The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1937-01-07
To Celebrate
10th Church
Anniversary
Rev. A. A. Mcbride Will Ad-
dress Members of Congre-
gational Church Jan. Is
WAS ORGANIZED 1860
Parish Has Extended Invita-
tons to Former Pastors
And Members

Concentrating their SEVENTEEN
anniversary as an organized con-
gregation, the people of the First
Congregational Church of this city
will be addressed next Wednesday
evening, January 10, by the Rev.
A. A. Mcbride, State Superintend-
ent of Congregational Work, an
nounced Rev. p. ]. Jansen, pastor.
The gathering will also be the sew
entieth annual business meeting.
Plans for the next year will be
discussed when reports will be
read, and it is customary for the
men of the church to serve the
supper on this annual occasion. In
vitations have been sent to all for
mer pastors, and notably among
them are the Rev. c. J. Morgan,
Hutchinson, just preceding the pre-
sent pastor, and the Rev. G. s.
Sparkes, Forrest Heights in Mime
apolis, who was called to serve the
Sank Centre congregation in 1916.
Notes of invitation have been sent
to former members, and congratu-
latory notices have been received
from former members such as Mrs.
Oehler, Minneapolis, Mrs. j. A.
Norris, wintering in California, and
Eugene Boss, Wadena. During the
meeting older members Of the
group will be asked to make short
talks, said Rev. Jansen.
From the humble beginning Of a
mission established by the Rev. c.
s. Harrington in 1850 the Congre-
gational Church has advanced
steadily through seventy years. In
the days when the railroads stop.
ped at st. Cloud, and oxen teams
were used to come to Sank Centre
and when residents of this city
numbered a garrison of about 15(
persons, the Congregationalists
pushed their way to this commun
ity In 1862 the Indian uprisingi
halted the forming of an actua
parish, but the work begun did MOI
die. The spark had caught an6
Pickering until 1866, it was re-
kindled by Rev. A. Fox who be-
came the first resident minister OF
this city Services were held in g
small shanty, neither painted mol
plastered, that housed other relig.
ious groups and the school.
Those early days were trying
times, but on January 10, 1857, bus
mess documents were drawn uI
and on the following day Sunday
13 took the covenant and became
charter members of the First Con
gregational Church. In the spring
of that year those pioneers began
the erection of the first Protestant
Church building west Of st. Cloud
The present edifice of brick and
granite, at the corner of 4th and
Oak Streets, was erected in 1904.
It is significant to note that only
fourteen pastors have served the
congregation since 1866 when the
Rev. A. Fox became the first resi-
dent minister. Ministers were: Rev
Alpheus ]. Pike, 186S-79; Rev. I. L
Cory, 1879; Rev. J. B. Drew, Rev
r. s. Cross, Rev. Charles E. Blod
gett, 1889; Rev. Josiah A. Wood
Rev. G. Ernest Smith, 1897-1902
Rev. F. H. Oehler, 19O9-1911; Rev
w. j. Brown, 1911-1916; Rev. c. s
Sparkes, called in 1916. Following
his pastorate was that Of the Rev
c. J. Morgan, and the present min
lister, Rev. P. j. Jansen.
Oldest among the living member:
Of the congregation Is Mrs. Ed
ward Smith who became member
in 1876, and two years following hel
joining Mrs. ]. A. Norris became 6
| member in 1873.