The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-06-02

1NdS4 NH city to have It's pub
NsfsKE% As lie improvements
A&$Te. 31E and rush of bust
=" 1884 ness and manufac-
turing enterprises !;
a city without these is an inanimate
thing in rut which narrows and
cramps the best possibilities for man
hood. But in choosing home, a man
does not want business and enterprise
and push alone. "Man cannot live by
bread alone" is as true to-day as when
the greatest character the world
has ever known spoke the words. No
matter how superficial or really care
less a man may be himself, if he loves
his family, he always wishes to be in
a city which, with it's enterprise in
mercantile interests, possesses good
schools and attractive churches. He
may not go to church him eff but he
wants his family to do SO. He knows
that the church is a civilizing factor
and that city without it would be in
danger at all times of the grossest
crimes, of loss of life and property. A
glance at the churches of the city,
their membership, wealth, growth of
the past year, will therefore be inter
esting, and a review without these fig
ures and facts would be palpably lame
and deficient. Redwood Falls has six
prosperous churches besides several
,r church societies. A summing up
of the totals shows that the church
property in this city amounts to the
magnificent sum of $4,000. The
churches of the city have member
ship of nearly 800, which shows that
Redwood Falls christianity is of the
aggressive kind. The number Of
church goers of course is more than
double the membership of the church
es which bespeaks a healthy state Of
morals in the city in general terms.
But the story of the individual
churches will add to the historical
character of this review and will be
read with unhagging interest.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Episcopal church was organized
in 1876 by Bishop Whipple, of Fari-
baut, with six members. The corner
stone of their present church was laid
in 1877, and in the following year the
first services were held in it. The first
pastor was Rev. J. H. Hunter. A
semi-monthly supply was furnished
by clergymen at St. Peter and Man
kato, for few years after 1879, until
Rev. S. B. Purves was installed, three
years ago. Mr.. Purves developed rare
zeal and ability in his pastoral work,
until called to larger field few
months ago, to assume the rectorate
of St. Peters parish, at St. Paul. At
that time Rev. E. II. Clarke took charge
of the destiny of the Redwood Falls
church. He is a scholarly and earnest
Christian gentleman, and is held in
high esteem by all with whom he
meets in social or church relations.
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal Society
dates it's existence from 81, when it
consisted of eight members. The lit
tie handful of Methodists met with
varying fortunes, meeting at various
places until their present structure
was built in '7G, costing $1,000. An
excellent parsonage was built in 1880.
Rev. A. J. Williams; the present pas
tor, has had this charge since last No
vember and under his ministry the
church has had many accessivns and
is now in highly prosperous condi-
ton with membership of 100, besides
20 on probation. The Sunday school
is in an exceedingly fourishing condi-
ton, with a membership of more than
onehundred attendants. Rev. Williams
was born and educated in New York,
and followed tho medical profession
until he entered the ministry some
four years ago. He is pleasant, earn
est, forcible speaker, and is alike pop
ular with the church people and the
community at large.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Presbyterian church was organ
lied March "a, 1867, with nine mem
bers, Rev. Chauncey Hall supplying
the pulpit for the first year. The
church was destroyed by fire in 1882
and rebuilt in '93. 1t is an imposing
structure of architectural beauty, and
cost the neat sum of s. 900. The pres
ent pastor, Rev. John Sinclair, took
charge of the church 8 months ago,
and is the successor of Rev. J. G. Ri
heldaffer, who is widely known and
fully identified with the moral growth
of tho state, having been superintend-
ent of the reform school which was To-
Gated at st. Paul. Mr.. Sinclair was
born in Scotland and received his tho
ological education in Edinburgh, but
was necessitated to leave it two yea: 8
ago on account OF i'll health and sought
the healthiest part Of the world.
America. During the period he has
been in Redwood Falls he has already