The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-08-05
Dedication of Hebron Methodist EpiscO
pal Church

July oath WAS Il red letter day, so to
speak, to the Christian people of
Hebron, Nicollet county, on which
occasion Bishop Foss, ID. d., dedicat-
ed the new church and preached two
excellent sermons. Hebron has been
Il religious community from the days
of the early settlers, and has formed
part of Methodist circuit from the
beginning. The Baptists and Con.
gregationalists have also sustained re-
ligious services during the same
period with IN occasional interim.
During the Passionate of the Rev. ii.
+. Satchwell. Il good subscription was
raised for Il church building. A lot
was secured. foundation laid, and logs
fOated down the river to Mr.. Abel
Keen's mill. The great hail storm
came, completely destroying the crops
and with them the church enterprise,
for the logs rotted on the river banks
or tloated down the stream. There
lay the foundation, a silent but ex-
pensive monument of the peoples
effort and failure, saying to every
new pastor, You cannot build a
church here"
During the halcyon days Of the
grange movement" the Patrons of
Husbandry erected grange hall on
the southeast corner of Mr.. James
Hendley's property. All are CONVEX.
SAINT with the decline of the order
throughout the country. The hall
stood unfinished for five or six years.
The present pastor of the Methodist
church came to the newly organized
Mankato circuit last October. He at
once commenced to preach and talk
church," a board of trustees was
elected at the first quarterly confer
ference, and subscription paper at
once circulated. About 500 were
subscribed, and private promises were
made upon conditions which assured
success. A site was chosen and the
hauling of logs and stone would have
commenced ut once had not the great
storms of the winter made the work
next to impossible. At this juncture
Overtures were made by persons in.
terested in both the hall and the
church enterprise which eliminated
in an offer of the hall to the church
trustees for $500. The offer was &C
cepted. the hall purchased and paid
for. and improvements were COM
menced as soon as possible. The
church is 22X3S feet, with center
tower SIS feet high. 1t is all com.
pleted except final finish of the walls
and pews. Mr.. Delaughter gave it
three good coats of paint without,
and it is neatly grained within. He
did his work well. AS much cannot
he said for the plastering -" more's
the pity Don't depend too much
on promises! John Klein, of Man.
katO, furnished n substantial black
walnut altar-railing, chairs and table.
lie did us he agreed. and his charges
were satisfactory. His growing trade
proves that Honesty is the best
policy"
Bishop Foss came up from Mime
apolis on the O'Clock train and was
driven out to enjoy the kind hospi.
tality of Mrs. Geo. Fletcher, of Bel.
grade. Rev. Rpbt. Price, of Eagle
Lake, and the pastor of the new
church completed the party. Sab.
bath morning awOke in tears, but the
pastor laughed with boyish glee us he
thought. there is no debt to raise! Let
it rain Rain does not dampen the |
courage of Methodist bishops any
more than that of the more humble
- circuit rider" The congregation
was small in the morning, so the
bishop kindly proposed to preach
again in the afternoon ut 2 o'clock.
The church was full, and we all felt
rich us we listened to the :" old, old
story" Of the love of Christ and of
God. the Father, and his wonderful
gift of "all things" After the ser.
non the church was consecrated to
he service and worship of Almighty
iOd.
Bishop Foss was elected one of the
bishops of the Methodist Episcopal
hurch ut the session of tho last Gen
raj Conference. lie is one of the
most highly educated men in the
hurch, as is proved by his position
'revious to entering the episcopal
flee. He was president of Wesley.
at Middletown, Conn.,, the
lost wealthy college under the con.
rol of the church. We find that he Z