Tom Balcom

Presented November 16, 2003

JUDSON FOLLOWS IN CALVARY’S FOOTSTEPS

 Today, November 16^th, is a very important date for Judson Church.  It was 94 years ago, on November 16^th, 1909 that Judson Memorial Baptist officially became a church.

But today I want to go back a few years before 1909 and talk about events leading up to the creation of Judson Church.

Calvary Baptist Church, our parent church, was and still is located at 26^th and Blaisdell (2 miles north of here).  Calvary was started in the 1880s at what then was the edge of Minneapolis and the start of the countryside (there was no such thing as urban sprawl back then).   By the turn of the century, Calvary was bursting at the seams and a major sanctuary expansion was undertaken in 1903.  In the centennial history of Calvary Baptist Church, there is the following quote:

“At the Dedication Service, the Calvary Trustees recognized the valuable service of Calvary’s own Harry Wild Jones, world famous architect … Mr. Jones gave freely of his time and thought as he sought to realize his ideal of Baptist Church architecture in this building.  The Trustees added that excellent results were obtained at a minimum of expense due largely to his skillful and wise supervision.”

I have to pause for an aside here.  You know, that quote sure has a familiar ring to it.  With chronically limited budgets, Judson has had numerous similar situations over the years related to our building and programs where we had to “pull rabbits out of our hats”, and we couldn’t have done it without certain special people.  So I would like to recognize that our recent major heating and air conditioning upgrade and our continuing church maintenance and improvements are “obtained at a minimum of expense due largely to the skillful and wise supervision” of Roger Dellert !  And also under the leadership of Property Commission Chairperson Linda Nelson !  Roger and Linda, please stand and be recognized.

Now, back to Church History.  In that same expansion year of 1903, Calvary called Dr. Arthur T. Fowler to be their pastor.  This was Calvary’s greatest period of growth and development as the city of Minneapolis expanded south and due to Dr. Fowler’s leadership.  He was described as a man of splendid personality, fine ability, and prophetic vision.  He left an indelible impression on the church life at Calvary.

Another aside and coincidence – Sixty years later in 1963, Judson called Dr. J Richard Fowler to be their pastor.  In my high school and college years, Dick Fowler had more influence on my life (and I’m sure many others at Judson) than any other person.  I contend that Dick and Calvary’s Arthur Fowler were kindred spirits, men of similar fine qualities who were called as pastors at key points in their churches’ histories.

I visited Calvary Church earlier this week and was lucky to find the original handwritten ledger of their Board of Trustees actions in the early 1900s.  Let me read some of the entries that relate to Judson Church.

• In the summer of 1906, at the suggestion of Dr. Fowler, the attention of our people was directed to the need of a Sunday School and preaching service in the territory south of our own parish (which was the edge of the city and countryside in our church neighborhood at that time)
   

• In the fall of 1907, Judson Memorial Chapel at 38^th and Harriet was designed by Calvary’s own Harry Wild Jones, world famous church architect.  (Jones also designed the first part of our current church building, which was constructed 8 years later in 1915.)
   

• On April 9, 1908 – Motions carried to have the Committee on Judson Memorial Chapel appointed by a regular committee of Calvary Church and that the teachers of Judson Memorial Sunday School, in connection with the Deacons of Calvary, appoint their superintendent.
   

• On April 16, 1908 – Motion carried that a call be extended to Justin Wroe Nixon of Rochester Theological Seminary to become assistant pastor at the rate of $1,000 per year.  Nixon’s assignment was preaching and supervising activities at Judson Memorial Chapel.
   

• On November 4, 1909 – Motions carried that a church be formed in the place of the Judson Memorial Chapel and that letters be granted to 42 Calvary members to join the new church.

So you see, Judson Baptist Church really did follow in the footsteps of Calvary Baptist Church nearly 100 years ago!

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