The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1897-01-16

Mednwnlle the SEMINARY nad
burned. There was no place of public
worship.
LINCOLN AT BIRTH.
Among our archives Is a long letter
of Mr.. L.ittle's. dated March, 1865 solicit
ing funds from eastern friends. In this
letter We have an interesting account of
Lincoln as IL then was. and an outlook
on its future. He writes: We are the
most western of the five Congregational
churches In southern Nebraska. (Now
there are a hundred beyond US south of
the Platte) I'VE are" ne goes on 10 say
in the capital of the state which though
only six months old. gives signs of Wig
orous life Less than one-half the city
lots have been sold for $4,000. The foun-
dations of a state house l60X10 feet, have
been laid. The building Is to be COM
pieted this year. Dwellings, shops and
stores are rapidly rising. One neyspa-
per receives a lucrative patronage, and
two others are projected. The immediate
future Is most promising. Attracted by
the healthy climate and rich soil. farmers
are rapidly opening up the surrounding
country. Just without the city limits
on the west are salt springs. apparently
inexhaustible. which of themselves must
create village. The site of the city Is
a natural center for railroads. The Mid
land Pacific Railroad company will soon
10 be extended TO Fort Kearney and form
link i'm one of the great lines TO the
Pacific coast. A railroad Is also contem-
plated from Omaha to Fort Riley. This
will eventually be a part of a through
line from Lake Superior to New Mexico.
Other roads will follow I'm due time.
by act of the legislature the university
has been established here. These facts
warrant the belief that Lincoln will be-
come the political. literary and religious
center of the state. Its influence will be
immense affecting not only the present
but future generations. That this infiu-
ence should bless and not curse, as IL
flows out and on. is infinitely important.
You will admit that the foundations of
this commonwealth cannot be firmly laid
unless those institutions which have
made the east what il is shall have been
first established" He then speaks of the
place of the Congregational church and
polity in national history, and of the
special need of this church for its ef-
fective and aggressive work of a place
of public worship. He concludes: such
a building. erected now, will accomplish
inconceivable good. A place where
Christians. previously strangers. will be-
come acquainted, an attraction to the
young and wandering, who now. in
crowded hotels or boarding houses. or in
saloons, seek but find not a substitute
for home. 1t will give stability to so
ciety: il will draw to US a class of per-
sons whose presence is most desirable.
and will strongly tend to secure from the
outset what we so much desire to see.
a religious and intellectual community.
THE FIRST CHURCH.
The church building was erected in 1868
and finished and furnished in ls69-sim-
Pile hut substantial and capable of seat
ing l25 people. Ii cost 81. This was,
i think. the first permanent building
dedicated to the worship of God in our
city Soon after this church was built,
on February Il, 1863 the legislature, TO
encourage immigration and building, Of
fered three lots to denominations which
should erect an edifice within the next
two years. As a consequence there was
a Fastening to organize churches, lar
beyond the immediate needs OF the city,
and to put up some sort OF a building
to secure the offered ground. Whatever
ultimate good came of this arrangement,
AT the time il divided Christian
forces. and laid heavier burdens on the
early settlers. 1t was in many cases
struggle for life with the churches. ana
n question of the survival of the fittest."
Following the completion of the building
in 1869 the church was able TO pledge
only seol for the pastors salary, OF which
only sla2 had been raised at the close OF
the wear. The remaining meagre support
was contributed by the Congregational
home missionary society. Such condl-
ton of things makes short pastorates.
The minister having exhausted his own
resources and those of his friends. must
leave. Mr.. Little resigned in 1870. the
church. then numbering thirty-four menu
hers.
Rev. L. r. Fifield a man of scholarly
tastes. and well educated, as all youl
ministers have been took up the work
and helped to bear its burdens for two
wears more. adding twenty-three 10 its
membership: but owing to deaths and re-
movals. he left 1t the same in numbers
as he found it
His successor, Rev. s. X. Dimmock-
gas a man of unusual orator1cai gIts-
Re attracted a large congregation. The
church bilding was enlarged. in what
seemed the easiest but has since turned
-. ~ ,nos, extensive way for Ne