First Psahn^inging Congregation in West Half of
America. Of the congregations forming tKe union in 1852, but one has had continuous existence to the present time. This is "Willamette Congregation," located at Oakville, six miles to the south-east of Corvallis. This congregation was oiganifld in July, 1850—^the first congregation of Psalm•tnglng people in the western half of the United States.
Firat U»F.Chureh in N<nih America, Vnder the auspices of the new denomination a conssregation was or* ganized in Albany, Oregon, October 10, 1 85 3, which is still in existence, and it bears the distinction of being the first congregation organized in North America under the name of *tJnited Presbyterian/ The mother churches in the East had been anxiously watching this movement, and at the first meeting of the synods to which the congregations belonged, their action in concludini'; the union was approved. In fact the two small organizations m the West had, through force of circumstances, accomplished something that the mother churches had very much desired for many years; and no douljt elided in bringing about the union between them six years later at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The new church in the East was known as The United Presbyterian Church of North Anienca," and it set forth a declaration of principles strikingly similar to those previously adopted by the church in Oregon. Steps were taken immediately to Ijring, into the organization the little band in Oregon that had blazed the way to uh. hi ind at a meeting of the Oregon Church, held at Kendalls' Bridge, Linn County, on May 5, 1859, they became a part of the United Presbyterian Church of North America. *
R('9iilts of the Con^olidatiori. The formation of thf United Presbyterian Chtirch in Oregon is an instance where the members of two church families, holding practically the same doctrine, and being almost altogether cut off by dis ■
