St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-04
their church has been builded. 1t was

their church has been builded. 1t was
in the fall of 'S1 that number Of the
men and women, respected in Mime
apolis as being of strong individuality,
began to think of liberal organization.
S. G. Gale and o. G. Merriam are now
enjoying the society and church which
they did so much to build up and COM
plete. They are thought of along with
Woodbury. Fisk and Robert Hale.
who have within the last year
passed away, almost as the found
ers of the church, and have from
the first held places on the board
of trustees. James A. Lovejoy was
also one of the first trustees of the
church. In Elliot's hall. PSI Nicollet
avenue, on the 4th day of Sept. 1881,
the first meeting was held, Rev. j. D.
Jones, of st. Paul, delivering the adj
dress. About forty people were inter-
ested in the organization of the new
church, and they met again Oct. 2,
Rev. j. D. Jones preaching in the morn
ing, and Rev. n. G. Garrett in the even
ing. During this Sunday DR.. H. NJ.
Simmons was talked Of, and on the 9th
and 10th of Oct. he spoke before them.
The little organization had grown in
size and strength, and on Oct. 80, the
committee, consisting of the gentlemen
who were afterward the first trustees,
was appointed to draft q constitution.
DR.. Simmons was secured as the per-
manent pastor, and from that time
forth the growth was steady
and certain. In Jan. of 1882. the
Jewish synagogue on Fifth street, be-
tween First and Second avenue south,
became their place of worship. 1t was
while occupying this building that they
began to consider the plans for erecting
a home of their own. The congregation
was not composed to any great extent
of wealthy men, but there were num-
ber who had large possessions and large
hearts. The men who were made the
first body of trustees were still looked
to as the fathers of the church. and it
was largely owing to their untiring
energy that the work was so success
fully completed. Five years from the
time of their first meeting they moved
into the basement of the new edifice,
and the room was crowded that morn
ing, some of those who had come to
hear the first sermon in the new church
SitJlUS Ol GlC oidllo, dilQ OIuOI mCluUcIS
of the overfiowing congregation occupy
ing places in the kitchen and Railways.
The following June the new church
was dedicated, with happy manifesto
tiOnS of the society over the work COM
pleted. 1t was from this time forth
that the church made the most rapid
growth.
The manner of joining with the
church is simply by registration, and
the bond only lasts so long as it pleases
the signer. Weekly the society has in
creased in membership since they have
been in their pleasant home, till now
there are over four hundred active
members and many who are attached to
the organization besides. S. q. Gale. o.
G. Merriman, DR.. A. Barnard, G. T.
Harris form the board of trustees at
present, with Howe Paige as secretary
and G. S. Miller treasurer. Robert Hale
and Woodbury. Fisk, up to the time of
their death, were members of the board.
All churches, as we'll as individuals,
of character have their hobby, and the
First Unitarian has one with the rest.
1t is that their church is their home,
free from every trace of formality and
ceremony. 1t is their aim to greet
everyone as belonging to the same fam
lily and make them all at home with
them. The crowded church Of Sunday
mornings tells how well they are sue
ceeding.