Church History

    Romans 5:12-14 teaches that we are guilty of the sin of Adam because "we were there" in Adam.  This may seem like a minor point of theology, but it is very important.  A case can be made from church history showing that in the late 18th century denial of this truth led directly to the liberalism of the early 19th century which in turn ended up denying both Christ and the Bible.  This happened because people of that time reasoned that if we are not really guilty of the sin of Adam then we are not really born sinners, which means we don't really need a savior, which means we don't need Jesus, which means we don't need the Bible, etc.  Entire denominations fell over this seemingly "minor" point.

   Words spoken by Rev. Rick Mathews , who gave the message in the morning service at Temple Baptist Church on August 18, 2002.

    For an exclusive chronological history that records events that happened from the year Temple Baptist Church was organized to present date, Click Here        

We start our history page in one of these dark times in Europe and America.

1492-- October 12, Christopher Columbus discovered the New World; he sailed from Spain and landed in the Bahamas on San Salvador or Wattling's Island.    

1529--February 4, Ludwig Heltzer, was beheaded at Kanstanz for holding Baptist views. (From the notes of H.Hallgren)

1531--Sicko Schneider, a was beheaded for being a Baptist. (From the notes of H.Hallgren)

1558--For more than 270 years --- from 1558 to 1829 --- Roman Catholics in England were not able to practice their faith openly so they had to find alternative ways to express their beliefs - underground. The song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is one example of how they did it.

1565--September 8, The first permanent European settlement in the present U.S. was founded at St. Augustine, Florida.

1585--The first English colony settled on Roanoke Island, but it survived only ten months.

1587--August 18, The first English child, Virginia Dare was born on the continent at the second Roanoke settlement--the "Lost Colony."

1609--Henry Hudson sailed the Half Moon up the Hudson River looking for "The Northwest Passage."

1611--April 11, Edward Wightman, English Baptist was burned at the stake in Litchfield, England.

1620--September, The Mayflower set sail.
           November 11, the Mayflower landed at Massachusetts in Plymouth Harbor.  Click here to view a Mayflower website.

1621--June 21, twenty-seven protestant leaders were executed in the Old Town Square in Prague by order of the Catholic Emperor Ferdinand.
    October,  The first recorded Thanksgiving celebration.

1623--July, The Pilgrims met together to celebrate the first proclamation of Thanksgiving. 

1624--The Dutch created the first European settlements when they settled in the States of Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and formed the Dutch colony of New Netherland, or Nieuw Nederlandt.  See Website  for detailed facts on those early days.

1628-- John Bunyan was born in Easton, near Bedford, England.  

1634--Tulip bulbs were used as a form of currency in Holland. (snapple.com)

1639--1st Baptist Church in America at Providence, Rhode Island was organized.  The meetinghouse of the nation's oldest Baptist congregation, founded by Roger Williams in 1638. The structure was dedicated in 1775 and designed by Joseph Brown. The church has a carved wood interior and a Waterford crystal chandelier. Built by ships' carpenters in 1775, it survived the gale of 1875 and the hurricane of 1938.

1640--The Whole Book of Psalmes, was the first book printed in the colonies.  It was a hymnal known as the Bay Psalm Book.  Only the words were printed because they assumed everybody new the music.

1644--2nd Baptist Church in America at Newport, RI organized by John Clark
           November 13, law adopted by Massachusetts Bay banishing all Baptists.

1653--John Bunyan was baptized at 25 years of age.

1654--Read some condensed history of the Anabaptist.  This was the first year, as known, the word Baptist was used in English Literature.

1664--May 28, 1st Baptist Church in Boston was organized by Hema Goulland who himself was banished but the church continued and increased.
          New Amsterdam captured by English and the name was changed to New York.  The English also captured the Dutch colonies of New Netherland.

1673--Thomas Ken wrote the words to the familiar four lines we know as Doxology.  In this year Thomas Ken wrote a book entitled, "A Manual of Prayers" for the use of the scholars of Winchester College.  In one of the editions of this manual, Ken included three of his hymns that he wanted the students to sing each day as part of their devotion.  These hymns we called "Morning Hymn," Evening Hymn," and "Midnight Hymn."  Each of these hymns closed with the familiar four lines we now know as the Doxology.

1688--August 31, John Bunyan died in London

1690--September 25, first newspaper printed in America, was sold in Boston.  It was a 71/4" X 111/2, four page journal with one blank page where you could write in your own news.  It was printed by Benjamin Harris.  The paper lasted only one issue before being suppressed.

1707--"When I Survey the Wondrus Cross", was written by Issac Watts.  Mr. Watts wrote 696 English hymns during his lifetime.

1719--Issac Watts wrote Jesus Shall Reign.

1723 -- The Old North Church in Boston was built.  A signal by Paul Revere from the lanterns hung in the belfry. "One if by land, two if by sea."

1741--Vitus Bering and Alexei Chirikov Expedition discovers Alaska.

1750--It was about this year that John Newton wrote "Amazing Grace".  Click here to read the history of  one of life's greatest hymns.
           The rapidly growing population of Britain's North American colonies now numbers one million, while approximately six million people live in England and Wales.

1752--Katharina A. von Schlegel wrote the words to, "Be still My Soul".  See 1899

1754--July, A skirmish between French troops supported by Indians and American colonists on the western frontier begins the Seven Years War, an worldwide contest for an empire between Great Britain and France.

1760--October, George III becomes King of England.

1763--February 10, The Treaty of Paris ends the Seven Years War. A defeated France gives up most of her claims to The North American Territory.

1764--April, The British Parliament passes the Sugar Act to raise money through import taxes on the colonies.

1765--May, Virginia's House of Burgesses adopts Patrick Henry's Stamp Act Resolves, protesting taxation with out representation.
           August, Angry mobs force stamp distributors to resign.  Many colonists agree not to import British goods.
           October, Colonial delegates to the Congress in New York reject Parliament's right to tax the colonies.

1766--March, Pressured by British merchants, Parliament repeals the unsuccessful Stamp Act but restates its supreme authority over the colonies.

1767--June, The Townshend Acts impose duties on glass, tea, and other items imported into the colonies.  The colonists again refuse to buy British goods.

1770--March, British soldiers fire into an angry Boston crowd and kill five people.  This incident soon becomes known as the Boston Massacre.
           April, Parliament repeals all the duties except that on tea.

1772--William Cowper wrote the words to "There is a Fountain".  To hear the melody and read the words.

1773--January 1, John Newton preaches on 1 Chronicles 17:16, 17 and uses the words he wrote to "Amazing Grace" to accompany the sermon.  See more about Amazing Grace.
           May, The Tea Act gives the British East India Company a monopoly on sales.  In protest, patriots force ships to return to England without unloading their cargoes of tea.
           December 16,  American patriots dressed as Mohawk Indians boarded the vessels of the East Indian Company docked in the Boston harbor and dumped all the tea that was on the three ships into the ocean.  They emptied 342 chests of tea which was valued at more than 10,000 pounds.  This even became known as the "Boston Tea Party."
          

1774--March, Parliament closes Boston harbor to all trade as punishment for the Boston Tea Party.
           May, Virginia's House of Burgesses supports Boston by observing a day of fasting and prayer.  Virginia calls for a unified colonial response through a boycott of British goods.
           October, The First Continental Congress declares that Americans are entitled to the rights of "life, liberty, and property."
           November, Yorktown residents stage a southern tea party, boarding the ship Virginia and dumping chests of tea into the York River.

1775--John Asplund, the first Swedish Baptist in America.
            February, Parliament declares Massachusetts in rebellion.  British General Gage is authorized to use force to control the colony.
           April 19, British solders tried to capture a munitions storage at Concord, Massachusetts and were met with resistance from embattled farmers (Minutemen) and fired the shot heard around the world.  This was the start of the Revolutionary War.  Lord Dunmore, royal governor of Virginia, seizes Virginia's store of gunpowder at Williamsburg, Virginia.
           June, The British win the battle of Bunker and Breed's Hills in Boston, but they suffer heavy losses.  George Washington is appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental forces.
           November, Virginia's royal governor issues an emancipation proclamation freeing "all indentured Servants (and) Negroes" who will fight alongside the British.

1776--January, Thomas Paine's influential pamphlet, "Common Sense", was published.
           May, France secretly begins sending money and supplies to the colonies.
           July 4, America declared its independence from England.

1777--January, Washington defeats the British at Princeton, New Jersey.  The Continental army goes into winter encampment at Morristown.
               September, The British occupy Philadelphia after winning the Battle of Brandywine Creek.
               October, Washington is defeated at the Battle of Germantown outside Philadelphia.
               October, British general John Burgoyne surrenders his army of 6,000 men at Saratoga, New York, a turning point in the war.
               November 1, The official First Thanksgiving Proclamation
               Winter, Washington's army winters at Valley Forge.  Severe weather and food shortages cause terrible hardships for the army.   

1778--February,  France pledges financial and military support to the United States, in effect declaring war on Great Britain.
           March 17, Captain James Cook arrives on the shore of present-day Oregon while exploring the west coast of America in search of the Northwest Passage.  He records some of the first encounters with Native Americans in this area.  He also touched the coast at Nootka Sound and confirmed the English claim to Oregon.
           June,  The Battle of Monmouth Court House in New Jersey ends in a draw, but the British leave the battlefield.

1779--The publication of Olney Hymns establishes Newton's reputation as a hymn-writer.
            Fall,  An American expedition burns the villages of Britain's Iroquois allies in New York.  With the war at a stalemate in the north, the British refocus their efforts to the south.
             September-October,  A joint French-American attempt to retake Savannah, Georgia, fails with heavy losses.  The French are unwilling to continue the siege leaving many Americans discouraged with the French alliance.

1780--May, Americans surrender Charleston, South Carolina, the worst defeat of the war.  This defeat begins a period of bloody conflict in the Carolinas between the loyalists and the patriots.
            July, Robert Raikes, organized the first Sunday School in Gloucester, England.  See a Robert Raikes Website.

1781--January,  Continental infantry and militia defeat the British infantry and cavalry at Cowpens, South Carolina.
           March,  At Guilford Court House, North Carolina, General Nathanael Greene loses to British general Charles Cornwallis.  Cornwallis, however, leaves the Carolinas to join British forces already in Virginia.
           August 2,  General Cornwallis makes Yorktown his base operations and fortifies the town.  Most of the townspeople flee before the British arrive.
           August 19,  Washington's and Rochambeau's combined American French army leaves New York for Virginia.  A French fleet heads for the Chesapeake Bay.
           September 5,  In a battle off the Virginia Capes, a French fleet drives off a British force and takes control of the Chesapeake Bay.
           September 26,  The Allied army arrives in Williamsburg, Virginia.
           October 6,  Allied troops dig the first siege line (redoubts, a defended position or a protective barrier, and gun batteries connected by trenches) at Yorktown.  Three days later, they begin bombarding the British defenses.
           October 14,  British redoubts nine and ten are captured during night attacks.  The allies move closer to Yorktown.
           October 16-17,  With supplies running low, General Cornwallis fails to escape across the York River for one reason, because of a storm.  Cornwallis requests a cease-fire to discuss terms for surrender.
           October 19,  General Cornwallis surrenders his army of over 7,000 men to the allied American-French forces.

1782--March,  Lord North resigns as prime minister of Britain.  Great Britain begins peace negotiations with the United States.   

1783--September,  The final treaties ending hostilities are signed in Paris.
           November,  The last British troops leave the United States.

1784-1785-- There is a growing sense of crisis in the New Nation.  The British refuse to give up their forts on the Western Frontier.  The weak confederation government is unable to pay the national debt, regulate trade, resolve conflicts between states, or end an economic recession.

1786--September,  Representatives from five states discuss the regulation of commerce.  A new convention is scheduled to meet in 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation.

1786-1787--Winter,  Desperate Massachusetts farmers, suffering economically, resist the seizure of their property for debts or taxes.  A sense of crisis and fear of anarchy makes the reform of the confederation government urgent.

1787--May,  The Federal Constitutional Convention convenes with George Washington presiding.
           July,  The "Great Compromise," providing for equal state representation in the Senate and representation based on population in the lower house, breaks a deadlock between small and large states.  The Confederation Congress adopts the Northwest Ordinance providing for the settlement of western lands and the admission of new states into the union.
           September,  The delegates approve the final draft of the new constitution, which is sent to the states for approval.  
           December 7,  Delaware is the first state to ratify the new constitution.

1788--June,  New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, putting it into effect.  Within a month, the two remaining key states of Virginia and New York also ratify the Constitution.

1789--April 30, George Washington becomes the first president of the United States.
           September,  Congress sends twelve constitutional amendments protecting individual rights to the states for approval.  Influenced by Virginia's 1776 Declaration of Rights of man and the Citizen as the French Revolution begins.

1791--Congress added the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.  Virginia is the eleventh state to ratify the Bill of Rights, (the first ten amendments to the Constitution).

1792--Read a written historical account from the notes of Harley Hallgren, of what occurred in and around this year.
               May 11, Captain Robert Gray entered the Columbia River aboard the American sailing ship, Columbia Rediviva, thus naming this important waterway.

1803--Read a written historical account from the notes of Harley Hallgren, of what occurred in and around this year.
           December 20, America and France agree to the Louisiana Purchase that extends the United States territory west to the "Continental Divide."

1806--April 3, Captain William Clark set foot in the Oregon Territory, the first white man to do so.  Click the link to view the web page.
           Thomas Jefferson was President of the United States-March 4, 1801-March3, 1809.  He was the third President.

1809--February 12, Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky.

1811--Read a written historical account from the notes of Harley Hallgren of what occurred in and around this year.

1814--September 14, Sir Francis Scott Key wrote the words to what we now know as the "Start Spangled Banner." Originally called "Defense of Fort McHenry."

1819--The southern boundary of the United States was fixed at 42 degrees latitude by treaty with Spain.  The territory to the south including California and Nevada were Spanish and Mexican possessions until 1846 and 1848 respectively.
               Thomas Cotterill, a Sheffield vicar, was charged by a church court for using a hymn-book in their services. In the Church of England, hymn-singing was long considered to be illegal.  This test-case led to hymn-singing being more or less legally accepted in the Church of England.

1820--March 24, Fanny Crosby (Frances Jane Crosby), the daughter of John and Mercy Crosby, was born in Southeast, Putnam County, New York.

1824--Dr. John McLoughlin, of the Hudson Bay Company arrived in Oregon and moved headquarters to Fort Vancouver, which is located on the north bank of the Columbia River. See the following Web Sites:
        McLoughlin House
        The Columbian Newspaper - History of John McLoughlin.  From 1824 to 1844 Dr McLoughlin was virtually king of the Oregon Country from California to Alaska and from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.
        James Monroe was President of the United States-March 4, 1817-March 3, 1825.  He was the fifth President.
        Russia renounced all interests to the land on the North American Continent below 54 degrees and 40 minutes north latitude.

1826--Reginald Heber wrote the words to the hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy," while he was Vicar of Hodnet, Scropshire, England.  The music was written for the hymn by John B. Dykes, in 1861.

1827--The United States and Britain agreed to continue indefinitely the joint occupancy of the Oregon Country.  Rivalry between the Hudson Bay Company traders, trappers and British on hand and the increasing number of American traders, trappers and settlers was apparent.  See 1846 

1829--Andrew Jackson was elected President of the United States on March 4, 1829 and served until March 3, 1837.  He was the seventh President.

1832--Read a written historical account from the notes of  Harley Hallgren; a story called, "The Indians want the Book." 

1834--The Rev. Jason Lee and his nephew the Rev. Daniel Lee were sent out by the Methodists.  Work was commenced near Salem and on October 6, the first Protestant Mission west of the Rockies was opened.
           Read a written historical account from the notes of Harley Hallgren relating to Jason Lee and the first mission.
           June 19, Charles Haddon Spurgeon was born in Kelvedon, Essex, England. Click here to see Spurgeon Website
           

1835--Fredrick O. Nilsson converted at a revival meeting at the Mariners Church in New York City
           The first church in the United States devoted exclusively to sailors and their families was the First Mariners Church in New York City, dedicated in 1820.

1836--Originally The Alamo was established in 1718 as a Franciscan mission and is known for its important role in the Texas Revolution, when some 200 Texans and Tejanos made a final stand against Mexican soldiers in this year.

1837--Panic of 1837  was built on a speculative fever.  The bubble burst on May 10, 1837 in New York City, when every bank stopped payment in specie (gold and silver coinage).  The Panic was followed by a five-year depression, with the failure of banks and record high unemployment levels.
Dwight L Moody, the most noted evangelist of his age was born in Northfield, Massachusetts.  He was one of nine children   The family attended a Unitarian church.

1839--October 31, 1st Baptist Church in Denmark was organized with 11 members.

1841--April 6, John Tyler was President of the United States,  he served until March 3, 1845.  He was the tenth President.

1843--Tradition has it that a Tom Johnson, who had left the British Navy and taken American citizenship, was the only settler on the Willamette below the Falls (Oregon City), at this time.  
     In the summer of this year, A. L. Lovejoy and Tom Overton, in passing from Vancouver to Oregon City, appraised the favorable location here for a settlement and a city.  Acting at once, they roughly staked out a claim running from somewhere near the present line of West Burnside, south to about the present Jefferson Street.  This was the year when a group of settlers of the Oregon Country, principally from the upper part of the Willamette Valley, organized a provisional government for the people in these regions.
            Read a written historical account from the notes of Harley Hallgren about The Oregon Trail.
            Read a written historical account from the notes of Harley Hallgren about Champoeg.

1844--May 25, The first Baptist Church in the Oregon Country was organized at West Union in the house of Elder, David T. Lennox, by "a few of us who have been thrown together in the wilds of the west."
           June 6, The Young Men's Christian Association was founded in London, England.  Read a brief history of the YMCA. 
           F. W. Pettygrove took over the interest of Overton, and with Lovejoy, had the first log cabin built near the foot of the present Washington Street.  The town was on the way.  What to name it?  Lovejoy from Massachusetts, wanted Boston; Pettygrove, a Maine man, liked Portland.  They flipped a copper coin--luck was with Pettygrove.
           Read a written historical account from the notes of Harley Hallgren about the city of  Portland around this point in time.
           Read a written historical account from the notes of Harley Hallgren about the city of  Corvallis around this point in time.
           Read a written historical account from the notes of Harley Hallgren about the city of  Salem around this point in time.

1845--March 4, James Polk was elected President of the United States.  He served until 1849.  He was the eleventh President

1846--June 15, For a time war seemed inevitable over land possession between the United States and Britain, but a treaty was arranged fixing the northern boundary of the United States, at least over the Oregon Country,  at 49 degrees North Latitude.  Back to 1827
           August 10, The Smithsonian was established.  Click here to view the Smithsonian web site.
           October 16, Anesthetics was introduced in the medical profession  

1847--The First Baptist Church of Oregon City was organized.
           May 7, The American Medical Association was formed.
           The Presbyterians sent Dr. Marcus Whitman and the Rev. Samuel Parker who established their mission station near the site of Walla Walla.  It was here that Dr. Whitman and others were massacred by Indians in this year.
            November 8, Rev Anders Wiberg resigned as priest in the State Church of Sweden.

1848--There were six Baptist Churches in Oregon and the Willamette Baptist Association was formed.
           The California gold rush draws men from Portland, and nearly depopulates the village.
           A Methodist Episcopal church is organized.
           August 14, Congress passed a bill admitting Oregon as a territory.
           September 21, first New Testament baptismal service in Sweden (of definite record) at Vallersvik near Gothenburg--5 were baptized.
           Read a written historical account from the notes of Harley Hallgren, having to do with the Oregon Territory in 1848.  

1849--Portland gets its first Post Office.
           March 3, Oregon was proclaimed a territory, which included the present State of Washington and more land to the east.    
           It is interesting to note that the governorship of Oregon Territory, at this time was offered by The President at that time, to Abraham Lincoln.  by Harley Hallgren.  The President in that year was James Polk whose term ran out on March 4th and Zachary Taylor who was elected our 12th President, March 4th, and died one year later on July 9, 1850.
           March 4, David Rice Atchison was President of the United States for one day.  He was the only man in history to have done this.  March 4th was on a Sunday, the day Zachary Taylor was to take the oath for President.  Mr. Taylor felt convicted of his religious beliefs and said he would not officially do the ceremony and take office until the next day, Monday.  David Atchison was President of the Senate at the time so he assumed the Presidency for that day.  See a Website about this event in history.     
           May 6, Fredrick O. Nilsson ordained to the Gospel ministry in Hamburg, Germany.  John Oncken, Kobner and Schauffler officiated.  Return to 1835  

1850--The first steps toward the organization of a Baptist church in Portland were taken.  For more information Click Here.
           December 4,--The first issue of the Oregonian Newspaper was published. 

1851--January 14, the Oregon territorial house of representatives passed Portland's charter.
        February 8, Portland officially became a city. 
        April 7,--Hugh O'Bryant became Portland's first elected mayor.
        April 15, Josiah Failing with his sons, Henry and John Failing arrived in Portland.  They were the first Baptist family to settle in the little town.  They built a store building, twenty feet front and fifty feet deep on the S. W. corner of Front and Oak St. and opened a general merchandise store as soon as the goods arrived from the East.  Read and account of Josiah Failing and his observations of Portland.
        Portland had a population of 300 to 400 people.
        November 14,--The American edition of the book Moby Dick was published by Harper & Brothers, New York.
        An Act of Congress extended US Mail service to Oregon. 

1852--June, Gustaf Palmquist was baptized at Galesburg, Illinois.
          July 23, Rev. Anders Wiberg was baptized by F. O. Nilsson near Copenhagen, Denmark on his first journey to America. 
         August 3, this day marked the beginning of what would grow to be our Baptist General Conference.
        To read some small part of history of the Baptist General Conference, click here.
        September 26, 1st Swedish Baptist Church in America was organized at Rock Island, Illinois, with six members.  Four years and five days after the 1st Swedish Baptist church in Sweden.  Gustaf Palmquist conducted the business session.

1853--Christmas Day, the West Union Baptist Church was dedicated.  Click Here to see photos of West Union Baptist Church taken, October, 2001.  Also see year, 1855 on this page.
         The first World's Fair held in New York City known as the Crystal Palace Exposition turned out to be a flop.
        The government established a post office at Tualatin, a station one mile south of Forest Grove.
        July 14, a post office opened at Wapatoo.

1854--Oldest Swedish Baptist Church building in the world was erected at New Sweden, Iowa.

1855--May 6,-- At 10:30 am, a church organization in Portland, was formed, with ten members.  Rev. W. F. Boyakin was chosen pastor, and Josiah Failing, deacon.  This was the beginning of the First Baptist Church in Downtown Portland, today located at 909 SW 11th.  Their first service was held in the newly completed County Court room in the Robinson building on the corner of Front and Salmon Streets.   Rev. Hezekiah Johnson preached the dedication sermon.
           December, --the present building of the West Union Baptist church was dedicated.  It is the oldest Protestant church building, still standing, west of the Rocky Mountains.  30 X 40 feet in size with rafters of cedar poles,  the joists of fir poles and the sills of hand-hewn fir logs.  An annual memorial meeting is held in this other wise unused building, because of its historic significance.  (Since the writing of these minutes, church service is held on a regular basis as well as a Sunday School.)  The floor is made of wood planking with straight back wood pews.  The ends of the pews are equipped with doors.  The church building  is still today in the same condition as when it was built.  There is a pump organ that is used for music.  The church has a fresh coat of white paint.  The windows are covered with shutters that are usually closed except when added lighting is needed.   Return to 1853

1856--June 20-25, the first conference of Swedish Baptists anywhere in the world was organized at Rock Island, Illinois.
           Elizabeth Prentiss wrote the hymn, "More Love to Thee."

1857--August, the first Constitutional Convention of Oregon was held.

1858--Twelve charter members organized the First Baptist Church in Amity, Oregon.  The church building was built in 1870.  The Amity Church is a member of the Columbia Baptist Conference.
           
1859--February 14, Oregon became the 33rd state in the Union.

1860--The first attempt to maintain a Baptist church in Portland did not prosper and only three members remained.  With the hope of reviving the church, the Willamette Association appealed to the American Baptist Home Mission Society to place a missionary in the field.  In response to this request Dr. Samuel Cornelius, was sent to labor in Portland,  He arrived in June and in August 31st, the First Baptist Church of Portland was reorganized with 12 members and regular services were conducted in a rented hall on First Street.  Dr. Cornelius was elected pastor and Josiah Failing and S. W. Williams were chosen deacons.  Click here to read a detailed account.
          The population of Portland was now 2,917.
          A mass exodus of immigrants occurred from Sweden. 
          The words to the hymn "Jesus Loves Me" was written in this year by Anna B.Warner.  The music was composed by William B. Bradbury in 1862.  The stanzas 2 & 3, were composed by David R. McGuire 1929-1971. 
 "One of the most profound hymns ever written". -- Rev. Rick Mathews on 7-8-2004

1861--a church building The First Baptist Church (American Baptist) was started on the corner of Fourth and Alder.
           The Civil War started.  See the year 1865.  Click Here to view a Web Site showing a Civil War Time line.
           The music to the hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy," was written by John B. Dykes.  The words were written in 1826 by Reginald Heber.

1862--January, the First Baptist Church on the corner of Fourth and Alder was dedicated as a partial completion.  The basement was finished so that it could be occupied for religious services.  Dr. Samuel Cornelius continued as pastor.  (Church Manuel 1876).
           Although not strictly a hymn, the strains of "Taps" are probably the most recognizable twenty-four notes in our country's musical history. The eloquent and haunting melody has drifted over the graves of soldiers since it was played by a lone bugler on a Civil War battlefield in 1862. Click here to hear the music and read the history of the most noted twenty-four notes.

1863--February 17, International Committee for the Red Cross met for the first time.  It was originally know as the International Committee for Relief to The Wounded.
           October brought about the International Committee for the Red Cross conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
           November 19, - A quote on this day from President Abraham Lincoln, "Now we are engaged in a great Civil War testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure."

1864--September, Dr. Cornelius left the First Baptist Church.  At this time the their were 49 members.
           October 20, The first annual Thanksgiving Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln.
           Olaus Okerson, missionary in Minnesota and the Northwest came to America.
           See a page out of Harley Hallgren's note book telling about information he found having to do with Tax lots of the First Baptist Church.

1865--Portland's population was numbered at 1,800.  The skyline was changing, with stores and homes lining Front Street.
           Civil War Ends.  See the year 1861.
           April 14, President Lincoln assassinated at Ford's Theater in Washington D.C.   Click Here to view a Web Site on President Lincoln.  Vice President Andrew Johnson assumed the Presidency.
           April 15, President Lincoln died.

1866--August 19, First Baptist Church of Chicago, now known as Addison Street Baptist Church was organized.  They are located at 1242 West Addison Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60613, 773-935-2357
           Thomas O. Chisohm was born.  He wrote over 1200 hymns such as: "Living For Jesus, O, to be Like Thee and Great is Thy Faithfulness."  See 1923

1867--March 30, The United States and Russia signed a treaty for the purchase of Alaska for the sum of $7,200,000.  William H Seward, then Secretary of State negotiated the purchase.
           December 22, Captain R. E. Jeanson of Gothenburg, Sweden,  converted to the Baptist faith and settled in New York in 1865.  Under his leadership, fifteen men and nineteen women met to found the "First Swedish Baptist Church of New York" on this Sunday.   Initially worshipping at the Mariner's Church near the docks in lower Manhattan, the congregation moved uptown to the Colgate Chapel on 20th Street in 1884.  Then, as the congregation grew and prospered, it bought its own building on 27th Street in 1893.  As time went by, the need for a Swedish language church decreased.  Swedish immigration slowed, many Swedes migrated westward, and descendents of the original settlers learned English as their native tongue.  Thus, in 1942 the worship language of the church was changed from Swedish to English, and the official church name was changed to "Trinity Baptist Church."  Trinity Baptist is a part of the Baptist General Conference. Read more about the history of "Trinity Baptist by using the link above. 

1868--April, construction work was begun on two railroads, to the south.  One on the east side, The Central Pacific and one on the west side, the Union Pacific.
      The words to "Beneath the Cross of Jesus" were written by Elizabeth C Clephane in Scotland.  She was known as "The Sunbeam."

1869--May 10, Officials of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads met in the State of Utah to celebrate the completion of the first intercontinental railroad.  The completion of this rail line shortened the trip from coast to coast from six months to six days!  View the Golden Spike Web Site.
           Fanny Crosby wrote the hymn, "Near the Cross".  

1870--January, the First Baptist Church building in Portland, Oregon, was completed and dedicated "to the service of God and our Lord Jesus Christ."  The entire cost of the church building including improvement of the grounds was $12,500.00.

1871--Bethel Theological Seminary has beginnings.  John Edgren opens a department for Scandinavian theological students in the fall, at the Union Theological Seminary in Chicago with one student, Christopher Silene.  A second student Nicholas Hayland began in midyear.
           Mr. & Mrs. Hans Shogren with their family arrived from Minnesota.
           May--John Edgren began to publish Zions Wäktare (The Watchman of Zion).  This marks the beginning of a denominational press which is now publishing "The Standard."
           Read a written historical account from the notes of Harley Hallgren about the Scandinavian Work that is beginning around this point in time.
           October 8,  the Great Chicago Fire. 
 

1872--The Shogren family were received by letter into the membership of the First Baptist Church.  Mr. Shogren was a carpenter and engaged in carriage making (both horse drawn and the smaller variety in which babies are pushed by their mothers) in Portland until the daughters, years later had become well established in their high class tailoring business.  Mr. Shogren was an uncle of Mrs. Emanuel Bjorkquist of Warren and she relates that he together with his sister, Mrs. Bjorkquist's mother, were baptized in Chicago in 1856 by the Rev Gustaf Palmquist, one of the earliest of Baptist pioneer preachers. Click here to see a letter written to Harley Hallgren from Mrs. Bjorkquist on February 9, 1944.
           The first street car was introduced.  It was horse drawn and ran on First Street from Clarendon Hotel and the Railroad Station at F street South to Jefferson Street.
           March 1,  Yellowstone becomes the First National Park 
          "I Need Thee Every Hour" was written by Annie S Hawks.
           "Whiter than Snow" the words to this beautiful hymn were written by James Nicholson in this year.  The words were taken from Psalms 51:7.  "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."

1873--January 1, Willamette Falls Locks opens its gates for the first time to river traffic traveling along the Willamette, allowing safe portage around the 40-foot-high falls.
           August 2, a fire gutted much of Portland's business district and damage was estimated at $1,345,400.
           Horatio G. Spafford wrote the beautiful hymn, "It is Well With My Soul."          

1875--"First recorded work for Scandinavians in Portland was a mission conducted  by a tailor, Charles A. Sandstone."-Harley Hallgren
     The First Baptist Church reported to the Willamette Association that gospel work was being done among the Scandinavians under the leadership of a Brother Sandstone.  In this he was no doubt encouraged by the Shogren's.
           St. Vincent Hospital opened.
           September, Good Samaritan Hospital opened.

1876--"The Manual" of the First Baptist Church of Portland, was written.  In it we read:  "Such are the beginnings of this letter one which an account of the importance of the position it occupies and the purity of the Christian doctrines it seeks to disseminated, we may well hope will yet, "become a thousand".   Return to 1862
       Carl Boberg wrote the words to the beloved hymn, "How Great Thou Art".
         

1878--Local telephone service in Portland, was established by the American Telephone and District Telegraph Co.
           February,  The first telephone book was published in New Haven, Connecticut, by the New Haven District Telephone Company. It was one page long and held fifty names - no numbers were listed as the operator would connect you. The page was divided into four heading residential, professional, miscellaneous, and essential service listings.  See Web Site having to do with History of the Telephone.

1879--The Second Baptist Church developed under Rev. Addison Jones.  Today it is know as the Hinson Memorial Baptist Church.
           Portland's population was 20,000.
           May 25, Electric light arrived in Portland.
           June 12-14, organization of the Swedish Baptist General Conference of America, at Village Creek, Iowa.  John Ongman, moderator; A.P. Ekman, recording secretary; John A. Edgren, preacher of conference sermon.
           Henry Villard incorporates the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company and acquires the Oregon Steam Navigation Company.  

1880--December,  Rev. John Gray became pastor and remained three years during which time the church building was enlarged and refitted. (Second Baptist Church)
           Christopher Silene became the first missionary of the Baptist General Conference.
           Henry Villard starts construction on the South Side Line of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company.
           Fanny Crosby wrote the words to "Tell Me The Story of Jesus."  Fanny wrote over 8,000 hymns in her lifetime despite being blind.  

1881--January, Olaus Okerson and his family arrived in Portland.  The stayed with the Shogren family home to which they were welcomed and kept until located elsewhere.
           January 23, Pastor Okerson's first preaching service in the Pacific Northwest was held in the Episcopal Chapel on SW 5th near Oak St.
    An account of his observation of the City of Portland by Rev. John Stadling of Stockholm, Sweden and writes in his book published in Sweden in 1863.  Also read in the same page, Rev. Stadling's account of religious persecution in Sweden.
           July 2, President Garfield  was assassinated.  President Garfield died on September19th.
           In this year, or a few years prior, Horatio Gates Spafford lost his four daughters during an ocean voyage tragedy in 1873, and prompted him to write the words to “It is well with my soul”.  Music by Philip P. Bliss.  Click here to hear the hymn and read its complete history.
           Los Angeles is 102 years old with over 20,000 population.
          Astoria is the oldest town in Oregon.
          Portland had a population of 26,000.
          Salem had a population of 4,000.
          Oregon had a population of 160,000.               

1882-- Panoramic View of the City of Portland looking East.  Place mouse pointer over thumbnail picture and click the mouse button to see a full size Panoramic View.  It is a large file so please be patient.  

1883--April 15,  The First Scandinavian Baptist Church held meetings in its own building at S.W. Sixth and Caruthers.
           May 25, the Brooklyn Bridge Opened
           October 17, Rev. Gustof Liljeroth baptized John Palmblad and two others in Johnson Creek at Gresham.  This was the first baptismal service for our church. 
           Mrs. Liljeroth conducted the Sunday School.  Click here to read an account of the history of the Temple Baptist Sunday School.
           June 3, a Scandinavian Baptist church was formed in Seattle, the first on the west coast.

1884--January 1, First Scandinavian Baptist Church of Portland (now known as Temple Baptist Church) was organized by Gustaf Liljeroth.    Click here to see minutes of the meeting.
           United States Electric Lighting and Power Company was hired to establish electric service in Portland.
           The Union Pacific Railroad gains access to Portland.
           Dr. Edgren's Theological Seminary (Bethel Seminary) moved to St. Paul under the name "The Swedish American Bible Seminary," beginning a four year period of independent existence.
           Note: From the records of Harley Hallgren  Hard times came in 1884.  Railroad financial collapse resulted in much unemployment.  Work on the Portland Hotel stopped.  Some of the church members moved out of town onto farms, some went back east; P.A. Johnson went to Chicago and Mr. and Mrs. Rose went to Michigan.

1885--October 1, Nicholas Hayland, first graduate of Bethel Seminary, became pastor.
           May, Rev. Liljeroth went to Oakland, California where he organized a Scandinavian Baptist Church.
           November 2, Jack Dempsey fought David Campbell; Campbell lost.  He became one of Portland's greatest Fire Chiefs.
           J. P. Rasmussen founded a retail and wholesale paint business at Washington between First and Second.
           Recorded names of people at church services in this year; PH Carlson, Lydia Lindblom, Hanna _______?, Anna Moe, Annna? Pearson, Mary Moe, Ellen Nelson, Andrew Olsam, Axel Loaderholm, David Hagg, ______ Stenstrom, Rev. Hayland, Mrs. Hayland, 3 children, Anna Youngstrom, Bernard ________?.  Pastor Hayland preached to South Portland Catholics and Jews.

1886--February, "The Swedish American Bible Seminary" moved to Stromsburg, Nebraska, remaining for two years as "The Central Bible Seminary."
           June 23, Women's Sewing Society was formed. Read a historical account and see a picture of this group taken in the early 20's by clicking on the Women's Sewing Society Link.  Read the Constitution of the Sewing Bee in Swedish and also translated to English.  Also see Harley's Notes.
           July 3, Nicholas Hayland was reelected preacher, unanimously, "received all the votes of those present,-eleven in number."
           October 28, The Statue of Liberty was completed.  Click here to see Statue of Liberty website.  "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled massed yearning to breath free.  The wrecked refuse of your teeming shore,  send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" by Emma Lazarus 
    The first lighthouse to use electricity was the Statue of Liberty. (snapple.com)

1887--August 1, a new building, The First Swedish Church of Portland on N.W. 12th near Glisan was erected and dedicated.
           August 27,  First Baptismal Service held in the 12th Street Church with Pastor Hayland baptizing Miss Anna Ljungstrom (sister of Mrs. Hayland), Miss Anna Person and Mr. David Hagg.
           First bridge across the Willamette River is open for traffic at Morrison Street.
           A cable car line is begun to the heights in the west part of the city.
           The Armory is erected this year.
           Southern Pacific Railroad completes construction and opens service from San Francisco to Portland.
           Albina and Sellwood incorporated.
           Due to failing health J. A. Edgren terminated his work as dean of "The Central Bible Seminary."
           Baron Gustaf Cederstrom painted the famous Swedish painting, "The Baptists."  To see an image in color of the painting and read about how the work came to canvas Click Here.

1888--January, the Willamette River froze.  People walked on ice for three months.
          August 25th, the trustees of the First Scandinavian Baptist Church of Portland decided to sell the property on Caruthers Street to John P. Nelson.
           September 29, A Young People's Society was organized with a membership of seventeen.  L. Larson was the first president.
           Electric Interurban Railway is completed to Vancouver.
           First Portland Rose Show is held.
           Bethel Seminary returns to Morgan Park, Chicago, again as a separate Swedish department of the Baptist Union Theological Seminary with Eric Sandell as acting dean
           Johanna Anderson, St. Cloud, Minnesota, the first Swedish Baptist foreign missionary sailed for Burma.
           George Eastman Patents the Camera

1889--Canadian Pacific Railway establishes a line of steamers between this city and China.
           Fulton Park street car line started-the first electric trolley line.
           The Portland Hotel is completed.
           Carl Gustaf Lagergren came to America and began his service of 33 years as dean of  the Theological Seminary.
           November 11, Washington is admitted to the Union, becoming the 42nd State.
           December 28, The Swedish Baptist Conference of the North Pacific Coast was organized.  It later became the Columbia Conference in 1930.
           Uno M. Brauer became senior pastor

1890--February 28, The Cedarhome Baptist Church in Stanwood, Washington was organized.
           The city's cable car line began service to the Portland Heights.
           August Erickson opens the Nine Bar Saloon at Burnside Street between Second and Third Avenues.
           Taxi (hack) rates, for immediate use, one person, not over one mile=50 cents.
           Population of City of Portland 72,357.
           U.S. National Bank was organized.
           Eiffel Tower in Paris was completed.
           The Columbia paddle wheeler Bailey Gatzert, the first overnight passenger vessel on the river, was built.  Both the fastest-at more than 20 miles per hour-and the most elegantly appointed, she sets the standard for passenger sternwheelers to come.

1891--Uno N Brauer was pastor
           Rev. August Westerberg was pastor.
           Madison Bridge opened.
           June, East Portland and Albina consolidated with Portland.
           A machine invented this year made mass production of the Fig Newton possible.
          

1892--January 1, the immigration station opens at Ellis Island.  Click here to view the Ellis Island website.
           May, the church voted to withdraw from North Pacific Coast (Columbia) Conference.
           October 26, Westminster Presbyterian Church organized.
           First Baptist Church-(White Temple) on S.W. 12th and Taylor has cornerstone laid for new building.

     1893--Rev. John Olander was pastor
           E. Hjalmer East felt the call of God to go the Foreign Field.
           Union Station is an improvement of this year.
           Portland had high water - had to make platforms at Henderson's to walk on.

1894--The name "First Scandinavian Baptist Church of Portland" was changed to "The First Swedish Baptist Church."
           Rev. David Oberg was Pastor 
           June 6, The Willamette River crested at 33 feet, causing the worst flood in Portland's history.
           First Burnside Bridge opened.
           First Congregational Church building completed at Park and Madison.
           White Temple was erected at S.W.12th and Taylor and now known as The First Baptist Church of Portland.
           See Tax Lot information on Caruthers Street Church.

1895--June, the conference name was changed to the Swedish Baptist Conference.
          July 4, America the Beautiful was first published in The Congregationalist.  The poem was written by Katharine Lee Bates.
           Present City Hall completed.  The first steel frame, fireproof structure in the city.
           Astoria's railroad work started.  An Andrew B. Hammond enterprise.

1896--Sylvester Pennager, Mayor of Portland
           May 22, Alfred D. Nobel died, leaving a fund of over eight million dollars.

1897--Rev. Charles Asplund was Pastor

1898--a separate conference in Oregon was established. The conference name was then the Oregon Swedish Conference.
          William McKinley was the 25th president of the United States   
          The Mission Circle was organized to promote interest in home and foreign missions.
          Sellwood annexed to Portland.
          Astoria's railroad completed.
          The Spanish American War.
          February 15, Battleship Maine explodes in Havana's harbor, with crew of 266 killed.
          March 12, Battleship Oregon leaves San Francisco, around the tip of South America for Florida.
          April 25, United States declares war on Spain.
          May 22, Battleship Oregon arrives off Florida.  Click Here to see website for Battleship Oregon. 

1899--Rev. G. A. Osbrink became the first Oregon Conference Missionary.
           E. Henry Wemme owns the first and only automobile in Portland.
           The music to "Finlandia" was written by Jean Sibelius and was used for the music to several hymns including, "Be Still My Soul".  See 1752

1900--population 90,426.
           February 14, Pastor Nicholas Hayland, our 2nd pastor and 1st graduate of John Edgren's Theological Seminary, (Bethel) passed away, in Tacoma, Washington.

1901--August 29,  Olaus Okerson, died in McMinnville, Oregon.
           The first Nobel prize was given.
              

1902--Rev. Hohn Huggert was pastor.
           Rev. Gustaf Johnson succeeds Rev. Osbrink as missionary.
           The Oregon Journal newspaper started in Portland.
           May 22, President Theodore Roosevelt designated Crater Lake a National Park.

1903--June 16, Henry Ford set up his car manufacturing Company
           July 31, An armless swimmer (Professor Clarence Lutz) swam across the Willamette River near the Morrison Bridge.  People were lined up on the Morrison Bridge to watch him when the part of the bridge gave way and tumbled people onto the boat houses below. There were many injuries and 3 died.
             

1904-- September 26, Axel Anderson and Carl V. Anderson were baptized.
           The first New Year's Eve celebration is held in Times Square, then known as Longacre Square, in New York, New York

1905--April 12, the 12th avenue church property was sold.  Services were held in The German Methodist church from April to September.
           May 30, Oaks Park opened.
           June 1, President Theodore Roosevelt sent a telegraph from Washington declaring the Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition open.  Portland hosted the Lewis & Clark Exposition which ran for 137 days and was held at Guilds Lake.  Two million people saw the exhibits.  See picture of the original Forestry Building.  See the year 1964
           September 17,  a new building, The First Swedish Baptist Church at N.W. Fifteenth and Hoyt was dedicated.
           "Be Thou My Vision", the words written in Ancient Irish, were translated to English by Mary Elizabeth Byrne.
            "His Eye is on the Sparrow", the words written by Civilla D. Martin.
            "In the Sweet By and By", the words and music written by Charles D. Tindley.   

1906--April 18, huge earthquake at San Francisco.
           Rev. Eric Scherstrom was pastor.
           Rev. Carl Axel Boberg succeeds Rev. Gustaf Johnson as Oregon Missionary.
           Mr. and Mrs. Lundberg were the custodians at the 15th and Hoyt church.

1907--The first Rose Festival.  
            A.G. Sandblom  came to the west coast as a missionary and continued until September, 1912.
           May 30,  See the Announcement for the Yearly Banquet of the Sunday School 
           June 5, The Church at Warren was organized.
           June 22, Barney Oldfield broke the world's circular track record at Irvington Park.  He was the world's greatest automobile racing driver at the time.
           Rev. A. G. Sandblom succeeds Rev. Boberg as Oregon Missionary.

1908--January 26, John A. Edgren, founder of the Theological Seminary and the denominational press, passed away in Oakland, California.
           Spokane Portland and Seattle Railroad completed to Portland.
           July 4, See Photo of Young People's Picnic.
          October 1, Ford Motor Company unveiled the Model T.
       
1909--August 19, Powell Valley (Haley) church was organized.

1910-- the Sewing Circle and Mission Circle were combined.
            the population of Portland reaches 207,214.
            May 18, 19, 20, Halley's Comet arrived in skies over Portland; suppose to return in 1987.
            Philip Forsander left for Morgan Park Seminary, to become a Pastor and Naval Chaplain.
            In the spring, the blind evangelist, A J Freeman, and his daughter, Ester, held meetings which were used of God in the salvation of many souls.

1911--Rev. Fredric Linden was Pastor.
           The Hymn, "Rise Up O Men of God," was written by William P. Merrill.

1912--January 28, The church at Cherry Grove was organized
           Reed College opens at S.W. Eleventh and Jefferson.
           The Haley church was dedicated.  John Johnson was the first pastor from 1907-1920.
           September, Rev. August Olson succeeds Rev. Sandblom as Oregon Missionary.
           The Theological Seminary  which was a department of the Divinity School at The University of Chicago terminated its support of Bethel Seminary.
           A. J. Wingblade took over as director of Bethel Acadamy.
           April 15--the "unsinkable" ocean liner Titanic sinks on maiden voyage after colliding with an iceberg; over 1,500 drown.
           The first Swedish Baptist Church in Oregon was established in Cherry Grove.
           December,  Mr. and Mrs. John Milton went to Cherry Grove from Portland and bought a lot on First Avenue to build a hotel.  It was rushed to completion and ready for use in late January the following year.  

1913--Bill creating U.S. Federal Reserve System becomes law.
           Woodrow Wilson becomes 28th U.S. President.
           Henry Ford develops the first moving assembly line
           The hymn "The Old Rugged Cross" was composed by Rev. George Bennard 
           March 13, David Livingstone, missionary and explorer, was born in Scotland.

1914--Seventh Street on the West side renamed Broadway.
           The Library moves to S.W. Tenth and Yamhill.
           Bethel Seminary moved from Chicago, to a new building on Snelling Avenue Campus in St. Paul merging with Academy as "Bethel Academy and Theological Seminary," the beginning of a school work owned and operated by the Baptist General Conference.  G. Arvid Hagstrom was elected president of the combined two schools.
           March 2, Captain G. W. Schroeder, in a sense the first Swedish Baptist, died in Brooklyn, New York.  He was nearly 93 years of age.
           The world's first red and green traffic lights are installed in Cleveland, Ohio.
           August 15--The Panama Canal is officially opened after 10 years of construction.  SS ANCON, was the first ship to use  Panama Canal.
           June 28, The First World War started with the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand the Inspector of the Austro-Hungarian Army, and his wife, Sophie von Chotkovato during a parade in Sarajevo.

1915--Emanuel Hospital builds first building on Stanton Street.
               Boston Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies (4-1) in the World Series
               May 7--British ocean liner Lusitania sunk by German submarine, 1,195 perish.

1916--January 1, read the Församlings Posten (Assembly News).  Our church news letter - written in Swedish.
           Rev. Axel Tjernlund served as Interim Pastor.
           Rev. Gideon Sjolander was Pastor.
          A dedication of the opening of the Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway was held at Multnomah Falls.  See Web Site.

1917--April 2, President Woodrow Wilson appeared before The Congress of the United States and asked them to declare war on Germany.
          April 6,--The United States entered the First World War.  Woodrow Wilson was President.
          The Interstate Bridge to Vancouver is opened.
          Shipbuilding increases 35%.
          July 30, The Steel Bridge burned.  It was 3 years old.
          As roads and railways replaced the rivers as the major means of transportation, the last overnight passenger sternwheeler operating on the Columbia is removed from service.

1918--Four immense steel plants are now building ships.  See Web page about the Portland Shipyards.
           November 7, Billy Graham was born on a farm in North Carolina.  A saying he is noted for is, "The Bible says........"
           February 12, Eric Sandell, teacher at Bethel Theological Seminary for 22 years, passed away.
           November 11, at 11:00 PM, (11-11-11) The First World War ended.  The Armistice was signed in the "Forest of Compiegne," in France.  Also see this  World War 1 Website.

1919--January, the church celebrated its 35th anniversary.
           The Young People's Society suggested that the church start a building fund. This matter was later taken up.  To see excerpts from the Business Meeting minutes for February 4, 1919,  Click Here

1920--January, the Oregon Conference was held at this church and a large number of delegates made a trip to Warren, Oregon, to dedicate the church there.
           July, Pastor Sjolander visits Sweden.
           Rev. Emanuel Bjorkquist becomes Interim Pastor. 
           July, Pastor Axel Tjernlund went to be with the Lord.
           August 3, Pastor Sjolander was granted 9 months leave of absence to visit Sweden.
           October 31, the Deacon Board arranged a meeting to honor John Palmblad on his eightieth birthday.  Mr. Palmblad gave the church of $50.00 for the new church lot that the church expected to buy. Reported by O.S. Rydman on November 20.
           Rev. Emanuel Bjorkquist succeeds Rev. Sandblom as Oregon Missionary.
           Population of Portland reached 258,288.
           Bethel Seminary's name became "Bethel Institute."
           See a photo of the church choir.

1921--January, the church began to have a service once a month in English, for the benefit of those not understanding Swedish.  Gradually the shift to English services became a reality as the church's responsibility to minister to the neighborhood as well as the Swedish population was recognized.
           November 15, the church voted to purchase property at the east end of the Broadway Bridge near Interstate Ave on Larrabee Street.  Later the Interstate property was sold.

1922--March 25, KGW opens the first radio broadcasting station and makes its first broadcast on this date.
               See photo of Pastor Sjolander's Bible Class

1923--June, The Young People's Society celebrated their 35th anniversary.  The church was then called "First Swedish Baptist Church."  See a photo taken on the front steps of the the church at SW 15th and Hoyt Streets.
           See a photo of "The Cheerful Helpers" Sunday School Class. 
           See a photo of  Sunday School Picnic, probably held on July 4th.
           See a photo of Men's "Berea" Sunday School Class.
           Thomas O. Chisholm wrote, "Great is Thy Faithfulness"  Return to 1866
           A.H. Johnson became the Missionary of Washington Swedish Baptist Conference
          July 23, President Harding drove the "Golden Spike" to signal the completion of the Fairbanks to Seward Alaska railroad.
 
1924--January 15, Pastor Sjolander resigns to accept a call to become the General Conference Missionary.
           Rev.  J. Alfred Erickson became Pastor.

1925--May 25, The Baraca Sunday School Class held their second annual banquet at Henry Thiele's Restaurant. See the menu and program.
          See notes from annual meeting concerning the new church at N.E. 7th and Clackamas by clicking here.
          November 26, Margaret Brunander was baptized.

1926--January, property at Seventh and Clackamas was purchased.  Click the link to read about the history of the city block the church building sits on.
           March 6, The Building Committee recommended hiring a competent Architect to draw up plans for a new Church Building.
           April 27, The Architect Walter Kelly presented plans for a building that would cost $50,000.  The plans were adopted.
           September 1, Walter Kelly presented a sketch of the new church building.
           September19, ground breaking took place for the new building.
           Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother Founded (The Grotto).
           October 4, See drawing of Front Elevation of new church building.

1927--March 6, Sunday afternoon, the cornerstone was set in place.
           June 5, last service in the old building on Hoyt Street.
           June 12, dedication of the new church building.    
                Click Here to see the Invitation to the Dedication Exercises.  
                Click Here to see the Program For Dedication.
           October 21, Friday evening, dedication of the pipe organ.  Pastor Erickson led in a dedication of the organ, followed by a recital performed by concert organist William Boone.  The organ was built by Teller-Kent Organ Company of Eric. Pennsylvania,  It had over 1100 electromagnets, with 25 miles of copper and silver wiring.  The organ contained 1,386 pipes, the largest pipe being 16 feet long.  The smallest pipe had openings the size of a led pencil.
           Charles Lindberg flew nonstop New York to Paris in the Spirit of St. Louis.
           The city's first municipal airport opened on Swan Island.
           To see photos and text of the new church building on NE 7th and Clackamas, Click Here.
           August 10,  work started on the carving of Mt. Rushmore.

1928---May 26, Jantzen Beach on Hayden Island, opens with four swimming pools, The Big Dipper roller-coaster, Fun House, the Skooter, Merry Mixup, Merry-go-Round, the Promenade and The Golden Canopy Ballroom.
           June 18th, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic.

1929--March 24, Palm Sunday--See a Bulletin from the Sunday Service at the White Temple (First Baptist Church)  Also see a lesson card from the White Temple Sunday School curriculum, dated 1915.
           June 26-30, Swedish Baptist Temple was host the first time to the Swedish Baptist General Conference.  The Conference was celebrating their 50th year at Temple.  Click Here to view a copy of the conference program.  (Most of it is written in Swedish)
           October 24, Black Thursday, the start of The Great Depression
           See the schedule for 1929 of Offices and Societies for the church

1930--the Oregon Swedish Baptist Conference merged with the Washington Conference to form the Columbia Baptist Conference.
           Rev. A. H. Johnson remained as Conference Missionary until 1935.
           Population of Portland now 301,815.

1931--January 1, Due to hard times, the church stopped paying a salary to all workers and Rev. Erickson agreed to deduct $40.00 per month from salary for 5 months.
           Construction of the St Johns Bridge was completed on May 15, 1931, and the bridge was opened to traffic on June 13, 1931.  Click here for Website and Info of Portland's bridges   
           Gertrude Gustafson was Temple's church historian.
           May 30, Swedish Baptist Temple held a Conference Concert 8:00 PM on Saturday.  Click here to view the copy of the original program.
      

1932--The Great Depression worsened.  Church was in danger of repossession.
           Rev. Fredrik Linden was Interim Pastor.
           November, Franklin Delano Roosevelt elected President of the United States.
          John P. Clum, Indian Agent died in Los Angeles.  See the website from The San Dimas Historical Society about this great hero of "The Old West."

1933--Rev. Carl A. Olsson was the Pastor
           Refinancing of the church took place.
           The younger people wanted more English in the church services.  A vote was taken and members decided to hold on to the use of Swedish rather than adopting the wholesale usage of English in the church services.  One reason may have been the feeling that Swedish was more worshipful than English, and that the preaching should be understandable to the Swedish majority membership.  This caused part of the congregation to leave the church.  Gradually later in the1930's the language switched exclusively to English in the services.
           Radio services on KOIN were begun-"The Scandinavian Half Hour."
           Baptismal service at Temple on New Years Eve - Mr. & Mrs. Percy Seymour, Marjorie Rydman, Eileen Johnson,  Mrs. Carl Ostrom and Mrs. Haroldson were baptized.
           The U.S. Courthouse at Main and Broadway completed.

1934--The Golden Jubilee of Swedish Baptist Temple.  The honor of being the only living charter member of the Swedish Baptist Temple at East Seventh and Clackamas Streets, Portland, was bestowed upon our Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, Mrs. Augusta Palmblad, when the church celebrated its Golden Jubilee-January 1st to 7th, 1934.  Click Here to see notes written at a Palmblad clan meeting August 19, 1934.  (Taken from notes compiled by Harley Hallgren.)
          February 4, Baptized at Temple - Betty Hallgren, Margaret Anderson, David Carlson, Astrid Johnson, Delores Wickman.
          Read a copy of the 1934 Annual Sunday School Report originally written by Helen Tjernlund, SS Superintendent.
          The panorama photograph shown below was taken of the congregation on January 7, 1934 in front of the church as part of the Golden Jubilee celebration. 

1935--Rev. Ole Larson succeeds Rev. A. G. Johnson as Columbia Missionary.
           June 7, See pictures of the Baptist Sunday School Rose Festival Float in the parade.

1936--Rev. C. A. Aldeen was Interim Pastor.
           December 1,--First time the minutes of Business Meetings were written in English.

1937--June 13, Temple celebrated its 10th Anniversary in the building on NE 7th and Clackamas.  See the Anniversary Program.
           Rev. V. E. Hedberg became Pastor.  He was the first American born Pastor in the churches history.
           September 5,    Ned Holmgren to Bethel Seminary.  He was a pastor at various churches till 1973.
           September 30, Charles Surdstrom ordained to Gospel Ministry.
           Trackless trolleys were introduced in Portland.
           
1938--January 1, Ned Holmgren licensed to preach.
           Bonneville Dam completed. 40 miles East of Portland
           July 1, Our former pastor, Rev. John Alfred Erickson went to be with the Lord.
           The Second World War started.
           Congress passed a bill that each November 11, shall be dedicated to the cause of world peace and hereafter celebrated and known as Armistice Day.
           November 11, Kate Smith introduced the revised, "God Bless America," written by Irving Berlin, from her radio broadcast, "The Kate Smith Hour." 
           Dr. M. R.De Haan started the Detroit Bible Class  from a small radio station in eastern Michigan.  In 1956 they started producing the daily devotional, "Our Daily Bread".

1939--September, Pastor Linus and Mrs. Johnson arrived with their children Earl and Marion.  Two other children were Beulah and George.  Beulah was in training at Midway Hospital, St Paul, and George was at Bethel Junior College.  Dr. Johnson came from Temple Baptist Church in Duluth, Minnesota.
           August 25, the church held a farewell reception for Pastor Victor Hedberg.
           September 1?, the church held a welcoming reception for Linus Johnson.
           October 30, the church honored the Rev. and Mrs. Emanuel Bjorkquist and Mr. and Mrs. Gustav Hallgren in a joint celebration of their Golden Wedding anniversaries.
           Miss Helen Carlson started at Multnomah School of the Bible as a student.  Later became instructor.
           President Franklin Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving from the last Thursday to the third Thursday in November, to extend the Christmas shopping season.
           John MacArthur was born this year.  View his website with all kinds of Biblical information.

1940--October 4, the choir recommends Helen Tjernlund as choir leader.
           The Baptist General Conference publication, "The Standard" was first published.

1941--February 7, it was decided to use the name "Temple Baptist Church" in all publicity.
           Miss Henrietta Carlson started at Bethel Seminary.  Later married Mr. Clifford Gustafson.
           December 7, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
           December 8, United States and Britain declare war on Japan.
           December 11, Germany declares war on the United States.
           Click Here to see the Honor Roll of names of people from our church who were in WW II.
           Congress permanently fixed the date of Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday of November.

1942--January 26, First American forces arrive in Great Britain.
           May 8, The honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on Pastor Linus Johnson at the commencement exercise of Western Baptist Theological Seminary held at Temple.
           May 22, the church debt paid.
           June, mortgage due
           July 12, Sunday, the burning of the mortgage.  Click here to read an account by Harley Hallgren of the last days of the mortgage.
           October 23, name changed from "Swedish Baptist Temple" to "Temple Baptist Church."
           All services at Temple are now spoken in English.

1943--February, See picture of group from Temple visiting Multnomah County Poor Farm as they did from time to time.   Edgefield Manor, as the facility is known today was built in 1911, served as the county poor farm where it was run as a self sufficient operation by the residents who worked in various forms of employment on the grounds.
           Miss Lois Sorley was called from Wisconsin to assist Pastor Johnson in visitation work     
           Sunday School for war worker's children was established in the St. John's area.
           June 27, The Clatskanie Church was organized.
           September 19, Bethel Baptist Church in St. Johns was organized

1944--February 19,--Click Here to read letter from Mrs. Bjorkquist to Harley Hallgren.
           Columbia Conference accepted responsibility for the Sunday School in St. John's. Henrietta Carlson, (Mrs. Clifford Gustafson), was licensed for the ministry and sent to be the first leader-pastor of this work.  This Sunday School was soon to become Bethel Baptist Church.
            October 10, Methodist Deaconess Home located near N.E. 25th and Flanders was purchased and  organized and became the Oregon Baptist Retirement Home.
            See photo of Temple Baptist Church Congregation on front steps.
            At Chicago's Orchestra Hall, Billy Graham, a little-known suburban pastor led the first rally of Youth for Christ.

1945--January 1, Temple had their 61st anniversary dinner.  See List of 40 year and older members.
            February, Rev. William Tapper, Director of Young People and Sunday School work in the General Conference was with us and held fine spiritual meetings.
           April, In the latter part, Rev. Victor Larson, a great powerful preacher, from Elim Church in Seattle spent "Four Great Days" with us.
           May, The Methodist Deaconess Home (which became The Oregon Baptist Retirement Home) was purchased.
            May and June, Bernie Wennermark was Junior Rose Festival Prime Minister.
           June 11-22, Daily Vacation Bible School was held under the supervision of Miss Lois Sorley.
           July 1, work was started on remodeling of the Oregon Retirement home.
           July 4, The church had its annual picnic at Peninsula Park.
           July, Dr. Arthur I. Brown, physician, radio minister and scientist was with us.
           July 11-15, Eugene Johnson, Lloyd Nordstron and Harold Carlson three young men from Bethel Seminary, gave inspiring talks, colored chalk drawings, and vocal selections.
           August 5-12, Faith Bible Camp was held