Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-05-16
5OTH anniversary
OF PRESBYTERIAN
Church OBSERVED
Former Pastors And Early
Members Gather To CeIe-
brate Golden Jubilee---20O
In Attendance.

The rounding out of half century
of community service and spiritual in.
fluenee is a memorable event, and
ono that is worthy of felieitation. As
such it was commemorated by the First
Presbyterian church last night--a ver,-
table golden jubilee. There was gold
in the floral decorations, gold in the
table ornamentation and in the huge
birthday cake, and there was eontinu.
GUS thread Of gold in the fellowship and
"reminiscences Of the throng that filled
up the church parlors. If there were
any sad recollections in that hour they
were buried in the cheer Of grev,.us
old friends.
There were more than 200 people scat
ed at the tables for the tGstefully pre-
pared supper, which was finished out
with lee cream and cake. Following
the repast, while still seated at the ia.
bles, there was the informal program of
addresses and anecdotes, opened by a
brief address Of welcome and congratu.
lation by Pastor Anderson. The sneer-
ing was then turned over to Mr.. Condit,
clerk Of the session, who has kept the
records Of the church for a period of II
years, and who replied in a hoppy vein
to the introduction Of Mr.. Anderson.
First Pastor Speaks.
In order to link up the past with the
present, Mr.. Csndit proceeded TO read
the minutes Of the first meeting Of the
church, held in the upper room of sta
tionery store in the wear 1860. This
recorded the organization Of the church
and the election of three elders to rule
over a BODY Of 90 members, the sole
survivors Of which little band was IN
the audience TO endorse the reading.
Mr.. Condit then called upon Rev. Mr.
Wilson. Of Eugene. the pastor who
preached the first sermon for the little
congregation. for an address. The white
haired man, who was in very feeble
health, responded briefly but feelingly
to the welcome extended TO him and ex-
pressed the profound pleasure he felt
in witnessing the fnll development OF
an organization he had helped to launch
half century before His remarks wero
supplemented by a written eommuniea-
tion. expressing his hopes and best
wishes for the future Of the church.
Mr.. Patterson. of The Dallas. the
last Of the band Of charter members,
was called to his feet. protesting that
he was no speech maker, and he con
fined himself to "reminiscences Of the
first efforts Of the little church and to
some Of its prominent members.
Rev. Babcock Called
The chairman then INDUCED in an
amusing recollection Of the calling Of a
certain 'green" young pastor, fresh
from the seminary, with all his crudities
still thick upon him; who arrived in sa-
lem with a fiddle under one arm and
big bunch Of optimism under MS hat;
who had a fund Of theological ides.
that made some Of the gray heads gasp
as they sat under him; but who blum.
dercd his way into favor and in the
course Of his pastorate brought over
600 members into the church. This was
Rev. BabeOck, now Of Merced, Cal, who
responded to an invitation to speak
with the same feryor and good will of
his boyhoOd. He provoked many smile
by his reminders Of his early ministry
and anecdotes concerning the older
members. scores Of whom he recognized
in his audience. Closing in profoun.
seriousness, be reminded them that they
eculd not fully appreciate the full sig
nificanee OF this eyent-the eroKning
of half a century Of influence n the
community and he paid a strong tribute
TO the church as a factor in the build
ing Of Salem.