The courier., 1902-04-26
LINCOLN AS A CITY OF CHURCHES
CONTINUED from Page One.)


but a little over thirty years ago that
the first house OF worship reared its
modest spire towards the heavens. In
1868 the Methodists built near the cor
ner of Tenth and Q streets low wood
en- structure 25x40 feet. 1t was the first
church in the city, and that church's
pastor, Rev. H. T. Davis. now a super
annuated minister, still lives in Lin
coin. The church began with sixteen
members, and 1t was the genesis Of the
splendid congregation Of st. Paul now
occupying the finest church building in
the city: This church was the town
hall and audience room, where politi-
cal conventions and divers other kinds
OF meetings were held. At the end of
the first year another building. on the
site of st. Paul. was erected. This
stood until few years ago at the cor
ner Of Sixteenth and A streets, the home
Of Trinity.
The Congregationalists were very
close behind the Methodists. Their
first society was organized in 1866, but
no church was erected until in 1865.
This was a small wooden structure at
Thirteenth and L streets. which gave
way In 1885 to the present structure.
The Lutheran church was early on
the ground. The Swedish and German
churches were the first organizations of
that faith to obtain permanent homes.
The English Lutherans worshipped for
a number OF years. beginning in 1881.
in a small church at Tenth and H
streets, purchased from the Catholics.
St Marks and Grace were afterwards
formed from this organisation, but
Grace only remains.
The Catholics organised their con-
gregation In 1868. and soon thereafter
built upon the present site Of the pro-
cathedral at Thirteenth and N streets.
The Presbyterians also were early
upon the ground. They first built in
1863 on Eleventh street near ]. This
building. now remodeled and doing duty
AZ a residence. still stands. The pres
Cse~ AsOAAsC Va &A4C = A - SuoICA at
teenth and n streets was occupied in
1856.
The First Baptist church was or
CANNED August q. 1869. and in 1871 a
church was built at the corner of
Eleventh and L streets. This was oc-
cupied until 1856. when the present
handsome building at Fourteenth and
X streets was started.
The First Christian church was or
ganized January "a, 1863. The first
home of the congregation was a small
wooden building at Tenth and K
streets. now doing duty in East Lincoln
as a meeting place. The congregation
worshipped here from July 3, 1870, until
August Is. 1889. when the fine new
church at Fourteenth and X streets
was dedicated. Adversity came upon
the congregation and the church build
ing was lost to them some years ago.
By the exercise Of self-denial and rigid
economy It has been possible to again
house the people In a church Of their
own, and only a few Sundays ago the
first service was held in the modest
little temple just finished at Fourteenth
and n streets.
The Episcopal church, too, had an
humble origin. The first service was
held In Lincoln in May. 1868. and the
formal organization Of a parish oc-
CURED nine months later. In 1870 q
name structure was built at Eleventh
and streets. and consecrated May
of the following year. In 1889 the
present house Of worship was dedicated
ON the same site.