He returned in the spring of 1858 and found the parish had not been incorporated. On July 4, 1858, at the morning service the little congregation of pioneers adopted the following preamble: "We whose names are hereto affixed, deeply sensible of the truth of the Christian religion, and earnestly desirous of promoting its holy influences in our hearts and in those of our families and neighbors, do hereby incorporate ourselves under the name of St. Mary's Parish in Nebraska City, Nebraska Territory in communion with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States."
He came back to Nebraska City in the spring of 1858 and found that the parish had not been created. On July 4, 1858, during a morning service, the small group of settlers adopted the following declaration: "We whose names are listed below, deeply conscious of the Christian faith's truth, and sincerely eager to promote its sacred influence in our personal lives and those of our families and neighbors, do hereby unite ourselves under the name of St. Mary's Parish in Nebraska City, Nebraska Territory, as part of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States."