USA > North Dakota > Early history of North Dakota: essential outlines of American history > Part 77
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My Dear Comrade: At your request I most gladly offer my tribute of respect and affec- tion to that noble man of God, Rev. Isaac Oliver Sloan, of blessed memory.
In the summer of 1863, I was taken prisoner and after Belle Isle was paroled and sent to Camp Parole, Annapolis, Md. I had not been there long before a severe case of chills and fever developed and I was admitted to the Naval Academy Hospital. Mr. Sloan was there as an agent of the Christian Commission rendering gratuitous and most beneficent services in dispensing the stores of that organization and helpful services to the sick and wounded "boys in blue" being treated there.
I first met him while he ministered his kind and loving services at the beds of the sick and dying defenders of the Union. Upon my convalescence, he asked me to assist him in serving out the stores. I then had a chance to become intimately acquainted with him and can confidently say that no nobler servant of God ministered in the time of our country's peril. He became greatly interested in Mr. Alfred C. Monroe, a member of the 12th Mass. and who had lost an arm, contributing much of time and means to his education and enabling him to take an honorable and useful place in life. After I had married he visited me, and my oldest son is Rev. Edwin Sloan Tasker, D. D., of the Methodist Church.
For his beautiful character and saintly life I shall ever hold him in highest esteem and affection. "The memory of the just is blessed."
A. P. TASKER, Late Ist N. H. Cavalry, Past Commander, Dept. Potomac, G. A. R.
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In June, 1873, Mr. Lyon and Mr. Sloan returning from Bismarck conducted services at Jamestown.
The early pastors of the church at Bismarck following Rev. I. O. Sloan were Stephen D. Dodd, W. C. Stevens, S. H. Thomson, C. B. Austin, J. N. Anderson, Alexander Durrie and Charles W. Harris. On his retirement Mr. Sloan engaged in missionary work on the line of the Northern Pacific Railroad. After a long visit East on account of the illness of his mother, he resumed his labors. On visiting Green River (now Dickinson), he saw the sign "Rev. C. A. Duffy" over the door of a saloon, He called upon the alleged reverend, who although greatly embarrassed, gladly contributed $25 for his work.
The church at Mandan was organized in 1881 by Rev. I. O. Sloan, assisted by Rev. C. B. Stevens. The first trustees were Edward F. Doran, Lyman N. Cary, Warren Carpenter, Marian A. Winter and Charles Williams. The early pastors were Rev. I. O. Sloan, L. E. Davis, A. C. Dayton, J. F. Killen, P. S. Dayton, James Byers, M. W. Kratz, Gilbert Wilson, E. S. Beardsley, Thomas A. Mc- Curdy.
The corner-stone of the new church edifice was laid October 1, 1916, Rev. F. W. Brown, pastor. The stone was laid and an appropriate address given by Judge A. A. Bruce, of the North Dakota Supreme Court.
The first religious services at Sims, D. T., and Glendive, Mont., were held by Rev. Mr. Sloan, who had some strenuous experiences in reaching his appoint- ments on foot, after wading treacherous creeks and, like his Master, putting up with "publicans and sinners," while preaching the gospel in saloons, but was generally well treated and someone was always ready to "pass the hat." He extended his travels as far as Miles City, Mont., in company with the Rev. Dr. Roberts, the secretary of the Board of Home Missions, New York. They preached at a mining camp seven miles out, where they found some Christian men and had a good meeting. He organized the churches at Glencoe and Stanton.
THE MISSION AT ST. JOSEPH
A mission was established at St. Joseph, now Walhalla, in 1851, by Rev. James Tanner, a half blood son of John Tanner, the white captive, whose story appears in earlier pages of this history. Mr. Tanner was accompanied by Rev. Alonzo Barnard, through the earnest solicitation of Gov. Alexander Ramsey of Min- nesota, who had as ex-officio Superintendent of Indian Affairs, secured $500 for the work from the government. Norman W. Kittson, Indian trader at Pembina, earnestly urged the beginning of this work. Governor Ramsey accompanied the party to Pembina and was accompanied by the late Dr. Black, who succeeded to the work of the Rev. James Sutherland, early missionary to the Selkirk colony. The missionaries, assisted by Dr. Black, held the first Protestant service in North Dakota of which there is any record; when the church was subsequently erected (1879) at Pembina, it was on the identical spot where this service was held. Dr. Black was present, coming from Winnipeg for the purpose.
Rev. James Tanner returned to St. Joseph in 1852 accompanied by Elijah Terry, a Baptist clergyman, who was killed by hostile Sioux, June 28, 1852.
June 1, 1853, Rev. Mr. Barnard returned, accompanied by David B. Spencer, their families and Rev. John Smith. The Barnards were Presbyterians and the
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Spencers Congregationalists. They had been associated as missionaries for ten years at Cass Lake. The mission was abandoned in 1855.
The story of the Martyrs of St. Joseph will be found at the close of this chapter.
THE PIONEER PREACHER
Rev. Oscar H. Elmer, the first ordained minister to locate permanently in the Red River Valley, left Sauk Center, Minn., October 20, 1871, preaching his first sermon October 22d in the dining room of the Chapin House. There were then about twenty shanties and tents in the village.
The Northern Pacific Railroad was finished to Fargo and Moorhead, January I, 1872, but trains were unable to run before March. Preaching was maintained in the dining room of the Chapin House until spring, and then in railroad coaches, in unfinished buildings and warehouses. In June, 1872, a rough chapel was erected at Moorhead, Minn., and a church was soon thereafter organized, consist- ing of eight members, gathered from both sides of the river. A Sunday school had been held in the timber on the Fargo side in J. G. Keeney's board shanty law office. Evening preaching service was begun in Fargo, December 17, 1871, in a tent.
Mr. Elmer visited Lisbon in 1871 and conducted services at Grand Forks in the uncompleted home of Capt. Alexander Griggs, February 8, 1872; visiting also Turtle River and other points on the North Dakota side of the Red River. He visited Grand Forks again in 1875 and 1877, when he conducted service for ten successive nights in the then new Methodist church. Rev. F. W. Iddings arrived at Grand Forks in September, 1878, and became the first settled Presby- terian minister at that point.
On April 6, 1879, Rev. C. B. Stevens of Fargo and Rev. O. H. Elmer, drove to Grand Forks and assisted Rev. Mr. Iddings in the organization of a Presby- terian Church with about thirty members.
The first meeting of a Presbytery or any other body of ministers held in what is now North Dakota met in the spring of 1881, at Grand Forks.
In 1876 the Rev. John Scott settled at Pembina upon the spot where the first Protestant service was held in 1881 by Revs. Alonzo Barnard and James Tanner. He organized a Sabbath school and extended his work to other points in Pembina County and to points in Minnesota and Manitoba, and in 1879, he organized the first Presbyterian Church north of Fargo and Bismarck.
December 11, 1877, Rev. Cicero B. Stevens preached his first sermon in Fargo ; The church was organized on the 30th, and the church building erected and dedicated the latter part of the following October. He was assisted by his predecessor and colleague, Rev. O. H. Elmer, of Moorhead, and the Presbyterian missionary. Rev. John Irwin.
Rev. James H. Baldwin arrived from Wisconsin during the winter of 1878-9 to explore and organize churches between Fargo and Jamestown.
Among the churches and ministers in 1879. were the following: Ministers, Revs. James H. Baldwin, Jamestown and Wheatland; E. J. Thompson, Casselton ; Cicero B. Stevens, Fargo: Joseph K. Burgster, Elm River and Elm Grove; Oscar H. Elmer, Moorhead (also preaching at Fargo and other places in Dakota) ;
Rev. O. H. Eimer
Rev. I. O. Sloan PIONEER PRESBYTERIAN PREACHERS IN NORTH DAKOTA
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Francis W. Iddings, Grand Forks; William Coit Stevens, Bismarck; William Cobleigh (licentiate), Turtle River.
In 1881, Rev. Donald G. McKay settled at Park River, supplying Sweden and Crystal in his field. Rev. J. F. Berry, from Forest River, supplied Minto and Inkster. Rev. R. J. Creswell was stationed at Pembina, installed by Revs. J. A. Brown and J. P. Schell. Rev. William Cobleigh took up the work at Grafton and Rev. Rockwood McQueeton succeeded Rev. F. W. Iddings at Grand Forks, to be followed by Rev. H. H. Brownlee.
The Grafton Church was organized in June, 1882, by Rev. F. W. Iddings, and in July, Rev. J. F. Berry began work at Garfield, Edinburgh and vicinity, and in August Rev. Daniel Willard at Bathgate. Rev. N. W. Cary succeeded Rev. H. H. Brownlee at Grand Forks in 1883, the latter going to Devil's Lake, relieving Rev. E. W. Day, who later was stationed many years at Fargo. Minto and Ardock were served by Revs. John Irwin and A. G. Forbes. In March, 1883. Rev. A. K. Caswell began work at Neche, and Rev. J. A. Brown at Arvilla. In April Rev. Ransom Waite located at Beaulieu and Walhalla. Rev. Alexander Burr took up work at Park River and Mountview.
In September, 1883, the church at Devil's Lake was organized by Revs. Irwin and Brownlee, and the church at Niagara by Rev. J. A. Brown, also the church at Milton by Rev. J. F. Berry. Rev. W. A. Smith took up work at New Rock- ford and Minnewaukon.
The Presbytery of Pembina met at Grafton, Nov. 7, 1883, having been called by Rev. Wm. Cobleigh to complete its organization. It consisted of men- bers from thirty-three counties, extending from the Red River to the Montana line, and from the Manitoba line to the north lines of Traill, Steele and Griggs counties, and along that line to Montana.
Rev. N. W. Cary preached the sermon. Rev. J. A. Brown was elected moderator and Rev. N. W. Cary, clerk.
Steps were taken to promote the interests of the Presbyterian College by appointing Rev. F. W. Iddings, Rev. C. S. Converse, and Elder D. W. Lake as commissioners to meet those appointed by other Presbyteries.
In October, 1882, the Presbyteries of Pembina, Grand Forks and Red River were created. On Oct. 13, 1883, the "Northern Pacific Presbytery" was created out of the Red River Presbytery. The Pembina Presbytery comprised all of the territory north of the latter.
The Northern Pacific Presbytery comprised the south half of the state, as far west as the east lines of Emmons, Burleigh and McLean counties, about forty miles east of Bismarck; the new Presbytery of Bismarck, taking in all the other unclaimed and unexplored portion of the territory west to the Montana line, which four years later constituted the State of North Dakota.
At the meeting of the Grand Forks Presbytery, at Grand Forks, April 26, 1881, Rev. W. C. Stevens and Elder J. Compton were elected commissioner and dele- gates to the General Assembly at Buffalo. A committee was appointed consisting of Prof. E. J. Thompson, Revs. F. W. Iddings and A. C. Underwood, and the Presbytery met July 18; 1882, to further consider the question of establishing a college. In the contest for the location of the college, Fargo, Fergus Falls and Casselton were the leading contestants, and the latter was selected, but on October 31 1883, Jamestown was substituted.
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The following incorporators were appointed, viz .: Wm. C. White, O. H. Hewitt and Rev. N. D. Fanning of Jamestown; R. S. Adams of Lisbon; D. H. Twomey, Fargo; L. B. Davidson, Bismarck; Rev. F. J. Thompson, Casselton ; Rev. F. W. Iddings, Grand Forks; V. M. Kenney, Larimore, and T. E. Yerxa, Fargo.
Special meetings were held in all the Presbyteries in August, 1885, for the purpose of appointing commissioners to meet at Jamestown and unite in effective effort to put the Jamestown college in operation. The result was made manifest in a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the college, at which successful plans were laid for opening the school and erecting the present handsome building.
The incorporators previously selected were: R. S. Adams, Lisbon; D. H. Twomey, Fargo; L. B. Davidson, Bismarck; Rev. E. J. Thompson, Casselton ; Rev. F. W. Iddings, Grand Forks; V. M. Kenny, Larimore, and T. E. Yerxa, Fargo.
The Bismarck Presbytery was constituted November 10th, 1884, at Mandan. Rev. Isaac Oliver Sloan was convener and acted as first moderator. Rev. R. H. Fulton was temporary clerk and Rev. John C. McKee was elected stated clerk.
Special meetings were held by all three Presbyteries for the purpose of ap- pointing commissioners to meet at Jamestown and unite in effective efforts to put the Jamestown College in operation with the result above stated.
The Synod of North Dakota was created by the General Assembly, at its meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, and held its first meeting in the First Presbyterian church in Fargo October 8, 1885, Rev. Francis M. Wood of the Synod of the Northern Pacific Presbytery, having been appointed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States, to do so, presiding as moderator and preaching the sermon. Rev. Harlan G. Mendenhall was temporary clerk. The Presbyteries of Pembina, the Northern Pacific and Bismarck being united in constituting the same. The Bismarck Presbytery was represented by Rev. J. C. McKee and Rev. L. E. Danks was also enrolled. Northern Pacific Presbytery, Revs. C. W. McCarthy, F. M. Wood, D. E. Bierce, J. E. Vance, E. P. Foresman, E. W. Day, G. S. Baskervill, H. M. Dyckman, Q. L. Young, and Elders McCradie, O. H. Hewitt, J. Duncan, J. C. White, and C. E. Cole; Pembina Presbytery, Revs. John Scott, J. A. Brown, R. Waite, F. W. Iddings, N. W. Carey, C. S. Converse, W. Mullins, W. Cobleigh, D. Williams and H. G. Mendenhall. Rev. F. W. Iddings was elected moderator, Rev. H. G. Mendenhall, stated clerk and treas- urer; Rev. E. W. Day, permanent clerk; Rev. L. E. Danks, temporary clerk. Revs. R. A. Beard, William Ewing and H. C. Simmons, of the Congregational Association, S. W. Stevens of the Baptist Association. H. D. Ganse of the Synod of Missouri; H. C. Baskervill, of the Synod of Nebraska: J. H. Long, O. H. Elmer, J. R. Crum and J. P. Schell, of Synod of Minnesota, and W. H. Hunter of the Synod of Pennsylvania were invited to sit as corresponding members.
The several "standing committees" were appointed, among which Revs. L. E. Danks, J. E. Vance and W. Cobleigh were the temperance committee ; Revs. J. C. McKee, H. G. Mendenhall and G. S. Baskervill, the Home Mission committee ; Revs. M. W. Cary and C. S. Converse and Elder J. R. Clark were the Sabbath School committee; Revs. D. E. Bierce, J. F. Berry and L. E. Danks, the Com- mittee on Education ; Revs. F. W. Iddings, I. O. Sloan and H. M. Dyckman, Church Erection committee.
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The women of the Synod organized a Synodical Missionary society, com- posed of the following: Bismarck Presbytery, Mesdames C. B. Austin, L. E. Danks, and C. H. Weaver; Fargo Presbytery, Mesdames F. M. Wood, F. W. Day, and M. J. Montgomery ; Pembina Presbytery, Mesdames J. A. Brown, A. J. Goodall, D. Williams and George Bull.
The Synod having received under its care and become responsible for James- town College and its interests, and the several Presbyteries having authorized the appointment by the Board of Trustees of a financial agent to raise at least $50,000 for that institution, the Synod endorsed this action, and recommended said in- stitution to the Board of Aid to Colleges and Academies for the full amount applied for. Elder I. M. Adams of Grand Rapids was enrolled. Of the sixty- three churches of the synod, six were reported as "self-supporting."
The following additional ministers were enrolled: Rev. Robert J. Feagles, Menoken ; James W. Dickey, Keystone (Monango) ; C. W. Remington, Milnor ; R. W. Ely, La Moure; Q. L. Young, Hunter; J. W. Cathcart, Dougald Mc- Gregor, Inkster; H. C. Baskervill, Pembina; W. H. Hunter, Minto, and the fol- lowing elders and Sunday School superintendents : Bismarck, G. H. Fairchild, J. W. Clark, C. H. Clague and Supt. C. S. Weaver; Glencoe, Alexander Campbell and Supt. Caleb Farr; Mandan, J. R. Clark, S. A. Hoke, A. R. Wingate and Supt. C. A. Heegaard ; Sims, J. Hansel, Supt. C. L. Zimmerman ; Stanton, Supt. S. C. Walker; Steele, D. D. McLennan and J. Bancroft; Sterling, Elder Adams and Supt. Bratton ; Taylor, J. H. Slack; Victoria, Supt. Barton ; Washburn, H. S. Ramsett and Supt. C. F. Garrette; Ayr, William Aitchison, John Beatty ; Buffalo, W. T. Grieve and L. K. Rich, Supt. ; Casselton, Dr. H. J. Rowe, P. H. Houghton, J. C. White ; Elm River, Robert McCradie, John Falconer, Supt. James Mac- Andrew; Fargo, Joshua Duncan, D. H. Twomey, Supt. E. H. Dickinson, E. B. Bruce, P. Picton, H. S. Coffin ; Grand Rapids, E. G. Loring, I. M. Adams, Russell Grover ; Hillsboro, E. P. Foresman, Supt .; Hunter, Walter Muir, Henry Ruth- ruff, Rev. Q. L. Young, Supt .; Jamestown, B. M. Hicks, Will H. Burke, F. M. Grove, H. B. Allen, O. H. Hewitt, Supt. B. W. Hicks; Keystone (Monango), Supt. Benjamin Porter; Kelso, David Falconer, Supt. August Rosenkrantz; La Moure, F. M. Kinter, C. P. Smith, Supt. ; Lisbon, F. N. Norton, R. S. Adams, Supt. ; Mapleton, Aaron Howe, Robert D. Duff, Supt .; Milnor, John Sherman, James H. Vail, J. D. Mckenzie, Supt .; Mckinnon, Lyman Gray ; Page City, Wm. Whistnand, James Whistnand; Sheldon, James Elliott, Wm. Smith, Charles E. Cole, R. G. Hillen, Supt. ; Wheatland, T. C. Hall, R. B. McVey, D. Merchison, R. Harrold, Supt .; Tower City, Dr. N. Engle, George F. Clark, R. P. Sherman, Supt. ; Arvilla, C. C. Colson, Thos. Sherley, H. D. Wood, Supt. ; Ardoch, Wm. Morrison, J. M. Montgomery, M. D., George Stevenson; Alma, Isaac Halliday ; Bethel, Geo. Murdock, Joseph Dobie, George Kerby, Joseph Dobie, Supt. Tyner ; Bathgate, A. G. Goodall, Duncan Mckenzie, Peter McLeod; Bottineau, G. J. Cuthard, John Creig, Supt .; Elkmont, Geo. Hislop, A. R. Freeborn, James Mc- Conache; Forest River, John C. Wilson, John Woods; Grand Forks, D. W. Luke, Supt. H. Higgins, W. E. Parsons; Grafton, Frank I. Ludden, W. Shum- way, Arch. M. Culley; Greenwood, Nathan Stoughton, Supt. (Turtle River) ; Hamilton, John G. Lamb, Supt., Thomas Dow, Alex. Rippen; Hyde Park, Owen McQuinn, David Best, H. C. L. Neilson ; Inkster, Thomas Casement, John Mc- Larty, T. W. Kernaghan, R. B. Montgomery ; Knox, Archibald Miller, Donald
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McConnell, Rev. W. H. Hunter, Supt .; Larimore, V. M. Kenney, J. F. Stevens, George Krouse, Prof. Stanton, Supt. ; Meckinock, Ebenezer Smith, B. F. Warren, John M. Smith, Supt .; (Arvilla) Neche, John Thompson, Supt .; Osnabrook, David Black, Sr., Rev. J. F. Berry, Supt .; Pembina, David Dick, Patrick Ahern, Supt .; Walhalla, George Campbell; Westminster, Devils Lake, Thompson Walker, LaFayette Palmer, Rev. C. S. Converse, Superintendent.
Jamestown College was organized September 28, 1886, by the election of O. H. Hewitt, secretary of the Board of Trustees consisting of Rev. B. W. Cobleigh, Elders T. E. Yerxa and C. S. Weaver, when the Board of Aid for Colleges, upon request of the Northern Pacific Presbytery, the institution having been duly incorporated and chartered, received Jamestown College under its care. It was also received under the control and management of the Synod.
Rev. F. M. Wood was unanimously recommended for appointment as Synod- ical Missionary. Rev. N. W. Cary was appointed to compile the facts to be given in the historical addresses and to place them in a permanent form for record. A very pleasant social evening was given by Rev. and Mrs. Cary to the members of the Synod. The Synod heard with great pleasure a report from Rev. N. W. Cary regarding the Fargo Young Ladies' Seminary, which he had estab- lished in the gateway city, heartily approved of the same and commended him and his school to the churches.
Rev. Francis Martin Wood was born at Fairton, Cumberland County, New Jersey, June 23, 1834. As a young man he engaged in business in Galveston, Texas. He graduated from Princeton College in 1858; from the Seminary in 1861, and was married to Martha G. Van Tuyl, of Carlisle, Ohio, in 1862, and became pastor of the New Jersey church of Carlisle that year. He served churches in Clifton, Ohio; Marshall, Mich .; San Francisco, Cal .; Oxford and Xenia, Ohio, from 1870-1883. Rev. Mr. Wood came to Dakota Territory in 1883, supplying the new churches at La Moure and Grand Rapids while residing with his family on a homestead south of the former place. In 1884 he was appointed Presbyterial Missionary and from 1885 until 1897 was the Synodical Missionary, after which he entered upon foreign missionary work as assistant superintendent of the mission institute founded by Rev. Andrew Murray, at Wellington, Cape Colony, Africa, and also ministered to the church there, being associated with his . son Clifton, who was one of the first students at Jamestown College, North Dakota, in preparation for the work of a foreign missionary. He was a worthy representa- tive of the young college and state in that "far off land." He died April 11, 1914, at Carlisle, Ohio. He was one of the chief promoters in the establishment and early development of Jamestown College, consisting of six buildings, now recog- nized as a "standard institution of Christian learning," and has financial assets amounting to over five hundred thousand dollars and an additional endowment of three hundred thousand dollars.
The second annual meeting of the Synod assembled at Jamestown, October 8, 1886, Rev. H. G. Mendenhall preaching the sermon, Rev. F. M. Wood con- stituting the Synod by prayer. Rev. C. B. Austin of Bismarck Presbytery was elected moderator, Rev. N. W. Cary of Fargo, permanent clerk, Rev. J. A. Bald- ridge, temporary clerk.
The following ministers were reported: Revs. W. T. Gibson, Sterling and Steele; D. C. Wilson, Milnor and vicinity; B. Lyman, Mapleton and Durbin;
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J. B. Vance, Keystone; J. A. Baldridge, Larimore ; E. B. Taylor, Minnewaukan; R. H. Fulton, Park River; A. G. Forbes, St. Andrew and Lincoln.
This year the following churches were enrolled: West Park, 16 members ; Mount View, II members ; Edmunds, II members ; Durbin, 19 members ; Dick- inson, 14 members ; Mount Zion, 14 members ; St. Andrew, 21 members ; Lincoln, Io members ; Gilby, 10 members. Total, 147 members.
Churches have been built as follows: Bismarck, costing over $10,000; Glen- coe, Sterling, Milner, Buffalo, Sheldon, Arvilla, Inkster, Minnewaukan, Park River and Minot, ranging in cost from $1.500 to $3,000. Total value about thirty thousand dollars.
The church at Steele was totally destroyed by storm July 3, 1886; that of Keystone was damaged $800, and the church at La Moure was demolished August 16, 1886. Total, seventy churches, six self-sustaining: sixty-four mission churches, thirty-four ministers, 2,000 members, church property valued at about one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. Rev. H. G. Mendenhall reported for the Home Mission committee that $500 had been contributed by the churches to the board, an increase of $136.
Rev. N. D. Fanning, president of the trustees of Jamestown College, reported that a board of nine trustees had been appointed, all of whom were Presby- terians, viz .: Hon. D. H. Twomey and T. E. Yerxa of Fargo, L. B. Davidson of Bismarck, R. S. Adams of Lisbon, G. O. Grover of La Moure, V. M. Kenney of Larimore, Rev. F. W. Iddings of Grand Forks, and O. H. Hewitt and Rev. N. D. Fanning of Jamestown.
The officers were: President, Rev. N. D. Fanning ; secretary, O. H. Hewitt ; treasurer, Wm. M. Lloyd, Jr. ; executive committee, T. E. Yerxa, O. H. Hewitt and N. D. Fanning. A financial secretary has been appointed, Rev. R. J. Cress- well of Minneapolis, to work in three Presbyteries in Ohio, Cleveland, Dayton and Columbus. Temporary rooms had been secured and Prof. N. M. Crowe and wife, of Butler, Pa., secured to take charge of the preparatory department. Vigorous action was taken by the Synod for the integrity of the Sabbath and the enforcement of the prohibition law.
The Synod met in Grand Forks, October 13, 1887. Rev. Charles B. Austin of Bismarck preached, Rev. G. S. Baskervill conducted the devotional service. Rev. N. W. Cary was elected moderator, and Rev. W. H. Hunter, temporary clerk. Rev. J. F. Berry read an interesting historical sketch of Pembina Pres- bytery.
The following organizations were reported: Sanborn church, organized January 23: Rutland, April 17; Binghampton, May 22: Blanchard, June 5: Galesburg, July 24; Pickert, August 21; Oakes, August 28; Minot, March 27: Webster Chapel, September 11; Glasston, October 9. New ministers enrolled : Revs. W. H. Snyder, Mandan; Charles McLean, Pembina; J. Osmond, Botti- neau ; W. H. McCluskey, Dickinson. Licentiates, William T. Parsons, Boynton ; W. C. Whistnand, Colgate; D. J. Mckenzie, Milnor: S. J. Webb, Wild Rice. Students, J. C. Howell, Alex. McLeod. W. M. Langdon, William C. Gibson. Elder H. B. Allen of Jamestown was enrolled.
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