Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-02-05


time, although a church, as a matter of
necessity, was frequently talked of, still
there was nothing in hand to, begin with,
and no property of any kind to be ap-
piled to that purpose. That a church
building was absolutely essential to the
carrying on of the work successfully,
seemed patent to all, and was strongly
emphasized by the fact that the first five
Sundays in which Mr.. Chambers oficia-
ted, the services were held successfully
in five different places. In the latter
part of April, 1890, however. the bishop
visited the mission, aud at the request
of the minister in charge called two
meetings of the congregation, and at the
second one, a building committee was
appointed, and a subscription paper
started. The first subscription and the
largest, except that of the bishop, was
offered by the Rev. Mr.. Dobson.
In a short time the amounts
pledged being in excess of $4,000, an
architect was secured to furnish
plans. In the August following,
lots having been secured in a most
central location by the Hon. N. G. Law
renee, ground was broken and the corner
stone was laid in place by the Rt. Rev.
W. D. Walker, Bishop of North Dakota,
assisted by the Rev. G. A. Chambers,
minister in charge. After the laying of
the corner stone, on account of the late
ness of the season, the character Of the
sup~erstructure, and the impossibility of
securing workmen, work was suspended
until the summer of 1891. At that time,
through the energy of the building COM
mittee, building operations we're resumed
and carried to completion.
The building is of white brick-of a
very excellent quality-manufactured in
the neighborhood, capped by a brownish
sandstone from the Lehigh mines. The
effects produced by this combination
are very fine. The style is of pure
Gothic, with low sidewalks and high,
steep roof, joined on in the chancel end
by the choir room on the right of the
sanctuary, and the vestry on the other.
On the right hand front entrance is a
turreted tower, of rare artistic excellence
and beauty. This is not as yet COM
pleted. The seating capacity is about
$50, and the probable cost of the whole
without the furnishings, $4,000.
On Sunday the 18th inst, this beauti-
full little temple was formally opened
for the solemn worship of Almighty
God by suitable services by the Rev.
G. E. Dobson, o in charge, assisted
by the Rev. G. A. Chambers. The bis
hop was unable to be present. To the
bishop rightfully belongs the credit of
initiating and carrying on the work to a
successful completion. Only through
his liberality and kindly interest was it
possible of accomplishment. His as
sistants who ably seconded his efforts,
were the then minister in charge, Rev.
G. E. Dobson, Hon. and Mrs. N. c..
~ O1CLSC3 OsO LlotlQdI duu MISs d.
+. Fowler. The new st. Johns church,
Dickinson, marks an era in Episcopal
church work and building in north
western North Dakota, as it was the
first church building in the trans
Missouri country in North Dakota. The
church in Mandan, however, was first
opened for services, as it was purchased,
not built. Two years ago there was not
a single Episcopal church building in
North Dakota, west of the Missouri. At
present there are four; two of these are
in the Indian field, and managed by the
bishop in person. These two latter are
either built, or about to be.
G. A. CHAMBERS.