Spokane County, Washington - Chapter 23: Other Religious Organizations, 1900

Chapter 23: Other Religious Organizations

moral development of young men in the city. The object of the Young Glen's Christian Association is to save and develop young men. Since man is a compound being made up of physical and spiritual elements, he needs a sj^mmetrical development of the different parts of his nature in their mutual relations. The association is working more and more intelligently every year in this direction. The Young Alen's Christian Association originated a meeting for prayer and bible study. For a time the agencies employed were directly religious, and the conversion of young men, together with their growth in christian character, were the only things the society sought to accomplish. Although the organization almost immediately undertook other lines of work for young men and has since broadened its work until it embraces the development of the whole man, yet its ultimate aim has always been the evangelization and christian culture of young men. The platform is laid down on the following basis: "The Y''oung Men's Christian Association seeks to unite those young men, who, regarding Jesus Christ as their God and Savior according to the Holy Scriptures, desire to be his disciples in their doctrine and in their life, and to associate their efforts for the extension of His kingdom among young men." In every association the religious work is considered t(j be the important and crowning feature towards which all the departments lead up. A large proportion of the time and thought of the best workers is given to it. It is not a substitute for the church or a rival of the church, or an organization outside of the church. It is the church at work interdenominationally and through its layman by and for young men. It has. more than any other agency, brought about a fraternal union of Christian young men. and through it thousands of young men have been led into the church membership. The greater part of the expense of the association is borne by subscriptions from the business men and those interested in the welfare of the young man. One of the movements to meet the social and economic conditions of the times is the enlargement of the work of the Young Men's Christian Association till it touches all the interests of a young man's life. In the ])rocess of tliis enlargement the Spokane association has taken an advanced position, and is providing under moral environment amusements in the form of liigh class concerts, entertainments, popular lectures, exhibitions and contests.

The first Young Men's Christian .\ssociation of this city was organized November 4, 1884. The gentlemen who were interested in this movement and who were the first four officers were M. H. W'hitehouse, president; Prof. C. E. Reeves, vice president; W'ihiam Markham, secretary, and W. G. F. Pratt, treasurer. All except Prof. Reeves reside in the city today. The persons mentioned exhiljited a commendable loyalty to the organization during the first years of its history. The meetings w'ere held during the first three years in the different churches. Early in 1886 a room was engaged on the corner of Mill and Sprague and a small librarv collected. The furniture consisted of a small center table covered with a few papers and fewer magazines. Th.e room was kept in order by the faithful ones. In 1-887 the association was organized on a broader basis and occupied rooms in the Brickell building, adjoining the original one to the north, on Mill street over the postoffice. The rooms were made attractive with many additional books and magazines and papers and bathing facilities. In October of this year the directors opened correspondence with the international committee of the Y. M. C. .\. in New York City with a view of engaging a general secretary. The committee recommended Mr. Fillmore Tanner, who was the general secretary of the Y. M. C. A. at Ogdensburg, New York, as a suitable jierson for the position. Correspondence with him resulted in his engagement and he took up the work in December of tiie same year. Under Mr. Tanner's management the association made rapid development for a tune. In the fire of 1889 the possessions of the association were nearly all consumed. Immediately following the fire the meetings were held in the old Baptist church on Sprague avenue, near Monroe. That building was temi84 poraril}' fitted up and occupied fiir several months, the Baptist church liaving sold it. Before tliis a lot had ]ieen procured in a central location, southwest corner of Post and ^lain. It was thought desirable not to erect a building on this land until the association was able to put up such a one as would meet the needs of the future. Accordingly a brick building was erected; on Sprague avenue, near Washington street, at a cost of fourteen thousand dollars. It was fairly furnished and equipped for its purposes and good work was done until some complications arose and which resulted in the suspension of the associatiim. For seven years Spokane was without a Young Men's Christian Association, a condition of things which seemed both mysterious and humiliating to some. Finally those who had the welfare of the young men at heart bestirred themselves and determined to undertake the opening of the work. A temporary board was elected. representing the different churches of tlie city, who then proceeded to raise the sum of two thousantl, five hundred dollars, from the business men. J. .\. Dummett, the tra\eling secretary for the Pacific Northwest, was called into the field to assist in this work. The thought was to secure the names of one hundred men who would underwrite the association twentyfive dollars each. Sixty were secured and then the work apparently stopped. At this juncture it was thought advisable to olitain an association man to push the work to comjiletion. The man called was S. N. Ward, who was then acting as assistant secretary of the Y. M. C. A. in Portland, Oregon. He arrived in Sjjokane October 20, 1898, and secured a small office room in the Symons block. The desk and chair formerly belonging to the old association were found and the work was prosecuted with such vigor and attendetl with such success that the admirably furnished and suitably equipped rooms now occupied in the Blake block were opened on May i. 1899. At this writing the officers of the association are as follows : E. M.

Heyburn. president: Cyrus Bradley, vice-president: J. C. Barline. recording secretary: and W. Gootlspeed. treasurer, with the following directors: George S. Brooks, \\\ H. Shields, James A. Williams. H. S. Martin, C. W. Weeks. W. S. McCrea. F. E. Elmendorf, J. drier Long, Henry Hill, H. T. Coleman, and Fred Phair. S. H. Ward continuing to act as general secretary, with A. J. Carroll in charge of the physical department. The association in all its departments is in an excellent condition, with bright prospects for the future. Since the opening there have been raised and expended eight tiiousand dollars, and the membership has passed fi\e hundred and is constantly increasing.

There are already indications that the near future will necessitate larger quarters. The association is duly incorporated and the board of directors have control of all the business connected with it.

The Work of the Association. - Bible school, historical Bible studies, devotional Bible studies, workers' training class, boys' biographical study, international S. S. les- .son. Young Men's Meetings: Held Sunday afternoon at 4:00. Social events: Receptions. concerts, socials, class nights. Night College: Algebra, arithmetic (elementary) arithmetic (advanced), architectural draw-" ing. bookkeeping, English. grammar, mechanical drawing, penmanshii), ])liysiology (hygiene), spelling, stenography, typewriting, vocal music (elementary), vocal music (advanced). Reading Rooms, supplied with one hundred and twenty-five publications. Baths, tub and shower. (j}-mnasium: New apparatus, physical and medical examination, anthropometric chart, exhiliitions, contests, indoor games, prescriptive exercises. Lockers, fitted with one hundred new anti-dial combination locks. Special I'eatures : Checkers and chess, information bureau, boarding house register, employment department. Membership: Any man of good moral character may become a member In- paying tlie fee. Full membership, ten dollars a year: junior membership, five dollars a year: dues payable two dollars and fifty cents a month, until paid.

Spokane Bible Society

When Rev. P. C. Hetzler, the representati\e of the American Bible Society, came to Spokane Falls in Novemlier, 1878, there was not a church in a finished condition in the place. The Bible Society was organized at that time in an upper room of a building on corner of Howard street and Front avenue. The first officers were Rev. S. G. Ha\ermale, president : Rev. W.T.Conley, secretary, and Deacon G. R. .\ndrus, treasurer. There has been a Bible au.xdiary in the city ever since, and at different times Bible distriliuters ha\e l)een engaged for short seasons.

The Independent Order of Good Templars can be counted among the early organizations of Spokane. The first lodge, " Northern Light," came into existence in 1884, the prime movers being Mr. and Mrs. Robert Abernethy, M. H. W'hitehouse, Ree\'er brothers and others. Meetings were held at first in the Methodist Episcopal church, comer of Sprague avenue and Washington street. It soon became a nourishing society and among its members were a considerable number of bright young men and women, some of them today prominent citizens of this and other cities. The second place of meeting was the old Peel building, now Major block, corner of Sprague and Post. The i)lace of meeting in 1886 was the Brown block, where the Palace store is now. During this year the membershi]i increased rapidly. Prof. E. E. Martin says, "In a year or so it (the hall) had become small for our numbers and we felt rich eudugh tn hire the best hall in town, 'Odd Fellows.' in the third story of the Keats block, where the Traders now stands. With this removal candidates came bv the score. H. P. Ree\'es was in the chair at the time. Next followed Bro. M. 1). Bobsoin's reign of two or more quarters, untler whose gavel we reached our fiood tide. Another important stimulus to growth was the prize gavel offered by the grand lodge for tlie largest number of initiations, which we, of course wiju. initiating fifty-one members in the thirteen meetings." The membership was largely decreased after this and the lodge moved from place to place. "Shortly after came the great fire which reduced all our furniture, even our complete records, our all, to a smouldering heap of ashes, and for a time prevented meetings, but in the fall a number of the 'True Blue" got together and we went to the Central Christian church, on Third avenue, where many came to us, and se\eral ])leasant and profitable 'opens" were held. In my ramifies over the state. I ha\-e hardly found or met with a lodge where some of our members in the ])ast are not working like beavers. Several new 'Homes' have been the result of a single member planted on new soil. \\'e have reason alnmdant reason, to be proutl of our recorfl of a tenth of a century. We have l.ieen to some extent a moulding force in our city, and could have done, and let us hope will do, much more in the days to come, for humanity's uplift and betterment." Spokane No. 115 was at one time a flourishing lodge. A district lodge was organizeil, through which efficient work was done through the county. Though Good Templar}' was not in a flourishing condition in the city and county for some years, ne\'ertheless the efforts of early years were not in \-ain. There has been a revival of interest lately. .\ new lodge has been organized under favorable conditions with promise of wholesome growth and extensive influence.

Island Lodge No. 238 of the Independent Order of Good Templars has moved into its new lodge rooms at No. 809 Second a\-enue. The templars have rented rooms of the Northwestern business college and will make this their permanent meeting place.

It is expected that there will be a membership of one hundred and fifty by the time of the next visit of the grand chief templar on the ist of May next.

The Northwestern Home Finding Association was organized at Spokane, Washington, August 21, 1899, to provide carefully selected family homes for homeless children and adults. Children under the care of the association are placed on ninety days' trial, or a sufiicient length of time to secure satisfaction, at the end of which time they can either be adopted or taken on a contract whereby they are given Christian training and educational privileges. The association also provides home life for a muther with her children who is without home and in need of such care ; employment and home protection for graduates of industrial reform schools, paroled and released prisoners. J. \\ . Williams, general superintendent of the association, has previously been associated with the Children's Home Society, which is doing a similar wurk e.xcejjt that it provides for children only, and when the broader work was organized he was chosen and accepted the position of general superintendent. Tlie association places children and otlier homeless ones only with such persons as it shall deem of good moral character ; they must not be opposed to Christianity nor use intoxicating drinks. Adult persons or graduates of industrial schools must be able to give satisfactory recommendations of their character to the management of the association. The association is incorporated under the laws of the state of Washington, and will confine its work to Washington, Oregon and Idaho. It co-operates with all churches, religious bodies, societies of institutions working in harmony with its objects, and depends upon the public for its support. Ofticers oi the association are Rev. P. A. Cool, D. D., pastor First Methodist Episcopal churcli of Spokane, president; Re\-. O. W. \'an Osdel, D. D., pastor First Baptist church of Spokane, vice president; Rev. B. E. Utz, pastc/T Central Christian church, Spokane, secretary; Prof. H. C. Blair, principal Blair Business College, Spokane, treasurer; J. W. Cool, counselor, and Air. and Mrs. J. W. Williams, general superintendents; additional members. Rev. \\'. A. Spaulding, D. D., pastor United Presbyterian church of Spokane, executive officer; Rev. Geo. D. Needy, pastor United Brethren cliurch of Spokane, Thos. H. Brewer, treasurer, Washington State Charities Endeavor Society, and J. W. Syler, of Spokane. The association publishes a monthly paper, the "Home Finder," which assists in opening homes and keeping the public informed as to 'the progress of its work.

Sl'Nd.W School Work In The Countv

While the Sunday school work has not kept a pace commensurate with the growth of the county, there has never been a time since its inception but what were found loyal devoted workers, who have given time, strength, money and zeal in training the young people of our county in a thorough, systematic study of the Holy Scriptures. Washington said, "The sta bility of our government and the prosi)erity of our nation depend upon the moral and' religious instruction of our youth."

The first regularly organized Sunday school of the county was held in what is now the city of Spokane on the southeast corner of Howard and Main streets in the year 1875. The Rev. S. G. Havermale was superintendent. Among the early pioneer workers we find the names of H. W. Stratton, A. E. Ellis. H. T. Cowley and G. R. Andrus.

was the first president, and Rev. J. B. Renshaw, of Spokane, the secretary. Nine schools reported at this time. At the second annual meeting, twenty-three schools reported, the majority being union schools. The association of the year 18S9 was made memorable by the visit of Dr. A. E. Dunning, of Boston, a member of the International Sunday school committee. The seventh annual meeting, held in i8go, was the last one held for several years.

After a lapse of five years, the eightli annual meeting was called in the First Presbyterian church of Spokane, July. 1895, with George H. Whittle, president, and W. S. McCrea as secretary. Ujjon the program we find the old time workers. Rev. J. Edwards and Dr. J. IM. Allen. In 1896 the ninth annual meeting took place, for which a very full statistiqal report was compiled. At th.is time seventy-fi\'e schcils of the comity reported, showing a membership of five thousand pupils. There has been a growing interest taken in this most important work since the Washington State Sunday school .Association has sustained a field secretary, the Rev. W. C. IMerritt. of Tacoma. The Spokane Countv Sunday School Association gains much in its annual meeting by his cheery presence, deep interest and wise council. Under the administrationof Rev. Edwards, who has been actively associated with the work since 1886, the twelfth annual meeting has just been concluded, February. 1900. Normal training work, special primary work and especially the home department and house to house visitation were discussed and urgently pressed upon the Sunday school workers of this county, would they keep abreast of the thnes. Mrs. W. H. Short has been secretary since 1895.

Statistics : Numlier of Sunday schools reported, 51: total members, 4986; Probable numljer of schools not re])orted, 25 : probable number of scholars not reported, 1,014; estimate enrollment in Protestant Sunday schools, 6,000.

The Army started work in this city ten vears ago. From the beginning it has been vigorous and effective in its methods and commended itself to the public. The officers have been abundant in good work and self denying in their efi^orts to lift up the fallen. They have had their barracks in various places, first on Riverside, near Lincoln ; then on Howard street. A leased building is now occupied where rousing meetings are held e\-ery night. The "Haven," on Front avenue, has been and is a boon to the city. It is a labor bureau, and a shelter and connected with it is a wood 3-ard. The Rescue Home is a most beneficent institution. It is located on Fourth avenue and I\IilI street and words cannot express its value to society. The Army and its au.xiliary institutions were never as flourishing as today in this city.

oi Spokane. The first attempt at erecting a ministerial organization was as early as September, 1886. The first meeting- was held in a store building on the corner of Riverside avenue and Post street, occupied at the time as a place of worship by the First Presbyterian church. The meetings at first were informal and for some specific purpose. After a while a constitution and by-laws were adopted and the name of the organization was Ministerial Association of Spokane Falls. Rev. T. G. Watson, Presbyterian, was the first president. Rev. J. Edwards, Congregational, .secretary, and Rev. W. C. Gray, Methodist, treasurer. The membership included all the active Protestant ministers residing in this city, who, in addition to the ones mentioned, were Revs. J. F. Baker, Baptist, deceased, and H. Shucknecht, Evangelical, who is now missionary su])erintendent of the Evangelical Association denominations in this district. In the fall of 1887 the meetings began to be held at the Y. M. C. .\. rooms on Mill street, between Riverside and Sprague avenues. Untler the auspices of the first ministerial organization several unicn revival meetings were held, conducted by Rev. E. P. Hammond, Dwight L. Moody and others, and also weekly teachers" meetings were conducted for some time. The second organization was known as the Spokane Ministerial Union, wliich came into existence in 1891. Its object, as expressed in the constitution, was "to promote the cause of Christian fellowship among the Christian ministers and churches of the city, to advance the moral tone of the city by and through united effort of those of all professions and creeds who l)elie\e in obedience to law, human as well as divine. ;md desire a hisfh state of morality for the city and community. To mutually discuss all (juestions that anv member may introduce except f|uestions pertaining to the peculiar doctrinal tenets of any denomination re])resented in the Union. Membershijxipen to any minister in regular standing in any Christian denomination that recognizes the trinity of the Divine Godhead." On March 15, 1897, the constitution and by-laws were revised and the name changed to Spokane Ministerial Association. In September, of the same year, this organization was disbanded and the present Spokane Preachers' Meeting was organized. Its purjjose is expressed as follows:

of the Spok.\ne Pre.xch- ER.s' Meeting: We, the undersigned pastors of exangelical churches in Spokane, Washington, for the purpose of advancing Christian brotherliness among ourselves and our people, and promoting our intellectual and spiritual growth do hereby form ourselves into an association and ordain and establish the following constitution :

".Art. 2. Ofhecrs. - The officers of the Preachers' Meeting shall be a president, vicepresident, secretary and treasurer, with duties customary to such offices.

"Art. T,, Committees. - The standing committees shall be: i. The executive committee, consisting of the officers, to which shall be referred all general matters pertaining to the society's management. 2. The program committee, which shall be responsible for the program of each and every meeting. 3. The membership committee, whose duty it shall be to invite persons to membership when so authorized ; and to introduce to the meeting such as accept ; and to promote faithfulness among the members : and to purge the roll as necessity may require.

./, Elections. - The officers and three members each for the program and membership committees shall be elected the first Monday in October, and shall serve for one year, 0-: until their successors are elected. .All the officers and standing committees shall be chosen by ballot from and by the active members.

bers sliall be selected only from the regular and acting pastors of the city of Spokane and commnnity, wIkj accept the di\-inity of Christ and the trinity of the divine Godhead. Other resident pastors of the Gospel may be received as honorary members and may enjoy all the privileges of the meeting except they will have no voice in its management and will not be eligible to office. No person can be admitted to either class except his name has been presented for membership and voted upon by ballot, and whereupon two-thirds of all the votes cast by the active members present being favorable, a written invitation shall be sent by the membership committee. And upon its acceptance by the candidate he shall be declared a member and his name entered on the membership roll.

"Art. 6, Fees. - No initiation fee shall be charged, but monthly dues of ten cents a month shall be charged against each active member from the first of the mimth nearest the date of his admission to membership. Honorary members shall pay an annual admission fee of twenty-five cents.

"2. After the opening exercises the president sliall appoint a critic for the meeting from either the active or honorary members, who for tiiat time shall have full liberty of courteous criticism.

"3. The regular program prepared by the committee shall always take jjrecedence, unless otherwise ordered by unanimous vote of the meeting. Afterward miscellaneous business may be introduced.

"4. The regular meeting shall be held every Monday, except during the months of July and August, convening at 10:30 A. M. and adjourning by limitation at 12 M. The time may be extended only by two-thirds vote.

"6. A public utterance made by any meinber of the Spokane Preachers" Meeting that is calculated to bring ridicule upon a sister denomination because of its distinctive principles, or that is derogatory to the ministerial standing of brother ministers shall be deemed sufficient cause for expulsion from the 'Meeting.'

"7. The constitution or by-laws may be amendetl by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any regular meeting, notice of such amendment, containing the exact text, having been given in writing at least one week ])rcvious."

The meetings are devoted to the reailing of papers on subjects of interest to ministers and others, followed by discussions. When necessary subjects of practical importance pertaining to municipal welfare are considered.

The Volunteers began work in this city in 1896. For a time the work was in charge of local officers and the meetings held in a building on the corner of Howard and Front streets. The first one to be sent here to take charge of the work was Captain Himmall, and his successors have been Captain Thompson, Colonel W. Duncan, Adjutant Markell and Captain J. G. ^McClelland, who has been in charge since May, 1899. Under the present management two new movements have been inaugurated, which have proved signally successful. One is the opening of the meeting place for a reading room with accommodations for writing. The other is the opening of the Door of Hope in the new state building on Mallon avenue.

Captain McClelland opened the Door of Hope in December, 1889, and it has been kept open ever since. Every needy one finds a shelter for the asking and more than thirtythree hundred have found it a haven of rest already. The expenses amount to one hundred and fiftv (k)llars a month, which have been met by the voluntary offerings of re-established inmates. The institution has proved a great

In early years vigorous temperance work was done in Spokane county. Some of the most eminent temperance orators lectured in Spokane Falls in the early 'eighties. Mr. Dow, a cousin to General Xeal Dow, lectured in Spokane Falls as early as 1880 and pledged some people to a blue ribbon club. But under the auspices of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union the most aggressive work was done. As early as the winter of 1 880-1 Mrs. Lucy A. Messer, now Mrs. Switzer, of Cheney, came to Spokane Falls by invitation of ]\Iiss H. Maria Peet, and Miss Nellie Muzzy, the teacher, for the purpose of giving instruction regarding the nature and effects of alcoholic liquors to the children. As a result a Band of Hope was organized, the first distinctively temperance society in the county. ^Mrs. H. T. Cowley was the superintendent. The first Woman's Christian Temperance Union in the county was organized at Cheney by Mrs. Lucy A. Switzer November 30, 1881. It started with fifteen members, and was officered as follows: Mrs. L. A. Switzer, president ; Mrs. Sallie G. Strong, corresponding secretary; Mrs. A. J. Abernethy, treasurer; lilrs. Mary Meachen, vice-president.

The first Woman's Christian Temperance L'nion of Spokane Falls (Leavett Union) was organized by Mrs. Switzer, who was then vicepresident of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union for Washington Territory, on March 28, 1883, with thirty members. Mrs. L. A. Cowley was made president; Miss H. Maria Peet, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Addie Belknap, recording secretary; Mrs. I. C. Libby, treasurer.

A union with fifteen members was organized at Medical Lake in August, 1884, and one the same month at Spangle. At Rockford, in April, 1885, one was instituted, all by Mrs. Switzer, who was devoting her time almost wholly to the work. On September 17, 1886, a union was organized at Deep Creek by Mrs. J. A. C. Merriman. In October, 1887, a second union was organized in Spokane and given the name Crystal Union, in honor of Mrs. A. P. Crystal, who was its first president, and one of the most devoted christian women. Mrs. Emma J. Rue was the corresponding secretary ; Mrs. C. O. Kauffman, recording secretary, and Mrs. Charlotte Hamblen, treasurer. It grew to a membership of thirty-two.

These Spokane Unions did good work for years and vigorously opposed the progress of the rum power. The present one is of later date and is composed of women of like heroic spirit as the early workers.

Spokane County Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized at Cheney on April 19, 1 886. The following were elected as officers : Mrs. Julia C. Merriman, president ; Mrs. M. Abernethy, vice-president; Mrs. Delia L. Dean, corresponding secretary. Mrs. A. P. Crystal succeeded Mrs. Merriman as president, and the office was filled successively by Miss H. M. Peet, Mrs. C. B. Schorr and Mrs. Jennie White.

The first eastern Washington territorial convention was held at Cheney July 20-21, 1883. Miss Frances E. \\'illard and Miss Anna A. Gordon were present at this convention. There were people who drove long distances to hear Miss Willard at this time. On the 23d of July she spoke at Spokane Falls to a large audience. The first Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Spokane aided the Young Men's Christian Association and Independent Order of Good Templars in establishing the first reading room. Among the early workers with the ones already mentioned were Mrs. Stella W. Traver, Mrs. \\'illiam Griffin, Mrs. E. A. Jobes and others. The members of the unions were stanch advocates of woman suffrage. !Mrs. Traver, Mrs. Cowley and Miss Peet served on boards of election. In 1884-5 several women in Cheney, ^Irs. Mount, Mrs.

The first anti-saloon league was organized in Ohio about five years ago. Since that time it has become national. The state league was organized early this year with headquarters at

Seattle, and ex-governor Knapp was president and O. R. Whitmore, state superintendent. The Spokane league was organized in March of this year with one hundred and fifty members. Ex-councilman W. H. Acuff is president; Rev. W. A. Spaulding, vice-president; J. J. Pugh, secretary; M. H. Whitehouse, treasurer. The purpose of the league is opposition to the saloon by agitation, legislation and education.