Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-04-05
HOW A MEETING-HOUSE WAS BUILT.

The story of how Rev. J. F. DeVore
built the first Methodist church on Pu-
get Sound is thus told in rhyme by a ma.
tive daughter. as related to her while a
child by esquire Plum one of the old
landmarks of civilization, long since
gone to his reward The building erect.
ed with the RATED lumber is now Ep'
worth Hall, situate on Fifth street, about
Immediately south of the original Ioca.
ton on Fourth street, whence it was re.
moved many years ago to the site OF the
new church, and when that was built, to
the rear part OF the lot where it now
stands. 1t was built in the early Cos,
and nearly all the lumber used in con-
struction was RATED by the intrepid
clergyman from the Tumwater mill-the
first sawmill on Puget Sound-owned by
Capt. Crosby:
When the west was all new. and the frontier life
Brlstled with dangers for children and wife;
When obstacles met with in those esrly days
Were OF hard to overcome by primitive ways;
When was child. on Squire Plum's knee,
He would tell stories OF the wildwOods TO me.
The ruggedest kind Of wild frontier tales.
Bout Indian scouting. with savage details;
And when W as gOod-didnt bother his curls-
As good as could be, like his own little girls,
He sing me songs, then tell other things.
And memory and heart around them still clings.
Now the one relate remember SO well
And hear the quaint laugh when lie chanced 1t to
tell
How Preacher Dev0re.' az he called him then,
Tackled Cap Crosby while saving souls of men.
For he needed u - meeting house" SO very bad,
A aAk xNf trlN A.s
For the jealous old man, with his God like grace,
With strength for prayer. or danger to face.
Found sksptical brethren among his flock
Who hes,tated long the purse to unlock
But strong In the faith that the good Lord willed
He firmly determined that church to build,
Now there lived within that little town.
Where the river hOws and DER falls leaps dow u,
An Old sea captain, who'd forsook th: brine,
And had built mill where the falls incline;
He. jolly old soul. liked a sailors yarn,
OFT breathed words like unsanctifed "cOnsarn";
But then, when The minister came one day.
With:the meeting house project to display.
Asked how much he meant To give to the Lord,
LIS rumOred the old Cap almost " swored."
Declaring all preachers were drOnes in the swarm
And iabored with tongue and not with the arm.
But the preacher knew the captains gruff way,
That patience was needed when the Lord was to
pay:
So at last old Cap had promised most fair.
He'd willingly give 10 the Lord his share,
All the lumber he'd carry away,
And set anoat at the head of the bay
From dawn to eve Of u long summer day.
The dominic. with CLINT iu the eye,
Said twas SIN to let such . chance pass by.
Now the mill was furder :" enid old SQUIRE Plum
As he patted his curls with his finger and thumb,
Than two hundred yards from The waters edge.
And lumber heavy as an old iron sedge,
For twas green aud filled with water aud pitch,
And might battle to "tote'the wits Of witch;
But the dominic murmnred . thank you. cir"
And grimly strobe TO where neighhors were
And there he supped and stayed all night.
Arising. Squire says. with the nrst dawn
And pray'd to the Lord for strength for his work
(ThO' he had no need aud was not shirk,
When duty hath call for man 10 90
In marriage, death or thrO' rain or snOw).
SO he h0lsted the sills ON his shoulders broad
And like frame timbers that the Gap" had
And down to the wster carried them all,
And tied them secure from tides rise aud fall.
And all day long with his faith, oil ahre
Backward and forward O'er the deep mire
He carried each piece that blilt that place
Where his flock might listen to words Of grace;
Fen refusing the Captains" bid to dine.
Leet the work might lag while the sun did shine;
Eating his bite OF . sandwich or two
While the " Captain" heaved mournful sigh,
And reprees'd an oath as he smiled quite sly;
Then he said In respect 10 the man of cloth,
'The Lord In him has none of the slOth."
And when night fell over that little town
This minister pulled his shirt.sleeves down
Ger the hairy arms Of his strength and Drawn
Then thanked the Lord and rested till dawn.
the west,
And for that act Of devotion he always was
blessed.
-Lilla Spirlock Billings.