Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/577

Rh came pastor in 1885, serving until 1888, when Rev. George Hartung, the present pastor, succeeded him.

The Norwegian-Danish M. E. church was organized in November, 1882, by Rev. C. J. Larsen and fifteen members. At that time meetings were held in a chapel on Third street. Great interest was awakened by these services, and but a short time elapsed until a lot was purchased by the congregation on the corner of Twelfth and D streets, where a neat and commodious church has since been erected. Rev. C. J. Larson still officiates as pastor.

The Methodists have been foremost in the establishment of mission branches of this denomination in the vicinity of Portland during recent years.

The East Portland M. E. church, organized in October, 1887, with a new house of worship on the corner of Tenth and Adams streets, dedicated in February, 1890, is the outgrowth of their work in this direction. The Albina M. E. church, corner of Russell and Kirby streets, is also of recent growth. Both of these churches are presided over by Rev. G. M. Pierce, under whom they are enjoying great prosperity. For several years a Chinese mission has been sustained, of which Rev. Andrew J. Hanson is superintendent.

The Zion M. E. church, corner of Main and Eleventh streets, was built in 1881, and is a house of worship for the Africans of Portland. At present no regular pastor is stationed over this congregation, and services are only occasionally held.

In membership the Methodists outnumber any other religious denomination in Portland except the Catholics. At the annual state conference of 1889, the number of members belonging to the Taylor Street, St. Paul's and Grace churches of Portland, the Centenary and Adams Street churches of East Portland, and the Albina church was reported as 1,340.

The Catholics followed the Methodists in point of time in the establishment of churches in Oregon. As early as the winter of 1839-40, they erected a church at Champoeg, in the Willamette valley, although for some years previously they had been steadily making converts to their faith among the Indians. In 1838 Rev. F. N. Blanchet and Rev. Modeste Demers were appointed by the archbishop of Quebec as missionaries to the Pacific coast country, the former as vicar-general. For four years they toiled alone in their mission field which extended from the Pacific coast to the Rocky mountains, between the California boundary and the northern glacial sea. They were then joined by other laborers in religious work, and from that time the Catholic faith has been upheld by able and conscientious workers.

The first movement toward the erection of a Catholic church in Portland was commenced in the fall of 1851, at which time Rev. James Croke was authorized by Archbishop Blanchet to solicit donations for the purpose. About $500 was secured through subscriptions from residents of Portland, with which half a block of ground was purchased from Capt. J. H. Couch, somewhere in the vicinity of Sixth and D streets, and the building commenced.

During the erection of the church, the few Catholics who were then in Portland used to assemble at the residences of Catholic families until the completion of the little sacristy at the end of the church, where for the first time midnight mass was celebrated at Christmas, 185 1. By February, 1852, the work was sufficiently advanced to have the building dedicated, the services being performed by Archbishop F. N. Blanchet, assisted by Very Rev. J. B. Brouillet, vicar-general of Nesqualy and Rev. James Croke, pastor. The edifice itself at this time was a mere shell, the inside walls being covered with cotton cloth, and the sanctuary and altar with Chinese matting.

The church remained on the original site until 1854, when it was moved to the site now occupied by the cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, on the cor-