The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1923-04-25
Presbytery Meets
at Saint Peter
(Continued from first page

Continued from first page)
blance of a church at Treaverse de
Sioux was small mission house
used also for dwelling, school am
church, in 1885," said DIR. Ross. IT
Indians were not interested in thes
activities, and before that time NJ
place of worship was provides
Those pioneer missionaries, Rev. Viii
hanson, Rev. Riggs and the POM
brothers, spread the gospel by contac
in the tepees of the primitive tribe
men, and there were none to attend
fixed church at the early trading
post. This was the beginning of the
church movement in this community.
In 1852 Traverse des Sioux assumed
greater Importance with the infiu,
of white immigrants. ThA year
Alexander G. Higgins wrote to Rev
M. N. Adams of Lac Qui Parle, to
come down and organize a church
On November 9Th, that year, he or
ganized the Free Presbyterian church
in the Higgins Mission house, act
ing as moderator of the moderator OF
the Dakota Presbytery. There were
IL charter members, Alex G., Lydia
p, Jane S., Mary A. and Eliza w
Higgins, Jones and Fanny Pettijohn
William P. and Lucinda r. McMaster,
Anna w. Adams, Mary R. Spooner
and Julia A. LaFramboise. The first
liam McMaster.
In 1854 the budding congregation
outgrew the mission store, and it was
decided to build church. Rev
Adams went east to raise funds, but
received very little aid. He per-
severed and finally on December 18th,
1857, the new church was dedicated
Rev. James Thompson preached the
dedicatory sermon. At the end of Id
years, the congregation had increased
to 80 members. During those years
the church was under the pastoral
care of Revs. Adams, Peck and Thos
Marshall. On July 25th, 1869, plans
were consummated for a union with
the First Presbyterian church of St
Peter, and the old church was desert
ed.
The speaker then traced the owner
ship of the old building down to the
present time. 1t is now the property
of John B. Rausch and is used as an
abattoir by the Kopp market The
speaker made a strong plea for sup
port of the Presbytery and congrega-
ton for the preservation of the old
church as a historical monument and
also for the upkeep of the pioneer
cemetery at Traverse. He is chair
man of a committee now raising mon
ey for the renovation of the cemetery
and for the building of replica of
the old church to be used chapel
at hte burial ground. The amount
needed to complete this work is Zoo
and thus far, 500 has been raised.
The speaker then plunged into the
details of the First Presbyterian
church. This was organized on Octo-
Der 25th, 1857, by Rev, A. H. Kerr
with IL members and one ruling elder,
III. L. Wakefield. In 1868, James
Smith and j. l.. Wakefield were NAM
ed ruling elders and the latter was
elected clerk of the sessions that year.
In 1866, three more elders were elect
ed, John Foot, j. N. Treadwell and G..
H. Drew.
The new church had 81 members
after IL years of activity by Rev.
Kerr. When the union was forme1
with the Traverse des Sioux church,
the membership was 33. The new
church was completed in 1872.
DIR. Ross historical sketch was one
of the most complete ever prepared
and recalled pleasant memories to the
older members of the congregation
1t was masterfully presented. In
closing the speaker paid a splendid
tribute to the work done by DIR.
McGiffin. He called attention to the
size of the congregation, the large
service flag, and the improvements
made at the church the past year, and
bespoke bright future for his ole
charge.
With more than 65 lay and clerg.
ical delegates present from eighteen
counties of Southern Minnesota, rep
resenting the Mankato Presbytery
the annual convention opened Tues
day afternoon at the local church
A meeting of elders took place a
that time, which was the largest evel
held by the Presbytery. In all, q
churches were represented by elders
Arthur Merenes of Slayton, gave ,
comprehensive survey of the church
budget and financial condition of tn.
Presbytery at this meeting. Rev
Paul Voris of Mankato, delivered al
excellent address on the Secret o
Success"
Business services proper were con
Quoted Wednesday morning and con
tinued during the afternoon. Rou
tine business occupied practically tn,
entire day.
The 1923 budget for the Presby
terry, which was adopted at the ses
sions, calls for an expenditure of $35.
659, which is practically the same a
last year. The churches will receiv
$26,212, the women's Presbyteria
Missionary society $9,047, and $40