s happy and ready when it
comes his turn to "speak in meeting." His messages are always notes of
joy and gladness, and the ebb and flow of his voice in prayer often seem
like the chanting of a sacred melody.

He was an ardent supporter of the Oak Hill school and two of his sons,
Samuel and David, both now deceased, were among the brightest and most
promising, that have attended that institution. He has been for many
years the coffin maker, for the people of his community, and both of
these boys became skilled carpenters. Samuel, after completing the
grammar course at Oak Hill, spent two years 1903-5 at Biddle University
and served one year as a teacher at Oak Hill. His skill as a workman and
ability to serve as a foreman of the carpenters, made it possible for
the superintendent in 1910, to erect Elliott Hall by the labor of the
students and patrons of the Academy. Both worked faithfully on this
building and died soon after its completion, during the early months of
1912. Both were members and Samuel an elder of the Oak Hill church.[3]

ELIJAH BUTLER

Elijah Butler, Lukfata, was an uncle of Rev. William Butler. He was one
of the early leaders in christian work in what is now the northeast part
of McCurtain county. In 1878, when St. Paul church was organized at
Eagletown, he was ordained as one of its first elders, and became an
active christian worker. A few years later he moved to Lukfata, and when
the Presbyterian church of that locality was organized, July 26, 1885,
he and his son, Elisha Butler, were chosen as two of the first elders of
that church.

Elijah Butler, like Apollos of old, was a man, "fervent in spirit," and
was teaching others of the people, what he knew of God and the Bible,
when Parson Stewart first visited the Lukfata neighborhood. His zeal and
faithfulness, in magnifying the call of God to him to be a christian
leader among his people, suggested to them the propriety of naming their
church, at the time of its organization "Mount Gilead," the home of the
prophet, Elijah, in his honor. As an elder and christian worker, he
"kept the faith" and "finished his course with joy."

[3] Simon died May 17, 1914.

XLVI

THE SYNOD OF CANADIAN

FIRST MEETING AT OKLAHOMA.--SECOND AT OAK HILL.--AT GARVIN IN 1912.--AN
UNINTENTIONAL INJUSTICE.--GRATEFUL RECOGNITION.--WOMEN'S SYNODICAL
MISSIONARY SOCIETY.--DEPENDENT CONDITION OF THE CHURCHES.--UNSYMPATHETIC
ISOLATION.--EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.--POP