Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-10-29
PORTLAND RAPTI.r.-

lie Anniversary sermon Of Rev I c
A henry At Portland. last SUNDAY. viys
some interesting statistics.
Toe frs; Baptist church On .hs ps-;s
coast vas organized on Trslstin PI.in
NAV ., lc++. and Elder yiuc-nt seal
ing preached the FIRST Baptist sermon
In lot6 and ~ Elders Hazakish John
son and Ezra Fisher arrived a. "a iss,on
aries.
In ls4s the Willsmstte Association
vas organized With SIX ctlu-c
In lc5D the first resolQil ION was oTf-rad
concerning Portland as proper ceutel
Ior Baptist work, bat the present churct
S4s not organized tall Friday. Aus. Sis.
is'o. when Josiah Failing. bis wife ssd
daughter, Rev. ). Cornelius and vife
Joshua Shaw and wife, John :. White
aud site. Geo. Schriyer and wife. Z Il
Weston Ms MoC4rver and ID. W. vii.
hams organized the present BODY. The
present house vas erected in 1861. bu,
remained unfinished ustiI the first san.
day IN January, $50. when. by the eff,
OF 1900 by Henry Failing, With other
lesser contributions. 1t vas cleared from
debt, costing 1880.
The church has hsd seven pastors.
whose time and work ia represented in
the following paragraphs:
Rev. ;. Cornelius. ID D., June. Is,sO.
September, 1854; 81 additions; final en-
r0limeut ~
Rev. (. c. Anderson. December. 1865,
Deee mber 1870; 81 additions; final en-
rollmant y.
Rev. K. A. Medb1ry, June, 1872. An.
gust, 1874; Il additions; final enroll.
ment ia
Rev. ID. J. Pierce, August. 1874. June
1917; Isl additions; final enrollmeut 2l7
Rev. A. 5. Coates, August, 1877, Ne
veLnbrr, ioo0; l3l additions.
Rev. j. A. Gray, December, 1850, Nav
1883; l04 additions.
Rev. j. z. A. Henry, May, 1884: l5O
additions; tnal enrolment 425.
VI the pastorate of ID. j. Pierce, now
at Seattle First Church, the sermon
says:
The welcome accorded the new pas
tor was royal and emit usastls. With
his coming new life was infused into
all the departments of church work
With bat slight interruption the work
in East Portland was continued, though
Definite steps looking toward the organ
count of the hard times. The feeling
that g. mething should be done in be-
half Of tie heathen whom Gsd had sen,
to tae very chu 'eh door, took practical
shape. The house was
thoroughly renovated. all debts were
paid. the membership roll revised
several changes made in the rules OF
order the church manual was published
the beard of directors of the Chinese
was elected. the envelope system Of rails
ing funds was adopted, the Ladies' So
olety was organized, also the Wonen's
Foreign Missionary Society all of which,
not to make mention of many lesser en-
terprises, have had an influence on the
subsequent history of the church, both
hepeful and enduring. But no one man
oan accomplish all things; there is a
limit to every mans endurance, and 10
pass that limit IS to undermine health,
and to unfit one for his test work. 40
eordinRly. through the manifold and
exactlng duties of his passionate, We find
even Brother Pierce's strength giving
way, and his resignation presented, TO
take effect June 18th, 1871"
In this passionate Of little less than
three years l51 individuals were added
to the membership. With very great
reluctance on the part of the church the
resignation of Bro. p. was accepted.
Bro. Pieree's ministry was character
ICED by the fearlessness, faithfuiness.
scholarly ability, boundless energy and
untIrlDg work for which he ia so we'll
known. The memory of his work
among US Is blessed. and his presence
here today is a great Joy"
He speaks of the church: Daring the
y We r. of the church's history between
$4,000 and 100000 have been raised
aud expen !ed for our cause. With the
progress OF our work there has been a
corresponding advance in our cause
throughout the State and Northwest.
When the first attempt was made to or
ganiza church. in 1854. there were II
churches and 442 members iu all the
Northwest. In 1865 there were 81
churchs and S65 members. In 1863, 1904
members; In 1864, 1901 members; in
1877 there we're 2Dl3 members $500 in
1850, and 3I73 in 1884, while the coming
Convention will undoubtedly show 1000
members in ITO churches on this field.
In comparison with other denomina-
tons We compare favorably, for we and
tHc IEFtDNtrIlhus nave Out -
churches and 1886 members: the Metho
dists, II churches and 1866 members (:
the ConRregationali.ts Is churches and
1868 members. In Portland, East Port.
land and vicinity We number GOO
strong.
Portland is the strategic point of this
entire Northwest coast. Jesus bade his
disciples Be you at Jerusalem" BE- cause
IL was a strategic point. Every age and
land has its Jerusalem. Samaris. Jop-
pa.Antioch, Corinth, Ephesns and X m
each IN turn center of influence, from
which the work shall be spread abroad.
The gospel seeks to establish ceuters of
light and life, LAYS hold of great central
points of Influence, and from these
pushes out TO seige others that, in their
turn, shall become radiating points, until
at length the world shall be girdled
with Gods holy light.