CHAPTER XXV
RELIGIOUS PROGRESS
IN April, 1848, Rev. E.
D. Neill visited the territory, spent one
week, preached on the Sabbath, surveyed the ground,
so far as his limited time would allow, and became
impressed with the vast importance, present and prospective,
of the field. He sought and obtained the appointment
from the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions, and
entered the field in July following—the second
resident minister in St. Paul.
Until this time, the school-house
had been the only place of worship. In a few weeks
from his arrival, Mr. Neill had completed
a neat little lecture room, in which his family resided
while his own dwelling, the first brick house in town,
was in process of building. The following January,
a New School Presbyterian church, of nine members,
was publicly recognized.
It was no trifling affliction
to the youthful town when this lecture-room, eight
months after its erection, was burned down. But, like
many other trying events, it proved a blessing in
disguise, for in its stead,and from its ashes, rose
the substantial brick church on St. Anthony street,
near the spot where once stood the hovel, of immortal
memory, in which the first efforts in behalf of education
and religion in St. Paul were made.
In 1855, a branch from
this formed the "House of Hope" church,
and located in the extreme of Upper Town, retaining
Mr. Neill for pastor; and in 1856
the
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first church obtained the valuable services
of Rev. James Mattocks, from New
York. Prosperity has smiled on this branch of the
Church since its foundation, and the people of God
have learned "not to despise the day of small
things."
In the autumn of 1851,
Rev. J. G. Riheldaffer, Old School
Presbyterian, entered the field at St. Paul. A vacancy
by death in the pastorate of the Baptist church, left
the house open for him half the day and evening for
the first six months, after which he removed to the
courthouse, meanwhile using his powerful influence
and energies to "build a house to God."
This is a fine edifice, in a commanding location,
and was dedicated in 1854. An efficient school is
connected with this church, and taught in the basement
of the building.
In the summer of 1850,
an Episcopal mission was established at St. Paul by
Rev. Mr. Breck, a man of indomitable
energy and perseverance, assisted by Revs. Messrs.
Myrick and Wilcoxson.
A church and mission-house appeared in an inconceivably
short space of time, and abundant success has attended
these self-denying efforts. At the commencement of
this mission, a few hundred dollars were invested
in real estate, which is now valued at $50,000—a
perpetual fund to the denomination; a precedent which
it might, perhaps, be well for others to adopt.
A German Methodist church
was organized, and their neat little chapel appeared
in the summer of 1852. A Swede Lutheran church was
built in 1854; and a Swede Baptist missionary has
been successful, both here and elsewhere, in itinerancy.
In 1856, the Methodists
built a second edifice, large, commodious, and finely-located,
in Lower Town. Every-
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where have they grown in numerical and
spiritual strength commensurate with their noble and
indefatigable efforts.
All evangelical denominations
are here represented, and the "Man of Sin"
holds a powerful numerical sway. But the unhappy "isms,"
which so distract the harmony of Zion, and often mar
even the sweetness of social life at the East, have
not crept into our territory. God grant they never
may!
To the Home Mission boards
of the various denominations are all indebted for
an early supply of Gospel ministers. Truly, these
are of divine origin, and to them we owe, under God,
our present religious prosperity.
Churches have been gathered
in almost every infant settlement, and the cry is
still "Come over and help us." Children
are gathered into the Sabbath schools; the Bible and
tract distributor, the Sunday school agent and colporteur
are abroad; and societies for the good of each community
are formed. A country rich in nature's gifts is spread
before us, fast developing an enterprise, intelligence,
and progress, unprecedented, and of which, perhaps,
more from past observation of faith, we may say, it
is destined to become emphatically "Immanuel's
land."
The reader must have learned
by this time, that the interests of education and
religion were among the first to receive attention
from the settlers of this territory, and as we have
heretofore said, the church and school-house were
planted side by side. A few years have accomplished,
in Minnesota, what required centuries in New England.
Eight church-bells ring forth their Sabbath morning
peals, inviting the population of the Capital to the
sanctuary of the Most High, where talents, eloquence,
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and pious fervor, beautifully harmonize,
to attract simple men to the cross of Christ.
The legislature of Minnesota
has incorporated three important denominational institutions,
viz., "Hamline University," Methodist; "College
of St. Paul," Presbyterian; and "Minnesota
Central University," Baptist. The first, located
at Redwing, opened in 1855, is already in a flourishing
condition; the second opened its primary department
in 1856, and all of these will soon rank among the
first institutions of our country.
Chapter XXVI
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