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)
hance of a church at TreaWerse des
Sioux was a small mission house
used also for a dwelling, school ano
church, in 1885," said DIR. Ross. lie
Indians were not interested in these
activities, and before that time nc
place of worship was provided
Those pioneer missionaries, Rev. WI
hanson, Rev. Riggs and the Pond
brothers, spread the gospel by contact
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 DIES Sioux assumed
greater Importance with the influx
of white immigrants. ThAt year
Alexander G. Higgins wrote to Rev.
M. N. Adams of Lac Qui Parle, to
come down and organize 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 K. McMaster,
Anna w. Adams, Mary K. Spooner
and Julia A. LaFramboise. The first
elders were Jones Pettijohn and Will
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 Is
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
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 strong plea for sup
port of the Presbytery and congrega-
ton for the preservation of the old
church as historical monument and
also for the upkeep of the pioneer
cemetery at Traverse. He is chair
man of 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
needed to complete this work is $1,000
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..
III. Drew.
The new church had 81 members
after IL years of activity by Rev.
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 splendid
tribute to the work done by DIR.
McGiffn. 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 a bright future for his old
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 at
that time, which was the largest ever
held by the Presbytery. In all, 81
churches were represented by elders,
Arthur Merenes of Slayton, gave a
comprehensive survey Of the church
budget and financial condition of the
Presbytery at this meeting. Rev
Paul Voris of Mankato, delivered an
excellent address on the "Secret OF
Success"
, Business services proper were con-
Quoted Wednesday morning and con-
tinued during the afternoon. Rou-
tine business occupied practically the
entire day.
The 1923 budget for the Presby.
terry. which was adopted at the ses-
sioi,s. calls for an expenditure of $685.
659, which is practically the same as
last year. The churches will receive
s26.212. the women's Presbyteria
Missionary society $9,047, and $4Oe