USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego > City of San Diego and San Diego County : the birthplace of California, Volume I > Part 32
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The German M. E. Church was organized in 1887 and used its building at Sixteenth and I streets first on April 4. 1888, with the Rev. L. C. Pfaffinger as pastor. Later pastors include I. E. Schneider. F. A. Werth, Mr. Schroeder, Frederick Bonn and the Rev. Jacob Schneider, the present pastor.
In 1880 a Scandinavian M. E. Church was organized.
The First Free Methodist Church was organized in 1897 by the Rev. C. B. Ebey and wife, W. H. Tucker and wife. F. F. Allen and wife, Virginia M. Walters and Maggie A. Nickle. Previously meet- ings had been held at the Helping Hand Mission and in a tent at Eighth and G streets. In 1899 a church building was erected on the latter site, which was dedicated January 1. 1890, by the Rev. E. P.
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Hart, of Alameda. During this same year the building was moved to 145 West Beech Street, and a pastorage has been built adjoining the church. The Rev. W. G. Lopeman was the first pastor. Suc- ceeding him have been C. B. Ebey, James .Seals, E. G. Albright, John B. Roberts, J. Q. Murray and Rev. E. M. Robb the present pastor.
The Fairmount M. E. Church is at East San Diego. The Rev. Alfred Ore, 4059 Stockton Street, East San Diego, is pastor.
The Trinity M. E. Church is located at Thorn and Grim streets. The pastor is the Rev. D. W. Wilt. The church was organized No- vember 18, 1915.
The Inwood M. E. Church is located at 31st and L streets. The Rev. D. D. Campbell, 35 Oregon street, is the pastor.
The Taylor M. E. Church is situated on East Normal Street, near Campus Avenue. The pastor is the Rev. H. E. Mullen.
The Normal Heights M. E. Church is at Adams Avenue and 49th Street. The Rev. H. H. Weyant is pastor.
There have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South in San Diego since the days of Horton. The first service held by the local church seems to have been on November 26, 1882, by the Rev. John Wesley Allen, who had just arrived in San Diego. That service was held in Hubbell's Hall. Services were held later in the old Masonic Hall. In 1871 Bishop John C. Keener had purchased for the local society two lots on the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Broadway. On January 1, 1884, the cornerstone of a church building, which was called Keener Chapel, was laid. The church was dedicated on May 11, 1884. The church property on Broadway was later exchanged for a lot at the southeast corner of Eighth and C streets, and the chapel was moved there. In 1910 the church completed its beautiful new home at Fifth and Olive streets. It is known as the Park Place M. E. Church, South. Pastors of the church since its organization have been the following: The Revs. John Wesley Allen, R. Pratt, E. T. Hodges, James Healey, R. W. Bailey, J. F. C. Finley, James Healey (again), W. H. Dyer, A. C. Bane, R. W. Rowland, S. W. Walker, C. S. Perry, C. S. Mc- Causland, R. P. Howett, M. P. Sharborough, S. E. Allison, James E. Crutchfield, J. T. French, W. O. Waggener, C. C. Thompson, C. R. Gray, W. J. Sims and the incumbent, the Rev. G. C. Rector.
The Rev. W. H. Hillery organized the African M. E. Church in 1888. W. E. De Claybrook and Price Haywood succeeded him. Their place of worship is at 1645 Front Street. The present pastor is the Rev. Burgess R. Guy.
The Bethel African M. E. Church, Union Street near Market, has had George A. Bailey and W. M. Viney as pastors.
BAPTIST.
The First Baptist Church of San Diego, whose home is the great "White Temple" at Tenth and E streets, was formed June. 5, 1869. It is recorded that in May of that year Dr. Jacob Allen, a physician of the city, was present at a meeting when a union Sunday school was being discussed and that he determined then, if possible, to organize a Baptist church in the city, at that time hardly more than a village.
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In response to a call which he made, fourteen Baptists of San Diego met and formed an organization, electing the Rev. C. S. Weston moderator and E. W. S. Cole clerk. This formal action, taken on June 5, was followed by the formal steps by which the church came into being. The church members had little money for their work, but were assisted by the Home Mission Society, whose loan of $1,000 enabled the church to build its first home and to support its first ministers. The church was built on Seventh Street, near F, on a lot given by Mr. Horton, being completed in October, 1869. Mr. Horton also gave the congregation a church bell-the first one ever used in new San Diego. The Rev. Mr. Morse preached the first sermon in the new church on October 3. The first minister of the church was the Rev. B. S. McLafferty, who began his pastorate in 1869. He was followed in 1873 by the Rev. C. W. Gates. Other pastors in the order of their coming are: The Revs. Edwin C. Hamilton, W. H. Stenger, A. Chapman, E. P. Smith, W. F. Harper, A. E. Knapp, Walter B. Hinson, W. H. Geistweit (with the Rev. F. D. Finn as associate) and the present pastor, Frank O. Belden. The church in 1888 erected its second home, put up because it had outgrown the original building. Just twenty-five years later to a day the cornerstone of the second church was taken up and placed in the walls of the third church home, the "White Temple," one of the finest and most commodious churches of Southern California, with a magnificent auditorium. With the other churches of the city, the First Baptist did much work during the World war for the men in training in and about San Diego. The church itself had 137 stars on its service flag. The church now has more than 1,150 members and is in excellent financial condition.
The Swedish Baptist Church was organized in 1907. It has a comfortable building at 16th and E streets, and is active in its field. The Rev. E. H. Carlson is now acting pastor.
The Scott Memorial Church which is named in honor of Chaplain Winfield Scott, who, at the close of long life of great usefulness, began the work which later developed into this church, was organized in 1912. During Chaplain Scott's life a building was erected at 39th and Madison streets. This structure was removed in 1918 to Oregon and Monroe streets and enlarged and remodeled into a build- ing of the Mission type. The Rev. Floy T. Barkman, the Rev. C. J. Banks, the Rev. E. I'. Hall and the Rev. L. P. Valentine have been the pastors. The latter began his services in 1918, and under his ministry the work has grown fast. This church is in a section of the city that is served by no other church of any denomination.
The Ocean Beach church was organized in 1914 with a member- ship of twenty-eight and has grown about in proportion with the growth of that suburb. The church owns two lots at De Foe and Santa Monica streets, where a chapel was built at the time of the organization of the church. Plans are now completed for a new building of the Mission type, and a model of conveniences, to cost about $15,000. It is expected that construction work will begin soon. The Rev. Rolla Brown is the pastor.
The Baptists have maintained a mission and Sunday school in the vicinity of Date and Columbia streets for nearly twenty years and about fifteen years ago erected a building at that corner. For
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several years this building has been used principally in work among Spanish speaking people, and the work is now in charge of the Rev. Alexander Ojeda, a native of Mexico, who is assisted by a corps of workers from the American churches.
A work was also recently started among the Italians of the city, the Baptist state convention placing Frank P. Trotta, a native of Italy, upon the field.
Representatives from all the Baptist churches met in September, 1921, and organized a city mission society whose aim is to co-ordinate the work in all the missions now existing and to plant new missions in such fields of the city as seem to need such work.
The Logan Heights Baptist church, first called the Grand Avenue Baptist Church, was organized in 1908 in the field of a mission Sunday school which had been sustained for some time by the First Church. Pastors of this church have been the Rev. J. B. Fox, the Rev. Richard E. Day and the Rev. Webley J. Beaven, who has been with the church more than two years. Both church and Sunday school have shown steady growth.
Other Baptist organizations are Mount Zion Baptist Church, 3045 Greeley Avenue, the Rev. W. R. Burgess, pastor ; Olive Temple Baptist Church (colored), 1403 K Street, the Rev. W. A. Mitchell, pastor ; First Street Baptist Church (colored), the Rev. R. A. Jackson, pastor.
PRESBYTERIAN.
The First Presbyterian Church of San Diego was organized June 7, 1869, largely through the efforts of the Rev. Thomas Fraser, mis- sionary for the synod of the Pacific, and had thirteen members at the beginning. Elected as elders were the Rev. Charles Russell Clarke, David Lamb and Samuel Merrill, who, with Levi L. Locklin, a civil engineer, composed the board of trustees. For some time the church meetings were held at residences of the members. In 1870 the Rev. J. S. McDonald, who had preached in the East and who, coming to California, had organized two churches in the northern part of the state, in addition to serving as chaplain of the State Senate in 1867 and 1868, arrived in the city to be pastor of the church and entered vigorously into the religious work of San Diego. The church meetings at that time were being held in Horton's hall, Sixth and F streets, and the congregation had grown considerably. Visiting here at the time was J. W. Edwards of Marquette, Michigan, and he became convinced that the church ought to have its own building. "Father" Horton had given the church a site at Eighth and D streets, and Edwards volun- teered to give $500 toward a building fund. Calvary Presbyterian Church of San Francisco raised $300 for the fund, and plans were soon under way for the structure. It was raised-a small affair com- pared with modern churches of San Diego-and was dedicated June 18, 1871, as has been told in a previous chapter. The Rev. Mr. Mc- Donald served until 1872, when he was succeeded by the Rev. F. L. Nash. He served until 1875. In the next five years the pastors were the Revs. James Robertson, John W. Partridge, Laninan, James Wood, and Phelps. The Rev. Richard Varick Dodge was pastor from 1880 until the spring of 1884. He was followed by the Rev. H. A.
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Lounsbury and the Rev. H. I. Stern as supplies. On January 1, 1887, the Rev. Dr. William B. Noble took up the pastorate and he soon began a campaign for a new and larger church building. As a result a structure costing $36,000 was raised on the site of the old church Dr. Noble remained as pastor until 1894, being succeeded by the Rev. F. Merton Smith, who was fatally stricken while at a service three weeks after his arrival. The Rev. Peter E. Kipp, who then took the pulpit, served until his death in 1900, being followed by the Rev. Robert Bartley Taylor, who was drowned November 19, 1904, while on a sailing trip. The Rev. Dr. Harvey S. Jordan, from Newcastle, Pennsylvania, was pastor from 1905 until his death in 1909. The next pastor was the Rev. Dr. Edwin Forrest Hallenbeck, who came from New York City as stated supply on December 1, 1909, and was installed as pastor on the 20th of the following April. Under his pastorate plans were begun and carried through for a fine new church farther "uptown" than the old building. A site was bought on the north side of Date Street between Third and Fourth and on this land, half a block in size, the present church was built. It was dedicated in the week between November 15 and 22, 1914. Dr. Hallen- beck resigned in September, 1920, to take the chair of practical theol- ogy at the San Francisco Theological Seminary at San Anselmo. After he left, the Rev. Silas Evans acted as pastor for several months. Dr. Ernest B. Wyllie, of Chatham, N. B., Canada, was called as stated supply for a year beginning September 4, 1921.
The First Presbyterian Church has at present about 1,150 in its congregation.
Other Presbyterian churches in the city are the First United Presbyterian Church, 22nd and Market, built in 1912, of which the Rev. M. M. Kilpatrick is pastor ; the Brooklyn Heights Presbyterian Church, Fir near 30th, Rev. Alfred O. Elliott, pastor: Calvary Presbyterian Church, 39th Street and Franklin Avenue : the East San Diego Presbyterian Church, Pauly Avenue and Santa Ana Street, Rev. J. C. Dibble, pastor ; the Spanish Presbyterian Church, 351 Thir- teenth Street, Rev. Ventura Martinez, pastor.
CONGREGATIONAL.
The First Congregational Church of San Diego dates back to September, 1886. Previous to that time there was in San Diego a considerable number of Congregationalists, many of whom affiliated with the Presbyterians. In August, 1886, twelve of them met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Stephens of Eleventh and F streets. who later removed to Los Angeles, and formed a preliminary church organization. Those attending were Mr. and Mrs. Stephens, Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Stephens, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Marston, Mr. and Mrs. M. T. Gilmore, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Davies and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Smith. About a month later the congregation was organized. with seventy-eight members and the Rev. J. H. Harwood as pastor. The first public service was held in the Y. M. C. A. rooms in Dunham's hall on Fifth Street on October 10. The mem- bers of the congregation soon realized that this hall was too small for the church and a lot was leased at Ninth and F streets upon
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which a church building was completed in January, 1887. This edi- fice was dedicated in February of that year. In 1896, due largely to the efforts of the then pastor, the Rev. Stephen A. Norton, the present church at Sixth and A streets was started. The corner-stone was laid in November of that year and the church was dedicated on July 4, 1897. The building cost $23,500 and ever since its erection has been regarded as one of the most beautiful in the city.
The Rev. M. Harwood was succeeded late in 1887 by the Rev. J. B. Silcox, who resigned in August, 1889. He was followed by the Rev. E. A. Field, the Rev. W. C. Merrill and the Rev. Stephen A. Norton, the last of whom served seven years and was followed by the Rev. Clarence T. Brown in 1903. Next came the Rev. Willard B. Thorp, who resigned recently to go to Palo Alto, California, and was succeeded by the Rev. Roy H. Campbell, the present pastor.
In 1919 a lot adjoining the church was bought and on it was built a parish house which forms a part of the main church, with the latest improvements for Sunday school and other activities of the church. This addition was put up at the cost of $50,000. The church in 1921 had a membership of about 550.
Other churches of this denomination in the city are: Logan Heights Congregational, Sampson Street and Kearney Avenue, Rev. W. H. Hannaford, pastor ; Mission Hills Congregational, 1202 Fort Stockton Drive, Rev. E. H. Haydock, pastor, and Park Villa Congre- gational, 3752 Twenty-eighth Street, Rev. G. A. Charnock, pastor.
The Rev. H. H. Wentworth is pastor of the Union Congregational Church of La Jolla and the Rev. H. C. Leydark is pastor of the Union Congregational Church of Ocean Beach.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Central Christian 'Church was organized October 27, 1886, with twenty-eight members. Rev. R. C. Hand was the first minister. The first meetings were held in various halls. During the boom of 1887 a lot was purchased and the first house, a frame one, was built. The first service was held on December 11, 1887, the sermon being preached by Rev. Johnson.
During the first eight years of its existence, the church had five ministers as follows: R. G. Hand, A. B. Griffith, John L. Brant, A. B. Markle and B. C. Hagerman. Rev. W. E. Crabtree came as pastor in 1895 from Lexington, Kentucky. He was twenty-seven years old at the time. He is now (1921) in his twenty-seventh year as minister of this church. Mr. Crabtree is the dean of the ministers now serving in San Diego. In 1901 the northeast corner of Ninth and F streets was purchased, and the frame church was moved downtown and improved. Later the adjoining lot was purchased, and in 1909 the present commodious and beautiful church was built. It has a valuation of more than $100,000, and is free from all debt. There is a membership of more than 1,000, and there are strong and active departments of church work. The church is an aggressive force in good citizenship and social welfare movements and sustains its own missionaries abroad.
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In 1906 the Central Christian Church branched out and organized the University Christian Church at the corner of Richmond and Cleveland avenues. This has grown to a membership of nearly 500, is self-supporting, and has recently built a handsome church at the cost of $50,000. Rev. T. S. Handsaker is pastor. Besides conducting numerous Sunday schools in various parts of the city, the Central Church has also built a neat Christian church at East San Diego, where a church of fifty members holds regular services and is full of promise. This church was very active during the recent war in work for service men and has continued to keep an open door to them. At present it is moving to obtain a director of religious education, who will devote his entire effort to children and youth.
UNITARIAN.
"Father" Horton donated the use of Horton's hall and organ and the First Unitarian Society held its first Sunday school in the hall June 22, 1873. C. S. Hamilton was president, Mrs. Knapp secre- tary and treasurer; Mrs. Haight musical director, and Miss Carrie Hills, organist. The Rev. Joseph May was the first pastor, and the first public service was held on Easter Sunday, 1874. Among the early members of the church were A. E. Horton, M. A. Luce, C. S. Hamilton, E. W. Morse, J. H. Simpson, A. Overbaugh and Mr. Hubon and their families. At a meeting held March 11, 1877, Rev. David A. Cronyn was chosen pastor, and M. A. Luce became presi- dent of the Society.
In 1882 the society was incorporated. The first church building was raised on a lot on the northeast corner of Tenth and F streets. It was dedicated August 26, 1883, the Rev. Horatio Stebbins, of San Francisco, delivering the sermon. The Rev. George H. Deere, of Riverside, assisted. This building was burned on Sunday afternoon, February 17, 1895, and following this the society for a time occupied the old Louis Opera House. A lot was leased on the west side of Sixth Street, between C and D, and Unity Hall was erected. In that the church held services for some time, until the hall was taken from its first site to Sixth and B streets, where it was rebuilt into a theatre, at first called the Garrick, now the Strand. The church meanwhile went to the San Diego Club, on Ninth Street between Broadway and E streets, and remained there until the present church on the east side of Sixth Street between Beech and Cedar was built.
Recent pastors have been the Rev. B. F. McDaniel, 1887 to 1892; the Rev. J. F. Dutton, from 1894; the Rev. Solon Lauer, from 1895; the Rev. E. R. Watson, from 1899 to 1909; the Rev. G. A. Hathaway. 1909 : the Rev. C. J. Harris, from 1909 to 1912: the Rev. Howard B. Bard, 1913 to the present time. The fine new church of the Unita- rians was built during the pastorate of Mr. Harris and was dedi- cated in 1910. In the last two years, the church has added to its activities the department of Community Centre, under which it carried on the San Diego Open Forum, the Institute of Science and the Committee on Integration, all three of which are community activi- ties and not specifically denominational.
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LUTHERANS.
On March 18, 1888, the First Lutheran Church was organized with thirty-one members. Previous to this a Sunday school was conducted once a month by Prof. F. P. Davidson. C. W. Heisler, of Los Ange- les, aided in the organization of the church. The first officers were : F. P. Davidson and A. W. Smenner, elders, and Isaac Ulrick, H. See- bold and R. H. Young, deacons. The first pastor, E. R. Wagner, conducted his first service October 21, 1888, in Good Templars' Hall on Third Street. The church then held services for six months in Louis Opera House and next moved to the old Methodist church. Then the congregation purchased the lot where the present church stands, on First Street between A and Ash. The church building was begun in 1893, the cornerstone was laid on July 30 and the dedication services held on April 8, 1894.
Pastors since the Rev. E. R. Wagner follow : the Revs. C. W. Maggart, John E. Hoick, George H. Hillerman, J. W. Romich, and the Rev. E. P. Schueler, the incumbent.
Our Saviour's Evangelical Lutheran Church is located on Park Boulevard and Center Street. The Rev. Elleud J. Ovri is the pastor.
The Rev. Clarence Damenschroeder is pastor of the Grace Evan- gelical Lutheran Church (English), at Park Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue.
The German Evangelical Lutheran Church is at 2003 Woolman Avenue, and the Rev. Karl Knippenberg is pastor.
HEBREW CONGREGATIONS
Faithful to the religion of their forefathers, the Jews of San Diego observed their New Year's Day and Days of Atonement as early as 1851. The Messrs. Lewis Franklin, Jacob Marks and Charles A. Fletcher assembled at the house of the former to observe the Day of Atonement in that year. At the time they were the only three Hebrews in the town.
In 1872, the organization of the Hebrew Congregation took place at the house of Marcos Schiller in Old Town. The organizers were Mr. Schiller, Joseph Mannasse and E. Loewenstein. There were 18 members.
The congregation was reorganized and incorporated as the Con- gregation Beth Israel in 1888, with a membership of 55. Marcos Schiller was the first president and served in that capacity until his death in 1904; H. Welisch was vice president : A. Blochman, secretary, and A. Lippman, treasurer. A synagogue was built and dedicated a year later, on the northwest corner of Beech and Second streets. Sam- uel Freuder was the first Rabbi and was followed by A. Danziger, E. Freud, Dr. Mark Moses and Rev. E. R. Trattner.
The Congregation Tifereth Isreal in on 18th Street near Market. The Rev. Solomon A. Wellington is pastor.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
The first organized Christian Scientist Association in San Diego was formed August 18, 1890. At that time the few students of
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"Science and Health" met together and an association was perfected under the name and title of The San Diego Christian Scientist associa- tion. The constitution was formed, by-laws adopted, and officers were elected in accordance ; 31 members were enrolled. On December 7, 1892, it was decided to organize a church. On February 15, 1893, the money in the treasury of the association was turned over to the organized church, and the association was disbanded. In May, 1894, the church removed to Snyder Hall, on Sixth Street. On the first Sunday in February, 1895, the church held its first service in the Jewish Synagogue, Beech and Second streets.
The First Church of Christ Scientist, at Cleveland and Richmond streets, was dedicated on September 30, 1908. The present fine home of the church at Second and Laurel streets, was completed in 1910.
The Second Church of Christ Scientist has been organized for about eight years. Recently it has been meeting in the San Diego Club's house on Ninth Street. Plans were under consideration as this was written, however, for the building of a church structure ; land for this purpose was bought at Twenty-second and C streets. J. M. Hall is president of the church board of trustees.
UNITED BRETHREN
The First Church of United Brethren in Christ, at Third Street and Robinson Avenue, was built in 1912, at a cost of about $10,000. The Rev. Logan Harter is the present pastor.
Other church organizations of San Diego include the following : First Friends, Market and 19th streets, the Rev. Cora Isham ;
First Spiritual Temple, 1240 Seventh Street, the Rev. F. F. Fleming ;
Harmonial Institute, 4328 Alabama Street ;
Pentecostal Pilgrim, 624 B Street, the Rev. T. J. W. Norton ;
Plymouth Brethren Evangelical, 4176 Texas Street, the Rev. E. A. Buchaman ;
Seventh Day Adventist, 18th and G streets, Elder William Healey ; University Heights Seventh Day Adventist, Elder R. S. Owen pastor ;
Swedish Mission Tabernacle, 19th and E streets, the Rev. J. A. Youngberg ;
United Alliance Spiritual Society, 1120 Tenth Street, Mrs. Marguerite S. Briggs pastor ;
Yogi Spiritual Society, the Rev. Margaret A. Hanley.
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CHARTER XXI
CIVIC AND RELIGIOUS
This chapter-an important one in San Diego life-has been compiled almost wholly from data provided by the local secretaries of the organizations named. To Mr. H. H. Holmes, secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association ; to Mr. James Meehan, in charge of the local work of the Knights of Columbus, and to Mrs. Philip Morse, long active in the work of the Young Women's Christian association, the writer is especially indebted for the valuable record of unselfish, patriotic achievement herewith set forth. It is a record in which every San Diegan, regardless of creed, may well be proud- more especially since the work so well done has been for all, notably in the days when San Diego was in reality a great camp in which were trained thousands of America's young men in the World war.
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