USA > Washington > Spokane County > Spokane > History of the city of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume I > Part 68
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Two developments of unusual interest in church circles this year were the Gipsy Smith meetings and the Men and Religion Forward movement. In a large tented tabernacle at Front and Division, the famous English evangelist directed his powerfully persuasive appeal nightly for two weeks in October. Nearly 700 conversion cards were signed, some of them by church members as a pledge to con- secrate themselves anew to the Christian life.
Spokane was among the 90 American cities selected for the great laymen's move- ment. and a local committee of 100 was organized here with W. S. Gilbert as chair- man.
CHAPTER LXX
PIONEER CHURCHES OF SPOKANE
CONGREGATIONALISTS AND METHODISTS EARLY IN THE FIELD --- FIRST SERMON TO A WHITE CONGREGATION PREACHED BY REV. S. G. HAVERMALE-FIRST ORGAN FROM WILLA- METTE VALLEY-FIRST M. E. CHURCHI-PIONEER BAPTIST LARORS-MISSION WORK BY THE EPISCOPALIANS-REV. T. G. WATSON ORGANIZES FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH -CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH-UNIVERSALISTS AND UNITARIANS-EARLY DAY EASTER SERVICES-CHRISTIAN HOME IN COLVILLE VALLEY IN 1854.
Dim as the borrowed beams of moon and stars, To lonely, weary, wandering travelers, Is Reason to the soul; and as on high Those rolling fires discover but the sky, Not light us here, so Reason's glimmering ray
Was lent. not to assure our doubtful way, But guide us upward to a better day. And as those nightly tapers disappear
When day's bright lord aseends our hemisphere.
So pale grows Reason at Religion's sight,- So dies, and so dissolves in supernatural light. -Dryden.
C REDIT for initial religious effort in Spokane (apart from Indian mission work ) lies fairly divided between the Congregationalists and the Method- ists. Congregationalism has the record of the first organized church, but Rev. S. G. Havermale, then presiding elder in the country north of Snake river, preached here the first sermon to a white congregation, November 14, 1875. Dr. P. A. Cool. former pastor of the First Methodist church, is authority that Mr. Haver- male, in May, 1875, in company with G. W. Grannis, made his first visit to the site of Spokane, finding here Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Glover, H. T. Cowley and family, and Mr. and Mrs. Yeaton and child. He preached his first sermon in a little box house just west of the city hall site at Howard and Front. Mrs. Yeaton, who had brought an organ from her home in the Willamette valley, supplied musie and led the singing.
Rev. T. G. Watson, pioneer Presbyterian minister. says that Mr. Havermale started a Sunday school in Glover's hall in 1876, and this being given up, a new one was started by Rev. H. W. Stratton in 1878. Mr. Watson was also of belief
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that Mr. Havermale conducted here a Methodist Episcopal class about the time, possibly before. the Congregationalists founded their First church, May 22. 1879.
Rev. Rosine M. Edwards says this pioneer Congregational church was organized in the home of Rev. II. T. Cowley, Division and Sixth, by the Rev. G. H. Atkinson. D. D., superintendent of home missions in Oregon and Washington. Mr. Cowley was elected acting pastor, and R. G. Williamson deacon. Services were held for two years in the town schoolhouse, near the corner of Railroad avenue and Post street. Rev. F. T. Clark, who arrived in the spring of 1881, was the first regular pastor. and December 20 that year a church building was dedicated on the corner of Sprague and Bernard. Rev. G. H. Atkinson and Father Cushing Eells took part in the dedieatory services.
After two years, the Rev. Mr. Clarke resigned the pastorate and during the two succeeding years, the Rev. J. B. Renshaw served the church, resigning in No- vember, 1885. In the spring of the following year. the Rev. Jonathan Edwards became pastor. In September, 1889, this church with its site was sold, and a loca- tion secured at Fourth and Washington, where the Granite church now stands.
Soon after organization of the First Congregational church, in 1879, the Rev. J. H. Leard organized the first Methodist society, still known as the First Methodist Episcopal church of Spokane. The charter members were the Rev. and Mrs. S. G. Havermale, the Rev. and Mrs. J. H. Leard. Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Ellis and the Misses Ollie and Ida Ellis. Mr. Ellis was class leader.
The second pastor, says Dr. Cool, was Rev. M. S. Anderson, who was appointed August 15, 1880. The list of preaching places outside of Spokane included Cheney, Crescent. Egypt (twelve miles north of what is now Davenport), Mondovi, Saltese lake and Moran prairie. "The roads were long, the field was wide, and the workers Jew. A lot was secured on the corner of Sprague and Washington, and the first church building erected." This property was sold in 1887, and a lot on the corner of Sprague and Bernard purchased, where a large brick church was completed and dedicated February 3, 1889. This church was sold for $85,000 after the fire. and a temporary tabernacle erected at Howard and Third.
The first Baptist work in Spokane county, according to the Rev. A. M. Allyn, was in the winter of 1879-80, when the Rev. S. E. Stearnes, of pioneer fame. both in Idaho and Washington, came from Colfax to Spangle, sought out the seattered Baptists there and began regular preaching. On the 13th of March. 1880, he or- ganized the First Baptist church of Spangle. The second Baptist church in Spo- kane county was organized at Cheney, in May. 1881, by the Rev. D. W. C. Britt. It started with seven members.
First efforts towards a Baptist church in Spokane were made by Rev. D. J. Pierce and Rev. S. E. Stearnes, "who selected and purchased a lot for the future Baptist church, and is said to have paid for it out of his seanty salary of $300." The Rev. Mr. Britt organized this church with seven members, December 8, 1881. Soon thereafter a house of worship, the first Baptist meeting house in the county. was erceted at a cost of about $2,000.
The Rev. R. D. Nevius conducted the first Protestant Episcopal services in Spokane. "about 1880," according to one authority in 1881, according to a brief historical review by the Rev. T. G. Watson. Jonathan Edwards' History of Spo- kate County says a little church was built on the corner of Riverside and Lincoln,
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Central Christian
Westminster Congregational
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All Saints' Episcopal
GROUP OF SPOKANE CHURCHES, 1912
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and there a parish school for boys was conducted for a while. Later this little . building was moved to the present site of the cathedral, and subsequently burned down. The Rev. Dr. H. Compton Burnett succeeded Dr. Nevins as missioner, and the Rev. Charles B. Crawford suceceded him and was the first rector of All Saints parish.
In 1889 the parish completed and furnished its church on the present site, at a cost of $8,000. A vested choir of twenty boys and men had been organized, and the first choral service was held on Christmas, when $1,000 was collected towards a pipe organ fund. All Saints had then 150 members, and a Sunday school of 160 with thirteen teachers and officers. St. Mary's haH, afterwards burned (now Bru- not hall). had been completed and occupied at a cost of $8,500. St. Andrews Brotherhood had a flourishing athletic club.
The First Presbyterian church of Spokane was organized June 10, 1883, by Rev. T. G. Watson, at that time the only acting minister of his church north of Snake river in eastern Washington, and the .care of that' broad region, together with that of Idaho north of Farmington was laid upon him. E. H. Jamieson, J. S. Allison, James Gibson, A. M. Cannon and R. W. Forrest were the first trustees. At first the congregation worshiped in a hall in Cannon's block, at Riverside and Mill, but in the spring of 1884 services were held in the Van Dorn opera house, at Riverside and Post. In the fall of that year the congregation moved to Glover's hall, Howard and Front.
The first church was honsed for some time in a brick structure on the present site of the Review building: but the congregation sold that church, and late in 1889 was holding service in Concordia hall, on Second avenue. Presbyterian leaders here and others had recently incorporated "the Spokane University," and with high hopes and ambitions were conducting a girls' seminary in rooms adjoining Concordia hall. with Miss Mary Echmiston and Miss Lillian Feazel as teachers. The university board of trustees comprised Rev. T. G. Watson, president; Dr. J. D. Melcan, secretary, II. N. Belt, treasurer, and J. J. Browne. A. M. Cannon, W. II. Taylor. George H. Leonard, Rev. Donald Ross, Rev. T. M. Gunn, L. B. Cornell. J. W. Goss, C. S. Penfield. and N. F. Holman. The university scarce passed be- vond the incorporation stage.
A church edifice was erected in 1890 at Second and Jefferson, and after several years of growth in that location. the church bought lots in the old Cannon home- stead block, and erceted there their present beautiful, spacious building.
The Centenary Presbyterian church was organized February 3, 1888, by the Rev. Mr. Watson and H. W. Stratton, who as a retired minister had come here several years before and homesteaded the land that later was laid ont as Stratton's addition, north of the river. Centenary's first pastor was Philip M. Jamieson.
While the Christian church did not enter the city field until 1886, it was among the first to win a foothold in Spokane county. Elder C. J. Wright organized a congregation at Spangle, April 1, 1880, with a charter membership of 28. For a while services were held in the schoolhouse, and later in the Baptist church under a harmonious arrangement growing out of liberal contributions by members of the Christian church towards the building of that edifice. Afterwards the congrega- tion built their own church, and held there the first services in 1892.
Elder Wright organized a ehmreh in Alpha schoolhouse, two miles from Latah.
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in March. 1883. with 23 members, and when the town of Latah was founded, a church was erceted there.
Evangelist A. W. Dean came from Colfax, Ilinois, to Cheney in 1886, and held revival services and organized churches in Cheney, Medical Lake, Deep Creek, and Spokane. Central Christian church was organized April 1, 1886, with 21 members, among whom were Dr. J. M. Major. A. P. Wolverton, MIrs. S. J. Pynor, Mrs. Lizzie Wright. Major and Mrs. R. H. Wimpey, William Hix, and Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Brockman. For a time weekly services were held in the Congregational church, and then successively in a hall over the First National bank building, in Y. M. C. A. hall and W. C. T. C. hall. Rev. S. B. Letson. coming in January, 1888, was the first regular pastor. A lot was purchased in 1888 at Post and Third. and the first church building erected thereon. Later a site was acquired at Third and Stevens, and a more commodious building erected. Evangelist Dean died at Medical Lake in 1888, remembered, says Jonathan Edwards, "with great affection by all for whose salvation and happiness he had so faithfully labored and suffered."
Rev. W. A. Spalding arrived in Spokane in August, 1890, commissioned by the Home Missionary Board of the United Presbyterian church to organize a con- gregation here. In the Phoenix block, Second avenue and Jefferson street, No- vember 7. the church was organized with the following charter members: John Anderson, Mrs. Maggie Anderson. W. H. McCoy. Mrs. Ella MeCoy, Isaac Me- Cracken, Mrs. Isabel MeCracken. W. E. Reed, Mrs. Millie Reed, H. C. Blair, D. E. Blair, Miss Sarah E. Blair, Miss Agnes L. Thompson, W. C. MeMillan, J. M. McMillan, Miss Emma Patton, Miss Mary A. Taggart, W. H. Shields. J. G. Mc- Cracken, John E. Reed, Mrs. Maggie Reed. Miss Lena MeCoy, Thomas HI. Brewer, Mrs. Margaret B. Spalding, Mrs. Sophia Cannon, Mrs. Matie Shields, J. F. Carna- han, Mrs. Tallie Carnahan. The congregation purchased a lot at Third and Adams, built a chapel in 1891. and in 1898 erected a permanent edifice.
The Spokane Universalist society was organized March 16, 1892, by the Rev. Q. H. Shinn, with a charter membership of ten. In January, 1893, a parish was organized with an enrollment of forty-five names, and August 27. same year. a church was organized by the Rev. A. C. Grier, with a membership of 28. For sev- eral years lay meetings were held in Oliver hall, until the summer of 1896, when the Rev. Asa M. Bradley, Pacific coast missionary, came from Oakland, California, and conducted services for eight months until called to another field.
The Methodist Episcopal church, South, organized in February, 1888, with 21 members. Rev. Reginakl B. Swift of Tennessee was its first pastor.
At a meeting in the law office of George M. Forster, in the spring of 1887, the First Unitarian church of Spokane was organized by Mr. and Mrs. Forster, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Ross, Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Graves, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Clarke, Mr. and Mrs. A. 1. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Greenberg. Mrs. J. F. Sloane, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Brundage, N. G. Willis, F. E. Curtis, E. R. Cushing. Mrs. Alex. War- ner and D. W. Lockhart. The Rev. Edwin M. Wheelock was organizer and first pastor of the church, and under his guidance a strong society was organized, with a Sunday school and Ladies Aid society. Under his pastorate the building in which the congregation still worships was erceted in 1888 at Sprague and Jefferson.
The first Christian Science meetings were held here in 1890, in the Granite building, and Inter in the Review building. The First Church of Christ was organ-
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ized in 1896. Meetings were held for a while in the Jewish Temple, hut with the rapid growth of the congregation a lot was acquired at Fourth avenue and Post and a spacious and beautiful church erected.
In the winter of 1887 Elder H. W. Deeker, first missionary of the Seventh Day Adventists to preach in Spokane county, held meetings in a tent. The first reg- nlar meetings were held in the Presbyterian ehureh building, where the Review building now stands, and the Rev. L. W. Seoles was the first pastor.
The African M. E. church was organized in 1890, in a house at 168 South Stevens street, by Rev. Angustus, sent here by the California conference. It started with ten members.
In January. 1885, Rev. J. Bowersox, presiding elder of the Oregon conference of the Evangelieal Association, organized a elass of eight members in Spokane, one at Rockford with seven members, and another at Wild Rose prairie with six members. In May, the same year, the Rev. H. Sehukneeht eame here with his family from Michigan, as missionary of Washington territory, and under his zeal- ons care a number of churches were organized throughout this seetion. The churches have flourishing missionary societies, Young People's Allianees, women's soeieties and Sunday sehools.
Salem church, of the Swedish Evangelieal Lutheran denomination, was organ- ized here June 25, 1888, by the Rev. P. Carlson, with nineteen members. In 1889 a theological student, S. G. Youngert, had charge of the work. A church building was erected at Broadway and Walnut. Rev. C. P. Rydholm was the first ordained pastor of the church.
German Lutherans held their first services here about 1888, with missionary preaching in the Congregational ehureh. Rev. P. Grosehupf was their pioneer pastor.
The Norwegian Lutherans began work in Spokane about 1887, and in 1890 erected their church at Washington and Sinto.
PIONEER EASTER SERVICES
According to a writer in the Spokesman-Review, April 16, 1911, the Episeo- palians began to hold regular services in Spokane in 1880, in a riekety building near the present eity hall site, probably the same in which the Rev. S. G. Haver- male had formerly preached. A saloon occupied the ground floor. The Rev. R. D. Nevius was the pioneer pastor. Jacob Hoover was the first warden. Bishop L. H. Wells was then a missionary priest at Walla Walla, to which station he had come in 1871.
"The Rev. C. C. Burnett, the first resident reetor of All Saints, eame to Spokane in 1883. and his family followed shortly. Their best remembered Easter eame in 1884. The ehnreh was a small frame structure, on the present site of the Empire State building, Riverside and Lineoln, and was surrounded by pine trees. A lean-to of five small rooms sheltered the rector's family of eight. The Rev. Mr. Burnett came originally from England, and moved to Spokane from a comfortable rectory in Iowa. Mrs. Burnett and her daughter, Miss May C. Burnett, still live here, and they have forgotten few particulars of that first Easter in their new home. May, with Margaret and Jean Gibson and Amy Sherlock, now Mrs. Will Newman, gath-
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ered the buttercups and ferns with which they decorated the church. A parlor organ of indifferent quality, played by John Keogh, supplied the instrumental music. Mrs. John L. Wilson, wife of the former senator. was the soloist, and the choir included Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Fellowes, Miss Katherine Clark and Frank Hemmenway. In the congregation were Mr. and Mrs. Horace L. Cutter. Mr. and Mrs. F. Rockwood Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hoover, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Bryer, Vr. and Mrs. H. M. McCartney, Mr. and Mrs. Fred. Furth. Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Grimmer, Miss Victoria Fellowes. J. M. Kinnard. J. Kennedy Stout.
"There were five communicants at All Saints when the Rev. Mr. Burnett arrived. The bell now on the cathedral was secured in 1886, and rang out Easter greetings the day after it arrived.
"Mrs. W. W. Stillman of this city remembers an Easter Sunday, April 23. 1887. when they gathered twenty-three varieties of wild flowers for decoration of the Congregational church. The church stood where Bernard and Sprague now intersect. The Rev. H. T. Cowley, the Rev. Jonathan Edwards and the Rev. J. B. Renshaw were early pastors there. The latter occupied the pulpit at the Easter services which Mrs. Stillman recalls, and he also sang bass in the choir. Mrs. D. M. Thompson was the organist. Mrs. I. N. Peyton and Mrs. Alice Houghton were members of the choir.
"The first formal Catholic Easter ceremonies were held in a little carpenter shop on Main, near Bernard, in the early '80s. Father Diomedi, S. J., recalls that they observed the usual rites there, so far as they were able in a room capable of accommodating fifteen people on a pinch.
"Father J. Rebmanu, S. J., first president of Gonzaga, had charge of the church of our Lady of Lourdes when the first Easter was held there. The church was built by Frank Johnson, on the lot adjoining the carpenter shop chapel. and it was an elaborate structure in its day. On Easter morning of 1886 Father Reb- maun rowed across the river from the college, built the fire in the church and rang the bell. The principal decoration was a painting of the Virgin, her heart pierced with a sword, the work of Brother Carignano. He painted the picture on tin. and the tin was trimmed to conform to the figure. The bell used then is now serving Our Lady of Lourdes church. It was donated by a member named O'Connor, in memory of his mother. Among the worshipers at that service were Mrs. William Bell, mother of Mrs. D. W. Twohy: Miss Genevieve Bell. now-Mrs. E. Cullen ; Wm. O. Brien, F. P. Hogan and Peter Graham.
"Mrs. L. M. Flournoy had charge of the music at the Easter service the fol- lowing year. The choir for that service consisted of twelve voices, and among the congregation were Mrs. Fred. Mason. Mrs. Charles Sweeny. Mrs. William Bell, the Misses Louise and Flora Haas, Mrs. Traverse, Mrs. Blanchard, Mrs. Schoen, Mrs. Harry Bell, Mr. Williams, Frank Bracht. Mrs. Sauer, Mrs. Peter Graham and Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Cowley."
BROWN FAMILY CAME IN 1851
In the records of The Congregational church at Chewelab appears this initial entry : "The first religions service in the (Colville) valley was in September. 1838. conducted by Rev. Cushing Eells, and the first protestant church was organized
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First Church of Christ, Scientist
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Temple Emanuel, Jewish
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GROUP OF SPOKANE CHURCHES, 1912
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by him at Chewelah, September 14, 1879, with four members, viz: Mrs. Thomas Brown. Andrew Mowatt (her brother), Mr. and Mrs. George MeCrea." On the fly leaf of the pulpit bible is written: "This bible is sent by Rev. Cushing Eclls, to be used as a pulpit bible by the people of Colville valley when they have relig- ious services. August 14, 1875."
Mrs. Thomas Brown was the first white woman, after the mission wives had left Walker's prairie, to find a home in the wilderness of the Spokane country. With her husband, Thomas Brown, and four small children-Mary, Margaret, Robina and John, the oldest but six years of age, they struggled into the Colville valley, December 10, 1851. They were seven months on the trail between Selkirk Settlement on the Red River of the North and Colville, and endured many hard- ships, privations and perils. At the Kootenai lakes they would have perished of starvation but for the providential aid of a countryman, a Scotch trader and trapper of the Hudson's Bay company. "When they arrived;" says" W. P. Winans, "it was winter, and they were almost destitute of everything but courage and persever- ance. Mr. Brown, being a carpenter, soon had a shelter for them, and such com- forts as his neighbors enjoyed. Mrs. Brown was the first white woman to make her home in all that vast region between the Caseade and Rocky mountains, north of the Columbia and Snake rivers. She was an inspiration of good works. Her courage in danger, her patienee under adverse conditions, her Christian fortitude . and perseveranee in the struggle to bring up her family to Christian manhood and womanhood amid such unfavorable surroundings, are worthy of all commendation." She died at Chewelah July 20, 1900, in her 79th year, "full of years and good works."
CHAPTER LXXI
CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS OF SPOKANE
FIRST PLACE OF WORSHIP A SHACK, 15×22-FIRST CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES- FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH OF ST. JOSEPH-BEGINNING OF ST. ALOYSIUS-BIRTII AND GROWTH OF GONZAGA COLLEGE-ITS PROGRESS FROM FATHER REBMANN TO FATHER TAELMAN-FOUNDING OF SACRED HEART HOSPITAL IN 1886-EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE SISTERS OF THE HOLY NAMES-ST. JOSEPH'S ORPHANAGE- OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
F OR the following history of Catholic institutions in Spokane I am largely indebted to a historical review by the Very Rev. Leopold Van Gorp, S. J., former general superior of Indian missions, Gonzaga college; and to infor- mation obligingly supplied by the Rev. Louis J. Taelman, S. J., president of Gon- zaga college, and Father George F. Weidel, S. J. Aid has also been found in the files of the Spokesman-Review.
Among the early settlers there were of course Catholies to be found, who, hear- ing that there was a priest among the Spokane Indians soon availed themselves of the opportunity to visit him. But St. Michael's (on Peone prairie) was quite out of the way, and yielding to the reiterated petition of the white Catholies, Father Cataldo, then superior of the Rocky mountain mission, in the fall of 1881 pur- chased the lot and small building, 15x22, on the corner of Main and Bernard streets. This building, which is still standing, was used temporarily for church purposes. At the Christmas mass in 1881 there were but twelve persons present. Rev. Aloy- sins Jacquet, who arrived in Spokane April 19, 1882, and said mass in this little chapel the following Sunday, had a congregation of fourteen persons, five of whom were protestants. This father, who resided at St. Michael's, was given charge of the outlying distriets, and visited, besides Spokane, Cheney, Sprague, the Big Bend country. Forts Spokane and Sherman and the Coeur d'Alene distriet.
During the winter of 1881-82 a temporary building was ereeted just at about the present erossing of the Spokane & Northern and Union Pacific tracks, on prop- erty purchased from the Northern Pacific railroad company. This building served as residence for the fathers until Gonzaga college was completed in 1886. Be- sides attending to the little parish in town, the Fathers continued their work at St. Michael's mission, where Father Joset had a congregation of between 100 and 150 Indians.
On April 9, 1881, Father Ruellan arrived at St. Michael's mission, and, after spending Holy Weck there, came into Spokane with Father Cataldo, who appointed
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him resident priest for Spokane Falls. The want of a church able to accommodate the congregation was keenly felt, and to meet this want Father Ruellan opened a subscription list for a new brick church. But in December, 1881. he was ap- pointed superior of the Colville mission, and went there on the 21st of December. but died a few days after arriving.
He was succeeded at Spokane Falls by Rev. Aloysius Jacquet, who at once exerted himself to gather the money necessary for the new church. This was no easy task. as the Catholics were few and just starting in life. However, they did what they could. The Father. moreover, found great generosity on the part of non-Catholics. At last the money required was gathered, and before long the church of Our Lady of Lourdes which stood on Main street between Washington and Bernard, was completed. On Sunday, July 1. 1886. the church was dedicated by the late Bishop Junger. A few days afterwards Father Jacquet was sent to DeSmet mission to replace Father Tosi, who was setting out for Alaska. and Father Rebmann, who was already in charge of Gonzaga college. assumed the charge of the church and parish.
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