The Dickinson press., 1899-05-13
8eneflcent Influences Felt in Social.
Political and Commercial
Life.

tnere Is q sturdy rellSlOuS 1alth, Wig
orous and abiding. Among the pio-
neers who settled the fertile valleys
and rich plains Of the state, the preach
er Of the gospel was in the front rank.
He lived on slender means, he travelled
with the most primitive methods, but
he was first, and he came to stay. In
every village and hamlet in the land,
In many of the little school houses on
the prairie and in the homes of the
Eetlers religious services have been
provided for the immigrant, so that
none are without the influences and in
struction of religion. All the denomi-
nations found in the older communities
are here and many of them are very
prosperous. The stranger is not unfre-
Quently surprised to find costly church
buildings, aggressive and earnest lay
men, and as devoted and able ministers
as are anywhere to be found. They
exert a strong and beneficent influence
upon the social, political and CONNER
cial life of the state.
Among the earliest Of the religious
bodies to undertake the evangelization
of the Red River country was the
Baptist.
We have not been able to obtain very
reliable reports as to the exact strength
of the Baptist church in North Dakota;
but it is among the strongest, most
thoroughly organized and aggressive of
all the denominations. There are many
large and f1ourishing churches among
the English-speaking peoples, and the
work is also being vigorously prosecu.
ted among the Scandinavians; there
being many Swedish Baptist and Nor
xa-lo- TD--Aix ,.ol~ -,on $4,000
lied and doing excellent work among
their respective peoples. A state mis-
sionary is sustained for work among
the Swedes and Norwegians. The Bap-
fist church is also very active in plant
and as rapidly as possible transform
ing these Sabbath schools into church.
es. One very important and successful
feature Of their work is among the
young people. The Baptist Young PEG.
pies Union is thoroughly organized for
the culture of the young men and won.
en- and is doing most excellent work in
that direction. We cannot give the
membership Of this church or the en-.
rollment Of it's Sabbath schools, not be.
ing able to secure them.
Congregational.
AAC llSl pei lLitllVuC Oledl1lLdllVA V4s
fected by the Congregationalists was at
missionary superintendent has been
supported in the state and all lines Of
church work has been vigorously pros.
ecuted. True to her history in former
years. here as in the East, this church
has given special attention to the edu.
cation Of her young people. Fargo Col.
lege "a established in 1885. Students
were received in 1856. and in 1890 q
fine college building was erected in the
city of Fargo. This building is beau
tifully located. almost in the heart of
the city, has a fine body Of students,
the enrolment being about 165. All
the departments of this school are we'll
organized and with an able corps of
teachers. the music department being
a special feature. The college property
is now valued at about $4,000 and
there is a very respectable endowment
fund, with the promise Of a large in
crease within a very short time. All
lines of church work have been well
looked after and vigorously supported.
Strong churches are organized in the
larger communities. Their church
property has a valuation of about $685.
600. the membership is close to $500
and rapidly increasing. A Sabbath
school missionary is supported in the
state and the work of organizing
schools IN the frontier has been very
energetically attended to. They have
also opened a work among the Scandi-
navians and have several very strong
churches established among that most
excellent class of people. This church
will have a strong influence in the COM
ing years.
Owing to the large number Of Sean
dinavians and Germans who have
made their homes in this common
wealth, the Lutheran church is per-
haps the strongest in point of member
ship of any Of the religious bodies. In
every part Of the state these churches
may be found and the membership is
composed of an estimable. intelligent
and prosperous class of people. While
they adhere closely to the customs and
privileges Of their native lands and are
greatly devoted to the mother church
and mother tongue. we have no class
Of people in the state more thoroughly
alive on the great reform movements
of the day than are found in the Swed-
ish. Norwegian and German Lutherans
of North Dakota. There are also -four
ishing churches among the English
Lutherans in the more populous com
munities. so that the adherents Of this
denomination can ind congenial homes
and the preaching Of the gospel In any
tongue.
Methodist Episcopal.
This was the first of the Protestant
churches to enter and evangelize this
territory. AS early as 1871 a mission
airy was assigned to the Red River val
ley, and in 1878 a resident pastor was
appointed for Fargo. In 1874 a perma-
nent organization was effected and the
first church for the Protestant denom-
nations in the state erected. This
church was fortunate in having for it's
founders some of the most successful
and influential business men Of the