Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/578

414 ner of Third and Stark streets (1890). Here the building remained for the next ten years without change. When, in 1862, the Most Rev. Archbishop Blanchet removed from Oregon City to Portland, this humble church became the proc-athedral. In October, 1863, Very Rev. J. F. Fierens, V. G., was appointed to take charge of the pro-cathedral. By this time the congregation had so increased as to require a larger building. Under Vicar-General Fierens, two wings were added to the main building, which were completed in the fall of 1864, the first service in the enlarged church being celebrated on Christmas day at that year. Seven years later it again became necessary to enlarge the building to meet the needs of the congregation. This was accomplished between August and October, 1871. During the next seven years the Catholic population of Portland had so increased that it was found necessary to erect a larger building. The old edifice was removed and in its place was built a gothic structure fronting on Stark street. It was dedicated in 1882. Very Rev. J. F. Fierens, V. G., has been pastor of this church since 1862, but for several years past he has had from one to two assistants. The present assistants are: Rev. Edward O'Dea and Rev. J. Northman. Rev. Edward O'Dea has since been appointed bishop of Seattle, and is a very able and useful administrator of the church.

Since 1862, Portland has been the residence of the archbishop of the diocese of Oregon. Archbishop Blanchet continued in charge of the diocese until his death in 1885, when the Most Rev. Wm. H. Gross was appointed, and Gross was succeeded by Archbishop Christie.

The cathedral of the Immaculate Conception remained the only Catholic house of worship in this vicinity until 1874, when St. Francis' church in East Portland was built. On January 9, 1882, this church, which stood on the corner of Eleventh and J streets, was blown down by the memorable storm of that date, after which the present edifice was built on the same site. Rev. L. Verhaag is pastor of this church.

The next Catholic house of worship erected was the Church of St. Lawrence, on the corner of Third and Sherman streets, built in 1883. In 1886 St. Joseph church, on the corner of Fourteenth and C streets, was built; and in 1888 St. Patrick's on S street, between Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets, and the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Albina. In the Church of St. Joseph, the services are conducted in the German language. The pastors of the churches last mentioned are as follows: Church of St. Lawrence, Rev. B. Orth; St. Patrick's, Rev. P. Gibney; Church of St. Joseph, Rev. Dr. Albert Sommer; Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Rev. G. B. Van Lin. According to the best authority, the present (1890) Catholic population of Portland and vicinity is between 7,000 and 8,000.

The first Congregational minister in Oregon was Rev. Harvey Clark, an independent missionary, who organized a church in Oregon City in 1844. In 1847 the American Home Missionary Society sent Rev. George H. Atkinson and wife to labor in Oregon. In the early part of 1848 Mr. Atkinson held two services in Portland, one in a log shingle shop, and the other in an old warehouse, the congregation crowding in among bales and boxes of goods. Occasional services were afterward held by Mr. Atkinson and Revs. Harvey Clark and C. Eells.

In November, 1849, Rev. Horace Lyman and wife arrived. Mr. Lyman had been sent out by the Home Missionary Society in 1847, but remained at San Jose, California, one year engaged in teaching. After his arrival in Portland he at once began the work of building up a church. In 1850, one of the town proprietors, D. H. Lownsdale, gave the ground, and the citizens made liberal donations to carry out the project. With this assistance, Mr. Lyman began the erection of a church building at the south end of Second street. Much of the manual labor connected with the task was performed by this zealous minister, and so hard did he work that he fell ill from over-exertion. He soon, however,