Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 20.pdf/180

 GEORGE H. HIMES

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Robert Moore, the leading Presbyterian member, having withdrawn to assist in the organization of a Presbyterian Church on the west side of the river at Linn City, the remainder of the members, some time in the latter part of 1848, voted to change the name to the "First Congregational Church of Oregon City."

Rev. George H. Atkinson, of Massachusetts, a graduate of Andover, the first minister sent to the Pacific Coast by the

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Missionary Society, arrived at Oregon His first service was 23, 1848, via Cape Horn. a private house, and the membership of the church

Congregational City on June held in

numbered seven. Subsequent services were held in the court room and then in the basement of a house; but by August, 1850, a church edifice was erected at a cost of $3,900, and Lumber was $80.00 per thousand; carpenters' dedicated. a day; windows, twenty dollars apiece; and dollars ten wages in else proportion. The lot where the church now everything stands cost $250.00, and it was covered with heavy timber, most of which was removed by Dr. Atkinson. He did a good deal in aiding to build the church in carrying lumber, brick Labor was indeed very hard to get, as a large the population had gone to the gold mines in of proportion

and mortar.

Out of

two churches came the organization Oregon on July 13, 1848. was that at Milwaukie, Rev. 1850 in Horace by Lyman, with three memorganized At that time it was difficult to decide which was the bers. most promising place for a church, Milwaukie or Portland. At length, however, it became apparent that the latter place would lead, hence all the members at Milwaukie moved away. The fourth was the First of Portland, on June 15, 1851, by Rev. Horace Lyman, pastor, with ten members, and the fifth was that of the First Church of Salem on July 4, 1852, by Rev. D. R. Williams, who had taught school at Forest Grove for the greater part of the previous year. California.

these

of the Congregational Association of The third Congregational Church

our Baptist brethren the early church organizations The church of West Union, May 25, 1844, with six members. That fall Rev. Vincent Snelling, the first

Among

were

as follows: