here is no
time to lose. Our churches and schools must be multiplied and our
brethren of the ministry must be fully reinforced by competent
educated men trained for christian work. What the future has in
store for the whole Territory was illustrated by the marvelous rush
into and settlement of Oklahoma Territory during the last year."

"A wonderful transformation has taken place. The unbroken prairie of
one year ago has been changed to cultivated fields. The tents of
boomers have given place to well built homes and substantial blocks
of brick and stone. Unorganized communities have now become members
of a legally constituted commonwealth. Here are found all the
elements of great progress and general prosperity and the future of
Oklahoma Territory is full of great promise."

"Here the Presbyterian church has shown itself capable of wrestling
with critical social problems and stands today as the leading
denomination in missionary enterprise. Every county has its minister
and many churches have been organized. Others are underway. With
more ministers and liberal aid for the erection of churches the
Presbyterian church will do for Oklahoma what it has done for Kansas
and the Dakotas."

In 1886 the mission school work among the Indians was transferred from
the care of the foreign to the home mission board. Those in charge of
the school work of Spencer Academy at Nelson resigned that work and the
school was closed.

In 1895 the Mission school work at Wheelock Academy was undertaken and
continued thereafter by the Indian Agency, as a school for orphan
children of the Indians.

WHEELOCK ACADEMY

Wheelock Academy for nearly four-score years was the most attractive
social, educational and religious center in the southeast part of the
Choctaw nation. It was located on the main trails running east and west
and north and south. But when the Frisco railway came in 1902, it passed
two miles south of it, and a half dozen flourishing towns were founded
along its line.

There remain to mark this place of early historic interest the two
mission school buildings, a strongly built stone church 30 by 50 feet, a
two story parsonage and cemetery. The church is of the Gothic style of
architecture, tastefully decorated inside and furnished with good pews
and pulpit furniture.

REV. ALFRED WRIGHT

Among the many old inscriptions on the g