The Gospel Messenger April 5, 1913 page 221 Vol. 62 No. 14

A NEW CONGREGATION IN OREGON

At the urgent call of the scattered members in Crook Country, for meetings, the District Mission Board sent the writer to look after the spiritual need of that section. The members living near Redmond called a council meeting at the home of Bro. E. W. Pratt. There were twelve members present, several having come from Bend, - a distance of eighteen miles. After devotional exercise the conditions were discussed an it was decided that they are not yet ready for an organization at this place.

Next day we went by wagon to the home of Bro. D. E. Fox, near Bend. Saturday evening, March 8, 1913, at a council held at the home of Bro. M. Niswonger, Bend, Oregon, the eight members present were organized into a working congregation. During the organization it was remarked that the original group, at the start of our Fraternity, contained a similar number of members. The organization is as follows: Bro. Ira H. Fox, minister in the first degree; Bro. D. E. Fox, deacon, and also church clerk; M. Niswonger, treasurer; Rose Fox, chorister; Mrs. Nellie Lattin, solicitor and messenger agent. At the services held in the Niswonger home, Sunday afternoon, two other sister, not at council, were present.

This country is new. It was a vast sheep range prior to the coming to the railroad. Extensive irrigation projects are being put into operation. There is no water available except river water. The land is quite fertile, but much of it is stony. The Brethren in this section are prosperous and have high hopes of the future of this section of new country. Brother and Sister Niswonger, formerly from Dayton, Ohio, have lived in Crook County for eight years. For five years they kept the stage “station” at Powell Butte, eleven miles from Redmond. Their godly lives have been a good advertisement for the Church of the Brethren and the outlook is good.

Any one desiring information concerning the country may address Bro. H. A. Beckwith or Bro. Albert Mohler, Bro. E. W. Pratt, Redmond, Oregon or Bro. D. E. Fox, Bend, Oregon

.H. H. Keim, Island Farm, Ridgefield, Wash., March 26