Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-06-14
Jason Lee Memorial.
ITO be dedicated at Salem, Ore.
June 16th.)

The Jason Lee Memorial Methodist
Episcopal church is particularly for
tunate In having name all its own.
There is a Jason Lee church in Seat
tie, but nowhere else within the con-
fines of Methodlsm is there another
Jason Lee Memorial"
When the Rev. James Moore was
appointed to the office Of district SUI
perintendent of the Salem district, he
immediately recognized that North
Salem was to be a center of homes
that great influx of people would
soon be coming in and making this
place their permanent abode. At this
time there already existed Method
list Episcopal church in South Salem,
known as the Leslie Methodist Epis-
copal church, besides the old Mother
Church, which in reality is the moth
er Of Methodist churches in this Ore
gon country; that to conserve the in
terests of Methodism properly in the
city something must be done towards
having Methodist church in North
Salem. At one of the very first quar-
terly conferences at First church the
subject was broached by him. One
member after another was conferred
with concerning the matter and fin
ally under the leadership of Rev
Moore and the pastor of First church.
DR.. Selleck, a meeting was held in
the church Of God in North Salem
for the purpose of thoroughly discus
sing the affair, by those who lived in
the immediate neighborhood There
was scarcely a dissenting voice. II
was decided by those present that O
Methodist church in North Salem was
necessary and board consisting Of
the following men was appointed: D
H. Wyant, +. c. Minton, ]. r. Near
Clayton Unruh, and L, p. Bennett
with power to draw up articles Of in.
corporation. The name selected by
these men at the suggestion of DR.
Moore was Jason Lee Memorial
Methodist Episcopal church"
At the Hillsboro annual conference
September, 1910, W. c. Stewart was
appointed pastor Of the newly named
church which was as yet only q
name He arrived on the field and
called on the officials and immediate
ly broached the subject of a new
church. Years before this time q
saint Of God, Rev. John Roory, Sc
lected and purchased couple of lots
which had been held in trust by the
trustees Of the First church. These
were now decided to the trustees Of
the new organization. But this was
all the property they owned. In
fact there was not church organlza-
ton, only a set Of trustees. They
had erected a temporary building on
the ground, 30x6O, and on the 16th
day Of October, 1910, the FIRST reli-
gious service was held. The first
Sunday there we're 81 present at Sun
day school. The school and church
grew. New members were added
weekly, About this time II. N. Black
an architect from Portland was en-
gagged to draw a set OF plans for the
Memorial church Later his plans
we're accepted and arrangements
were Immediately made for raising
funds. On the 18th Of December
5000 were subscribed by the mem
bers of the new church, not yet three
months old. Along in January the
contract was let TO r. b. Roberts fol
$3,16O. lie began to make concrete
blocks for the structure in February
On the 31st Of March the ground wal
broken for the building with appro
prlate exercises and with great re-
loclng. On the tenth Of May th'
cornerstone was laid by Preslden
Homan, of willamette University
and Dr.. Hancher, Of Iowa. At thll
time the subscription was brought VI
to about $1,000. The summer brough
many experiences, some Of whicl
we're pleasant and others we're yerl
discouraging In November revival
were held by the pastor with the Us
slstance OF Rev. w. II. Williams, o
San Jose, Cal. About 70 we're adde,
to the church as a result Of thl
meeting. New life was lnstllled an,
the church bounded forward again
one Of the sweetest experiences tn
writer ever had was when he, on on
Sunday afternoon, received about 9
people into the fellowship Of III
church and baptized about g. Tn
winter months were full Of careful
planning and the time was set 70
the dedlcatlng OF the new buildlnt
which is to occur on the 18th an
18th of June. 1919. under the Leader