The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-07-14
Impressive Services Were Held
AT the Edifice Last
Evening
Address Delivered BY Rev
George C. Tanner, Early Day
Rector
From Saturdays Daily.


beautiful nature marked the opening
of the fiftieth anniversary celebration
of the founding of st. Johns Episco-
pal parish at st. Johns Episcopal
church last evening, and the church
was crowded to it's capacity by for
mer members of the parish who had
arrived for the home coming, mem
bers of the congregation, and friends
The altar was beautifully decorated
with masses of flowers and foliage,
and a full vested choir furnished
splendid music throughout the even
ing. The program opened with yio-
lin solo entitled Hearts and Flow
ers," played by Charles Schwanen-
berg, after which the professional
was held down the central aisle, the
choir singing 1.-The Church's One
Foundation" as it entered. AS the
singers took their places on the pull
pit they sang two selections, Can
tata Dominic" by Crotch, and "Nunc
Dimittis" by Turtle.
Rev. Charles ]. Shut, rector Of the
parish, led the prayers, after which
he announced that he was sorry to
state that he had received COM
munication from Rt Rev. F. A. Nc
Elwain, d. D., who was to have de-
livered the first address of the even
ing, to the effect that it would be i'm
possible for him to be present as he
was detained at Faribault by the Sc
rious illness of his wife. Rev. Shut
expressed deep sorrow and sincere
regret that the bishop was thus de-
tanned, and asked that the prayers of
all present be offered for the recov-
cry of Mrs. McElwain. He said that
the bishop had sent his hearty greet
mgs to the people and invoked the
divine blessing upon them. Rev.
Shut expressed his joy at being able
to welcome Rev. George c. Tanner,
who would speak on "Reminiscences"
and extended cordial invitation for
all to attend the picnic at Sibley park
today, and the Sunday services.
t~ Old-Ti Rector.
''Dr. Tanner worked here for a long
term of years." said Rev. Shut, in
introducing the speaker, land / feel
that the diocese of Minnesota owes a
great deal to him, and to others who
brought religion here. I am pleased
that God has blessed DR.. Tanner, and
that he is with us tonight He brought
with him the sermon he preached
when he laid the corner stone of this
church" Rev. Shut expressed half
humorous regret that the church had
not been organized little later in
the season on account of the dis
agreeable heat which made it trifle
uncomfortable indoors.
The congregation has my sincere
sympathy that the church was not
organized a little later in the year."
said DR.. Tanner, "but it was very
pleasant weather that afternoon when
we congregated here to lay the cor
ner stone, and / sincerely congratu-
late the congregation upon the return
of the day, and that so many VINO
were here then have been spared to
be present on this occasion" He
briefly described the ceremonies on
the occasion of the laying of the cor
ner stone, and told of the early days
and the need of religions in new
towns, and the demand for it's by pio-
neers. Worship is essential to any
community" he said.
Took Charge of Work.
I'm 1865 arrangements were made
that l should come here from Fari-
bault and take charge of the work.
1t took two days to get here, as the
roads were very bad. The next day
was Palm Sunday, and l held my
first services on Sunday. 1t was
a damp, dark and dismal day. i
l was stopping at the Mankato House
and l put on my coat and went over
to the Presbyterian church. Rev.
Marshall, the pastor, asked me to
preach that evening. l told him if
he would allow me to use the service
in the prayer book l would do so. He
was willing, so l preached on Palm
Sunday, 1865. Rev. Marshall was a
man of generous sympathies, and in
his service used portions of the pray
er book. lived at South Bend dur
ing the summer, and our first serv-
ice was held in the old log school
house. On that first Sunday morning
ing up the river to the Red River of
the North. On the Monday following
my arrival the Jewett family was
murdered. That was a week of great
excitement. l went to Faribault to
dtt0uu 10 SOulo H1dtCeTS, anu WueH
got back many things had happened
One Sunday saw dead man being
carried by my church, and cavalry
was constantly riding back and forth.
Later we held our services in build
ing which leaned, like the facous
tower of Pisa, but rumor stating that
this building was unsafe we moved
into store room of Mr.. Shoemaker's
building, on the ground floor. One
of the mottos on the wall was Pay
as You Enter which the thought very
apropos, and good for church and
state. My last service was held in
the hall the Methodists used for their
Sunday services, and which they
kindly offered to me. The conference
then decided to send me back to Far |
ibault, where 1 engaged in education |
al work for the church The summer
/ spent here was delightful sum-
mer. Rev. Marshall in particular was
a lovable man. In 1865 when my
house and all by books and |
furniture burned he raised al
purse of SIS to replenish my lib
rary. He was truly a Christian gen.
tleman. In the spring of 1866 Rev.