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The Rt. Rev. Benjamin Wistar Morris |
As the lumber economy developed, many new communities, small at first and located along the shoreline, emerged. However, once the local lumber resource was exhausted, many lumber camps and mill towns disappeared. The church started missions in many such communities–before their survival became assured. Episcopal congregations survived where a managerial class established itself. This class was attracted by middle-class oriented churches. Episcopal congre-gations sustained a calm, rational style that appealed to community leaders. Bishop Morris made a point of expressing suspicion of overly emotional evangelism.
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Three views of The Rev. Reuben Denton Nevius. Middle: Nevius with banker William West of Centralia |
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Nevius started in 1872 as rector of Trinity, Portland, where he found the congregation building a new church. Federal Judge Matthew Deedy, domineering leader of Trinity, considered Nevius not suitable for Portland’s elite middle class. Bishop Morris persuaded Nevius to visit miners in Eastern Oregon, where he started a remarkable career as a missionary. Under his leadership 36 congregations sprouted in Eastern Oregon and Washington Territory.
Depression struck in 1873, slowing development of the Northern Pacific Railway, which chose Tacoma as its western terminus after a visit by Charles Wright, Philadelphia banker and railroad developer, who surveyed Tacoma with other executives.
