100 ROBERT H. BLOSSOM
FIRST CHURCH ORGANIZED.
Previous to the organization of the church Dr. Whitworth preached for several weeks in the hall of the old Canton House. And in the same building on the morning of January 1, 1854, Dr. Yantis preached from Luke 12:32 ("Fear not little flock"), and in the afternoon of this day a preliminary meeting was held at the residence of W. P. Abrams, First and Jeffer- son streets, and steps were taken to organize the church. Messrs. Wm. P. Abrams and James McKeown were elected elders. The following entry was made by Dr. Whitworth in his diary at the time: "In the afternoon met at Mr. Abrams' and organized church with ten members. At night preached from Heb. 2 :4, after which Dr. Yantis ordained the elders elect/'
The installation of the elders and the organization of the church was completed on Sunday evening, January 1, 1854, in this old historic structure, i. e., the hall of the Canton House. At this meeting there were no other ministers present but Dr. Yantis and Dr. Whitworth.
According to Dr. Whitworth's diary, entries made at the time, he supplied the church until the middle of February, 1854 ; to be specific, he preached every Sabbath in January after the first but one, the 22d, when "he was unable by reaso'n of tooth and face-ache, but preached on the 29th and on the 5th and 12th of February," when on the 13th he left for Puget Sound.
The Canton House, a wooden structure, was owned jointly by William P. Abrams and Captain Stephen Coffin and was situated on the northeast corner of Front and Washington streets. This old building has played a large part in the history of Portland. When originally built it was occupied on the grade floor by two stores, the second story by rooms and offices and in the third was .the hall, in which the meetings just re- ferred to were held. This hall was a large one and was used as an assembly hall for various occasions. The society people of Portland , would have dancing parties and it was here that such functions were held. It was also used by the Sons of Temperance, and at a later date by Samaritan Lodge, I. O. O. F.
