The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-02

sketch of the Centenary NJ. E. church
of Mankato without paying tribute
to the noble company of devoted Chris
tian women. Among the long list OF
these, we name three who still ms in all
the past, have done heroic service, Mrs.
ID. ii. Tyncr, Mrs. Sibley and Mrs. NJ.
$. Wilkinson.
CONGREGATIONAL. CHURCH.
The Congregational church was organ
lied in May 1870, though meetings had
been held since November previous to
consider the ACCESSIBILITY of forming IL
church, and generally to advance the
cause After organization, stated
services were held in what was known
rs Shocmaker's Hall. on Front street,
Rev. G. II. Merrill being pastor. Among
the eighteen names constituting the
church, we note those Of A. p. Turkey,
j. A. Kennedy, Mrs. o. Brown, J. II.
Walker, Deacon Mcacham and Prof.
Gage of the State Normal school, though
we find but few who are now residents
of the city.
Feb. GO, 1871, Il lot was purchased nj
the present church site, corner of Sec
ond and Grove streets, building com
mittec chosen, and the enterprise OF
erecting house of worship fairly in.
auguratcd. At this time only 500 was
pledged for this purpose, but tle churcl
had faith in its friends and went ahead
The society increased in members, and
aid came from outside, largely from the
Congregational Church Union, SO thai
the September following, saw the build
ing completed ready for occupancy at (
cost of $3,a7O, IA portion of this remain
ing as debt upon the society. Tit
church building is neat, comfortable
and very substantial structure, 32x6(
L. feet with an audience room capable o
seating about 400, and IL lecture room
l4X32 in the rear.
Rev. G. ii. Merrill occupied the pulpi
two years when he resigned and re
turned East. lie was genial man, al
earnest worker and left many friends
here. Sept. 3, 1872, Rev. l.. w. Chane.
was engaged rs his successor for ont
year, when he was formally installed a
the settled pastor of the church, which
position he held for eight years. During
these years, the church steadily in
creased in membership but there were
times when the temporal affairs of thu
society were not particularly encOurag
ing. The debt bcqueathed from tn,
church building enterprise, became
troublesome and the loss of valuable
members by removals, tended to retart
the growth and usefulness of tn,
church.
Two years since, the debt being thel
about 81, 200, it was decided to make al
earnest effort to throw off this load, an(
SO place the church on firm basis. TIL,
credit of this movement and for the sue
cess which attended it, is due largely t.
the ladies of the society, whose faitl
never wavered or labors ended until tn,
last dollar was paid. This was accOmp
lished April LIST 1881 and was FOLLOWED
by the resignation of the pastor. Mr.
CLANCY had desired this for some tim,
previous, on account of the health o
his son, to whom change of climate an'
location seemed imparctive. With re
solutions of respect and sympathy, an.
kind wishes-the church and councl
sundered the ties which had bount
pastor and people through years o
clouds and sunshine.
In June following the church extend
ed an invitation to Rev. Joseph Free
man to preach for one year. Th'
present church membership is $50. 1T
Sunday school, under the supcrinten
dcncc of w. w. p. Mcconnell, is prosper
Gus, and the usefulness and permanencN
of the church and society seems to bt
assured.
PRESBYTERIAN.
i The first Presbyterian church of Man
} kato is by several years the oldes
church organization in Southern Min.
nesota. 1t was organized on the 3ls
day of August, 1855, in little room il
the rear of the present First National
Bank, by Rev. James Thomson, with
seventeen members.
For ten or twelve years that little
band worshiped in "thc old log school
house" During the first eight years
"Fatlcr Thomson" was shepherd of the
flock. Then Rev. Marcus Hicks as
sumed the passionate and after little
more than one year failing health com
PEELED him to give up his post. The
little church about this time with help
from the Board OF Home Missions com.
menced to build their present church
editicc, an immense one for those days
and the first in all this end of Mime
sofa. Rev. Thos. Marshall was elected
pastor in December 1864, and brought
with him Christmas present of $1,000
from Madison Square Presbyterian
church at New York City, to complete
the building. The church prospercd
greatly during his four years pastorate
Up to the time of his departure in 1869,
the whole number received into the
church from its organization was 24O.
Rev. Joseph B. Little succeeded Mr.
Marshall as pastor in October 1869, and
remained until July 1881, when owing
to impaired health, from overwork, he
resigned despite the tears and regrets Of