The Minneapolis journal., 1905-09-04
.MANKATO CHURCH
HOLDS JUBILEE
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY OF THE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN.
DR.. John Barbour, One of the EARLY
Pastors, Preached the First Sermon
of the Day-Origin Of the Church
Told by M. q. Willard in Interesting
Historical Resume.
Special to The journal.

Special to The journal.
Mankato, Minn., Sept. 4-Yesterday was eel
ebrated the hfteth anniversary of the founding
of the First Presbyterian church of Mankato,
one Of the larges churches of the Protestant
denomina tions in southern Minnesota, with
membership Of more than 500. Both the morn
ing and evening services were devoted to the
commemoration of the establishment. half
century ago, Of an institution which has become
an object Of pride not only to its own mem
bers but to the city at large.
The interior of the auditorium was beautifully
decorated with goldenglow blossoms, appropr1-
ately signifying the golden jubilee. Flowers and
diately over the pulpit, fashioned in the same
bright yellow blooms, We're the numbers OF the
year Of the. beginning Of the church and the
present year. 1855 and 1905.
Among the guests at the two services was
Dr.. John Barbour one Of the early pastors, now
located in similar capacity at Maysville, Ky.
| DR.. Barbour preached the morning sermon, re-
| ferring to the bygone times when he was him
| self the regular occupant of that pulpit Other
distinguished visitors were Rev. George II. Davis,
recently pastor Of the st. Johns Episcopal church
at Mankato, warden of the Seabury Divinity
school at Faribault; DR.. E. ]. Davis for many
| years practicing physician and surgeon at
Mankato. and senior elder Of the church, now
surgeon at the Minnesota Soldiers Home at
Minnehaha Falls. Seated together with these
| guests on the chancel was the present popular
pastor, DR.. George W. Davis; M. G. Willard,
| by profession, but worker for the interests Of
the community by habit Of practice, and now
| senior elder of the church; W. A. Funk, an
active local attorney, also one Of the eldersi
and G. A. Chapman, secretary Of the board Of
trustees w
Without doubt the leading feature OF the day
was the historical resume by Mr.. Willard del1v-
cred at the evening, service. Mr.. Willard said,
in PA part: :,o ,n+o, =, 1914 solitary nors.man
might have been leaving the banks of
the Wabash in Indiana, and heading his horse
| toward the west. Day after day and week fol-
lowing week. stopping only to feed and sleep,
or to inquire the way at some settlers shanty,
this lone horsemap rode on for hundreds Of miles,
right in the teeth of the bitter northwest winds
of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota,
undsmayed by blizzards, savages or trackless
| with his face set like flint toward the great
| bend Of the st. Peters river, as shown on his
map, seeking an ideal. This ideal was Pres"
byterian college he to found at some point
promising great future and within a full
township Of land which he and his Indiana
friends were to buy cheaply for the site of this
| great institution Of learning and the city that
should spring up around 1t.
ION Feb. Is, 1854, after dark, this intrepid
man on horseback alighted at the corner now
occupied by the First National bank Of Mankato
at the hospitable door Of James Hanna, formerly
, a Presbyterian elder in Indiana. The weary
traveller Rev. James Thompson, Presby
terian minister, and brother Of Rev. w. NJ
Thompson, DID,. the noted Presbyterian mis-
sionary to Syria. Within two hours he was
bitterly disappointed His ideal was shat
tered, for he learned from Mr.. Hanna ant
MAJOR murphy, an Anu1an agent, InaI al tnt
land hereabouts belonged to the red man, ant
that there were white squatters on lands in ever!
= nearby township, who would hold the lands o,
+ which they had squatted, whenever the Indial
) title should be extinguished.
But he was Gods ambassador, and If no
permitted to do the great work he had planne,
q he must not neglect the wayside opportunity
II for which, perhaps, he had been sent. So mes
: sengers were dispatched that night to notify th
:. Inhabitants that the gospel would be preache
there on the morrow. On the following Sabbat
f5nop 0qr ~1xy%
- - whole settlement, gathered to hear the word Q
God. This may be called the origin Of th
Presbyterian church in Mankato.' :
10 Other speakers at the evening exercises wei
d DR.. e. J. Davis, Mr.. Funk and Mr.. Chapma,
l. each delv1ng to greater less degree in,
i, the history Of the early struggles and hardship
Of the congregation.
A full choir of the finest voices obtainable
the city sang from time to time. The jubil,
will close this evening in informal receptit
given at the church to the general public.