Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-02-18
THE CHURCHES OF KANSAS.
Nv. DIR. F, s. MCABE.
Pre.TerritOrial Era.

In the pre-territorial era, viz. prior t.
1854, missionary enterprises were vigor
ously prosecuted On this soil. among the
Indian tribes. by several denominations OF
christians.
The Baptists established q mission
among the Shawnees in 1881. The sta
tion was about four miles from the Mis-
souri, river in the present county of Wyan-
dotte The first printing press ever on
Kansas soil was bought by Mr. Joseph
Meeker in 1885, for Baptist mission To-
Gated near the present site of the city OF
Ottawa
The Catholics started a mission among
the Usage Indians in 1927, near the
present site of Usage Mission.
The Methodist Episcopal church began
it's work among the Delawares and Shaw
ices on the south side of the Kan
sas river, and it organized its frs:
church amorg them in 1882, Rev Thomas
Johnson having established school in
1929.
The Presbyterians formed their first
mission in Kansas in 1885, among the
Wea Indians, who lived near where OF.
k,wa now is. In 1887 a mission was
founded by them for the benefit of the
!owas, near what is now Highland in
Doniphan county.
The Society OF Friends started school,
and held meetings, among the Shawnees
in Johnson county, soon after the removal
of the tribe to Kansas.
Schools and churcnes were organized by
the Mo,avians, and perhaps by other bod
les of Christian people.
Territorial Era---IS54-6l.
The fierce political and border strifes,
which chiefly made up the history of the
territorial era from 1854 to 1861, were un-
favorable to the planting and nurture OF
churches. Yet during this per
rod foundations were laid by yari.
Gus denominations, in order to meet
the needs of the people, and especially in
anticipation of the prospective settlement
of the territory.
The Baptists organized in June, 1855
and their first house of worship was bull,
at Atchison.
The first Catholic congregation of white
people was organized in Leavenworth city,
August Is, 1855. Their first church build
ing for the use of white congregation
was erected at Leavenworth in the same
year.
The FIRST church organized by the Con
gregationalists was at Lawrence in Octo
Der, 1854, perhaps the first white man,
church in the territory. Their first church
edifce was built at that place in 1857.
The Protestant Episcopal church began
its work at Leavenworth in 1856, and its
first church ediice was erected there ir
1858.
The first Evangelical Lutheran organi
zation was at Leayenworth October %.
1855. The house of worship was built in
Leavenworth in the summer preceding the
organization. and i. was probably the FIRST
building In Kansas for church purposes,
outside of Indian missions and govern
ment forts.
Rev. w. H. Goode, presiding elder Of
the Methodist Episcopal church, preached
in a log cabin at Hickory Point July 8
1854. Rev. A. Sill, Rev. J. Nj. Chivingtor
and Mr.. Mendenhall, missionary of the
Society of Friends. being present and par
ticipating in the services-probably the
first sermon to white settlers in tine state.
The first church building was erected il
Lawrence in 1856, and the same year 9
small slab church was built in Leayen
worth. The FIRST church for whites Wa:
organized near Tecumseh, by Rev. Mr.
Goode. The FIRST session of the Kansa.
and Nebraska conference was held in /,
tent in Lawrence, commencing October %
1856.