History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 103

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood
Number of Pages: 1206

USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions > Part 103

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OAKLAND TOWNSHIP -- CITY OF OAKLAND.

Post as supplies, from October 1873 to May 1874; Rev. B. S. McLafferty as Pastor, from May 10; 1874 to March 30, 1879; Rev. Granville S. Abbott, D.D., Pastor, from April 2, 1879 to Dec. 31, 1881; Rev. E. Nisbett and Rev. E. H. Gray as supplies (awaiting the arrival of the Rev. Evan Davis* to whom a call had been extended and accepted, but sickness prevented his fulfilling his engagement); Rev. E. H. Gray, D.D., Pastor, August 30, 1882.

The Sunday-school connected with the church was organized in 1854. It has in attendance thirty teachers and two hundred and sixty-seven scholars, and a library of six hundred volumes. The officers of the church are, Pastor, Rev. E. H. Gray, D. D .; Deacons, J. T. Latimer, Cyrus Dam, C. W. Dearborn, H. Garthwaite, J. Z. Dudley; Clerk, H. Garthwaite; Treasurer, Dr. J. R. Bradway; Trustees, J. P. Cogswell, J. L. Lyon, Ch. Schrieber, James Dalziel, G. F. Lamson.

Sunday-school-G. F. Lamson, Superintendent; Charles Baker, Assistant; Wm. Lyon, Librarian; Ella Swain, Secretary and Treasurer.

Chinese Mission-H. Garthwaite, Superintendent; Organist, Mrs. C. T. Benjamin; Sexton, D. C. Davison.

Church of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic) .- Thirty years ago a room in a private house served as a place of worship for the Roman Cath- olics of Oakland. and nearly the whole of the present county of Alameda. A priest from the Mission of San José occasionally made a visit to celebrate mass and administer the sacraments, and even these occasional visits had to be omitted during the rainy season, owing to the bad roads. The first church, a building of the most modest description, was erected in 1853 through the exertions of a few of the congre- gation, and for some time was the only Roman Catholic place of worship in the whole of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, with the exception of the old Mission. Sub- sequent additions made by the Revs. Fathers Croke and King increased the size of this edifice until it was capable of holding a congregation of several hundreds, but this, too, became entirely inadequate to the needs of the population of Oakland, although three new parishes had been formed in the county. In 1869 Father King determined to erect a church on a scale commensurate with the promised importance of the city. Plans accordingly were prepared for a building surpassing in dimensions anything in the State, though only with the intention of erecting a part of it at first, a design which has been carried out in the present structure. The foundations were laid in that year, but various causes retarded any further progress until May, 1871, when the superstructure was commenced and pushed vigorously forward. Although not quite completed the church was dedicated on June 23, 1872, the ceremony being performed by Archbishop Alemany. The sermon was preached by Father Gallagher, to whom, nearly thirty years before, the Roman Catholics of Oakland were in a great measure indebted for their first place of worship.

The church is of wood, with heavy brick foundations, and built in the strong- est manner, with double walls firmly braced together. The nave roof principals are supported by posts twelve inches square and fifty-four feet long, to which the principals of the aisle roofs are secured at a height of about thirty-four feet, and these

*Burlington, N. J.

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

at the outside rest on posts eight inches square and strengthened by side buttresses. The style of the building is early Gothic, and it consists of a nave, side aisles, chancel, and two front towers. The latter are to be surmounted by spires at a future period, but even in their present state their height (one hundred and four feet to the top of the pinnacles) and size give a highly imposing appearance to the front. The roof is open; on the inside the spaces between the principals and tie-beams, and the latter and the arch braces, in both nave and aisle roofs, being filled in with light and elegant open-work tracery. The ceiling is paneled and painted blue, with stars; the wood- work being painted white, with flower patterns with tertiary colors. At the sides the arch braces under the roof-timbers are terminated in carved niches, intended to receive statues of the Twelve Apostles. The cornices are also of wood, the arches between the naves and aisles and the chancel arch being, with the walls and ceiling under the organ gallery, the only plaster-work in the building. The organ gallery projects only a few feet into the church, thus allowing its full dimensions to be better appreciated. The windows are filled with rich stained glass, the heads being orna- mented with emblematic figures, and the large front window being quite a fine speci- men of artistic design. It is not the least satisfactory matter in connection with this building, that it is entirely the product of California design and workmanship- Nearly all the men employed on it belonged to Oakland; the stained glass was man- ufactured by Mallon & Boyle, of San Francisco, and the fresco painting executed by S. Buzzi, of the same city. The entire cost of the building was about thirty-three thousand dollars, while it has a seating capacity for one thousand two hundred and fifty persons. The Sunday-school connected with the church was organized in 1853, and is under the superintendence of the Rev. Father King. It is situated on Jef- ferson Street, between Eighth and Seventh Streets.

The First Congregational Church of Oakland .- Was formally organized Decem- ber 9, 1860, with a membership of seventeen persons. Its first place of worship was the Baptist church, then situated on the corner of Fifth and Jefferson Streets. Afterwards for a few months its services were held in a building called "The Pavilion," on the Plaza, Broadway, between Fourth and Fifth Streets, the site of the present County Court House.

Rev. George Pierson, then pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, com- menced the first Sabbath service of the church in November, 1860, and continued to supply the pulpit once each day till the arrival of the chosen pastor. This was Rev. George Mooar, who came from Andover, Massachusetts, arriving in Oakland May 6, 1861, and beginning his services with the church on the Sunday following, May 12th. He was formally installed as pastor August 30th, of the same year.

Having been elected to a professorship in the Pacific Theological Seminary, Rev. Mr. Mooar resigned his charge, and left the pastorate August 4, 1870; nine years from his installation. He continued to supply his pulpit and act as pastor, however, for nearly two years longer.

The present pastor, Rev. J. K. McLean, D. D., came from Springfield, Illinois, on April 24, 1872, and was installed in the following June.

In September, 1861, the church purchased the block bounded by Broadway, Wash-

John Taylor

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OAKLAND TOWNSHIP-CITY OF OAKLAND.

ington, Tenth, and Eleventh Streets, for the sum of one thousand four hundred dollars. Upon this a church building was immediately erected, and occupied for religious wor- ship in June, 1862. It was enlarged in 1867; in 1868 a chapel was added. In 1871 the half of the block fronting on Broadway was sold for sixty-five thousand dollars the church building was removed to the corner of Washington and Tenth. In the following April the church was again enlarged. In April, 1878, work was begun upon the present house of worship, corner of Central Avenue and Clay Street. The corner- stone was laid May 21st, and the building formally dedicated January 21, 1879.

The cost of the present structure, with ground and furnishing, was in the neigh- borhood of one hundred thousand dollars. It contains sittings for fourteen hundred persons. Its auditorium is undoubtedly the most complete on the Pacific Coast.

The church has received since its formation one thousand two hundred and forty- three members, of whom seven hundred and sixty are members at the present time. It has raised for church construction and current expenses down to September, 1882, the sum of two hundred and ninety-nine thousand seven hundred and fifty-three dol- lars and seventeen cents; and for charitable purposes fifty-six thousand five hundred and nine dollars and fifty-five cents, a total of three hundred and fifty-six thousand two hundred and sixty-two dollars and seventy-two cents. Four other Congrega- tional churches have, since the organization of this church, been formed within the territory it originally held, to all of which it has made liberal contributions, both of members and of funds.

A Sunday-school of eight hundred and fifty members is connected with the church; also a branch Sunday-school of nearly four hundred members, meeting on Market Street, corner of Twenty-second. The church has, from time to time, sus- tained other branch schools, which have either grown into churches, or been merged into other schools.

The Second Congregational Church of Oakland .- This church was organized on the 31st May, 1868, in the West Oakland School House. Previous to this organization a Sabbath-school had been held for some time in the school house, and a "Religious Society" had been formed, and preaching services had been conducted by Prof. Martin Kellogg, of the College of California. J. A. Folger, O. P. Treusdell, C. C. Fisher, H. G. McLean, and Dr. D. P. Fonda were the trustees of this religious society. On the Ioth of May, 1868, this society was dissolved, and in its place the "Second Congregational Religious Society of Oakland" was formed, of which the same persons were elected Trustees. Soon after this measures were taken for purchasing a lot and building a church at the corner of Goss and Wood Streets. The church building and furnishing cost about two thousand dollars. It was dedi- cated in August, 1868. In 1874 another lot on Chase Street, the one now occupied by the church, was secured. The following year the old building was removed to the rear of this lot, and fitted up for a lecture-room; and a neat and commodious church edifice was erected at a cost for building and furniture of eleven thousand dollars. It was dedicated December 26, 1875. In November, 1882, there was a remaining indebtedness of three thonsand dollars on the property, which indebtedness was at

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

that time entirely covered by reliable subscriptions to be paid within one year from that date.

The church at its organization was composed of nine members. The entire number received into the church is two hundred and ten. The present membership is about ninety.

The Rev. Eli Corwin, the first pastor, entered on his duties in November, 1868, and resigned in December, 1869. After him the following persons have successively ministered to the church: Rev. D. B. Gray, from January, 1870, to October, 1873; Rev. C. H. Pope, from May, 1874, to January, 1877; Rev. W. L. Jones, from April, 1877, to July, 1878; Rev. J. T. Wills, from July, 1878, to July, 1880; Rev. John Kim- ball, from October, 1880, to June 1882. The present pastor, Rev. Walter Frear, began his services with the church August 1. 1882.

The present deacons of the church are: L. P. Collins, J. Hoag, and J. Jewett. The Trustees are: George E. Bugbee, J. Hoag, F. C. Marston, M. B. Smith, and L. P. Collins. The Sabbath-school, of which E. E. Walcott is Superintendent, has a mem- bership of two hundred and fifty.

Plymouth Avenue Church, Oakland .- In the Spring of 1871, the Trustees of the First Congregational Religious Society of Oakland, for the sake of aiding the Pacific Theological Seminary in purchasing the present site and buildings of that Institution, and for the sake of preparing the way for planting a Congregational Church for the northern part of the city, secured the four lots on the northeast corner of Plymouth Avenue and Elm Street. In the Spring of 1873, on request of twenty- six persons residing in the neighborhood, the Trustees voted to expend five thousand dollars for the construction of a chapel, provided the First Congregational Church approved of the undertaking. June 4, 1873, the church voted its approval. The building was erected under the direction of W. K. Rowell, W. M. Boyd, and I. W. Knox committee appointed by the Trustees.

It was at first intended that the congregation should be gathered as a branch of the First Church. But as the way seemed not very clear to this course, permission was obtained of the Legislature of California for the transfer of the property to a dis- tinct corporation.

Accordingly, on January 28, 1874, at a meeting held at the house of W. K. Rowell, it was resolved to organize the Plymouth Avenue Church, and Directors were chosen. The building was dedicated March 1, 1874: sermon by Rev. J. K. McLean; the other exercises were conducted by Professors Mooar and Benton. The entire cost of the building was $6,229.29; of the upholstering and other furnishing, $1,265.30. Regular services were commenced forthwith. The church was formally constituted and recognized as in fellowship with other churches by a council, April 9, 1874, the recognized membership numbering thirty-eight. Dr. A. L. Stone preached the sermon; Rev. W. C. Pond offered the constituting prayer; Rev. J. K. McLean gave the fellow- ship of the churches; Revs. T. G. Thurston and J. T. Wills also participating.

At the beginning of services the Revs. George Mooar, D. D., and Joseph A. Benton, D. D., were invited to supply the pulpit, and the former to perform the pas- toral service of the congregation. The first deacons of the church were, W. K. Rowell,

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OAKLAND TOWNSHIP-CITY OF OAKLAND.

Amasa Pratt, Charles F. Whitton, Abel Whitton; and the directors: W. M. Boyd, W. K. Rowell, W. H. Jordan, D. S. Sutton, W. H. Love, A. Pratt, S. F. Daniels, the Sunday-school being first placed under the superintendence of Amasa Pratt. The number of those received into the church at its constitution on April 9, 1874, was thirty-eight, which number was doubled in the following year, and since then the membership and attendance have considerably increased.

German Methodist Episcopal Church .- From about the year 1868 to 1872 the preachers of the German Methodist Episcopal Churches of San Francisco felt it their duty to come over to Oakland on Sabbath afternoons, in order to preach the gospel to the German inhabitants of this city. In the year 1882 the Rev. Hermann Brueck was sent here by the authorities of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Oak- land and vicinity was taken up as a regular mission field. Mr. Brueck commenced holding meetings in the Congregational Chapel on Second Street between Broadway and Washington Street, where a few members were gathered, and a Sunday-school instituted, which was attended by about twenty-five children. This place being rather on one side, and out of the way for many of the congregation, the hall of the Knights of Pythias was rented for a short time and there the congregations were better, and the Sunday-school rose to the number of about forty-five children. At the annual Conference of 1874, Rev. H. Brueck was removed to another field of labor and Rev. Frederick Bonn took charge of the church at Oakland. During his term of service, the First Methodist Episcopal Church at the corner of Ninth and Washington Streets concluded to sell their house of worship, in order to build a new church at the corner of Fourteenth and Clay Streets, and offered it to the Germans for five hundred dol- lars, reserving the seats. A Board of Trustees, consisting of Messrs. August Kaese, Christian Rode, Philipp Fuchs, I. Rouse, and Charles Ska was formed according to the discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the law of this State, and that church edifice was bought. A lot on Seventeenth Street, near San Pablo Avenue, was bought for the sum of $3,500, and the church was moved to that place.

The expenses for moving, repairing, and putting in new seats, amounted to $2,000.

A parsonage was afterwards secured, moved to one side of the church and repaired, which added another $1,200; the whole costing now $7,200. Of this amount the sum of $2,200 was raised among themselves, and $5,000 secured by mortgage. At the annual Conference of 1876, Rev. H. Brueck was sent back again for one year. Then the Rev. C. H. Afflerbach took his place. During his administration $2,000 were raised among the members and paid on the mortgage, so that at this time there is a debt of $3,200 resting on the church property.

A Pastor's Aid Society consisting of the ladies of the church and outside friends was formed, which still meets once a month for mutual spiritual edification, and for contributing money for helping poor members and for other purposes.

Rev. R. Steinbach followed the Rev. C. H. Afflerbach at the annual Conference of 1880, and remained in charge until September, 1882, when the present incumbent, Rev. C. A. E. Hertel was appointed to the charge. The number of members now is twenty-nine; probationers, four. The benevolences of the church are considerable.

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

The average attendance of hearers on Sunday morning is fifty-five. The Sunday- school has an efficient corps of teachers under the superintendency of Mr. Ph. Fuchs. The church, according to Methodist usage, holds to total abstinence from all intoxi- cating drinks. It is growing in influence and numbers. The church is located on Seventeenth Street, near San Pablo Avenue.

Methodist Episcopal Church (South) .- In the month of March, 1881, Bishop H. H. Kavanaugh appointed Rev. W. H. Layson to visit Oakland to spy out the land, and found that there never had been any organization of this church in that city, although there were a few whilom members there resident, but so little was the interest taken in the matter that it was not thought even advisable to rent a hall wherein to make a trial. Mr. Layson, however, was not to be thus easily deterred, he there- fore personally secured Camron Hall, commenced services and soon secured a regular attendance of about one hundred persons. Eleven names were enrolled, and soon followed this lead. The hall of the Odd Fellows, at the corner of Eleventh and Frank- lin Streets, was permanently secured and in it services were regularly held, and the congregations grew numerically and substantially. Within six months the member- ship approximated to sixty persons, there being nine on the baptismal-roll. Monthly socials were inaugurated with about ninety in attendance, there was a full and effi- cient choir, while the ladies had a useful and energetic sewing union. A Sunday- school, to meet before service, was organized with a membership of about fifty, while the attendance had increased from one hundred to three hundred persons. In the latter part of December, 1881, Mr. Layson retired from the church and was succeeded by Rev. J. C. Simmons.

Seventh-day Adventist Church .- As the name indicates, the distinctive feat- ures of this body of Christians are the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath, "accord- ing to the commandment," as also the doctrine of the early advent of the Lord to judge the world-although no time is fixed for that event. They acknowledge no creed but the Bible, and inscribe upon their banner, " The commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus Christ." They totally abstain from every form of intoxicating beverage, and disfellowship the use of tobacco. They teach abstinence from tea and coffee as a doctrine of health reform, but do not make it compulsory upon members.

The first movement of any prominence by this sect in Oakland, was in April, 1874, when a large tent was pitched at the corner of Broadway and Thirteenth Street, and a series of meetings held. These meetings were conducted by Eld. James White, his wife, Mrs. Ellen G. White, Eld. J. N. Loughborough, and other ministers of the faith-all of whom had but recently come from the East. As a result of this effort, about thirty persons were baptized, which, added to a few individuals who had before embraced this faith, formed the nucleus of the present church. This company rented a hall at the corner of Broadway and Twelfth Streets, and continued to hold regular meetings, and were represented in the State Conference the following Sep- tember.

It was not, however, until May 16, 1875, that a permanent organization was effected. At a meeting held for this purpose on that date, Eld. J. N. Loughborough

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OAKLAND TOWNSHIP- CITY OF OAKLAND.

presided, and explained fully the doctrines of the church and the requirements from its members. Thirty-nine names were attached to the "covenant," and the following officers were chosen: Elder, D. B. Rickey; Deacon, John I. Tay; Clerk, George Man- uel. During the remainder of the year 1875, sixteen more members were added to the church-roll, and early in January, 1876, a movement was started by the State Conference to secure a suitable location for a house of worship. After careful can- vassing, the very desirable northeast corner of Clay and Thirteenth Streets was selected, and purchased at a cost of four thousand dollars. Here a neat and commo- dious building was erected, costing about twelve thousand dollars.

On the 6th day of April, 1876, the legal incorporation of the society was effected, under the name of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Oakland, and a code of by-laws adopted. The first Board of Trustees was composed of the following persons: D. B. Rickey, President; George Manuel, Secretary; G. A. Baker, Treasurer; John I. Tay and W. C. White. The present Board (1883) consists of W. C. White, President; W. N. Glenn, Secretary; John I. Tay, Treasurer; E. J. Waggoner, and G. A. Baker.

The first Pastor of the church was Eld. J. N. Loughborough, who held the posi- tion until 1879, since which time Eld. J. H. Waggoner has very acceptably discharged the duties. The officers of the church for 1883 are: J. H. Waggoner, Pastor; C. H. Jones and E. J. Waggoner, Elders; John I. Tay and W. N. Glenn, Deacons; J. B. Leavitt, Clerk. The membership at this writing is one hundred and eighty. One of the first acts of the society was the organization of a Sabbath-school, which has been maintained with a good degree of success, having a well-selected library. The school has a membership of one hundred and seventy. There are five divisions, and twenty- seven classes. The present officers are: C. H. Jones, Superintendent, and E. J. Wag- goner, Assistant; Miss Emma Boyd, Secretary, with Miss Alice Morrison, Assistant; and V. M. Donaldson, Librarian.

CENTRAL MISSION SUNDAY SCHOOL .- One Sunday morning early in January, 1876, while walking through Sixth Street, W. R. Bentley was attracted by the num- ber of children playing at the corners and in the vacant lots, many of whom were old enough to be members of Sunday-schools. He learned that some attended schools while others were allowed to remain at home and pass the time as they felt disposed, with little or no religious influences around them.

The impression that there was an opportunity to organize a school that should call to its support carnest Christian men and women, who could go out among people and invite all who were not engaged, to come in and work, so possessed him that he resolved (God helping) to undertake it.

The subject was mentioned to B. S. Tower and others, all of whom thought it would be a noble undertaking. Some promised pecuniary aid, while others said they would come and labor.

After having the matter under advisement during all of February, and finding many friends of such a move among the residents of the southern part of the city, arrangements were made with Mr. Sagehorn, for the use of the Academy of Music, on Sixth Street, for one year, at four dollars each Sunday.

The first regular session was held Sunday afternoon at half past two o'clock,

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

March 19, 1876. There were present twenty-six children and twenty visitors and friends. All left the session fully impressed that a glorious work had been undertaken.

The early officers were: William R. Bentley, Superintendent; Benjamin S. Tower, Assistant Superintendent; Fred. C. Miles, Secretary; Theodore O. Gladding, Librarian; Miss Ella Bradway, Treasurer; Miss Fannie Betancue, Collector and Pianist.

January 13, 1878, the school moved to Pythian Hall, on Broadway, caused by a notice from Mr. Sagehorn that the Academy of Music was to be turned into a Tivoli Garden. These parties failing, the school moved back to the Academy of Music, March 10, 1878. June 16, 1878, Mr. and Mrs. Brooks donated to the school library twenty-five books. During April, 1879, Mr. Edmund Pugh was chosen Musical Director of the organization. Thursday, January 1, 1880, the school held at the hall a New- year's tea-party. A large number were present, who seemed to enjoy themselves.

March 7, 1880, the Sabbath-school moved to Camron Hall, then on Fourteenth Street, as the seats were more conveniently arranged. January 9, 1881, Mr. and Mrs. Stebbins (who were with Mr. Moody, the Evangelist) visited the school, and sang a few selections.

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History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 103

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood Number of Pages: 1206

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood
Number of Pages: 1206