St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-10
AN ANCIENT CHURCH.
First Presbyterian Church Es-
tablished in st. Paul
in 1849.
THE LATE REV. E. D. NELL
Built Its First Edifice at the
Corner Of Fourth and
Washington.
CAMERON TO BE INSTALLED
Tuesday Evening at the Cor
ner Of Lincoln and Grotto
Street.

Only those who have made st. Paul
their home for sufficiently long period
to acquaint themselves with her oldest
institutions, are aware that the First
Presbyterian church. situated at the
corner of Lincoln avenue and GrOttO
street, represents the most aged church
organization of the Presbyterian faith
in the Northwest. Such, however, is
fact to which history bears abundant
confirmation. Even before Minnesota
was declared separate territory by the
organic act of 1919. the foundations of
the First church, and of Presbyterian
ism in the Northwest, were laid among
small company of sturdy frontiers
men, who formed nucleus for Christian
faith and practice among the white settle
ment of st. Paul, which settlement
numbered at that date less than 500
souls. That the foundations were well
and wisely laid is strikingly evident
from the immense superstructure which
has been reared upon them. The synod
OF Minnesota, frOu. its small beginning
less than half a century ago, has so in
creased as to be able to count among its
ranks tOdayI seven presbyteries with
upwards of IT'S ministers and 1900
adherents. OF this great army, the
charter members of the First church,
still represented by that venerable
couple, Mr.. and Mrs. W. Ii. Tinker, now
of this city, and the little band of
Christians who early ,worshiped at
Fort Smelling. bear the distinction of
being the veteran pioneers.
AS the First church has, in these
latter DAYS. SO effectively renewed her
youth. and since, at the installation Of
her new pastor, Rev. Leroy l.. Cameron.
next Tuesday evening. she enters upon
future which gives every promise of
eminent success, it is timely to af1iX
brief outline OF her history.
In the early spring of 1919 Rev. E. ID.
Neill, who died only recently after
many years of active Christian work in
this city. under appointment of the
American Home Missionary society,
explored this section of the. country,
and in April settled in st. Paul. He
Immediately gathered about him the
Christian population and began preach
ing in 4 little brown SchoOlhouSe, stu
ated then near st. Anthony avenue. 1t
is interesting to note that under that
humble roof, in Christian union there
were assembled during that first sum-
mer, the agents
Who, in Gods Hand,
were destined 10 become the founders Of
no less than six of the primitive
churches of this city. There were the
germs OF the First Presbyterian. the
Market Street Methodist. the First
Baptist. the Central Presbyterian. the
House OF Hope Presbyterian and the
Episcopal churches.
DR.. Neill continued with his original
congregation until the fall of '49. when
arrangements were completed by him
for the purchase of two lots on the cor
her of Fourth and Washington streets.
There, amidst tangled mass of alder
brush, was erected the first structure
for Protestant worship in the territory,
and there the First Presbyterian church
of st. Paul had its distinctive origin.
The new building was set apart for
divine worship Nov. 26, 1S49. ana was
called the Lecture Room OF the First
Presbyterian Church."
The congregation worshiped most
happily i'll their new home until May 16,
But without delay steps were taken for
new and better site. Three lots were
purchased at the corner of st. Peter and
Third streets, and upon them was
erected a permanent brick edifice, which
was so far completed Ivy November of
that year as to admit Of occupancy.
Saturday, Nov. 9, there arrived on the
historic steamer Nominee the first bell
ever shipped INTO the Northwest. In
commenting upon its first ringing from
the unfinished belfry of the new church,
a religious journal of that day says:
''Its solemn pulsations were joyous to
every man, woman and child in st.
Paul, but productive of trembling as
constituent to the painted Dakotas en-
camped on the opposite bank of the
river.
After twenty.one years of activity
and usefulness, owing to the
Drift of Population
away from its center. it was decided by
the congregation to move again and
erect another house of worship near
LAFAYETTE park. The oil property was
readily disposed of aud the move
accomplished in 1871.
About twenty years of active life and
work were passed in that location. when
two things became apparent-trst, that
the chufcn was not likely to grow
there; and second, that the section of
the hill west of Oakland avenue and
south of Summit avenue needed lust
such an organization. &c. after care
full canvass of the matter,it was decided
to effect another removal of the First
church. The Lafayette avenue property
was sold, and two fine lots OH the cor
ner of Lincoln avenue and Gr0rto street
were purchased. and on them was
erected permanent building, with its
pretty interior and every appliance for
effective church work.
The church has had several pastors
during its long life, and the gentleman
who has lately taken up the work is
Rev. Leroy l.. Cameron, who comes
from Albany. N. Y, where his fathers
family live. He graduated from Union
college and completed his studies in
Princeton seminary, from which place !
he graduated about two yeats ago at the |
age of twcnty-three. He is young |
man of most pleasing character, and has |
made for himself host Of friends in |
the short time he has preached in the |
First church.
His pastorate, which promises to be a
successful period of the church's life,
will begin next Tuesday evening, when
the installation service will be held.