Methodist Episcopal Church/First Methodist Church/United Methodist Church
In 1898, some citizens of the community started working on establishing a new Methodist congregation and appealed to the presiding elder of the Duluth District of the Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. Robert Forbes, D.D. On May 24, 1898, he came with Rev. O. J. Gary who was Methodist pastor at Milaca, Mn. and held a service in the Bemidji Presbyterian church. By June 4, 1898, Lots 13, 14 and 15, Block 9 on the first plat of Bemidji were deeded by the townsite company to the First Methodist Episcopal Church for the purpose of erecting a church building and parsonage.
The little congregation met outdoors on the lake shore during that first summer. Later permission was granted to meet in the early courthouse on the northwest corner of Beltrami Avenue and Fourth Street and services were held there until 1899 when they acquired the use of the Modern Woodman of America Hall on the northwest corner of Minnesota and 3rd Street. In June of 1898, Rev. A. E. Rowson was designated to serve the new congregation, and at the annual conference in October, Rev. George Watson was appointed pastor. While the congregation was still using the borrowed court hosue facilities, the Ladies Aid Society purchased the first organ for $35.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church came into formal existence in December 1898 with eight charter members.: Mr. and Mrs. Maucie J. Lake from Groton, N.D.; Mrs. S. C. Brennon, Forest River, N.D.; Mrs. Lottie Pike, Park Rapids, Mn.; Mr. and Mrs. James Driver, from Crookston, Mn.; Mrs. Avery Smith, from St. James, Mn.; Mrs. Matthew Phibbs from Chardon, Ohio.
In December 1898, the Sunday School was officially organized although Sunday School services had been held in connection with church services since June. On January 15, 1899, the Junior League was organized with 16 members and in 1900 the Epworth League was added.
Work commenced on the wooden church building, and the Bemidji Daily Pioneer reported on March 2, 1899: “Monday morning a crew of men went to the woods to commence the logging of the 40,000 feet of logs donated by T. B. Walker to the M. E. church society. Rev. George P. Watson went out as “push” and it is reported that he makes a first class “lumberjack.”
The first Methodist Episcopal church building in Bemidji was completed in 1901, but the Rev. George Watson constructed the parsonage on Ninth Street, next to where the church was to be erected, in 1899.
Bishop Morrison of the Episcopal Diocese of Duluth, will hold services in the city hall, in this city, on Sunday next, May, 5th. Arch-Deacon Appleby will also be present. The bishop will hold confirmation services and a celebration of holy communion will be had. (May 2, 1901)
The members of the M. E. church are pleased to announce to the public that their pulpit will be filled beginning with next Sunday, May 5. Mr. George Swinnerton of St. Vincent having been appointed to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the conference year. Mr. Swinnerton is a fine man and preacher, and we invite the public to come and see for yourselves. (May 2, 1901)
It was 1901 before the church building was fully erected. Its completion was reported at the October 1902 annual conference. It was described as a “commodious building with oak pews and pulpit furnishings, seating 200 in the auditorium and 78 or 80 in the lecture room.”
The dedication of the new M. E. church took place on Sunday, Oct. 27, 1901. The Rev. Robert Forbes, D. D., presiding elder of the Duluth district, was present to preach and dedicate the church. On Monday evening the ladies of the congregation provided a hot supper, tastily served, in the lecture room of the new church. The Rev. Dr. Forbes, Dr. Dodds, Rev. L. M. Hulton of Brainerd, Rev. Father Murphy, Rev. Rupert Swinnerton, Rev. Bailey, Rev. Higgins and others were present to participate in the supper and join in the celebration. Tickets to join in this event were 50¢ for adults, and 35¢ for children, 35 cents.
Although Rev. Watson saw the beginnings of the new church structure, Rev. George Swinnerton was the pastor when the building was completed.
A reception will be given in the M. E. church on Nov 20, 1902, in honor of Dr. Dodds and wife. Supper was served in the lecture room of the church for which each one was requested to pay according to his or her age, a penny for each year. The occasion also celebrated the opening of the new parsonage, as well as the presence of the presiding elder. Several short addresses were made and special music was provided to make the occasion one of enjoyment to all.
At this time, Bemidji was a city of numerous saloons and brothels, catering to the lumberjacks of those early days. The community atmosphere may have had an influence on its citizens, including its clergy, as there were indications of wrongdoing on the part of at least three ministers between 1902 and 1910. The Rev. Ulysses A. Foster, who served the Bemidji church form 1902-1903, transferred to the Holston Conference when he came under investigation in 1905. The Rev. Isaac W. Peart, pastor in Bemidji from 1905-1907, and the Rev. Alfred C. E. White, pastor in 1909-1910, both withdrew from the church and the ministry under complaints or charges.
On Oct 7, 1907, J. H. Deniston, who was then pastor of the Western Avenue Church in Minneapolis, was appointed to serve the Bemidji charge, commencing with his first sermon on Oct 13, 1907. The Official Board had not met for six months and reorganization was necessary. John Howard Dennison was a native of Wisconsin. As a young man, he was a rancher in Nebraska. He later owned and managed a weekly news sheet and Job office in one of the western towns. Rev. Deniston earned his baccalaureate at Cornell college. Later he took advanced courses in the University of Wisconsin. He was pastor of the Centenary church in Pittsburg, Pa., one of the oldest churches of that city, leaving that congregation with a membership of nearly six hundred. He came to Bemidji from the pastorate of the Western Avenue church in Minneapolis, where he added 100 members there in eighteen months.
Isaac Peart, was summoned before the Committee on Conference Relations to answer a complaint from the Official Board of Bemidji or to stand trial before the Conference for certain alleged immoralities. He elected to withdraw from the church and ministry and was permitted to do so as long as he surrendered his credentials.
Isaac Peart returned to Bemidji and declared himself the pastor of a new “People’s Church” in Bemidji. Services would be conducted in the city opera house each Sunday morning and evening and characteristics of this new group would include “no denominationalism, no creed, no officialism.” The pastor and wife were to be found at either the Markham or Brinkman Hotel. The president of the Ladies Aid Society, a steward, and a few church families followed their pastor.
The new pastor coming into this situation did not hesitate to say that he found the charge badly disorganized and in a degree of ill-repute in the community. Some members were fearful and hesitant, but some doubted their giving to aid in rebuilding and church and its reputation.
The church was struck by lighting and destroyed by fire on July 20, 1909. It was only through the quick action of some of its members that the parsonage was saved. The original wood frame Methodist Church building was replaced by a brick structure at the same location on the northeast corner of Ninth Street and Beltrami Avenue.
Rev. E. K. Copper, district president, came to the city last evening and consulted with members of the local congregation relative to ways and means for the erection of the proposed new Methodist church building, which the congregation has decided to build to replace the edifice which was recently struck by lightning and destroyed by subsequent fire. (July 29, 1909)
A building committee was appointed, consisting of the following: Dr. E. H. Smith, Dr. A. Shannon, J. M. Richards, A. G. Wedge, S. J, Harvey, Frank Starrett and J. H. Deniston.
In 1912, the Bemidji Daily Pioneer had a Christmas promotion. One dollar cash was paid to each Ladies’ Society for every yearly subscription, old or new, secured for the Daily Pioneer. When a set of one hundred was reached, a special premium of $25 was given. Thus for one hundred subscriptions the society securing them each received a cash gift of $ 125. The ladies were organized into “bands” and sent out to secure subscriptions. Thus we have the names of those working to secure the Christmas money from the Pioneer.
Members of Methodist Women’s Band
Mesdames Charles Flesher. President; A. Larson, E. C. McGregor, O Minor , T. J. Andrews, C. Alexander, J. B. Minnick, A. W Mitchell , F. R. Bishpam, Emma Bottling, J. W.. Naugle, J. Scarrot, C. W. Shannon, W. J. Coleman, J. C. Courtney, S A. Cutter, Alma L. Smith, H. B. Southworth, Mrs. Dennis, Sr., E. H. Denu, W. P. Dyer, E. F. Stevens, T. Symons, Unruh, B. Getchell, Grinols, J. L. Kemp,, D, Wilcox, P. A Young.
For two years the Methodists worshiped in the Masonic Hall which at that time was on the southwest corner of Fifth Street and Beltrami Avenue. By the fall of 1910, the basement walls of a new church were completed and the rough floor laid. It was two more years before the building was completed. Rev. Charles H. Flesher laid the last brick. The present church was dedicated on September 7, 1913.
One of the most unique organizations in the Church’s history was founded during the early 1920s. It was called the Cracker Jack Club, and the women members made and sold Karmel Korn, giving the proceeds to the church. They spent many hours of hard work but were able to accomplish much and make donations to the Salvation Army, Community Chest and the Red Cross.
The parsonage was purchased about 1926 at 415 Bemidji Avenue. However the cost of heating the large, poorly insulated house in addition to making payments became a burden to the congregation. Mr. French, who held the mortgage on the house, told the church people if they would pay the interest, he would put it in his will that the principal was to be forgiven at the time of his death. Unfortunately, when this kind gentleman died, there was no such provision in his will and the church was faced with a large unexpected debt. The members formed a Debt Fund Committee and the Ladies Aid took an active part in the efforts to raise the money.
A new parsonage was built in 1955 at 1601 Bixby. The old parsonage was sold to Fred Hase and moved to the corner of 8th and Beltrami.
In 1952, it was apparent that there was a need for more space, so the basement area of the present church building was constructed. Plans were made for a new sanctuary. In 1957, Rev. Lyle Christianson took over as pastor and guided the congregation through the completion and consecration of the new sanctuary with a special service on Oct 5, 1958.
Mrs. W. J. Wilson and Mrs. Dick Skinner co-chaired the annual bazaar held Nov 6, 1965 at the First Methodist Church. Mmes. Al Cooper, Harry Moore, Clarence Ritchie, Dick Sutton, Willard Leaf, and D. D. Whittemore, circle chairpersons, assisted in the many details of the event, entitled “Cranberry Lane”. (Nov 1965)
The name of the place of worship has changed over the years. The words First Methodist Episcopal Church appear in stained glass over the door of the brick 1913 building. In 1939, the Methodist Episcopal and two other major Methodist denominational groups came together to form the Methodist church, and at that time the Bemidji church became the First Methodist Church. Over the years there were other changes and in 1968, the Bemidji church became the United Methodist Church as a result of the merger with the former Evangelical United Brethren.
Former and present pastors and wives celebrated with present members the 75th anniversary of the United Methodist Church Sunday, May 20, 1973. Pictured in the local paper were Mrs. Lyle Christianson, Rev. Edith Grays, Rev. Christianson, Mrs. Clemens Nagel; Mrs. Clarence Richardson, Rev. Richardson and the present pastor and wife, Rev. and Mrs. Clair Siple. Many pictures, articles and letters recalled the early history of the church, displayed in various rooms in the church.
United Methodists packed the church at 9th and Beltrami for services of baptism , confirmation, and observance of 75th Anniversary Day Sunday, May 20 at the 10 a m. service. Cal Larson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Larson presented himself for baptism, sponsored by his parents, and Dean Allen Grillo was brought for infant baptism by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Grillo. Barbara Britton and Stuart Hazard served as marshals for the confirmation class and each of the three choirs sang for the morning service. A special greeting was extended to Mrs. Belle Rice, who joined the church 72 years ago; members of over 45 years, 35 years, and 25 years were recognized. Three former ministers were present with their wives and families. The Rev. Clarence Richardson, former district superintendent of the Northwest District, now associate minister of Richfield United Methodist Church came to Bemidji in 1952; The Rev. Lyle Christianson, senior pastor of Centennial United Methodist Church in Roseville, helped build and consecrate the new church here in 1958 and the Rev. Clemens Nagel who came to Bemidji with Rev. Siple in 1966 as a youth minister is now with the YMCA in Minneapolis. Visitors and congregation filled the Fellowship Hall for a smorgasbord lunch and visiting at noon. The Rev. Edith Grays, whose husband the Rev. Crawford Grays ministered here from 1936 to 1952, joined the group who greeted Bemidji friends and out of town guests in the afternoon. Visitors were present from Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Fargo, Moorhead, Gonvick, Blackduck. Milaca, Taylors Falls, Hibbing, Dunnell Park Rapids; Messina, Iowa; Sioux City, Iowa; Comos, Wash.; and Northbrook, Ill. A resume of church history in newspaper form was presented to each one present.
The May 20th celebration was the second in a series of special events scheduled for the year. Future dates include “Looking Ahead” Sunday, Sept. 23, “ Burning the Mortgage,” Nov. 18, and “Charter Day,” Dec. 9, 1973. Dedication of the new sanctuary will be held Jan. 13, 1974 with Bishop Wayne Clymer, the speaker. (Bemidji Daily Pioneer, June 2, 1973)
On November 18, 1973, the morning service included the burning of the mortgage. Marvin Norden, who was chairman of the Board of Trustees took part in the ceremony along with three of the original signers of the mortgage, Albert Erickson, Earnest Paul and Wm. J. “Bill” Wilson.
In 1998, this church held its centennial celebration. Most of the information for this article is quoted from “A Century of Methodism in Bemidji, 1898-1998” which was published on May 24, 1998. The booklet was prepared by Alice V. Collins with help in research from John Herath and editorial assistance from Frances and Dick Spadafore and Verna Norden. Additional material was provided by Dr. Dick Edwards, Henrietta Britton, Roland Baxter, and Barbara Higgins. Additional quotes were taken from the Bemidji Daily Pioneer. This booklet can be found in the Research Room of the Beltrami County History Center, Bemidji.