, 1890-12-25
IN THE EARLY DAYS.
How Rev. DIR. Nevius Organized
All Saints Parish in Spo-
kane Falls.
His Observations on the Wonder
full Changes Wrought in
Dozen Years.

days In the city.
DIR. Nevius came to this Western
country in the fall of 1872, and Tor
eighteen months was the rector OF
Trinity church, Portland. Since
that time no has devoted his time
and energies to missionary work.
and to him IL duo the credit of es-
tablishing every Episcopal church
in Eastern Oregon and Washington.
The doctor Is most interesting corr
versationalist and Is of anecdotes
of his early life In the West.
A REVIEW reporter had the
pleasure of meeting DIR. Nevius yes
terday and spent q most pleasant
hour In conversation with him
about the early days Of Spokane and
the difficulties which he encoun-
tered in establishing n mission
church In this city.
DIR. Nevius paid his first VISIT to
Spokane Falls in September, 1879,
coming here from Baker City, Or,
for the purpose of starting mis-
sion church. Only u few hardy
settlers were living where the mag
ulfcent city of Spokane Falls now
stands. The possibilities of the
place were just beginning to be
talked of. Only II few persons an-
ticipated much growth for Spokane
except the property owners. a
railroad was being talked of, but 1t
was thought to be in the tar future.
The following month Bishop
Morris came up from Walla Walla,
and mission was organ lied under
the name of All Saints church. The
first service was held in the school
house, little square, Imprinted
building that stood alone fur out on
the prairie somewhere near what
row must he the corner OF Sprague
and Mil streets.
There were not more than twelve
families who attended the frst
service, among them being MIR. a.
NJ. Cannon's, Mr.. j. j. Brownies, Mr..
j. n. Glover's and MIR. Havermale's-
MIR. f. II. Moore and family arrived
in the fall and were regular attend
ants. The only buildings then
standing, outside of II few residences
of the owners of the townsite, were
the old California house, Mr.. A. NJ.
Cannon's general merchandise
store, two or three small stores on
the opposite side of the street, u
livery stable, IA blacksmith shop. the
Western hotel, n saloon and Posts
mills. y score or more Indians
squatted around playing cards or
strolling about was all that was to
be seen. A line of stages to Colfax,
Walla Walla and Cpur dAlene
made regular trips and deposi ted
what few passengers they carried ut
the old California house.
Dr. Nevius was very kindly re-
ceived by the small populace, and
was generously assisted in his work.
The mission church of All Saints
was the first regular church In Spo-
kane, although the Methodists had
held services irregularly for some
time previous.
The church grew slowly and had
many setbacks. The first church
building was erected in 1850, and
was used for church and school
purposes. 1t was situated on the
southeast corner of Riverside avenue
and Lincoln street, the land being
donated by a. NJ. Cannon, j. j.
Browne and j. y. Glover.
The market value of the town lots
donated was 800 The building
was called the Rodney Morris school,
and the teachers were o. II. Batten
and j. a. Absaiom. The building
has since been removed to the
church property On Sprague street,
and Is now used by the Olympic
Club as q gymnasium.
Spokane Falls and Lewiston were
then the centers of work Tor DR..
Nevius. From these places he made
irregular visits to Colville and Ceur
d'Alene, where he held services.
The doctor was obliged to drive to
these different places in his carriage.
and lie often spent days at time on
the road.
The greatest contrast which the
doctor draws now, on his present
visit to Spokane, is between the ap-
peurance of the thick bunch grass,
che star-flowered prairies and the
sloping hills which he saw on his
long rides, and the continuous fields
ing from Spokane to Lewiston.
Scarcely sign of the old bunch
grass slopes now remains. Farmers
were then just beginning to learn
that the hills would produce wheat
without irrigation.
DIR. Nevius expressed the greatest
pleasure in recalling his long rides,
and the relations which existed be-
tween himself and the pioneers Of
Spokane Falls.
In the fall of 1891 the doctor bade
goodbye to his friends in this city
and left the mission church for the
Sound country, where he contem-
plated starting mission. He re.
manned on the Sound until recently,
working with unabated energy In
establishing ch urches and missions.
He is now engaged In the same work
On Gray's Harbor and South Bend
on Willapa Harbor.
The doctor expressed himself as
greatly plcased and astonished at
the wonderful growth of this city,
and predicts for 1t u great future.
DIR. Nevius related how he Sc
cured the block of land for the
church, upon which the present edi.
flee stands. In 1888 he went to
General Sprague, who was the agent
for the Northern Pacific railroad,
and asked that the land be given to
the parish. After considerable dick
ering the railroad sold 1t to the
society for $3.50, which was one
fourth its market value.
Ar