St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1958-04-25

/ tied IN the more thflElnB part VI
what is now downtown Mime
apolis.
When Mr. King assumed the pas
torate Of the church new loca-
ton was considered Under his
leadership ST. James crossed the
river and moved into a store front
at All 5th Ave. s. Also, during
this time st. Peters AME Church
was organized.
In 1892, the Reverend ID. f.
Butler came to the church With
the financial assistance OF the
congregation and some white
friends. Mr.. Butler spearheaded
the buying Of a lot on the corner
of 4th street and sth Avenue s.,
where a handsome red brick church
was erected and prospered for a
decade under the pastorates Of
the Reverends Wade. Wharton and
Edwards.
Just as the future Of the
church seemed assured" wrote
Neil Russell, contributing editor
Of the MINNEAPOLIS sPoKEs-
MAN, in May 1919, "the Rock Is
land Railroad which owned the
property behind the church. de-
cided to lay tracks to switch
freight cars 10 loading platforms
Of several large factories in the
vicinity. The railroad company Of
fered to buy the church at a good
price. The congregation was divid-
ed on the merits Of the offer.
When the railroad company tired
Of waiting, went ahead and built
the tracks, the church property
deprecated. When the sale finally
went through, 1t was at price far
below the original offer"
Once again. the congregation
returned 10 the store front at All
5th Avenue S. In one years time
st. James moved to four different
locations. At one of these loca-
tions, on the corner of Bloom
ington and f. 26th Street, where
they had rented a church building,
the officers locked the doors
against pastor Peterson; and the
church lost all of the furniture and
property they had saved from the
old church. Mr.. Peterson and the
members remaining with the
church moved their place of wor-
ship to 1905 9Th Avenue NJ, and
from there 10 another rented
church on 5th Avenue N. and Cir
ard
After the year of intra-church
dissention and fractional difficulty,
Mr.. IN Best came to pastor st
James. The small rented church
on the northside could have been
purchased at a nominal fee, but
the members decided TO move back
TO the southside. For the third
time, the congregation returned to
the store front at All 9th Avenue
South.
The Reverend Lewis pastorate
brought more dissention and spin.
ter groups left to Join st. Peter
or other churches. In September
of 1918, ]. T. Merritt, came from
Chicago to assume charge Of what
few faithful members remained,
II was under Merritt's leadership
that Jewish Synagogue at 314
18th Ave. s. was purchased for
50. 800. Merritt and j. A. Withers
were also able TO interest a prom
inent citizen, L. f. Jepson in the
church's struggle to survive. Jep-
son enabled the church to secure
a loan from the Northside State
Bank, Of which he was trustee,
for the purchase of the Property.
When the young and tireless
Carlyle Stewart succeeded Mr.
Merritt, st. James made thousands
of dollars worth Of improvements
and was once again on its way
But again, after three years the
I Reverend Stewart was appointed
to new charge and the church
went into a gradual decline,
The next ministers that fol-
lowed were: Messers Waters. Dan
iels, Henderson Reddick, J. w.
Collins, NJ Mccormack, Spears
and Patrick. In 1871. only a few
members remained. The church
had only a stewardess, Mrs. Ida
Avis and one deaeoness, Mrs.
Grace Berry. both OF whom were
among the early settlers, the old.
est living members, and are active
members today.
In September Of 1871, Mr.,
Thomas came to st. James, There
was large mortgage on the
building. Pastor Thomas and the
lOffcers were able 20 extend the
mortgage 5 years and make mat
erisl property improvements. On
June 81 le4S, the mortgage was
burned, St James again owned
a church building,
After the death Of the Reverend
Thomas. MeSsers Brown. Grossley
and Reddick followed In February
Of 1855, MFR. Reddick resigned a.
r. Berry was sent 10 finish IN,
conference year and was returne,
for q second year term. DURING
/, this second year the church sit,
was badly in need OF repairs an,
was sold with the intention OF pur
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