New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1904-01-20
CHURCH WILL INCORPORATE
Congregational Members Decide
Upon Important Step,
House of Worship to Be Estab.
lished on Solid Basis.
Church Had It's Beginning Twen-
ty-Three Years Ago.

Members of the Congregational
church, at a meeting held Sunday, de-
8cided upon an important step and one
which will be of benefit to the congre-
cation. This spring, in fact within a
few weeks, they will clear up the pres
ent debt on the parsonage and in or
der to make the convey ance as easily
as possible and to have the title vest
ed simply, will incorporate under the
laws of Minnesota. The matter has
been placed in the hands of Attorney
b. i. Webber, Jr., and the legal
documents will probably be forwarded
to the secretary of state this week.
This action will mark the opening
Of a new era in the affairs of the
church and comes after twenty three
years of earnest and successful en-
deayor. Looking back over that
period, nearly quarter of a century,
the members can see where much good
has been accomplished, and a sketch
of their labors and those Of the church
is interesting. It had it's inception in
the year 1881. In that year Rev. Geo.
d. Albrecht, a young missionary stu
and now celebrated missionary of
Japan, came out from Chicago and
organized a Congregational Sunday
school in New Ulm. He held his
meetings in the rooms now occupied
by Attorney J. A. Eckstein and re-
manned in the city several months
forming the nucleus of a congrega-
ton. When he returned to his studies
in the fall the Sunday school was left
without a leader but the ladies main
tanned the organization.
Early in the spring Of 1882 Rev. G.
F. Mowery, a graduate of the Yale
Theological seminary and New Ulm's
first Congreg ational minister, came to
the city. All that summer he worked
toward the end of erecting meeting
house and was able to collect 81, 400
IRON the toWnspeople. With 81 900
which he raised in Minneapolis and
other cities he completed the fund and
during the autumn months the foun-
dalton for the edifce was put down at
the corner of Minnesota and Third
South streets.
The following year the work upon
the structure was brought to COM
pletion and it was dedicated Dec. IL,
1883. Rev. Mowery preached the first
sermon in the new church and re-
manned as it's beloved pastor until his
death on Oct l, 1887. Two years
prior to that date, March 10, 1885, the
church was formally organized, the
charter members being Rev. and Mrs.
G.. F. Mowery, Mr.. and Mrs. C. W.
McF adden, Mrs. j. S. Baxter, Mrs
D. A. Glass, Miss Amalia Glass and
Mrs. w. A. Hubbard.
For a year after Rev. Mowery IS
death the church was without clergy.
man but in 1888 Rev. L. B. Nobis, a
1 graduate of the Chicago Theological
seminary, was elected and remained
three years, being succeeded by Rev
F. L. Meske of the same university
J By this time the accommodations o
J the church had become somewhat re
!; stricted and Rev. Meske assumed th
: task of building the addition now usel
las. the parlors, raising 81, 500 for tn,
} purpose. Upon his retirement in 1879
: he left the congregation in a prosper
: Gus condition, which continued durin
) the six and one-half years that Rev
: j. P. Campbell and Rev. FL. w. John
' son occupied the pulpit.
l With the advent of 1901 other im
) proVements we're made, for when
3 call was extended to Rev. Stephen G
!. Updyke, a parsonage was purchase
r at a cost OF 81 800. During his pas
!. torate, also, the church was provide
r with furnace, electric lights an
S other conveniences. His resignation
e last fall was followed by a call
d Rev. Daniel o. Bean and the latte
: begins his pastorate under auspiciou
d circumstance for the debt of 1925 o
d the parsonage will soon be lifted an
d the attendance at the meetings recentl
d would seem to indicate that there is I
J. be a strong revival of church interes
d Considered disinterestedly, the pros
S ress made by the Congregation;
d church shows distinct achievement
b From the fact that it was the first az
IT'S EASY TO SAY
q IssiBe careful, = but we must all 6