The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-10-15
PRESBYTERIANS IN
STATE CONVENTION
HISTORICAL CELEBRATION AT
ANNUAL SYNOD RECALLS
EARLY DAYS or THE
STATE.

jamestown, N. D., Oct. 15-The
Historical celebration, which marked
the opening of the twenty fifth synod
OF the Presbyterian church OF North
Dakota, was real old fashioned old
settlers picnic"
Many of the visiting ministers have
been at work in the North Dakota
since the latter seventies, and the new
comers were so familiar with the trials
and suffering to which their predeces-
sors had been exposed, that they were
able to speak of them with equal ia
miliarity. Rev. p. J. Schell the old
est presbyter in the state, had charge
short devotional service. Rev. Schell
followed with a Presbyterial and Sy-
nodical genesis.
Early Presbyterianism in North Da-
kota was portrayed by the Pioneer
Elmer, who was followed by paper
giving an account of wedding Away
out on the Cheyenne"
Recollections of Bismarck, by Rev.
G. w. Harris, pastor of the Presbyter-
ian church there, proved to be one of
the most interesting papers of the
evening. The work of Brother Sloan,
one of the early pioneers in Presby-
terial work came in for praise from
the speaker. Brother Sloan came to
Bismarck in the latter seventies, and
his name is still revered there. Tell
ing of the days when the present
capital was a town of hardly more than
1000, with seven hotels, 16 saloons and
one bath, and when every man car
ried either knife or gun, the speaker
went on to a description of the first
Presbyterian service held in Bismarck,
in May, 1873, The service was neld
in a saloon, temporarily converted for
that purpose.
A paper by Rev. A. K. Caswell, now
Of Modesto, CAL, was read, giving a
description of some of his early ex-
periences when he crossed the Red
river in a boat, in 1882, and started
housekeeping in a house with no roof,
chimney or floor. Another paper by
Rev ]. f. Berry, formerly Of Pembina
and Grand Forks, gave some recollec-
tions of his early work in western
Walsh county,
The meeting of the first Synod in
Fargo, in 1885, was made the subject
of an interesting paper by Rev. ID.
williams. Rev. f. w. Iddings of Grand
Forks was the first moderator of the
Synod. At that time, according to DR..
Williams, the saloon keepers were
anxious to assist in getting congre
cation in to church, and offered free
treats all around to all who attend.
One dealer offered fifty cents to every
man who would attend. When one of
the congregation complained after the
service that he had not received his
half dollar, the saloon keeper told him
that ne was only paying that amount
for hard cases.
This mornings session was largely
devoted to reports of committees, and
the opening sermon by the retiring
moderator, Rev. A. w. Wright Of Min
neapolis. Miss Josephine Petrie of
New York city spoke this afternoon
on Young Peoples Work. Rev. John
Dixon of New York city also address
ed the Synod. Miss Petrie and Rev.
Dixon will speak again this evening.
The entire day Friday, will be devoted
to the interests of the jamestown col
lege.
The Women's Synodical meeting is
holding session in conjunction with
the Synod. In addition to the business
meetings, the feature of the days pro-
gramme with the women is the two
addresses by Miss Petrie. On Friday
the ladies will be the guests of the
Synod in the interests of the college