The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

II Tor more imam q quarter VI
a century deputy post
master of Minneapolis, and
during all those years closely
identified with the city's re-
ligious life and activity, "Minneapo-
lis has been regarded as above the
average of western cities in the num-
Der and influence of her churches
They have been fortunate in strong
men for pastors, and active laymen in
their membership have been among
the leading business men of the city.
twenty-five years ago there We're
less than sixty churches and religious
societies all told, while at the present
date there are upwards of one hum
dred and eighty. '.,... ,-. 80.
Counting church organizations and
not members, the Congregationalists
seem to have had the largest rate of
increase In the quarter century. In
1878 they had four churches, and now
there are sixteen inside the city limits.
Next in order come the PresDy-
terians, who have grown from five to
seventeen, not counting their large and
flourishing mission chapels.
THE Roman Catholic, also, which
then had five churches, now has fif-
teen. .a --
THE Lutherans of all branches have
grown from fourteen to thirty-two
churches, and the Methodists from
twelve to twenty-seven. The Baptists,
In about the same ratio, from seven to
fifteen, and the Episcopalians from six
to fourteen.
1.-THE Adventists, Disciples and Uni
versalists, which were then confined
to one organization, each now have
three, while the Swedenborgian,
or New Jerusalem, had a fourishing
congregation then, but Is now extinct.
I'm the meantime the Christian Sci
entists have come into existence with
MI &c q
Hebrews, also, which had no organiza-
ton twenty-five years ago, now have
seven meeting places or synagogs. The
Salvation Army and the Volunteers
have also appeared as religious fac
tors in our midst, doing effective work
along their lines. -- -.-- --.... ...-. ...-,-
During the past twenty-five years
many of the larger churches have
moved from their original locations,
near the present business center, to
the new residential districts.
Plymouth had Just previously
avenue and Fourth street to it's pres
ent location, on the same avenue, four
blocks away, and Westminster from
Fourth street, between Nicollet and
Hennepin avenues, to the corner of
Nicollet and Seventh street, and later
to it's present corner Of Twelfth and
Nicollet. :.sLg
THE Free Baptist moved originally
from the corner of Washington ave-
nue. and First avenue N to the corner
of Seventh street and First avenue S,
and again to it's present location ION
the er corner of Fifteenth and Nicollet.
The First Baptist church, which-in
1873 occupied the corner of Hennepin
avenue and Fifth street. now covered
by the Lumber Exchange office build
Ing, also Joined the procession, settling
down at Tenth street and Harmon
place. ...-. 49,
During this period the Centenary.
now Wesley, church was also among
the enigrants. The substantial walls
of the old church on Seventh street
and First avenue remain to shelter the
teams and delivery wagons of a large
retail establishment. 1919
All of these moving churches great
ly proflted in a financial way by the
sale of their old sites, the sums realized
In most cases being sufficient to erect
enlarged and the most expensive
houses of worship. .-
Previous to the erection Of these
churches in their new locations, the
Centenary M. E. was regarded as hav-
ing the finest edifice in the city. II
was said that in 1868, when the build
ing was ready for dedication, Bishop
Simpson hesitated to perform the sa-
CANT finish and furnishings 1t had.
What the good bishop void say
now on the question, after the lapse
of a third of a century, in view of the
evident change of sentiment among oul
Methodist brethren as to the orthodox
standard of church architecture, is q
matter of conjecture.
The migration of the English.
speaking churches of this city from
old to new locations during the las
quarter century is an index of the
change of the character of the popula-
ton In various sections of the city
Previous to that period all that sec
ton south and east of Nicollet ave
nue., as far as the old fair grounds
was occupied by the original settler.
from the New England states. W
The Park Avenue Congregations
church, then Vine street, was located
in the center of it's native American
congregation, on the corner of FOURTH
street S and Fifteenth avenue (Vin.
street).
Just previous to that period tn,
Seventh Street Methodist church ha(
been established on Seventh street
and Thirteenth avenue, contiguous t,
which, as far south as Sixteenth ave
nue. CMethodist Row., resided man,
leading members of that church, man,
of whom may now be found in Yves
ley, Simpson and other uptown
churches .... Ell. : : :
THE Seventh Street NJ E. eIlurcl