The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-16

been active in securing the inmigra-
ton of their friends to this locality,
and the excursion that arrived here
Saturday Is composed of committees
from Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, illinois,
Iowa, Missouri and Kansas, that have
been sent here by their home churches
to investigate the country, as well as
to attend the ceremonies of church
dedication. Many of these newcomers
have already signified their intention
of locating here, and the extremely lib
eral terms on which the land is sold
has induced others to remain, VINO
came merely for the pleasure of the
trip. The visitors have been driving
about the country, interviewing farm
ers, particularly those Of their own
religious belief, and they have been
astonished at the air of prosperity and
contentment that surrounds even those
who came here but six months ago.
These latter have harvested one crop
a light one because of the severe rains
this year-but they are more than sat
isfied with the superiority of farming
in North Dakota over the methods of
the older Western states.
There were three coach loads Of
eXcursionistS in tourist cars arriving
Saturday, while in the car attached to
the regular train were some of the best
known workers in the Dunkard church,
representing several states and widely
separated communities. In this party
were: Joseph Amick, business man.
ager of the Gospel Messenger dhe
church paper Mt. Morris, ILL.,; ]. H.
Moore, assistant editor of the Gospel
Messenger, and wife, Mt. Morris, ILL.,;
Elder I. j. Rosenberger and wife, Cow
ington, O.; Elder Noah Fisher and
wife, Huntington, Ind; Elder VIM L.
Miller, Chicago, and Howard Miller,
Lewisburg, Pa. The party was in
charge of c. H. Shaw, travelling immi-
grafton agent of the Northern Pacific
road. niAll the tourists were quartered
in the car as the guests Of the railroad
company, otherwise they would have
Jared ill, as the hotel of the village
was crowded with strangers, who, in
spite Of the fact that this is the busy
season, flocked to the town to partici-
pate in or witness the exercises of ded-
ication.
1t would be rare emergency that
would induce a Dunkard to travel on
Sunday. consequently the crowd was
here with the arrival of the latest Sat-
urday trains. The first service was
held in the court house Saturday even
ing, as the new church building
though completed, had not been fitted
with lights or seats. Two huge oil
lamps were made to do service to light
the big court room, which was crowd
ed to overlooking long before the hour
set for service. A queer looking con-
gregation to the inexperienced eye it
was. The men, all save the younger
ones, heavily bearded and wearing
long, flowing locks; the women, who
had discarded their ugly sunbonnets
for the small prayer cap" made of
thin white lace, which were very be-
coming to the wearers. The women
| sat on one side Of the hall, the men
on the other. AS the distinguished ell
ders entered the room, each saluted
Elder Niccum, the local pastor, and
others of the leaders in the local
| church with 'the holy kiss There
were few strangers in the audience,
but to such the sight was a strange
| one to say the least But the ceremony
| Of the holy kiss is as binding and as
much q part Of the Dunkard belief as