San Francisco County CA Archives History - Books .....Chapter 8 1900 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 31, 2005, 9:18 pm Book Title: History Of The First Pastorate Of The Howard Presbyterian Church VIII. I HAVE already mentioned that, among the activities of the church, co-operation with the American Home Missionary Society was prominent from the first. That society was then, and had been for many years, the agency through which the Congregational and the Presbyterian churches of the New School carried on their missionary work in the older, but especially in the newer, states and territories. It had its missionary in Oregon in 1848,— Rev. George H. Atkinson,—and two missionaries on their way to California before the discovery of gold was known. And when the news of that discovery was published, and brought suddenly an immense immigration, the society, through the ready generosity of the churches, was equal to the emergency, and planned to send missionaries to meet the demand, as it should be ascertained. Following the first two, came three more, and then the supply seemed to cease. At the same time the need of ministers became pressing, arid its urgency was made known in every possible way by those of us here. But the reply came that qualified men, who were willing to come, could not be found. Such men were wanted at home, and California was a great way off, — it was merely a mining country, with a rough, shifting, roving mass of people, and its future was most uncertain. The right kind of men, we were told, would not come. But at last news came in 1852 that the tide had turned, and that the urgency of the secretaries had prevailed, and six men, with their wives, had consented to come, and would make the journey together in a clipper ship around Cape Horn, and that they would arrive early in 1853 ! That made work enough, but it was delightful work. To have our little circle of ministers doubled at once, after such a period of hope deferred! But, then, there was no time to waste in congratulations. The little circles of Christians in the larger and more permanent towns, who had been asking for missionaries, were at once informed of the good news, that measures might be set on foot to prepare the way for the reception of a minister. This necessitated a great deal of travel and correspondence, and the co-operation of our churches and church officers. More especially did this work fall on me and on my church, as it had fallen upon me from the beginning to conduct the correspondence with the secretaries, and now I was asked by them to receive these brethren and help locate them to the best advantage, and also to receive the money from the society's treasury and use it in hastening the new brethren and their families to their fields. On the 23d of February, 1853, the looked-for ship arrived, with all on board in good health. Never was a group of families so welcomed to California. They tarried with us over Sabbath, and the brethren preached in nearly all the churches in the city. Before they left for their fields, a reception was given them in my house, and the pastors of churches in the city, with their wives, and many of our leading Christian people were invited to meet them. The occasion was one of great interest. It can hardly be understood in the changed conditions of to-day. Then, it was not easy to persuade qualified ministers to come to California. They were needed at home. The future of this state was uncertain. Its population was unsettled. Its industry was mining. Its resourses were undeveloped. Towns were of uncertain continuance, and the prospect of church-building and ministerial support was remote. And yet, under these circumstances, to meet and greet six educated, enterprising young ministers, with their wives, ready for service, — there was an enthusiasm about that occasion that made it memorable. It was not confined to our denomination, but was shared by others; for, in fact, Christian work was very much a common interest among us then, and the denominations had hardly come to be organized. But our own congregation entered into it heartily, and assisted in every way to make it a genuine welcome to those who had turned from home calls and home comforts, and had come so far to do their best to add new territory to the kingdom of our common Lord. Within a few days they were off to their several fields, and, I am sure, if they could then have foreseen what the state would come to be, as we now see it, they would have been thrice glad to invest their lives in its upbuilding. Our church was not unwilling that the pastor should bear the added responsibility of the Home Missionary agency for the time being, but with his pulpit, editorial, and pastoral work, it was far too much for him. In 1853 the debt which was incurred in 1851 for the completion of the church building, in consequence of the great May fire, was paid. Then, in response to a "call" from the church and society, who were now able to provide for my support, I was formally installed pastor by the Presbytery of San Francisco, Rev. Eli Corwin of San Jose preaching the sermon. This took place on April 28, 1854. Things were very prosperous, financially, in California, at this time. In the fall of that year it become necessary to lower our church building to the established street grade. This was a work requiring considerable time, necessitating the suspension of church services while it was going on. It was costly, as well, and it required no little effort to raise the money to pay the bill. It was done, however, in time, and the money was deposited in a certain bank for safe-keeping overnight. But before it was drawn the next morning, the bank suspended payment, and the money was lost! This was the forerunner of a series of bank failures and financial troubles that afflicted the city for a year or two. But when our house of worship was again ready for use, all our religious services were resumed, and an increased interest in them was manifest. A large number of new members joined the church, and its entire work in all departments moved on with new force. It was about this time that the news came from the East of the fitting out of United States warships to sail, under Commodore Perry, to seek acquaintance with Japan, that hermit nation that had for centuries declined intercourse with the rest of the world. The expedition was not welcomed on its arrival in Japan, but, in view of its numbers and strength, it was admitted, and the result was a treaty of amity and peace with the United States, signed in March, 1854. Situated here in California, as it were, a next-door neighbor to that hitherto unknown country, I made a study of its history and condition, so - far as I could, intending to prepare a course of lectures on it for the information of my congregation. But the difficulty was to get books. There were none here. In fact, at that time, there were not many anywhere. Japan had been so long shut up, and information concerning it had been so difficult to obtain, that not much was known about it. I sent to New York, while the expedition was on the way, and got such books as could be found there, and examined them thoroughly. Based upon this information, I wrote four lectures, and delivered them on four successive Sabbath afternoons. They were attended not only by my own congregation, but by citizens generally, as many as the church could hold. The main purpose of these lectures was, not only to convey information concerning Japan, but to point out the obligation that its "opening" would lay upon us, as a state, to be foremost in the missionary work there. And all the years since, with their wonderful occurrences, have only emphasized that obligation. 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 File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ca/sanfrancisco/history/1900/historyo/chapter869nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 8.6 Kb