The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-20

On Su,Aay. e~pterneer g. Rev. william
Arnold Shaakisn preached HE farswsal ser
mon a. sae FIRST Methodist Epssx,csg>a4
churcn 20 or. o< the i&rgest congrega ttons
that ever ghrorxsd nat beautiful e11acs.
Among thos@ wko listened 20 t1st sermon
we're. Mr. " q. EALuer ard Rev. and
Mrs D. 4 Blaine. al .hres Of xbon at
tended TIE FIRST religious services ever
he'd In Seattle. tse former as the builder
and owner q he building. and re "a Ger
as he minister and leader OF &c choir
on leaving lac church a tss Close o. D-.
sssankllns s9r-aou Mr. Latin1er and Mrs.
Blaine rE4es. All IA Taraliy their minds took
reminiscent turn In speaking % tbs
conversation Mrs. Blaine said 20 rrs
writer AS as were coming o9t Of tA=
church AR. " O La timer referred 20 the
contrast between the first service held n
Seattle ard the ore last csose1. His re-
marks oFougat back the oic times vivtdly
70 my mind. and ne. Ike other Old peo-
PIE. rather Ike 70 dwesi on them. ,slas
IL would s~ appreciated by the readers q
he Post-intsiiigencer yoa would ds.oss
some space ~ g0uF 'Nor9s
brief history o. he early Seattle
churches" ! promised A-s Blaine that II
she would essis; ne in securing the 12ix I
would DO 60. She conser led. and ] All
Indebted 20 thai good woman Tor many OF
the facts here given.
The 6rse church established IN Seattle
was OF the Methodist Episcopal ceaonins-
ton, and & Is In a !oarixalng condition to
day. with over sO1 msEnae-x Il s4s tae
FIRST Methodist Episcopal church, Of S<-
attic. and was organized by rev. ID. e
Blaine on Sunday, December 4, iss3 IL q
private house owned ~ W. q. Latsms-.
which stood or Front street. between
Z -
only one Of whom, the wife OF the pastor.
"a s;iIl connected with that church. A A
Denny and wife and Jacob M2p,e, f2thsr
Of County Treasurer Maple. were tao
other charter members. Others soon JOIN
ed, among them Edmund Carr. who aft-
erward united with the Methods, Protest
ants, AID Dir. and Ms III HanTord.
father and mother OF Judge G. n Han
toga. both of whom later Joined the Bapt-
lists. two MArgrases. father and soa. who
al an cary day returned 20 their Kansas
home These constituted me working
force Of the chnrca. though services were
attended BY Thomas Mercer. Daniel PM
lips. Dexter Horton. Henry Van ASSET.
and large part OF the citizens OF the
place. including many Indians. WAC
sqgalfed on the foor and increased the
number IN attendance. Services we're held
In this unfinished building for year or
more. The seats were made Of planAs ear
risd from Ysslers MI and lad on boxes.
In speaking Of the early days OF ths
church. Mrs. Blaine sad: "Is seemed
day OF small things. but the tree taea
planted has had vigorous life. and now
its branches are wide spreading
Rev d. Z. Blaine and wife. SUI honore3
residents Of the city. we're seat ont 10 tho
Pacific coast as missionaries from New
York in 1858. making Seattle their object
i've posn; ard base OF operations. Seattle
a, that tine wss but one year cd and con-
tanned lot 10 exceed 100 wAIte persons.
Religious services nsd. however. been pre-
vioasly held In the town. the first by Blsh-
op Dumers. : Roman "a tholic, IN fA52. and
the ext by Rev. 4. r. Close, a*Nstho5lst
Episcopaiian. who came 10 Olympia II thu
spring % issS-
The primliivs church society. organized
by Rev. L. Z. Blaine Vas zos long without
church building. Two lots iSxl2o feet.
on the corner Of Second and Columbia
streets. whore the Boston block now
stands. were donated by C. d. Boren, and
through the t.re.ess energy OF Mr.. Blaine
means ard materials were secured. and
the erection OF the Old White chu~oa''
WA begun IN the fall OF 1854. and Il was
finished and dedicated one year IA ter. This
building was continued IN Use for church
purposes until 1857, when the site on watch
Il stood was sold for Saa.9n. The old build
ing was moved over onto Cherry street,
and stiil stands on the alley between Sec
ord and Third streets. After the fire e
new owners OF the build ng converted Il
into q lodging house. saloon. restaurant
and gambling den. and for a time rea-zed
In the nelgn oorhood OF 81. 60 per month
from rentals
When The old White church" ste WAS
sold lot was purchased on he corner u
Third and Marion streets. where. IN 1889.
the present e5 See was completed a. = cost
OF $40 90. Among tle later pastors might
BE- mentioned DR.. Harrington l. Dillon. A
Atwood. A J. Hanson II. y Campbell
Levi Gilbert. DR.. George and William Ar
mold Shsnklin. The present pastor Is Dr.
Randall. late OF Ieavenvorth. Kan