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

ing the first Methodist service in North
Dakota, but also the first mission con-
ference and the first annual conference,
On Oct. IL, 1888, Rev. G. S. White Of
the Central New York conference, was
appointed to Fargo, d. c. Palmetto
being returned as presiding elder
The passionate Of Rev. White was fol
lowed by that OF Rev. ID. w Knighi,
a transfer from the East Ohio confer
ence. The history of the church, under
Mr.. Knights ministry covering a per-
Tod of two years. He served from Dec.
%, 1889, to Nov. /, 1891. 1t was under
his pastorate that the frame parson-
age, recently moved of 10 make room
for the present magnificent structure,
was built
Present Church Built In 1898.
This is as far as Mr.. White has car.
ried his interesting history although he
has furnished notes to complete the re-
mainder of the record up to the present
time.
1t was in the summer of 1894 that
the church building was partially de-
stroyed by FIRE and the society began
to take steps for the erection of larg-
or and better structure. This resulted
in the building Of the present magnifi-
cent edifice which was dedicated on
Aug 81, 1898, by Bishop Isaac w.
Joyce.
After the resignation of Rev. Knight
In 1891 Rev. Eugene May was appoint
ed to the Fargo pastorate. who served
until 1895. He was succeeded by Rev.
W. I'll. Vance who served until the ad-
N II ~ -
emit pastor, who came in 1901 and has
served the church constantly and faith
fully up to the present time.
Officers of the First Church.
In the Methodist church the officers
are divided into two divisions. the
trustees and stewards. In the First
Methodist church OF this city these
officers are as follows:
Professionalism H. White, presi-
dent; Dr. s. ]. Hill, treasurer; Judge
C. A. Pollock chairman of the finance
committee; Stewart Wilson, e. d. An
CELL, Judge B. #. Spalding, DR.. G. N.
CaIlander, Z. @. Eddy and n. X. Hub
bard.
Culloch, w. ID. Hodgson, w. r. Taylor,
N. l. Redman, B. f. Latnrop. Fred
Taylor, Wesley styles, w. Fl. Kidder,
Frank Chaney, Chas. T. Foster, William
Staples, w. w. Tousley, Harold Beck
with, A. L. Bishop, r. M. Hamilton, B.
p. Rouse, w. d. Gillespie, James s.
Campbell.
The Sunday School.
The Sunday scnool of the First M
Il. church was organized In 1873 with
about twenty members. AT the pres
emit time there are about 500 enrolled
In the organization while the average
attendance reaches fully 800. This in
stitution of the church is most efFic-
iently organized. 1t is doing a great
work in educating the rising genera
tions In things religious and moral
At the present time the superintend-
emit ID A. L. Bishop. w. j. Clap Ii
treasurer and James s. Campbell ID
class leader. The first superintendent,
was william II. White. who also has
the distinction OF being the first Meth
odist in Fargo and for a time the only
member OF the Fargo church. Mr.
White served until 1881 when he was
succeeded by II. 8. Quincy The other
superinrendents In order have been
smith stimrnel, William Mitchell, w
r. McRinstry. =. 3. clary, Or. q. nj
CalIander and Robert McculIoch.
The Womsn's societiss.
There are four women's societies
which have total membership OF els
These organizations are composed oil
the active women OF the congregation
and they have been doing q great work
In promoting the welfare Of the church
| In general These societies are the
Pastors Aid, the Women's Foreign
Missionary society, the Women's Home
] Missionary society and the Young La