Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, March 27, 1909, Page 38

BEMIDJI, BELTRAMI COUNTY AND NORTHERN MINNESOTA. FATHER JOHN O'DWYER. Father John O'Dwyer, chaplain of St. Anthony’s Hospital and priest of St. Phillip's Catholic Church, photos of which are shown elsewhere in this edi- tion, is a mnative of Kilshany, County Clare, TIreland. He received his early training under John MecGrath, then prin- cipal of the National school of that lo- cality. After a six years’ course at this seat of learning, Father O'Dwyer entered Saint Flannan’s college, Ennis, and spent five vears there in a classical course un- der the tutelage of Dr. Kelly, now bishop of Ross County, Cork. He then attended All Hallows' College, Dublin, where he remained for seven vears, this course including sacred and profane history, holy seripture, philosophy, moral and dogmatic theology. June 24, 1901, he was ordained a priest, coming to America the same year. After serving for three years in the Cathedral at Du- luth and a year in the suburbs of Du- luth, he was transferred to this field. How well he fulfills his duties in Bemidji is attested by the friendships he has made since he has been here and by the esteem in which he is held. He is a learned and dignified man, one whom it is a pleasure to shake hands with, and a priest who is daily doing invaluable service for the creed he represents. NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. This church was established in the vear 1901, Rev. John Wilmann, now county auditor of Beltrami county, hav- ing the distinction of being its first pastor, in which capacity he served two vears, acting as supply for the church at Blackduck for one year. Upon his re- signation Rev. H. Holm was assigned to this pulpit, and he was followed by Rev. E. M. Peterson, Rev. Kolste, the present pastor, suceeding him. The Bemidji Norwegian Lutheran church, which has one of the largest and most representative congregations in the city, has in the neighborhood of 500 members. This denomination has an elegant edifice in which to worship, con- structed at a cost of nearly $3,500. Rev. Kolste was assigned here from Howard, S. D., where he held a pastor- ate for four years. Rev. Kolste is a graduate of the Chicago Lutheran semi- narv and was ordained at Calumus, [owa, after which he studied for two vears at the Leipsic and Halle universi- ties, Germany. After his return to America he occu- pied, for a time, the chair of theology at the seminary from which he matri- culated. Mr. Kolste is a conscientious and ardent Christian man, an active worker as well as a profound thinker, and is greatly appreciated by his con- gregation. THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The First Presbyterian Church has the distinction of being the pioneer church of this city. It was incorporated August 24, 1896, and had for some time previous been holding services and rallying the forces for organzation. The first pastor was Rev. Yoll, who was succeeded by Rev. Frank E. Higgins, - ST. PHILLIP'S CATHOLIC CHURCH. OLD CATHOLIC CHURCH