The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-04

s
After. having tolled for almost half
hangs in the tower Of Emmanuel
Evangelical church, Monroe street NE
and Thirteenth avenue, was heard for
the last time in October, calling the
congregation to worship, with a sad
song Of farewell. Thereby hangs a \
piece of interesting histoTy relatiye to
pioneer days. Both the church and the 4
During nearly fifty years of steady
service the bell has pealed forth its mes
sages of Joy and glad tidings to the
Minneapolis pioneeT settlement. But
fifty years have WaThs Butts the bell, It's
messages cannot sound any more,,{ the:
crisp metal has become cracked and
timeworn; and after several unsuccess
full attempts to3 drill sssiit-and by that
process to proiong its susefu lness the
leaders ofSthe eh,lT gu pnncee thairs[
last meeting that the would find sa'
place of honor with s,1ch relics off Old
en- times as are already in the posses
sion Of the church. A committee Of
three has been appointed Rev. Lars:
J. Jerdes, Ole Lee and =. Ct. Iversdn--
and they are now taking the necessary
steps to secure a new bell for the
church: The money is being raised. by
subscription. :: e'sa2
The bell was cast in 1851 at West
Troy, N. Y. Joseph swick of IS
Sixth street NE, was sexton Of the
church in the early years. He came to
Minneapolis in 1856; for seven years
thereafter he rang the bell in the little
church tower: Mr.. Swick remembers
"old man Williamson as his predeces-
sor and his statement that he served
the church in the capacity Of sexton for
! several years corroborates those
of some Of the Oldest members Of the
First Congregational church.
AS old as the bell is the church build
ing-a true landmark in the history Of
the city of Minneapolis. The church
was the first built here by Congrega-
tionalists and as far as records show it
Congregational people built another
church, it became the first church of the
Lutheran denomination, as, that con-
gregation had no sanctuaries at that
time except improvised meeting places.
The First Congregational community
was organized in the city Nov. l6, 1851 :;
a frame structure was put up on Fourth
the church was in progress of construc-
ton, services were held in the base
ment, which had been fitted up for that
purpose. February Is, 1854, the church
proper was completed and was dedi.
Gated by Rev. Charles Seccombe and
Rev. Richard Hall. For the following
twenty years the Congregationalists
used it as their house of worship.
In 1873 the building was sold to 6
small congregation of people--Our Sa
vior's Norwegian Lutheran Congrega
tion. Their pastor was Rev. HI. G. Stub
who is now professor Of theology a.
, Euther seminary, Hamline. The con
gregation fitted up the church will
altar, pulpit and baPptismal font am n.
March 90, 1874, Rev. B. J. Nuns 0
Goodhue county occupying the pulpi
at that time Out Of Our Savior
; Lutheran community. The latter re
:. manned on the east side of the rive
and was called the Church Immanue
! Evangelical: Rev. G. g. Ottesen too
g pastor until 1889, when Rev. Lars !.
: Jerdee from Polk county was called
: He has been minister of the church fo
r sixteen years. Mr. y erdee was Dor
: in Norway in 1859 and came to TIL
t country in 1861. When u years old b
ished 2 course at Luther seminar,
I Madison, Wis. He was ordained
1865 and took up clerical work in Pol
:, county, organizing twelve congreg;
tions, much Of the clerical work 8
. that time being of missionary cha
: acJer. In 1871 MI eTQee was MAO
b one of the board Of directors Of HON
missions in. the Minnesota district {
: the Norwegian synod, and he is ais
d chairman Of the board Of English mi
: sions. In 1883 the church was remove
3 to it's present site on Monroe. stree
d NE. It was enlarged, tower of grea
h er proportions was built, the buildin
+ was brick veneered, and as it stant
: now, with commodious church prope
: ty all around it. is certainly proof I
n members. In fact, the growth Of Il
ii congregation is such that the advis
bility Of charging or rebuilding b:
5 been informally discussedsat meeting
Glen Car Juniors Meet.-A meeting W
be held this evening by the Glen G.
Junior League in Glen Car chapel. II
boys, who recently formed the league, a
showing great interest In the work TIL,
have before them and are now outlinil