The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-03-03
Churches 81 Clergy of 81. Paul.
rms sHv. EDwAED DUyrIkLD NELL, TBD vfnsf
PnssBYrERIAr CHURCH, AND fHE MOUSE
OF HOPE.

or sorE.
II to the Jesuis must be conceded the
honor oftbs first attempts 70 plant the crsau
upon the soil Of Minnesota, II was reserved
for Protsstssx, one hundred and 6fty.three
years alter Father HsHSxPIS had c0nsesrat
cd the wild waters Of Mile Lac, in the sacred
rites Of baptism, to establish the 6rst religious
mission within the boundaries OF our State.
The LAech Lake Mission instituted BY
Rev. w. r. Boutwell,. Presbyterian, in
1893, was the first N ission ever established
10 Minnesota.
10 the Spring Of 1885, DIR. T. s. VIII
LrAysoS, landed at Fort Snellisg with band
Of Presbyterian Missionaries, where, on the
second Sunday in June following, in one Of
the squad rooms Of the barracks, he admin.
istersd the Lords supper TO twenty-five
commandments. and with this solemn rite, per.
formed for tbs first time in Minnesota, was
organized the Presbyterian Church Of Fort
Smelling, the Hrst Christian Church OF Min
pesota.
After years Of labor among the Dakotas
at Lac-qui parle and elsewhere DIR. WILL
LIAxsos, in 1876, transferred bis residence
to Kaposis, an Indian village, four miles
below the Roman Catholic Mission Of st.
Paul, or Pigs Eye, AZ II was popularity
known, then cump Of squalid huts, the
obscure scat Of contraband Indian
trade in whiskey--which made it sort Of
incipient Rome TO vsgabond Indians and
unlicensed traders. From such ignoble Gle
mcnts sprang the urb' eondiia, young mis-
tress Of the Northwest.
Conspicuous among the halfs-dozen log
cabins which At that time were scattered at
magnificent distances among the trees Of the
ill-ringed plateau, WAS the primitive dwell.
ing Of HsSaY JACKSON, the Romulus Of the
place. In this cabin whose historic ruins
until very recently, graced the high bluff at
the corner Of st. Charles and Bench streets,
which oysrhangs CONSTANT warehouse, at
the Lower Landing, the first Prcts'tast mr-
vcs ever held at 81. Paul, was performed by
DR.. WuLrAxsoS. lie continued 10 preach
there, occasionally, to the little gang Of
heathcns, who made their living out Of the
decentralization OF the Indians till on the ID
OF March, lsi9. the Territory of Minnesota
wins organized from the d''Isda membra Of
Iowa and Wisconsin.
The steamboat, the first OF tbs season,
that on tho evening Of the 9th Of April an
nounced, amid the peal and flash Of Heav.
ems Artillery, and the answering shouts Of
exultant villagers that 81 Paul had been
selected ~ the Capital OF new Territory,
brought among its passengers young man,
palo faced and lighthaircd, Of graceful,
trim, and student like exterior, and Of gentle
and courteous carriage, who was destined to
exercise greater. certainly happier, social
influence upon the young settlement, than
all the hungry ofiicessekcrs combined, who
landed with him from the decks Of that
steamer or than most Who have landed since,
II was the Rev. EDWARD u. NEILL-the
6rst Presbyterian Clergyman Of Saint Paul
The two or three years since DIR. WILLIAM.
sons first sermon here had changed the ~
poet Of the village Saint Paul" says
Mr.. MILL in his History OF Minnesota,
was just emerging from q collection Of
whiskey shops and birchroofed cabins Of
halt breed voyageurs. Here and there =
frame tenement was erected, and under the
auspices Of Hon. II. NJ. RioE, who had OBJ
tanned an interest In the town. some ware
houses were being constructed and the fouu.
datious Of the American House laid" The
population too hal increased to two or three
hundred. The parson dbl not want for cor.
diali,y OF welcome from the settlers.
An anecdote in this connection. related
TO Us by Mr.. NEuL, ia worth preserving as
an illustration Of the rude exigencies OF pho
uccr life. The Saint Paul tIouse--ths fash.
iouable hotel OF those days of which Mr..
B,s was the proprietor, WA already over
flowing when Mr. NsrlL arrived. Tavern
in the place there WAS ncue other except one.
Lori Morsrr hal recently opened rival
house on jackson ST, n few rods above RAw'
on the opposite side OF the Ravne, which
has nearly disappeared in the rccn, dwelling
of streets. The house still stands then in q
scmewha, dilapidA,ed condition above the
elegant model of composite architecture
which forms the prseut mansion the Nor.
rSrs and the sole remaining monument OF
the temperance Reform Of 1851. The
walls were upholstered, the floor a. ye, un.
laid, The additions Of the guests were per.
formed in tin dish apon . caren,er's bench