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 Of Oregon, and Washington Territory; 
 
 The Home Missionary Society 
 
 Of Oregon and Adjoining Territories; 
 
 Northwestern Association 
 
 Of Congregational Ministers. 
 
 V 
 
 By Rev. M. Eells. 
 
 PORTLAND, OREGON : 
 
 PUBLISHING HOUSE OF HIMES THE PRINTER. 
 
INTRODUCTORY 
 
 I' the annual meeting of the association held at Forest 
 Grove in 1S79, the following - resolution, offered by 
 Rev. George IT. Atkinson, D.D., was unanimously 
 passed : 
 
 "Resolved, That Rev. M. Eells be requested to nuke out a brief digest ol our 
 history, from the minutes and other papers in his hands." 
 
 In accordance with this the following pages have been written. 
 
 Where there seemed to be no natural arrangement of subjects 
 in each chapter, they have heen placed in alphabetical order. The 
 size of this pamphlet has prevented my dwelling at length on main 
 points which occupied much time in the association, but I have en- 
 deavored to refer to everything of importance briefly, and to note 
 every important action taken. The history clones with the annual 
 meeting held at Astoria, June 20-24, 18S0. M. E. 
 
 Skokomish, Washington Territory. 
 
Table of C 
 
 ABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER [.—History. 
 
 History of Indian mission work of the A. B. C. F. M. — Organization — Historical 
 Sketch — Time of Meeting — Constituency — Lay Delegation — Officers — Standing 
 Committees — Delegates to and from other Bodies — Foreign Correspondence — 
 Licensing Candidates — Printing of the Minutes: — Our History — Washington Ter- 
 ritory Association — Local Associations — List of Ministers— -of churches — Annual 
 meetings and officers — Annual Preachers. Statistical reports 9 25. 
 
 CHAPTER II.— Education. 
 
 General Education — Tualatin Academy and Pacific University — Whitman Seminary 
 - .Academies — Theological School 26-32. 
 
 CHAPTER III.— Moral Reform. 
 Dancing and other amusements. Divorce — Slavery — Sabbath — Temperance. .33 38. 
 
 CHAPTER IV.— Church Work. 
 
 Prayer Meetings — sabbath schools — Church Finances — Systematic Giving — Day of 
 Fasting and Prayer — Protracted Meetings 39 42. 
 
 CHAPTER V. — Questions of Advice. 
 
 Baptism — Creed — Articles of Faith — Dropping names from church roll — Extempore 
 Preaching — Free Seat System — Hymn Books — Invitation to the Communion 
 Table — Local Church— Stated Ministry —Sympathy between churches— Treatment 
 of Offenders 43 4^- 
 
Congregational Association. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. — Home Missions and Church Building. 
 
 Home Missions — Committee on Destitution and Supply-^-Home Missionary Com- 
 mittee — Home Missionary Society of < )regon and adjoining territories < (fficers — 
 Receipts — Work of General Missionary — Home Missionary Grants — Church 
 Building 49 55- 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Indians and Chinese 56 60. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII.— Benevolent Socie'i iks. 
 
 American Board of Commissioners for foreign Missions — Womens' Board of Mis- 
 sions — American Congregational Union — American Education Society — American 
 Tract Society — Anti-Slavery and Freedman's Aid Societies — Christian Commission 
 and Sanitary Association — Congregational Publishing Society — Temperance 
 Societies — Young Men's Christian Associations — American Missionary Association 
 — Missions. 61 64. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. — Miscellaneous Subjki i . 
 
 Business relations of the churches — Children and the Church — Christian Unity — 
 Church membership — Church and Nation — Church Polity — Comity — Congrega- 
 tionalism and Missionary work — Congregational Library — Criticism — English 
 Ritualism — How to make Sabbath services more fruitful — Religious newspaper for 
 Oregon — Pacific — Religious institution of the Household — Reviews of Books — 
 Secret Societies — State of Country — Science and Christianity — Exegesis — Day 
 
 —65 70. 
 
 CHAPTER X. — Ministerial Association. 
 
 History — Mem Iters — Officers — Licentiates — Ordinations — Installations — ( )bject 
 
 — 7« 74. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Ministers, Northwestern Association of. 75 S 5. 
 
CONGREG A TION A I. Assc )i I ATION . 
 
 i HAPTER XII.— Churches. 
 
 Oregon City — Forest Grove— Milwaukee — Portland — Salem — Albany- Corvallis 
 Dallas — Grand I'rairie -Sand Ridge — Eola — The Dalles — Astoria — 1 lillsboro 
 Seattle — East Portland— Bellingham l!ay — Atalmum — Olympia Boise City 
 New Tacoma- -Skokomisb Semiahmoo White River- -Colfax — Dayton — Old 
 Tacotna — North Portland — Yakima City — Spokane Falls — White Salmon — Cha- 
 we-lah — Wenass— Eight-Mile Creek — Mount Zion — Beaverton — Port Gamble — 
 Prineville — Seabeck — Washougal — Mount Pleasant 84 124. 
 
CHAPTER I.— HISTORY. 
 
 ;HIS Association was organized in 1848. That, how- 
 ever, was not the first of Congregationalism in Ore- 
 gon as will be seen by the following sketch of the 
 work of the American Board of Commissioners for 
 
 Foreign Missions on this coast, prepared by Rev. C. Eells, for the 
 
 Centennial, 1876: 
 
 " History of Indian Mission "Work of the A.B.C.F.M. in Oregon. 
 
 "Previous to the year 1825, gentlemen of the Hudson's Bay 
 Company had communicated some knowledge of the true God to 
 the Spokane and adjoining tribes of Indians. Subsequently, among 
 those thus instructed, a desire prevailed for the obtaining of like addi- 
 tional knowledge. Impelled by such desire, about the year 1S33 a 
 deputation of five, more or less, commenced a journey eastward, in 
 search of such knowledge. The journey was continued to St. 
 Louis, Mo. The substantial facts relative to these Indians became 
 known. In print, the statement caught the eye of interested read- 
 ers. The officers and patrons of the American Board of Foreign 
 Missions saw in it indication of an open door. By it, they heard 
 anew the voice of their Lord — 'Go teach all nations.' They were 
 not disobedient to the call. Consequent thereupon, ineffectual ef- 
 fort was made in 183410 cause exploration. In 1835 the effort was 
 renewed. Rev. Samuel Parker and Marcus Whitman, M.D., pro- 
 ceeded to St. Louis, Mo., the headquarters of the American Fur 
 Company. They were permitted to travel with the caravan of the 
 company to their rendezvous on Green river. At that time and 
 place, there was a large gathering of fur traders and trappers. 
 Representatives of the Hudson's Bay Company and of several In- 
 dian tribes were present. By information then and there obtained, 
 it became apparent that the way was open to Christian teachers to 
 locate on the western slope of America. Consequently, Dr. Whit- 
 man and Mr. Parker separated. The latter, for the purpose of ad- 
 ditional exploration, proceeded to Walla Walla and Vancouver, 
 
io Congregational Association. 
 
 under the auspices of the Hudson's Bay Company. The next year 
 he returned to Boston by the way of the Sandwich Islands. Dr. 
 Whitman accompanied the returning caravan. His report caused 
 prompt action. Dr. and Mrs. Whitman, Rev. H. H. Spalding 
 and wife, and Mr. W. H. Gray were appointed missionary labor- 
 ers of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis- 
 sions destined to Oregon. Early in 1846 said missionary band 
 commenced their journey to their foreign field. From the western 
 frontier of the states they were favored with the protection of the 
 American and Hudson's Bay Companies. In the autumn following, 
 they reached Walla Walla and Vancouver. By favor of the Hud- 
 son's Bay Company, outfit was furnished the Mission families. 
 
 "They returned and located, Dr. Whitman on the Walla Walla 
 among the Cayuse, and Mr. Spalding on the Lapwai among the 
 Nez Perces Indians. By the following spring, in the opinion of 
 the mission, additional helpers were needed — therefore it was 
 agreed that Mr. Gray return East, the bearer of such communica- 
 tion. A reinforcement of three ordained missionaries with their 
 several wives, assistant missionaries, was appointed, viz : Revs. E. 
 Walker, A. B. Smith and C. Eells. The recently married Mrs. 
 Gray received aprjointment. In the spring of 1838 the four fami- 
 lies met at Independence, Mo. Last of April they came up with 
 the American Fur Company, at the crossing of Kansas river. 
 Under the protection of said company they proceeded to rendez- 
 vous on Wind river. During most of the way from there to 
 Walla Walla, they were furnished by the Hudson's Bay Co. with 
 escort. On the 29th of August said reinforcement arrived at the 
 station of Dr. Whitman, having been 139 days on the way from 
 the western border of Missouri. 
 
 "At a meeting of the mission held early in September, Mr. Gray 
 was assigned to Lapwai, to co-operate with Mr. Spalding. Mr. 
 Smith was appointed the associate of Dr. Whitman. Messrs. 
 Walker and Eells were to select a new location among the 
 Spokane Indians. The place chosen was near a spring on a plain 
 six miles north of the Spokane river. Of this they took posses- 
 sion March 20, 1839, having spent the winter at Wailatpu or 
 Cayuse station, in the study of the Flathead language. Nez Perces 
 Lawyer was their teacher. In the summer of 1839 Mr. Smith, at 
 his request, located among the Nez Perces at Kamiah, sixty miles 
 
Congregational Association. i i 
 
 from Lapwai. In the summer of 1S42 he left the station and mis- 
 sion, and joined the Sandwich Islands' mission. In the autumn of 
 the same year Mr. Gray withdrew from the mission. About the 
 same time Dr. Whitman started eastward overland, and, in March 
 following, at rived at Washington City, D. C. During that season 
 he conducted a wagon train of a thousand souls from the western 
 frontier to the Columbia river. The arrival of said immigrants 
 was decisive in regard to the settlement of the counti'y by Ameri- 
 cans. 
 
 " Missionary work was prosecuted among the Nez Perces, Cayuse 
 and Spokane Indians till November 29, 1846, on which day Dr. 
 and Mrs. Whitman and seven others were massacred. Subse- 
 quently, and connected therewith, five more victims were added. 
 During the winter following Mr. Spalding and family, together 
 with the wives and children of those massacred, were taken out of 
 the country by P. S. Ogden, Esq., Chief Factor of the Hudson's 
 Bay Company. 
 
 " During June, 1848, in accordance with military order, and 
 under military escort, the families of Messrs. Walker and Eells were 
 conducted out of the country. The Indians, thus deprived of their 
 teachers, continued to perform acts of divine worship. 
 
 "In the summer of 1859, by military proclamation, the Walla 
 Walla country was declared open for settlement. During that 
 season Mr. Spalding made an attempt to resume his previous work 
 among the Nez Perces. From that time till -his death, August, 
 1874, he continued in his cherished work to about the extent per- 
 mitted by governmental officers. It is indisputable that the seal of 
 Divine approval has been affixed to the Christian work of Rev. 
 H. H. Spaulding among the Nez Perces Indians. 
 
 " The Spokane Indians, though destitute of spiritual guides, 
 mutually aided each other in retaining a knowledge of Divine 
 truth. They continued earnest and constant in the practice of 
 Christian duties. The residence of Mr. Eells at Walla Walla, 
 from i860 to 1872, furnished them the opportunity of renewing 
 previous instruction. They made faithful improvement of this, to 
 them, highly esteemed privilege. After the removal of Mr. Eells 
 from Walla Walla, in 1872, they made application to the Protestant 
 religious teachers among the Nez Perces. The result thereof was, 
 that in 1874 Rev. H. T. Cowley located among them. He is in the 
 
Congregational Association. 
 
 employ of government as a teacher, but adds thereto Scripture in- 
 struction. 
 
 " Mr. Eells made three several visits, in 1862, '74, and '75 to 
 that people in that country. He thus spent near two months 
 with them, and participated in about forty services. The earlier 
 and latter sowing of the seed of gospel truth among the Spokane 
 Indians has produced abundant harvest." 
 
 That mission held its annual meetings, which answered all the 
 purposes of a Congregational and Presbyterian association; Revs. 
 E. Walker, A. B. Smith and C. Eells having been Congregational- 
 ists, and Rev. H. H. Spalding and Dr. M. Whitman, Presbyter- 
 ians. The records of those meetings were destroyed either at the 
 massacre of Dr. Whitman, or by a fire which in 1872 consumed 
 the house of Rev. C. Eells. 
 
 After the massacre the remaining members of the mission re- 
 moved to the Willamette valley; other ministers had also arrived 
 in the same region, and July 13, 1848, the association was organ- 
 ized. The following are the records of this event: 
 
 " The Rev. Messrs. Walker, Spalding, Thompson, Clark and 
 Atkinson met at the house of Bro. Harvey Clark at the Tualatin 
 Plains. Articles of an association for the Congregational and 
 Presbyterian brethren were submitted to them." As a result a 
 constitution and by-laws was adopted, in most points similar to 
 those which now govern the body. 
 
 With one exception, 1S52, meetings have been held every year 
 since its organization. There is no record of the meetings ot 1861, 
 but it is evident that one was held from the fact that some of the 
 resolutions passed that vear were reconsidered, the following year. 
 The records of 1854 are incomplete, the minutes of one day and 
 part of another having been made, when they are broken off in 
 the middle of a sentence. 
 
 In those eai'ly days owing to the bad condition of the roads, and 
 the scattered condition of the members the meetings were some- 
 times very small, and sometimes were adjourned for a month or 
 two, until more could assemble. Thus at Oregon City, Sept. 13, 
 1849, only three persons were present, and after one day's session it 
 was voted to " adjourn to meet at such time and place as the secre- 
 tary shall designate," which proved to be November 1st, of the 
 same year at the same place, after which the body "adjourned to 
 
Congregational Association. 13 
 
 meet at a time most convenient, at the Tualatin Plains, notice hav- 
 ing been given by the clerk." At one time the body adjourned to 
 "Tuesday, twelve weeks from the tenth of December," 1850, but 
 " the association failed to meet at the time of adjournment, and 
 only two members attended the annual meeting Sept. 11, 1S51, 
 whereupon it was resolved to meet at Oregon City, Nov. 20, 1S51." 
 Four persons attended that meeting, and they remained in session 
 three days. vSuch meetings contrast very greatly with those of 
 late years when more than fifty regular members have been present. 
 In 1856, for some reason, the following resolutions were offered, 
 threatening the very existence of the body : 
 
 " Resolved, That the general associations of Congregational 
 churches in the different states have proved to be important 
 agencies in promoting the kingdom of Christ. 
 
 Resolved, That it is advisable to organize such associations in the 
 new states and territories. 
 
 Resolved, That the obstacles in the way of such annual associa- 
 tions in Oregon supersede at present the advantages to be expected 
 from continuing the existence ot this organization." 
 
 After a spirited discussion these were laid on the table, as not ex- 
 pressing the sentiments of the majority, and have never been taken 
 up. 
 
 Time of Meeting. 
 
 The tenth article of the constitution of 1848 says that " the as- 
 sociation shall meet annually at a time and place appointed by vote 
 of the body." The first annual meeting was held September 20, 
 1 848, at which time, the second Thursday of September, was selected. 
 This arrangement continued until 1853, when the time was changed 
 to the first Thursday of the same month, and so remained until 
 1864, when the meeting was held on the first Thursday in October; 
 but this did not prove satisfactory, and the time was changed to 
 the third Thursday in June, and it remained so until 18S0, when 
 it was changed to the second Thursday of July. 
 
 The sessions have generally been held over the Sabbath, though 
 not always so in the earlier years. In 1S56 five ministers asked to 
 be excused from attendance on the Sabbath on account of previous 
 engagements for that day, and an earnest discussion arose as to the 
 propriety of continuing the sessions over the Sabbath, but after 
 
14 Congregational Association. 
 
 considerable debate it was determined for the next year so to hold 
 them, and the arrangement has continued without much question, 
 until the present. 
 
 Constituency. 
 
 Article first of the original constitution gives as the name of 
 the body " The Oregon Association," and article ninth says that 
 " any Congregational or Presbyterian minister or church may be a 
 member of the association by assenting to the articles of the con- 
 stitution and by-laws." The majority of the body were, however 
 Congregationalists. In 185 1 the Old School Presbyterians were 
 invited to join, and Rev. H. H. Spalding was appointed a com- 
 mitee to present the invitation to them. Rev. L. Thompson, one 
 of the original members, Rev. H. H. Spalding, joining evidently 
 in 1850, and Rev. J. W. Goodell in 1851, were the only Presbyteri- 
 ans whose names appear on the list. While Father Spalding was 
 a member, he reported the Calipooia church, though it does not 
 appear that that or any other Presbyterian church ever assented to 
 the constitution or sent any delegates. In 1859, Rev. H. H. Spald- 
 ing, the last of the Presbyterian ministers, having withdrawn, the 
 name was changed to " The Congregational Association of 
 Oregon." 
 
 In 1870 a Congregational church was organized at Seattle, W. 
 T., the . first in the territory which became connected with the 
 body ; and from that time until 1879, when the Congregational As- 
 sociation of Washington Territory was organized, nearly all the 
 churches of Oregon and Washington were connected with it. The 
 territory of Idaho has also been under its supervision, though only 
 one Congregational church was ever organized in its limits. 
 
 Lay Delegation. 
 
 The constitution of 184S made every provision to have the 
 churches represented by delegates, each church being entitled to 
 one delegate; but there is no evidence that any church availed itself 
 of the privilege until 1855. In 1848 it was "voted that the lay 
 brethren of our several churches be invited to sit with us as cor- 
 responding members and take part with us in our discussions." 
 In 1 85 1 "the subject of a delegation from the churches came 
 up. As there had been no delegates, it was resolved to lay the 
 
Congregational Association. i^ 
 
 matter before our respective churches, and solicit their interest 
 and co-operation in our association." In 1 85 5 four names are re- 
 corded as the first lay delegates. In 1867 the constitution was 
 amended so that each church was entitled to one delegate and an ad- 
 ditional one for every thirty members. In 1873 the first women 
 were sent as delegates, and since that time they have attended quite 
 largely. In 1S74 a committee was appointed to revise the consti- 
 tution with regard to admitting delegates, from a church who 
 are not members of that church, but the committee never re- 
 ported. 
 
 Officers. 
 
 The original officers were a moderator and clerk, to be elected 
 annually by ballot. In 1867 a registrar was added, to be chosen 
 triennially, and in 1877 the clerk was furnished with an assistant. 
 Standing Committees. 
 
 The first on record were appointed in 1S55, which were on relig- 
 ious exercises, reports of churches, moral reforms, education, special 
 religious effort and the Nez Perces mission. In 1867 a by-law was 
 added which provided for the present committee of arrangements 
 of three, which by 1874 had attended to all business so satisfactorily 
 that other standing committees were discontinued. In 1877 there 
 were some who wished them revived, and it was done, but after two . 
 years further trial they were again abolished, and the arrangements 
 in regard to the annual meeting left mainly in the hands of the 
 committee of arrangements, whose plans from 1 S74— '77 proved 
 more satisfactory, and made the sessions more interesting, than any 
 other plan yet proposed. 
 
 Delegates to and from other Bodies. 
 
 The distance to other states is so great that but few delegates 
 have ever been received from them, and but few of our members 
 have visited the associations of other states. Nor has the custom 
 been often practiced of sending delegates to the annual meetings of 
 other denominations in Oregon and Washington, neither have many 
 come to us from them. Those who have been sent by us to other 
 bodies have so seldom reported the fact to this body that the list 
 given is probably far from being full. The following is a list as 
 taken from the records: 
 
16 Congregational Association. 
 
 From Other Bodies. 
 
 1855 Rev. T. D. Hunt, from the Association and N. S. Presbytery 
 
 of Cal. 
 18^6 Rev. T. D. Hunt, from the Association and N. S. Presbytery 
 
 of Cal. 
 
 1864 Rev. D. Leslie, from the M. E. Conference of Oregon. 
 
 1865 Rev. W. B. Brown, from the General Association of New 
 
 York. 
 1865 Rev. George Mooar, from the General Association of Cal. 
 
 1865 Rev. S. V. Blakeslee, from the Genei - al Association of Cal. 
 
 1866 Rev. S. V. Blakeslee, from the General Association of Cal. 
 1866 Rev. J. S. Wylie, from the Presbytery of Benicia, Cal. 
 1866 Rev. R. Wylie, from the Presbytery of Oregon. 
 
 1866 Rev. B. C. Lippincott, from the M. E. Conference of Oregon. 
 
 1868 Rev. J. Spencer, from the M. E. Conference of Oregon. 
 1S69 Rev. J. A. Benton, from the General Association of Cal. 
 
 1869 Rev. C. C. Stratton, from the M. E. Conference of Oregon. 
 187S Rev. S. V. Blakeslee, from the General Association of Cal. 
 
 1878 Rev. E. P. Baker, from the General Association of Cal. 
 
 To Other Bodies. 
 
 1 85 1 Rev. Geo. H. Atkinson, to any ecclesiastical body in the 
 
 States. 
 
 1866 Rev. P. S. Knight, to the General Association of California. 
 
 1867 Rev. G. H. Atkinson to the M. E. Conference of Oregon. 
 
 1879 Rev. H. Lyman, to the General Association of any other 
 
 State. 
 
 To the National Council. 
 
 1852 Rev. G. H. Atkinson, Albany, N*. Y. 
 
 1871 Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D. D., Oberlin, Ohio. 
 
 1S74 Rev. J. D. Eaton, New Haven, Conn. 
 
 1877 Rev. P. S. Knight, Prof G. H. Collier, Detroit, Mich. 
 
 1880 Deacon H. M. Humphrey. 
 
 Foreign Correspondence. 
 
 For a long time the lack of delegates to and from other states 
 was supplemented in a measure by correspondence. The first such 
 letter was received in 1849 from Massachusetts in reply to one pre- 
 
Congregational Association. 17 
 
 viously written, and by 1851 it was arranged so that each of the 
 ministerial brethren was appointed to correspond with the general 
 association or presbytery of one or two other states. Usually, either 
 because letters were not sent or not replied to, only two or three let- 
 ters were received and read at each annual meeting. This con 
 tinued until 1872 when no letters were received, but items of in. 
 terest were reported from three states, gathered from the papers, 
 and the committees were instructed by vote instead of correspond- 
 ence to present such items of intelligence as might be of interest 
 in the several states, and that year the list of committees for the 
 last time appeared in the minutes. In 1874 the registrar was 
 authorized to continue the correspondence with other ecclesiastical 
 organizations ; but little if anything of the kind has been done by 
 him except to exchange copies of our minutes with the associations 
 of other states. 
 
 Licensing Candidates for the Ministry. 
 
 This has not usually been considered as belonging to the business 
 of the association, but to the ministerial body. Yet it is probable 
 that for a series of years that organization held but few, if any 
 meetings, as in 1862 Bro. D. B. Gray was licensed by this body ; 
 in 1S64 Bro. E. A. Tanner was also licensed, and both of these 
 licenses were renewed the year after they were first granted. 
 
 Printing of Minutes. 
 
 In 1849 after the secretary's report was read, it was voted to pub- 
 lish it if consistent with our means, but there is no evidence that it 
 was done. The next year it was " resolved that the printing be 
 left to the discretion of the clerk, and that any expense incurred 
 tor it be paid by the association." In 1856 it "was resolved that 
 an abstract of the minutes be published by the clerk in the Pacific 
 [Christian] Advocate, Argus, Oregonian, Standard^ and in the Pacific 
 of California?" 1 But it was not until 1857 that the minutes were 
 printed in pamphlet form, and they have been so published every 
 year since, with the exception of 1S6 1-2-3. ^ n : ^59 tne associa- 
 tion^ sermon on Congregational Polity was printed with them, 
 but with that exception nothing was published except the minutes, 
 constitution, by-laws, articles of faith, covenant and reports of com- 
 mittees, until 1S75 when most of the essays were added, and since 
 
1 8 Congregational Association. 
 
 that time most of such papers have been published. In 1879 and 
 1880 those not thus published were printed in the Pacific. In 1875 
 the minutes and reports of the O. H. M. Society were added, and 
 in 1878 those of the Ministerial Association. 
 
 At first the expense was defrayed by subscription from the min- 
 isters and churches. In 1S64, the churches were requested to take 
 up collections, and in 1867, the clerk was authorized to assess the 
 churches for this purpose. But there being a lack of promptness 
 in "paying the printer," in 1S77 the churches were requested to 
 take up their collections before the annual meeting, and send them 
 to it; but it has not always been done. In "879, some of the 
 churches expressed themselves as dissatisfied with the arrangement 
 of assessment pro rata, and the publishing committee were author- 
 ized to solicit advertisements to aid in defraying the expense. 
 
 Our History. 
 
 The first effort at writing this was made in i860, when Bro. 
 Atkinson was requested to prepare a brief history of Congrega- 
 tionalism in Oregon and forward it to the Congregational Quarterly, 
 but it was not done. 
 
 In 1875, the Ministerial Association requested the same person 
 to write up the history of the Congregational churches of our 
 association for the centennial year, and the Doctor requested the 
 various churches to send such a history to him, but only those of 
 Oregon City, Forest Grove, Skokomish and Portland, responded. 
 Rev. J. A. Cruzan prepared two articles in 1879, one on the history 
 of the church at Portland, and the other on Congregationalism on 
 this northwest coast; and Mrs. H. H. Steele about the same time 
 wrote a sketch of the church at Olympia. This is about all that 
 has been done previous to the present effort. 
 
 Washington Territory Association. 
 
 In 1879, a call was made to the ministers and churches of Wash- 
 ington, to organize an association for the territory, at Seattle, June 
 26th. The members from that territory who were present at 
 the annual meeting of this body, a week previous, thought it inex- 
 pedient at the present time, and so reported, and by resolution, the 
 churches of Washington, were requested to defer such action at 
 present, and a committee appointed to convey to the meeting at 
 
Congregational Association. 19 
 
 Seattle, the fraternal greetings of this body and advice to delay 
 action. This was done; but the Washington Territory Association 
 was organized, and a reply sent, in which they stated, that, "After 
 the fullest discussion, they were ready to decide that we shall now 
 have an association." Five churches and five ministers of this 
 body joined that organization. 
 
 Local Associations. 
 
 In 1879 a request came from the church at Spokane Falls, W. 
 T., asking the privilege of organizing a local association, to be 
 composed of the counties of Walla Walla, Columbia, Whitman and 
 Stevens, in Washington, and the counties of Idaho, Shoshone and 
 Nez Perces, in Idaho, with the privilege of sending one or more 
 delegates to the annual meeting of this body who should have the 
 privilege of casting the entire vote to which those churches were 
 entitled. This, after being referred to a committee, was granted, 
 and September 5th, 1S79, such an association was organized at 
 Colfax, comprising three churches and their pastors. 
 
 A similar request was made for the churches on Puget Sound, 
 at the same time, but owing to the organization of the Washington 
 Territorv Association, nothing has been done. 
 
 List of Ministers who have been Members of the Association. 
 
 Received. Same. When and where dismissed. 
 
 1848 Harvey Clark 1858 Deceased. 
 
 1 848 .... Lewis Thompson 
 
 184S Elkanah Walker 1877 .... Deceased. 
 
 1848. . . .Cushing Eells 
 
 1848. . . .George H. Atkinson 
 
 1850. . . .Henry H. Spalding About 1868. . ..Dismissed. Deceased, 1874. 
 
 1850 .... Horace Lyman 
 
 1850. . . .D. R. Williams About 1853 Deceased. 
 
 1851 ... J. W. Goodell About 1859. . . .Deceased. 
 
 1853 S. H. Marsh 1879 Deceased. 
 
 1853.... O. Dickinson 
 
 1854. . . .Thomas Condon 
 
 1854. . . .Milton B. Starr 1864. . . . Dismissed to California Association. 
 
 1856. . . .P. B. Chamberlain 1863. . . .Dismissed. 
 
 1857 .... W. A. Tenney 1862 .... Dismissed to Maine Association. 
 
 1862. . . . D. B. Gray 1870. . . . Removed to California Association. 
 
 1864. . . . E. A. Tanner 1865. . . .Removed to Illinois. 
 
 1866 P. Stewart Knight 
 
20 
 
 Congregational Association. 
 
 Received. 
 
 1866 
 
 1S67 
 
 1867 
 
 1868 
 
 1869 
 
 1870 
 
 1870 
 
 1870 
 
 1871 
 
 1871 
 
 1873 
 1874 
 
 1874 
 1875 
 1875 
 1876 
 1876 
 1876 
 1876 
 1877 
 1877 
 1878 
 1878 
 1878 
 1878 
 1879 
 1880 
 1880 
 1880 
 
 1879 
 1879 
 
 Name. When and -where dismissed. 
 
 .John F. Damon ^79 . . . .Removed to Wash. Ter. Association. 
 
 . Daniel A. Miles 1870. . . . Removed to Massachusetts. 
 
 . C. A. Huntington 1880 .... Removed to Wash. Ter. Association. 
 
 . j. H. D. Henderson 
 
 . W. J. Clark 1870. . . . Removed to California. 
 
 . W. R. Butcher 1877 Dismissed to Chicago (111.) Cong'l Ass 
 
 . E. Gerry 1873 .... Removed to Vermont. 
 
 . W. A. Tenney 1875. . . .Removed to California. 
 
 .CM. Blake 1872 Removed. 
 
 . W. R. Joyslin 1875 .... Removed to Massachusetts. 
 
 .J. D. Eaton 1876. . . . Removed to New Jersey. 
 
 . N. McLeod 1874. . . . Removed to Wisconsin. 
 
 . Myron Eells 
 
 . Phares Harrison '879. . . - Removed to Wash. Ter. Association. 
 
 .J. F. Ellis '879. . . .Removed to Wash. Ter. Association. 
 
 . Frederick Crang 
 
 . George W. Skinner 1876 .... Removed to Kansas. 
 
 . Wm. M. Stewart '879. - . . Removed to Wash. Ter. Association. 
 
 . E. Godfrey 1879. . . . Removed to M. E. Church. 
 
 .John A. Cruzan 
 
 . D. B. Gray 
 
 . W. B. Floyd 1879. . . . Removed to Connecticut. 
 
 . R. S. Stubbs 
 
 .S. S. Markham '879. . . .Removed to Wash. Ter. Association. 
 
 . N. W. Lane 
 
 . A. W. Bower 
 
 J. W. Watts 
 
 . S. S. Van Dersal 
 
 . E. P. Roberts 
 
 . Edward Rogers 
 
 . William Capps 
 
 . H. T. Cowley * 
 
 . E. W. Allen * 
 
 List of Churches. 
 
 When 
 AVi eived. 
 
 When 
 Dismissed. 
 
 Now Dismissed. 
 
 1855 
 1855 
 1855 
 1865 
 
 1857 
 1857 
 1857 
 
 Place. 
 
 . . Forest Grove, Or 
 
 . . Oregon City, Or 
 
 . . Grand Prairie, Or Dropped from list. 
 
 . . Dallas, Or 1866 do 
 
 . .Calipooia, (N. S. Pres.) Or. ... 1859 do 
 
 . . Albany, Or 
 
 . . Portland, Or 
 
 * Members of the Eastern Washington Local Association, auxiliary to this body. 
 
Congregational Association. 
 
 When pla e When 
 
 Received. Dismissed, 
 
 Place - Dismissed. How dis " li ^ d - 
 
 . . Salem, Or 
 
 . .Corvallis Or 1864. . . .Dropped from list. 
 
 . . Sand Ridge, Or 1864. . . . Dropped from list. 
 
 ..The Dalles, Or 
 
 ..Hillsboro, Or 
 
 . . Astoria, Or 
 
 . . East Portland, Or 
 
 . . Atahnum, W. T 
 
 . .Seattle, W. T 1879. . . .Joined Wash. Ter. Association. 
 
 ..Olympia, W. T 1879 do 
 
 . . Boise City, Idaho 1875 .... Diopped from list. 
 
 . . New Tacoma, W. T 1879. . . .Joined Wash. Ter. Association. 
 
 . . Bellingham Bay, W. T 1878 Dropped from list. 
 
 . . Skokomish, W. T 
 
 . .Semiahmoo, W. T 1879. . . .Joined Wash. Ter. Association. 
 
 . .White River, W. T do 
 
 ..Colfax, W. T 
 
 . .Dayton, W. T 
 
 . . Spokane Falls, W. T 
 
 . .Yakima City, W. T 
 
 . . White Salmon, W. T 
 
 . . North Portland, Or 
 
 . . Prineville, Or 
 
 . . Mount Zion, Or 
 
 . . Beaverton, Or 
 
 . . Five-Mile Creek, Or 
 
 . . Wenass, W. T 
 
 . . Chawelah, W. T 
 
 ..Seabeck, W. T 
 
 . . Port Gamble, W. T 
 
 . . Mount Pleasant, W. T 
 
 . . Washougal, W. T 
 
 Annual Meetings. 
 
 Date. Place. Moderator. Clerk. 
 
 1848 — July 13. .Forest Grove Rev. H. Clark Rev. L. Thompson 
 
 I — Sept. 20-22. .Oregon City Rev. H. Clark Rev. G. H. Atkinson 
 
 1848 — Sept. 12. .Oregon City Rev. H. Clark Rev. G. H. Atkinson 
 
 1849— Nov. 1 . . Oregon City Rev. H. Clark Rev. G. H. Atkinson 
 
 1850 — Sept. 12-13. -Forest Grove Rev. H. Clark Rev. G. H. Atkinson 
 
 1850— Dec. 11.. Forest Grove Rev. H. Clark Rev. G. H. Atkinson 
 
 1851 — Sept. 11.. Forest Grove Rev. H. Clark Rev. G. H. Atkinson 
 
 185 1— Nov. 20-22. .Oregon City Rev. H. Clark Rev. G. H. Atkinson 
 
 1852 — ..Calipooia* 
 
 Was selected, but probably no meeting was held. 
 
22 Congregational Association. 
 
 Date. Place. Moderatot. Clerk. 
 
 1853— Sept. 1—5. .Forest Grove Rev. H. Lyman Rev. S. H. Marsh 
 
 1854— Sept. 7—8 . . Salem Rev. T. Condo n Rev. S. H. Marsh 
 
 1855 — Sept. 610. . Grand Prairie Rev. O. Dickinson. . . Rev. T. Condon 
 
 1856— Sept. 4— 8. . Oregon City Rev. M. B. Starr, . . . Rev. T. Condon 
 
 1857— Sept. 3—7 . . Portland Rev. C. Eells Rev. W. A. Tenney 
 
 1858-Sept. 2-6 . . Forest Grove Rev. O. Dickinson j ^ p D ^ c^mberl'n 
 
 1859— Sept. 1—5 . . Salem Rev. E. Walker Rev. O. Dickinson 
 
 i860— Sept. 6-10. .Albany Rev.P.B.Chamberl'n.Rev. O. Dickinson 
 
 1861— . .Oregon City* 
 
 1862-Sept. 4—7 . . Forest Grove Rev. O. Dickinson . . j |j£; g" ^jSjjH, 
 
 1863— Sept. 3—5 . . Portland Rev. S. H. Marsh . . . Rev. D. B. Gray 
 
 1864— Oct. 1— 4. .Salem Rev. S. H. Marsh. . . Rev. D. B. Gray 
 
 1865— June 15-18. . Albany Rev. E. Walker Rev. P. S. Knight 
 
 1866— June 21-24. . Portland Rev. E. Walker Rev. P. S Knight 
 
 1867— June 20-24. -Oregon City Rev. D. B. Gray Bio. C. N. Terry 
 
 1868— June 18-21 . . Forest Grove Rev. P. S. Knight. . . Bro. C. N. Terry 
 
 1869— June 17-20. . Salem Rev. G. H. Atkinson. Bro. C. N. Terry 
 
 1870— June 16-19. -Albany Rev. H. Lyman Rev. W. J. Clark 
 
 1871— June 15-19. .Astoria Rev. S. H. Marsh, .. Rev. W. R. Joyslin 
 
 1872— June 20-23 • • Portland Rev. O. Dickinson . . Rev. W. R. Butcher 
 
 1873— June 19-22. .The Dalles Prof. G. H. Collier. .Prof. A. J. Anderson 
 
 l8 74— June 18-21 . .Olympia, W. T Rev C.A.Huntington. Rev. M. Eells 
 
 l8 75— June 17-20. . Salem Rev. G. H. Atkinson.Rev. M. Eells 
 
 1876— June 15-18. .Portland Rev. G. H. Atkinson.Rev. M. Eells 
 
 l8 77— June 21 24. .Seattle, W. T Prof. G. H. Collier. . Rev. M. Eells 
 
 1878 — June 20-23. .Oregon City Pres. A. J. Anderson. Rev. M. Eells 
 
 1879— June 19 22 . . Forest Grove Bro. O. F. Sites Rev. M. Eells 
 
 1880— June 17-20. .Astoria Rev. R. S. Stubbs. . .Rev. M. Eells 
 
 Registrars. — 1867-70— C. N. Terry. 1871-75— W. R. Butcher. 1876-79— H. 
 Lyman. 1880— A. W. Bower, Bro. Geo. H. Himes. 
 
 Assistant Clerk, 1877-8. 
 
 Preachers. 
 
 Date. Associational Sermon. Communion Sermon. 
 
 1848 G. H. Atkinson E. Walker. 
 
 1849 H. Clark ' 
 
 l8 50 G. H. Atkinson— Is. 9:4 H. H. Spalding— Eph. 1:7. 
 
 '851 No record No record. 
 
 1852 No record No record. 
 
 1853 E. Walker— Col. 3:17 No record. 
 
 1854 O. Dickinson tC Eells. H. Lyman. 
 
 1855... . H. H. Spalding — Dan. 7:23-26.. . .G. H. Atkinson. 
 
 " Was selected and it was probably held. No record. 
 
 t Appointed the year before, but.there is no record stating who preached. 
 
Congregational Association. 23 
 
 Datr. Associational Sermon. Communion Sermon. 
 
 1850 P- B. Chamberlain No record. 
 
 1857 O. Dickinson — 1 let. 5:12 H. Lyman — Col. 1:24. 
 
 1858 W. A. Tenney— Acts 5:8 P. P. Chamberlain— Lam. 1 :I2. 
 
 1859 G. H. Atkinson— .Matt. 18:1-20. . .M. B. Starr— Phil. 3:13,14- 
 
 i860 P. B. Chamberlain — 1 Cor. 14:40. .* E. Walker. O. Dickinson. 
 
 1861 * H. Lyman. T. Condon * W. A. Tenney. O. Dickinson. 
 
 1862 No record No record. 
 
 1863 H. Lyman * T. Condon. 
 
 1864 S. H. Marsh T. Condon. 
 
 1865 C. Eells H. Lyman. 
 
 1866 E. Walker O. Dickinson. 
 
 1867 T. Condon— 2 Pet. 3:3,4 D. B. Gray— Col. 2:3. 
 
 1868 P. S. Knight— Matt. 13:52 O. Dickinson— Acts 3:19. 
 
 1869 D. B. Cray— Rom. 8:37 T. Condon— John 16:22-30. 
 
 1870 E. Gerry S. H. Marsh, D.D. 
 
 1871 W. K. Butcher — John 6:44 H. Lyman — James 2:1-9. 
 
 1872 P. S. Knight— Heb. 12:27 * E. Gerry. W. R. Butcher. 
 
 1873 W. A. Tenney W. R. Butcher. 
 
 1874 C. Eells, John 4:35-Matt. 9:37, 38. E. Walker. 
 
 1875 J. D. Eaton — 1 Cor. 4:2 G. H. Atkinson, D.D. —John 20:28. 
 
 1876 W. R. Butcher— Mark 9:40 J. F. Ellis. 
 
 1877 D. B. Gray — 2 Chron. 157 J. A. Cruzan — Gal. 6:14. 
 
 1878 |. F. Ellis— John 1:47 T. Condon. 
 
 1879 R. S. Stubbs— Matt. 16:1-3 p - - s - Knight— Gal. 6:14. 
 
 1880 C. Eells— Mark 16:15 D - B - Gray— Heb. 12:28. 
 
 Statistical Reports. 
 
 None of these have been kept except when the minutes have 
 Ween printed. When the association was organized the churches of 
 Forest Grove, Oregon City and Calipooia (Pres.) were the only 
 ones connected with the body which existed and probably did not 
 number more than forty or riftv members. 
 
 Statistical Tables Nos. 1 and 2 are compiled from the summaries 
 of the published reports, but many of them are quite imperfect. 
 
 'Appointed the year before, but there is no record stating who preached. 
 
2 4 
 
 Congregational Association. 
 
 Statistical Table No. 1. 
 
 Year. 
 
 i857- 
 
 1859 ■ 
 
 i860. 
 
 1864* 
 
 1865. 
 
 1866. 
 
 1867 
 
 1868. 
 
 1869. 
 
 1870. 
 
 1871. 
 
 1872. 
 
 1873- 
 
 1874. 
 
 1875. 
 
 1876., 
 
 1877., 
 
 1878., 
 
 1879. 
 
 Members. 
 
 Received. Dismissed 
 
 94 
 
 53 
 
 105 
 
 203 
 
 • I 284 
 
 1 191 207 
 
 123, 217 
 
 94 177 
 
 155, 260 
 
 166 234 400 
 
 166 231 413 
 
 184 243: 427 
 
 189 276 465 
 
 189 274! 463 
 
 83 "5 373 
 
 205 311 534 
 
 217 354 586 
 
 241 392 636 
 
 300 491 791 
 
 329 528 857 
 
 355 572 936 
 
 409 638 1045 
 
 i88ot. 390; 645 1035 
 
 92 
 
 83 
 126 
 
 213 
 
 264 
 
 
 e 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 <2Z 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 H-l 
 
 PL, 
 
 ^4 
 
 11 
 
 10 
 
 14 
 
 10 
 
 16 
 
 9 
 
 26 
 
 9 
 
 16 
 
 23 
 
 32 
 
 24 
 
 "85 
 
 1 1 
 
 25 
 
 13 
 
 39 
 
 23 
 
 39 
 
 a <u x o 
 
 .22 
 
 320 
 
 2 24 
 225 
 
 3 15 422 
 
 5 17! 224 
 
 109! 2 13I 
 
 40 4 14 
 
 52 4| l6 j 
 
 62! 61 31 
 
 28! 4 Hi 
 
 30 5I16 1 
 
 60 5I16, 
 
 15 
 23 
 40 
 38 
 42 
 114 
 
 49, 95 6 33 4 43 
 79 175 848 359 
 
 7i 
 
 72 
 
 146 
 
 21 
 223 
 125 
 
 .[28 
 
 14 
 
 Bap- Sunday 
 t'ms. School. 
 
 I « 
 
 W 
 
 2£ 
 
 5 13 
 
 • 9 
 
 175! 175 
 238; 238 
 202 202 
 242! 242 
 368 368 
 530 53° 
 
 812 
 492 1 
 738| 
 779 
 
 845! 
 703! 
 795! 
 901 
 
 21; 948 798! 183 
 
 25 125310911 314 
 
 171152312 1094! 349 
 
 37136 1617 1383 392 
 
 103! 187: 748 12I6738 37 2114 ; i668! 388 
 112I 194 10,50 . .!6o55!36i599 1309! 3° 2 
 
 460 
 57o 
 670 
 
 585 
 493 
 641 
 
 '980 
 480 
 700 
 910 
 740 
 
 725 
 820 
 
 483 
 897 
 
 1335 
 1684 
 
 2257 
 2544 
 2023 
 
 304 
 347 
 457 
 43i 
 602 
 697 
 
 * Forest Grove, with about 50 members, not reporting. 
 
 t Seven churches on Puget Sound not reported, which were reported the previous year. 
 
Congregational Association. 
 
 2 5 
 
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CHAPTER TI— EDUCATION. 
 
 |VER since the first annual meeting this subject has often 
 come up for consideration, both in a general way, and 
 with specific reference to some department. One 
 clause in the original constitution, which has not been 
 changed, says that this body "shall encourage evangelical educa- 
 cation." In regard to the general subject the first record was made 
 in 1848, when it was resolved that "we will do all we can 
 consistently to promote common school education." Two years later 
 a discussion incidentally arose in regard to whether teachers were 
 liberallv supported, and upon comparison with the payment of men 
 in other kinds of business, it was thought that they were. 
 
 In 1859 "it was resolved that in the view of this association the 
 establishment of schools under constant religious influence is of 
 vital importance to the progress of the Gospel in the land, and we 
 recommend the employment of Christian teachers, laymen, if pos- 
 sible, ministers, if need be, in our schools, and we earnestly call the 
 attention of all our churches and of all Christians to this subject, 
 and that it is the duty of every teacher to make reading of the 
 Bible one of the religious exercises of his school.' 1 The same was 
 re-affirmed the following year. 
 
 In 1866 it was resolved that the idea and practice of the fathers, 
 that education is the handmaid of religion, and that the school and 
 college should go hand in hand with the church, should be a living, 
 practical idea with us in Oregon, while laying foundations here, 
 and the same was again passed the next year. Religious teachers 
 and the Bible in the school were again recommended in 1868 and 
 1870. 
 
 The next year resolutions were passed, stating that " we hold it 
 to be the privilege and the duty of the people to require, by law, 
 the education of all the children, at their option, as one essential 
 means of public safety and welfare. That the very liberal pro- 
 vision made by the National Government for public schools in 
 Oregon ought to be sacredly guarded, and applied solely to this 
 
Congregational Association. 27 
 
 object. That the question of moral or religious instruction, and 
 the use of the Bible in our public schools, belongs properly to the 
 people themselves, in their several districts to decide, and that in 
 our judgment the moral condition and influence of our public 
 schools compare favorably with that of private or corporate schools, 
 and that the directors, and especially teachers, deserve support am 
 commendation for their high character and faithful services gen- 
 erally." 
 
 In 1872 Prof. Anderson made a report which took grounds 
 against " features transferred from monarchical governments — some 
 of them contrary to the genius of our institutions — such as com- 
 pulsory education, etc., without the most candid discussion and ma- 
 ture deliberation." It also condemned the position taken by the 
 Advance, at that time, which allowed the Bible to be banished from 
 the school-room, and " suggested the abrogation of the public 
 schools for pupils over ten years of age, or those who study any- 
 thing above the merest rudiments of an education, advocating 
 private and denominational schools in their stead, thus doing its 
 part toward the destruction of the valuable labor of fifty years."* 
 
 The next year Rev. J. D. Eaton read a report which stated that 
 in this country three things need to be remedied before we can 
 have the highest Christian culture: 1st. — Indifference to scholar- 
 ship; 2nd. — Half-baked scholarship, both of which are owing to 
 the great desire for money; and, 3rd. — Unconsecrated scholarship, 
 which is drawing our young men away from the ministry and in- 
 juring the churches. 
 
 In 1879 the subject again came up, and remarks were made and 
 resolutions adopted urging strongly that our education be more 
 thoroughly consecrated to Christ, and in 1880 Rev. H. Lyman read 
 an essay on the subject, and resolutions were adopted, which favored 
 industrial and moral training in connection with intellectual edu- 
 cation. 
 
 Tualatin Academy and Pacific University. 
 
 The association has not, however, been satisfied with general talk 
 on the subject, but has labored for special work, and chief in this 
 respect is the institution at Forest Grove, which is really the child 
 of Home Missions and this bodv. Before Dr. Atkinson came to 
 
 *A change of the editors of the Advance, since that time, has completely changed its 
 position on this subject 
 
28 Congregational Association. 
 
 this coast, Dr. Baldwin, Secretary of the Society for the Promotion 
 of Collegiate and Theological Education at the West, suggested to 
 him to plant an academy, which should grow into a college, and at 
 the first annual meeting at Oregon City, September 21 and 22, 
 184S, it was " resolved, that it is expedient to found an academy under 
 our patronage," and " it was thought that the Tualatin Plains is 
 the most favorable location." " After continued discussion it was 
 resolved that we will appoint trustees, who shall locate an academy, 
 become incorporated, and attend to its interests. The moderator 
 and clerk were appointed a committee of nomination. The com- 
 mittee reported, Rev. H. Clark, Hiram Clark, Esq., P. H. Hatch, 
 Esq., Rev. L. Thompson, Wm. H. Gray, Esq., Alvan T. Smith, 
 Esq., Rev. G. H. Atkinson, James Moore, Esq., O. Russel, Esq. 
 The report was accepted and adopted. It was resolved that a ma- 
 jority of the officers, with as many of the trustees as may be present, 
 at any regular meeting, be a quorum. Rev. Harvey Clark was 
 chosen president of the board of trustees, Rev. G. H. Atkinson, 
 secretary, A. T. Smith, Esq., treasurer, Hiram Clark, Esq., auditor. 
 Resolved, that the secretary make known the doings of this as- 
 sociation in reference to an academy, and solicit funds from the 
 states. Resolved, that the trustees meet at the store of H. Clark, 
 Esq., to-morrow at 9 o'clock a.m." 
 
 Thus the institution was born, after which it was mainly left to 
 care for itself. But in 185 1 it was voted " that, in view of the need 
 of institutions of learning of a high order both for males and 
 females, and in view of the limited information which Eastern 
 churches have of Oregon, the association recommend one of the 
 brethren to return to the East this year, and present these causes 
 before friends East and solicit aid." Rev. G. H. Atkinson was so 
 appointed, and went East in 1852. 
 
 In 1856 the denominational question having arisen, it was " re- 
 solved that this association has no wish or purpose to establish or 
 support educational institutions for sectarian purposes. That in our 
 judgment ever}' such institution, to fulfill the high ends of truth and 
 intelligence, should be free from ecclesiastical control, but that they 
 should be controlled by religious and evangelical boards of trust. 
 That it is not only the privilege but the duty of the members and 
 churches of this association to aid and sustain institutions so con- 
 trolled and established." 
 
Congregational Association. 39 
 
 The next year the body thoroughly approved Prof. Lyman's ac- 
 ceptance of a professorship in Pacific University, and voted "that 
 this association look with deep interest at the institution at the 
 Plains as designed to accomplish for Oregon the great work of col- 
 legiate education, and would recommend it to the prayers of the 
 churches of Oregon, and to the care and support of the friends of 
 truth at the East, and especially the Collegiate Society." 
 
 In 185S, the attention of the ministers was directed to the day of 
 fasting and prayer, now observed throughout the land, viz.: the 
 last Thursday of February, and were requested to observe it with 
 special reference to Pacific University. 
 
 In 1859, i860 and 1863, the association earnestly commended the 
 institution to the support and sympathy of all our ministers, churches 
 and congregations, and in 1S66, in addition to this recommendation, 
 a standing committee of three was appointed to visit the institution 
 at each commencement and report their observations. The next 
 year this committee reported at length in regard to its condition, 
 and while deploring its situation as being difficult of access, recom- 
 mended it earnestly to those desiring an education, on account of 
 its competent and sympathizing instructors, large library, philo- 
 sophical apparatus, and pleasant surroundings. But in 1S6S, it 
 made no report, and at the request of Dr. Marsh, was discontinued. 
 
 The report on education for 1S73, says that to prevent unconse- 
 crated scholarship, "to the Forest Grove church, we turn as to the 
 church which is entrusted with a special charge. To it, including 
 professors in its membership, must we look to do its part to prevent 
 the college from sending forth each year a company of learned 
 skeptics — unconsecrated scholars." The same year the following 
 resolutions passed by the trustees of Tualatin Academy and 
 Pacific University, were read by the clerk (A. J. Anderson), who, 
 speaking as a member of the faculty, emphasized the resolutions by 
 requesting Congregationalists represented in the association to give 
 their prayers, their converted youth, and their friendly visits to the 
 institution : 
 
 "Whereas, Tualatin Academy and Pacific University is not and 
 cannot be by its corporate law or constitution under any state or 
 ecclesiastical control ; 
 
 "Resolved, That it will welcome the friendly sympathy and aid of 
 the state, and of any and all denominations of Christians. 
 
30 Congregational Association. 
 
 That by virtue of its origin, it seeks and expects the fraternal 
 co-operation, especially of all the Congregational churches of our 
 state and region. 
 
 After discussion, the following resolution, offered by T. Condon, 
 was adopted : 
 
 "Resolved, That this association accept and cordially respond to 
 
 the resolutions read from the board of trustees of T. A. and P. 
 
 U; and that we cheerfully promise the sympathy for which they 
 
 ask, and that we instruct our committee on publication of minutes 
 
 'to have a copy of those resolutions published with the minutes." 
 
 Nothing more was done until 1878, when by request of some, 
 who were dissatisfied in regard to the denominational relations of 
 the college, the question was put on the programme: " Ought we 
 to have a college — an institution of higher education, so adminis- 
 tered as to secure the sympathy, support and patronage of our Con- 
 gregational churches and families." The chairman and one mem- 
 ber of the committee appointed to open this subject were not 
 present, and the other member did not come prepared to open it. 
 After a little discussion, in which some expressed the opinion that 
 we have a college sufficiently Congregational, others, that it would 
 soon become so, and others, still, that something ought to be done, 
 a committee was appointed to confer with the trustees of T. A. & 
 P. U.,to ascertain if they were willing to come into sympathetic and 
 working relations with our Congregational churches; but the 
 next year the committee made no report on the subject. 
 Whitman Seminary. 
 
 In 18^9, the association expressed its judgment in reference to 
 Rev. C. Eells going to Wailatpu, in the following resolution: 
 
 " That, in the judgment of this association, the contemplated 
 purpose of Bro. C. Eells to remove to Wailatpu, to establish a 
 Christian school at that place, to be called the Whitman Seminary, 
 in memory of the noble deeds and great worth, and in fulfillment of 
 the benevolent plans of the lamented Dr. Whitman and wife, and 
 his further purpose to act as a home missionary in the Walla Walla 
 valley, meets our cordial approbation, and shall receive our earnest 
 support." 
 
 Academies. 
 
 In 1872, a resolution was passed: "That a committee of three 
 
Congregational Association. 51 
 
 be appointed by this association to consult with reference to acade- 
 mies, and to do what in their judgment may be expedient towards 
 budding such institutions.'" And in 1878, another committee was 
 appointed for the same purpose. It was hoped by some that such 
 accademies might prove to be feeders to Pacific University, but 
 neither committee found affairs so favorable as to make anv report. 
 The report on education for 1S72 spoke of such academies, but 
 expressed the opinion that " no such preparatory school should be 
 undertaken without sufficient endowment, else it might linger along 
 for years, only to impede the progress of its neighboring district 
 school, and end at last in total failure." 
 
 Theological School. 
 
 In 1863, a committee of three was appointed on theological 
 studies, whose duties were to receive applications of Christian 
 brethren who may wish to pursue a course of theological study, 
 and to arrange a programme of studies for such students, advise, 
 encourage and examine them at proper time, and report annually 
 to this body, 01 even to call special meetings, if thought best, for 
 the examination and licensure of candidates; but the committee 
 seems never to have made any report, and in 1877, the Ministerial 
 Association, revived, took this very appropriately as a part of its 
 business. 
 
 In 1872, in view of the difficulty of securing and retaining min- 
 isters among us from the East, and that young men among us need 
 encouragement to begin a course of theological study, a com- 
 mittee of three was appointed to consider the expediency of 
 providing for a theological school in this state, and, if in their 
 judgment, best, to take the preliminary steps to secure a location 
 and subscriptions therefor, and to receive applications of Christian 
 young men to enter upon such a course of study and aid them in 
 it; but neither did this committee make any report. 
 
 Nothing more was done until 1S78, when it was resolved as the 
 "•judgment of the association that the Christian families and churches 
 here represented desire a branch, or professorship of Christian and 
 Theological Science in one of our colleges, for the education of our 
 sons in such studies;" and the following year the report on educa- 
 tion urged some such plan, whereupon a committee was appointed 
 to inquire " whether a theological school or department can be 
 
Congregational Association. 
 
 connected with any of our existing colleges or universities, and that 
 this inquiry he made first of the trustees of Tualatin Academy 
 and Pacific University;" and also, "if the way is open to take coun- 
 sel upon the plan and means to establish such a theological school 
 or department." But in 1880, the committee made no report. 
 
CHAPTER III— MORAL REFORM. 
 
 Dancing and other Amusements. 
 
 jHIS subject first came before the body in 1S59, when the 
 following resolutions were passed almost unanimously, 
 after a spirited discussion: 
 
 " That this association affectionately urge the churches 
 in our connection to shield by every hallowed influence of then- 
 covenant relation, the inexperienced of their membership from the 
 delusive dangers that often beset the social gatherings of the young. 
 That in our view the practice of dancing — whether in the parlor, 
 the village tavern, or the more public ball-room — has been, and is 
 now, so connected with many of the vices of society, as to make it 
 our urgent duty to warn our churches against it." 
 
 In 1S67, the subject was again brought up, and it was ordered 
 that the explanation of the covenant, among other things be as 
 follows: "It intends to abstain from all evil, and all appearance of 
 evil — 1 Thess. 5:22 — and thus to abstain from all games of 
 chance, from balls, dances, theatres, or any amusements or employ- 
 ments, which bring dishonor upon our Holy Lord and Saviour 
 Jesus Christ." 
 
 Nothing more was done until 1S78, when the subject was again 
 discussed; and while no definite action was reached, the tone of the 
 remarks was almost unanimously in favor of the above resolutions, 
 it being said that dancing, as now conducted, is not favored by the 
 Bible, but is contrary to the laws of health, and immoral, while 
 music, children's papers and the love of Christ, had been found to 
 be a successful substitute for it, and in 18S0, the subject was dis- 
 cussed in connection with an essay, but no action was taken. 
 
 Divorce. 
 
 In 1855, this subject was first considered, whereupon the associa- 
 tion, " believing that the law of Christ on this subject should con- 
 
34 
 
 Congregational Association. 
 
 trol, not only Christian churches, but also Christian communities, 
 that we recommend to all ministers of churches in their action 
 as such to make our Saviour's instructions on this subject their 
 rule of action; and that we will hail with peculiar pleasure the 
 passage of laws relating to this, having for their basis the laws 
 of Christ; that considering on the one hand the boldness of the 
 advocates of the immoralities referred to in the above named reso- 
 lution, and on the other, the prayer of Christ, that his people might 
 be one, we earnestly recommend the united efforts of all evan- 
 gelical Christians to prevent these immoralities if they do not yet 
 exist, and to check and suppress such as do exist; that we regard 
 ourselves in all the above resolutions as acting legitimately in the 
 field of morals, while as ministers, we claim a perfect right to act 
 as citizens on any civil question." 
 
 In 1859, the subject of marrying divorced persons was settled as 
 follows: 
 
 " Whereas, In the opinion of this association the law of God is 
 above all human law; 
 
 And, Whereas, Christ expressly designates the one and the 
 only sufficient ground on which persons properly married may be 
 divorced ; therefore, 
 
 " Resolved, That we regard all divorces, whether obtained by 
 judicial process or granted by special act of legislation, for any other 
 cause than that which Christ designates, as morally null and void ; 
 and that ministers cannot consistently marry again persons thus 
 divorced." 
 
 Notwithstanding the fact that some of the newspapers called this 
 action very blue, it was re-affirmed the following year, with the 
 addition of the words: " while both of the parties are still living." 
 
 Slavery. 
 
 In 1855, the subject was first introduced and a resolution passed 
 condemning it as contrary to the spirit of the gospel and our 
 republican institutions, viewing with regret efforts to extend it, 
 as the passage in Congress of the Kansas and Nebraska bill, and 
 promising to resist with full ability in »all peaceful and Christian 
 way such efforts, and to labor in peaceful and legal ways to abolish 
 slavery in the way best, both for the slave and master. 
 
 The next year, in a general way, anti-slavery societies were 
 
Congregational Association. 35 
 
 endorsed, with a recommendation to the churches to sustain them 
 by their prayers, labors and contributions, which called up the 
 question whether there were any such in Oregon; this was answered 
 in the negative, though several brethren testified as to the need 
 of such, in view of the danger of this territory being subjected to 
 slavery, which was believed to be yearly increasing. 
 
 A year later, the action of the American Home Missionary 
 Society, refusing aid to slave-holding churches, was endorsed, as 
 its funds were received from those who believed slavery to be sin- 
 ful; yet this action was not interpreted to mean that no aid would 
 be furnished to any church in the South where a pure gospel might 
 be preached. 
 
 In 1S5S, the action of the American Tract Society of New York, 
 refusing to publish anything either for or against slavery, was con- 
 demned with deep grief. That society was urged to change its 
 position and publish works against it, it being believed that it could 
 be done without violation of its constitution — (this being a main 
 reason why the society had taken this position) — and our churches 
 were recommended to withold their contributions and patronage 
 from it, which they had previously given, and bestow them upon 
 the American Tract Society of Boston, while the other society 
 should hold its present position. 
 
 A year later, a resolution was passed which stated that the min- 
 isters of this body could not consistently invite into their pulpits, as 
 ministers of Christ, persons known to be actual slaveholders, or the 
 advocates of the system. 
 
 The Sabbath. 
 
 This subject is first noticed in the minutes in 1850, in Father 
 Spalding's church report. At one of his stations he found eight 
 persons ready to be organized into a church, but he feared to 
 encourage it, because that Sabbath visiting was common among 
 them, until they should promise to observe the da}- and hold family 
 worship. 
 
 It was not, however, until 1855, that a committee was appointed 
 on the subject. This committee reported in favor of observing the 
 day in the strictest sense of the divine law and our Saviour's 
 instructions, as conducive to the highest welfare of every individual 
 family and people. Laws compelling people to observe the day in 
 
76 Congregational Association. 
 
 any one way were not favored, yet those were earnestly approved 
 which should tend to keep it sacred from ordinary business, and 
 protect sacred worship, and disciplinary as well as moral enforce- 
 ment of Sabbath obligation was recommended to the churches on 
 their members. The next year the same resolutions were re-af- 
 firmed. 
 
 In 1867 resolutions were adopted, regarding it as the duty of 
 every Christian to so arrange his affairs, however important his 
 business, that nothing should be done which should have the ap- 
 pearance of violating the day, or inducing others to do so, and to 
 take their exercise and recreation, without devoting God's day to 
 them. 
 
 The report of 1873 regarded the fourth commandment, without 
 any doubt, as binding, of vital importance to a pure Christianity, 
 and a mighty bulwark for the protection of the righteous, whose 
 defence is committed to the church, who is equal to the work, if 
 she present an unbroken front, joined with holy earnestness and 
 enlightened zeal. 
 
 Three years later a resolution was adopted full of gratitude to 
 God and commendation to the Centennial mission, for closing the 
 great exhibition on the Sabbath, and emphasizing a large protest 
 sent by the Y. M. C. A. of Portland against its opening on that 
 day. 
 
 In 1878 and 1879 the reports on the subject dealt largely on the 
 change from the seventh day to the first, but also condemned the 
 carrying and opening of the mail on that day, the running of rail- 
 roads and steamers, family visiting, trifling and worldly conver- 
 sation, and church members remaining away from church in 
 order to read, even religious reading, but commended works of 
 necessity and mercy on the day. Its rest was stated as a necessity 
 for the body and mind, the moral culture of families, neighborhoods, 
 and schools, for laborers, and work animals and the nation, both 
 rulers and people. 
 
 In 1879 a paper, by request, was read, favoring the observance of 
 the seventh instead of the first day, but it contained only the views 
 of the writer, among the members of the body, and for various 
 reasons it was passed by without any action. 
 
Congregational Association. 37 
 
 Temperance. 
 
 This has been a fruitful source of action, beginning with 1848, 
 when the association approved of temperance efforts in Oregon 
 and promised to aid them in every consistent manner. 
 
 In 1853 the territorial temperance committee sent out petitions 
 asking for the signatures of the legal voters in favor of a prohibitory 
 law, and also presented this action to the association for its consid- 
 eration, whereupon it was heartily approved, as being the only way 
 of fully suppressing intemperance, and the ministers were urged to 
 work for the law. The same law was endorsed in 1855, l ^5^ ana " 
 1857. 
 
 In 1866 the ministry and churches were urged to continue in the 
 work of total abstinence, both in and out of the church, as of the 
 greatest importance in preparing for a work of grace. 
 
 Reclaiming the fallen and saving the young was the key-note of 
 the report for the following year; the church covenant adopted by 
 the body was interpreted so as to mean the abstaining from alco- 
 holic liquors as a beverage, and the work of the Good Templars 
 was endorsed. 
 
 The reports for 1868 and 1869, while endorsing temperance 
 societies, believed the church and Sabbath school to be, or at least 
 ought to be, made the very best of such societies. Agitate the sub- 
 ject to promote temperance, and promote temperance to " prepare 
 the way of the Lord." 
 
 The Ohio law, as just to all parties, was welcomed in 1871, open 
 temperance societies were recommended, and the ministry were re- 
 quested to preach on the subject on the second Sabbath in Sep- 
 tember. 
 
 By the following year there were evidently some who were 
 tired of so much discussion of the kind, and a motion was made to 
 dispense with the committee on the subject, but after a warm dis- 
 cussion, the motion was lost, the opinion prevailing that the 
 churches have a work to do in that line. 
 
 In 1873 the core of the discussion centered on vigorous attacks 
 on the enemy, but more in love, and less in bitterness. 
 
 By the following year the women's praying leagues had been 
 organized, and created great excitement, especially in Portland, 
 and while the association rejoiced in the good done by them, yet it 
 
38 Congregational Association. 
 
 neither felt like fully endorsing this as the best method of work, 
 nor either of condemning, but thought that to all should be granted 
 " liberty in doubtful things and charity in all things," and that those 
 who could not approve any particular mode of work should not be 
 therefore denounced as enemies to the cause, but encouraged to 
 work in the way they think best. 
 
 The cause of the evil was brought up in 1S7S, sin, and the con- 
 sequent remedy, Christ, — and although it was stated that societies 
 and laws should be encouraged, yet the Lord Jesus, both as an ex- 
 ample to reformers, and a Saviour for the inebriate, was held up as 
 above everything else. 
 
 The next year the Blue Ribbon movement, as carried on within 
 our bounds, was highly commended, and besides, the association 
 pledged itself to aid every effort to put the civil damage law of 
 Massachusetts on our statute books, and in 1880 this latter was re- 
 affirmed. 
 
CHAPTER IV.— CHURCH WORK. 
 
 The Prayer Meeting. 
 
 |LTHOUGH this subject has never been much discussed, 
 the body has set a practical example of its faith in it 
 by holding one or more during each day in even' ses- 
 sion. Frequently these have been held at sunrise, and 
 sometimes a little later, thus consecrating the first part, and with it 
 the whole day to Christ. It has been found, however, that but few 
 attended these early meetings, or any early meetings, whatever 
 might be the subject, hence latterly they have been held near the 
 middle of each daily session, as being the time when most were 
 present — a numerous attendance being desired — the body feeling the 
 prayer meetings to be the most important of the session. Special 
 action was taken in regard to this in 1879. 
 
 Sabbath Schools. 
 
 In 1866 the first action was taken in which they were earnestly 
 commended to the churches, in order to bring Bible truth to bear 
 on the minds of the children, and teachers' meetings were men- 
 tioned as a most important, if not indispensable, part of the work. 
 
 Two years later it was recommended that the Sabbath schools 
 of our own and other denominations call a State Sabbath School 
 Convention, and in 1869 the committee reported encouragingly be- 
 cause of an increase in our Sabbath schools from 492 the year be- 
 fore to 727 of that year. 
 
 In 1 87 1 it was resolved that " the Sabbath school is purely the 
 child of the church, and should be so cherished ; and in order to its 
 full success, every member of each church should be a working 
 member therein." The report two years later spoke of the growth 
 of Sabbath schools during a century, from being designed mainly 
 to provide instruction for the poor and degraded, to being adopted 
 by all denominations of Christians as the chief means of religious 
 instruction for the young, with all its accompaniments of literature, 
 
40 Congregational Association. 
 
 music and able officers. Hence its importance was spoken of, 
 especially its aid in planting new churches. 
 
 In 1S77 a l° n g report was read and published, which recom- 
 mended the committing to memory of verses, the use of the black- 
 board, a large amount of music, a good library and S. S. papers, 
 sympathy with the children, system in the work, teachers' meet- 
 ings, and S. S. conventions. Further remarks favored a good Bible 
 class of parents and grandparents, as a means of keeping the older 
 children in school, earnest work for the conversion of the children, 
 steady work in at least thirty minutes of lesson teaching, and the 
 committing to memory of the S. S. hymns. 
 
 Two years later the report thought that there was enough ma- 
 chinery and intellectual food in the Sabbath schools, and yet that 
 they lacked something — conversions — in as great numbers as there 
 should be ; which is to be remedied by the employment of none 
 but consistent Christians as teachers, giving heart work the prece- 
 dence of head work, and taking Christ as the best example of a 
 teacher. In 1880, resolutions suitable to the centennial year of 
 Sabbath schools, were adopted, urging their care on the church, 
 parents, officers and teachers. 
 
 Church Finances. 
 
 The first record made was in 1871, when free will offerings, 
 brought to the house of God as an act of worship, were recom- 
 mended as a convenient and scriptural mode of raising money. 
 
 In 1S76 the subject was again opened, and the weekly envelope 
 method was highly recommended by the association to the churches, 
 and the next year the report of the committee recommended the 
 contribution box, as an educator in the grace of giving, that giving 
 may be regarded as a part of worship, to raise money promptly, 
 to save some good man from martyrdom in the collector's office, 
 and as a measure of Christian prosperity. Some, however, had 
 difficulties on the subject, and some had found the subscription 
 paper better. 
 
 Systematic Giving. 
 
 In 1875 a report was read and published which favored this, from 
 the commands and promises of God, his threatenings against covet- 
 ousness and selfishness. The amount to be given and way of col- 
 lecting it were left an open question, to be determined by circum- 
 
Congregational Association. 41 
 
 stances, though one-tenth of the income at least, was urged, but it 
 was recommended that ministers preach on the subject, set a right 
 example, and that children be early trained to it; whereupon the 
 association "recommend to the churches a system of weekly offer- 
 ings for all Christian and benevolent purposes, in accordance with 
 the apostolic rule as expressed in 1 Cor. 16: 1, 2. 
 
 In 1878 the committee on this subject, who had worked earnestly 
 for it during the whole year, reported that seven churches had 
 adopted the weekly plan of offerings, seven more had some dif- 
 ferent plan, and four had no plan ; that thirteen had increased their 
 contributions during the year, four had decreased, and four had 
 given nothing, and that the whole amount contributed had in- 
 creased from $1,037.83, in 1867, to $3,722.17, in 1878. In 1S77 the 
 churches had voted to raise one dollar per member during the year 
 for Home Missions, but only four had kept their pledge. Five 
 churches had adopted the plan of weekly offerings during the 
 year. The need of a better appreciation of the vital importance of 
 this matter, and the adoption ot some systematic plan, and the 
 thorough working of that plan, were urged upon the churches and 
 ministers. The association heartily approved the weekly and 
 monthly plan of offerings, and commended the efforts of the 
 standing committee to the churches. 
 
 By 1S79 four more churches had adopted the plan of weekly of- 
 ferings, and much of what had been said in previous years was 
 emphasized; it being the idea that "line upon line, line upon 
 line, precept upon precept, precept upon precept," was necessary 
 to success in this object. 
 
 Fasting and Prayer. 
 
 . But once, according to the records, has a day for this purpose 
 been appointed by this body. This was in 1S5S. The association 
 had read with profound gratitude of the great revivals in the East, 
 and appointed the first Thursday of November as a day of fasting 
 and prayer for a like rich blessing on this coast, and invited other 
 denominations to join in the observance of it. 
 
 The same year, the attention of the churches was called to the 
 last Thursday in February, as a day of fasting and prayer for col- 
 leges, observed throughout the land, and it was recommended that 
 it be especially observed with reference to Pacific University. 
 . 4 
 
.p Congregational Association. 
 
 Protracted Meetings. 
 
 In 1855 the judgment of the association being that two-days', 
 four-days', and protracted meetings " had been usually blessed of 
 God to the salvation of souls and the edification of the church," it 
 was thought that the churches had been deficient in these special 
 efforts, and it was recommended that every church hold annually 
 one or more such meetings, and for the Home Missionary agent 
 for Oregon to attend and co-operate at such times. 
 
 In 1879 the question of holding a similar meeting near Forest 
 Grove was referred to a committee, who reported, asking for 
 further time. 
 
CHAPTER V.— QUESTIONS OF ADVICE. 
 
 Baptism. 
 
 [HE only time that this subject has been brought up 
 except in connection with the creed, was in 1S74, when 
 it was put on record "that there is no pastor in our 
 connection, who is unwilling to baptize by immersion, 
 where that mode is a matter of conscience with the candidate • 
 that there is no church in our connection that asks for the baptism 
 of the children of those who have no faith in infant baptism ; that 
 whatever differences of views on the mode of baptism may exist 
 between those who give credible evidence of lovalty to the Master, 
 they have all the rights of children and heirs in any and every 
 branch of the church to which the Providence of God may assign 
 them, our rule across these minor differences being in ' certain things 
 unity, in doubtful things, liberty, in all things charity.'" 
 
 Church Manual. 
 
 In 1874 Roy's Manual was recommended for the use ot the 
 
 churches. 
 
 Creed. 
 
 The subject of a creed to be recommended to the churches was 
 first put upon the docket in September, 1850, for subsequent con- 
 sideration, and, at an adjourned meeting held December, 1850, the 
 articles of faith of the Iowa Association and of the Theological 
 Institute, of Connecticut, were read. Some discussion arose in re- 
 gard to some objectionable terms, against which there is an ignorant 
 and strong prejudice, and while it was not thought best to lose a 
 good word for this reason, yet it was deemed important to express ideas 
 in language which would not be misinterpreted. The articles of 
 the Iowa Association, with a few alterations and additions, were 
 adopted for the time being, but are no where on record. 
 
 The next year these articles were laid aside and those of the 
 Presbytery of Plattsburg, New York, being amended, were 
 
44 Congregational Association. 
 
 adopted, and it was moved that they be published in the Home 
 Missionary, but are not on record. As the subject did not come up 
 again for many years, it is presumable, however, that those pub- 
 lished with the minutes of 1857 are the same as those then adopted, 
 and which were subsequently published in 185S, 1859, 1S60, 1864 
 and 1866, and which are as follows : 
 
 Articles of Faith. 
 
 Article i. You believe that Jehovah, the one only living' and 
 true God, is a Spirit, self-existent, immutable, infinite in power, 
 knowledge, wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness, mercy and truth ; 
 that he exists in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy 
 Spirit, who possess the same nature, and are equal in every divine 
 perfection ; that he made, preserves, and governs all things for his 
 own glory ; and that in whatsoever comes to pass, he accomplishes 
 the eternal counsel of his own will, in such a way that man is a 
 free and accountable agent. 
 
 [Dent. vi. 4 ; Isa. xiv. 5 ; 1 Cor. viii. 4, 6. J [Ps. xc. 2, and cxlvii. 5 ; 1 Tim. i. 17 . 
 
 I John i. 5 and iv. 8 ; James i. 17.] [1 John v. 7 ; Matt, xxviii. 19 ; 2 Cor. xiii. 14; 
 John xiv. 16, 26.] [Col. 1, 16; Prov. xvi. 4; Ps. xix. 1; Dan. iv. 34, 35; Eph. i. 
 
 II ; Isa. xiv. 5, 7, and xlvi. 10.] [Isa. x. 12 ; Acts ii. 23; Phil. ii. 12, 13. 
 
 Art. 2. You believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New 
 Testament are given by the inspiration of God, and are the suf- 
 ficient and only rule of faith and practice. 
 
 [Peter i, 19, 21 : 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17 ; Psalms xii. 6, and cxix. 105 ; Isaiah viii. 
 20 and xvii. 11.] 
 
 Art. 3. You believe that God created man upright ; that man 
 freely sinned and fell ; that, in consequence of the original offense, 
 all mankind, in their natural state, are destitute of holiness, and are 
 thus totally depraved in heart, and under the curse of the Divine 
 law. 
 
 [Genesis i. 26, 27 ; Eccl. vii. 29.] [Genesis iii. 1, 13.] [Rom. v. 12, 15, 18; Gen. 
 vi. 5; Ps. liii. 1, 3; Eccl. viii. 11 ; Jer. xvii. 9; Romanslii. 3, 19 and viii. 7 ; Matt, 
 xxiii. 33 ; Rom. i. 18; John iii. 36; Eph. ii. 3.] 
 
 Art. 4. You believe that Jesus Christ is both God and man in 
 two distinct natures, and one person forever ; that by his sufferings 
 and death he made a complete atonement for the sins of the world; 
 that he rose from the dead, and ascended into Heaven, as the 
 mediator between God and man ; that through him salvation is 
 freely offered to all mankind, and that there is salvation in no other. 
 
Congregational Association. 45 
 
 [Matthew i. 23; John i. 9, 14; Col. ii. 9; 1 Tim.iii. 10 • Phil. ii. 5, ri; Isa. ix. 9; 
 Rom. ix. 5; Heb. 1, passim; Matt. xxii. 45; Rev. xxii. 16. J | John iii. 14, 16; 2 
 Cor. v. 21; Gal. iii. 13; Heb. ii. 9; 1 John ii. 2; Rom. iii. 25, 26, and v. 18, 16.] 
 [Rom. iv. 25; Heb. vii. 25, and ix. 24; 1 Tim. ii. 5, 6; Rom. viii. 34. | [Isa. Iv. I, 
 4; Rev. xxii. 16; John vii. 37, 38: Acts, xbi, 38, 39. J [Acts iv, 15, and x. 41, 43; 
 John xvi. 6; I Cor. iii. II; I. John v. [I, 12; Rom. x. 4. | 
 
 Art. 5. You believe that all who obtain salvation through 
 Christ were "chosen in him before the foundation of the world ;" 
 that by the special influence of the Holy Spirit in their regenera- 
 tion, they are made willing to receive him in the faith of the 
 gospel, and that, having received him, thev are justified by grace 
 through faith and have the same promise of being preserved by 
 the same grace in new and holy obedience unto eternal life. 
 
 [Ps. xxii, 30; John vi. 37, 39, and ix. 5, 6; Eph. i. 4, 5 ; 2 Thessalonians ii. 13. 
 2 Tim. i. 9.] [Psalms ex. 3; John i, 12, 13: Acts xvi. 14; 1 Cor. iii. 5, 7, and 
 xv. 10; Eph. ii. 8, 10. J [Acts xiii. 39; Rom. iii. 4, 28; Titus iii. 5, 7.] [Isa. Iv. 3; 
 Jeremiah xxxii. 40; John iv. 14, and x. 27, 29; Roin. viii. 38, 39; Phil. i. 5; Heb. 
 xiii. 5; 1 Peter I, 5.] 
 
 Art. 6. You believe that Christ has a church on earth ; that in 
 its visible form it comprehends all those who credibly profess the 
 faith of the gospel ; that its sacraments are Baptism and the Lord's 
 Supper ; that Baptism is to be administered not only to believers, 
 but also to the children of their household, and the Lord's Supper 
 to such as are in good and regular standing in some evangelical 
 church. 
 
 [Matthew xvi. 18; Acts ii. 41, 47.J [Acts ii. 47, and v. 19; Rom. xi. 20, 23; 1 
 Cor. ii. 1: Eph. v. 25, 27.] [Matthew xxviii. 19; Acts x. 47, 48; Matt, x.xvi. 26, 
 23; 1 Cor. xi. 23, 29.] [Gen. xvii. 7, 10, 11, with Galatians iii. 7, 9, 14: Eph. iii. 
 6; Rom. xi. 15, 24; Isa. lxvi. 23; Jer. \xx. 20; Acts ii. 39; 1 Cor. vii. 14; Acts 
 x vi. 15, 38 ; I Cor. i. 16.] [1 Cor. xi. 27, 28, 29, with John xiii. 37 and vi. 63, 64.J 
 
 Art. 7. You believe that the sanctification of the Sabbath is of 
 perpetual obligation ; that the worship of God in the closet, in the 
 family, and in the sanctuary, is divinely appointed; that the preach- 
 ing of the gospel is a divine institution, and that a strict and careful 
 discipline should be maintained in the church for its edification. 
 
 [Acts xx. 7 ; 1 Cor. xvi. 1, 2 : Heb. iv. 9, 10; Rev. i. 10. | [Matt. vi. 6; Joshua 
 xviv. 15; 1 Chron. xvi. 43; Acts, \. 2 ; Isa. lxi. 7 ; Heb. x. 25.] [Mark xvi. 15; 1 
 Cor. v. 7, II ; Titus iii. 10; I Tim. v. I, 2. J 
 
 Art. 8. Finally — You believe that there will be a resurrection 
 of the body, and a general judgment, when Christ will be revealed 
 a judge, the righteous be received to eternal blessedness in heaven, 
 and the wicked sentenced to endless misery in hell. 
 
46 Congregational Association. 
 
 [John v. 28, 29; Acts xvii. iS ; 1 Cor. xv. 21, 22.] [Matt. xxv. 31, 46; Acts xvii. 
 31 ; Rom. xiv. 10 ; Rev. xx. II, 12.] [Matt. xxv. 46; Luke xvi. 19, 26; Rom. ii. 5 
 10; 2 Thessalonians i. 6, 10; Rev. xxi. 11, 12.] 
 
 In 1S67 these articles were amended by adding the words "by 
 overruling" after the word "that" in the seventh line in article 1 ; 
 by dropping all in the second line of article 5, to the word " by," 
 also the word "they" in the third line ; and in article 6 by striking 
 out all after the word "supper." In this form they were published 
 in 1867, 1869 and 1872. In 1S74 a report was adopted which re- 
 commended the Broadway summary of faith and covenant, in 
 Roy's Manual, in connection with the recommendation of that 
 
 manual. 
 
 Absentees. 
 
 The question of dropping the names of persons whose where- 
 abouts are unknown, came up in 1S78 and in some remarks was 
 opposed, but after some consideration was set for the following 
 year when the subjoined resolution was lost, as not being the opin- 
 ion of the body: "That it is the sense of this association that it is 
 the right of a church to drop from its rolls members not communi- 
 cating for three years or having religious intercourse." 
 
 In 1880, after the reading of an essay on the subject, the follow- 
 ing resolutions were adopted : 
 
 Resolved, That we advise our churches as follows : 
 
 1st. That where resident absentee members are so situated that 
 they can become connected with some Christian church congenial 
 to them, they be advised to unite with it as soon as practicable. 
 
 2nd. That where they do not thus unite but can be heard from, 
 they be continued on the church rolls, as other members, with the 
 mark of being absentees, and so reported to this body. 
 
 3rd. That where they are absent in such a way that no resident 
 members of the church can give satisfactory information as to their 
 whereabouts for three years, they be placed on a separate list, and 
 not reported to this association, but that, if at any time afterwards, 
 they return so that their situation shall be known, and there be no 
 objection by a majority of the church, their names may be returned 
 to the regular list by a majority vote of the church. 
 
 Ex tempore Preaching. 
 
 In i860 ministers were advised to preach at least one-half of their 
 sermons ex tempore. 
 
Congregational Association. 47 
 
 Free Seat System. 
 
 In 187 1 the free seat system was recommended to the churches. 
 Hymn Books. 
 
 This subject was introduced in 1856, but the association was un- 
 settled, and it was deferred until the next year, when the commit- 
 tee recommended the Plymouth collection, but the body was not 
 satisfied, and recommitted it. In 185S the committee asked for 
 fuither time, and the following year the Sabbath Hymn Book was 
 recommended to the churches, when they shall procure new 
 books. 
 
 Invitation to the Communion Table. 
 
 The following form was recommended in i860: " We cordially 
 invite all who love our Lord and Saviour in sincerity, and maintain 
 a credible profession in some evangelical church, to join with us in 
 celebrating the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. 
 
 Local Church. 
 
 In 1866 it was recommended that the " churches appoint com- 
 mittees to visit and invite families to attend religious meetings;" 
 and " when deprived of pastors, not to forsake the assembling of 
 themselves together, but to meet at regular times and conduct ser- 
 vices by singing, prayer, scriptural readings, readings of sermons, 
 and other appropriate exercises." 
 
 Stated Ministry. 
 
 In 1848 it was " resolved that a stated ministry is essential to the 
 highest and ultimate success of the Gospel in this territory;" the 
 next year, that we " approve of concentrated and steady labor at a 
 few points, rather than the itinerating method ;" and the same opin- 
 ion was held as more conducive to the spiritual good of a people 
 and eventually to the greatest number. 
 
 Sympathy between Churches. 
 
 In 186S it was resolved that "there ought to be more frequent 
 exchanges of sympathy between our different churches, and to this 
 end we recommend all the churches of our order in the State to 
 communicate with each other quarterly by letter ; — these letters to 
 
4_S Congregational Association. 
 
 be read in the prayer meetings, and to contain such matters of in- 
 formation in regard to religious growth as would be of general 
 interest to all who love the cause." 
 
 Treatment of Offenders. 
 
 In 1859 the following action was taken on this subject: that "it is 
 our duty to apply the law of Christ — Matt. iS: 15-17 — to every 
 offender in Christian doctrine or duty, and that we have no right 
 to exclude any minister, layman or church from Christian fellow- 
 ship without such trial." 
 
CHAPTER VI. —HOME MISSIONS AND CHURCH 
 BUI ID I NG. 
 
 Home Missions. 
 
 N a new, growing country, it has been but natural that 
 the association should take great interest, in order that 
 the spiritual growth might keep pace with the natural 
 prosperity. In June, 1S48, Rev. Mr. Atkinson, came 
 as the first missionary under the appointment of the American 
 Home Missionary Society, and was soon followed by Rev. Mr. 
 Lyman, and the association has taken very frequent action on 
 various questions of home supply. In 1S4S more of the ministerial 
 brethren were requested to act as missionaries to form and supply 
 churches, and the brethren Walker and Spaulding, were specially 
 requested to act in this capacity. 
 
 A committee on destitution and supply was appointed as a standing 
 committee in 1856 which made frequent reports for the next eleven 
 years. In 1856 it reported that the field was by no means adequately 
 supplied with ministers of those denominations represented by the 
 A. H. M. Society, and that several parts of the field weie entirely 
 unoccupied, and while rejoicing that one new laborer was under 
 appointment, requested that two more be immediately sent. That 
 year Rev. T. D. Hunt, agent of the A. H. M. Society for Oregon, 
 was present. 
 
 In 1858, the report spoke of the scriptural idea of the establish- 
 ment of a church pastoral office, and regular Sabbath ministrations 
 in every community ; that an educated evangelical ministry is the 
 best, and that not only many settlements, but whole counties in 
 Oregon and Washington, though they have the preaching of the 
 gospel by various denominations, are destitute, to a considerable 
 extent, of its permanent institutions. 
 
 The next year the A. H. M. Society was requested to commit 
 the exploring agencv for Oregon and Washington to the above 
 
5° 
 
 Congregational Association. 
 
 named committee, and, in 1864, three more missionaries were 
 requested for Oregon and Idaho. 
 
 Home Missionary Committee. 
 
 In 1856, the subject of a territorial home missionary society 
 was broached, but it was thought that the time had not vet arrived, 
 but that all the objects contemplated in such an organization could 
 be as well, if not better, secured by a hearty co-operation with the 
 A. H. M. Society. 
 
 The same subject was again mentioned in 1862, when it was left 
 to the committee on destitution and supply. But in 1865, a com- 
 mittee on home missions was appointed, which took the place of 
 the committee on destitution and supply, and continued until the 
 organization of the Oregon H. M. Society in 1872. This com- 
 mittee had authority to elect a chairman and treasurer. 
 
 In 1864, a resolution to request the A. H. M. Society to appoint 
 an agent for this region was laid on the table, but in 1867, it was 
 recommended that this be done, and Rev. T. Condon was nomi- 
 nated for three months, until further arrangements could be made. 
 He, however, was unable to accept, and Rev. O. Dickinson was 
 applied to, but he had made arrangements that prevented him 
 engaging in the work. Hence the committee in 1S68, looking 
 back to the time when the Lord sent forth the seventy, two by two, 
 recommended that in the absence of sufficient ministers, each 
 church supply its own surrounding region in a similar manner. 
 
 Before another year, however, the committee made application 
 to the A. H. M. S. to appoint Mr. Dickinson as their agent, but 
 they replied that thev had not the means to support him, nor the 
 men and means to supplv new places which he would naturally 
 find Hence the committee in 1869 again recommended more self 
 reliance in the work, but asked for one missionary for Puget Sound. 
 Rev. J. H. D. Henderson was invited by the association to act as 
 its agent for the state, so far as funds could be collected at home to 
 support him, but in 1870 only twenty-six dollars were reported as 
 having been thus raised, except what the church at Albany, where 
 he had labored, had paid him. Again the A. H. M. S. were urged 
 to appoint an agent here. The next vear the report said that the 
 A. H. M. S. felt unable to support such an agent, or even to send 
 forth all the men who had applied to come as missionaries; — where- 
 
Congregational Association. 51 
 
 upon it was recommended that our home missionary contributions 
 be made and applied to aid our own dependent churches; that they 
 strive to attain self-support at the earliest possible moment ; and 
 that we adopt the custom of holding' conference meetings in the 
 more destitute places, in order to help those there to organize 
 churches or strengthen existing ones. Those desiring such meet- 
 ings were invited to communicate with the committee, and it was 
 also resolved, "that we deem it desirable that a home missionary 
 be employed for the general field." 
 
 In 1S71 the National Council was held, which gave a new im- 
 petus to the home missionary work, aided by a series of H. M. 
 conferences in some of the Eastern states, and funds flowed more 
 freely into the treasury of the A. H. M. S. Dr. D. B. Coe, Secre- 
 tary of that society, also visited Oregon, received some new ideas, 
 and applied to Rev. O. Dickinson to become their agent, but he 
 felt unable to undertake the work. Dr. Atkinson was then asked 
 to engage in it, and spent two weeks in exploring, but found that 
 he could not do efficient work in this respect while in charge of a 
 church. 
 
 The National Council also recommended that the general con- 
 ference or association of each state provide for the organization of 
 a home missionary society for that state. This was referred to a 
 special committee who reported favorably, and 
 
 The H. M. Society of Oregon and adjoining Territories 
 was organized June 22, 1872, with the following constitution : 
 
 Article I. 
 This society shall be called the Home Missionary Society of 
 Oregon and adjoining territories. [Changed in 1S77 fr orn the 
 "Oregon Home Missionary Society" to the "Home Missionary 
 Society of Oregon and Washington Territory."] 
 
 Article II. 
 
 Any person may become a member of this society by giving his 
 
 name to the secretary, and paying any sum of money annually 
 
 to the treasurer ; and a life member by a contribution of fifteen 
 
 dollars. 
 
 Article III. 
 
 The officers shall consist of a president, vice-president, secretary 
 and treasurer, who shall all constitute the executive committee of 
 
52 Congregational Association. 
 
 the society, to be elected annually at the yearly meeting of the as- 
 sociation. [Changed in 1875 so as to include the general missionary 
 
 in the committee.] 
 
 Article IV. 
 
 It shall be the duty of the executive committee, subject to the 
 general direction of the society, and in co-operation with the secre- 
 tary of the A. H. M. Society, to appoint missionaries within the 
 field of its operations, designate their fields of labor, fix their sal- 
 aries, and secure appropriations for their support. 
 
 Article V. 
 
 The treasurer shall have charge of all the contributions of the 
 churches that shall be sent to him, remit the same to the parent 
 society, and make yearly reports to this society, as also the disburse- 
 ments of the parent society in this field. 
 
 Dr. Atkinson was then unanimously recommended to the A. H. 
 M. S. as general agent or superintendent, with a salary of not less 
 than eighteen hundred dollars. It was also recommended that new 
 churches be organized only in places where there is a prospect of 
 clear growth, and not already crowded with church organizations. 
 
 The minutes of the society, and reports of the gener.il missionary, 
 were not published until 1875, and the latter are largely filled with 
 facts concerning each church aided, and which properly come into 
 the history of those churches. In 1875 a request was made that 
 Dr. Atkinson be made superintendent, and the same was repeated 
 by the association in 187S, when it was granted by the A. H. M. S. 
 
 The following tables taken from the reports show mainly the 
 work of the societv, in a condensed form: 
 
 Officers. 
 
 President, 1873,* O. Dickinson; iS75-'So, Deacon G. Shindler. 
 
 Vice-President, 1S72-1S75, Rev. T. Condon; 1S76-JS80, Deacon 
 L. M. Parrish. 
 
 Secretary, 1872, Rev. P. S. Knight; 1S75, Deacon L. M. Parrish; 
 1876-1880, I. A. Macrum. 
 
 Treasurer, 1S72-1S75, A. Hurgren; 1876-18S0, James Steel. 
 
 Superintendent of the Society and General Missionary of the A. 
 H. M. S. 1S72-1880, Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D. 
 
 *The minutes were not published previous to 1875, and the present secretary has been 
 unable to find some of the figures previous to that time. 
 
Congregational Association. 
 
 53 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 1873 " $ 
 
 iS74 
 
 l8 75 ■••■ 
 
 1S76 236.15 
 
 1S77 201.05 
 
 1878 395.25 
 
 1879 320-14 
 
 1S80 398-65 
 
 Total $1,555.24 
 
 The Life Members 
 now number thirty. Their names are given in the minutes for 
 1879. 
 
 General Missionary's Work. 
 
 53 -a «3 : S ft I « -a 
 
 (U 03 --3 o S 1 O •■=■ 
 
 1873*.. 
 
 IS74... 
 
 1874-5- 
 1875-6. 
 1876-7+ 
 1877-8. 
 
 1878-9. 
 
 1879-80 
 
 105 
 
 102 
 
 112 
 
 152 
 
 100 
 130 
 
 108 
 
 83 
 
 9 
 
 75 
 
 47 
 
 14 
 
 242 
 
 29 
 
 19 
 
 210 . 
 
 
 27 
 10 
 
 190 
 81 . 
 
 39 
 
 19 
 33 
 18 
 
 77 
 185 
 142 
 
 42 
 63 
 80 
 
 228 
 
 416 
 
 390 
 
 416 
 
 285 
 
 394 
 265 
 238 
 
 6,350 
 6,150 
 6,800 
 8,048' . 
 7,192 
 1, ioo ( 
 8,222 
 8,436 
 
 Total 
 
 892 149 1,202 300 2,632 52,298 1,960 
 
 192 
 321I 
 
 789 
 658; 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 8 . 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 •The reports are from January to December for 187o and 1874, and from June to June of 
 the remaining years. 
 
 t For nine months, his voice having failed so as to lay him aside the other three. 
 
 AID RECEIVED FROM THE A. H. M. SOCIETY. 
 
 1877-8, $2,725 for seven churches and two stations. For Gen. Missionary . .$1,000 
 1S78 9, 1,575 for seven chinches " " " • • 1,000 
 
 1879-Sc, 1,500 for churches. " •• 5°° 
 
 Home Missionary Grants. 
 
 In [878 the treasurer of the Home Missionary Society, wrote to 
 the secretary of the parent society, asking for a statement of the 
 amount contributed by our churches to them, and by them to our 
 churches, hoping that the facts would stimulate us to increased 
 
54 Congregational Association. 
 
 liberality. Although it occupied the time of one of their clerks 
 for several days, they cheerfully acceded, trusting that the 
 exhibit would satisfy us that they had not been wanting in interest 
 to us. The statement was as follows: Received from Oregon, 
 $4,S8i.6i; granted to the state, $64,625.00; received from Wash- 
 ington territory, $233.35; granted, $5,450.00, and there was also 
 granted to the general missionary of the whole region, $5,500.00. 
 Total received, $5,114.96; granted, $75,575.00. 
 
 Such a statement occasioned some surprise, yet it was thought 
 that the granting of this sum had stimulated the churches to 
 give a large amount and the executive committee were instructed 
 to procure from each church a statement of all moneys raised by 
 them, which resulted in showing that $262,370.00 had been given, 
 and that each dollar contributed by the society had been the means 
 of our raising $3.40. 
 
 In 1877 the churches were urged to bring up th ir contributions 
 to one dollar a member for the ensuing year, but only five churches 
 did so. 
 
 Church Building. 
 
 In 1857, a committee of three " were appointed to represent to 
 the Congregational church building fund committee, the wants of 
 this territory, and solicit from them a portion of that fund, and also 
 to take charge of and disburse tne same." The next year they 
 reported that they had done so, and $625.00 had been appropriated 
 to Oregon. This committee was continued until 1864, though its 
 reports are not always recorded, when it reported that with that 
 amount and the interest of what was not at once needed, amount- 
 ing in all to $882.44, the churches at Albany, Salem and Forest 
 Grove, had been aided in erecting their edifices, and that none 
 remained. 
 
 A clause in the conditions made with the churches aided was that 
 they should take up annual collections for this object, to aid their 
 weaker brethren, hence, by 1866, $211.80, were reported on hand; 
 the next year no change in the amount was reported, but the fol- 
 lowing year it had increased by collections and interest to $266.33, 
 currency. In 1869 it was $300.06; in 1872 it was "in safe 
 hands and bearing interest," and in 1874 it was said that they had 
 had during the year $345.50, of which $200.00 had been donated 
 
Congregational Association. 55 
 
 to pay the last bills of the church at North Portland, the rest being 
 at interest; also, that the whole amount expended by the committee 
 was $1.^82.44, which had secured the erection, without any debt 
 remaining, of five churches, costing in the aggregate, $17,002.81. 
 It was deplored, however, that onlv one of these churches had 
 taken any collection during the year, according to agreement. 
 Since that time no report has been made by the committee. 
 
CHAPTER VII.— INDIANS AND CHINESE. 
 
 ESIDES work among the whites in this region, there 
 has been labor bestowed on both of these races by 
 members of the association, so that they have come in 
 for a share of consideration. 
 
 Indians. 
 
 The fact that the first Congregational work on the coast was for 
 these natives, that some of the members of this association have been 
 more or less engaged in it since the organization of the body, and 
 that one of the churches is now on an Indian reservation, has 
 caused much interest to be taken in them. Three of the members 
 of 1848 came from that work, and the A. JB. C. F. M. did not 
 wholly relinquish all hope of some of them returning, under its 
 patronage, to their fields, for several years — hence they often asked 
 the advice of this body as to what was wise for them to do. 
 
 In 1850 Rev. H. H. Spalding asked advice in regard to his ac- 
 cepting a sub-Indian agency in the Walla Walla region. The matter 
 was first referred to a committee, which reported favorably, and after 
 several hours consideration by the association, the report was accepted, 
 provided he could find some good friend to accompany him to that 
 region, at least on his first trip, and the providence of God should 
 not interpose ; Rev. Mr. Walker was advised to be his companion, 
 and Mr. S., according to his report for 1851, was engaged in that 
 work for most of the next year. 
 
 After that there was little to be done except to wait patiently 
 until after the Indian war of iS55-'56, the making of the treaties 
 about that time, and the consequent opening of the country east of 
 the Cascades. When this done Mr. Spaulding, always eagerly 
 looking in that direction, brought the matter before the association, 
 even as early as September, 1855. At that time much interesting 
 information was laid before the body in regard to the faithfulness 
 of the Nez Perces Indians and some of the Cayuses, in their relig- 
 
Congregational Association. 57 
 
 ious services, while deprived of teachers, their loyalty to the whites, 
 and their appreciation of education; whereupon it was believed 
 that the time had come for the A. B. C. F. M. to renew work 
 among the Nez Perces, and that society- was recommended to send 
 Mr. Spalding to that field, with two more missionaries and their 
 wives, as soon as practicable, both to preach and translate the 
 Scriptures; and this action was re-affirmed in 1856, 1857 and 1858. 
 In 1857 the A. B. C. F. M. was requested to send some one to ex- 
 plore the Spokane country, and in '85s government was asked to 
 fill the appointments to be made with the Nez Perces, Spokanes 
 and Cayuses with Christian teachers, according to treaty, and a 
 committee was appointed to confer with the superintendent of In- 
 dian affairs to secure these appointments, if possible, thus antedating 
 President Grant's policy by about twelve years. Mr. Spalding 
 soon after went to the Nez Perces, and hence further action was 
 not necessary. 
 
 In 1869 Mr. Spalding again appeared before the association, ask- 
 ing it to examine Executive Document No. 38, in which, by author- 
 ity of government, there had been published a report of Bishop 
 Brouillet, a Roman Catholic, which condemned the missions of the 
 A. B. C. F. M., and especially Dr. Whitman. This was done, and 
 after careful consideration, resolutions were adopted which warmly 
 endorsed the missionaries of the A. B. C. F. M., spoke of their 
 work as of great value in preserving this country to the United 
 States, and asking Congress to publish a document in preparation 
 by Mr. Spalding, as a refutation of the false statements of the 
 priests. These resolutions, with the report of the committee, were 
 published that year, and with other endorsements, by nearly all the 
 Protestant denominations of Oregon, and Mr. Spalding's earnest 
 labors secured the publishing, under congressional sanction, of the 
 desired paper. 
 
 The same year an essay, unpublished, was read, which in the 
 main was approved ; but the wisdom of one recommendation, to 
 take the children away from the tribes, and place them like found- 
 lings in white families, was doubted, and the fact that the Indians 
 were soon to be turned over to the military department, rendered 
 their affairs so dubious, that the association felt that it was best to 
 commit the whole subject to a standing committee for a year, and 
 wait the developments of time. 
 5 
 
58 Congregational Association. 
 
 That committee reported the next year, stating many facts in re- 
 gard to the results of Christian work among the Nez Perces, Cay- 
 uses, Spokanes, Umatillas, Yakimas, Warm Spring and Grand 
 Ronde Indians, as well as some eastern tribes, and closed by recom- 
 mending that they be treated as individuals and not in a commun- 
 istic manner as tribes; whereupon it was resolved, as the judgment 
 of the body, that a convention of the friends of the Indian ought 
 to be held, to embrace delegates from various bodies. This was in- 
 tended to help Mr. Spalding in his efforts. 
 
 The next year the committee reported that this call had been 
 made, but that few attended, and there was no action; but that the 
 bodies appointing delegates had passed resolutions similar to our 
 own, and that Mr. Spalding had been successful. The change from 
 the military to the peace policy was looked on with favor, and 
 government was urged to give their lands to them in fee simple, 
 whether on reservations or on public land, and to treat them as 
 
 men. 
 
 In 1S73 another report was adopted which condemned the giving 
 ot annuities, without corresponding Christian instruction; approved 
 Christian work among them, basing this on past facts; and also ap- 
 proved the peace policy, when it has earnest Christian men in its 
 employ, filled with the missionary spirit, notwithstanding the 
 Modoc war, which it was believed had resulted from a want of 
 Christianity ; deprecated the sentiment which favored the utter ex- 
 termination of the Modoc tribe ; called for justice both among of- 
 fending Indians and guilty whites; stated a belief that Indian wars 
 have generally resulted from real or imaginary wrongs on the part 
 of the whites toward the Indians, and that the chief hope for the 
 Indian lay in the education of their children, a marked feature of 
 the peace policy. 
 
 The three following years the peace policy was again endorsed, 
 with titles to their land for the Indians on the reservations ; while 
 the report and resolutions of 1876 were mainly directed against 
 the transfer of the Indian bureau to the War department. It was 
 recommended that the Home Missionary Society assume as far 
 and as fast as possible the task of giving religious instruction to the 
 Indians, and the O. H. M. Societv's committee to act with reference 
 to this work, which had now come under the American Missionary 
 
Congregational Association. 59 
 
 Association, as well as all the work of that society in this region, 
 as they do with reference to the work of Home Missions. 
 
 During the next two years, the results of missionary labor and 
 the Peace Policy were fully presented, boarding schools recom- 
 mended, and the granting of titles to their land to Indians of indus- 
 trious habits, strongly urged, on account of their love of country; 
 justice, a preventive of war, and means of civilization, before any 
 consolidation of reservations should take place; and in 1879 it was 
 stated that our action had brought the attention of public officers 
 to these needs, and that all our actions for the past two years had 
 been published in the reports of the Board of Indian Commission- 
 ers, while the same policy was still held up as the policy of this 
 association. 
 
 In 1S74 the movement to erect a monument to Marcus Whitman, 
 M. D., was endorsed and a collection taken in the association for 
 the object. 
 
 In 1S80 the Indian boarding school at Forest Grove was com- 
 mended by resolution. 
 
 Chinese. 
 
 Some work, though not a large amount, has been done for 
 these people in our midst, and in 1872 it was voted "that we learn 
 with pleasure that the American Missionary Association have 
 begun a Christian work among the Chinese on this coast, and that 
 we shall welcome and encourage it within the bounds of our as- 
 sociation;" and the next year the body expressed sympathy for the 
 work begun among them in Portland, and recommended it to the 
 co-operation of the churches. 
 
 In 1876, as some persons in the East had recommended that the 
 A. M. A. give up their work among the Chinese on this coast, it 
 was voted as the sense of this body that it ought not to be done, 
 but that it ought to be prosecuted to the full extent of the ability of 
 that society, and that the churches here should also take hold of 
 the work ; also that the Burlingame Treaty be not modified, as some 
 peoDle desire, because it was believed that it would interfere seri- 
 ously with our commercial and industrial interests and missionary 
 work ; but that an effort should be made " to break down by law the 
 present contract system of the Chinese companies, and destroy 
 their power to keep those brought here in a state of virtual slavery." 
 
60 Congregational Association. 
 
 Class legislation, it was said, ought to be set aside, and all persons 
 of every race and color treated equally before the law, as men and 
 citizens ,when the conditions of citizenship are fulfilled, as the 
 spirit of the gospel, which treats them spiritually as individual men. 
 The next vear there was a wide discussion, and an essay on the sub- 
 ject, but no definite conclusion was recorded. 
 
CHAPTER V1IL— BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 
 
 NUMBER of these have been recommended to the 
 churches as worthy of their support, among them 
 the following, to all of which have been made contrL 
 butions by the churches composing the association : 
 American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 
 
 As three of the first members of the association came direct from 
 work under this society, it was but natural that they should retain 
 an affection for it. So strong was this that it was not thought at 
 first necessary to formally recommend it until 1857, at which time 
 an annual collection was asked for it, and again in 1866. Nothing 
 more seems to have been thought necessary until 1873, when a 
 report was made on the subject, a collection taken up on the Sab- 
 bath morning of the session for it, and the " Duties of our churches 
 to the foreign missionary field," was chosen as the subject of the 
 associational sermon for the following year. 
 
 When this was preached, home training of the children, system- 
 atic giving and the monthly concert, were urged. 
 
 In 1S75 an hour was devoted to the subject, when it was men- 
 tioned that it is the duty of all to go to the foreign missionary 
 field, either in person, means, or prayer, and interesting facts were 
 mentioned in regard to India, Africa, and especially the Indians 
 within our bounds. The next year an essay, published, was 
 read, in which systematic giving was urged for the foreign 
 work, it having likewise a reflex influence on home work, 
 and large reference was made to the work in Japan. A year 
 later the committee on missions reported that a number of copies 
 of the Missionary Herald had been granted for free distribution in 
 our limits, some churches put in correspondence with missionaries, 
 and the people urged to become better acquainted with the work. 
 In 1880 an essay was read which mentioned the grand success of 
 the foreign work, although it had lost some of its romance, and 
 many interesting incidents were spoken of. 
 
62 Congregational Association. 
 
 Woman's Board of Missions. 
 
 TL is society was brought into notice by the body in 1873, when 
 the sisters in the churches were asked to organize such missionary 
 societies in their churches, auxiliary to the W. B. M., and one lady 
 member in each church was designated to commend the subject to 
 her sisters. 
 
 In 1875 an hour was given to the object; only two churches re- 
 ported organizations, though others had contributed to the work, 
 and the rest were desired to organize. The next year a paper, 
 published, was read, which spoke of the reasons which had called 
 the society into existence, woman's work for women in heathen 
 lands, so degraded and secluded as to be difficult to reach by men, 
 oftentimes; but a special woman's meeting was not always thought 
 possible in every church, and the subject was referied to the as- 
 sociation. The societies in the two churches reported success in 
 raising money and awakening interest, and it was resolved that the 
 whole subject of women's missions ought to be deemed a part of 
 church work, and that the church should devote one or more meet- 
 ings each month to it. In 1877 it was stated that the women's 
 society in one church had found it very difficult to sustain its organ- 
 ization, so much so, that they had changed their plan, and were now 
 devoting one prayer meeting each month to the subject, and that it 
 had proved successful. 
 
 American Bible Society. 
 
 This has ever held the confidence of the body, having first been 
 commended in 1848, and afterwards in 1856, 1857, 1871 and 1872, 
 when the churches were asked to give it their prayers and an annual 
 collection, and attend its anniversaries. In 1S63 an agent of the 
 society was asked for this region; in 1864 the society was pledged 
 our warm co-operation on account of its noble work for the army; 
 in 1867 its agent, Rev. I. D. Driver, was recommended to the 
 churches ; in 1868 the Bible offered by the American Bible Union 
 was condemned as unsuitable, and in 1875 and 1878 the agent of 
 the American Bible Society, Rev. P. C. Hetzler, was welcomed 
 by the association and listened to with interest in regard to his 
 work. 
 
 American Congregational Union. 
 
 This being the society which had granted aid to us in church 
 
Congregational Association. 63 
 
 building-, mentioned in chapter six, it was by vote commended to the 
 churches in 1858, 1866, 1S70 and 1872, and an annual collection re- 
 quested for it. 
 
 American Education Society. 
 
 In 1S72 it was resolved "that we approve the object as we see 
 the need of this society, which has for its work the aiding of young 
 men in preparing for the ministry." 
 
 American Home Missionary Society. 
 
 This society, like the A. B. C. F. M., was so interwoven with the 
 whole work here, that no formal action seemed necessary ; and 
 hence it was not until 1857 that it was recommended by vote to the 
 churches, and an annual collection asked for it. In 1866 a vote of 
 thanks was given to the society for their liberal aid thus far 
 granted ; the action of the Congregational Council to sustain the 
 work was heartily endorsed ; and a pledge was made to endeavor 
 to raise our full proportion of the $300,000 proposed to be raised 
 for their work. For further action see chapter six. 
 American Tract Societies. 
 
 The Tract Society of New York, embracing at that time the 
 one in Boston, was endorsed in 1848, 1856, and 1857. Owing to its 
 action about 18 58, refusing to publish anything against slavery, as 
 contrary to its constitution, the Boston Society, which was the 
 oldest, but had become auxiliary to the one in New York, withdrew, 
 and published anti-slavery tracts. For the same reason, the as- 
 sociation advised the churches to withhold their contributions and 
 patronage from it and give them to the one in Boston. This action 
 was taken in 1S5S and re-affirmed in 1859 and i860. But after the 
 close of the war, in 1871, when the two societies had been re- 
 united, with that at New York as the leading one, it was again 
 
 endorsed. 
 
 Anti-Slavery and Freedman's Aid Society. 
 
 In 1856 the former, and in 1864 the latter, of these societies were 
 commended to the churches. See chapter three, " Slavery." 
 Christian Commission and Sanitary Association. 
 
 These societies, existing during the civil war, were heartily en- 
 dorsed in 1864. See chapter nine, " State of the Country." 
 
64 Congregational Association. 
 
 Congregational Publishing Society. 
 
 In 1857 the bodv advised membership in this society. 
 Temperance Societies. 
 
 These have been thoroughly approved, many times. See chapter 
 three, " Temperance." 
 
 Young Men's Christian Associations. 
 
 These bodies came up for consideration in 1876, when a short 
 history of them was given, their aims and work set forth, their re- 
 lations with the church discussed, and by resolution they were 
 heartily endorsed. 
 
 American Missionary Association. 
 
 In 1866 this society by formal vote was first recommended to the 
 churches, and again two years later. In 1874 a report was read 
 which spoke in regard to the success of the societv in Africa, and 
 among the negroes, Chinese and Indians, of our country. The 
 next year an hour was devoted to it, which was spent mainly in de- 
 votional exercises, and various interesting incidents related, of work 
 in our midst. An hour was also given to the association in 1866 
 and 1867, when reports were read, which were published, and which 
 referred largely to the objects of the association, to labor for the 
 despised races of America, hence they come properly into chapter 
 seven. Its publication, the American Missionary, was recommended 
 to the churches. 
 
 Missions. 
 
 A standing committee on this general subject was appointed in 
 1877, which worked earnestly during the year, and secured for free 
 distribution fifty-two copies of the American Missionary, Home Mis- 
 sionary and Missionary Herald, aided eleven churches in opening a 
 correspondence with some missionary in the field, and urged 
 monthly missionary meetings in each church, believing that much 
 of our lack of interest in the subject was owing to lack of in- 
 formation. 
 
CHAPTER IX.— MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS 
 
 Business Relations with the Churches. 
 
 IN 1877 an essay was read on this subject, which was 
 
 published, in which the position was taken that the 
 
 Lord's business belonged to the Lord, and was hence 
 
 of great importance, in respect to our attending to it ; 
 
 that it was business, and needed to be attended to in a business way; 
 
 and that it had its natural divisions as much as other business, so that 
 
 to each should be given his work, according to his or her talents. 
 
 Children and the Church. 
 
 In 1S75 an essay, published in the minutes, was read, calling 
 special attention to the relation of Christians to their children, and 
 to the promise, " I will be a God to thee, and to thy seed after 
 
 thee :" that parents are not taken into the school of Christ and 
 
 their children left out in the cold; also somewhat to infant baptism, 
 but more to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The church was also 
 urged, especially through the Sabbath school, to take the place of 
 parents in regard to the children of unbelievers; " to go out into the 
 highways and hedges, and compel them to come in." 
 Christian Unity. 
 
 This subject was brought up in 1865, when it was resolved "that 
 we hail with joy the increasing evidence of an earnest desire for 
 Christian unity, and sympathy among all denominations of our 
 country and the world, and that it is our desire to encourage by 
 precept and example that Christian intercourse that shall tend to 
 unite all God's people in closer bonds of love." 
 Church Membership. 
 
 An essay was read in 1875, and also published, which gave as 
 primary conditions for this, a belief in the essentials ot doctrine, a 
 sincere desire to accept the conditions of salvation, and a willing- 
 
66 Congregational Association. 
 
 ness to enter into covenant with God and his people. Secondary 
 conditions were also spoken of, methods of work, forms of worship, 
 and expressions of doctrine. The first were considered essential 
 to church membership; the second might or might not be laid down 
 by any church, with no impropriety either way. A church may 
 have the second, when Christ's words will be true, " Other sheep 
 have I not of this fold :" it was urged, however, to drop them as 
 fast as practicable, and retain only what the church must have, the 
 first, so that Christ's other words might also prove true, "there shall 
 be one fold and one shepherd." Any one desiring to become a 
 church member should ask : 1st — Have I a fixed purpose to be a life- 
 long Christian? 2nd — In what organization can I find the best 
 home, helps and opportunities for usefulness ? 
 
 There were different opinions on the subject, and no resolution 
 was passed, as was also the case with all other essays mentioned in 
 this chapter, where no such action is spoken of, the essay being in- 
 tended more to awaken thought, than bind the association by any 
 resolution. 
 
 Church and Nation. 
 
 This subject also came up in an essay, in 1876; especially the dis- 
 honesty of government officials, even professed Christians. The 
 causes of this, as mentioned, were a practical neglect of active Chris- 
 tian works, among a certain class of Christian society, and the pop- 
 ularity of religion, while the remedy was a return to Bible morals 
 and life — to the Saviour. 
 
 Church Polity. 
 
 This was the subject of the associational sermon in 1859, which 
 was published that year. It stated that church members, according 
 to the Scriptures, held a relation of mutual equality, mutual liberty, 
 and mutual responsibility; were of final authority, and were author- 
 ized to act in church affairs in the most convenient manner. The 
 conclusions were that the early church polity is the best for all ages, 
 that Congregationalism is scriptural, and that church action is ex- 
 ceeding solemn. 
 
 Comity. 
 
 The only action taken in regard to this was in 1878, when this 
 resolution was passed : " Admonished bv a long course of disastrous 
 
Congregational Association. 67 
 
 history in what is known as 'denominational comity,' we, the pas- 
 tors and delegates of the Congregational churches of Oregon and 
 Washington Territory, feel, that in justice and fidelity to our polity, 
 it is the time to abandon denominational comity, for denominational 
 co-operation, as a juster and safer course to pursue." 
 
 Congregationalism and Missionary Work. 
 
 A long report, which was adopted, was made on this subject in 
 1S73, which took the position that our polity was especially adapted 
 to foreign missions, from the fact that the amount of money con- 
 tributed by our churches for this purpose will compare favorably 
 with that of any other denomination in the world; and to home 
 mission work, because it is not a sect, adds nothing of form to the 
 requirements of any orthodox denomination, and is capable of the 
 most rapid work at the least possible expense. Why it has not been 
 more successful in the past, was stated to be that it has worked 
 into other churches, especially Presbyterian, because of its lack of 
 sectarianism, and that all denominations are tending to our polity, 
 because our ideas have been infused into them. 
 
 Its adaptedness to church expansion at home was brought out in an 
 essay in 1879, and the younger members were recommended to be 
 put to this kind of work. This paper was published in the Pacific. 
 
 Congregational Library. 
 
 This topic was never broached until 1879, when it was 
 brought up in an essay as one branch of the subject — " The objects 
 to be kept in view in these associations and how best to secure 
 them," and was thought favorably of by the body, and arrange- 
 ments made for the beginning of a small library. In :88o the librarian 
 reported two hundred and thirty-nine pamphlets and one hundred 
 and fourteen duplicates, forty-six newspapers, besides manuscripts} 
 circulars and historical articles. 
 
 Criticism. 
 
 The criticism of sermons and plans was talked over in 1850 when 
 it was thought that the body could not properly do so, but that such 
 exercises should be referred to a private meeting or association of 
 ministers only. 
 
Congregational Association. 
 
 English Ritualism. 
 
 This was treated of in a published essay in 1878, which took 
 strong ground against it, especially the priesthood, apostolical suc- 
 cession, baptismal regeneration, and many ceremonies connected 
 with the Lord's Supper, as being earned to such an extreme as to 
 vary but little from Roman Catholicism. 
 
 How to make Sabbath Services more Fruitful, 
 was discussed in 1877, and was answered, by preaching Christ more, 
 more secret prayer, making it evident to the people that we love 
 their souls, and by holding inquiry meetings after evening services. 
 
 Religious Newspaper for Oregon — The "Pacific." 
 
 The subject of a religious newspaper for our region was first put 
 on the docket in 1857, but after a year's consideration the committee 
 could only ask for more time, and having two years more, reported 
 that as yet no successful plan had been devised for effecting this 
 work, but the committee was continued. No further action, how- 
 ever, seems to have been taken until 1865, when Rev. S. V. 
 Blakeslee, being with us, presented the Pacific and asked that it be 
 favorably considered. This was done, Dr. Atkinson was appointed 
 as Oregon editor, an Oregon Department having been added, and 
 the paper was recommended to the churches. The next year it 
 was agair endorsed, and Dr. Atkinson requested to continue his 
 editorial labors. In 1S67 there was no mention made of it, but the 
 Home Missionary, Sabbath at Home, Tract J^ourn'al, Missionary Herald 
 and American Missionary, were commended. In 186S it was again 
 endorsed as more just to our region than the Independent or Advance, 
 an action which was confirmed the following year. By 1869 there 
 was some dissatisfaction about it and the committee reported, stat- 
 ing that no paper represented our wants, and advised the churches 
 to use their judgment as to what paper they might take, and wait 
 until we should be able to have a religious paper of our own. Two 
 years later the association again recommended the Pacific, the last 
 time for several years. 
 
 In 1872, it was the opinion of the body that there was need of a 
 Congregational paper in Oregon, and each pastor was requested to 
 organize a committee in his church to ascertain in regard to sub- 
 scribers and advertisements for it, and there the matter rested, the 
 
Congregational Association. 69 
 
 principal worker about it having removed East, until 1878. That 
 year Rev. S. V. Blakeslee, being present, asked if some arrange- 
 ments could not be made by which the association might unite in 
 the support of the Pacific, and a committee was appointed to 
 consider the subject. That committee the following year reported 
 that satisfactory arrangements had been made with the publishers 
 of that paper, its price reduced from $4.00 to $2.50, and Chaplain 
 Stubbs appointed associate editor for Oregon — whereupon the 
 paper was heartily commended to the churches, and those having 
 articles for it, were requested to furnish them through the Oregon 
 editor, to whom the hearty support of the body was pledged. He 
 was re-elected in 1880, with Rev.- P. S. Knight as trustee. 
 
 Religious Instruction of the Household. 
 
 This was discussed in an essay in 1877. It was defined to be the 
 doctrines arising from the work of all the persons of the Trinity, 
 and the consequent duties arising from this knowledge; the evils 
 of sin, the value of the Bible, together with the teachings of nature, 
 as coming from the same God, and thanksgiving and prayer: this 
 to be done by self-consecration and godly lives of both parents, but 
 especially of the mother. It was also urged to gain and keep the 
 affection and sympathy of the children in their trials, temptations, 
 studies and amusements. Others afterwards spoke of infant bap- 
 tism, the shorter catechism, obedience to parents and God, " do 
 not continually threaten and scold," not forgetting the older ones 
 in our love for the }ounger, a good room for boys as well as girls, 
 family prayer, taking the children to church when young, and 
 parents spending their evenings at home. 
 
 Reviews of Books. 
 
 But twice has such work come before the body. In 1875 a 
 review was read on " Le Conte's Religion and Science," and in 
 1866, on " Christlieb's Modern Doubt and Christian Belief," both 
 of which were highly commended, and the reviews were published. 
 
 Secret Societies. 
 
 Resolutions in regard to them were passed in 1861, opposing 
 them, it is believed, but the minutes of that year are not recorded. 
 The next year the resolutions were rescinded. 
 
*jo Congregational Association. 
 
 State of the Country. 
 
 During the civil war, resolutions in favor of the Union, were 
 often passed, the first being in 1S62, although they are not 
 recorded. The next year, the body having watched with intense 
 nterest the struggle going on, and recognizing with gratitude 
 the success with which God has blessed our national forces, 
 re-affirmed their devotion to the Union. 
 
 In 1864, the resolutions adopted were full, pledging increased 
 efforts for aid to the army, through the Sanitary Association, and 
 more especially through the Christian Commission, as working both 
 for their temporal and spiritual good ; recognizing the fact that the 
 government was similar in principle to Congregationalism, the 
 principle of self-government, and that both in church and state, it 
 had been assailed in the South; imploring Almighty aid upon the 
 government and its officers; gratefully acknowledging God's 
 hand in freeing the slave; recommending to the churches a gene- 
 rous support of the Freedman's Aid Society, to prepare him for his 
 new state of freedom; and, renewing pledges to the Bible and Tract 
 Societies, because of their noble work in the army. 
 
 The reports for 1865 and 1S66, spoke anew of the need of 
 education and religion to enable the freedmen to assume the duties 
 which were soon to fall upon them, and claimed that no difference 
 ought to be made between the two races on account of color — bas- 
 ing the right of suffrage, both among whites and blacks, on know- 
 ledge sufficient to read and write intelligently. 
 
 Science and Christianity. 
 
 In 1865, a paper was read on this subject, and discussion followed, 
 but no definite action was taken. 
 
 ' ' Exegesis " — Su bj ect, Day . 
 
 In 1880, an exegesis on this word, as used in the first chapter of 
 Genesis, was read, which stated that the root of the word was from 
 heat, from which it came to mean light and heat, as contrasted 
 with darkness, then the whole period of light and darkness — an 
 epoch. In the discussion which followed, some agreed with the 
 essay, and some, while accepting the general principles of the 
 essay, found the difficulties so great in regard to that meaning of 
 the word in this chapter, as to befieve in a more literal translation 
 of it there. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 Northwestern Association of Congregational Ministers. 
 
 LTHOUGH this body was organized at an early day, 
 yet up to December, 1875, all records have been lost, 
 and all that is known of it before that time, has been 
 gathered from the memory of the oldest members. 
 From this . source of information it is now on record that it 
 was organized at Oregon City, Sept., 1848, by Revs. Har- 
 vey Clark, G. H. Atkinson, E. Walker, C. Eells and Lewis 
 Thompson; that the meetings were to be semi-annual, and that 
 the pastor of the church where the meeting was held was to be 
 moderator, and C. Eells, clerk. February, 1849, and February, 
 1850, meetings were held at Forest Grove. In 1856, a meeting 
 was held at the house of C. Eells, near Hillsboro, when P. B. 
 Chamberlain was clerk, and probably one at the house of Rev. J. 
 S. Griffin, near Hillsboro, in 1857 or 1858. December 28th, 1875, 
 a meeting was called at Portland, when Rev. E. Godfrey, was 
 received from the church of the United Brethren ; the confession of 
 faith of the general association, printed in the minutes of 1872, were 
 adopted as the standard of doctrine of the body. A collect on dancing, 
 giving its history as a religious custom and as a means of entertain- 
 ment, presented by Dr. Atkinson, and an essay on cosmic educa- 
 tion, read by Rev. P. S. Knight, urging the culture of the whole 
 man, spiritual as well as physical and intellectual, and calling upon 
 the Christian church to take the lead, were the papers read. 
 
 Since then a meeting has been held annually, in connection with 
 the session of the general association, and the main business done, 
 may be seen by reference to the following: 
 
 Members. 
 
 This list was made out according to the best knowledge in 1879: 
 
7 2 
 
 Congregational Association. 
 
 When 
 Received. 
 
 1848 
 
 1848 
 
 1848 
 
 1848 
 
 About 
 
 1852 
 
 About 
 
 1856 
 
 1867 
 
 1857 
 1867 
 
 1875 
 1872 
 1883 
 
 l67S 
 1876 
 1876 
 1876 
 1876 
 1877 
 1877 
 1878 
 1879 
 1880 
 1880 
 1880 
 
 Name. 
 
 Date of Dismissal. 
 
 . Harvey Clark 1858 Deceased. 
 
 . G. H. Atkinson 
 
 .C. Eells 
 
 . E. Walker 1877 Deceased. 
 
 . L. Thompson 
 
 About 
 , D. R. Williams 1853 Deceased. 
 
 . P. B. Chamberlain 
 
 . O. Dickinson 
 
 . T. Condon 
 
 J. F. Damon 1880.. 
 
 .P. S. Knight 
 
 .J. H. D. Henderson 
 
 . H. Lyman 
 
 . C. A. Huntington 1880 . . 
 
 J. D. Eaton 1876.. 
 
 .W. R. Butcher 1877.. 
 
 .D. B. Gray 
 
 . E. Godfrey 1879 . . 
 
 . F. Crang 
 
 J. F. Ellis 1880.. 
 
 .W. M. Stewart 1880.. 
 
 .M. Eells 
 
 . P. Harrison 1880 . . 
 
 .J. A. Cruzan 
 
 . R. S. Stubbs 
 
 . A. W. Bower 
 
 . Wm. Capps 
 
 . S. S. Van Dersal 
 
 J. W. Watts 
 
 Officers. 
 
 .Dismissed. 
 
 .Dismissed to Wash. Ter. Ass'n. 
 
 .Dismissed to W. T. Ass'n. 
 Removed to New Jersey. 
 Removed to Indiana. 
 
 Dismissed. 
 
 . Dismissed to W. T. Ass'n. 
 ditto. 
 
 . Dismissed to W. T. Ass'n. 
 
 Now chosen for three years. 
 
 Moderator— 1 875-1 880, H.Lyman; Clerk— 1848,0. Eells; 1856, 
 P. B. Chamberlain; 1875, J. D. Eaton, pro tern; 1876-1880, M. 
 Eells. 
 
 Persons Licensed. 
 
 All persons licensed, as well as those ordained and installed, have 
 not been thus approved by this body, but there seems to be no more 
 appropriate place for a list of such persons than in this chapter: 
 1862 — Sept. D. B. Gray, one year; by the General Association. 
 1863 — do do do do 
 
Congregational Association. 73 
 
 1864 — Sept.,E. A. Tanner, one year; by the General Association. 
 
 1865 — do do do do 
 
 1865 P. S. Knight, one year, by the Ministerial Association. 
 
 J. F. Damon, do do 
 
 1867 — June, C. A. Hnntington, do 
 
 1869 — do William Adams, do do 
 
 1870 — do do do do 
 
 187 1 — do do three years do 
 1871 — do C.A.Huntington, do do 
 
 1577 — do Samuel Greene, one year do 
 
 1578 — do do do 
 1878— do S. S. Markham, do do 
 1878— do N. W. Lane, do do 
 
 1578 — do C. F. Beattie, two years do 
 
 1579 — do N. W. Lane, one year do 
 1880 — do Edward Rogers, do do 
 
 Ordinations. 
 
 1853 — April 7th, Thomas Condon, at Portland. Sermon by G. H. 
 Atkinson; charge by H. Lyman; right hand of fellow- 
 ship by H. H. Spalding. 
 
 1863 — Sept. 20th, D. B. Gray, Albany, Ogn. Sermon by Rev. S. 
 H. Marsh, 2 Tim. 1,2; ordaining prayer by Rev. S. 
 H. Marsh; charge by Rev. O. Dickinson. 
 
 1866 — Mar. , P. S. Knight, Oregon City, Ogn. Sermon by 
 
 Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D.; prayer by Rev. O. Dick- 
 inson; charge by Rev. H. Lyman. 
 
 1S67 — Sept. , J. F. Damon, at Albany. 
 
 1869 — Nov. 16th, Rev. W. J. Clark, Salem, Ogn. Sermon by 
 Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D.; ordaining prayer by Rev. 
 O. Dickinson; charge by Rev. P. S. Knight; right hand 
 of fellowship by Rev. P. S. Knight. 
 
 1872 — June 19th, J. E. Walker, Forest Grove, Ogn. Sermon by 
 Rev. O. Walker;- prayer by Rev. E. Gerry; charge 
 by Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D.; right hand of fellow- 
 ship by Rev. H. Lyman. 
 
 1872 — June 22d, C. A. Huntington, Portland, Ogn.; prayer by 
 Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D.; charge by Rev. T. Con- 
 don. 
 6 
 
74 Congregational Association. 
 
 1879 — Sept. , William Capps, at Wenass, W. T. Sermon, or- 
 daining prayer, right hand of fellowship and charge, by 
 Rev. D. B. Gray. 
 
 1S70— Mar. 2 1 st, Rev. N. W. Lane, M. D., Port Gamble, W. T. 
 Sermon by Rev. J. F. Ellis; ordaining prayer and 
 charge by Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D.; right hand of 
 fellowship, Rev. M. Eells. 
 
 Installations. 
 
 1S53 — Oct. 33d, Rev. G. H. Atkinson, over the church at Oregon 
 City. Sermon by Rev. O. Dickinson; installation 
 praver by Rev. C. Eells; right hand of fellowship by 
 Rev. J. S. Griffin ; charge to the pastor by Rev. H. 
 Clarke; charge to the people by Rev. H. Lyman. 
 
 1857 — ( ^ ct - 28th, Rev. P. B. Chamberlain, over the church at Port- 
 land, Oregon. Sermon by Rev. S. H. Marsh; installa- 
 tion prayer, Rev. E. Walker; charge to pastor. Rev. 
 H. Lyman; charge to church, Rev. G. H. Atkinson. 
 
 1871 — June, iSth, Rev. W. A. Tenney, over the church at Astoria, 
 Oregon. Sermon by Rev. T. Condon. 
 
 This association is composed of ordained ministers in good and 
 regular standing, and its object is to promote fellowship and mutual 
 improvement, maintain a standard of ministerial integrity and 
 faithfulness, and examine and license candidates for the ministry. 
 In connection with the last named business, is a standing committee 
 of three on a course of study, elected triennally. Its full constitu- 
 tion and by-laws, adopted in 1S79, were published with the minutes 
 of that year. 
 
CHAPTER XL— BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 ESIDES the information contained in this chapter a 
 large amount has been gathered, which cannot be em- 
 bodied here for want of space, but it has been placed 
 on file in the library of the association. A few only of 
 the members have failed to give the information requested. One 
 brother suggested that the same information should also be pub- 
 lished in regard to the ministers' wives, as they have borne an 
 equal share in the labors, and often more than a half. The writer 
 acknowledges this, but want of space has obliged him to limit the 
 sketches to actual members. 
 
 Harvey Clark 
 Was born at Chester, Vermont, October 7, 1802; came to Oregon 
 1840; pastor, Forest Grove, 1845-1854; died, March 25, 1S5S. Me- 
 morial resolutions in the minutes of 1858. 
 Lewis Thompson. 
 Elkanah Walker, 
 Born, North Yarmouth, Maine, August 7, 1805; graduated Bangor 
 Theological Seminary, 1837; ordained, Brewer,. Maine, February, 
 1838; came to Oregon, 1S38. Missionary American Board of Com- 
 missioners for Foreign Missions among Spokane Indians, 183S- 
 1848; Oregon City, 1S48-1S49; Forest Grove, 1S49-1877; pastor 
 Presbyterian church at Forest Grove, 1S54-1 856, after which pastor 
 or joint pastor of Congregational church for fifteen years; died at 
 Forest Grove, November 21, 1S77. Funeral sermon published in 
 1877. Memorial resolutions in minutes of 1878. 
 
 Gushing Eells, 
 Born, Blandford, Massachusetts, February 16, 1S10; graduated, Wil- 
 liams College, 1834, and East Windsor Theological Seminary, 1S37; 
 ordained, Blandford, Massachusetts, October 25, 1837; came to 
 Oregon, 1838. Missionary American Board of Commissioners for 
 
76 Congregational Association. 
 
 Foreign Missions among Spokane Indians, 1838-1848. Taught 
 school Salem, 1848-1849; at Forest Grove, 1849-185 1 arkl 1S57- 
 1860; at Hillsboro, 1851-1857; established Whitman Seminary, 
 Walla Walla, Washington Territory, and taught some in it, 1860- 
 1872; preached, Skokomish, Washington Territory, 1872-1875; 
 Colville, 1875, Colfax, 1876. 
 
 George Henry Atkinson, D.D., 
 Born, Newburyport, Massachusetts, May 10, 1819, graduated Dart- 
 mouth College, New Hampshire, 1S43 and Andover Theological 
 Seminary, Massachusetts, 1846; ordained, Newbury, Vermont, 
 February, 1847; came to Oregon, 1S48; pastor, Oregon City, 1848- 
 1864; at Portland, 1S63-1S73; General Missionary and Superin- 
 tendent of Home Missions, 1873, and as such, pastor of a number 
 of churches. 
 
 Henry Spalding, 
 Born, Steuben county, New York, November 26, 1803; graduated 
 Western Reserve College, Ohio, 1833, and Lane Seminary, Ohio; 
 ordained, 1835, on tne Chemung, New York, by Presbytery of 
 Bath; came to Oregon, 1S36. Missionary American Board of Com- 
 missioners for Foreign Missions among the Nez Perces, 1836-1847; 
 pastor, Calapooia, 184S-1859; missionary among the Nez Perces, 
 1S59-1874. Died, Lapwai, Idaho, August 3, 1874. 
 
 Horace Lyman, 
 Born, East Hampton, Massachusetts, November 16, 1815; grad- 
 uated, Williams College, Massachusetts, 1S42; studied theology 
 two years at Auburn, Nova Scotia, and one year at Andover, Mas- 
 sachusetts; ordained, Castleton, Vermont, November 1, 1S48; 
 arrived in Oregon, November, 1849; pastor, Portland and Mil- 
 waukee, 1849-1S54; Dallas, 1854-1857; Professor Pacific Univer- 
 sity, 1 857-1 879; pastor or joint pastor much of the time at Forest 
 Grove. 
 
 D. R. Williams, 
 
 Born, Massachusetts, ; came to Oregon 1850; taught school, 
 
 Forest Grove, 1850-1851; preached Salem, 1S52-1853; returned 
 East in 1S53, but died on reaching New York city. 
 
 J. W. Goodell, 
 Was born in Massachusetts, came to Oregon at an early day, 
 moved to Washington Territory, 1852; died about 1859. 
 
Congregational Association. 77 
 
 Sidney Harper Marsh, 
 Born, Hampden-Sidney College, Virginia, August 29, 1825; grad- 
 uated, University of Vermont, 1S46, studied theology at Union 
 Seminary, New York, 1851— '52 ; came to Oregon, 1853; president 
 Pacific University, Forest Grove, 1854-1879. Pastor or joint pastor 
 at same place much of the time. Died, Foiest Grove, February 2, 
 1879. Memorial resolutions and sketch in minutes of 1879. 
 
 Obed Dickinson, 
 Born, Amherst, Massachusetts, June 15, 1818; graduated Marietta 
 College, Ohio, 1849, and Andover Theological Seminary, Mas- 
 sachusetts, 1S52; ordained, West Andover, Massachusetts, 1S52; 
 came to Oregon via Cape Horn, arriving March, 1853. Pastor 
 Salem, March, 1853, April, 1867. In business Salem, 1867. 
 
 Thomas Condon, 
 Born, Dublin, Ireland; ordained, Portland, Oregon, 1S53; pastor, St. 
 Helens, 1S53-1854; at Forest Grove, 1854-1855; at Albany, 1855- 
 1S61 ;at The Dalles, 1S61-1S73; professor, Pacific University, Forest 
 Grove, 1873-1876, and at State University, Eugene City, 1876. 
 
 Milton B. Starr, 
 Born, Ohio; came to Oregon, 1S53; pastor Albany, Corvallis and 
 Sand Ridge, 1853-1863; removed to California, 1863, residence in 
 California, 1863. 
 
 Peasley P. Chamberlain, 
 
 Born, New Hampshire ; graduated Bangor Theological 
 
 Seminary, Maine, ; came to Oregon, 1855; pastor, Portland, 
 
 1S55— 1S62 ; at Walla Walla, Washington Territory, 1S63; teach- 
 ing school also much of the time. 
 
 'William Alfred Tenny, 
 Born, St. Albans, Maine, November 18, 1827; graduated Bangor 
 Theological Seminary, Maine, 1856; ordained July 31, 1856, at 
 Bangor; came to Oregon, 1S56; pastor Eugene City, 1856-1857; 
 Astoria, 1S57-1859; Dalles, 1859-1S61; Forest Grove, 1861-1862; 
 in California until 1871, Astoria, 1871-1S75; in California and Mas- 
 sachusetts, 1875. 
 
 D. B. Gray, 
 
 Born, May 8, 1S36, Fairhaven, Preble County, Ohio; came to 
 Oregon 1S51 ; studied theology under Rev. W. Blaine and Rev. S. 
 G. Irvine, Oregon; licensed and ordained in Oregon (see chapter 
 
78 Congregational Association. 
 
 ten); pastor, Albany, 1862-1865; Astoria, 1865-1S69; in Oakland, 
 California, 1869- 1873, when he returned to Oregon, owing to fail- 
 ure of health; in business Eugene City, 1S73-1S77; pastor, Oregon 
 City, 1877-1878; The Dalles, 1878. 
 
 Edward A. Tanner, D.D., 
 Born, Waverly, Illinois, November 29, 1S37; graduated Illinois 
 College, 1857; came to Oregon, 1861; principal, Tualatin Academy 
 and professor, Pacific University, 1861-1S65; studied theology pri- 
 vately, licensed; 1864, at Salem; returned to Illinois, 1S65, as pro- 
 fessor in Illinois College; ordained, Chapin, Illinois, October 5, 
 
 1873. 
 
 P. S. Knight, 
 
 Born, Boston, Massachusetts, October 21, 1836; came to Oregon 
 
 1853; studied theology privately; licensed and ordained in Oregon, 
 
 (see chapter ten);pastor Oregon City, 1S65-1867; Salem, 1S67. 
 
 John F. Damon, 
 Was born in Massachusetts, licensed and ordained in Oregon, (see 
 chapter ten); pastor Albany, 1865-1 868; Seattle, Washington Ter- 
 ritory, 1869-1873; supplied stations at Port Gamble and Port 
 Madison, 1874-1878, when his health failed. Residence, Seattle. 
 
 Daniel A. Miles, 
 Born, Massachusetts; came to Oregon, 1S67; pastor, Forest Grove, 
 1867-1869. Health failed and he returned to Massachusetts. 
 
 G. A. Huntington, 
 Born, Vergennes, Vermont, April 12, [812; came to Washington 
 Territory, 1865; studied theology privately ; licensed and ordained 
 in Oregon, (see chapter ten); preached, Olympia, 1871-74; Indian 
 Agent, Neah Bay, 1S74-1S77; resided in Vermont, 1877-79; 
 Olympia, 1879. 
 
 J. H. D. Henderson, 
 
 Born, Livingston county, Kentucky, July 23, 18 10; studied theology 
 under Rev. R. D. Morrow, D.D., Columbus, Ohio; ordained by 
 Salt River Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyte.ian church, 
 New London, Missouri, 183S; preached in Missouri, 183S-1843; 
 Pennsylvania, 1843-185 1; Missouri, 185 1-1S52 ; came to Oregon, 
 1S52; preached in Yamhill county, i852-'57; at Eugene City and 
 vicinity, 1857. 
 
 W. R. Butcher, 
 
 Born, September 25, 184 1, Waldon, Essex county, England, came 
 
Congregational Association. 79 
 
 to the U. S. in 1S (.7; studied civil engineering at McGill University, 
 
 Montreal, 1859; graduated Chicago Theological Seminary, 1S69; 
 
 ordained, Galesburg, Illinois, June 15, 1869; came to Oregon, 1869; 
 
 pastor, Albany, 1869-1873; The Dalles, 1873-1876; returned east 
 
 to Indiana, 1S76. 
 
 E. Gerry, 
 
 Born, Braintree, Vermont, July 5, 1837; graduated Middlebury, 
 Vermont, 1S62, and Andover Theological Seminary, Massachu- 
 setts, 1S66; ordained, West Randolph, Vermont, September 24, 
 1S6S; same year came to Oregon; pastor, Oregon City, 1868-1872. 
 Returned to Vermont. 
 
 William J. Clark, 
 Was born in Perry county, Illinois, December 28, 1832; graduated 
 Amherst College, Massachusetts, 1S64 Chicago Theological Sem- 
 inary, 1S69; came to Oregon, 1S69; ordained, November, 1869, at 
 Salem, Oregon (see chapter ten). Pastor, Astoria, 1869-1870, 
 when he removed to California. Present pastorate Oakalla, Illinois. 
 
 C. M. Blake, 
 Was born at Brewer, Maine, December 24, 1819; came to Oregon, 
 
 1S71. 
 
 William Royal Joyslin, 
 
 Born, Lancaster, New Hampshire, September 11, 1833; graduated 
 Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, 1856, and Andover Theo- 
 logical Seminary, Massachusetts, 1861; preached a year at Bath, 
 New Hampshire; ordained, Berlin, Vermont, February 4,1864; 
 came to Oregon, 1S71; pastor, East Portland, 1871-1873; returned 
 East; present residence, Rochester, Massachusetts. 
 
 James D. Eaton, 
 Born, Lancaster, Grant county, Wisconsin, March 18, 1848; grad- 
 uated Beloit College, Wisconsin, 1869, and Andover Theological 
 Seminary, 1S72; ordained Lancaster, Wisconsin, December 15, 
 1S72; same year came to Oregon; pastor, Portland, 1873-1876; re- 
 turned the same year east, New Jersey, 1876. 
 
 Norman McXeod, 
 came to Washington Territory, 1873; pastor Seattle, 1S73-1874; re- 
 turned to Wisconsin, 1S74. 
 
 Myron Eells, 
 Born, Tsheinakain, Spokane county, Washington Territory, Oc- 
 
80 Congregational Association. 
 
 tober 7, 1843; graduated, Pacific University, Oregon, 1S66; Hart- 
 ford Theological Seminary, 1871; ordained, Hartford, Connecticut, 
 June 14, 1871; pastor, Boise City, Idaho, 1S71-1874; Skokomish, 
 Washington Territory, 1874. 
 
 Phares Harrison, 
 Born, Almira, New York, March 6, 1824; studied theology under 
 Dr. Dempster, founder of Theological Biblical Institute at Concord, 
 New Hampshire; ordained, Alden, Iowa, January 19, 1867; pastor 
 Iowa, 1 867-1868; California, 1868-1872 ; Sehome, Washington Ter- 
 ritory, 1S72-1878; assistant Seaman's Chaplain, Seattle, 1S7S-1879; 
 pastor, North Seattle, Washington Territory, 1880. 
 
 Jacob F. Ellis, 
 Born, Fremont, Ohio, October 11, 1842, graduated, Wheaton Col- 
 lege, Illinois, 1869, Oberlin Theological Seminary, Ohio, 1873; 
 ordained, Toledo, Ohio, November 11, 1873; came to Oregon next 
 year; pastor Forest Grove, 1875-1876; Seattle, Washington Ter- 
 ritory, 1876. 
 
 Frederick Crang, M.D. 
 
 Born, High Littleton, Somersetshire, England, April 11, 1S12; 
 studied theology, Kingswood College, England; ordained, Bath, 
 England, July 19, 1834; came from Missouri in 1875; pastor 
 Astoria, 1875-1878; physician at Forest Grove, 1879. 
 
 George W. Skinner, 
 Came to Washington Territory 1876; pastor, Olympia, 1S76; re- 
 turned to Kansas the same year; Kansas, 1876. 
 
 William M. Stewart, 
 Born, Brownsville, Pennsylvania, April 24, 1794; ordained, i860; 
 came to Washington Territory, 1874, joined Congregational body, 
 1876; pastor, Semiahmoo, 1876. 
 
 Elisha Godfrey, 
 Born, Tippecanoe county, Indiana, August 6, 1839; studied theol- 
 ogy privately; ordained, Astoria, Illinois, by United Brethren 
 church; came to Oregon, 1873; joined Congregational body, 1875; 
 left it 1879; preached and farmed in Benton county, 1875-1S79; re- 
 turned to Illinois, 1879. 
 
 John A. Gruzan, 
 Born" near- Cross Plains, Ripley county, Indiana, June 10, 1841, 
 spent two years at Beloit College, Wisconsin, closing, 1868; grad- 
 
Congregational Association. 
 
 uated Chicago Theological Seminary, 1871, ordained, St. Charles, 
 Illinois, September 28, 187 1 ; pastor, Pennsylvania, 1874-1S76; Mas- 
 sachusetts, 1876-1 877; came to Oregon, 1877; pastor, Portland, 1S77- 
 
 1SS1. 
 
 Walter B. Floyd, 
 
 Born, Alton, Illinois, November 13, 1834; licensed, Chicago Theo- 
 logical Seminary, iS7S;came to Oregon, 1878; pastor, Albany, 187S- 
 1S79; returned to finish theological studies at New Haven Semi- 
 nary, Connecticut, 1879. 
 
 Robert Sherwood Stubbs, 
 Born, Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, June 18, iS23;cameto 
 United States, 1S48; graduated, Biblical Institute, Concord, New 
 Hampshire, 1853; ordained as Deacon, Methodist Episcopal church 
 at Littleton, New Hampshire, March, 1856, and as elder at 
 Rochester, New Hampshire, March, 1S5S; came to Oregon, 1876, 
 joined Congregational church, 1877, Chaplain American Seamans' 
 Friend Society, 1876. 
 
 S. S. Markham, 
 Born, Ohio, 1820; came to Oregon, 1848; licensed, first by the 
 
 Methodist Episcopal church and by the Congregational 
 
 Association in 1878; preached, South Bay, 1878. 
 
 N. W. Lane, M.D., 
 Born, Harford, Cortland county, New York, Nov. 7, 1838; grad- 
 uated Medical Department, University of Pennsylvania, iS59;came 
 to Washington Territory, 1877; licensed first by Methodist 
 Episcopal church, and in 1878 by Congregational Association; 
 ordained, Port Gamble, Washington Territory, March 21, 18S0, 
 (see chapter ten); assistant seamans' chaplain, Seattle, 187S-1879; 
 pastor, Port Gamble, 1S79. 
 
 Amos W. Bower, 
 Born, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1S52; took 
 partial collegiate course at York Collegiate Institution, Pennsyl- 
 vania; studied theology under Professor t J. W. Bentz, New Berlin, 
 Pennsylvania; ordained, Baltimore, Maryland, March 3, 1876, by 
 the Evangelical church; joined Congregational body, 1879; pastor, 
 
 Oregon City, 1S79. 
 
 Erwin W. Allen, 
 
 Born, Vernon, Oneida county, New York, November 20, 18 14, 
 
 graduated, Hamilton College, New York, 1842, studied theology at 
 
82 Congregational Association. 
 
 Auburn Theological Seminary; ordained, 1852, Kirtland, Ohio; 
 preached, New York, 1852-1857 and 1863-1S73; Ohio, 1857-1863; 
 came to Washington Territory, 1872; preached, Dayton, 1872. 
 
 H. T. Cowley, 
 Born, Seneca Falls, New York, October 9, 1838; graduated, 
 Antioch College, Ohio, 1867, Auburn Theological Seminary, New 
 York, 187 1 ; ordained, Leroy, New York, by Genesee Presbytery, 
 1 871; came to Idaho same year, as missionary to Nez Perces In- 
 dians, 1871-1873; Mount Idaho, 1873-1874; missionary to Spokane 
 Indians, W. T., 1874-1879; joined Congregational body, 1879; 
 pastor, Spokane Falls, 1879. 
 
 C. F. Beattie, 
 Born, Washington county, Virginia, October 11, 1827; came to 
 Oregon, 1850; licensed by Methodist Church, 1855; joined Congre- 
 gational body, 1878; preached, Beaver Creek, 1878. 
 
 William Capps, 
 Born, Piatt ville, Wisconsin, February 14, 1840; came to Oregon, 
 1S47; studied theology privately; licensed first by Methodist Epis- 
 copal church, 1875; joined Congregational church, 1S79; ordained, 
 1879. (See chapter ten.) 
 
 J. W. Watts, 
 
 Born, Pike county, Missouri, November 6, 1S30; came to Oregon, 
 
 1852; ordained in Oregon, 1865; resided and preached in Yamhill 
 
 county, 1865-1879; Oregon City, 1S79; joined Congregational 
 
 Association, 1880. 
 
 E. P. Roberts, 
 
 Born, Dorset, Bennington county, Vermont, October 23, 1825; 
 graduated, Williams College, Massachusetts, 1854; Bangor Theo- 
 logical Seminary, 1S57; came to Oregon, 1861; pastor, Eight-Mile 
 Creek, 1879. 
 
 S. S. Van Dersal, 
 
 pastor, Forest Grove, 1S77. 
 
 The following persons, although not regularly connected with 
 the association, have been so related to its history that sketches of" 
 their lives are inserted. 
 
 Marcus Whitman, M.D., 
 Born, Rushville, New York, Sept. 4, 1802, departed on exploring 
 tour under American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis- 
 sions, February, 1835^0 Rocky Mountains; returned, August, 1835, 
 
Congregational Association.! 83 
 
 married February, 1836, to Narcissa Prentiss, daughter of Hon. 
 Stephen Prentiss, who was born Prattsburg, New York, March 
 14, 1808; came to Oregon, 1836, under American Board of Commis- 
 sioners for Foreign Missions as missionaries, Walla Walla 1836- 
 1847. He returned East, 1842, came back, 1843, leading first emi- 
 gration of wagons, both massacred by Cayuse Indians, November 
 
 29, 1847. 
 
 J. E. Walker, 
 
 Born, Tsheinakain, Spokane county, Washington Territory, Feb- 
 ruary 10, 1844; graduated, Pacific University, Oregon, 1S68; Bangor 
 Theological Seminary, Maine, 1871; ordained, Forest Grove, 
 Oregon, 1872 (see chapter ten); Missionary, American Board of 
 Commissioners for Foreign Missions, Fuhchau, China, 1872-1876; 
 
 Shaowu, China, 1876. 
 
 James W. Harris, 
 
 Born, Cornwall, England, April 1831; studied in Beloit College, 
 Wisconsin; studied theology privately; ordained, Grand Rapids, 
 Wisconsin, February, 1862; pastor, Grand Rapids, i86i-'7; Evans- 
 ville, Wisconsin, i86S-'77. The Dalles, Oregon, 1S77— '78; returned 
 east, 1878; Albany, Oregon, 1879. 
 
 J. A. Banfleld, 
 Born, Lancaster, New Hampshire, January 23, 1838; studied theol- 
 ogy privately ; ordained, Louisville, Kansas, March 8, 1868; preached 
 and taught school, Kansas, 1868-1874; California, 1874-1878; came 
 to Washington Territory, 1878; pastor, New Tacoma, 1879. 
 
CHAPTER XII.— HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THEl 
 
 CHURCHES. 
 
 (During 1880 most of these sketches were published in the Pacific, previous td 
 being gathered in pamphlet form.) 
 
 OREGON CITY, OREGON. 
 
 Rev. Harvey Clark 
 
 AS preaching to a little company of settlers at this placet 
 
 in 1844, wnen it was proposed to organize a church J 
 
 Three brethren were desirous of uniting — P. H.] 
 
 Hatch, Robert Moore and O. Russell. This was dona 
 
 May 25, 1S44, and it was called the First Presbyterian church oil 
 
 the Willamette Falls. Mr. Clark went from his residence at' 
 
 Forest Grove, about thirty miles distant, to minister to the churchj 
 
 Mr. P. H. Hatch was ordained as an elder by Rev. L. Thompson^ 
 
 a Presbyterian minister, who preached at the place a few times inn 
 
 1847. 
 
 Rev. G. H. Atkinson 
 
 Arrived in that place June 21, 1848, having been sent out by the! 
 American Home Missionary Society, with little knowledge of what 
 had been done, and found the church increased to seven members, 
 with preaching hardly once a month, but sustaining a Sabbath- 
 school in connection with the Baptist church, Mr. Hatch coming 
 four miles on foot, or in an ox wagon, in order to superintend it. 
 
 After consultation with Mr. Clark, it was arranged that Mr. 
 Atkinson should remain at Oregon City. His first service was 
 held in the south room of a house owned by Mr. Hatch; and after- 
 wards the room known as the court-room was fitted up by Messrs. 
 Hiram Clark, M. Perrin and others, and rented for church services.! 
 Mr. Moore, the leading Presbyterian member, having withdrawn 
 in order to help in the Presbyterian church at Linn City, in 1849 
 the name of the church was changed to the First Congregational 
 church of Oregon City. 
 
Congregational Association. 85 
 
 About the same time the society was formed and incorporated, 
 and the lot on which the church now stands was bought for $250. 
 After two years, the influx of U. S. troops compelled the church 
 to move from the court-room, when they worshipped in the base- 
 ment of a house which in 1876 was owned by Thomas Charman, 
 (Esq.; but in August, 1850, the wandering ark settled down in its 
 present church-building, which was then dedicated— the first formal 
 dedication of a church in Oregon, and probably of a Protestant 
 hurch on the Pacific coast. Mr. Atkinson preached the sermon, 
 and was assisted in the other services by Rev. J. H. Wilbur of the 
 M. E. church, Rev. H. Johnson of the Baptist church, and St. M. 
 Fackler of the Episcopal church. Only $1,600 of the entire cost — 
 $3,900 — was, however, then subscribed. The rest was on the 
 pastor's hands, everything having been very expensive — lumber, 
 $80 a thousand; carpenter's wages, $10 a day; windows, $20 each; 
 ^nd other things in proportion. Mr. Atkinson had done much of 
 the work of clearing the lots, stacking the lumber, and carrying 
 brick and mortar, as much of the male population had gone to the 
 newly discovered gold mines of California. 
 
 Dr. Atkinson remained as pastor about fifteen years, though 
 rnuch of the time he was necessarily engaged in other work. He 
 had preaching stations at Clear creek, the Philip Foster settlement, 
 Clackamas City, James Barlow's, Boggs' prairie, Baker and Marks' 
 prairie, Linn City and Milwaukee. He also aided in the preliminary 
 work at Portland, which resulted in the organization of the church 
 at that place; and in 1854 and 1855, when it was without a pastor, 
 he was called there from one-third to one-half the time. Educa- 
 tion, too, occupied much of the pastor's thoughts, who aided very 
 greatly in establishing Tualatin Academy and Pacific University 
 and the Clackamas County Female Seminary, constantly serving 
 pn their boards of Trustees; going east in 1852, where he remained 
 ten months in the inteiests of both institutions, and teaching for 
 one year, about 186 1-2, in the latter, which had become a graded 
 free school, by means of which he freed himself from debt, the 
 first time for fifteen years. The church and congregation also very 
 naturally became interested in the same cause, and contributed lib- 
 erally to both institutions. Dr. Atkinson also took much interest 
 in public schools, and was the first school commissioner of Clack- 
 amas county. 
 
Congregational Association. 
 
 In 1854-5 *- ne church enjoyed a revival, and about twenty new 
 members were added to it. In 1848 Mrs. Atkinson began a young 
 ladies' sewing circle, which continued in various ways, as long as 
 she remained with them. In 1857-8 the front ten feet, with tower 
 and bell, were added, at a cost of $1,000. In 1863 Dr. Atkinson, 
 having been called to Portland, left the place; and, in his fifteenth 
 anniversary sermon, stated that up to that time, eighty-two mem- 
 bers had been enrolled, seven of whom were on the roll in 1848, 
 thirty-eight having united by letter, and thirty-seven on profession 
 of faith, of whom forty-eight still remained. The church and 
 congregation had contributed $4,073 for their pastor's support, 
 $9,624.79 for other home work, and $1,561 for benevolent societies; 
 or, an average of $1,043.92 each year for all purposes. The pastor, 
 in addition, had received from the Home Missionary Society 
 $7,600. Dr. Atkinson continued to visit the church as long as it 
 had no pastor, until 1S65, on communion Sabbaths, and the Sabbath- 
 school and prayer-meeting were kept up during that period. 
 
 Rev. P. S. Knight 
 Became pastor in 1865, and continued so until 1867, when he ac- 
 cepted a call to Salem. During his pastorate there was a net gain 
 of twelve to the church. Again there was an interregnum until 
 November, 1868, when 
 
 Rev. E. Gerry, 
 
 Coming directly from the east, became its pastor, and remained 
 until November, 1872, when he returned to Vermont. During 
 this time several were added to the church. Again Dr. Atkinson, 
 who had become General Missionary of the A. H. M. S. for* 
 Oregon, was called to watch over the church, and he preached to 
 it once or twice a month until 1S77, though residing at Portland. 
 During this time nearly sixty persons united with the church, there 
 having been a revival in the place in the spring of 1876, when 
 thirty-three were added on profession of faith. An interesting 
 feature of the church has been the union communion services held 
 in connection with the Methodist Episcopal church of the place 
 from 1863 to 1865, and from 1873 to 1S76, the M. E. church unit- 
 ing with this one in the morning, and the Congregational church 
 going to the other in the evening. 
 
 Rev, D. B. Gray, 
 January 1, 1877, became pastor, and he remained there until Oc- 
 
Congregational Association. S7 
 
 tober, 1878, under whom the church continued to grow in grace 
 and numbers, about twenty-six persons having been added to the 
 church. He having resigned, to accept a call at The Dalles, the 
 church secured the services of 
 
 Rev. A. W. Bower 
 In 1879, who came from the Evangelical church, and who remains 
 as its present pastor. The whole number who have been received 
 as members of the church, as near as can be ascertained, has been 
 one hundred and ninety-five, of whom one hundred and eighteen 
 have been by profession of faith and the rest by letter. Sixty-four 
 have been dismissed to other churches, eight excommunicated, 
 and nine have died, leaving one hundred and fourteen on the roll, 
 January 1st, 1S80, of whom fifty are out of reach of the church 
 and of no help to it. 
 
 FOREST GROVE, OREGON. 
 
 The First Church of Tualatin Plains, of which Rev. J. S. Griffin 
 was acting pastor, was organized June, 1842, not far from Hillsboro, 
 and about eight miles from Forest Grove. Nine persons united in 
 this organization, of whom five or six lived near Forest Grove. 
 On account of their distance from the church, they desired to have 
 it removed to some place near their residences. A meeting for this 
 purpose was called in 1845, ano - ** was v °ted so to do; but owing 
 to some irregularity in regard to the meeting, there were some 
 who claimed that the church was not so removed. Several years 
 later, at a council called to decide some questions of difficulty, it 
 was given as its opinion, that, while the original church remained 
 near Hillsboro, that action, together with the regular meeting after- 
 wards held, and the administration of the ordinances, was sufficient 
 to establish the church of Forest Grove. Some have contended 
 that the church never was organized ; nevertheless, it is certain that 
 it has long existed. Soon after this vote, in 1845, 
 
 Rev. Harvey Clark 
 Became its acting pastor, and so continued until 1S54. A log 
 house was erected during the first part of his ministry, which was 
 the church home until about 1857. It was also used for a time as a 
 school house, where Pacific University, in embryo, began its ex- 
 istence. It had at first a puncheon floor and seats, batten door, logs 
 
Congregational Association. 
 
 cut away to receive a few panes of glass for windows, and cracks 
 in the floor at times so large that the writer, then a small boy, was 
 able to put his foot through them. 
 
 Camp meetings were held in 1847, 1S4S and 1857, which resulted 
 in the addition of some to the church, though not always attended 
 with as much success as was desired. The early records of the 
 church were burned, in 185 1, with the house of the clerk, Deacon 
 T. G. Naylor, and on the opening of the new record book, after 
 this fire, about thirty persons claimed to be members and were 
 acknowledged as such. In 1852 unfortunate difficulties arose which 
 resulted in the withdrawal of a few of the members and the organ- 
 ization of a Presbyterian church, which for several years held 
 separate services very near. Various attempts were made to rec- 
 oncile the two churches and the next year the separate services 
 ceased; but it was not until January, 1856, that most of the mem- 
 bers of the Presbyterian church joined the Congregational church. 
 In 1S54 Mr. Clark, owing mainly to failing health, resigned, and 
 
 Rev. T. Condon 
 Occupied his place for a year. During that time four united with 
 the church on profession, and five by letter. The church wanted 
 him to remain longer, but he felt that he could do more good near 
 Albany, and so lesigned. The resident ministers, Revs. H. Clark, 
 S. H. Marsh and E. Walker, supplied the pulpit during the next 
 year, and in March, 1856, after several of the members of the Pres- 
 byterian church had united with the Congregational church, their 
 
 former pastor, 
 
 Rev. E. Walker, 
 
 Became the acting pastor. During his ministry the church re- 
 moved its home to the chapel of the college for a time, while at 
 the same time making arrangements to erect a building. This was 
 begun in 1858, and dedicated October 26, 1859, and cost about 
 seven thousand dollars. Rev. G. H. Atkinson preached the ser- 
 mon, and Rev. E. Walker offered the dedicatory prayer. After 
 all moneys possible had been raised by subscription, a debt of near 
 eleven hundred dollars was left; but before the dedication a number 
 of the members assumed the debt on the basis of their assessment as 
 each man's proportion. Most of the time until 1S61, Mr. Walker 
 acted as pastor; but Revs. H. Lyman, S. H. Marsh and C. Eells 
 aided in the preaching definite parts of the time. During these 
 
Congregational Association. 89 
 
 five years fifty persons united with the church, thirty-two of them 
 on profession of faith. 
 
 Rev. W. A. Tenney 
 Became pastor in May, 1861, and continued so for about a year 
 and a half, when he resigned. His resignation was reluctantly ac- 
 cepted, and he removed to California. Two persons joined the 
 church on profession of faith during his ministry. 
 
 Revs. H. Lyman, S. H. Marsh, D. D., and E. 'Walker, 
 Filled the pulpit until 1S67, each acting as pastor at different times. 
 During this time the patriotic impulses of the church were greatly 
 stirred, and much was done to aid the soldiers of the Union. Ten 
 persons united with the church, three of them by letter. The 
 same persons acted in a similar capacity from February, 1S69, until 
 January, 1S75 ; but during a short part of the time Prof. T. Condon 
 aided in supplying the pulpit. In 1S72 Mr. J. E. Walker, a 
 member of the church, was ordained in it to the foreign missionary 
 work, and left soon after for his field in China. During this time 
 thirty-two persons joined the church, eighteen on profession of faith. 
 Rev. D. A. Miles came from the east to act as pastor, February, 1867, 
 and remained two years, during which time seven persons were 
 added on profession of faith. 
 
 Rev. J. F. Ellis, 
 Of Toledo, Ohio, came by invitation, and acted as pastor for a year 
 and a half. In the early part of his ministry a revival took place, 
 when seven more joined, and others afterwards. For the next six 
 months the church was plastered anew and repainted inside, when 
 there was no regular supply; but from January to July, 1877, Dr. 
 Marsh acted as pastor. In the fall of 1877 arrangements were 
 
 made with 
 
 Rev. S. S. Van Dersal 
 
 To act as pastor of the Congregational as well as the Methodist 
 
 Episcopal church, he having been sent to the circuit by the M. E. 
 
 Conference, and to preach in the Congregational edifice. This 
 
 plan proved so satisfactory that it was continued for two years, 
 
 when Mr. Van Dersal withdrew from the Conference, and is now 
 
 pastor of the Congregational church. 
 
 The Sabbath-school has been constantly kept up since 1849' 
 
 mainly under the superintendence of Rev. C. Eells, E. A. Tanner, 
 
 C. H. Walker, M. Eells, J. E. Walker, J. VV. Marsh, John R. 
 
9° 
 
 Congregational Association. 
 
 Walker, L. C. Walker, J. D. Robb, and has done great good to the 
 church. Contributions for home and foreign missions have been 
 made regularly all the time for twenty-five or thirty years, and 
 monthly missionary concerts have been kept up, averaging thirty- 
 five or forty dollars annually for both objects. Annual contribu- 
 tions have been taken for the Bible Society. Much was done for 
 the Sanitary and Christian Commissions during the war, and since 
 that time for the American Missionary Association; but definite 
 figures have not been kept sufficient to give any correct statement 
 of the amount so raised. Tualatin Academy and Pacific University 
 have shared very largely in the benefactions and labors of the mem- 
 bers of the church, and in return a good share of those who have 
 joined the church on profession of faith have been students of the 
 institution. Three of those who have acted as pastors have gone 
 directly from this church to the great church above Revs. H. 
 Clark, in 1858; E. Walker, in 1877; and S. H. Marsh, D.D., in 
 1879. 
 
 It has been but natural that a church so closely connected with 
 the college should often lose many of its members, as the scholars 
 left and went to take their places in the world, and thus it has been 
 emphatically a missionary church, scattering its rays far and vvide; 
 and this accounts in a great measure for the large number who 
 have been dismissed by letter, and the absentees. The whole num- 
 ber, as far as known, who have oeen received into the church by 
 letter has been fifty-seven; on profession of faith, eighty-eight; un- 
 known, mainly owing to the burning of records, seventeen; total, 
 one hundred and sixty-two. There have been dismissed by letter, 
 fifty-seven; by death, twenty-one; by excommunication, three; un- 
 known, thirteen; leaving on the roll January 1, 18S0, sixty- 
 eight, including twenty-two absentees. The church has been 
 mainly self-supporting, Revs. Walker, Miles and Ellis having re- 
 ceived aid from the Home Missionary Society, $4,450 in all. 
 
 MILWAUKIE. 
 
 In 1850, soon after the arrival of Rev. H. Lyman at Portland, 
 when it was doubtful which of the two places would be the com- 
 mercial metropolis of Oregon, a church of three members was 
 organized at this place, of which Mr. Lyman became pastor, and 
 
Congregational Association. 91 
 
 where he preached once a month. A small but interesting Sabbath 
 school was held, and there was for a time a purpose to erect a 
 church building. Time, however, soon decided that Portland 
 would be the successful place, and the members moved away. 
 
 PORTLAND. 
 
 In 1848 Portland began to show signs of being a town and the 
 same year Revs. H. Clark and J. S. Griffin preached there occa- 
 sionally. In the early part of 1849 R- ev - G. H. Atkinson went 
 from Oregon City and held two services, one in a log shingle shop, 
 with batten door, a row of glass set in a log for a window and 
 shingle blocks for seats; and the other in an old shingled ware- 
 house, the congregation crowding in among bales and boxes of 
 goods. The same year arrangements were made for regular ser- 
 vices once in two weeks by Revs. Atkinson, Clark and C. Eells, 
 and lots were selected which were afterwards deeded to the church, 
 by D. H. Lownsdale, on which the church now stands. Regular 
 services were not continued very long, however, but in November, 
 
 1849, 
 
 Rev. Horace Lyman 
 
 And wife, who had been sent out from New York a year previous, 
 arrived, and after consultation it was decided to be best for him to 
 reside in Portland, to teach school in the same place, and to divide 
 his ministerial labors between Milwaukee and Portland. They 
 were sixty days in travelling from San Francisco to Portland and 
 two more in going to Oregon City. In 1850 it became evident 
 that a church building was needed as well as a home for the pastor, 
 but the work was very great, the lots were to be cleared of heavy 
 fir timber, subscriptions were to be obtained, and everything was 
 to be done. Mr. L., however, put all his energies to the work, and 
 five thousand dollars in money and lots was easily secured; but the 
 manual labor which fell on the pastor, the superintending of the 
 work, and the preaching were too much lor him, and brought on 
 chills and fever. After he recovered Mrs. L. was taken sick. The 
 autumn brought relief, so that Mr. L.'s dwelling was made habit- 
 able, but the church building was necessarily deferred ^o another 
 year. During the succeeding winter Mr. L. was brought very 
 near the gates of death through inflammation of the lungs, the re- 
 
92 Congregational Association. 
 
 suit of a cold obtained by exposure. He rallied, however, in the 
 spring, and prosecuted the church work with vigor so that the 
 building was dedicated June 15, i85i,and a church often members 
 was organized. Everything worked on prosperously until the fall 
 of 1852; the ladies furnished the church, a weekly prayer meeting 
 was sustained, and Mr. L. aided strongly in establishing a free 
 school against much opposition, an effort directly connected with 
 the present admirable system of free schools of the city. 
 
 In the fall of 1852 Dr. Yantis, a Presbyterian clergyman, came 
 to the city, and through his efforts and those of his successor, Rev. 
 Mr. Whitworth, the church and congregation was divided. A 
 good share of the members were Presbyterian, and it was expected 
 that this division would in time take place, but at this time it was 
 premature, for the Presbyterian church died, and the Congrega- 
 tionalists were greatly weakened. Mr. Lyman continued on in the 
 work until May, 1854, when he removed to Dallas, and the life of 
 the church, numbering then only twenty-two members, seems to 
 have been saved only by securing the services of Rev. G. H. At- 
 kinson half of the time. That was an injury to the Oregon City 
 church, however, but kept the one at Portland together. After a 
 year and half of effort 
 
 Rev. P. B. Chamberlain 
 Was secured from the east, who arrived in November, 1855, and 
 was the first and only installed pastor. A two-thousand dollar 
 debt was soon paid, the Presbyterians returned, congregations 
 largely increased and the church became independent of home 
 missionary aid. His pastorate covered five and a half years, but 
 toward the close of it the Presbyterians again withdrew and organ- 
 ized their present church, ind the church was reduced at one time 
 to twenty members. In March, 1862, Mr. Chamberlain's pastorate 
 closed and for fifteen months the church tried to secure some one 
 from the east. Failing in this, they invited 
 
 Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D., 
 To be their shepherd. He accepted and July, 1863, he removed 
 from Oregon City to Portland and began work. In the Doctor's 
 words " the church and congregation were small but united." The 
 spirit of prayer and patient toil was manifest. It was deemed no 
 hardship to come through mud and rain to Sabbath worship and 
 
Congregational Association. 93 
 
 to the weekly prayer meeting-. The annual week of prayer often 
 continued a month. The evangelist, Rev. A. B. Earle, visited 
 the city in 1867, and many were added to this church as well as to 
 the others in the place. The old house of worship became too 
 small and in 1S70 the present house of worship was begun, which 
 was finished the next year at a cost of $20,000, the ladies furnish- 
 ing between two and three thousand of the amount, and it was 
 dedicated August 6, 1871. During his pastorate, the system of 
 weekly giving was earnestly urged upon and accepted by the 
 church. $39,740.08 were raised for all purposes, and an average 
 of fifteen members each year were added to the church. His labors 
 closed December 31, 1872, and he was immediately followed by 
 
 Rev J. D. Eaton, 
 Who labored until May, 1876. In 1875 Rev. E. P. Hammond 
 spent some time in the city. This church united in his labors, and re- 
 ceived as a result about forty into her membership, and fifty-one 
 others were received during his pastorate. During the same time 
 $9,650.75 were raised for all purposes, an average of nearly $3,- 
 261.72 a year, $2,077 °^ which came annually from the plan of 
 weeklv offerings. After his resignation there was a vacancy of 
 nearly a year, during six months of which time Rev. J. H. Acton, 
 of the M. E. church, supplied the pulpit. His work ceased April 
 
 8th, 1S77, when 
 
 Rev. J. A. Cruzan 
 
 Began his labors. In 1879 a troublesome debt of two thousand 
 dollars was paid. One hundred and twelve persons have been 
 added to the membership during the thi-ee years of his pastorate, 
 the number being now two hundred and forty-three. The church 
 has colonized several times; in 1871 to help in organizing the 
 church at East Portland, and again in 1879 when the one at North 
 Portland was formed, and she has also given largely of labor and 
 means to aid those churches. The Mount Zion church has also re- 
 ceived considerable aid from her, especially in the labor preliminary 
 to the organization. 
 
 SALEM, OREGON. 
 
 [Prepared mainly from a paper furnished by its present pastor, Rev. P. S. Knight.] 
 In November, 185 1, Rev. D. R. Williams went to the place and 
 
94 Congregational Association. 
 
 began preaching, while at the same time he supported himself by 
 teaching school. The church was organized July 4, 1852, with 
 four members, Mr. Isaac N. Gilbert, Mrs. Marietta Gilbert, Mr. 
 Albert Fellows and Mrs. L. L. Williams. Its first place of meet- 
 ing was in the old school-house which stood on the corner of Marion 
 and Commercial streets. The same year — but previous to the 
 organization — Mr. Williams left for the east, and died on reaching 
 New York. For a few months the young church was ministered 
 toby Rev. J. W. Goodell, a transient minister. In March, 1853, 
 
 Rev. O. Dickinson 
 Arrived from the east and began a ministry which continued more 
 than fourteen years. In 1854 a small house of worship was fitted 
 up, which was used until the present building was dedicated, August 
 28, 1863. During the first years of its existence the church re- 
 ceived aid from the American Home Missionary Society, but in 
 i860, at the age of eight, it became self-supporting. April 1, 1867, 
 Mr. Dickinson resigned, when eighty-eight names were on the 
 church roll; and at the same time 
 
 Rev. P. S. Knight 
 Became pastor. The church passed through several revival 
 seasons during both the first and second pastorates, and the total 
 number received into its fellowship, by letter and profession, has 
 been three hundred and six to April 1, 18S0. At that time there 
 were something over two hundred members on the roll, though 
 quite a number of them are marked "absent." But a small part of 
 this growth has resulted from additions by letter, and in the last 
 fifteen years it has sent out more than it has received in that way. 
 What it has gained has been by moulding the material within 
 its reach. Though it has no wealthy members, and has had to 
 struggle with difficulties, yet it has never known the burden of a 
 debt. It has had no case of discipline in twelve years. Its revival 
 seasons have come as divine blessings upon its own work, without 
 other human help. Its Sabbath-school has always been full of life 
 and shown many good results. Its present superintendent, T. 
 McF. Patton, Esq., has retained that position seven years, and is 
 likely to hold it many more. The average attendance is about 
 three hundred. Its pastors have never been installed, in the tech- 
 nical sense ot the word, though they have been " settled pastors " 
 in the truest sense of the term ; there having been but two in 
 
Congregational Association. 45 
 
 twenty-seven years— a fact which is true of no other Congregational 
 church in the state. Its ladies have a well-regulated society, which 
 had on hand, June, 1879,3 little over three hundred and eighty dol- 
 lars. In 1869 a fine hell was secured. The church has a history 
 which dates hack to the time when the capital of Oregon was a 
 straggling village, and its thoughtful members are looking forward 
 with hopefulness to a future that seems full of promise. 
 
 ALBANY, OREGON. 
 
 [Mainly prepared from a paper furnished by the pastor, Rev. J. W. Harris.] 
 
 The church was organized about May 1, 1853, at or near Council 
 
 Bluffs, Iowa, by Rev. Dr. Wood, pastor of the Congregational 
 
 church, Oskaloosa, Iowa, with five members, namely, Rev. M. 
 
 B. Starr, Mrs. E. G. Starr, Miss Louisa Starr, Mr. C. Bane, and 
 
 Mr. R. H. Robb. 
 
 Rev. M. B. Starr 
 
 Was chosen its first pastor, and Mr. R. H. Robb, clerk, and soon 
 after its organization it came as a colony to Oregon, and settled 
 near Albany. In April, 1854, these persons held a meeting in the 
 law office of Judge J. Q. Thornton and declared themselves to be 
 the First Congregational church, of Albany, Oregon. Their first 
 communion service was held in the old court house on the first 
 Sabbath of May of the same year, when Dr. Dunning, of Salem 
 officiated as deacon. Miss E. A. Lincoln was the first person re- 
 ceived into the church on profession of faith. In consequence of 
 failure of health, Mr. Starr resigned his charge in 1855, and 
 
 Rev. T. Condon 
 Was employed as acting pastor. He continued in this position for 
 six years, when in 1861 he resigned and moved to The Dalles. In 
 1S59 a church building was begun, which, however, was not com- 
 pleted for several years. 
 
 Rev. D. B. Gray 
 Was licensed hy the Congregational Association in 1862, and began 
 preaching to this church while at the same time he was teaching in 
 the public schools. The next year, September 20, he was ordained 
 by a council called by the church. In 1865 the house of worship 
 was completed, Mr. Gray having done much of the work. In 
 1S66 Mr. Gray resigned on account of the ill-health of his wife, and 
 
96 Congregational Association. 
 
 Rev. J. F. Damon, 
 Who had also been licensed by the Oregon Association, at once 
 took his place. He was ordained here in September, 1867, but his 
 health failing he was compelled to resign in 1S68. The next year 
 
 Rev. W. R. Butcher, 
 Coming from the east, was induced to begin his labors in the state 
 at this place, preaching his first sermon to the church, October 
 10th, 1869, and he remained until September, 1S73, the latter year 
 a revival being reported. For eighteen months the church was 
 then without a pastor, but was supplied by Rev. Mr. Emery of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church South, a part of the time, during the 
 summer of 1874. During all of these years the membership 
 fluctuated from five to twenty-four, and its prospects were often 
 discouraging, but the brethren toiled on, and held on, the ladies 
 rendering very efficient service, especially financially. In 1875 a 
 union arrangement was made between this and the Presbyterian 
 church of the place, and 
 
 Rev. H. W. Stratton 
 Of the Presbyterian church became pastor, the churches uniting in 
 worship, Sabbath-school and other Christian work, and in the sup- 
 port of the pastor, while each church kept its own organization 
 and name as before. During the continuance of this plan both 
 churches occupied the Congregational building. A revival oc- 
 curred the same year, and the next the constitution of church and 
 society, by-laws, rules and confession of faith in Roy's Manual 
 were adopted, and various committees looking to a systematic 
 method of church work were appointed — that is, on sick, strangers, 
 benevolence, and church finances. Mr. Stratton continued in the 
 work for between two and three years, when he resigned in order 
 to enter a wider field of missionary work under the Presbyterian 
 church, and the churches were without a pastor for about six 
 months. In the spring of 1S7S 
 
 Rev. W. B. Floyd, 
 A Congregational licentiate from the Chicago Theological Sem- 
 inary, was called to minister to the churches. Six months after he 
 began his labors, the Presbyterian church withdrew from the 
 alliance, when Mr. Floyd was engaged for six months longer to 
 supply the Congregational church alone. During his pastorate the 
 weekly system of offerings was adopted, and when the Presbyter- 
 
Congregational Association. 97 
 
 ians withdrew, the church, which during most of the years of its 
 existence had drawn aid from the Home Missionary Society, he- 
 came independent of that aid, and since then has been carrying its 
 own financial burdens. In June, 1S79, the year having expired for 
 which Mr. Flovd was engaged, he returned East to finish his 
 
 studies, and 
 
 Rev. J. W. Harris 
 
 Was called to the pastorate. During all the years of its existence 
 the church acknowledges the receipt of great assistance from Dr. 
 Atkinson, its very life sometimes having depended on his min- 
 istrations. The sister church at vSalem, with their pastor, Rev. P. 
 S. Knight, has also frequently helped them in time of need. The 
 records of the church to within about six or seven years have been 
 lost, and the old members either having died or removed from the 
 state, it has been difficult to gather the items in regard to its earlier 
 history, a work the church has been trying to perform for two or 
 three years. During the first twenty-one years of its existence the 
 church had attained to a membership of twenty-four, from 1S53 to 
 1874, but from June, 1874, to June, 1879, five years, it doubled, 
 having then forty-eight members. " In due time ye shall reap if 
 ye faint not." 
 
 CORVALLIS, OREGON. 
 
 In 1854 Rev. M. B. Starr first reported a church organization at 
 this place, and he continued as its pastor as long as it remained on 
 the list. No report, however, was preserved previous to 1857, 
 when it was worshipping with the Methodist Episcopal church, 
 with fifty in the congregation, fifteen in the church, a hundred 
 dollars raised for the pastor's support, in addition to which he re- 
 ceived aid from the A. H. M. Society. The only other reports are 
 for 1S5S, the same as the year previous, 1S59, and i860, when there 
 w r ere, respectively, twelve and sixteen members. This church with 
 the one at Sand Ridge received Home Missionary aid from 1858 
 until 1862, $1,800 in all. It was continued on the list until 1863, 
 about the time Mr. Starr removed to California. 
 
 DALLAS, OREGON. 
 
 In May, 1854, Rev. H. Lyman, having left Portland, moved to 
 this place where he began to hold services. In 1857 he reported a 
 8 
 
98 Congregational Association. 
 
 church of seven members and three out-stations, but in the fall of 
 that year he accepted a professorship in Pacific University and re- 
 moved to Forest Grove. We afterwards learned that several 
 persons in the vicinity were planning to join the church at the time 
 of his leaving, but were prevented by his so doing; and as several of 
 the members soon removed or took their letters of dismission, 
 the few remaining judged it best to unite with other churches re- 
 presented there, and so the church ceased. 
 
 In connexion with the church work at Dallas and its vicinity, a 
 decided and effective effort was made for education. Through the 
 suggestion of Mr. Lyman, a meeting of the citizens of the county 
 was called to talk about starting an academy. Many of the prin- 
 cipal citizens attended that meeting, making it lively and enthusi- 
 astic. The result was a subscription of some $2,000 for a building 
 and good donations of land for a site. A board of trustees was 
 elected by the donors, and the institution was named the Lacreole 
 Academic Institute. It has been permanent and generally pros- 
 perous, has a fund of several thousand dollars, and has done a 
 good work for education in that country. 
 
 GRAND PRAIRIE, OREGON. 
 
 The first mention made of this church, six miles south of Albany, 
 is in 1855, when the association was held there. It was then 
 under the care of Rev. T. Condon. The next year it was reported 
 in connection with the church at Albany as having twelve mem- 
 bers — the last mention made of it. 
 
 SAND RIDGE, OREGON. 
 
 This church was first reported in 1S57, with Rev. T. Condon as 
 pastor, when it numbered twelve members, with a congregation of 
 fifty and a small Sabbath school. The next year there were eleven 
 members, who were under the pastoral care of Rev. H. H. Spald- 
 ing. There were also eighty in the congregation, and twenty-five 
 in the Sabbath school. Rev. M. B. Starr was pastor in i860, and \U 
 like the church at Corvallis, was continued on the list until 1863 
 when Mr. Starr removed. We have no statistical report after 1859 
 
Congregational Association. 99 
 
 EOLA, OREGON. 
 
 As some members of the Salem church resided at this place, 
 Rev. O. Dickinson organized a church here in 185S, which the next 
 year reported twelve members, with a hundred in the congregation. 
 In 1S60 and 1S64 it reported thirteen members, which is the last 
 report made, although it was represented at the association in 
 1865. 
 
 THE DALLES, OREGON. 
 
 [Mainly prepared from a paper furnished by Rev. D. B. Gray, present pastor]. 
 
 In April, 1S59, Rev. VV. A. Tenney began services at this place, 
 and the work progressed so favorably that by August of the same 
 year it was thought advisable to organize a church. Rev. W. A. 
 Tenney and wife, Mr. E. S. Joslyn and wife, and Mr. E. S. Pen- 
 held were the originators of this movement. The council was 
 composed of Rev. P. B. Chamberlain of the church at Portland, 
 and Rev. C. Eells of the one at Forest Grove, which met August 
 13th, and after due deliberation, it was advised to proceed to the 
 organization. This was fully done on the following Sabbath. Rev. 
 P. B. Chamberlain preached the sermon from Matthew v: 14, and 
 gave the assurance of the fellowship of the churches ; and Rev. C. 
 Eells conducted the opening exercises, and offered the prayer of 
 consecration. Mr. Penfield was chosen the first clerk. Mr. Ten- 
 ney acted as pastor until May, 1861, when he resigned ; and the 
 
 same year 
 
 Rev. Thomas Condon 
 
 Took his place. His was a long pastorate, lasting for about twelve 
 years. During the summer of 1S63, plans were matured and a 
 subscription paper circulated, which resulted in securing a lot and 
 erecting a church edifice thirty-two by fifty feet. Messrs. E. S. 
 Penfield, Z. Donnell, E. S. Joslyn, W. B. Stillwell and Rev. T. 
 Condon were the first trustees, and W. P. Abrams the first deacon. 
 During the four months of the summer of 1868, Mr. Condon ex- 
 changed with Rev. D. B. Gray of Astoria; and about July or 
 August, 1873, he resigned. By November of the same year, 
 
 Rev. W. R. Butcher 
 Was chosen as pastor, and was laboring with the church. He re- 
 mained until July, 1S76, when he returned east. From this time 
 
ioo Congregational Association. 
 
 until June, 1S77, the church was without a pastor, but enjoyed oc- 
 casional visits from Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D., and others, and 
 was refreshed by union efforts with the Methodist Episcopal 
 church. In June, 1S77, 
 
 Rev. J. W. Harris 
 Became acting pastor, and continued for a year, preaching his fare- 
 well sermon on June 14, 187S. From this time until October 13th 
 of the same year the church was again occasionally supplied by Dr. 
 Atkinson, when 
 
 Rev, D. B. Gray 
 Became acting pastor, and still continues his labors. October 30, 
 1879, it was voted to become independent of home missionary 
 aid, attaining its majority at the age of twenty. In the spring of 
 1S79, a parsonage was built at a cost of $1,575.41, some of which 
 yet remains to be paid. In September, the church swarmed, and 
 sent off eight members to organize a church eight miles distant. 
 
 The Sunday school has been one of the best in the state, having 
 been for the greater portion of the time under the superintendency 
 of W. P. Abrams and S. L. Brooks. 
 
 For many years W. P. Abrams and E. S. Joslyn served as 
 deacons, but after then removal, S. L. Brooks and E. P. Roberts 
 have filled their places. 
 
 The strength of the church has varied from time to time, owing 
 to the coming in of new denominations and the business fluctuations 
 of the town, its trade depending largely upon the mines of Eastern 
 Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Twice the town has suffered 
 severely from fires which, in reality, have seemed to bless it, the 
 church feeling that they were intended "the dross to consume and 
 the gold to refine." During these times of trial, when oftentimes 
 there were but few male members, there has been a noble band 
 of women who have worked with sincerity and earnestness for the 
 good of the church. 
 
 About one hundred and seventy persons have united with the 
 church by letter and profession, of whom about eighty have been 
 dismissed to other churches, leaving a present membership of about 
 eighty, June 15, 1880. 
 
Congregational Association. ioi 
 
 ASTORIA, OREGON. 
 
 [Prepared mainly from a sketch written by Rev. F. Crang]. 
 
 In 1858, Rev. W. A. Tenney held services regularly twice each 
 Sabbath; but left the next year, without organizing any church. 
 Not much more was done until 1865, when 
 
 Rev. D. B. Gray, 
 Seeking a climate favorable for his health, went to the same place, 
 and held stated religious worship, first in the Masonic hall, and 
 afterwards in the base of the old custom house. It was October 
 16, 1865, that a meeting was held in order to organize, and then 
 simply to form a Congregational society. Hon. W. L. Adams 
 was chairman of this meeting. A constitution and by-laws 
 were adopted, and three days later the first permanent officers were 
 chosen: Rev. D. B. Gray, president ; S. L. Gillingham, secretary ; 
 and Chailes Stevens, treasurer. Mr. Gray was called to act as 
 pastor. Application was made to the American Home Missionary 
 Society to aid in his support, which was granted ; and the same 
 has been given to other Congregational ministers who have held 
 services there. 
 
 On April 12, 1866, a preliminary meeting was held to consider 
 the practicability of organizing a church ; and it being considered 
 advisable, a committee was appointed to prepare rules, a confession 
 of faith and a covenant. This committee reported on the 28th of 
 April, when Charles Stevens was chosen deacon, and Hon. W. H. 
 Gray, clerk ; and on the Sabbath, the next day, the organization 
 was fully perfected, with eighteen members, seven males and eleven 
 females, a large proportion of whom had been gathered from the 
 world. 
 
 The next year the first steps were taken towards the erection of 
 a building. A lot was bought, the society was incorporated, and 
 the work went on ; but it was not until about September, 1S69, 
 that the church was ready for use. In October or November, 1869, 
 Mr. Gray resigned in favor of 
 
 Rev. W. J. Clark, 
 Who labored for six months, and then resigned because of ill 
 health. In November, 1870, a call was extended to 
 
 Rev. W. A. Tenney 
 To become their pastor, which was accepted on condition of in- 
 
io2 Congregational Association. 
 
 stallation. This was agreed to, and on June iS, 1871, he was for- 
 mally installed. 
 
 In September, 1871, a report was made which showed that, with 
 the aid of the Congregational Union, the debt on the church of 
 $1,700 had been paid. In 1S68, the church had reported an outlay 
 on this building of about $4,000, of which about $3,000 had been 
 paid, and the next year that the church had been plastered and a 
 bell obtained. After about four years of labor, Mr. Tenney re- 
 signed, and the connection was fully dissolved by a council, March 
 24, 1875. In the May following, a call was extended to 
 
 Rev. F. Grang 
 Of Cahoka, Missouri. This was accepted, and he arrived in Sep- 
 tember. It not being on record that the church had ever been 
 dedicated, a dedicatory service was held January 30, 1S76. The 
 society then held the property, but any one, on the payment of any 
 sum of money and signing the constitution, could become a mem- 
 ber ; therefoie it was plain that outsiders and wicked men could 
 easily gain control of the building and shut out the church. Hence, 
 mainly through the efforts of the pastor, the constitution of the 
 societv was amended so as to exclude in the future all who would 
 not assent to the articles of faith. The church was incorporated, 
 and the society ordered its trustees to deed all its property to the 
 church, which was done. Dr. Crang labored on until the summer 
 of 187S, when, having resigned, 
 
 Rev. J. T. Wolfe, 
 Pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church of the place, was invited 
 to act as pastor of the Congregational church, in connection with 
 his labors in his own church, and to preach in the Congregational 
 edifice. This arrangement lasted one year — until August, 1879 — 
 when Mr. Wolfe was sent elsewhere by his conference. The 
 church is now without a pastor, except as 
 
 Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D., 
 Visits it ; and he has often dene so in past years, when it has been 
 without a pastor. 
 
 Forty-seven members have been received into the church by 
 letter, and fourteen by profession ; total, sixty-one. Of these, 
 thirty-five have been dismissed by letter, four by death, and one by 
 excommunication, leaving twenty-one now on the list. 
 
Congregational Association. 103 
 
 HILLSBORO, OREGON. 
 
 In 1842 a Congregational church was organized by Rev. J. S. 
 Griffin, about two miles north-east of the place, and before any 
 one knew where the town would be. It has, however, never been 
 connected with the association, nor has it held regular services for 
 many years, for when Hillsboro became a town this church was 
 too far away. 
 
 The first labor at the town was by Rev. C. Eells, about 1855. 
 He lived about a mile from the place, and preached there monthly 
 and held a Sabbath school a good share of the time until 1857, 
 when he removed away, and but little more was done for several 
 years except occasional preaching by Revs. E. Walker and S. H. 
 Marsh. Two families, however, who had been connected with the 
 church at Forest Grove, moved into the neighborhood and a few 
 others were similar ideas, so that in the spring of 1866 a church 
 was organized by council of seven members, of which Rev. E. 
 Walker became pastor, preaching there about once a month. This 
 arrangement continued for about two years, and with some help 
 from Dr. Marsh as much longer, when it was reported vacant, but 
 since 1875 Dr. Atkinson has been able to visit it occasionally, hold 
 communion services, look after its interests and encourage its mem- 
 bers. It has, however, never had any additions, and death and re- 
 movals have reduced the number to four, who have been constantly 
 known as efficient workers in the Union Sabbath schools, prayer- 
 meetings, church services, benevolence, temperance, and all good 
 work, and who " hold the fort." 
 
 SEATTLE, W. T. 
 
 This church was organized January 16, 1870, through the efforts 
 
 of 
 
 Rev. J. F. Damon, 
 
 Who had been laboring here for some time, and who continued as 
 its pastor until 1873. His health, however, was unequal to the 
 labor, hence that year 
 
 Rev. N. McLeod 
 Who came from Salt Lake City, became its pastor, and remained 
 so for a year, when he went east. About this time their house of 
 
104 Congregational Association. 
 
 worship was completed, with, however, a heavy debt of $1,600 
 
 left. 
 
 Rev. J. Hall 
 
 Began labors in 1875, coming from the east, but he remained only 
 
 nine months, when he returned. While he was there a library of 
 
 325 volumes was obtained, a communion service worth $60 secured, 
 
 and the debt, which had increased to about $1,800, was paid. 
 
 Rev. J. F. Ellis 
 Entered this pastorate July, 1876. In the spring 1877 the church 
 was carpeted and repaired, at an expense of $600. In the fall of 
 the same year the church swarmed, sending off eight members to 
 aid in organizing the church at White river. The next winter a 
 revival occurred, and a number were added to the church. On 
 January 1st, 187S, the church, which had heretofore been aided by 
 the American Home Missionary Society, declared its independence, 
 and since that time has been going alone. In the first months of 
 1880, a very interesting revival occurred — stdl and quiet, but deep 
 — of which God seemed to be the more direct author than is often 
 the case — that is, less human means were used than is common in 
 such cases; nearly forty persons were added to the membership, so 
 that it is now the largest church in the territory. One of the mem- 
 bers, Rev. N. W. Lane, M.D., was ordained to the work of the 
 ministry at Port Gamble in March, 1880. 
 
 EAST PORTLAND, OREGON. 
 
 This church is the result of missionary work of the First Con- 
 gregational church of Portland during the pastorate of Rev. G. H. 
 Atkinson, D.D., and was organized May 14, 1871, in the school 
 house in District No. 21, with eight members, six of whom came 
 from the First church. 
 
 Rev. W. R. Joyslin 
 Was its first pastor, and it was incorporated under the laws of 
 Oregon, June 5, 1871, Messrs. J. H. Mack, J. H. McMillen, and D. 
 K. Abrams being the incorporators and trustees. Mr. Ben Hol- 
 laday having donated to the church two lots worth twelve hundred 
 dollars, in July a building was begun and a brick basement erected, 
 with a plan for an audience room above. This was done at an ex- 
 pense of a little over fourteen hundred dollars. At that time it was 
 
Congregational Association. 105 
 
 thought that East Portland would grow quite rapidly, but a reaction 
 came the next }'ear, Mr. Joyslin became secretary of the Young 
 Men's Christian Association of Portland, spending but little time 
 with the church. In 1873 he removed from the state and 
 
 Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D., 
 general missionary for the state became its pastor. Previous to 
 1S76 but little more, however, was done, except that the prayer- 
 meetings were held a part of the time, and pastoral visits made, as 
 most of the members had removed from town. That year the 
 Sabbath school was reorganized under Deacon J. P. Sheffield, 
 which has been held most of the time since. In 1S78 arrangements 
 were made to complete the building, but it was found that three 
 thousand dollars would be needed for this purpose, which it was 
 thought impossible to obtain. C. B. Talbot, Esq., architect, sug- 
 gested the plan of raising and covering the basement walls for an 
 audience room, and attended to contracts and details free of cost. 
 Subscriptions were obtained, in which the First church aided freely, 
 and it was finished with a gothic roof, bell tower and spire, at an 
 additional cost of seventeen hundred and seventy-four dollars and 
 sixteen cents. It is of brick, forty by fifty- four feet. During 1876- 
 1879 preaching services were held once or twice a month in the 
 town or vicinity. The fact that all of the members were out of 
 town a good share of the time except two ladies, shows why the 
 work was not more rapid. 
 
 Rev. E. P. Baker 
 Was secured in 1879 and his first sermon was the dedication sermon 
 on Forefather's day, Dec. 23d of that year, from Heb. 12: 18-24, 
 while Dr. Atkinson offered the dedicatory prayer. At the close of 
 that day the church was in debt but one hundred dollars, had a 
 membership of fifteen and a Sabbath school of fifty. 
 
 BELLINGHAM BAY, W. T. 
 
 [Mainly prepared from papers furnished by its pastor]. 
 Rev. P. Harrison, 
 In the year 1872, came from California to Bellingham Bay. On 
 September 8th, he began preaching there, and on the 29th of the 
 same month organized a church with seven members, all of whom 
 had been members elsewhere, but being without letters, they united 
 
io6 Congregational Association. 
 
 on profession of faith. The three families with which they were 
 connected had been members of Presbyterian, Methodist and Con- 
 gregational churches ; hence, they agreed to unite in Christian fel- 
 lowship on the Bible as their creed, leaving the doctrines as they 
 were there. These were not transcribed to paper, except that a 
 simple reference was made to some of them, as plain, and not sub- 
 ject to controversy, in the fly-leaf of their Bibles. This plan, being 
 rather different from that of most churches, is here given : 
 
 Article i. Unity of God. (Isa. xliv: 8; Deut. v: 6, 7; 1 Cor. 
 viii : 6.) 
 
 Art. 2. Trinity in unity. (1 John v: 7.) 
 
 Art. 3. Divinity and humanity of Christ. (John i: 1, 14; 
 Lukei: 26, 30-33, 35, 37.) 
 
 Art. 4. Christ the Savior of all believers. (1 John v: 1-7; 
 Mark xvi: 16; John v: 24, and xiv: 12.) 
 
 Art. 5. Christ draws all men and saves all who yield to his 
 drawing. (John vi: 44, and xii:32;Luke VK47; Rev. xxii : 17; 
 Acts vii: 51; Rev. lii: 20.) 
 
 Art. 6. Regeneration the initiatory rite into the Church of 
 Christ and the kingdom of God. (John iii : 3.) 
 
 Art. 7. The Holy Ghost is the teacher of the things of God 
 and sanctifier of the heart. (John xiv: 26; 2 Thess. ii: 13; 1 Cor. 
 vi: 11.) 
 
 Art. 8. The resurrection of the dead. (1 Cor. xv: 21.) 
 
 Art. 9. General judgment. (Dan. vii: 9; Matt, vii: 19, 23; 
 Heb. vi: 2; Jude. vi; Rom. xiv: 10.) 
 
 Rules for the government of their faith and practice were also 
 adopted by a similar mode, with references — namely, respecting 
 offenses between believers, public scandal, ordinances, receiving 
 members, giving, and the requirements of Christ. 
 
 The little church struggled on for a year and a half without an 
 addition, when the husband of one of the members united on pro- 
 fession of faith. For a time the question was often discussed among 
 the members whether it was solid rock on which the seed was cast, 
 or whether some seeds might foil into good soil. Sabbath-break- 
 ing, drunkenness, squaw dances, fighting, cutting, gambling and 
 shooting seemed to be the popular amusements ot the day among 
 those who were not Christians; while the members of the church 
 were so poor that they could do but very little for the support of 
 their pastor, who, like Paul, could say, " These hands have minis- 
 tered to my necessities." 
 
 The extremity of the church proved God's opportunity, for when 
 
Congregational Association. 107 
 
 they most needed help the Lord sent them Rev. Dr. Atkinson, who 
 encouraged them to ask help from the Home Missionary Society 
 in the early part of 1875, and from that time the church prospered. 
 It experienced two revivals, grew to a membership of twenty-five 
 workers, occupied a neat chapel, and fitted up a building which had 
 heen used for a saloon, with a new organ and choir. Of the 
 eighteen who joined after the organization, six united by letter, and 
 the rest on profession of faith. The amusements heretofore men- 
 tioned mostly ceased ; the running of coal trains, blacksmith shops 
 and unnecessary business on the Sabbath were suspended; the 
 superintendent of the local mine and most of the people were found 
 in the house of God. There was one Bible class in English and 
 one in Welsh, and the community was outwardly reformed. Sab- 
 bath-schools were also planted at Guemes Island, Ferndale, the 
 Smith neighborhood and Fidalgo. 
 
 The town, however, was built on the coal mines of the place. In 
 the spring of 1878 these failed, and in less than two weeks after 
 the order was given for the miners to bring up their tools, the 
 church was dispersed to the four vvinds. Five of the members had 
 been cut off; and the rest, taking their letters of dismissal, said to 
 each other: " Good-bye; let us meet in heaven." This was in 
 April, 1878. 
 
 ATAHNUM, W. T. 
 
 A few Christian families having moved into this region previous 
 to 187 1, they desired some kind of Sabbath services for themselves. 
 As there was no clergyman in the region, Deacon E. S. Tanner 
 organized that year a Sahbath school. After a time, a school- 
 house was built. Most of the Sabbaths since, when he has been 
 in the region, Deacon Tanner has taken his family and organ and 
 superintended the Sabbath school. In 1873, nine persons, without 
 council or minister — as the nearest Congregational church and cler- 
 gyman were eighty miles distant — banded together in faith and 
 covenant as a church. Shortly afterwards, they elected a deacon 
 (E. S. Tanner); and, as he said, "hardly knowing whether we had 
 a right to," received two more members into their fellowship. A 
 few months afterwards, in June of the same year, they sent then- 
 delegates to the Oregon Association, which met at The Dalles, their 
 
io8 Congregational Association. 
 
 nearest neighboring church, asking that a council be held to extend 
 to them the right hand of fellowship, which was done. From that 
 time until 1S79, they seldom had any Congregational preacher. 
 Rev. C. Eells visited them a few times, but some years no Congre- 
 gational minister even looked in on them, and but few of any de- 
 nomination. Still the organization and Sabbath school were sus- 
 tained. In 1879, Rev. Dr. Atkinson visited them, when the church 
 colonized, four of their members absent being dismissed in forming 
 the church at Yakima City; but the next day their number was 
 more than made good by the reception of five more. About the 
 same time, in connection with the sister church, it secured the ser- 
 vices ©f 
 
 Rev. William Capps 
 
 As pastor, whose ministrations they now enjoy. It now numbers 
 eleven members, and plans to build a church. Never within the 
 bounds of the Oregon and Washington Association, and probably 
 never in any place, has a church been organized and sustained 
 under such lonely circumstances — neither minister or church to aid 
 in the organization, and the council, when called, was months after- 
 wards and eighty miles distant; with an average of a Congrega- 
 tional sermon less than once a year, and swarming before they had 
 a pastor. Such faith deserves success in the future. 
 
 OLYMPIA. W. T. 
 
 [Prepared mainly from papers furnished by Mrs. H. H. Steele, clerk of the 
 church.] 
 
 This church was organized April 27, 1873, by a council com- 
 posed of pastors and delegates from the churches at Portland and 
 The Dalles, Oregon, and Seattle, W. T. It was composed of fifteen 
 members, and the Presbyterian church of the place was courteously 
 offered for the public services in connection with the organization. 
 The church records, contain the following account of the prelim- 
 inary steps: 
 
 Deacon Alfred Walker, of New Haven, Conn., while here two 
 years ago, proposed to raise a fund to lay the foundations of a Con- 
 gregational church in Olympia. Soon after his return east, the old 
 Catholic property on Main street was offered for sale, and Deacon 
 Walker was appealed to to purchase it. He represented the matter 
 to the church of which he was a member, and obtained liberal 
 
Congregational Association. 109 
 
 contributions to the American Congregational Union for the 
 object, and the property was purchased by that society, at a cost of 
 about $750. 
 
 The Congregational Union then appealed to the Congregation- 
 alists of Olympia to organize themselves into a church, so as to 
 hold and repair the property, else the building would be sold and 
 the proceeds used for the cause elsewhere. Hence, measures were 
 taken in February, 1873, for this purpose, and the organization 
 was fully consummated in April. 
 
 The building had, however, been used as a carpenter-shop, and 
 was sadly out of repair — so much so that a year and a half was re- 
 quired to put it in good condition. In the meantime, the little 
 band hired a room under the Masonic hall, and 
 
 Rev. C. A. Huntington, 
 One of the members, was asked to preach. This he cheerfully 
 did, refusing all pay until the end of the year, when he was ap- 
 pointed Indian agent at Neah Bay. Collections were regularly 
 taken on the Sabbath, which were used to repair the building. For 
 nearly two and a half years the church was without a pastor; but 
 Rev. G. H. Atkinson D. D., Rev. C. Eells and others filled the 
 pulpit about one-third of the time, and sermons were read by Mr. 
 G. F. Boynton and other lay members on the remaining Sabbaths. 
 The prayer- meeting and Sabbath school were also sustained. In 
 the meantime, the church building was finished, and dedicated Sep- 
 tember 27, 1874. Mr. Huntington preached the sermon, and Dr. 
 Atkinson offered the dedicatory prayer. The cost of the building 
 at that time was $1,997, in addition to what had been done by 
 Deacon Walker in the original purchase. 
 
 Rev. G. W. Skinner 
 Was obtained as pastor in May, 1876, coming from Kansas. He 
 came engaged for six months, was very acceptable, and it was 
 hoped he would remain ; but at the end of the time he returned 
 to his family. For a year and a half the church was again without 
 a resident shepherd, but 
 
 Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D., 
 Was engaged during most of that time to act as pastor, and to 
 supply the pulpit about one-fourth of the Sabbaths. Lay services 
 during most of the remaining Sabbaths were held, the prayer-meet- 
 ing and Sabbath school sustained, and the church newly seated, at 
 
no Congregational Association. 
 
 an expense of about $200 — one-half of it raised by the young- 
 ladies of the place, and the other half a donation from the Honor- 
 able Frederick Billings, of Vermont. 
 
 Rev. D. Thomas 
 Came in June, 1878, and remained a year. Rev. J. A. Banfield, of 
 Tacoma, then supplied the pulpit for a few Sabbaths, when 
 
 Rev. G. A. Huntington 
 Returned to his home from Vermont, and since August, 1879, has 
 been serving as pastor. 
 
 Thus, during the period of its existence — nearly seven years — 
 the church has had resident pastors but little more than two and a 
 half years; but the membership, though small, have worked ear- 
 nestly, the women of the church doing fully their share. The 
 whole number of members has been thirty-five, all but three of 
 whom have been received by letter. Of these, three have been 
 dropped, ten dismissed by letter, and twenty-two remain. 
 
 The whole amount of money raised for all purposes has been 
 about $4,825, of which $81.95 have been for the cause of benevo- 
 lence — namely, $7.25 for the Bible Society, $13.60 for the Congre- 
 gational Union, and $61.10 for the Home Missionary Society. They 
 have no debt, it being a settled principle with them to incur no 
 expense until they have the means to meet it. They have received 
 from the Home Missionary Society, $825. 
 
 BOISE CITY, IDAHO. 
 
 In October, 1S71, Rev. M. Eells began work at this place, using 
 and repairing the Baptist church, which was unoccupied, and in 
 May, 1873, organized a church of ten members, to whom three were 
 subsequently added. The report of 1874 gives an average con- 
 gregation of sixty, one hundred and ten in the Sabbath school, 
 and $1,282.50 raised for all purposes. But in June, 1874, Mr. Eells 
 thought it wise to leave, owing to the removal of some of the mem- 
 bers, decrease in the population of the place, and an increase of the 
 churches — so the members at that time took letters to any church 
 they might desire to join. 
 
 NEW TACOMA, W. T. 
 
 About as soon as the Northern Pacific R. R. Co. determined to 
 build a town at this place as the terminus of their railroad, 
 
Congregational Association. iii 
 
 Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D., 
 Began to hold monthly services there, alternating with ministers of 
 other denominations, an appointment he kept up nearly five years, 
 in person or by proxy. A large canvas tent was obtained through 
 the efforts of Dr. Atkinson, where services were held during the 
 summer of 1S74. In May, 1874, a union Sabbath school was or- 
 ganized in this tent, and on June 17th of the same year the Con- 
 gregational church was organized with five members, all but one of 
 whom joined by letter. This was done in a tent, by a council, of 
 which Rev. W. A. Tenney was moderator, and Rev. W. R. 
 Butcher, scribe; and the fellowship of the churches was tendered 
 through the moderator. After the cold weather began, Mr. S. R. 
 Smith gave the use of his hall for a few months, after which, for 
 about three years, Mr. W. H. Fife gave the use of two different 
 buildings for Sabbath services, until the completion of the Method- 
 ist church, which, since that time, has been used by the several de- 
 nominations. 
 
 Not long after the organization of the church the business pros- 
 pects of the place began to diminish. People moved away, no ad- 
 ditions were made to the church for three years, and at one time it 
 was reduced to one resident member. Still Dr. Atkinson continued 
 his regular services, the union Sabbath school was kept up, and 
 hope held on. It was not until the fall of 1877 that business began 
 to revive, when several Congregational families moved into the place, 
 and in a year sixteen persons were added to the church. In the fall 
 of 1878 the church colonized, dismissing four of its members to 
 form the church at Old Tacoma. Dr. Atkinson continued as pastor 
 until the spring of 1879, when 
 
 Rev. J. A. Banfleld 
 Moved, by invitation, to the place, and became the permanent 
 pastor, having for out-stations Wilkeson, Vashon Island and other 
 places. In 1877 church lots were secured on certain conditions, and 
 the next year the lots were cleared. Since Mr. Banfield assumed 
 the pastorate three more have been added to the membership. 
 
 SKOKOMISH, W. T. 
 
 This church is on an Indian reservation, and the only one so located 
 in the bounds of the Oregon and Washington Territory Association. 
 
ii2 Congregational Association. 
 
 The Indians consist of two tribes — the Twanas, about two hundred 
 and fifty in number, most of whom live on the reservation, and the 
 Clallams, numbering about five hundred and fifty — most of whom 
 are scattered in villages from fifty to one hundred and sixty miles 
 from the reservation. 
 
 When President Grant adopted what is known as the Peace 
 policy among the Indians, this agency was assigned to the Ameri- 
 can Missionary Association, whoj in 187 1, sent Mr. Edwin Eells to 
 this place as their agent, where he has since remained. 
 
 Previous to this but little had ever been done for the religious in- 
 structions of the Indians. At different times Rev. W". C. Chattin, 
 of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. D. B. Ward, of the 
 Protestant Methodist church, had taught the school, and each had 
 endeavored to give some Christian instruction in the Sabbath- 
 school, but had found it hard work; for Sabbath-breaking, house- 
 building, trafficking and gambling, by the whites and the Indians, 
 were allowed in sight and hearing of the place where services were 
 held. "If it is wrong to break the Sabbath, why does the agent 
 do so ?" " If it is wrong to play cards and gamble, why do the 
 white employes do so ?" and similar questions were asked by the 
 Indian children o r their Christian teachers. But in 1871 this was 
 changed, a Sabbath school and prayer-meeting were permanently 
 established, and most of the Indians during the summer were 
 present at one time or another. In 1872 Rev. J. Castro, M.D., was 
 engaged as government physician, and Rev. C. Eells, father of the 
 agent, went to live with his son, and both preached during the 
 winter at the agency and in the camps of the Indians. During the 
 year 1874 a council house was built at a money cost to the govern- 
 ment of five hundred dollars — besides the work which was done by 
 the government carpenter — which has since been used as a church. 
 And during that spring it was thought best to organize a church, 
 for although at first it would be composed mostly of the whites 
 connected with the agency, yet it was hoped that it would have a 
 salutary influence on the Indians. This was done June 23d, 1874, 
 with eleven members, nine ®f whom joined by letter and two on 
 profession of faith, one of the latter being an Indian. The sermon 
 was by Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D., prayer of consecration by 
 Rev. E. Walker, right hand of fellowship by Rev. A. H. Bradford, 
 of Montclair, New Jersey, who was temporarily supplying the 
 
Congregational Association. 113 
 
 First church, of Portland, having exchanged with Rev. J. D. 
 Eaton, and the charge to the church by Rev. M. Eells. 
 
 Rev. C. Eells 
 Was chosen pastor. Considering himself too old to learn a new- 
 Indian language, most of the work fell on Rev. M. Eells, who had 
 come on a visit, but who received an appointment by the American 
 Missionary Association as missionary in 1S75. The pastor, absent 
 much of the time in the eastern part of the territory, resigned in 
 1S76, when Rev. M. Eells was chosen pastor. Slowly different 
 individuals have come into the church — nine whites by letter, and 
 ten whites and seventeen Indians on profession. Of all these, two 
 have died, one has been excommunicated, and seven dismissed by 
 letter, leaving thirty-six on the list, July first. 
 
 The Sabbath-school, under the superintendence of the agent, 
 has been kept up steadily, and an interesting feature of the work 
 has been the committing to memory of the verses in the lesson. 
 Some Sabbaths twenty scholars have learned the six verses in the 
 lesson and recited them without a mistake, and some have done so 
 for a whole year. 
 
 In 1873 the Clallam Indians about Dungeness, ninety miles from 
 the agency, were much addicted to drunkenness, so much so 
 that the white residents were almost ready to petition to have them 
 removed to the reservation, a punishment they dreaded nearly as 
 much as any other which could be inflicted on them. The threat 
 of doing this had such an influence that about fifteen of 
 them combined, bought two hundred and ten acres of land, mostly 
 reformed in regard to drunkenness, and since that time have rapidly 
 advanced in civilization. In 1875, though without a resident 
 teacher, they began holding some kind of religious services on the 
 Sabbath, encouraged by their teachers, which have been kept up 
 steadily since that time. By their visits to the agency, and those 
 of their agent and missionary to them, they learned so much about 
 the need and value of such services that in 1878 they built a small 
 church, mostly with their own means, sixteen by twenty-four feet, 
 which was dedicated May 12th, 1878. It was the first, and is the 
 only church, in the county, although it has been settled twenty-six 
 years by whites, and contains a population of four or five hundred. 
 At that time none of the Indians were professing Christians, but 
 four have since been received into the church. About the same 
 9 
 
ii4 Congregational Association. 
 
 time, by special appropriation of the government, a school-teacher 
 was furnished them at their request, and the school has been steadily 
 kept up to the present time. They also sustain a weekly prayer- 
 meeting, the only one in the county. 
 
 During the six years of its existence the church has raised $i,- 
 754.05 for home work, and $2,361.95 for benevolence. 
 
 SEMIAHMOO, W. T. 
 
 This church, the most northern Congregational church on the 
 Pacific coast, but a few miles south of the British line, was 
 organized in 1875, by 
 
 Rev. W. M. Stewart, 
 With twelve members, as a Cumberland Presbyterian church. 
 Father Stewart, who has always been its pastor, is the oldest Con- 
 gregational minister in Oregon or Washington, being eighty-six 
 years of age on April 24, 1880. Owing to its long distance from 
 any other church of the same denomination, an earnest request 
 was sent to Dr. Atkinson to visit them and welcome them to our 
 body. He did so in March, 1876, when the church voted (12 to 
 3) to adopt the Congregational mode of government and the 
 articles of faith in Roy's Manual, whereupon the right hand of 
 fellowship was given them by Dr. Atkinson, who had the power 
 to act in behalf of the churches of Portland, Oregon City and 
 Seattle. 
 
 By the next year the church reported that it was working suc- 
 cessfully, everybody attended church, the saloon formerly there 
 had been closed, the few members who had danced had ceased the 
 practice, and a Young Men's Christian Association of thirty mem- 
 bers, and a temperance society of sixty members, had been 
 organized and well sustained. A year later a young people's 
 prayer-meeting was carried on in good condition ; also, the facts 
 were reported that there was no money there, but plenty of bache- 
 lors. 
 
 In 1876 a site was given for a church, and a building of " hewed 
 cedar" was afterwards erected upon it, which was finished in 1S78, 
 without debt. There was " no money " in that region, so the church 
 in Seattle gave the windows, doors, nails and flooring, and the 
 people gave the work. It was not, however, until July 5th, 1879, 
 
Congregational Association. i i c 
 
 when Dr. Atkinson was able again to visit them, that it was dedi- 
 cated. When it became a Congregational church it numbered 
 sixteen members. Since that time seven have been added by letter, 
 and thirteen on profession of faith, some have been dismissed, and 
 it numbered twenty-seven members in June, 1S79. 
 
 WHITE RIVER, W. T. 
 
 [Prepared mainly from a sketch furnished by Rev. S. Greene.] 
 This church was formed on the 23d day of October, 1877, by 
 eight members of the Seattle church residing in and near White 
 river valley, and three others who desired to join on profession of 
 faith, their ideas being in accordance with the doctrines and polity 
 of Congregationalism. These had been gathered by 
 
 Rev. Samuel Greene, 
 Who resided in the valley, and was at the organization chosen 
 acting pastor, and so remained as long as the church continued to 
 exist. Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D. D., was present at the organiza- 
 tion, and preached the sermon on the " New Testament Polity of 
 our Churches," gave the right hand of fellowship, and administered 
 the Communion. A letter was also received from the church at 
 Seattle, wishing the little band prosperity, and giving the right 
 hand token of love. 
 
 The church at once adopted the plan of systematic giving, and 
 so continued, with such success that the total contributions & of its 
 eleven members reached the sum of $150 in seventeen months, al- 
 though all of them were poor, and many of them had never been 
 educated to this mode of benevolence. 
 
 The church, however, found it a hard struggle to live, so that in 
 the spring of 1S79 the members felt inclined to disband, and perhaps 
 would have so voted had it not been for encouraging words from 
 sister churches. The pastor, who in turn with other denominations 
 had preached to the church only once a month, removed to Seattle. 
 
 The church had no home, and were unable to build. Some of 
 the members moved away, and some found it more convenient to 
 attend at Seattle than at White river, and so in the spring of 1880 
 the church disbanded, most of the members sending in their 
 letters to the Seattle churches. 
 
n6 Congregational Association. 
 
 COLFAX, W. T. 
 
 During the summer of 1874, Rev. C. Eells, then residing on 
 Puget Sound, held some services at this place; and the next sum- 
 mer similar work was performed, and likewise in 1876. The lack 
 of competent gospel ministers was seen in the country, which 
 was rapidly growing, on account of events connected with the 
 Northern Pacific Railroad. The continued services of a Congre- 
 gational clergyman seemed plainly to he needed, hut the outlook 
 varied; it was afflictive; it was hopeful. But, that fall, a definite 
 plan of church organization and material supply was indicated ; 
 and there was large correspondence that winter between Mr. Eells 
 and Dr. Atkinson, in regard to evangelistic work in Whitman 
 county. In the prosecution of that plan, the former reached Colfax, 
 June 22d, 1877, where he has since resided; and the latter on the 
 fifth of the next month, on a visit. On the next day, after delib- 
 erate and prayerful consideration, it was voted to organize, and on 
 the following day an examination of those suitable to enter the 
 church was made; and on Sabbath, July 8th, Plymouth church was 
 fully organized, on the basis of Roy's Manual, with ten members, 
 five males and five females, three only of whom joined by letter. 
 
 Rev. G. Eells 
 Was chosen pastor. A constitution was adopted August 3rd and 
 6th, and steps were soon taken to erect a church building. The 
 next year it was begun, but was not finished so as to be dedicated 
 until September 7th, 1S79. It is thirty by sixty feet, and at that 
 time had cost about twenty-six hundred dollars; and near four hun- 
 dred dollars have since been added during the present season. The 
 sermon was preached by Dr. Atkinson, and the dedicatory prayer 
 was by the pastor, with other parts by Revs. E. W. Allen and H. 
 T. Cowley. The church now numbers seventeen members. 
 
 DAYTON, W. T. 
 
 In September, 1872, Rev. E. W. Allen moved to a farm near 
 this place, and began preaching in the town, once, twice, three 
 times, and even four times a month, as he had opportunity, when 
 there was no preaching by other denominations. In 1875, Rev. C. 
 Eells, prompted by Rev. P. B. Chamberlain of Walla Walla, 
 
Congregational Association. 117 
 
 visited the place, and talked with reference to an organization, as 
 several members of the Walla Walla church resided there. In the 
 spring of 1S77, ne a gain visited the place, and obtained the names 
 of those who were willing to unite, the matter of an organization 
 being much more thoroughly canvassed. The facts were com- 
 municated to Dr. Atkinson, who visited the place, and a church 
 was organized July 15th, 1S77, with ten members, and Mr. Allen 
 was chosen pastor. Since that time five others have been added — 
 two of the whole number having joined on profession of faith. Mr. 
 Allen is mainly self-supporting, as the members of the church are 
 very poor, and can have preaching of their own only as it is given 
 them free of cost, or nearly so. The church has been worshipping 
 with the Methodists, with whom they work in the Sabbath school. 
 
 OLD TACOMA, W. T. 
 
 When the Northern Pacific railroad determined to make its ter- 
 minus on Commencement Bay, without announcing the precise spot, 
 Dr. Atkinson, in August, 1873, began services in the school-house at 
 this place. At the close of the service, a collection was taken up 
 to pay for the tent, to be used for church purposes; and on the next 
 Sabbath worship was held in the tent, and continued until cold 
 weather. A building was then erected, which was known as the 
 reading room, and was also constantly used for church purposes. 
 When the railroad company fixed upon New Tacoma as the place 
 of their terminus on the bay, Dr. Atkinson still continued services 
 at the old town, preaching there generally once a month, on the 
 same Sabbath that he visited the new town. In the fall of 1878 
 four persons, who were members of the church at New Tacoma, 
 but living at the old town, feeling that it was better to have an or- 
 ganization of their own nearer home, took letters and were 
 organized into a church, October 20, 187S; and since the spring of 
 1879, in common with the church at New Tacoma, it has enjoyed 
 the pastorate of Rev. J. A. Banfield. 
 
 NORTH PORTLAND, OREGON. 
 
 In 1864, Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D., then pastor of the First 
 Congregational church at Portland, by invitation began holding 
 
n8 Congregational Association. 
 
 services at the house of Deacon G. R. Smith, and this was kept up, 
 once in three or four weeks, in the neighborhood, for several years, 
 with some interruptions, until the finishing of the church building, 
 when the services were removed to it. A Sabbath school was 
 begun by Deacon Smith in 1865 or 1866, and has been sustained 
 most of the time since, under his superintendence, that of C. B. 
 Talbot, Esq., Deacon L. M. Parrish and Deacon G. Shindler. In 
 1876 a prayer-meeting was begun, which has been sustained with 
 an average attendance of from ten to eighteen at different times. 
 
 After ineffectual attempts to obtain church lots near West Park 
 street, in 1865, and again on Tenth street, it was resolved to cross 
 the ravine, and establish the mission enterprise at the corner of E 
 and Fourteenth streets. It was beyond the residence of the people, 
 and was thought to be too inconvenient. The streets were paths, 
 and it was hard on one, Sabbath afternoon, after other services, to 
 cross the ravine on a log. But Deacon Smith clung to the idea, 
 and the pastor thought it wise for the future. Mrs. J. H. Couch 
 donated two lots for the church, and frequently gave money for its 
 erection. The building was begun in 1867, and was built slowly — 
 piece by piece — by the people of the neighborhood and the mem- 
 bers of the First church, who have also given liberally of books 
 and papers, and the bell which belonged to their old building. In 
 1874 it was finished and paid for, at a cost of about twenty-five 
 hundred dollars, two hundred of which were given by the Con- 
 gregational Union. 
 
 A series of meetings held in the spring of 1879, resulted in a 
 number of conversions, and February 9, 1879, a church of seventeen 
 members was organized, thirteen of whom joined on profession of 
 faith. About the first of January, 1880, 
 
 Rev. E. P. Baker 
 Assumed the pastorate of this church, in connection with that at 
 East Portland. The Sabbath school has been a flourishing one, 
 with one hundred and fifty scholars enrolled, and an average at- 
 tendance of one hundred and fifteen. The preliminary work has 
 been long and trying to faith, but fruit is beginning to be seen, and 
 the city and its inhabitants extend now far beyond the church, 
 which was far beyond the city when the building was begun. 
 
Congregational Association. 
 
 119 
 
 YAKIMA CITY, W. T. 
 
 In 1871, Deacon James Kesling, who was one of the early mem- 
 bers of the Atahnum church, began a Sabbath school at this place, 
 and the next year it was regularly organized, he being elected 
 superintendent. This has been continued by himself and a few co- 
 laborers ever since. It has been the main religious light of the 
 region, and has been held in the court house for the past four or 
 five years. There has been about as little Congregational preach- 
 ing here as at Atahnum, but there has been some by other denom- 
 inations. In the spring of 1S79, some of the older scholars became 
 Christians, and, on consultation, it was thought best to organize a 
 church. Dr. Atkinson visited them, held several services, and on 
 April 27, 1S79, it was organized with sixteen members, twelve of 
 them joining on profession of faith. In connection with the 
 Atahnum church, it now enjoys the services of Rev. Mr. Capps as 
 pastor, numbers twenty-five members, only six of whom have 
 joined by letter, and is planning to erect a church at home. 
 
 SPOKANE FALLS, W. T. 
 
 About 1874, Rev. H. T. Cowley moved to this place as a mis- 
 sionary to the Spokane Indians, and also held services with the 
 whites, who were flocking to the same place, on account of the 
 prospects of the Northern Pacific railroad. For nearly four years he 
 continued in this work, when he resigned the pastoral care of the 
 Indians; and, May 26, 1879, a church was organized with nine 
 members, two of whom were Spokane Indians, who have earned 
 a good reputation as Christians. It was, literally, " the church in 
 thy house." 
 
 WHITE SALMON, W. T. 
 
 Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D., the acting pastor, organized this 
 church, May 4, 1879, with»nine members — three joining by letter, 
 and the rest on profession of faith. Services of some kind had 
 long been held in the neighborhood, more or less for twenty years. 
 During much of the time only three or four families lived in the 
 region, but when Sabbath came they gathered in the house of 
 
120 Congregational Association. 
 
 Deacon E. S. Joslyn, Deacon E. S. Tanner or Deacon Warner, and 
 read over a sermon ; and once in a long time were favored with 
 one from some visiting clergyman. As the country began to fill 
 up, other families moved into this region; but it was not until the 
 spring of 1879 that the neighborhood grew so that it was thought 
 advisable to organize a church, and then the canvass was begun as 
 an experiment. But when the people were visited, to the surprise 
 and jov of the Christians there, the company of three who were 
 ready to unite by letter, grew to be nine; some of those uniting on 
 profession, welcoming the organization with tears. Without a 
 church home, their services were held during the first summer, 
 under an oak tree. Says the Pacific, of one of these services: "On 
 the hill, under an oak, fourteen at communion. Surely apostolical 
 simplicity is not entirely unknown in our day." 
 
 CHA-WE-LAH, W. T. 
 
 Since the oi - ganization of the local association, another small 
 church has been added to the number at Cha-we-lah, about twenty- 
 five miles south of Fort Colville. In 1874, Rev. C. Eells con- 
 ducted services at that place, and some of the hearers had not then 
 heard a gospel sermon by a Protestant clergyman for twenty years. 
 Occasional services were also held there during succeeding years 
 until 1879, when four persons, some of whom had been residents of 
 the place for twenty-five years, but had had no church home, and 
 who had been " faithful among the faithless found," were united 
 together in a church organization, September 14, 1879, Rev. C. 
 Eells performing all the services. Since that time their pastor has 
 been able to visit them but once. 
 
 WENASS, W. T. 
 
 This church was organized September 14, 1879, by Revs. D. B. 
 Gray and Wm. Capps, during a visit *of the former to the region. 
 Eight persons united in the organization, four more joined in the 
 afternoon and three others have since been added. Rev. Wm. Capps 
 was chosen pastor, Joseph Taylor, deacon; and Charles Longmire, 
 clerk. 
 
Congregational Association. 121 
 
 EIGHT-MILE CREEK, OREGON. 
 
 This church was organized September 14, 1879, by Rev. G. H. 
 Atkinson, D.D., with six members; most of whom came from the 
 church at The Dalles. Rev. E. P. Roberts has been its acting 
 pastor, and it is in a farming and grazing region. 
 
 MOUNT ZION, OREGON. 
 
 This church is about three miles from Portland. About ten 
 years ago when Dr. Atkinson was pastor of the church at Portland, 
 besides his two regular services, he often walked to this place and 
 held a third service. Much of the time, too, Deacon H. M. Hum- 
 phrey who lives here, has held a Sabbath school and Bible class for 
 the benefit of those who could not go to Portland on the Sabbath. 
 During the latter part of 1879 considerable religious interest was 
 found to exist among the older members of this school, and Jan- 
 uary 4, 1880, the church was organized with eighteen members, by 
 Dr. Atkinson, many of its members coming on profession of faith 
 from the Sabbath school. Rev. Edward Rogers has been secured 
 as pastor, who labors also at Beaverton. 
 
 BEAVERTON, OREGON. 
 
 This church in Washington county was organized by Dr. 
 Atkinson January 4, 1880. The preliminary work was begun by 
 him at least as far back as 1876, but quarterly visits were about all 
 he has at times been able to give it. On account of a great storm 
 several persons were prevented from joining it at its organization, 
 who intended to do so, so that it began with three members. Six 
 have since been added. Rev. E. Rogers has been secured as 
 pastor, in connection with his work at Mount Zion. 
 
 PORT GAMBLE, W. T. 
 
 For about nine years there has been more or less preaching at 
 this place, the largest saw-mill town in the territory. About 1871 
 
 Rev. J. F. Damon 
 Began work here, though residing at Seattle, nearly thirty-five 
 
122 Congregational Association. 
 
 miles distant, and continued it monthly or semi-monthly for sev- 
 eral years, when not prevented by sickness or other causes ; and 
 this work was so largely appreciated, that on Christmas, 1874, 
 Messrs. Pope & Talbot, the owners of the mills, presented the Sab- 
 bath school with an excellent library, every family in the place 
 with a copy of " Bringing in Sheaves," by Rev. A. B. Earle, and 
 Rev. J. F. Damon with forty additional copies for distribution else- 
 where; while the people presented Mr. Damon with a title-deed of 
 his homestead in Seattle, obtained at a cost of three hundred and 
 fifty dollars. There were periods of considerable time, however, 
 when ill-health and other causes prevented Mr. Damon from this 
 
 work, and then 
 
 Rev. G. H. Atkinson, D.D., 
 
 Filled his place, and in 1874 a reading-room was established for the 
 benefit of the people, and especially the young men about the mill. 
 Through his labors a church building was begun in 1S7S, preach- 
 ing having been previously held in the public halls. In November, 
 
 1878, 
 
 Rev. N. W. Lane, M.D„ 
 
 A licentiate, by invitation of the people, moved to the place, and 
 since that time has preached regularly, while at the same time he 
 has acted as the physician of the town. July 13, 1879, the church 
 having been completed, was dedicated, with sermon by Dr. At- 
 kinson, and other parts by Revs. R. S. Stubbs and N. W. Lane. 
 Thus, slowly but steadily, step after step was taken, until March 
 20, 1880, by invitation, a council met at the place, for the examina- 
 tion of Dr. Lane, which continued from nine o'clock in the morn- 
 ing until half past three in the afternoon. Hie examination was 
 long and thorough, and quite satisfactory to all the members. On 
 the following day, Sabbath morning, the public exercises con- 
 nected with the ordination took place, with sermon by Rev. J. F. 
 Ellis, ordaining prayer and charge by Dr. Atkinson, and the right 
 hand of fellowship by Rev. M. Eells. In the evening a church of 
 seven members was organized, Di. Atkinson preaching the sermon 
 and giving the right hand of fellowship ; and this was followed bv 
 the administration of the Lord's Supper by Dr. Atkinson and Mr. 
 Eells. Thus, after many years of toil and faith and waiting, a 
 church was founded and a regularly ordained minister settled to 
 labor at this important centre of a country nearly one hundred 
 miles square, in the northwest corner of the territory. 
 
Congregational Association. 123 
 
 PRINEVILLE, OREGON. 
 
 This church, in eastern Oregon, was organized by Dr. Atkinson 
 April 11, 1S80, with eleven members, after a week's earnest Chris- 
 tian work among the people. But few religious services had ever 
 been held there, and yet it seemed desirable that the Christians 
 should come together in a union organization, and when this was 
 done, Dr. Atkinson was chosen pastor. Mr. C. H. Walker, of the 
 Warm Springs Indian reservation, also preaches to them about once 
 a month. The organization has aroused new Christian effort, and 
 a union church building is under contract by the people. 
 
 SEABECK, W. T. 
 
 This is a milling town of Puget Sound, and contains a population 
 of two or three hundred. In the fall of 1876 Rev. M. Eells began 
 visiting the place, where he was very kindly received by the super- 
 intendent of the mill, R. Holyoke, Esq., and by the people gener- 
 erally. Up to that time the place had hardly averaged two sermons 
 a year, although it had been settled for ten or fifteen years. Mr. 
 Eells visits generally have amounted to about eight a vear. Rev. 
 Mr. Nickerson of the Protestant Methodist church, Rev. Mr. 
 Cairns of the Baptist church, and Rev. Dr. Lane, a Congregation- 
 alist, for a time had appointments at the place, but all had ceased 
 by the spring of 1878. The changing character of the population 
 in the milling towns on Puget Sound has. rendered all church 
 organization difficult, and it was so in this case; so that it was not 
 until the spring of 1880 that it seemed wise to attempt it, but at 
 that time nine persons were found ready to enter such an organiza- 
 tion, and this was consummated May 16th of that year. Mr. Eells 
 made three attempts to obtain assistance at that time, but all failed, 
 and so he was obliged to perform all the parts in the services. Two 
 of the number joined on profession of faith, and the rest by letter; 
 of whom one came from a Congregational church and two from a 
 Protestant Methodist church in this territory, one from a Congre- 
 gational church in California, one from a Presbyterian church in 
 British Columbia, one from a Lutheran church in Norway, and one 
 from the Episcopal church of England. 
 
124 
 
 "ONGREGATIONAL ASSOCIATION. 
 
 This churci 
 three members, 
 much neglected fie 
 the district for years, 
 worship. Dr. Atkinson 
 have been taken to erect a 
 
 'ASHOUGAL, W. T. 
 
 1 by Dr. Atkinson May 4, 1880, with 
 
 to three denominations, and is in a 
 
 ■ional services have been held in 
 
 were glad to receive Sabbath 
 
 stor, and preliminary steps 
 
 MOUNT PLEA. 
 
 This church was organized in a fam. Atkinson,, 
 
 after two visits among the people, and two "es, with 
 
 eight members. They had neither church st. chool 
 
 or prospect of any, and some of them had not . for 
 
 two years. Four Christian families were found, 
 worship, but were of three denominations. Their 
 was a glad surprise to some. They have chosen Dr. A 
 pastor, also other officers, and have made arrangements to 
 church building. 
 
History f th P r„