Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-07-16
CHICAGO CHRISTIANITY.
The Observations of a Xankten Divine
and his Experiences Abroad.

anu nAptEtShCCS sAbIpne.
Chicago, July, 1SSS.-To the Press
and Dakotaian: With ell the rush
of labor and trade there is one
thing to be commended, that
the large business houses, the heavy
wholesale men OF Chicago, do virtually
close their business st two O'clock on
Saturday, SO as to give their employees
an opportunity to make the needed pro-
visions for the Sabbath. This is akin
to the plan adopted in Glasgow, Scot
land, only all the great manufacturing
interests close with half day service
on Saturday.
Through the kindness of DR. Goodwin,
SO we'll and so favorabiy known by our
Yankton community, We received very
hospitalities of his beautiful home on
Washington boulevard. So we we're
lowered Tor the last time from the top
most height of the Mccoy hotel, at the
corner OF VanBuren and CLARK, and bid
adieu to the gentlemanly presiding
genius who is ever at his post to minister
to the comfort OF his guests. We were
soon in cab and safely sat
down at DIR. Goodwin's door, corner OF
Ann street and WashinRton boulevard.
The minister's dwelling JOINS hand to bis
beautiful stone church. In church
building We see the same progress In
Chicago as in any other department.
In 1854, when we came first to the
city this society, then small, was wor-
shipping in wooden building with no
tower and without ornament. 1t was
not long before the growth Of the city
and church required q commodlous and
substantial structure. This want was
met by the stone building erected at the
| corner OF Green and Washington. The
| location of the new building was near
the limit of population westward. But
the continued growth of the city, reach
ing out westerly, required another build
ing much larger and in keeping with
the wealth and taste of the Worshippers
and nearer the center OF population of
the parish. There this beautiful edifce
was erected in the year 1878, at a cost
OF $2l5000. 1t is furnished with ten
thousand dollar organ. The main
| 1850 persons. Besides this it has spa
cious rooms on the groana floor used
for prayer meetings and the Sabbath
4 school service. This room can be di-
vided into o number of rooms by seven
doors where tho three departments of
| the Sabbath school and the four bible
classes can be accommodated. We had
| the pleasure, for pleasure it was, of visit
| ing the Sunday school. 1t holds it's
sessions before public service in the
morning. All OF its departments num-
| her over 500 teachers and pupils. 1t
has one superintendent who is now ab.
sent IN Europe, end three assistant
superintendent. It is graded school,
consisting of main school and the inter
mediate and primary departments. Each
| of these departments have their own
superintendent. To 90 from one de-
parsment of the school to another the
promoted one is required to pass a
critical examination before the whole
school. There were seven pupils from
the intermediate department brought in
and examined for promotion to the main
department. The examination was
thorough and critical. Among
the requirements they were required
to name all the books of the old and new
testament which we thought many of
the adult portions of our Sunday schools,
would fail to do If called upon.
Then came an appropriate address to
each by the pastor of the church and q
gift to each OF copy of the Bible. The
service wes most impressive.
The walls OF the rooms were adorned
with appropriate mottos, such as "Pray
without ceasing," Fight the good fight
of faith," Bear ye one anothers bug
dens," 'Tn everything gives thanks"
"Suffer She little children to come unto
Me-" ""God is Love-" "Little children
love on another" The most perfect Or
der prevailed through tie entire service
1t was the day for the observance OF
the communion of the Lords supper by
the church. The whole hour was devot-
ed to this ordinance. A number were
admitted to the fellowship OF the church
by letter and on profession OF faith in
Christ. Among the latter were four
children from the Sabbath school, one
only seven years old, and three Chinese
converts. Theoe were baptised by the
pastor. The address OF Mr.. Goodwin to
! the children and Chinese converts was
most excellent and visibly impressed the
audience witnessing the scene.
The workers in the church are alive to
the responsibility they owe to the sur
rounding region. Through the mission
schools members from the church have
been enabled to gather and support
what has grown into three churches snc
q building for each of these mission
centers, all commodious church struo
lures. The one located in south wesi
Chicago, the building cost $4,000, the
one in west Chicago cost SIS ,U0O and tht
/, one in thu northwest Chicago, cost $l6,-
600. All this has been wrought besides
maintaining their own home work.