Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-11
IN THE SPIRITUAL KINGDOM.
Where Pious People Erect Temples
to Honor the Lord.
CASTELAR, STREET RELIGION.
The Inception and Progress or the
Christian Church in This City
and the Pastors Credited
With Them.
CastelIar Street Church.

CnstelInr street Church.
A very energetic society Is the oongrega.
ton of CASTELAR, street church.
The church HON Is located on the corner
Of Sixteenth and CASTELAR, streets, one and
q half miles from the postonico. Tracks Of
tho electric motor line have been laid along
Sixteenth street in front Of II, and cars will
soon be running on them. The church lot is
1863 feet front on Sixteenth street by SO feet
deep. This property with improvements Is
probably worth Sl2, 900, to Offset which there
is but a., 200 of debt.
A very gracious act was that Of Mrs.
Jennie Mcintosh, who presented TO the
a parsonage. Evidence Of the thrift
and business instinct governing the church
affairs was offered, whom a new house was
built on the south side of the church and
rented at a very satisfactory figure.
In every department of work the church Is
thoroughly organized. The membership is
no; there are three elders, two deaoons and
a board of four trustees. Its ladies' mis-
sionarv society, in NUMBERS, is the banner
society Of the Omaha Presbytery.
During the first six months Of the year the
Sabbath school averaged 165 members, and is
IN excellent condition as regards manage.
ment, finance and instruction. Two girls
mission bands and one boys baad have been
organized.
The Y. p. s. c. e. is growing in favor and
membership, and has most helpful meetings.
Over three hundred volumes of select
books are IN the library, which should
future work of the church. Religious and
local papers are on file in the reading room.
An offshoot from the CASTELAR, street
church is the Sabbath-school at Ontario and
Nineteenth streets, which was organized in
the spring Of 1877 and has now a lot and
chapel Of its own worth together nearly
81, 900. This school is doing effective work.
Another branch is the Williams street
Sabbath school, organized last December in
the Summit hotel, Fifth and Williams
streets. After some months of service in the
Summit hotel and the Hickory street school
house the society leased q lot on Williams
street and set about to raise money for
building. A church 3Ox36 feet was
was held in 1t the first Sabbath OF June.
When plastered and completely furnished
this building will cost 5000, Of which all but
$500 will be paid on completion.
The work during the summer has been con-
Quoted by Rev. S. X. Phraner, middler in
Princeton seminary. His labor has been
efficient ana highly appreciated by the peo-
pie. The Sabbath school and evening service
have each had an average attendance OF 100.
If the next three and one-half years shall
show such marked advancement all along the
many lines of its work as have the first three
and one-b1lf years of its existence, CASTELAR,
church will rank among the first in the city.
Christian Church in Omaha.
This first Christian church in Omaha was
organized in August, 1878, by Rev. B. b.
Tyler, now of New York city. About fifty
names were enrolled as charter members.
Meetings were held for about three years in
the old Methodist church, now the Central
United Presbyterian, on Seventeenth street.
In 1882 q substantial frame house was erected
at the corner of Twentieth and Farnam,
and in 1885 this house was moved to its pres
ent location, ut the corner Of Twentieth
street and Capitol avenue. The present
church property Is estimated to be worth
$50, 600.
About two years ago the Walnut Hill
church was organized and now owns a good
house, has a membership of ~seventy-five and
is about self-supporting.
The membership Of the First church
steadily increasing. Some of Omaha's most
prominent citizens are members of this
church, and it is rapidly taxing its place
among the most prominent churches Of the
city. Its Y. p. S. G. e. is one Of the best in
Omaha, and a flourishing Sunday school is
| superintendent by w. W. Slabaugh.
Since Its organization the following minis
tiers have been its pastors: Revs. }. W.. In
gram, d. r. Lucas, r. H. Ingram. DIR. J. Fl.
| Foy, C.. w. Newman aud A. Martin, the
| present incumbent.
Rev. A. Martin has had a very wide ex-
p%erience for so young a man. He was for
years the youngest preacher IN Indiana. he
was one OF the founders and editors Of the
New England Evangelist, published at Wor-
cester, Mass, the first paper of the Christian
church in New England. Afterwards he was
an evangelist and pastor for four years
in old England, coming from Liverpool to
Omaha one year ago..
Here his work Is very acceptable and sue
cessful. With the help of q devoted flock
he has succeeded in making the picturesque
little church on the cool. breezy hillside one
of the most attractive of all the sanctuaries
Of Omaha.
THIS sect has gained ground rapidly in
Nebraska, and the west generally, during
fifteen years past, and in point of numbers
is exceeded only by the Methodist denomina
ton In this state,