Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-01-04
a GOOD RECORD.

History OF the Rise IT tho Congrega-
tional Church in Eankten-Annual
Meeting OF the Church and society.
The first religious society organized
In Yankton was by the pioneer Protest.
tant Episcopal minister, Rev. Or. Hoyt,
who was brought to Yankton for burial
yesterday. The frat Congregational
minister coming to Yankton was Rev.
Elisha M. Cook, under commission from
the home missionary society. His field
was Yankton, the capital of Dakota.
The date OF his commission was March
25th, 1868, twenty years next March.
The Congregational church was organi.
xed the next month after the arrival OF the
missionary, April 9Th, 1858. Thus we zee
that in one year and three months, more
Yankton'e Congregational church will
have attained its majority. The church
wasorganized with eleven members. But
these eleven members were alive to
situat,on and opportunities. One year
later q young man from the best class in
Andoves and a graduate OF Brown three
years before, now president OF Yankton
college, Rev. Joseph Ward, d. D., came
as the minister of the Yankton Oongrega-
tional church with q commission from
the home missionary society. The work
began and went forward, and with such
@ stirring minister and people it is no
wonder that the Yankton Congregation
al church reached self support in less
than four years. This church has put
on record q noble example in this respect
which 1t will be we'll for the many Con-
gregational churches in Dakota to copy.
When this church raj organized there
Was not more than 300 inhabitants in the
town. All has been growth. The town
has taken or city proportions. The pub
tic schools have become graded schools.
The academy has become a college.
The original eleven members of the Con-
gregstional church are increased by q
membership as reported at the late an
nnal meeting OF 1893, with a membership
of the society of 600. The small be-
ginning of q Sabbath schoel which could
have been easily gathered in a single
class now has grown to 400 children
whose names are on the school roll. The
small collections made by the infant
church reached for the year 1887 $4,000,
of which So 1000 was expended for mis-
sions and other benevolent purposes,
Some of the original members Of the
church are Still active workers In the
progress OF this Organization aud some
are among the present officers of the
church. At their two annual meetings
of Che church and society the following
officers were chosen to constitute the
managing force Of the church and So
ciety Tor the present year:
Rev. Dan 4. Bradley, pastor.
Board OF deacons-E. 2. Wilcox. e
Miner, ]. r. Banborn, j. NJ. Fogarty,
John Bremner and E. @. Dudley.
Church treasurer and clerk. L.
Tyler.
Officers Of the society-board of trus-
tees-E. Miner, president; j. NJ. Fo
garty, treasurer, secretary; w. a. Me
Way, E. @. Dudley and a. FL. Smith
Ralph Ward. assistant secretary OF So
ciety. Judge Barnes, Sunday school
superintendent and e. Miner assistant
superintendent.
AZ regards the contributions of the
church. about $500 were applied TO mis-
sion work in foreign lands and So, 0Ot
were expended for the cause OF benevo
iencs in Yankton.
Thus the Congregational church be-
gins its new year with a hopeful future