This was a Methodist church building, and dedicated to the services of that denomination; but as Oregon City is within the purview of this history, the building is noticed here, and an engraving of it given on another page.
The first church building in Portland, and the first religious organization in Portland was erected by the Methodists and made by that denomination. When the first Methodist church was organized in Portland there were only ten Methodist ministers in Oregon. Rev. J. H. Wilbur was the first pastor of the First Methodist church in Portland. Mr. Wilbur was a very energetic character. With his own hands he cut down the big trees and grubbed out the great stumps and burned the logs, and brush on the block where Taylor Street Church now stands, and with his own hands to a very great extent, built the first church building in the city of Portland, and wholly painted it himself; being the old Methodist church which stood years ago on nearly the same spot that the large brick building at the corner of Third and Taylor streets now occupies. The bell now used in the church was purchased by Gen. Stephen Coffin to be donated to the first building erected for public uses; but none having been so erected, it was turned over to the Methodists for their church, and has now regularly called the faithful together every Thursday evening and every Sunday morning for more than sixty years.
EARLY HISTORY CONNECTED WITH FIRST CHURCHES.
The history is indebted to Mr. Himes for the following incidents, throwing the searchlight back for sixty years to the beginning.
After a half century it is difficult to find the address and occupation of the various members of the old choir who may be alive today.
Mrs. A. E. Chamberlain, who sang soprano, and played the melodeon, is still living, and resides at Walla Walla, Washington. Rev. P. B. Chamberlain, husband of Mrs. A. E. Chamberlain, was the first regular installed pastor, and was afterward transferred to Walla Walla and at which place he died several years ago.
Mrs. Celinda Shipley, soprano, was the wife of A. R. Shipley, who also sang in the choir. In 1852 Mrs. Shipley (then Miss Celinda Hines) was preceptress in the old Portland Academy and Female Seminary. One writer has said, referring to this school: "Among the institutions of the state and territory of Oregon, which greatly tended toward the advancement of education and good morals, none are remembered with more affection." On Nov. 17th, 1851, this institution was opened with Rev. C. S. Kingsley as principal of the school and his wife assistant. Miss Hines had charge of the school exhibitions and on one occasion composed the words of a song which was rendered by a class of the younger students. These exhibitions or exercises, were held at the Taylor street Methodist church. Miss Hines taught until her marriage to Mr. Shipley in 1854. Mrs Shipley is living in Portland with her son, Lester Shipley.
Mrs. Hiram S. Pine, soprano, removed from Portland to some point in eastern Oregon, and afterwards, we are informed, went to Buffalo, N. Y. So far as known she is alive today. When Mrs. Pine sang in the choir her husband taught in the Sunday school and it is thought she was also a teacher.
Mrs. Pine's husband was employed by A. H. Francis, a colored man who was proprietor of a leading store in Portland's early days. Francis had his "kinky" hair cut off and in its stead he wore a wig. He did this, it is supposed, to disguise himself. He resembled a Spaniard rather than one through whose veins coursed negro blood. In those days the lines were sharply drawn between those who favored the cause of the south and those who stood by the union. The sympathisers of the south were here in no small numbers, and, as a result this negro merchant felt that it would be less tropical and more congenial for him elsewhere. He therefore left Portland, and, became a resident of Victoria, B. C.
