"Swami Devatmananda said [in 1934] we must try to buy a place of our own, and after a picnic day in Laurelhurst Park a meeting was set for this purpose, and at this meeting our President said we would look into this matter. We tried for one of the old houses on S.W. Park Avenue, but found the price too high for us. Then we secured a very nice and substantial house on N.W. Northrup and 25th Avenue.

"The company who had this place for sale appointed a saleslady to deal with us. At the age of four she had met the great Swami Vivekananda in her Mother's home back east, where Swami was being entertained, and she remembered that he had patted her on the head. The price for this place was $3,500. For some time we made monthly payments, and then we were to raise $200 and secure the deed, giving a mortgage for the balance.

"When I came to the meeting the day before we were to make the payment, I told Swami that we lacked about $34, but he did not seem disturbed. But I was surely disturbed. Everybody had done what he could. As we were sitting for meditation that evening, the front door flew open with a force, and I remembered something from my childhood, and I said 'Come in.' A beautiful form of the Divine Mother came in and walked up the aisle past where I was sitting and stood at Swami's right; and I knew that all was well.

"After the close of the evening, we had the full $200 to make the payment next day. One member, whose work had been scarce, and who had already contributed, came and said, 'I will bring $10 to you at your office tomorrow, even if I starve.' She came, and it was hard for me to take that $10, but I prayed to our Master to help her find work. I watched and saw her work increasing, and to this day she has never lacked for work."

In 1943, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the advent of the Vedanta Movement in America, the Society acquired a house at 1877 S.W. Park Avenue. Subsequently the Society moved from 1206 N.W. 25th Avenue to this site on June 30, 1943. Henceforth all the activities of the Society, including Sunday services, were held at the new home of the Society. In the same year, on October 6, 7, and 8, a special worship of the Divine Mother was performed. During this time Swami Ashokananda of San Francisco, Swami Vishwananda of Chicago, and Swami Vividishananda of Seattle were present in addition to Swami Devatmananda. On the evening of October 8, the dedication of the Chapel in the new home of the Society was conducted. The following day, Saturday, October 9 the foundation stone for the future Temple at the Retreat was laid.

To commemorate the Silver Jubilee Celebration of the founding of the Portland Centre, the bronze life-size sculpture of Swami Vivekananda was dedicated at the Society on November 11, 1951. It was designed and executed by Miss Malvina Hoffrnan of New York, who had met Swami Vivekananda when she was a girl. The bronze was cast at a foundry in New York.

On the occasion of the 100th birthday of the Holy Mother, the construction work of the New Temple at the Retreat began in 1953. Subsequently the Temple was dedicated on August 1, 1954 in the presence of Swami Prabhavananda of Hollywood, Swami Pavitrananda of New York, and Swami Devatmananda. Exterior and interior of the outer walls of this octagonal edifice are done in knotty pine, topped by a gold dome. The sacred word 'OM' is above the entrance. Altar decorations included a bronze head of Sri Ramakrishna (also by Malvina Hoffman) and photographs of Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda. A social hall is in the basement. Seating is provided for 200 persons in the Chapel. This is the first Hindu Temple of its kind in the Northwest.¹⁴