The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-07-09
Governor Brady Speaks at the
Diamond Jubilee

The following speech was delivered
by Governor James H. Brady Satur-
!. day on the occasion of the Diamond
Jubilee to commem rate the raising
of the first American flag and the
preaching of the first sermon west
OF the Rocky mountains at old Fort
Hall:
"On April 21, 1884, Captain Sub
lett, Captain Mckay, and Captain Wy
eth left St. Louis for the great Pa
cific northwest. The Rev. Jason Lee,
MS nephew Daniel Lee, and a Mr..
Edwards accompanied them. On
July they reached the Rocky noun
tain divide and commenced to wend
their way down through the valley
descending like a ribbon from the
ocean to the snow. On July 13 they
reached the Snake river near the
mouth of the Portneuf river, and
proceeded at once to erect a fort
known as Fort Hall, and on this 9Th
day of July, 1884, the first official
tiag that ever was raised west of the
Rocky mountains was unfurled to
the winds by Captain Mckay at this
place. Hence to Idaho belongs the
honor and distinction of the first flag
OF our country ever raised in this
western land.
"On July 27, 1884, the Rev.
Jason Lee preached at this place the
first Protestant sermon ever delivered
west of the Rocky mountains, taking
for his text, Whatsoever, therefore,
ye do, whether ye eat or drink, do all
to the glory of God His congrega-
tion consisted of half-breeds and In
dians, with few white men, and to
Jason Lee must be given the distinc-
tion of preaching the first Protestant
sermon ever delivered on the Pacific
slope. And we are here today plant
ing milestone in Idahos history to
mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of
the raising of that first flag and the
preaching of that first sermon in the
Rocky mountains From Fort Hall
the company parted. Captain Wyeth
remained at Fort Hall, while Captain
Mckay followed down the Snake riv-
er and erected Fort Boise in August
of 1884.
"This completed three forts. Cap
tain Sublett built Fort Laramie in
Wyoming, Captain Mckay Fort Boise
and Captain Wyeth Fort Hall. These
forts few years later were sold to
the Hudson Bay Company, and the
Pacific Northwest, for a time, was
held by joint interests of the United
States and the Hudson Bay Com
pany.
ut is true and only fair to say
that Jason Lee preceded Marcus
Whitman by two years. True it is
that Marcus Whitman made his ia
nous ride, but 1t is also true that six
years before this time Jason Lee had
made a wonderful journey over the |
mountains and preached the first |
Protestant sermon in this western
empire. Both men were great. Both |
carried within them the ability to do
great things. Both were missionaries
of the church of God, but both we're
citizens OF this great commonwealth, |
and the supreme desire of each man
was that this beautiful Pacific north
west might be controlled by the Uni
ted States.
"The citizens of Blackfoot have
done themselves proud on this occa-
sion by celebrating the raising of the
first flag and the preaching of the
first Protestant sermon west of the
Rocky mountains.
History of the Pacific Northwest
Hidden behind a long line of
years of wondrous development. the
Pacific Northwest has history, un-
equalled in adventure for the early
discoyerer and unsurpassed in tri-
umph for the United States. No ter
ritory within the borders of our great
country has been occupied and claim
ed by so many different nations at
one time, and none can point with
more pride to sacrifices made by pio-
neers to save it as American soil.
None has been more buffeted about
by varying fortunes, and none has un-
dergone more changes in area and
government. Perils of long journeys
through desert wilderness and cruel
wars with the savage redmen were
endured that we might possess, as we
do now, this vast inheritance.
"In 1887, two sailing vessels were
fitted out at Boston for the purpose
of exploring the Pacific northwest and
trading with the Indians. One Of
them, the Columbia, was commanded
by Captain John Hendrick, and the
other, the Lady Washington, by Cap
tain Robert Gray. Almost year la
ter they arrived, and after year
filled with thrilling adventure re- Il
turned to Boston. They came again
in 1891. and this time Captain Gray
discovered the place where some