Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-07-24

WHEREAS, While We bid them God speed in
their sacred work, to express our confident
and earnest prayer that with church edifces
remote from each other, and hearty mutual
good Will, the generous emulation OF the two
parishes may be overruled to the promotion
| in peace and harmony, both of the glory OF
God and the salvation of men.
Thus the new enterprise was launched. AS
Dr. Van Iugen himself very truly says, "the
| new parish was started not in schism, or as
the offspring of contention, but in the execu.
| q cherished plan and purpose; and
with every prospect that by
Gods continued blessing, the picture OF the
gospel first read in st. Paul's church shall be
realized, "They.filled both the ships"
| There is one clause in the preamble of the
| resolution which We have just read, which
requires some explanation. 1t is that which
proceeds of the old cemetery to the new parish
in lower town. Thelold cemetery was a
| land tract of three acres lying north of Ohm
sted about five blocks or De Bow street, west
OF st. Pauls church. II was presented to the
church in st. Paul by the Rev. A. B. Patter-
son and wife, of New Jersey. When set apart
for the purposes of a cemetery it was sup
posed TO be sufficiently distant from the
center of population, but the rapid growth of
the town during the prosperous years of '55
and '56 had already encroached upon this
home OF the dead. Another tract was there
fore purchased by the corporation OF Christ
church, and one more distant from the city.
The old cemetery was sold to Caspar Ii.
Sehurmeier, for g.. 500, and in obedience 10 the
express desire OF Bishop kemper, TO whom
the donor when asked for clear deed re-
ferred tue matter, and in consideration OF the
one-half acre which in the first deed of trust
had been specifically set apart for the site of
new church, in lower town, the vestry of
Christ church at the suggestion Of DR.. Van
Ingen appropriated 81 600 for such site and
Improvements on the same.
The meeting called to organize the new
parish in lower town was held in the parlor
OF Capt Dana's house, now the Roman Catho-
lie Orphan asylum. The date was December
%, 1856 At this meeting DR.. Van IDgen ap-
peared, and generously and frankly offered his
aid in perfecting the organization.
Action was then taken looking TO the OBJ
tanning OF rector for the new parish. By a
singular coincidence the two names under con-
sideration were Henry B. Whippie and An
drew Bell Paterson, the first Of whom became
the first bishop Of Minnesota, and the other a
candidate for this Office. This fact l learn
from letter of Father Gears, dated Fort
Smelling, December ID, 1856, and addressed to
the rector of Rome, N. Y. The call was ex-
tended to Mr.. Paterson. 1t was promptly ac-
cepted, and he removed with his family to ST..
Paul in May, 1857, accompanied by Mr.. L.
Henry Smith, the architect OF the church
There are persons who remember the double
cottage on the corner iof Ninth and Willius
streets, which the doctor with his FAM
lily first occupied, and where he remained
until his handsome stone residence on Phalen
creek, known as Lodore, was completed.
Henry Smith lived as an inmate OF DR.. Pater
sons family, and SO far as I know, says Capt.
Dana, gave his whole time and labor to the
construction OF the church edifice and never
asked fer any compensation. Whatever was
his motive, his life then was a devotion to
that work.
The first service of st. Paul's church was
held in the upper room OF the Washington
school house on the first Sunday in July, 1857.
1t was an suspicious commencement Of the
work that the new parish on that occasion
was favored with the presence OF 1t. Rev.
Alonzo Potter, Bishop of Pennsylvania, and
church. He read the service and preached
the sermon. The congregation numbered
about 100 persons.
On July 10 the first communion was cele-
brated Of the twenty-five who then COM
nfuned only three remain connected with this
parish to-day, namely: DIR. Edward A. Boyd,
Mrs. w. E. Hunt, and Miss Anne E. Gill.
The corner stone of our present building was
laid on the 14th day of July, 1857, by Bishop
Kemper. The clergy, then small band in.
deed, rObed at the house of Capt. Dana and
marched in procession to the foundation.
The address was delivered by DR.. Van Ingen.
| Says DR.. Paterson in one Of his parochial SER
mons "Tbe building progressed satisfactorily
| from this time until the great commercial
| crisis of the following October. This event
| almost stopped the work, for it prevented the
collection OF subscriptions to the amount of
| $4,000. the lathiDg the building had then
| just been completed; the plastering and pews
| had still to be provided. In this emergency
| the members of the vestry on their individual
responsibility succeeded in obtaining a loan of
$500 at 3 per cent. per month. With this
amount the building was put in condition
| for worship on Christmas day, 1857.
! 1t will be interesting to know the names OF
| the vestry who succeeded in euch notable
commercial transaction: n. j. I. Dana, Sr.
Warden, Norman w. Kittson, Jr. Warden,
Henry A. Lambert. J. Irving Beaumont, Jonn
Livingston, Chas. w. Wooley, vestrymen.
At this first service In the new church on
Christmas day, 1857, Father Gear, then chap
| lain of Fort Smelling, was the preacher. Dis
abIed by the violence of repeated accidents,
| the venerable chaplain preached sitting in
his chair. In spite of the rough and in
complete condition of the church building,
| the service is spoken of by those who remem-
Der it, as one of great joy. The unfinished
chancel and the implanted timbers were
decorated with the fir tree, the pine tree, and
| the box, brought together by Jealous hearts
| to beautify the house of the Lord.
In the spring OF 1865 funds were obtained
| from the East to finish and furnish the chan
eel.
At this time there remained upon the church
due to the mechanics a debt of $1,000. In
! consequence of its non-payment, in the subse-
quent fall lien was put upon the building.
The following March in 1859, the holder OF
| the lien threatened sale. 1t was therefore
| necessary to make vigorous effort to save
| the church. A parish meeting was called and
an appeal made for subscriptions to pay off
| the debt. DR.. Borup promised 800 for every
81, 900 subscribed. This stimulated applica-
| ton to friends in the East, and very liberal
donations were there obtained which enabled
| the parish 10 extinguish it's debt. We at this
| time can hardly appreciate the meanln of an
effort which undertook to raise more than
| 5000 in the dark years of 1858 and 1859. In
addition to the donations from the East above
mentioned, it is proper to add that DR.. Patcr-
| son, before his departure, obtained funds from
| there chiefly from his personal friends and rel:
atives sufficient to purchase an organ, which
cost $3.50, stained glass windows, $500, COM
munion service, SITS, and complete outfit
| for the Sunday school. On the first Wednes-
day IN June, 1859, very soon after the indeb.
tedness was paid, the church was consecrated
by Bishop Kemper. On this occasion the SER
mon was preached by the Rev. Timothy Will
coxson, and the choir consisted of Mr.. Rich
ards Gordon, our present preceLtor, who for