The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-30

in the canvass Mrs. NJ. R. Conable
spoke for the Woman's Missionary So
ciety For the board of trustees j. F.
Pearce stated that the board had at the
first entertained grave fears that the
debt could not be raised without getting
the church into another and more dan
gerous rut. John Storey and Ben Chap
man, two young men, spoke OF their part
in the project. The latter stated that
while comparatively not doing their
share the young men would busy them
selves with raising the current expenses
for reXt year. Rev. R. L. Barackman,
pastor of Westminster Presbyterian
church, brought greetings Of the Pres
byte. ian denomination. s. ]. Race, coun-
" superintendent OF Redwood Falls, made
some very felicitous remarks.
Rev. H. F. StillweH spoke on behalf
Of the Baptists, Rev. F. B. Cowgirl for
the Meth0dists, Rev. c. L. Diven for the
Unitarians, and Rev NJ D. Edwards in
behalf Of the presbytery of st. Paul, Rev.
X. G. Covert, OF the Merriam Park Pres
byterian church, spoke in a happy vein,
end Eev. John Copeland followed with a
congratulatory address. w. P. Jewett
said he had for a time thought that the
mortgage would outlive him, but he had
the satisfaction of witnessing its demise.
After the exercises in the church audi
torium the ladies of the church served
tea in the parlors.
Elder John Nattrass gives the following
historic sketch of the First church,
Just fifty years ago last April the Rev
E D. Neil, so we'll known and so long
and closely associated with the history
of Minnesota, arrived in this city as the
authorized missionary of the American
Home Missionary association to st. Paul
and the new Northwest territory.
Those were the days of beginnings. The
days of small things, much labor and linn
tied vision, and little did Gov. Ramsey
and Missionary Neill ever dream, as they
went about their several separate, Yet
wonderfully interviewer duties, of the flu
ture of this great state and of such huge
and powerful cities as st. Paul and it's
sister city. Minneapolis.
Still these were to be. and. perchance
unthinkingly.. toward that ultimate up
fall Mr.. NeiI sought to learn the relig-
ious wants and capabilities of the new
community, which at that time consisted
of scarce 500 souls.
Gathering together quite a number of
people without church home, he minis
tered with them in his kindly way when
and where he best could.
But before the shaggy bluffs of the old
Mississippi became clad in autumn glory
Mr.. Neill secured a couple of lots on the
northwest corner of Fourth and Wash
ington streets, and in the rear, facing the
latter street. he built with means con-
tributed by friends in the East a small
frame church.
1t was plain. simple and set in the
midst of a marsh. Still it was servicea BILE
and answered very well.
For short while, until his own house
was ready, Mr.. Neill and his family Oc-
cupied the rear part as a living room.
curtaining off in true primitive style the
house part from the chapel part with
quilts and blankets. In the one they ate
and slept, in the other they sang and
prayed
Nov 26. 1S49, the building being nearly
ready for use, meeting was held for
church organization, the Rev. b y.
secretary, when 1T was resolved: First
That we form ourselves into a church
under the name Of the First Presbyterian
Second-That all those DESTROYS of Wis
tt1ng with said church meet in the lee
ture room Wednesday evening, Dec. 5,
Due announcement was made on the
following Sabbath. and on the evening of
the 5th of December, 1S49, the following
persons gave in their names:
William H. Tinker and wife, from the
Wis f.'' 'e- '''' 'il'- e'i u "1f'e 0u oiiieii
George L. Becker, from the First Pres
byterian church. Ann Arbor, Mich.
Jeremiah w. Selby and wife from the
Congregational church of Cincinnati. o.
Mrs; E. D: Neill, from the Presbyterian
church of Elizabeth, Ill.
Mrs; Mary Scofeld, from the Plymouth
church, y. Y.
Mrs; J. p. owen. from the Second Street
church, Oxford o.
w. H Tinker and J. w Selby were
eected elders, and communion was APP
pointed for the first Sabbath in January,
This was the first Presbyterian, if not
the first Protestant church organized
among, the white people in the newly
formed territory of Minnesota.
Jan. 6, 1850, after sermon by the pastor.
the aforenamed elders were duly ordained
ana the Lorq' supper administered to the
infant church.
The Rev: DR.. Williamson. from tho
Sioux Indian mission, was present and
took part in the service
rms suspicious opening, this morning
ed with sorrow, for May IS, Just five
months after, some shayings taking fire
set fire to the new building and it burned
to the ground.
About the only thing saved was the pull