The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-04-02

used after the erection of the contemplated ca
thedral. This latter building will be upon
magnificent scale. Funds are now being raised
for its commencement. The Catholic church
of st. Paul now numbers about 800 commun-
cants, mostly of Canadian French and Irish
extraction.
The first Protestant church organization in
St Paul was the Methodist Episcopal. 1t was
organized on the 3lst of December, 1913, by
Rev. B. Close, now of Oregon, and numbered
at the time eight members. The following sum-
mer, the present brick church edfce of this
congregation was erected. 1t was the first
brick church in the Territory-Rev. Mr.. Neill' s
dwelling being the first brick building of any
kind. There are now seventy three members
III communion and the church is well filled on
the Sabbath day. Rev. Messrs. Stevens. Dick
ems and Fullerton have at different periods Off
ciated as Ministers in charge. Rev. Chancey
Hobart has been the Presiding Elder of this
district from the time the Territory was organ
lied, and still holds the position, much beloved
and respected by Christians of all denomina-
tions, as well as his neighbors outside the
church. His removal from among us, if ever
it should occur, will he great public loss
Rev. E. d. Neill, missionary of the Presbyte-
rian Church, n. S., arrived here in April 1S49,
he having been assigned this post by the Gen
eral Assembly of his Church. He instantly set
about his work with that commedable and earn
est zeal which characterzes him in everything
he undertakes He labored upon each Sabbath
day in the then) only School House i'm the vii
lage, until he could build, mostly at his own
expense, temporary place of worship near his
dwelling. In this, the first Presbyterian con-
grcgation was organized on the first of Janua-
ry, 1850. 1t consisted of only seven members,
including the pastor. all of whom are yet liv-
ing save one. April following, the building, a
slight frame, was destroyed by fire. This acct
dent gave zest to the contemplated erection of
the present elegant brick edilice, at the corner
of st. Peters and Bench Streets which is the
best finished, appointed, and most commodious
church in st. Paul. Worship was first had in it
during the early part of the following winter
The building is now thoroughly finished, and
last summer a supurb organ was added to the
choir. The number of COMMITMENTS connected
with this Church is small in comparison to the
number in attendance each Sabbath day. They
comprise about twenty-five or thirty out of a
regular congregation of rising two hundred
Aside from his rigid attendance to his ministe-
rial and other religious duties, Mr. Neill is al
most an indispensable in the way of Il good citi
zen. His labors as Secretary of the Minnesota
Historical Society, in collecting and writing
our history as we go along and his zeal in
the cause of popular education are truly com.
mendable. In fact, all of our clergymen take a
deep and laborous interest in this latter great
and commendable work.
The scattered members Of the Baptist flock were
also collected in 1919, by the late Rev. Mr.. Par
sons. He was man of great simplicity of man
ners and purity of character. He died on hi,
way home from the East, in Nov, 81, just after
the completion of the church edifce on Fiftl
street, which he had worked hard to finish ant
pay for. His funeral sermon was the first evel
preached in the house. The present worthy
pastor, Rev. T. Z. Crcsscy, was called during
the summer of 1852, to take charge of this con
gregaton. 1t has about 25 commandments
The Home Missionary Society of the Protest
ant Episcopal Church, established mission in
st. Paul in the Spring of 1850. Rev. Messrs
Breck, Wilcoxon and Mcrrick were placed in
charge. Under their superintendent, til,
present neat church cdifce, OH Cedar street
was erected the ensuing summer On the 18TH
of April, 1851, Right Rev. Bishop kempel
preached the dedication sermon, at which time
the parish was organized. The number of com.
municants is about fifty. Rev. Mr.. Wilcoxon is
Rector.
The Methodist Episcopal church established
Il mission among the Germans of this place in
the spring of 1851. Rev. Jacob Haas was
called to labor in this vineyard. BY his devo-
ton and industry, respectable congregation
was soon collected, and a church organized
They worshipcd in the lower school house
until last August, when they had completed a
small but comfortable church building situated
upon the lower extreme of Smith & Whitncy's
addition. This organization numbers about
forty members, and is at present under charge
of Rev. Mr.. korfhag-Mr Haas having been
called to Dubuque last fall.
In the fall of 81, the constituted authorities
of the Presbyterian church, o. s., listened to
the petition of those of our citizens who were
partial to that denomination, and Rev. ]. G.
ltlheldaffer was sent among us to build up a
church. He was well received, and immcdi-
ately went about his work. He has now n
church numbering II members and breaches
every Sabbath to an intelligent congregation
at the Court House. The organization of this
church took place during February, 1852. 1t
is yet in its infancy, and has no permanent
place of worship. We have spoken elsewhere
of the contemplated edifice about to be erected
by this congregation From the high estima-
ton in which Mr.. II. is so deservedly held by all
our citizens. through respect to his many good
qualities as a man and citizen, as well as his
ability and zeal as Christian minister. we
have no dOubt there will no amnlo mo,,e ,,.