The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-06-26
MANkATo FREE PRESS

power for the right just the same,
placing less stress on creed and more
on honest. upright living. At camp
meeting time when something really
worth while was wanted, message
direct from the throne OF the Master
II was planned to have Elder Powell
give the conference sermon and there
would be truly an awakening. He
might not have been the polished
orator OF some of his SUCCESSORS.
but he had a method of express
Ing himself that brought about con.
viction and brought sinners to the
fold. ..
There were others In religious
work that might be referred to,
namely, A. ID. Seward, a pioneer
Presbyterian. He was not an or
dained clergyman, but was a pillar
in the Presbyterian church. Rev.
J. B. Little is the first minister
that comes to my recollection In
this denomination. Mr.. Little was
man of hope. a man Of tender
ness and kindness, hs pastorate ex.
tended over series of years In
the old building which stood on the
corner now occupied by the Secur.
ity Flats. Well do remember my
first visit to this church. A bare.
foot boy ] crept into the back seat
and was more than pleased to find
cushions upon which to rest. II
was truly a city OF refuge TO a
tired boy, a resting place that could
not be resisted. had hardly made
myself at home before one of the
ushers informed me that was in
his place. l took another seat only
TO be asked to move again. This
proposition was kept up until I com
menced to really wonder Il that
church had any place In II for boys,
barefoot boys, and slipping out the
door ! made my way homeward con-
Tinced that that church was a
mighty fine place-too fine for bare
foot boys. t.,.
Original Catholic. Settlers.
"Of the original Catholic settlers
at Mankato, Peter Frenzel and Jacob
Guenther were both warm friends
Of my father and many is the time
the Frenzel home, on Bunker hill,
has been the stopping place for a
drink OF water while enroute to the
berry patch at ID. A. Thayer's where
all the boys and girls, OF years ago,
found employment during the berry
season. Father Sommerelsen, one OF
the early Catholic priests, found a
warm place in my heart when, as
carrier for the old Mankato Re.
view, he rewarded them on New
Years day with a big silver dollar
for the carriers address. This brings
to mind one of the pioneer physi.
clans, DIR. G. +. Warner, who on
the same morning for the same New
Years address, penned by Mrs. VIII
liam Roberts, mother OF Mrs. George
NJ. Palmer, and sister of ]. @. Fowler,
presented us with q silver dollar and
gave the Injunction that n anyone
else contributed more to come back
and he would increase the gift. No
one else did give more but none
the less these two good men, who
have passed on to the other shore,
VIII ever have a warm place In
the heart OF the 'newsboy lad. -
THE site for the Methodist church
vas provided by father and after
the present new edifice was built,
the congregation made the startling
discovery that IL belonged to the tribe
OF Benjamin. The heirs, however.
relinquished all claims and straight.
ened up the title.
Then there Is the Episcopal
church. Father belonged to that
once. The first pastor that comes
TO memory Is Rev. Spor. While
learning the art preservative. Il was
my good fortune or misfortune TO
have the job OF janitor OF the edi.
fee. There were great box stoves
In the basement. or rather holes in
the ground under the building. Dur
ing the week, at odd hours, would
split up large amounts OF Eastwood,
cordwood length and rising at three
or four o'clock Sunday morning
would endeavor to have he church
warm in time for service at 1880.
In the hole under the floor, where
the stoves were located. II would
be second inferno, but upstairs
the thermometer would refuse to
rise, the heat, however. was con.
tinually rising, and making It's way
out OF big crack in the peak
OF the roof. The wardens of the
church, A. NJ. Smith was one OF
them, rather thought the janitor had
been soldering on the job, but a
personally conducted visit TO the
hades below and then a finger point
ing to the crack in the roof con-
vincved one man, at least, that there
had been no let up in the firing
and so the janitor was not fired
but continued to hold down the Job.
Warden Smith, however. did have
occasion later on to call us down.
II was when our business instinct
developed US into junk peddler
and we stored a. wagon load or
more OF old bones In the belfry.
NV what a lot Of reminisceuces thai