, preach the sermon and propound the constitutional ques- 
 tions ; that the Rev. J. L. Gould deliver the charge to the Evangelist, and the Rev. 
 E. S. Willard make the ordaining prayer. 
 
 The report was received and adopted. 
 
 The Rev. J. E. Gould reported from the Committee to prepare an address to the 
 Government OfKcials, the following paper : 
 
 "To his Excellency Governor Kinkead, M. C. Hillyer, and Andrew J. Eewis, Com- 
 mission on Alaska Affairs, as per section 12 of an act providing Civil Govern- 
 ment for Alaska. 
 
 "We, the Presbytery of Alaska, in council assembled, respectfully beg to present 
 for your consideration : 
 
 ' ' That whereas our missionaries have during the last seven years been laboring 
 for the civilization and education of the native people in this district, becoming ac- 
 cjuainted with their habits, capacities, and needs, now having six stations, twenty- 
 three ministers and teachers, and hundreds of pupils, with access to and influence 
 with many hundreds of others ; 
 
 " Therefore in your report to Congress, as per section 13, we would ask that you 
 recommend such educational provisions as exist in other parts of the United States 
 for native tribes, as indicated on pages 40 and 41 of Report of Indian Affairs for 
 1883 
 
 "Also, that all natives be recognized on the plane of citizenship, amenable to the 
 same laws and penalties as other citizens. 
 
 " Further, that the natives be not deprived of salmon streams or other lands actu- 
 ally occupied by buildings or cultivation, but no lauds be held as a reservation for 
 their use, except as secured by other citizens under such provisions as may hereafter 
 be made. 
 
 "Also, that the provisions of section 8 for 640 acres of land at stations now occu- 
 pied by missions be recognized as wise and just, and that Congress be asked to make 
 titles to the missions, as was done in the organic acts creating the Territories of 
 Oregon and Washington." 
 
 The report was received and adopted. 
 
 It was moved and carried that pupils leaving one boarding school and applying 
 for admission to another shall bring a regular certificate of dismission ; and that 
 upon the expulsion, suspension, or running away of pupils the Superintendent shall 
 notify the Superintendents of the other schools, in order that they may not be re- 
 ceived elsewhere. 
 
 It was moved and carried that all parties living together as husband and wife shall 
 be required to be married before being baptized, except in certain exigencies that 
 may arise in the organization of churches. 
 
 The Board of Home Missions was recommended to pay Mrs. Sarah Dickinson the 
 sum of one hundred dollars in full of all accounts as interpreter. 
 
 The Board of Home Missions was recommended to pay Eouis Paul one hundred 
 dollars as a full settlement of all claims for building mission house at Willard. 
 
 Rev. Sheldon Jackson was elected Stated Clerk^ and Rev. S. Hall Young, Treas- 
 urer. 
 
 It was moved and carried that the assessment for the coming year for General 
 Assembly and other expenses be ten cents per member. 
 
 Messrs. Willard, Young, and Gould were elected a standing committee on Home 
 Missions. 
 
 Rev. J. W. McEarland was appointed a committee to prepare the narrative for the 
 General Assembly. 
 
 It was moved and carried that the reports of the several missions be sent to the 
 Committee on Narrative not later than January 15th, 1885. 
 
 Mr. Alonzo E. Austin was elected principal and Rev. J. Looniis Gould alternate 
 Commissioner to represent the Presbytery in the next General Assembly. 
 
 It was moved and carried that the missionaries in charge of the several stations 
 be requested to exercise care over natives visiting their bounds from other missions, 
 and when necessary report concerning their conduct. 
 
13 
 
 Rev. Sheldon Jackson was appointed a committee to adjust with the Board of 
 Home Missions the date of Rev. J. W. McFarland's commission. 
 
 Presbytery took a recess until 7 o'clock. 
 
 At seven o'clock Presbytery proceeded to the ordination of Mr. Alouzo E. Austin 
 as an evangelist. The services were conducted according to the arrangement which 
 was adopted at the afternoon session, and in accordance with the requirements of 
 Form of Government, chapter 15, sections 12 and 15. 
 
 Presbytery took a recess until 9 o'clock p. M. 
 
 At 9 o'clock Presbytery came to order in a room at Mr. Session's. 
 
 The Stated Clerk was directed to place Mr. Alonzo E. Austin's name on the min- 
 isterial roll of the Presbytery. 
 
 Rev. Alonzo E. Austin was recommended to the Board of Home Missions for 
 appointment as missionary at Sitka, at a salary of |i,20O. 
 
 The chairman of the Committee on Historical Statement reported. The report as 
 corrected and adopted is as follows : (See pages 1-8.) 
 
 It was moved and carried that each minister shall at his earliest convenience 
 prepare and forward to Dr. Jackson a full history of his mission. 
 
 Moved and carried that the hearty thanks of the Pre,sbytery be extended to the 
 friends at Sitka for their hospitality. 
 
 The minutes of the proceedings were read and approved. 
 
 Presbytery adjourned to meet in the Presbyterian Church at Fort Wrangell on the 
 fourth Thursday of June, 1885. 
 
 Concluded with prayer and the benediction. 
 
 Sheldon Jackson, Stated Clerk. 
 
*