An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington, Part 29

Author: Edwards, Jonathan, 1847-1929. cn
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: [San Francisco?] W.H. Lever
Number of Pages: 888

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Crawford as rector. In 1892 eastern Washing- ton became a separate diocese under the name of the Missionary district of Spokane, and the Rt. Rev. Lemuel H. Wells, D. D., became its first bishop, with his residence at Spokane as. his see city, and took All Saints church as his cathedral. Soon after this the rectory and tlie old church, then used as a chapel, and the chan- cel end of the present church, with a bishop's. house partly built, and other buildings adjoin- ing, were burned. Later St. Mary's hall was burned and the bishop secured a new site and building for the school on the corner of Pa- cific avenue and Hemlock, and Mrs. Hen- reitta B. Wells and Miss Julia P. Bailey became the principals. Since then it has been twice en- larged and is very flourishing. About 1895. Mr. Lane was succeeded by the Rev. Dean Richmond Babbitt, LL. D., and after a short interval the Rev. Robert Perine became dean of the cathedral and is the present incumbent. While Dr. Babbitt was dean the St. Stephens School for Boys was started and still occupies the parish house in connection with the cathed- 1al, Mr. T. E. Morton being the head master. About 1896 Trinity church was erected, and after several temporary arrangements the Rev. J. Neilson Barry took charge in 1899. A mis- sion was at one time started at Liberty Park under the name of St. Peters, and after a year or two was discontinued. It has now been re- vived with happier auspices under the charge of the Rev. Walter B. Clark. There are no. other Episcopal churches in Spokane county outside of the city, but the church services are being held in various places, in buildings either rented or loaned. In July, 1897, a Protestant liospital was organized under the auspices of the Episcopal church in a building on the corner of Sprague and Madison streets, loaned by them. The hospital is doing good work and is. generally full to overflowing, cordially sup- ported by the Protestant community. Miss. Edith Duke is the superintendent and head nurse.

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The United Presbyterian Church is one of a number of denominations belonging to the great Presbyterian body. Its history ex- tends back to and beyond the times of the per- secutions in Scotland when men gave their lives rather than give up their religious con- victions.

Its history in America begins, as a distinct denomination, in 1857, having its origin in the union of two Presbyterian bodies, the Asso- ciate and the Associate-Reformed churches. Each of these denominations, however, had an American history running far back into the eighteenth century. Indeed it is claimed that the first theological seminary building erected on American soil was built by the Associate church, in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and to-day pieces from the oak logs of the old build- ing are found in many United Presbyterian families in the form of canes and curios and areregarded as heir-looms of a church ancestry.

The United Presbyterian church is one of the smaller denominations of the country, hav- ing, according to report of 1899, 893 ministers and 114.635 members in America, and two prosperous missions, one in Egypt and the other in India, with an aggregate of 73 ministers and 12.148 members.

The church established its work in Spokane county in 1890, in which year Rev. W. A. Spalding was sent out by the Home Mission- ary Board to organize a congregation in the city of Spokane. He arrived on the field Au- gust 8. 1890. On Sabbath, August 10, he preached, so far as is known, the first United Presbyterian sermon that was ever preached in the county, in the Congregational tabernacle. on Washington street, between Third and Fourth avenues, and by favor of that congre- gation used their building for a first meeting of United Presbyterians that same evening.

A number of persons were present, willing and anxious to aid in this church organization.

During the week a store room at No. 421 Sec- ond avenue was rented as temporary quarters, and later. about November I, the work was moved to the Phoenix Block. Second avenue and Jefferson street, where the organization was formed on November 7. 1890, with the fol- lowing named twenty-eight persons as charter members : John Anderson, Mrs. Maggie Anderson. W. H. McCoy, Mrs. Ella McCoy, Isaac McCracken, Mrs. Isabel McCracken, W. E. Reed. Mrs. Millie Reed. H. C. Blair. D. E. Blair, Miss Sarah E. Blair, Miss Agnes L. Thompson, W. C. McMillan. J. M. McMil- lan. Miss Emma Patton, Miss Mary A. Tag- gart. W. H. Shields, J. G. McCracken. John E. Reed. Mrs. Maggie Reed. Miss Lena Mc- Coy. Thomas H. Brewer, Mrs. Margaret B. Spalding, Mrs. Sophia Cannon, Mrs. Matie Shields. J. F. Carnahan, Mrs. Tallie Carnahan. Of these. John Anderson, W. H. McCoy and Isaac McCracken were elected ruling elders, and W. C. McMillan, John E. Reed and W.H. McCoy, trustees, and so completed the organi- zation.

The Boards of Home Missions and Church Extension rendered valuable assistance from the beginning. The latter purchased a lot, the present church site, corner Third avenue and Adams street, on which the congregation built a chapel in 1891, as part of the future per- manent building. In this they worshiped, and grew in numbers and strength until 1898. when the main auditorium, as it now stands, was completed. the total cost of the property being about eighteen thousand dollars. The Rev. Dr. Spalding has continued from the first to be the pastor of the congregation, which has now ( 1900) a membership of one hundred and fifty. Besides taking care of their work and keeping themselves free from debt, the congre- gation has organized and maintained a mis- sion Sabbath school at Glendale, in the south- west part of the city. Here they have a school of from seventy-five to a hundred, and a good property that is open to use by all evangelical

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

denominations. This is the only congrega- tion of the United Presbyterian denomination in the county of Spokane. The denomination is reckoned to be conservative in its theology. Its published creed is the confession that is common to all Presbyterian bodies, but it places back of all, the word of God, accepting it as the "infallible and only rule of faith and prac- tice." As a church it stands stoutly upon the platform of Jesus Christ the Divine Son of God being "The head over all things to his church." It calls upon its members, by the power of an inward and spiritual impulse, to separate them- selves from the world, and not be "unequally yoked together with unbelievers;" and con- sequently it seeks to keep its members from all associations and societies where close and sworn fellowship must be had with men of every belief and practice. The exclusive use of "God's songs" or the Psalms in its praise service is a distinguishing feature that may have helped to keep the church pure in doc- trine, on the principle of the noted saying, "Let me make a nation's songs and I care not who makes her laws."

As is to be rightly expected, the United Presbyterian church has always been identi- fied with the moral growth, and better devel- opment of the city's and county's interests.

FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SPOKANE.

The Universalist society of Spokane was organized March 16, 1892, by the Rev. Q. H. Shinn, D. D., Universalist missionary, with a charter membership of ten. A parish was or- ganized January 29, 1893, by Q. H. Shinn, D. D., of Boston, Massachusetts, general mission- ary of the Universalist church for the United States. There were forty-five names enrolled. The officers of the parish are a president, clerk, treasurer and four trustees. This parish ac- knowledges the ecclesiastical authority of the Universalist general convention, and contrib- utes each year according to its ability to the funds of the general convention in conformity

with their laws. The parish is the business branch of the church, and transacts all busi- ness pertaining to the church. Soon after the organization of the parish, a Sunday school was organized, and has held regular sessions every Sunday at 12 M.

A church organization was effected Au- gust 27, 1893, by Rev. A. C. Grier, now of Racine, Wisconsin. Twenty-eight members were received into the church, some by letter and others by baptism. Officers of the church are a moderator, a clerk and three deacons. The Rev, A. C. Grier was engaged to preach at this time for two months, during his vaca- tion from his regular charge in the east. Dur- ing his stay Mr. Grier organized a Young Peo- ple's Christian Union, an auxiliary to the church. After Rev. Mr. Grier left, lay serv- ices were held regularly in Oliver hall, some member of the church or parish reading a ser- mon each Sunday, no regular preaching serv- ices being held until the summer of 1896, when the Rev. Asa M. Bradley, then of Oakland, California, and Pacific coast missionary, was sent to this church by the Woman's Centenary Association, an auxiliary to the Universalist general convention. Rev. Mr. Bradley re- mained eight months and while here was instru- mental in purchasing a lot for church pur- poses, on which a church building is now in contemplation. When Mr. Bradley was called to other fields for missionary work, lay serv- ices were again resumed and have been regu- larly held, except when an occasional sermon was preached by general missionary Rev. Q. H. Shinn, D. D. From time to time acces- sions were made to the church until at one time the membership reached fifty-two, but on ac- count of removals from the city the number has been reduced to about forty.

The church has been greatly hampered on account of lack of finances, but arrangements are now making whereby the general conven- tion will lend its aid, which will enable the so- ciety to employ a settled pastor in the near fu-

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

ture, and hopes are entertained of soon having a building on the church lot, in which to meet, instead of having to rent a hall as now.

The determintion of this society to be rec- ognized as one of the many in this city which are laboring for Christ and the good of human- ity, will be apparent when it is considered that for seven years it has held regular services in Oliver hall, and during the majority of that time without a minister.

The Universalist profession of faith is as follows :

I. We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments contain a revela- tion of the character of God, and of the duty, interest and final destination of mankind.

2. We believe that there is one God, whose nature is love, revealed in one Lord Jesus Christ by one Holy Spirit of Grace, who will finally restore the whole family of mankind to holiness and happiness.

3. We believe that holiness and true happi- ness are inseparably connected, and that be- lievers ought to be careful to maintain order and practice good works; for these things are good and profitable unto men.

Declaration of principles :

I. The universal Fatherhood of God.

2. The spiritual authority and leadership of Jesus Christ.

3. The certainty of just retribution.

4. The trustworthiness of the Bible as con- taining a revelation from God.

5. The final harmony of all souls with God.

UNITARIAN CHURCH.

The First Unitarian church of Spokane was organized in the spring of 1887 at a meeting held in the office of Hon. George M. Forster. At this meeting there were present and took part in the organization Mr. and Mrs. George M. Forster, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Ross, Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Graves, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Clarke, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Greenberg, Mrs. J. F. Sloane, Mr. and Mrs.

C. WV. Burrage, W. G. Willis and others. The records of this meeting, as well as the records of subsequent meetings and of the early life of the church, were destroyed in the disastrous fire of 1889. There was also present at this meet- ing, or he came to Spokane very soon after- ward, Rev. Edwin M. Wheelock, A. M., LL. B., the organizer and first pastor of the church. An enthusiastic visitor about this same time was Rev. Chas. W. Wendte, of Oakland, Cali- fornia, through whose efforts and inspiration the first active movement toward the organiza- tion of a church was made, and who has con- tinued to be a father to the society and to main- tain an affectionate interest in its welfare and progress. Rev. C. W. Wendte remembers that at a previous visit to Spokane Falls there came a courier with news of an Indian uprising on Wild Rose prairie, near to Spokane, and of the speedy drafting of men to repel the attack, though nothing came of it, the little army of fifty men returning the next day after a night spent under the stars. This incident of pioneer life will serve to show the primitive character- istics of the town at this time. Previous to this meeting for organization Unitarian services had been held by Rev. C. W. Wendte, and by Rev. H. K. Gillette, who was probably the first Unitarian minister to visit Spokane. The first pastor of the new society was Rev. E. M. Wheelock. Under his pastorate the small circle of worshipers was enlarged and organized into a strong church society; a Sunday school was brought together under the efficient su- perintendency of Prof. W. B. Turner, now prin- cipal of the State Normal School; a Ladies' Aid Society was organized and the founda- tions for the future usefulness of the church were well laid. Under his pastorate also the present comfortable and attractive church edi- fice, on the northwest corner of Sprague avenue and Jefferson street, was built during the autumn and early winter of 1888. The church edifice is of the cottage style of architecture, is commodiously arranged and has a seating

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

capacity of two hundred and seventy-five. It cost sixty-five hundred dollars. Rev. E. M. Wheelock severed his connection as pastor of. the church in December, 1889, on account of the condition of his wife's health requiring a southern climate. The pulpit for the remainder of the year until the summer vacation was in charge of Mr. John H. Long, at that time un- ordained, and in the fall of 1890 Rev. Alfred G. Wilson succeeded to the pastorate, after having left a prominent orthodox pulpit of Spokane because he could no longer preach the doctrines required. His ministry lasted for two years and in the fall of 1892 Rev. Joseph W. Stocks, a recent graduate of Harvard Uni- versity, entered upon the work as minister with enthusiasm and with every promise of a bril- liant career, when his sad and untimely death came as a great shock to the society. Mr. Stocks died in February, 1893, and Rev. A. G. Wilson was again called to the pastorate and filled out the year to the summer vacation. Rev. Edwin M. Fairchild was called to the pastorate in September, 1894, but remained only three months, and Rev. A. G. Wilson was again prevailed upon to accept the pastorate. He was succeeded, January 6, 1896, by Rev. Oliver Jay Fairfield, A. M., S. T. B., the pres- ent pastor, under whose ministry the society is growing in strength and influence, and is striving to occupy that high place of service to the community that the Unitarian body, though numerically weak, has filled in the life of the nation during the nineteenth century.

OLIVER JAY FAIRFIELD.

UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST.

The earliest missionary of this church on the Pacific coast was one known as Father Conoyer, who did some pioneer work in east- ern Washington. The thirty-fifth annual ses- sion of the Columbia River conference, embrac- ing the upper Columbia country, was held at Huntsville last June. Prior to 1889 some preaching had been done by Rev. J. S. Rhodes,

110w of Weston, Oregon, and others in the southern part of the county. But in June of said year Rev. C. C. Bell was sent from Port- land, Oregon, to Spokane to organize and de- velop the work. On April 10, 1890, a class was instituted, but the incorporation of the church did not take place until the 14th of May of the following year. Soon after this a build- ing was erected on land donated by Mr. S. Heath, and the church was named "Heath Memorial," in commemoration of Mr. Heath's father. The church is 35x60, with a Sunday school room 25x18 feet, and built of brick and tastily finished inside, costing, with the parson- age adjoining, about five thousand dollars. The church started out under favorable auspices and promise of rapid growth, but the financial de- pression which followed soon after obstructed its progress. The following have acted as pas- tors succeeding Rev. Bell: Rev. P. O. Bone- brake, now president of Philomath College, Oregon; Rev. G. W. Sickafoose, now of El- berton; Rev. J. M. Tressenriter, now of Ore- gon, and the present pastor, Rev. G. N. Needy, who has had charge since October, 1897. Un- der his ministry considerable progress has been made in all departments of church work. The church has a membership of seventy and a Sun- day school of one hundred scholars, with flour- ishing Senior and Junior Endeavor Societies. Some improvements have recently been made in and around the church edifice. The church at Rockford has a convenient building and a membership of sixty-six and about one hundred scholars in the Sunday school. Rev. O. O. Otis is pastor.

The Waverly church is comfortably housed and has a membership of fifty-seven, with about an equal number in Sunday school and it is served by Rev. R. N. Lewis.

FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST.

The Christian Science tenets were intro- duced to Spokane in the year 1890, and the meetings were held in the Granite block.

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

Among the prime movers were Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Goodall and Mr. Robinson, the latter being a student of Mrs. Eddy. The church was organized four years ago, and the present membership is eighty, with a congregation of about one hundred and fifty. Meetings are held on Sunday morning in the Jewish Temple on Second avenue, and a testimony meeting is held every Wednesday evening. A reading room was established seven years ago and has been sustained ever since. At present it is lo- cated on the corner of Sprague avenue and Howard street. It is a free reading room, where all the Christian Science literature of Mrs. Eddy can be found, or all the Christian Science literature of the Boston publishing house.

"I. As adherents of truth, we take the Scriptures for our guide to eternal life.

"2. We acknowledge and adore one su- preme infinite God. We acknowledge one Christ, the Holy Ghost, and man as the divine image and likeness.

"3. God's forgiveness of sin, in the de- struction of sin, and the understanding that sin and suffering are not eternal.

"4. The atonement as the efficacy, and evi- dence of divine love, of man's unity with God, and the great merits of Jesus, the Way-shower.

"5. Universal salvation as demonstrated by Jesus, the Galilean prophet, in the power of truth over all error, sin, sickness and death ; and the resurrection of human faith and under-

standing to seize the great possibilities and liv- ing energies of the divine life.

"6. We solemnly promise to strive, watch and pray for that mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus, to love one another, and to be meek, merciful, just and pure."

MARY BAKER G. EDDY.

PEOPLE'S UNITED CHURCH.

This church was organized May 21, 1896, the majority of the members, with the pastor, coming out of the First Methodist Episcopal church. Rev. D. N. McInturff, D. D., has been the pastor from the beginning. The church is aggressive in its method and emphasizes the faith healing doctrine.

CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE.

This is an interdenominational alliance, holding regular services at present in the Vin- cent Methodist Episcopal church. It empha- sizes conversion, sanctification, healing and the second coming of Christ. The Fourfold Gospel Union advocates the same doctrines. Rev. B. F. Morse is the pastor ..

HEBREW.

Hebrew services were held first in this city eleven years ago in the First Congregational church building. The Temple was erected in 1891. Several rabbis have served the Congre- gation Emanu-El, but at present they are with- out a rabbi.

CHAPTER XXIII.

OTHER RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

Few men suspect, perhaps no man comprehends, the extent of the support given by religion to the virtues of ordinary life .- Channing.

SPOKANE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN

CIATION. ASSO-

This organization is one of the most benefi- cent agencies in the physical, intellectual and

moral development of young men in the city. The object of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation is to save and develop young men. Since man is a compound being made up of physical and spiritual elements, he needs a symmetrical development of the different parts of his nature

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

in their mutual relations. The association is working more and more intelligently every year in this direction. The Young Men's Christian Association originated a meeting for prayer and bible study. For a time the agencies em- ployed were directly religious, and the conver- sion of young men, together with their growthi in christian character, were the only things the society sought to accomplish. Although the organization almost immediately undertook other lines of work for young men and has since broadened its work until it embraces the development of the whole man, yet its ultimate aim has always been the evangelization and christian culture of young men. The platform is laid down on the following basis: "The Young Men's Christian Association seeks to unite those young men, who, regarding Jesus Christ as their God and Savior according to the Holy Scriptures, desire to be his disciples in their doctrine and in their life, and to associate their efforts for the extension of His kingdom among young men." In every association the religious work is considered to be the important and crowning feature towards which all the departments lead up. A large proportion of the time and thought of the best workers is given to it. It is not a substitute for the church or a rival of the church, or an organization outside of the church. It is the church at work inter- denominationally and through its layman by and for young men. It has, more than any other agency, brought about a fraternal union of Christian young men, and through it thou- sands of young men have been led into the church membership. The greater part of the expense of the association is borne by subscrip- tions from the business men and those inter- ested in the welfare of the young man. One of the movements to meet the social and economic conditions of the times is the enlargement of the work of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation till it touches all the interests of a young man's life. In the process of this enlargement the Spokane association has taken an advanced

position, and is providing under moral en- vironment amusements in the form of high class concerts, entertainments, popular lectures, exhibitions and contests.

The first Young Men's Christian Associa- tion of this city was organized November 4, 1884. The gentlemen who were interested in this movement and who were the first four offi- cers were M. H. Whitehouse. president : Prof. C. E. Reeves, vice president : William Mark- ham, secretary, and W. G. F. Pratt. treasurer. All except Prof. Reeves reside in the city to- day. The persons mentioned exhibited a com- mendable loyalty to the organization during the first years of its history. The meetings were held during the first three years in the differ- ent churches. Early in 1886 a room was en- gaged on the corner of Mill and Sprague and a small library collected. The furniture consisted of a small center table covered with a few papers and fewer magazines. The room was kept in order by the faithful ones. In 1887 the association was organized on a broader basis and occupied rooms in the Brickell building, ad- joining the original one to the north, on Mill street over the postoffice. The rooms were made attractive with many additional books and magazines and papers and bathing facili - ties. In October of this year the directors opened correspondence with the international committee of the Y. M. C. A. in New York City with a view of engaging a general secre- tary. The committee recommended Mr. Fill- more Tanner, who was the general secretary of the Y. M. C. A. at Ogdensburg, New York, as a suitable person for the position. Corres- pondence with him resulted in his engagement and he took up the work in December of the same year. Under Mr. Tanner's management the association made rapid development for a time. In the fire of 1889 the possessions of the association were nearly all consumed. Im- mediately following the fire the meetings were held in the old Baptist church on Sprague av- enue, near Monroe. That building was tem-

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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

porarily fitted up and occupied for several months, the Baptist church having sold it. Be- fore this a lot had been procured in a central location, southwest corner of Post and Main. It was thought desirable not to erect a build- ing on this land until the association was able to put up such a one as would meet the needs of the future. Accordingly a brick building was ·erected on Sprague avenue, near Washington street, at a cost of fourteen thousand dollars. It was fairly furnished and equipped for its purposes and good work was done until some complications arose and which resulted in the suspension of the association. For seven years Spokane was without a Young Men's Christian Association, a condition of things which seemed both mysterious and humiliating to some. Finally those who had the welfare of the young men at heart bestirred themselves and determined to undertake the opening of the work. A temporary board was elected. representing the different churches of the city, who then proceeded to raise the sum of two thousand, five hundred dollars, from the busi- ness men. J. A. Dummett, the traveling secre- tary for the Pacific Northwest, was called into the field to assist in this work. The thought was to secure the names of one hundred men who would underwrite the association twenty- five dollars each. Sixty were secured and then the work apparently stopped. At this juncture it was thought advisable to obtain an associa- tion man to push the work to completion. The man called was S. N. Ward, who was then act- ing as assistant secretary of the Y. M. C. A. in Portland, Oregon. He arrived in Spokane Oc- tober 20. 1898, and secured a small office room in the Symons block. The desk and chair formerly belonging to the old association were found and the work was prosecuted with such vigor and attended with such success that the admirably furnished and suitably equipped rooms now occupied in the Blake block were opened on May 1, 1899. At this writing the officers of the association are as follows : E. M.

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An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington, Part 29

Author: Edwards, Jonathan, 1847-1929. cn Publication date: 1900 Publisher: [San Francisco?] W.H. Lever Number of Pages: 888

Author: Edwards, Jonathan, 1847-1929. cn
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: [San Francisco?] W.H. Lever
Number of Pages: 888