The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-29

- H-aSA ~ AY
y pgKssYrERIAN cHuRcH
ascending the platform OF the pulpit. gave
them to Mr.. A. Robinson, the president OF
the board Of trustees, Who stood facing
him. The presentation was made by him
Ia the following words:
II hereby transfer to you, a. represents.
tive OF the board of trustees, the keys Of
this nov completed building"
Mr.. Robinson responded o. follows:
II accept these keys In behalf of the
board Of trustees. the legally constituted
cnstodians Of this building"
The choir sang the anthem: GLORIOUS
II Thy Name" by Mozart, and then csne
the responsive reading Of the dedication,
beginning: Blessing and glory and wis
dom and thanksgiving and honor and
power and might Be unto our God for ever
and ever" and ending with the words
spoken BY the pastor and congregation
unitsdIy:
This house, which We have been per.
mtted TO build through . gracious favor
Of Divine Providence. we do now solemnly
dedicate to the worship and service OF
Almighty God, the Father the Son, and
the Holy Ghost. Amen"
The pastor offered the dsdicatory prayer.
another hymn was sung and . benediction
closed the services.
The history Of the First PRESBYTERIAN
church, like the history Of ths Methodist
Protestant, the frat Methodist, the
Trinity Episcopal and other churches of
the city, IL closely interviewer with the
history Of Seattle. In 1888 Rev. GEORGE +.
Whitworth. the first pastor Of the church.
came to Seattle - president of the Terri.
tcriai university. then the principal ,nsti-
tuition Of the struggling little village of 900
inhabitants. He began holding services in
the little church built and owned BY the
Methodist Protestants, generally called
the Brown church, preaching on alternate
Sundays with its pastor, the Rev. Daniel
Bagiey. This union continued to 1877
and during all that time union Sunday
school and prayer meetings were held.
In the winter of 1869, however, the few
Presbyterians In Seattle decided to form A
church. On SUNDAY. December II, they
assembled at Mr.. whitworth's residences
and constituted themselves the First Pres
byterisn church Of Seattle. These charter
members OF the church were: Mr.. Samuel
Kenny, Mrs. Jessie KENNY, Mrs. Mary z.
Whitworth. Miss Clara whitworth, Mrs.
Ida Whitworth, Mrs. Rebecca Jones and
Mrs. Ruth J. McCarty. Mrs. Jeanette Nc
Kinley Joined shortly after the organize
ton. 0fthese eight persons but two are
dead, Mrs. NJ. +. Whitworth and Mrs.
Ruth McCarty, all the others being MEM
bers of the church still. although several
have removed from Seattle and the old
church.
From this time up 10 1873 the church was
self-supporting, but in that year the board
Of home missions sent Rev. Theodore
Crowl 20 take charge. He remained unit.
January. 1875. and during his pastorats
Samuel Kenny and z. Med. Johnston
were ordained ruling elders, and to them
in 1877 were added Reuben L. Doyle, Eph-
rain Calver; and r. II. whitworth. who
we're ordained Juiy1.
After Mr.. Crowl left the Rev. George r.
Whitworth took temporary charge OF the
church. preaching for 10 until the arrival
OF Rev. II. 7. Denning. August IL 1875.
who had been commissioned by the board
for this field He remained In charge until
January. isT7.
shortly after he len, the Rev. d. W.
Maciie occupied the pulpit with great
acceptance to the people for about eighteen
months. Mr.. Maeiie was Q talented
Scotchman, whose discourses we're we'll
prepared, rich in thought and full of IN
struotion. He greatly strengthened the
church. After he left. in June. 1873. the
church depended upon such temporary
supplies as were available. until IN the
month of November, when Rev. III. w.
Strstton was invited to take charge of the
work rem aiming until February. iSso At
the time Mr.. Sgratton took charge the
membership had increased TO fifty. and be-
tore he lefi is Was enlarged TO sixty.
The following May the Rev. George r.
Bird wss providensisiiy in the city and,
preaching TO the acceptance of the people.
vas invited 10 rem ain and take charge Of
the church, which he did and became the
first regular pastor Of the church. bein. in
stalled Decent Der Il. issl The Rev. A. L.
Iindsley, ID. D., At that time pastor OF the
Firss Presbyterian church Of Portland,
Or, . prince Of preachers. being present,
preached the sermon and assisted in the
service. The pastorase continued until
April, 1855, during which there we're added
upwards Of thirty to its membership.
The Rev E. G. Strange came In the
month following. and on April u lisa.
was installed pastor. 1hss relation vas
continued until October =, lsss. Mr..
Strange vas a most efficient pastor. and IL
vas during his passionate that the church
first became self-supporsing. the msmeer-
ship having increased 20 something over
$50 This was net accomplished. however.
without Mr.. Strange having assisted
largely 81 carrying the burden. When
Mr.. Strange left the church vas thor
oashiy organised IN ali It's depar' menfs
and out OF debt Daring his pastorais the
Young people Of the church organized the
irs, distinctly Y. p. s. C Z. socisty In the
Northwest
For term of six months the church MAS