St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-17
ONE OF GODS TEMPLES
In Which Certain of st. Paups Devout
Ones are Wont to Keep
Holy Day.
The First Methodist Understanding
Of Its Pastor and of
It's People.
Some of st. PauI's Foremost Citizens
Figure as It's PilIars---The
Social Element.
\ Live Pastor Who Speaks Right Out
abstract of Last Nights
Sermon.

At the corner of Summit avenue and
Third street mast shoots toward the zenith
and at its top flash at night half dozen
electric lights, whose silvery beams are
viewed from afar. Approaching st. Paul
at night from almost any direction the first
object that catches the belated traveller is
this beacon, assuring him that he is fast
approaching the confines of St. Paul where
are rest, peace and plenty for him.
Almost under this mast and baSking in
It's rays Is another luminous signal which
shines forth upon weary travellers through
this vale of tears pointing them to the
haven of rest and refreshment beyond the
skies.
This latter beacon is Familiarity known as
the First Methodist church. one of the
oldest and most influential churches of the
city, and embracing in its membership some
OF st. Paurs most solid citizens. The Rev.
Frank l. Fisher breaks the bread of life in
It's pulpit, having been settled here since the
pastor, the Rev. DR.. S. G. Smith, went
abroad some months ago. The church's
history is the record of good words and
works. Its pastors have been men known
widely in the denomination. Its members
have walked soberly and uprightly in the
midst of wicked world
THE STRUCTURE
where this church worShipS from Sunday to
Sunday is modest in its appearance, both
within and without; neat but not gaudy.
Its pews are comfortable, it is well venti-
lated and every seat commands 4 ready
view of the sacred desk, peculiarly so on
account OF the somewhat Semi-circular ar
rangement. 1t is freScOed within, and on
It's walls are selections from the Scriptures.
placed there by the artists brush. In the
corner To the left of the preacher is the or
gan and choir loft, though for a year or
TWO no high-pTiced operate singers have
been employed to lead the congregation in
their hymns of worship. The church
has seating capacity of probably six or
eight hundred, easy and in good weather,
and at that season of the year when church
going is most comfortable, the pastor looks
from his platform on few empty SittingS. \
half dozen aisleS, carpeted modeStly, lead
from the rear and sides of the church, con-
verging TO focus in front of the platform,
which is ample for a preacher not too
much given to the dramatic in his expound-
ing of the Word, and raised to height that
Is not too prominent, while it affords ample
vantage for survey of the back pews.
Aside from the church structure,
tile society is blessed in being
the proprietor of parsonage, situated on
valuable real estate. Up to the two ell
RANGES each Sunday drives many an elegant
carriage or barouche, from which alight to
worship jewellers in some of the handsome
structures on Summit avenue
ARIsToCRATIC
the church could not be said to be, in the
common Use of the word; for though some
of the best blood in the West flows in the
veins of its pew-holderS, and some may be
to all appearances of the Silk-Stocking per-
suasiOn, there is little of that freeZe-Out at
mOsphere in the society that is at once the
boast and the bane of the strictly Beacon
Hill, Back Bay, hOlier-and-richer-th than
thou church, that is known as
the aTistOcTatic chnrch East. The
pillars of the church are men of sound
horse sense. Judge II. r. Brill is one, and
naturally his counsel is regarded as sound
whenever sought. II. S. Fairchild is an
other of the pillars on which the spiritual
community rests. 1t would be hard to
name. perhaps, any ten men who might be
said to be the nucleus around which the
church is wrapped. Aside from the two
mentioned, L. j. HOdgsOn, ID. S. b. John
StOn, \. j. Goodrich, j. Ross Nicols, Hez-
ekiah Hall, Z. 5. Scribner and Brother
Suydam are perhaps the ones that by their
advice, their presence, their influence and
their cash, have gained that
position of dignity and respect
among the brethren that allows them to be
justly styled the pillars of the church.
They are ever watchful as to its growth
and liberal of their means, They shell out
at the slightest call and regularly I'll their
pews. Another one hOnOred and beloved
by the church, known for her good works,
and jealous for the welfare of the temporal
Zion, is Mrs. Pascal Smith. a mother in Is
rael, as it were, on st. Anthony Hill. The
church is much given to cultivating
THE SOCIAL ELEMENT,
and the stranger that comes to its midst is
welcomed without formality. Numerous
are the sOciableS and like entertainments
that make glad the hearts of the lambs of
the fold during the winter months. 4 ly-
ceum is one of the outside institutions of
the church, supported by young and old.
Numerous, too, are the parties
given either at the church
parlOrs, or at the home of some good sister,
where acquaintance may be formed and
strengthened, and the efeTveScence of
youth allowed to bubble harmlessly. The
good ladies of the church are connected
with many benevolent enterprises and on
the directors rolls of hospitals, missions and
other charitable organizations appear the
names of those ladies whose benign faces
scatter benedictlons over the pews on Sun
day morning.