The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-29
CELEBRATES TODAY ITS
7TzZRTIETH ANNIVERSARY
7ennepin Avenue W. E. Church Had its Lncep-
ton in Bible Class, Organized Sunday, Oct.
24, I875---Ns Remarkable History
T the Hennepin Avenue Method

gained Sunday oct. a, 1850, by
aall gathering of persons who left
e then Centenary and now Wesley NJ.
church, the Hennepin Avenue church
ltil now it is one of the most infiu
,tial church organizations in the city.
addition to owning the handsome
;use of worship at Tenth street and
ennepin avenue it is the parent of AS
Try hospital.
Thanks to the great generosity of
CUP of it's charter members, the
urch has been steered clear of many
the shoals that less fortunate organ
ations encounter in their infancy.
iue. its start was small and only the
ttiring efforts Of it's members placed
on the firm base it now occupies,
it its growth has been phenomenal
impaired with that of hundreds of,
her religious bodies that started as
9ll, but cannot show such good results
such a short life.
The Present Edifce. .
The present church edifce was first
cupied on the first Sunday in Novem-
r, 1881. Prior to that time the dill
ent flock had occupied little tenn
:rary church structure at Eighth
= rect and First avenue n. Previously
e congregation had rented a shelter
/, the old Friends meeting house,
,ghth street and Hennepin avenue.
IT was in the small chapel of the
lends meeting house that the pres
It day church was nursed to it's sturdy
nth. One hundred and two persons,
ige and small, composed the first Bible
hool that developed into the church
aggregation. Numerically weak at the
tset,. but strong in purpose, the small
therlng soon claimed membership
215. H. D. Wood, as superintendent,
IS the first leader of the flock. He
ided the efforts of the infant order
its conquest for members and at
ndant growth. It was a prosperous
ganization and early in December Of
e same year, 1875, it blossomed into
full fledged church. &c..
The First Pastor.
Rev. A. Ho11ington was the pastor. He
ok charge Of the church Dec. 90, and
)m that day his wonderful zeal and
energy of his flock combined to de-
lop the church in rapid strides. He
ged the building of home for the
aggregation and in January, 1876, the
lstees decided that a new home was
cessary. to accommodate the fast
owing body. No sooner was the pro-
IT preached than work was begun and
the remarkably short period of two
onths, cold winter months at that, the
urch occupied a new $4,000 house Of
1rship at Eighth street and First ave-
le N. 49,.
Wonderful as was the rapidity with
tich the building was erected, equip
d and occupied, even more remark
lie was the fact that Rev. j. f. Chat
2. who presided at. the dedication,
not need to exercise any effort to
Use the church debt, which is almost
thout exception the case. at dedica-
IN. The congregation was entirely
&c from debt before it entered its
nrch and this fact is but one of sew
II illustrative of the remarkable past
this church that insured such stable
esent and bright future prospects.
The Dedication Day. g..
February 10, 1876 was dedication day
the tabernacle, as the members called
eir church. Before the end Of the
ar, the rising little church was re
wed into the Minnesota conference
ID Rev. G. M. Heard installed as its
st regular pastor. During DR.. Heard :
Storate the tabernacle was removed tc
church property on Tenth street. DR.
lard presided over the church fol
rec years and so steady and promis
Z was it's growth and so prosperous
financial condition that a new church
sliding was projected. -.
Rev j. F. Chaffee, the man who haC
II charge Of the dedicatory exercise!
ID who has earned the reputation OF
ing the greatest church builder in thu
Story of Minneapolis Methodism, wa,
ut as next pastor. His coming wa!
FORTUNE and the congregation, feeling
OF n. /
ad the worthy movement, co-opreate(
llingly in the task of building ant
iying for the building that is still
> priced home of the church.
Signal Generosity. d.. cr
Here came an exhibition Of the sigma
nerosity and sacrifcial spirit so char
Jeristic of this congregation. T. A
!rrison, who had purchased the prop
~ at Tenth street and Hennepin
,eviously occupied by a public schoo
At had been burned, donated the site
Mch had cost him $4,000 years be
&C.. and $4,000 cash to further tn
srthy cause. His brother, H. G.. Han
TALLER means, but possessed of tn
me generous spirit, raised thousand
ID when the church. built at an ez
;nse of $65,000 was completed, all bu
1900 of its building and fitting cos
Ut was the first Sunday in November
81, that the church was dedicate
It'll impressive services. During til
~ $4,000 was raised and almost til
tire Indebtedness Of the church an
iscopal residence was liquidated wit
IS sum. The tabernacle was then sol
ID with the money derived every fnal
Il obligation of the church was cal
lied. .a. ~ #..s 49,. ~
Since that time the progress of tn
urch has been steady. Each of tn
ale pastors has witnessed an increas
membership and the preservation {
p prosperity and harmony so prom
int in it's early days. From an orpha
Idy of 102 members it has grown I
1parent church of over 700 member
I'll is most important in the religio,
sairs of the city.
- Other Pastors.
DR.. Chaffee was succeeded in the pa
rate by Rev. A. G. Williams, now d
used, who occupied the pulpit durin
, years 1924. Rev. j. L. Pintn,
is next in succession, his term ru,
ag from 1884 until 1887. Rev. R. /
pKaig followed DR.. Pintner, fllir
p pulpit in 1879. Rev. 0. H. Ii
ny, VINO d1ed In the passionate
"-591, succeeded Mr.. McKaig. Rev.
Holman, the assistant pastor, ste
IL into Mr.. Tiffany's place, but
,alth, which subsequently caused h
.ath, necessitated his retirement b
re the end of the term. Rev. j. We
Hill, pastor of Fowler church, SUI
1ed in the Hennepin Avenue pulp
It'll the following October, when Re
Il. Watson was given the charge.
During DR.. Watson IS term the co
,igation celebrated it's silver annive