failures combined with the great financial depression. In 1888 the bishop built an addition to the pro-cathedral, organized a new parish for the German-speaking Catholics of Lincoln, and erected St. Theresa's high school. The Buckstaff residence was secured for the Franciscan Sisters and transformed into a hospital. In 1893 the "Bishop's House," a beautiful brick residence with stone trimmings, was erected in the suburbs of Lincoln, and close by a magnificent orphanage is now being completed. The rectors of the cathedral have been Fathers Kennedy, Dunphy, Walsh, Loughran, Fitzgerald, Nugent, Roche, Nugent, Bradley, Reade, and Michael A. Shine, the present incumbent. In 1893 the Franciscan Fathers took charge of the German church, improved the property, and have a flourishing parochial school.
   In 1893, also, St. John Nepomuc's Church was erected for the use of the Bohemian Catholics, the priest attending from Plattsmouth.
   In March, 1904, the "Church of Christ" property, at the corner of Fourteenth and K streets, facing the state capitol, was purchased for $14,000. The interior will be remodeled in accordance with Catholic architecture, and it will be known in the future as the Cathedral of the Epiphany.
   The Sisters of St. Benedict from St. Marys, Pennsylvania, were the first religious community to reside south of the Platte river, coming to Nebraska City in April, 1865, and opening an academy and day school there, which they still conduct. The next order, the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus, from Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, came to Lincoln in June, 1883, where they established an academy for young ladies, which is still flourishing. The third order, the Ursuline Sisters, from Peoria, Illinois, came to Crete in 1887, where they had charge of the school until 1889. In 1890 they established themselves permanently in York, where they now conduct an academy and a hospital. They also have charge of schools in Lincoln, St. Stephens, and Falls City. In the fall of 1888 the Dominican Sisters from Sinsinawa Mound, Wisconsin, opened a school at Plattsmouth. In 1889 the Franciscan Sisters, from Lafayette, Indiana, took charge of St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Lincoln. The same year the Sisters of the Precious Blood, from O'Fallon, Missouri, took charge of the school in Crete. They also conduct schools in Beatrice and Roseland. In 1890 the Sisters of Charity from Dubuque, Iowa, took charge of St. Theresa's school in Lincoln. The Sisters of Notre Dame, from St. Louis, came in 1898, and have charge of the schools in Hebron and Lawrence. The Sisters of Loretto, who arrived from Loretto, Kentucky, in 1899, conduct schools in David City and Auburn.
   The statistics for 1905 show the rapid development and progress of the Lincoln diocese during the past eighteen years. They are as follows: Bishop, 1; priests, 64; churches, 124; missions, 34; chapels, 5; religious women, 128; academies, 3; parochial schools, 21; pupils, 1,829; hospitals, 3; orphanage, 1; families, 6,000; Catholic population, 30,000.
   The foregoing sketch gives a "birds-eye view," as it were, of the important part that Catholics have taken, not only in the development of their church, but also in the material and moral progress of our dearly beloved state, Nebraska.

   The search for data from which to write even a brief history of the Churches of Christ, -- otherwise known as Christian churches or Disciples of Christ,-- in Nebraska, has led the historian into many fields. The beginnings of the work of this religious body date back to the period when men were so busy subduing the desert and building homes in the face of hardships and dangers that they had little time to give to the preservation of records. This has made the sources none too abundant. However, the time is not so remote but that there remain many of the pioneers who lent their assistance in starting congregations that, deploring the sinful divisions afflicting the Body of Christ, should wear only the name of Christ, be governed by His will as revealed in the New Testament, and plead for the unity

of all the children of God on the divine creed, "Jesus the Christ, the Son of God," and for the restoration of the apostolic Christianity, its doctrine, its ordinances, and its fruits. To have in essentials, unity; in opinions, liberty; and in all things, charity.
   The first sermon by a Christian preacher in the territory seems to have been preached by a man named Foster on the south side of the North Platte river at a point about due north of the present town of Ogalalla, on June 15, 1845. This incidental sermon was some years in advance of any recorded effort to do permanent work. August 29, 1854, Richard Brown settled on the town site of Brownville. Joel M. Wood came in October of the same year. They organized the village which was named after Mr. Brown, many settlers coming from Holt county, Missouri.. Both men were staunch Disciples, and Mr. Wood, a preacher of some ability, began to preach in the growing village. "Father" John Mullis was associated in this work. In January, 1855, the church was formally organized, being the first regular church organization in the territory. It was not till several years later that an effort was made to build a house of worship. This house was blown down in 1866, which calamity scattered the congregation for a time. It was again revived and a new house built, which in the '90s was burned. Again they built, and are now occupying their third building.
   Mr. Wood and Mr. Brown were members of the first Territorial Assembly which met in Omaha during the latter part of the winter of 1854-1855. Mr. Wood took occasion to preach in that village while there. Ziba Brown, an Iowa preacher, delivered one sermon in the spring of 1857. During the winter of 1860-1861 Dr. Israel Swihart and W. A. Denton held a meeting at De Soto, twenty miles north of Omaha, and organized a small congregation, which has long since ceased to meet.
   In May, 1960, Charles P. Evans held a meeting in the home of Isaac Wiles near Plattsmouth, baptizing Mrs. Wiles in Four Mile creek. The next year James Connoran of Glenwood, Iowa, preached regularly once a month at Plattsmouth and in the Dikenberry schoolhouse, two miles south. An organization was effected at the schoolhouse.
   A systematic effort was made in the summer of 1861, by a coöperation of some of the churches in the western counties in Iowa, to establish the work firmly in the new territory. Partially supported by this coöperative movement, Charles P. Evans, David R. Dungan, and William A. Denton began to preach in the communities around Omaha, then a village with one brick, a few frame, and several sod houses. They planted small congregations at

CHARLES P. EVANS

Fontenelle, Papillion Creek, and Ireland's Grove, and preached at Bellevue and De Soto. In September of that year Dungan and Denton held a meeting in a store room on Douglas street, in Omaha. Five persons were baptized and a small organization effected. When the coöperation ceased in the fall of 1861 the infant churches were left shepherdless, causing them finally to disband.
   In 1862, Mr. Connoran, who had continued to preach at and near Plattsmouth, held a meeting and organized a congregation at Rock Bluffs, about six miles below Plattsmouth on the Missouri river. He continued to preach for them afterward.
   In the fall of 1863 a coöperation meeting was held at Rock Bluffs at which five of the six churches in the territory were represented.

   This meeting petitioned the American Christian Missionary Society at Cincinnati, O., for assistance to evangelize the rapidly developing territory. In response J. F. Berry of Washington, Illinois, was sent out by the general board in the autumn of 1864. Mr. Berry returned almost immediately to Illinois. Afterward the board appointed D. R. Dungan, who had settled in Plattsmouth and was engaged in teaching school and preaching at Platts-

DAVID ROBERTS DUNGAN

mouth, Rock Bluffs, and other places without remuneration. Notice of his appointment as missionary to Nebraska arrived the last of December, 1864. He began at once the great work that has endeared him to thousands of Nebraska Disciples.
   Mr. Dungan pushed west as far as Bell's Station on Salt creek, and in February, 1865, organized a church there that afterward became the nucleus of the Greenwood church. He followed C. P. Evans, who had visited Nebraska City early that year, finding many Disciples, and organized a congregation of forty-five members.
   In July, 1865, Robert C. Barrow of Missouri was also appointed as evangelist to the new territory, and he became at once a colaborer (sic) with Mr. Dungan. His first work was at Nemaha City. About these two men clusters very much of the early history of the Christian churches in Nebraska. Together they went from place to place, usually on horseback, preaching the gospel and establishing congregations. At times they labored in separate fields. Schoolhouses, dwellings, barns, and groves were the principal places of meeting. In privation and often in danger they toiled to plant the banner of Christ on these broad prairies.
   A second coöperation meeting was held at Brownville in the fall of 1865. At this meeting Mr. Dungan was persuaded by J. B. Judd of Pawnee City to return with him to that place. A meeting was held, resulting in an organization. David Butler, afterward the first governor of the state, was converted and baptized at this time.
   In the winter of 1864-1865 G. R. Hand of Missouri held a meeting in the Congregational church in Omaha. For lack of a meeting place nothing permanent was done. Mr. Dungan served as chaplain of the third session of the legislature after the admission of Nebraska into the union as a state, in March, 1867. This session was held that spring. While so serving he raised funds and secured a half lot on Harney street between Fourteenth and Fifteenth. Alvin Saunders, the last territorial governor, gave an equal amount of ground beside it and $800 in money. Milan Hunt also gave $800, and these with other subscriptions taken were the beginnings that resulted in the erection of a house of worship. This building is still standing, though now used as a blacksmith shop. This house was dedicated by N. A. McConnell and the membership reorganized December 12, 1867. The following officers were elected: Elders, Milan Hunt, Governor Alvin Saunders, and Ira Van Camp. Deacons, Dr. S. D. Mercer, Wm. Stephens, and J. W. Rogers. John W. Allen appears to have been the first pastor. During the ministry of J. W. Ingraham, which began

in 1878, the Harney street property was sold and a new house erected on Twentieth street and Capitol avenue. This building was the place of worship of this congregation until it was wrecked in October, 1902, by an immense audience gathered on Lord's day during the international missionary convention of the church which was being held at the coliseum. This convention was one of the largest and most successful of the great conventions of the church. At the communion service held on the afternoon of Lord's day fully 10,000 people were present. The First Church at Omaha now meets at Nineteenth and Farnam streets.
   In January, 1869, D. R. Dungan held several services in Lincoln. He found twenty-seven persons who had formerly been members of the Christian church, and on the 24th of that month they were legally organized. Michael Combs and Joseph Robinson were the first elders, and G. W. Aiken and J. H. Hawkins the first deacons. Lots were donated by the state on condition that a house be erected thereon. J. M. Yearnshaw settled in Lincoln in May and was a valuable help to the little church. A meeting was held at Crabb's mill on Salt creek in what is now Lincoln Park, July 3. Michael Combs preached. Subscriptions were taken for the erection of a house, and about $1,000 was pledged. The house, located on the corner of Tenth and K streets, was begun and finished in time for dedication on July 3, 1870. The dedicatory sermon was preached by J. M. Yearnshaw.
   D. R. Dungan became the pastor of the church in 1871, continuing for three years. A new house of worship was built on the corner of Fourteenth and K during the ministry of Charles B. Newnan. The cornerstone was laid July 3, 1888, by Allan R. Benton, the first chancellor of the State University, himself a Disciple. Misfortune and debt caused the loss of this handsome building about ten years later. The congregation owns a valuable site and meeting-house at Fourteenth and M streets.
   The church at Tecumseh originated in a meeting held by R. C. Barrow in the kitchen of Mrs. Mary Bivens, and she was herself the first convert. This was in June, 1866. In March, 1867, Mr. Barrow again visited the place and held a meeting in the schoolhouse. A church was organized on the last day of the month. Henry Sutherlin, James M. Thompson, and S. L. F. Ward were the first elders. A house was built in the fall of 1871.
   An incident occurring in connection with the establishment of the church at London, Nebraska, in February and March, 1866, indicates the high tension of feeling in the minds of the people, wrought by the war just closed.

ROBERT CLARK BARROW

Mr. Barrow began a meeting in a house belonging to the Methodists. The second Lord's day evening he was denied admission to the house on the ground that while his Christian standing was not questioned, he was a "runaway rebel from Missouri." Also that he had made speeches in the interest of secession. Excitement ran high. Trouble was averted by Mr. Barrow requesting a prominent member of the church to write to his home in Missouri for the facts. The meeting progressed and a church was organized. Later a house was built. This church has been largely reduced by removals.
   Congregations were established during these years at St. Deroin, Big Spring, Clifton, Mon-

terey, and Larkin schoolhouse. These have all disappeared, but the membership has largely gone to enrich the newer churches formed in the railroad towns.
   Farther west a church was established by L. C. Bauer and Theo. Johnson at what is now Bower, January, 1870. A Christian colony organized in Cincinnati, Ohio, settled at Hebron in 1869. An Indian raid in this vicinity five years previous resulted in a massacre.

IRA VAN CAMP

and several women were made captives. Another raid was made on the new village, but it was repulsed. L. J. Correll, who arrived there in the fall of 1869, went to Omaha and prevailed upon General C. C. Augur to send a detachment of soldiers to protect the people. Mr. Correll began to preach to soldiers and citizens. The first communion service was held in October, 1869, and a congregation organized the next spring. L. J. Correll, C. J. Rhodes, and Jacob Hendershot were chosen elders.
   The first preaching by the Christian church at Beatrice was by Mr. Barrow in May, 1868. He baptized several persons. D. R. Dungan soon followed with a short meeting. In the fall of 1872 J. W. Allen held a meeting and organized the congregation. It has grown to be one of the largest and strongest churches among the Disciples in the state.
   In these early days the Christian preachers were, as they now are, the strong and outspoken opponents of the rum traffic. At Nemaha City a drunken rough attempted to drag T. K. Hanseberry from his place while preaching. A mob organized to kill him, but he escaped and lived to help drive the saloons out of Salem.
   During the two decades, 1870-1890, the work of discipling Nebraska progressed as rapidly as the means at hand would permit. The Nebraska Christian Missionary Convention kept up a more or less effective organization, aiding and directing the work. Money was scarce, and at a time when thousands should have been available, less than hundreds were at hand. Outside funds, never more than a few hundred dollars annually, ceased coming entirely for about half the period. Some unworthy men came in as preachers, creating disaster. In spite of these obstacles the work was so pressed that churches were organized and many houses of worship built in towns almost to the western border of the state. These were mostly on and south of the Platte river.
   The Nebraska Christian Missionary Society was a natural child of the coöperation meetings of the early years. It has been guided by D. R. Dungan, J. Z. Briscoe, J. A. Beattie, and others as presidents. R. C. Barrow served as secretary and evangelist for about twenty-five years. The society has aided perhaps two-thirds of the present churches in the state, besides organizing a number that have become inactive. In 1863 there were six congregations holding fairly regular meetings, with perhaps 300 members, not a single preacher giving his entire time to the ministry. In 1906 there are 196 churches with over 19,000 members, 135 preachers including ministerial students that preach, and 160 church buildings. The society employs evangelists for the purpose of assisting weak congregations and

opening new fields. Annual conventions covering five to six days are held each year on the society's assembly grounds at Bethany, a suburb of Lincoln. These grounds have a fine summer pavilion or tabernacle and a well appointed dining hall. The last annual meeting enrolled over 2,000 delegates and visitors. No legislative powers are vested in this assembly, and the subjects treated are largely missionary and educational. Z. O. Doward of Lincoln served his fifth consecutive term as president of the socity (sic).
   The Christian Woman's Board of Missions is the woman's missionary society of the church. Its head offices are at Indianapolis, Ind. The local organizations are known as auxiliaries and number 75, with 1,475 members. The state organization was first considered in 1884, but was not effected till 1886. Mrs. C. L. Schell, Mrs. N. B. Alley, and Miss Nora Gage were among the first presidents. The early secretaries were Mrs. N. B. Alley, Mrs. Eli Fisher, and Mrs. Mary D. Aylsworth. The funds of this society are gathered systematically and are used for home and foreign missions, educational and orphanage work, and negro education and evangelization. The state board is supporting a family of missionaries in Porto Rico directly; besides different auxiliaries have special mission work in different fields. The president of this organization is Mrs. J. S. McCleery of Beatrice, and its secretary and organizer is Mrs. Calla Scott Willard of Bethany.
   The history of the educational work undertaken by the Christian churches is chiefly confined to two principal institutions: Fairfield College and Cotner University, the first located at Fairfield and the other in Bethany Heights, northeast of Lincoln.
   In 1878 Worthy T. Newcomb offered a resolution at the state convetnion (sic) of the missionary society, asking for the appointment of a college committee. Nothing resulted. Five years later at the convention R. C. Barrow introduced a like resolution, and Barrow, Newcomb, and O. C. Hubbell were appointed as such committee. A proposition to locate the school at Fairfield in Clay county was accepted, and school opened in September, 1884, in a temporary building, with C. W. Hemry as president. The institution was called the Fairfield Normal and Collegiate Institute, enrolling 26 students the first term. The second year 134 students matriculated and in the third year 137. Three courses of study were offered, -- classical, Biblical, and normal. In the third year a philosophical course was added. A permanent brick building was erected situated on a sightly eminence above the town,

WILLIS ANSON BALDWIN

with a campus of twelve acres. Owing to financial distress the college was reorganized in March, 1889, at Fairfield College. It was ultimately compelled to close its doors for lack of proper endowment, its last annual report to the state conventions being made in June, 1897. Its alumni have gone out into honorable places in the world's work, and many of its graduates and undergraduates are now successful ministers of the Gospel.
   At the annual state convention in 1887 a resolution was passed authorizing a committee composed of J. Z. Briscoe, E. T. Gadd, Porter Hedge, W. P. Aylsworth, G. E. Bigelow, J. B.

Johnson, and W. W. West to "receive and accept propositions" looking toward the incorporation of a Christian university. This committee accepted donations of land aggregating 321 acres, lying northeast of Lincoln, and on February 14, 1888, articles of incorporation of the Nebraska Christian Educational Board were filed. The construction of a suitable building was begun which was finally completed in April, 1890, and fully paid for. This structure is a handsome and entirely modern building of Milwaukee pressed brick, and overlooks the city of Lincoln from a beautiful campus of twenty acres well set to trees, about four miles northeast of the postoffice. School was opened in the fall of 1889, in a private house, with William P. Aylsworth as its acting president. In 1890 D. R. Duncan was, called to the presidency and served for six years. During this time the financial distress that came upon the country, crushing banks and business interests of all kinds, met the young institution in its first year and wellnigh ended its career. Its assets, in common with those of the business world, shrank in value, and notes accepted for the deferred payment on lots sold, the proceeds of which were used to construct and fit out the building, were defaulted in large amounts and came back for payment. The lots had so shrunk in value that in many instances not one-tenth of the purchase price could be realized on them. A mortgage on the building, campus, and dormitory was given for funds to meet these demands. Times grew worse. Men were failing in business everywhere. Courage and confidence were at the lowest ebb. It came to be practically every man for himself. The mortgage was foreclosed and the property passed into the hands of a trustee for the creditors. But in spite of these adverse conditions the school never failed to hold full year's sessions. In 1896 Mr. Dungan resigned and W. P. Aylsworth was chosen as chancellor. John W. Hilton, a graduate of the school, was called to be its financial agent in 1898 and sent into the field to raise a fund to redeem the property. After two years of labor and through the great generosity of the creditors in scaling down the original debt very largely, the university building, campus, and dormitory were deeded to the "Nebraska Christian University," an incorporation formed February 11, 1901, and representing the Disciples of Christ in Nebraska, thus securing to the brotherhood of the state this handsome property, valued at over $137,000.
   The university has two colleges, liberal arts and medicine. It has also an academy, normal school, business school, school of eloquence, school of music, and school of art. The college of liberal arts offers four courses: Classical, sacred literature, philosophical, and normal philosophical.
   The medical college is situated in the city of Lincoln and is known as Lincoln Medical College. This school was opened September 15, 1890, in the university building, with Dr. W. S. Latta as dean. It has a four-years course and confers the degree of M.D., its diplomas being recognized by state boards of health. Dr. W. N. Ramey is the president.
   William P. Aylsworth, LL.D., is the chancellor of the university, and James A. Beattie, LL.D., is vice chancellor. The work of the school is growing steadily and its influence is widespread. Its alumni may be found in prominent fields of labor in business, education, and religion. Some of its graduates are in foreign fields as missionaries.
   A ministerial association is maintained by the ministry of the church, whose president is R. A. Schell of Hastings. It conducts an annual institute of two weeks, in which daily lectures are given by prominent religious teachers of the brotherhood.
   The intensely evangelistic spirit of the Churches of Christ makes it difficult to secure enough capable preachers to care for the congregations as they are organized, which has the effect of limiting the organization of new congregations. Yet the steady growth of the churches in the state keeps pace with the increase of membership in the United States, which now number over 1,200,000. Nebraska Disciples support all the missionary, educational, and benevolent enterprises of the brotherhood. It is the purpose and aim of

the ministry to make the churches more and more efficient in producing the best class of Christians, thereby doing a large part toward raising the standard of citizenship in the state.
   In addition to the foregoing account of the history of the Christian Church (Disciples) in Nebraska it is fittingly spoken of as having three phases. The first of these phases is the history of the pioneer days and conditions. These efforts, as pioneer efforts of every kind must be, were largely individual. A man of conviction and energy, or women of zeal and devotion, in this place or that, inspired by a love of mankind and by enthusiasm for the Gospel of the Grace of God directed his best thought and efforts to the religious advantage of the community and for the good of the people within the circle of his influence. By such agencies foundations were laid and in many cases a vast amount of good was done. It was a time of seed-sowing by individual men and women. They went out one by one to sow the seed in anticipation of a rich harvest when an effort could be made by many uniting their means and strength for the accomplishment of great things.
   The second stage of this work in Nebraska was coöperative to the end that the work of the individual man or woman might not be in vain but rather that it might take on a larger and more productive form. This was seen when the people in different places began to ask the help of the general missionary society and when the people of one community began to plan with those of another to help the people of a third place. Out of this came the state missionary society, the state Sunday school organization, the state ministerial association, the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, the Women's Missionary Society and all the other agencies of Christian enterprise. In nearly all cases these organizations, in the beginning, had but one or two specific things to do. As time went on and many parts of the state were occupied the needs became more pronounced and also much increased in number. New fields opened, and the need for united efforts became more and more apparent. These two phases of the work have been so blended during the last thirty or forty years that a person cannot tell where the pioneer work in its individual phase ended and its coöoperative (sic) form took shape. The two have really developed together during all these years. Like all other things of the kind that which is today has been a growth from the seed which was cast into the soil yesterday.
   The general policy of the church in the state during the last twelve or fifteen years has worked itself out along three related but distinct lines:
   (1) A continuation of the work of evangelists to the end that the gospel might be preached in new places and, also, to aid weak churches to proclaim the riches in Christ. The special mission of the coöperation of the churches in this regard has been and is now to aid the weak churches to grow into self-sustaining and self-supported churches.
   (2) To help support ministers in regular church work in important places to the end that religious information may be carried to many and that the churches at such places may become self-supporting.
   (3) To widen, and at the same time to centralize the work of the whole church in the state, the district missionary societies are united with the state organization. Thus far in the development and in the practical results the coöperation seems to be a distinct advantage. The principle is carried to the extent of making the officers of the different district associations officers of the state missionary society. The officers of the missionary year 1918-1919. besides the officers of the districts are Clark Oberlies of Lincoln, president and William Oschger of Bethany, secretary.
   In June, 1911, Dr. W. P. Aylsworth resigned the office of chancellor of Cotner University. He retained his position as head of the department of sacred literature, which he has held since the opening of the institution for the enrollment of students in October, 1889. William Oschger of Vincennes, Indiana, was elected to fill the vacancy. In 1916 Mr. Oschger was followed by Charles Matt Erick-