San Francisco County CA Archives History - Books .....Chapter 3 1900
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Book Title: History Of The First Pastorate Of The Howard Presbyterian Church

CHAPTER III.

  FROM that time the construction of the church was pushed as rapidly as
possible toward completion. When the first tall timbers were set up on that hill
as a part of the frame, the mere sight of them kindled our enthusiasm, for then
the prospect of having a house of worship seemed assured. It was made more
substantial than any other building that, up to that time, had been erected in
the city.

  Every stick of timber used in its construction had been brought all the way
from Maine; for the manufacture of lumber on this Coast had hardly commenced at
that time. The interior was finished with plastered walls and ceiling.

  This was a novelty in San Francisco. All buildings before that had been lined
with cotton cloth.

  The work of construction went rapidly on | through the month of April.

  We all saw with high anticipations that we were nearing the time when we could
leave our rough little carpenter-shop and worship in our new church on the hill.

  In this state of mind we entered the month of May, 1851. On Saturday night,
the 3d, we had collected what was due on the subscriptions, and had paid off the
workmen. I had completed my preparation for the Sabbath, and at about ten
o'clock was making ready to retire, when a sharp ring of the fire-bell brought
us instantly to the window that looked out in the direction of the city, and,
sure enough, there was the blaze, seemingly in the neighborhood of the Plaza,
already leaping high in the darkness, and the fierce night-wind was blowing just
in the direction to carry the fire down through the entire business portion of
the city! As we stood looking, the flames rose higher and spread wider, and
swept on their fatal course. The heated air-currents, driven by the wind, caught
up blazing timbers, and we could see them hurled aloft, blazing and whirling in
the air. From where they were seen to fall, blocks in advance, in a moment new
columns of flame would leap up, only to hasten forward the work of destruction.

  We knew that there was no escape from so fierce a fire. Everything was
combustible, and as dry as tinder.

  If there were any appliances at all with which to resist fire, they were
useless now.

  If there were, possibly, one or two fire-engines, there was no water accessible.

  And so nearly the whole business portion of the city went down before the
flames that night. In the short space of ten hours eighteen entire squares were
utterly devastated.

  A few brick stores had been built, and with iron shutters were thought to be
fireproof. But, alas! the surrounding heat was so intense in this case, that
some who took refuge in them, when they could endure the heat no longer, and
tried to get out, found the iron shutters so swelled that they could not be opened!

  The loss by this fire was said by the "Annals of San Francisco," published in
1854, to be moderately estimated at from ten to twelve millions of dollars.

  On Sunday morning the city presented a pitiful spectacle. I made my way over
the sand-hills to see it. There lay the city, one vast black and still smoking
tract, with here and there crumbling chimneys or falling walls, and only three
or four brick buildings left standing.

  The young merchants who had been out all night trying to save something from
the flames were exhausted, and so blackened by smoke and ashes that it was hard
to recognize them. Many of the very best friends of our church were among the
heaviest sufferers.

  On Monday morning we had to face a problem of great difficulty. So many of the
subscribers to our building fund were utterly disabled financially, their stores
and goods consumed, and their business at an end, we could not think of
receiving anything more from them,—certainly not at that time.

  And yet there stood our half-finished church building; and where could we look
for the means to complete it?

  There was no church-building society in those days to look to in an emergency.

  To ask for new subscriptions then would have been absurd.

  At the same time, to stop the work would destroy confidence in our enterprise.
And confidence in religious undertakings was very easily destroyed in those
days, and yet nothing could be done without it. A half-finished church-building
shut up and abandoned would only illustrate anew the work of the class of people
who begin to build and are not able to finish.

  Besides, it would discourage our chapel congregation, many of whom were recent
comers, joining us only in anticipation of our soon entering the new church.

  And yet, disastrous as the consequences of the suspension of the work would
be, it must stop, unless at least four thousand dollars could be provided
wherewith to prepare the building for use.

  There was only one possible way to get this money, and that was to borrow it.

  There seemed to be a good prospect that if the building was soon finished,
there would be such an income from pew-rentals, which at that time could be made
pretty high, that the loan might be handled.

  But the rate of interest was, in those days, so very high that it almost
forbade the thought of borrowing.

  Inquiry was made, however, and a man was found who was willing to lend the
money, but only on personal security.

  When it came to that, two members of our Board of Trustees stepped forward and
offered to sign the note as security. That settled the question. The money was
obtained and the work went on.

  The fact that it was not hindered strengthened confidence in our enterprise
greatly. People coming into the neighborhood dropped in on Sunday to see what we
were like.

  Some young men were starting manufacing business in the vicinity. Messrs.
Egery and Hinckley were establishing the Pacific Foundry at the junction of
First and Minna streets. Mr. George K. Gluyas had charge of a machine-shop on
the beach, farther round, toward the foot of Rincon Hill.

  Neephus and Tichnor were building and operating some "ways" on the beach,
where Second Street reaches the bay, by which small sailing-craft could be drawn
up out of the water for repairs.

  These young men, and others in various branches of business, attended our
services of worship, and gradually became able supporters of the church.

  The city rose up from its ashes, as it were, in a day. The miners in the
mountains were sending down gold and calling for supplies.

  Supplies for immediate necessity were on storeships in the harbor, and other
cargoes would be arriving every few days. It was easy, as it was now the dry
season, to put up a frame of scantling and cover it with cotton cloth, and that
would serve as a store, and the goods could be shipped to fill the orders. And
so business started anew, and by the end of May it had adjusted itself tolerably
well to the new conditions.

  Meanwhile our church building approached completion. When June came, it was so
nearly done that we appointed Sabbath, the fifteenth day of that month, as the
dedication day.

  Then all the last things had to be attended to. In the first place, access to
the building had to be made as easy as possible.

  The building stood some thirty feet higher than the present grade of the
streets, but the ascent was gradual. Some young merchants laid a sidewalk from
Second Street along Natoma Street to the door. A small melodeon was obtained for
the choir.

  We were fortunate in finding one, for although quantities of the most absurdly
selected things were shipped to California in those days, musical instruments
useful in religious worship were not often among them.

  But the little instrument served a good purpose on that day, and till the
organ took its place, and then it did good service elsewhere, and is perhaps the
only thing now remaining that was used on that occasion.

  The dedication service was appointed to take place at two o'clock on Sabbath
afternoon, so that members of other congregations could attend without leaving
their own services.

  When the afternoon came, it was very pleasant to see the long line of people
coming to unite with us in the services of dedication. The most convenient way
to reach our valley then was by way of the Oriental Hotel, on the corner of
Market and Battery streets,— along First Street to Minna and up to Second
Street, and then up Natoma to the church.

  When the hour came, the church was full. Singers from other choirs were with
ours, and the pastors of the other churches were with me in the pulpit. They all
took part in the services with hearty good-will.

  I do not recall the names of any individuals in that audience except those of
Mr. and Mrs. Howard.

  Mr. Howard had given us the lot to build on, which was worth at least fifteen
hundred dollars, and a church bell which was the largest and finest then in use
in the city.

  I have written a great many sermons in my lifetime, but I have preserved but
very few. Among those remaining I find the one preached on this occasion. On
reviewing it now, after this long time, I find that it brings to mind very
vividly the moral and religious condition of the time when it was delivered.

  The first verse of the eighty-fourth Psalm was the text, — "How amiable are
thy tabernacles, 0 Lord of hosts,"—which was the expression of a feeling that
ruled in the hearts of many of us that day.

  The theme of the discourse was, "Churches and religious institutions the first
want of a new state."

  There was a sentiment abroad that they were not the first want, but that they
should be expected to grow up naturally, in a maturer state of society.

  This sentiment I tried with all my might to combat before that assembly of
young business men.

  I stated, what they all knew to be true, that many came to this new state only
to get rich speedily, and did not want any restraints.

  They had suffered and toiled to get here; they had lived a life but
half-civilized in order to reach this opportunity to better their fortunes; and
now they do not want to be much reminded of those rigid rules of morality that
would interfere with their getting what they came for. So, practices elsewhere
deemed doubtful are here regarded pardonable for the time being.

  Men formerly known as lovers of religious institutions here stand aloof. These
thoughts may not be expressed in words, but they have their influence.

  "Now, is there any reason in them? Why give evil the advantage of the
sowing-time in the life, and then when the tares cannot be plucked up without
ruining the wheat also, bewail the power of wickedness?

  "Why should the stream, which at its issue from the fountain can be easily
turned into the right channel, be allowed to flow in the wrong direction at
first, in the hope that farther on, when it has received tributaries, and has
become a torrent, some mighty effort may effect its control. . . .

  "This is the seed-time, the hopeful period. Now let "us preach and teach and
print the truth. Urge the sanctions of law, that forbids sin in the heart.

  "Arraign men at the bar of conscience.

  "Before hearts have grown hard, surround them with the wholesome influence of
the truth. Teach them where the value of money ceases. Show them the
transcendent value of clean hands and a pure heart. And, above all, let this
preaching be sustained by that most potent influence of all, — good example, —
and it will rarely prove in vain.

  "As a state, we are just beginning our life. Strictly speaking, we are not yet
a year old. We have not yet taken on a character before the world. We are now to
determine what that character shall be.

  "In what degree of respect are we to hold the Bible and the Sabbath, and the
institutions of religion?

  "For these, we well know, are at the foundation of civic virtue.

  "Don't put off the consideration of these matters to a later period. Build
churches where they are needed, and then worship in them.

  "Support a true and faithful ministry, and do business all the week, loyal to
the truth preached. . . .

  "We are here to-day to set apart this house which we have built to the service
of Almighty God.

  " For months it has been the scene of industry. Early and late we have labored
to make it at once substantial and commodious.

  " We have tried to construct it so that in neatness and convenience it might
be worthy of the high purpose to which we set it apart.

  " To-day we open it, and invite you all to join us in this joyful dedication
service.

  "Henceforth let this house be sacred to the purposes of divine worship.

  "Here let the Bible speak.

  "May the burdened heart here find relief. Here may the afflicted find
consolation, and may all find this house to be the gate of heaven."

  The singing of a hymn written for the occasion by Samuel Mathers of San Jose
closed the services.

  Two stanzas of the hymn were as follows : —

    "On Zion's hill, in ancient days,
        Jehovah's fane in glory stood,
     Where Israel oft convened to praise
        Their mighty Saviour, wise and good.

    "So let thy glory now appear,
        O God of truth, thy cause to bless;
     May thousands flock together here,
        And our Redeemer's name confess."

  The city papers, the next morning, gave full description of the occasion, and
said that the house marked the opening of a new era in the construction of
public buildings in the city, especially inasmuch as it was more substantial,
and was finished with plastered walls and ceiling, — a transition from the
traditional cloth and paper lining.

  The week went by, and I had prepared to meet my own congregation for the first
time by themselves in our new house of worship.

  We assembled, as usual, at eleven o'clock on Sabbath morning.

  The services opened with the invocation and the singing of the first hymn.

  I rose and commenced the reading of Scripture, when tap, tap, tap, rang out
the fire-alarm from the monumental engine bell, and almost before I could look
up, the congregation was disappearing with a rush from the doors, for the public
nerve in San Francisco had come to be keenly sensitive to the alarm of fire.

  Shutting the Bible, I followed them as fast as I could, and spent the rest of
the day in trying to help those who were working hard to save valuable things
from the flames.

  This fire started well up in the northwestern part of the city, and burned
over an area not touched by the preceding May fire. Though it was disastrous to
some other churches, it affected us but little.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST PASTORATE OF THE HOWARD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 
1850-1862

BY REV. SAMUEL H. WILLEY
THE FIRST PASTOR

SAN FRANCISCO: THE WHITAKER AND RAY COMPANY (INCORPORATED)
1900

COPYRIGHT, 1900
BY
SAMUEL H. WILLEY



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