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

MeanWhile the seminary buiIdlng had
burned. There was no place Of public
worship.
LINCOLN AT BIRTH.
Among our archives is long letter
OF Mr. Little'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.) We are" ne goes on to say,
lin 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 S59.0o0. The foun-
dations of a state house. l60X10 feet. have
been laid. The building Is TO be COM
pleted this year. Dwellings. shops and
stores are rapidly rising. One neHspa-
per receives 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
mex naustible. which of themselves must
create a village. The site of the city Is
a natural center for railroads. The Mid
land Pacific Railroad company will soon
commence n rOa0 from NtDraSka lily
TO be extended to Fort Kearney and form
a 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-
h.a nd ralipinl1S
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 ii
flows out and on, l. 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 EFF
fective and aggressive work of a place
of public worship. He concludes: Such
a building. erected now, will accomplish
uncomfortable good. A place where
Christians, previously strangers. VIII be-
come acquainted, an attraction TO the
young and wandering. who now. i'm
crowded hotels or boarding houses. or in
saloons. seek but find not substitute
for home. II will give stability 10 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 10 see,
a religious and Intellectual community
THE FIRST CHURCH.
The church building was erected in 1858
and finished and furnished in ls6s-sim-
pie but substantial and capable of seat
ing I25 people. 1t cost s.. 1885. 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 Is. 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, far
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 a
struggle for life with the churches. and
n question of the survival of the fittest."
Following the completion of the building
in 1869 the church was able to pledge
only sol for the pastors salary. OF which
only 1872 had been raised at the close OF
the year. 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
bers.
Rev. L. r. Fifield. a man of scholarly
tastes. and well educated, as all YOU
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 it the same in numbers
as he found it.
His successor. Rev. S. r. Dimmock.
Gas a man of unusual orator1cal gifts
He attracted a large congregation ne
church bilding was enlarged. IN VIVA.
seemed the easiest. but has since turned
-. ~ most exDensiye way for Ne