unchod.html

History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon.
Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon

HISTORY OF UNION CHURCH OF ODELL
By Annie L. Shelley

There seems to be misunderstanding as to what the Union Church is. It is not an "Organization"; it is a building held in trust for Odell community. It has sometimes been idle, but never "abandoned," nor did it ever revert to the donors of the piece of land.
In the early years of this century, when a new school house was built to take the place of the one that had long served for church and school, the trustees objected to using the house for church. A year went by without meetings, then I was allowed to start Christian Endeavor in the house, and so there was an Endeavor and soon Sunday School. Then was begun the Union Church. Troy Shelley and Chas. Wyman, Seventh Day Adventist minister had canvassed the community. We were all poor, but we all helped. There was no division, and never any debt on the house.
Our first seats were rough boards. April of 1902 saw the first service. It had taken a long time. The pulpit was provided before the church was planned, being a personal gift to the Rev. Troy Shelley from Mrs. Barrett, as her father had made it for the Rev. Frederick Balch, and the church where he had been was sold to the Valley Church. Mr. Balch and Mr. Shelley had a revival in the old school house and the articles of agreement stipulated that "The Union Church shall be open to all religious sects based on faith in the Bible and the Lord Jesus" but "no outside meetings shall interfere with the regular services."
Sunday school and Christian Endeavor were always union services. Mr. Shelley whose passion was union of all Christians, always preached the first Sunday in each month, and the Lord's Supper was held. At one communion, members of 11 sects took the Supper together. There came to be a Sunday School of 100 and more, under the care of Milton D. Odell.
In 1911, the Methodists withdrew and built their church, and after many years and many pastors, in addition to Mr. Shelley's service after the war, the Sunday school yielded to competition and gradually fewer services were held. At one time the school roof having collapsed, the church was rented to the school and the rent was sent to the Near East Relief and to China Missions. So the building did its bit!
One boy of the old Sunday School is pastor at Junction City, another boy is missionary in India; so the old influence is felt.
The articles of agreement said: "Said building shall never be bought, sold, owned or controlled by any sect." In 1925 many Japanese sermons were preached in the church by the Rev Mr. Tateoka of Chicago University.
Three years ago, when Mr. Johnson, pastor of the Christian Church in town, passed by, he saw the church, idle - not abandoned - and asked the trustees the privilege of holding a revival there. A man of eloquence and magnetic personality, he was so successful that he resigned in town and established the present Christian organization now occupying the building. The deed Mrs. Young gave is a quit claim to their right of reversion though it has never gone back to them.
Now a fine cement basement, surmounted by a "reconstructed building" may make a church, It takes something more to make a Church of Christ. Says Paul: If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His, and this is just as true of a church. Is it not possible for the old spirit of fellowship to inhabit these walls again?
This church belongs to the people of Odell. It has cherished traditions. It means something in connection with Heaven. Shall it stand for strife and vain glory? Forbid it, Lord. All the voices of the ministers who have spoken from its pulpit, Methodist and Baptist, Presbyterian and Congregational, United Brethern and Episcopal, Adventist and Union and Christian, plead for the Divine Life.
In these days, as never before, we need old-fashioned religion.

But "unless the Lord build the house they labor in vain who build it." Ps 127

We have seen the changes
And the shadows fall.
O, shed Thy light upon us
Lord of All.