The First Presbyterian Church of Bemidji, Minnesota, has the distinction of being the first pioneer church in Bemidji. It had its beginning when a group of pioneer women under the direction of Mrs. Mabel Remore (of the Remore Hotel) met to organize a Sunday School for their children. Irrespective of their individual beliefs, they banded together with the goal of securing religious services for their children. Rev. G. G. Matherson, who was then the Presbyterian Sabbath School Missionary for the Presbytery of Red River, located at Fergus Falls, kept a watchful eye on this little group. A regular Sunday School was formed on June 14, 1896, when Rev. Samuel Blair of Duluth came to Bemidji and directed its organization at a meeting held in the Malzahn building on the corner Third Street and Minnesota Avenue. Rev. Blair also began conducting religious services, and with the assistance of the women, a series of regular services were started about August of the same year.
Rev. G. G. Matherson acted as chairman, while Rev. Blair acted as the clerk for an organizational meeting on August 24, 1896. Articles of Incorporation were filed in February of 1897. Mrs. George McTaggart was elected president of the Ladies Aid. During that first winter, the Ladies Aid secured the services of Rev. Joseph Zoll as the first resident pastor and raised the funds to pay his salary. He boarded at McTaggart’s Great Northern Hotel. The group also began working diligently towards constructing a church building. Through their efforts, plans were made and John Steidl, who owned a sawmill in Bemidji, donated part of the lumber. Members donated labor and donated funds.
At this time, the area was only partly cut and not cleared, and there was only a path past the lots designated for the church, for they were really way out in the woods. But the people had a mission, and the corner stone was laid for the new church in September 1896. The Bemidji Pioneer reported that Mrs. Sabia Nye offered the prayer.
The first church building was finished in 1897. The building cost $1,000 and was a major step forward for this new village. It was basically a small chapel built among the jack pines.
Preparations are being made to have the Presbyterian church more worthy of the distinction of being the only church building in the city. It will be painted on the outside, lathed and plastered internally, and enlarged. The building has been moved ten or fifteen feet to the rear, making room for an attractive lawn in front, the whole lot to be enclosed by a neat fence. Contributions for these improvements haven’t been quite liberally made by some of our citizens, but more money is needed. Rev. Higgins will be thankful to all who will show their public spirit by further contributions to this needed work. (Bemidji Weekly Pioneer, July 13, 1899)
The Ladies’ Guild of the Presbyterian church held their annual meeting at the home of Mrs. Milne with a goodly number present, on Jan, 3, 1901, and elected the following officers for the coming year: President, Mrs. Harman: vice president, Mrs. Grant: secretary, Mrs. Best: treasurer, Mrs. Campbell. The next meeting will be held at the home of Mrs. Higgins, Jan. 17th. (Bemidji Daily Pioneer, Jan 10, 1901)
The Presbyterians were generous in sharing the building with other denominations who were less fortunate and needed a place to hold their services. In the early accounts, the older congregations shared facilities with other groups who were struggling to establish churches in Bemidji. On Feb. 3, 1902, for example, the German Evangelical Lutherans held their service on a Sunday afternoon with Pastor A.T. Parge as their preacher at the Presbyterian Church. Union Evangelistic service was held in the Presbyterian church by Evangelists Miss Smith and Miss Millard in November 1902.
By 1902, the church was too small, and a major remodeling project was undertaken. During the fall, services were held in an adjoining lecture room while the church was being completed. The Presbyterians rededicated the church in November 1902.
“Last Sunday was an epoch in the history of the Presbyterian church of this city. Some time ago the pastor and members of the church feeling the need of a place more befitting for their worship, began to lay plans whereby they might bring about the desired end and as a result the edifice has been entirely remodeled during the past few months. Last Sunday the Presbyterians and their friends joined in a rededication service of their church. The services consisted of morning and evening sessions, both of which were full of interest and enthusiasm occasioned by the importance of the event.”
During the services a fund was raised for the raising of the church debt, and those present responded generously. The repairs on the church had amounted to between $1200 and $1500. “It is a notable fact that now, but a few days after the church has been completed, the church is free from indebtedness of any kind. The record is one worthy of note coming as it does from a church so young in years.” (Bemidji Daily Pioneer, Nov 13, 1902)
“The Presbyterian church is going to have a new pipe organ, and the Ladies’ Guild are actively canvassing subscriptions for the same. It is better to put your surplus money in the organ than in a bottle of whiskey, for the former is full of music and the latter is full of fight.” (Dec 4, 1902)
The church also was a place for entertainment. The dialect and humorous impersonations of Mr. Fouche are irresistibly funny. Don’t fall to hear him at the Presbyterian church on Saturday evening, April 18 [1904], and enjoy a hearty laugh. A special price of 25 cents will be made for all students. Benefit of the organ fund.
Years later, the congregation decided that the old church building was inadequate for the growing membership, and arrangements were completed for the construction of a more suitable building. The old church building was torn down and a new brick building of Gothic architecture was erected on the same property.
One of the best known pastors of northern Minnesota was Francis Higgins, the “Sky Pilot of Northern Minnesota.” He became associated with the First Presbyterian Church two years after its organization. It was under his leadership that the first church building was erected and a large part of the actual building of the structure was done by him. Along with the Ladies Aid, he worked hard to secure the materials for building and his appeals to the citizens of Bemidji results in donations of lumber and other necessities.
Besides devoting considerable time to the local church work, Higgins made many trips to the neighboring lumber camps and settlements, holding church services wherever he was able to gather a group to listen to him. He held services in homes, schoolhouses and logging camps, and the first years of his work were extremely trying.
Rev. Frank McCloud served about two years, then was followed by Rev. S.E.P. White, who came to Bemidji in April 1, 1905. He was elated by the success of the first Bemidji Bible Conference held in July of 1905. In fact, the conference was so successful that the executive committee decided to hold it annually in Bemidji. Rev. White served for a number of years, but when his wife died in 1915 after years of suffering from tuberculosis, he went west for a year. Upon his return, he sent in his resignation and accepted a call in Colorado. He died in 1927.
In 1912, the Bemidji Daily Pioneer opened a competition among the church women of Bemidji to see who could sell the most subscriptions. A Christmas Gift of $125 was offered for each 100 subscriptions sold by the members of the church group. . Consequently, a list was published of those who competed. A partial list of the Presbyterian Women’s Band, which was published between Thanksgiving and Christmas, listed Mesdames A. Lord, president; Geo. Rhea, H. Koors, Geo. Cochran, George Markham, A. B. Palmer, Dan Gracie, H. Olson, A. L. Collard, K. McIver, A. Warfield, Battles, J. J. Conger, M. E. Smith, J. J. McLaughlin, Peck, and S.E.P White.
At a meeting of the Presbyterian congregation in the church parlors in February 1916, a call was issued to Rev. Lester P. Warford. The salary was set at $1,500 a year. The use of the Presbyterian manse was designated in the contract for the new pastor. He would also be given a month’s vacation to be taken at a time of his own choosing.
Rev. Warford was born on June 21, 1881 in Brooklyn, N.Y. He graduated from the Princeton Theological Seminary in 1908. He first went to North Dakota, and then went to work among the people of the river flats in north Minneapolis. He was married in 1912.
Rev. Warford was very active in local affairs. He was president of the Beltrami County Red Cross chapter during the World War, and was president of the Kiwanis club in 1928. He also belonged to the Civic & Commerce Association and the Philomathian club, which is an organization meeting every two weeks during the winter months for the purpose of studying history. He also helped organized the Boys Athletic club.
With the dedication of the new Presbyterian church on Sept 15, 1929, Rev. Warford saw one of his life’s ambitions realized. He died on April 13, 1949.
First Presbyterian Church honored its 50-year members in a special celebration on May 3, 1964. Of the 32 persons being honored, 11 were still members of the local church while the others have transferred to churches in other localities. The 50-year members still on the Bemidji church membership roll were: Leon Battles, Mrs. Leon Battles (Catherine McGregor) Mrs. G. L. Dodge (Nellie Knott), Mrs. Margaret Edwards (Margaret Condon), Mrs. J. K. Given (Mae McGregor), Nathaniel (Nat) Given, Mrs. Nathaniel Given (Sarah Quayle), Mrs. Harry Peterson (Margaret Lord), Herbert C. Warfield and Mrs. Del Wood (Ruth Essler), all of Bemidji, and Mrs. Lillian Koors, resident of the Minnesota Soldiers Home, Minneapolis. The oldest living members of the church were Mrs. Fred Hanson and Mrs. Stella Pogue, who joined the church in 1902, and Mrs. G. L. Dodge, who became a member in 1906.
(Information from the church interviews located at the Beltrami County History Center, and from the Bemidji Daily Pioneer, http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.)