The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-06-23

but rather acted as missionaries. Al
this time also the church voted To pay
the pastor Il salary of one thousand dol
lars. and to receive no further aid from
the missionary board, and from that
time it has been self supporting. Mr..
Marshall continued his pastorate until
May, 1869. During this time, ninety
were received into the church on con
fession of faith, and one hundred and
two by letter.
Those who now sit in the warm and
comfortable church can hardly realize
the inconvenience that the members
suffered in the old church. 1t was heat
ed by two box stoves, which stood ON
the two front corners. from which stove
pipes ran the whole length of the build
Ding to the chimneys i'll the rear. In
the coolest weather they were not SUI
fiCient to make the room comfortable,
especially under foot, so square blocks
of hard wood were provided and heated
at the stoves on Sunday mornings so
they could be taken into the pews and
used as foot warmers. 1t soon became
the regular habit of the head of the
family to take as many of these blocks
as he had ladies with him, and carry
them up the aisle to his pew. After
uraof
made by digging cellar under the
building, in which stoves were placed,
room my long narrow Sits cut in the
floor of each pew These, however, were
found somewhat inconvenient when chill
dren dropped their pennies on the
floor
In October, 1869, Rev. Joseph B..
Little became the pastor, and the sal
airy was raised to 800. 1t was with
some misgivings that this was done,
but at the end of the year it was found
that they had not only paid the pas
tors salary promptly. but had also paid
up church debt of about $4,000, and
had raised in all, for salary, debt, and
benevolences nearly $1,000.
The first four years of Mr. Titles
pastorate were years of increased ac-
tivity in both church and Sunday school.
The church was repaired at a cost of
about $4,000, and at the same time the
contributions were largely increased, and
many additions made to its member
ship. But the year 1874 passed with
out one addition on confession of faith.
This was a year of spiritual dearth
throughout the whole synod, which led
to the holding of a day of fasting,
humiliation and prayer by all the
churches. Soon after this, Rev. II. p
WALTON, an evangelist, came to assist
the pastor for a few weeks. Great in
terest was aroused by his efforts, so
That IS new members We're received in
to the church. 7a
Mr.. Little's pastorate continued until
July l, 1881, period of nearly twelve
years. There were received into the
church during this period 226 on confes-
sion of faith and lGl by letter. On
Feb. 81, 1870, Rev Father Thomson.
who was still member, was made pas
tor emeritus.
On the first Sunday in February, 1882,
Rev. Geo. c. Pollock entered upon his
work as pastor. His term continued I'M
til May, 1887. During these years
there was steady growth, and there
were added to the church ll2 members.
sixty seven on confession and forty
five by letter. After Mr.. Pollock's
resignation the church was without a
pastor for fifteen months, during the
first four of which, the pulpit was sup
piled by Rev. Ralston ID. Irwin, who
came from Mccormick Seminary. be-
ing at that time under appointment to
work in the foreign field in the au-
tumn of that year, and in September,
1887, he left for his mission work in
Mexico. But he died Feb. 9, 1888.
In August, 1887, Hope Mission was or
gained on the north part of this town,
where it now has neat chapel, and is
a branch of the missionary work of
the church. In August, 1888, Rev. John
Barbour commenced his pastorate which
continued to March /, 1893. During
his ministry there were added to the
church DC IN confession and seventy
oa'tH building was now found
re- II for the growing congre-
yal projects for charging
ls0sed, but the majority
80 g m favor of building new
church of more modern design. AT
length subscription was started and