The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-04-10
NOTES ON FIRST
THINGS in OREGON

The first printing press brought to
Oregon came from the Sandwich Is
lands in 1899, and was imported by MIR.
4. o. Hall, a printer, who was en-
ployed by Missionary Spaulding, of
LauWai That press was taken up
there and employed for several years
in printing portions Of the Bible in the
Nez Perce and Spokane Indian tongues.
That was the first printing, and Mr.
Hall the first printer, in the Oregon
country. The old printing press is pre-
served by the Oregon Historical Soci-
ETY. and may be seen at their emporium
in Portland.
The first newspaper was published in
ls46, the first paper west Of the Mis-
souri, river. This was the "Oregon
Spectator. The first issue was on
February s, and was printed at Oregon
City. The proprietor and editor was
Col. W. G. TVault. an immigrant of
1913. The first number of The Ore
gonian" appeared on December s, 1850,
and was edited in Portland by Thomas
j. Dryer.
The first newspaper north of.the Col
umbia (then in OTegon) was printed at
Olympia in 1852. The paper was called
"lhe Columbian" and edited by Z. 7.
McElroy. All these journals had a
large influence on the times shaping
the political and commercial history of
the wild territory; and we're eagerly
read in the homes of the pioneers.
How anxiously we looked for the com
inggof the Weekly paper" 1t would
usually reach our home, so miles away,
four or five days after the printing, if
the mail carrier escaped Indian hostili-
ties and did not get lost in the wild
woods. Those pioneer journals and
their editors hold a unique distinction.
Their names ought TO be written high
On the scroll of OregOn's fame. Moth
ing influences the social, political and
financial character Of a commonwealth
more than a good literary journal, and
in those relations the editor figures
most largely.
The first sermon ever preached west
Of the Rocky mountains was delivered
at Ft. Hall, on Snake river, July q,
1884, by Jason Lee, missionary to the
Indian tribes. The missionary wrote
in his journal: REPAIRED to the grove
about three o'clock, for public worship.
By request of Captain Mckay, a re-
spectacle number of people assembled,
consisting of French, half-breeds and
Indians and our white people. All
were extremely attentive. | gave a
short discourse from IL Corinthians,
1921, Whatsoever ye do, do all to the
glory of God. 0, that | could preach
to these Indians in their own Ian
guage !"
Scarcely was that service over, when
a tragic scene occurred; a remarkable
contrast. Two of Captain McKay's
men engaged in horse race. A third
ran across the track and all came to a
frightful collision. One was killed and
at noon on Monday Mr.. Lee performed
the burial service. This was the first
funeral sermon also.
This was the initial gospel preaching.
What a seed planting. From that
handful of corn, planted on the top of
the mountain, has grown our Chris
tian civilization, our churches, schools
and homes.
The first sermon preached in eastern
Oregon was in the Grande Ronde val
ley, in the summer of 1858. That SER
vice was held in my fathers tent, on
Sabbath, while our tired emigrant
train was encamped a few days for
rest. Our tent being the largest in the
train the people assembled on Sunday
and the sermon was preached by Rev
Laban Case. That was on the exact
site-o the present city of La Grande.
What a planting againl Here was
built the first church in all of eastern
Oregon, A Christian college grew
there and no higher order of Christian
society can be found-all concomitants.
G, W. Kennedy.