The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-07

the shape of a Burning Mortgage
REV. e. ID. Neiu Started the
Organization Away Back in
1910.
- The board Of trustees of the First Preshv-
terrain church at Lincoln avenue and Grotto
streets viii hold a meeting early this week
20 further the plans-for the iftiath anniver-
sary celebration of the church, which VIII
take place in 1899.
AS the Oldest Presbyterian church in the
city and one of the first in the state. the
First church will celebrate the completion of
its first half-century one year from next No
Yeulhcr.
The congregation intend to make the occa-
sion memorable one, and to this end com
mittees viii be appointed by the board of
b. trustees next week to look after every detail
of the celebration. Tho board OF trustees.
consisting OF George c. Power, ]. c. Mackey.
J. W. White, S. W. Raudenbush and DR.. Tip
per, VIII play an important part in making
all necessary arrangements. but half dozen
subcommittee will be appointed from the
membership of the churcn TO look after the
several features which are now being planned.
canvass is now being made to raise the
church debt of 0.G00 and Rev. John Sim
clair, the pastor. hopes to be able at the an
niversary exercises to burn the church mort
gage.
Since the solvent of DR.. Sinclair the church
has taken new lease Of life. and the church
has grown remarkably since March l. when
he preached his first regular sermon from the
pulpit of the church.
The First Presbyterian church is the oldest
Protestant organization in st. Paul, if not in
Minnesota. Nov. %, 1919, a meeting OF the
few Of the Presbyterian Belief then in St.
Paul was called, and presided over by the
late Rev. Z. d. Neill and at 4 subsequent
meeting held on December Of the same year
the church was regularly organized with e.
D. Nell as pastor and W. H. Tinker. and j.
w. Selby as elders. Mr.. Tinker is still an
elder in the church. having served contlnu-
ously Tor forty-eight years. Mrs Tinker
has also been member OF the church dur
Ang that time, and the venerable couple will
Celebrate their golden wedding possibly in
connection with the anniversary exercises.
II was not until July 8. 1850, that the first
elders were formally installed Rev. Dr..
Thomas Williamson, who was at the time
engaged IN missionary work among the Sioux,
was present at the Installation exercises, and
among the congregation were several Indians,
who had embraced the Presbyterian faith.
The erection of the first church building
was begun IN the spring OF 1850, at Fourth
and Washington streets. Just one year later
the hrSt building was burned to the ground
nd the little congregation which had been
rapidly increasing in number had to seek an
other place OF worship. a new building was
constructed at the corner OF Third and St
Peter streets and was dedicated the follow
= ing November. In 1875 the property was sold
and the church was moved down in Lower
Town and a new church building was
erected at the corner of Lafayette and Wood
ward avenues. The present edifce on Lin
coin avenue was first occupied in 1890.
Rev. E. D. Neill remained pastor Of the
First church until 1855, when he gave up his
Passionate TO organize he House Of Hope
church The following clergymen have sue
3eeded him in the pulpit: Reverends ]. R.
Barnes, John Mattocks died 1879, N W.
- Cary, Samuel Conn, R. A Carnahan and w.
r. Farmer. Previous to the arrival of DR..
sinclair the pulpit of the church was va
cant for over year.
The present membership of the church is