St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-09-27

The new church was occupied in No
vember, 1850, and in its belfry was hung
the first large church bell that rang in
st. Paul. This church also contained
the first large pipe organ used in Min
neSota. La 1851 he was made the first
territorial superintendent of lnstruc-
ton, and held the Office for nearly two
years. In 1854, owing to the in
crease of the congregation, the First
PRESBYTERIAN church was enlarged, and
forty new pews added. As they were
now able to support a minister, and
there was demand for ministerial
large in the growing city, who could
advance the general interests of Chris
tianity, Mr.. Neill resigned his position
as minister of the First Presbyterian
church in December, but continued to
preach for them FOR part of the next
wear, and until they selected some one
to supply the pulpit. Mr.. Neill was
occupied several months III developing
the boys department of the Baldwin
school, and obtained separate charter
for it under the name of the College of
St. Paul, and, with the aid of Mr.. Bald
win and ether friends in Philadelphia,
erected three story edifice for its use
and secured teachers, and was made It's
president.
In November, 1855, he began to preach
every Sunday in the upper part of st.
Paul, where there were no religious
services. From his lahore in this field
was organized in December following
the Presbyterian church known as the
House of Hope.
AS SCHOOL INSPECTOR.
In 1855 MIR. Ncill prepared some OF
the important sections for charter for
board OF education for the city OF st.
Paul, which was passed by the ieglS-
lature. He was elected an inspector
for the ward in which he lived, and at
the organization of the board was made
secretary, position he held for several
years. BY him was devised the seal of
the board, with the motto from the
Greek poet Menander, Educate youth,
for men you cannot" While absent
from the country i'll the public service
the board gave his name to the public
school at the corner OF Laurel avenue
and harrington street.
In 1858 Mr.. NELL was elected chau-
cellor of the state university. He found
this institution hampered by debt and,
i'll order to rescue ii from its troubles,
procured grant of land from congress
in its aid. When the office OF state
Superintendent of schools was created
Mr.. Neiil was chosen to ill the place.
He labored hard to syStematlZe the
schools, establishing the county and
township systems as at present, and it
was largely due to his efforts that the
first normal school at Winona was eS-
tabliShed. a.
The congregation of the House of
Hope, of which Mr.. Neil was the
founder and minister, had SO increased
in 1860 as to require the entire attention
OF a pastor, and he, although greatly
attached 10 tile church, resigned his
charge.
Alter the firing upon Fort Sumter,
i'll April, 1861, by the insurgents of
South Carolina. MIR. Neill believed that
there would be a long civil war. and,
knowing that there would be no educa-
tional progress during the period, re-
signed the superintendeucy of public
instruction and left the state as chaplain
of the First Minnesota regiment, and
was present at the first battle of Bull
Run. the TWO days battle at Fair Oaks,
and the
SEVEN DAYS OF CONFLICT
terminating at Malvern Hill. Col. Cor
man. in his report TO Gen. Franklin of
the Dattle OF Bun Kun. on Jan. Il, 1851,
wrote: My chaplain, E. ID. Neil, who
on the field the whole time. and in the
midst of danger. giving aid and comfort
TO the wounded"
After the Army of the Potomac rested
at Harrlsou's Landing on the James
river. he was appointed hospital chap
lam, U. s. A., and assigned to South
Street Military hospital, Philadelphia.
He resigned the chaplaincy in January,
1864. and the next week was appointed
10 read and-arrange the correspondence
of President Lincoln, and his secretary
to sign land patents. He remained on
duty at the presidents house after his
assassination, and after President Grant
was inaugurated was nominated consul
TO Dublin and its dependencies, and
confirmed by thessenate. After holding
the position about two years, believing
that Minnesota had become sufIi-
GENTLY fettled from the disturbances of