So little has been recorded regarding the history of the Oregon Christian Convention at Turner Oregon, that I fear much has been lost with the lives and memories of those who have gone before us...

So little has been recorded regarding the history of the Oregon Christian Convention at Turner

Oregon, that I fear much has been lost with the lives and memories of those who have gone before us. Even

while I was in the midst of researching for this paper, Elery Parrish who was president of the convention in

1944, and one of the people I intended to interview, passed away. The history of this convention is a very

large endeavor and I feel that I have only begun to scratch the surface of what could be done. There are many

more records and articles that could be researched but time constraints required me to make an ending and

offer what I have found. My hope is that someone else might be able to use what I have done as a base to

build upon in continuing to piece together this wonderful history of God's people gathered together.

It is generally accepted that the first state meeting of the Restoration Churches in Oregon was held in

1852 at the small town of McCoy. Glen O. Burnett is believed to have been the first president of this meeting,

calling "the disciples of the Valley to assemble for fellowship and worship."i (It Should be noted that later

research by Dr Jerry Rushford has uncovered the following regarding this first meeting, "On Friday,

September 3, 1852, the first annual meeting of Oregon Christians began at a site about seven miles east of

Albany in Linn County. John and Alfred Powell and the members of the Central Church were the hosts for this

ambitious effort..." Christians On The Oregon Trail, © 1997) From this beginning meetings were held in

different locations, at different times of the year, through 1877. The convention of 1877 which was held in

Dallas, Oregon. was seen as the last general state meeting. Many believed that a more effective format for

state evangelism was needed and would emerge. But such was not the case, and in 1885 the state-wide

camp meetings were revived at Turner, Oregon.ii (See Table A)

In 1878 a generous gift of 6 acres of land just outside of Turner was given to the Christian Association

of Marion County by Louis H. Turner, George H. Turner, and Cornelia Turner Davis. The gift was given in

memory of their parents, Henry L. and Judith A. Turner, prominent pioneers of that area. Mrs Turner had been

an active member of the Christian Church there. For the first 7 years a county convention of the Christian

churches was held on these grounds, and then in 1885 the decision was made to make these grounds the

site of the state convention. At that time ownership of the grounds was given to the Christian Missionary

Convention of Oregon.

David Truman Stanley, who attended this first convention at Turner is quoted as sayingthat the first

meeting was held in "an arbor covered with lumber and fur boughs." However, the following year Pioneer Hall

was built and became the main meeting hall for the convention until 1891.iii On Monday, September 21st

1891, Mr George H. Turner signed an agreement to build a large convention hall, or tabernacle, upon the

state convention grounds at Turner. The conditions of the agreement were that the tabernacle was to be usedfor the State Convention of the Disciples of Christ of Oregon, and that the convention would be located at

Turner for a period of no less than 99 years. The building was built by Mr. Turner in Memory of his parents,

and a newspaper article from 1891 describes the anticipated building as follows.

"The building is to be much more elaborate than was first indicated. It will be 100 by 150 feet, with

twenty foot wall, with substantial floor throughout. There will be two large towers on front end, surmounted by

globes, to represent the eastern and western hemispheres or "the whole world," to which the gospel is to be

preached. this idea is Mr. Turner's, and it is a happy thought. There will be large windows in each end, and

possibly one or two large ones on each side. The rostrum is to be two feet above the Tabernacle floor, and

will be about 16 by 34, on each side of which will be a room 10 by 24 for committee work. There will be also

two rooms in the front end of the building."

The article goes on to tell of the anticipated completion of the tabernacle for the state meetings in

June. The cost of the building was projected to be just under $5,000. Along with the building, Mr Turner also

donated another 10 acres of land bringing the total value of the gift to somewhere between 6 or 7 thousand

dollars.iv