The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1906-11-06

II
Mr.. Boards predecessor was Rev.
@. G. Clark of Connecticut, who was
our acting pastor for one year. He
with his family arrived in Fargo Sept
IA, 1881 and began work.
A first meeting was held in E. II.
Judds house on the corner west OF
the Presbyterian church. Sixteen
persons We're ready to cooperate with
Mr.. Clark in looking for church ma
teriai The time and place Of hold
ing the first public service was Oct.
/, 8, 1881 and in Harwood hall over Nor
rison's saloon, Geo. Wasem's music
house occupies the site now. There
We're seventy-five persons present.
The choir consisted of Miss Lizzie
Corson, now Mrs. r. l.. Angel, alto;
A. L. Moody. tenor; L G. Gaylord, now
a bank officer in New York, basso
and F. w. Pearson, soprano Miss
Hattie Hopson, now Mrs c. H. Rupert
was organist. 1t is an interesting
coincident that all of these primitive
musicians are still Fargo residents ex-
| cept Mr.. Gaylord
A Sunday school was organized i'm
mediately after the morning service
with the following officers: L. w.
Starbird. superintendent; j. M. Fish
| er, assistant; T. c. Gaylord, secretary;
W. H. Ellis, treasurer; Miss Hopson,
| organist; F. w Pearson, choister.
There were thirty persons present.
Several committees, on constitu-
tion calling council, entertainment,
| ETC., We're appointed, and numerous
meetings held in preparation for the
| all Important church council, and on
Il 1oa r. a
be interesting to give a full account
| of this first council but time forbids
| The council advised the organization
of the church, and that it be named
| the First Congregational church. A
public service was held, through the
courtesy of the Methodists in their
that people has ever since been in our
hearts. Among those who partici-
pated in that event were Rev.s Dana,
A. Beard, Geo. A. Hood and ]. L.
Cory.
Rev. Beard gave the right hand of
fellowship, and he has been doing it
ever since. He evidently fell in love
with this church at first sight
In accordance with the reconlmen-
formally organized that day with
twenty three charter members, and
the following officers. o. C. Clark
acting pastor; e. y. Judd and j. M
Fisher, deacons; r. S. Woodruff
Wardwell Anes and Z. w. Starbird
trustees; j. M. Fisher, treasurer. f.
w. Pearson, clerk.
Fargo had population of about t.
H..
of Fargo as it appeared In 1880, loan
ed us today by Mr. VIM. HI, White,
viii give you a very good idea of this
city as it then appeared.
Everything went along serenly till
enc day in Feb. 1882 Mr.. Morrison or
dered us to vacate Harwood hall. He
wanted 9 card room over his saloon
instead Of a church We moved to
McHench hall corner of Front and
Fifth streets
About this time this present lot was
bought Later the boom struck Far
go and we were offered $4,000 for 1t |
but declined with thanks. The lot
included the premises now occupied
by r. M. Pollock, north and east of
the church In the spring and sum
mer OF 1882 plans for erecting a cha
pei developed. Mr.. Clark went east
to raise funds and we worked here
On Aug, rs, we were ordered to va
cate MoHench hall, for it was wanted
for beer hall and variety theatre. |
Thus twice during the first year sa-
loon men said to our little band of |
twenty-three 'skidooH and we had to, |
because the saloon men then practi- |
.cally ran the town. and with them
possession was nineteenth of the law. |
But listen. Not many years after, /
the people of Fargo. and of this state, |
awoke to the fact that the saloon men I
We're not only running their saloons
with their gambling annexes, but they
We're running the politics of the town
also. prohibition league was or
ganized, and | have the impressions
that its first meeting In Fargo was
held in our church, however, the lea
que backed by the churches, and the
voters, said to the saloons you git''l
and they had to. The saloon men
said now watch the grass grow on
Fargo's bushes streets" Fargo re-
fused to die even though 1t does not
TO this day possess a single saloon,
nor does 1t grow hay on the creosotel
block pavements. But this Is a di- /
gression.
Yes, we had to move and to the onlyl
place available, viz the old court
house. There the floor was carpeted
with sawdust. Numerous wooden
cuspidors We're filled with sawdust,
and sawdust covered the window
glass and sawdust was in the air But
as we We're Saving wood in behalf
of congregational principles we did
not mind little sawdust In this
courtly mansion We celebrated our
first anniversary. Mr.. Clark sur
prised US by resigning his pastorate
as he wanted to begin mission on
the north side of Fargo That mis-
sion was called Plymouth church. The
next Sunday We met In our beautiful
chapel that stood ON the site Of this
church We expected Mr.. Clark would
preach for us but he did not appear
se we held A business meeting vot-
ed to call Rev. r. Al Beard, and you'll
have already heard the result.
Now. a few words In regard to the
First Congregational
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