;4 Sketc/ies of an jExtti/'sioH tv Southern Alaska. 



At the last meeting of the Presbytery of Oregon, to whose jurisdiction 

 Alaska belongs, I was appointed to visit Alaska to examine the missionary work 

 and to organize a church at this place if the way were prepared. 



I am ihanktul to the Head of the C'hurcli for the degree <■■>[ success which 

 has attended faithful christian labor here. 



MEMBERS. 



The names of those who were to constitute the new church were then an- 

 nounced. Four were received from other churches, one white man and eigh- 

 teen natives on profession. A few days after, several more were added. 



Vou can judge of my interest in the group that surrounded me, when I state 

 that all the whites except Miss Dunbar stand in a near relation to me. Mrs. 

 Voung, the wife of the missionary and daughtei of Rev. Lewis Kellogg, a 

 ven^ral^le minister of our church, being my neice; Mrs. McFarland and Mrs. 

 N'anderbilt, members of my church ; one of the white men who joined on pro- 

 fession, a former member of my congregation ; and the other, the carpenter 

 whom I had employed and sent thither. 



The organization by formal vote adopted the name of the Presbyterian 

 Church of Fort Wrangel, Alaska; and })laced itself under the care of the 

 Presbytery of Oregon. 



When we stood in a circle and with hand joined to hand entered into the sa. 

 cred vows and engagements of the visible church of God, the scene was very 

 solemn and affecting. 



Among those who joined were three chiefs and two counsellors of chiefs, 

 three of whom spoke at the Glenora conference. 



In the afternoon the ordinance of the Lord's .Supper was administered by 

 Dr. Kendall to the new church and to invited guests. The Rev. W. H. R. 

 Corlies, M. 1)., and his wife partook with us. They are independent Baptists. 



The organization was completed, with the exception of the eldership, on 

 the Wednesday following by the election of the Board of Trustees, and of 

 Rev. S. H. Young as pastor. 



"The darkness is passed and the true light now shineth." May it shine 

 forever with increasing brightness, and its rays penetrate the surrounding gloom 

 and kindle the watch fires of salvation along this Coa.t and throughout this 

 Territory. 



INTERVIEWS WITH NATIXES. 



Mo.NDAY, August 4, 1880. 



I had an interview with the Chief of the Awk tribe — a branch of the Tlinket 

 family. This man was at our services yesterday. He desires for his people 

 what we are doing for the Stahkeens. 



While this was going on the young chief Shaikes entered, and the room 

 was soon filled with natives. As a conference was evidently pending, I sent 

 for Drs. Kendall and Jackson. The chief said : — 



