St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1958-03-14

universally in spite Of his firm
adherence 70 the Catholic faith
4. This boy was 20 become Archbis.
hop John ireland an international
figure famed for his championsup
Of Negroes
Unable 10 land at ST. Paul. the
group Of pilgrims we're sent 70
Fort Smelling, where II was de-
cided 10 divide them. a part Of the
group was sent 20 Blue Earth
County some 10 Washington
County some to Hennepin County.
The rest we're returned 10 ST.
/. Paul. where they remained and es-
tablished their church. The fam
lilies OF these "contrabands," these
pilgrims" establishing themselves
in 81. Paul were mostly Baptist
hence the name Of their church.
lPDgnm Baptist Church.
Robert r Hickman organized
the religious society which met
from house TO house for prayer
meetings and from hall 10 hall
for their services. Finally. they
we're able TO afford a definite To-
cation. In the st. Paul city d.
rectory Of 1865, appeared this in
sertion:
Pilgrim Church (Col) corner
Wabasha and 3rd., services 1890
am. and 7 pm"
In 1870, they Incorporated Pill
grim Baptist Church. A few OF
the charter members were Robert |
r. Hickman, pastor Fielding |
Combs, sr, Henry Mofntt. John |
Trotter and Giles Granshaw
Born 30 the IIlcl.mnn's In ST.
Paul were three sons: Thomas,
George and David, the latter be-
coming blind at very early
age.
Robert T Hickman was instru-
mental In starting many Of the
literary societies, church clubs and
other philanthropic organizations
in ST. Paul or the literary societ.
les, the Church Aid and the Rob.
ert Banks Society were the best
OF their character
In 1878, Hickman was ordained
and regularly installed as pastor.
remaining In charge until 1884
There is only time for a man
to grow Just so much In one life
time. Robert r Hickman grew
with a giant step in many di-
rections. In great music literature.
human understanding and In reN
iigion But however great these
attachments were for a man born
and reared so long In slavery, they
couldn't match the training and
polish OF equally brilliant men
born free and educated formally.
so In 1885, Pilgrim Baptist Church
having developed 10 the point
where Il required attachments
of broader educational charoc-
ter, extended a can 10 Bird wa
kins a college seminary graduate
Only u man with great hum
ility and love for his people and
church could rcllnqulsh leader
ship and cooperate fully with
the new minister.
The first purchase OF ground by
pilgrims upon which 10 erect a
church was located on Sibley
Street and Norris,
But under the direction OF the
Reverend wilkins the work Of
erecting a new chcrch was bcgcn
and in 1856, the new building To-
Gated at St Peter near Summit
was completed at a cost Of St2
600.
Prior 70 the time Of Hicllman's
death, February 10 1900, the
pastors Of Pilgrim Baptist Church
had been numerous, Intervals be
tween the pastoratcs OF different
ministers were always provided for
and Robert Hickman had to be
recalled to the pulpit many times
TO serve during these lapscs
H. n. Murrcll who was PHI |
grms pastor at the outbreak OF
World War /, made a survey OF |
the membership and found that /
most OF the colorcd population OF
st. Paul had moved from the down |