The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-16

meetings held in the shanties Of the
pioneers. Through the years of r1s71
and 1872 no church organization was
effected in all of northern Minnesota
and Dakota, except at Duluth and
Brainerd. Fargo being but one Of the
many appointments upon the circuit
OF $50 miles, could claim only a por-
ton of Father Gurley's time, and great
were the sacrifices made to reach IL.
During 1873 northern Dakota was
Joined to the Northwest Iowa confer
ence and was known as the Northern
Pacific mission The Rev. John Webb
was regularly appointed by that con-
ference as general missionary west Of
the Red river, Rev. Father Gurley re-
tanning the work in northern Mime
sofa Mr.. webb's residence was at
Fargo and his circuit comprised the
district In which are now situated the
towns of jamestown, Caledonia, Grand
Forks and Abercrombie, but no
churches were officially organized at
any of these points at this date.
Church services. during 1873. were
regularly held at Fargo, in what was
known as Pinkham's hall, located on
Front, between Second and Third
streets: Rev. Mr.. Webb officiating
when in Fargo. his place being sup
piled during his absence by Father
Gurley, or by some of the laity. A
Sunday school of about twenty schol-
airs was formed. with VIM. Fl. White
as superintendent and Mrs. Alonzo
PIummer and Miss Emma Plummer as
teachers. These informal organixa-
tions existed in Fargo throughout this
year REV. Webb fostering them, and
giving them the larger portion OF his
time, in connection with his duties at
other points on his circuit.
First Church Building.
Early in the year of 1874, energetic
steps were taken toward collecting
money, and laying plans for the erec-
ton of the First Methodist church in
North Dakota. Through the kindness
OF the NJ r. railroad company, In giv-
ing free rates for freight on building
material and the generosity of mer-
chants and business men generally ir-
respective of denomination, a subscrip-
ton, sufficient for the commencement
of a small church was raised and ac@
tive operations toward its erection were
begun early In the spring! The church
building, the dimensions Of which We're
about 30x30 feet, was completed and
ready for occupancy by July. On July
90 the legal existence OF the First
MAthodist church and Sunday school
Of Fargo may be said to have begun.
although, for nearly year prior to
this date, and organization Sunday
school and services under the aus
pices of the Methodist church had been
held with such regularity as the OPP
lportuuities and circumstances OF tne
time would permit
While the church was started pracL-
icaIlv without membership. accord
ing to the church records its members
chin comprised the entire town. as Tar
A. syrnpathy, interest and aid We're
concerned and the interest manifested
~ the congregations, ENSURED success
from the beginning and for several
vaara afterwards It was the church
home of all denominations until with
+ha incoming Of new people there Or
Iganizations were Of themselves snfzir
Gently strong to build their own
honaa OF worship. The first loss q
4ris nature occurred Dec. 30, 1877,
,rnan the Presbyterians, who had wor-
atined with as, went off TO form so
rsafv of their own denomination. Inese
Svase Followed Sept. 20, 1878 BY the
psr+iats who erected for themselves .
~,,rrch building. Later In November
9as1 the Congregationaiists Likewise
a aSts their own church edifice- These