Middletown transcript., 1910-01-01
QUARTER OF CENTURY ANNIVERSARY
For Grace Methodist Episcopal Church,
Portland, Oregon

1 sSN~ "ANeA@SSaSS A@RhSSOF8A SA
Portland, Oregon
The twenty.fifth anniversary O
organization of Grace Methodist E
. pal Church, Portland, Oregon, wss
December I'd to December 9th, 1901
Rev. Edwin Whittier Casweil,
the New Y 9k East Conference,
first pasins i Grace Church, beins
feTred by Bishop Fowler from the
nacle Church, Binghamton, New
10 1884. Succeeding Mr.. Caswel
torate OF three years. She following
have served Grace ChuTch-Rev.
Houghton, Rev. G. W. Cue, Rev.
/. Rasmus, Rev. Hugh D. Ate
Rev. J. R. I. Lathrop, Rev, &
True Wilson, Rev. W. H. Hoppe
present pastor is the Rsv. J. II. Cu
The Oregon Conference was {
Conference Bishop Fowler held a
election to the Episcopacy.
The following letter was writ
Bishop Fowler, inviting Mr.. Casv
the new Grace Church.
Portland, Oregon, August 18th.
Dear Brother CasweII - Hear
Grace Church Of this city, a new
prise, with chapel and lots worth
$S6, 600, a vigorous membership,
men and good, out Of Taylor Stree
old charge, excellent location, goo(
on the city, young and vigorous, v
pastor.
The city of Portland ia Numbs
with bright future. The church "
you $500 and moving expenses, 4
first year, and doubtless more than
after that. l believe you woul
the position. I viii transfer 20
after three years if you desire me to
Rev. 6. W. Chandler, of Genese
ference, is coming to Tay lor Street
/ know you will like him and his
As soon as you receive this, tel
me, care of Rev. ]. w. Izer, Poi
Oregon.
now regard Grace Church as tt
charge on the Pacific Coast.
Perhaps you will receive your
here. / earnestly hope that you
gram will be favorable.
Always yours,
G. Fl. Fow
The following letter is Mr.. Cas-
reply to the invitation to be prese
the twenty-fifth anniversary:
BROOKLYN, N. Y, Nov. 23d 1905
To the Members OF the Grace Meth
Episcopal Church, Portland, Greg
My dear Friends in the Gosp
Christ:-Grace to you and peace from
the Father, and from our Lord
Christ
My dear brother, j. K. Gill, has
ten me that you are soon TO celebrate
twenty-fifth anniversary of the orga
ton of Grace Church. thank you L
heartily for the invitation YOU have
tended to me, through Brother Gill. Il
present on this interesting occasion.
as il will be impossible for me to com
with your kind request, 1 will write
the words l might feel moved to sp'
were l present with you.
Let me first quote a verse from
hymn which you may be led to sing
the occasion
"tGrace /! 'Tis a charming sound
Harmonious 20 the ear;
Heaven with the echo shall resou
And all the earth shall hear"
The name of Grace Church, Portla
Oregon, aWaksns in my heart memo
of the choicest felIowsbips, the ricI
harmonies and the grandest spiritual
jumps, of all my ministry of forty ye
/ have you 80 closely in my he,
partly because was your first love.
worked together in our younger d.
when it was questionable whether
dowry would be available in establish
a new church house for the Lord.
were faithful to each other when we
"6ghtings without and fears With
and peTils ell around. Therefore,
hearts have been knit together in 10
and have always longed for you
as fellow laborers in the Gospel, and b
realized that neither distance nor ye
has IesseDed the deep regard which
have ever had for you all.
! have realized during the past tween
Eve years of your eventful history. t
your church building triumphs, y,
debt-paying successes, your revival i
tories, have been as much my own
though l had been present with you,
when we are once made one in Him
is forever. Pastors may be changed,
the union between the under shepht
and his flock can never be dissolved,
love, Influence and friendship are
Those precious souls who came into
Kingdom during my administration, v
always shine as stars in my crown
They are mine, as they
ChIist's, when He makes up His iewt
''For ye are our joy, and crown of
joicing in the Lord" Many who w
with rs in the struggles of twenty.f
years ago, are among the victors who bs
their honorable discharge, and /
now enjoying the bliss of an eternal pea
They will be with you in your songs
praises, and in your rejoiciDgs, and v
make
"Heaven's resounding mansions ring
With songs Of sovereign grace"
When was last With you, about {
years ago, and looked upon your fa'
,Dce more, my Joy was unspeaksble a
iull OF glory. / remember that one hr
ired and twenty-five members stood
IN the congregation at the request Of {
pastor, who were connected with
church during my pastorate twenty yel
before, and, at the close OF the seryic
hey welcomed me at the chancel, wi