History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1923, Part 36

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026

USA > California > Sacramento County > History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1923 > Part 36

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'The American Center has no creed but Christ, and draws no color line. Men of all colors, classes, nationalities and beliefs are welcome, and every one is accorded the same treatment, regardless of his religious beliefs or affiliations.

Central Methodist Episcopal Church: This society was organized with seven members as the H Street Methodist Episcopal Church, De- cember 9. 1855, by Rev. N. R. Peck and Rev. N. P. Heath, presiding elder. Martin Grier, J. L. Thompson. A. Fowler, H. Kronkite, L. Pelton and B. Ward composed the first official board. A church edifice was erected and paid for during the first year of its existence, at a cost of $2,000. It was dedicated June 29, 1856,

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by Bishop Kavanaugh of the Methodist Epis- · copal Church South. Rev. N. R. Peck was the pastor until 1857, being succeeded by Rev. David Deal, who was pastor for two years, and afterwards served a second term. During his pastorate a parsonage costing $1,500 was erected, and prosperity attended the church. Rev. H. Baker succeeded Mr. Deal and was in turn succeeded by Rev. W. S. Urmy. During the pastorate of the latter the great floods of 1861-1862 occurred, and the water rose eighteen inches above the pews of the church, and Mr. Urmy and his family were rescued from the parsonage in boats. No service could be held for several weeks until the water subsided. The church suffered at this time from the business depression following the flood, and the exodus of many people from the city.

At the conference of 1863 the proposition was made to unite the two congregations, but it was not approved, and Rev. N. R. Peck was returned as pastor, and reported an increase of eighteen members during the following year. Rev. J. A. Bruner was appointed to the charge next, and served one year. During the years 1865 and 1866, both the H Street and Sixth Street churches were under one pastor- ate, Rev. J. W. Ross being the pastor. This arrangement was disastrous to the H Street church, nearly destroying its identity and deci- mating its membership, but in 1867 the old status was restored, Rev. J. M. Hinman be- ing appointed pastor, and the church took on renewed prosperity. May 12, 1869, some mis- creant attempted to burn the church by setting a fire in the bookcase and in the pulpit.

Rev. George Newton was appointed in 1869 to this charge, and kept it for three years, dur- ing which time some radical changes took place. Early in his pastorate a success was realized that seemed to justify a change, and the old church lot on H Street was sold, as well as the parsonage. The old church build- ing was moved to a lot on the corner of Elev- enth and I Streets, the present church site be- ing a part of the lot. The building was cut in two and fitted up for dwellings. An old build- ing which stood on the lot was fitted up for a parsonage, and plans were made for the erection of a large church building, to be a "memorial church" for Bishop Kingsley, who had died during the year at Beyrout in Syria. The plans included the erection of a chapel first ; this was done and it was called "Kings- ley Chapel." But the church had been too ambitious. By the close of Mr. Newton's pastorate the debt had increased to about $8,500, and the property had become so much involved that further prosecution of the plans was impossible. 13

The years that followed were years of varied success and depression, and their record tells a tale of heroic sacrifices on the part of the members in striving to uphold the church and liquidate the indebtedness. It was discourag- ing work, but they persevered in spite of the increasing indebtedness and a decreasing membership. A revival under Mrs. Van Cott encouraged them by increasing the member- ship during the pastorate of Rev. J. L. Trefren, but most of these afterwards went to other churches. Revs. A. J. Wells. J. E. Wickes and David Deal succeeded to the pastorate in turn, and during the dark hours of the society they labored devotedly and made great sacrifices. At length, in 1882, Rev. McKelvey was ap- pointed pastor. By his indomitable energy during his pastorate he succeeded in wiping out the debt, by the sacrifice of all the prop- erty except the church and the lot it stands on. He also remodeled and improved the church building at a cost of $3,500, most of which was raised by Mrs. McKelvey outside of the mem- bership; and the name was changed from Kingsley Chapel to the Central Methodist Church. Thus when it was reopened by Bish- op Fowler the congregation had a neat church. free from debt. Rev. Mr. McKelvey was re- moved by limitation before an opportunity was afforded him of enjoying the fruits of his labor, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Filben. After four years' service Mr. Filben was succeeded by Rev. C. H. Beechgood, who gave way in 1892 to Rev. E. E. Dodge. In 1894 Rev. J. L. Trefren was returned to his former charge for three years, and then Rev. J. B. Chynoweth came, and remained for six years, the time limit having been removed. Rev. Richard Rodda succeeded him, and in 1912 was succeeded in turn by Rev. James Whitaker, who served until 1918. In October. 1918. the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Sacramento and Central Methodist Episco- pal Church consolidated and took the name of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Sacra- mento. Since that time, or since September. 1918. Rev. Carl M. Warner has been pastor of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church.

A German Methodist Church was organized in this city in 1856, but debts finally accumu- lated until in 1866-1867 the burden became so heavy that the church was broken up.

St. Andrew's Church, African Methodist Episcopal, was organized in 1850 by Rev. Isaac Owen, at the house of "Uncle Daniel Blue," on I Street, between Fourth and Fifth. A church building was erected on the site on Seventh Street, between G and H, where the present brick church is located. The first pastor was James Fitzgerald, who served in 1851-1852.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

The Methodist Episcopal Church South was organized in April, 1850, by Rev. W. D. Pol- lock, who was also the principal factor in the building of a frame church on the site of the brick church which succeeded it, on Seventh Street between J and K. The latter edifice was dedicated by Bishop Pierce July 10, 1859. The first building was burned in the fire of November 2. 1852, and the second cost $4,000. Mr. Pollock was forced by ill health in the fall of 1850 to return to Alabama, where he died the following year. He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Penman, who shortly afterwards abandoned the ministry and engaged in other pursuits. Since that time the pastors have been as follows: W. R. Gober, 1851-1852; John Matthews, from August, 1852, to April, 1853: B. F. Crouch, appointed by Bishop Soule, 1853, to April, 1855: A. Graham, 1855- 1856; W. R. Gober, 1856-1858; Morris Evans, 1858-1860: J. C. Simmons, 1861-1862; S. Brown, 1862-1863; George Sim, 1863-1865; E. K. Miller, 1865-1866; T. H. B. Anderson, 1866-1868: George Sim, 1868-1869; W. R. Gober, 1869-1872; T. L. Moody, 1872-1873; C. Chamberlain, 1873-1875; B. F. Page, 1875, to fill out Mr. Chamberlain's time; R. Pratt, 1875-1876; M. C. Fields, 1876-1878; C. Y. Ran- kin, 1878-1879; T. H. B. Anderson, 1879-1882; F. Walter Featherstone, 1882-1883; H. C. Christian, 1883-1887 ; George B. Winton, 1887- 1888: A. C. Bane, 1888-1890; H. Singleton, 1891-1893; T. A. Atkinson, 1893-1897; W. E. Vaughn, 1897-1901; P. T. Ramsey, 1901-1904; C. C. Thompson, 1904-1905; W. A. Ott, 1905- 1906; C. T. Clark, 1906-1910. L. S. Jones suc- ceeded to the pastorate in 1910, and served for several years; and since the close of his min- istry the pastors have been the Revs. H. V. Moore, O. L. Hodgson. R. U. Waldraven, W. J. Tenton, E. H. Mowre, and E. E. Wall, the present pastor. The congregation now occupy a commodious modern edifice on the northwest corner of Fifteenth and J Streets.

German Evangelical Lutheran Church: In 1865-1867, Rev. Mr. Buchler, of San Francisco, and Rev. Mr. Elbert preached in this city a few times and endeavored to organize a church, but without success. Rev. Matthias Goethe, formerly of Australia, later began work in Sacramento, organized the church December 1, 1867. with twenty-three charter members, and purchased the old German Methodist Church on the corner of Ninth and K Streets (now Hale's) for $2,400. F. Klotz, H. Winters, H. W. Schacht, F. Hopie and A. Grafmiller were elected trustees. The build- ing was afterwards sold and the later church on the corner of Twelfth and K Streets was erected in 1872 at a cost, including the three bells, of about $15.000.

Mr. Goethe was succeeded in 1875 by Rev. T. Langebecker; Dr. C. Taubner, 1877-1888, and Adolf Jatho, 1887-1890. In 1890 Rev. Charles F. Oehler succeeded to the pastorate, and continued the work with splendid success, building up the church to a large and prosper- ous membership. Soon after his arrival the debts were paid off and a parsonage erected. A new pipe organ was installed and many members were added to the church and Sun- day school. Services were held in German and English. Mr. Oehler conceived the idea of establishing a building fund, to be used when the time arrived for the erection of a larger and more beautiful edifice. The fund was started by an Easter offering in 1905, Mr. Oehler having sent out a letter asking for an offering of $1,000 and receiving $600. The pastor, trustees, and women and other mem- bers of the church labored faithfully and in- creased it to $16,000, and in 1911 a fine lot, 120 by 160 feet, was purchased on the corner of Seventeenth and L Streets, the sale of the old church property at Twelfth and K Streets netting a large sum, and then the new edifice was planned and completed. The style of the church is German Gothic and the material a fine white artificial stone. Four of the large windows are memorial windows, and the church seats more than 500 people, and has galleries in the rear and the transept. The corner-stone was laid December 10, 1911, Mayor Beard, the local Lutheran clergy and several visiting ministers participating. The German Evangelical Lutheran Church is the second oldest Luthern church in the state of California, Rev. J. M. Buchler having begun as early as 1864 to make preparations for establishing it, but it was not organized until 1867, by Rev. Matthias Goethe.

First Church of Christ, Scientist: The first public Christian Science services held in Sac- ramento were held in Granger's Building, Tenth and K Streets, in 1890. The First Church of Christ, Scientist, here was organ- ized in 1899, and granted a state charter in 1901. The historic church building on Four- teenth and K, known as the United Brethren Church, was purchased in 1904. Later this property was sold and a lot purchased on Twenty-third Street, between K and L. The beautiful structure erected there was finished in 1910, at a cost, including the site, of about $35.000. The exterior is of Medusa cement, with mahogany interior finish. The four-square domed auditorium is seated with opera chairs on a sloping floor. Three large art windows and a fine crystal electrolier make it one of the best-lighted auditoriums in the United States. This was the tenth church of the denomina- tion in California.

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Christian Church, or Disciples of Christ : October 13, 1855. Elders J. N. Pendegast and Thomas Thompson conducted the first serv- ices held by this denomination in Sacramento. They met in the Methodist brick church which until a few years ago stood on Seventh Street, between J and K. John O. Garrett and R. B. Ellis were appointed elders, and Rufus Rigdon and A. M. C. Depue, deacons. A nice chapel was erected on Eighth Street, between N and O, in 1877, the cost, including the lot, being $4.500, and the church was very largely in- debted to the enterprise of Elder J. N. Pende- gast for the building.

In 1896, during the pastorate of Rev. J. E. Denton, the old church became too small, and was removed to the corner of Sixteenth and L Streets, and made the basis for the erection of a new edifice, the enlargement and finishing costing about $6,000, a debt being incurred that has since been wiped out. On the even- ing of July 4, 1910, the church took fire, sup- posedly from a rocket which fell on the roof during the celebration, and the building was burned and almost the entire contents were destroyed. A new site at Twenty-seventh and N Streets was selected, and a new edifice was erected, containing two auditoriums with a combined seating capacity of nearly 900. Rev. H. O. Breedon conducted the dedication serv- ices, which were held on December 17, 1911. The structure also contains eighteen rooms for classes and departments.

Calvary Baptist Church was first organized October 17. 1869, by Rev. Frederick Charlton, pastor of the First Church. The organization took the form of a mission Sunday school superintended by R. H. Withington and held in a schoolhouse situated on Thirteenth and G Streets. When it became necessary to have more suitable accommodations a building, 40 by 160 feet, costing $1,000, was erected on I Street between Twelfth and Thirteenth. An- other building, 38 by 65 feet, was erected in 1870 at a cost of $2,000. In 1871 a new church was organized to accommodate members of the parent church living in that part of the city. The first deacons of this church were W. R. Strong. A. J. Barnes and R. H. With- ington. The clerk was A. A. Bynon. The pastors have been as follows: J. P. Ludlow, R. F. Parshall, William Hildreth, C. F. Forbes, H. W. Read, George L. Lewis, S. B. Gregory, J. Q. A. Henry, 1881-1884 ; S. A. McKay, 1884; A. C. Herrick, December, 1884, to 1891 ; J. H. Reider, 1892 to 1896; F. M. Mitchell, 1896- 1899 : S. G. Adams, 1899-1904: D. M. McPhail. 1908-1912: C. H. Hobart, 1912-1920; A. W. Brown, 1920 to the present time. During Rev. McPhail's pastorate the church was destroyed by fire. A new lot was then purchased at the

northwest corner of Sixteenth and I Streets, where the present building was erected, at a cost of about $13,000. Soon after the retire- ment of Mr. McPhail the proposition of con- solidating with Emanuel Baptist Church was taken up, with Rev. A. J. Sturtevant to act as pastor of both churches. The proposed union did not materialize and in 1912 Rev. C. H. Hobart took charge of the work, which pros- pered under his leadership.

The First Baptist Church was the pioneer Baptist organization in Sacramento. As early as 1849 Rev. J. Cook, who kept a boarding- house on I Street, preached a number of times in the grove. Rev. O. C. Wheeler came up from San Francisco September 9. 1850, and while the state was being admitted to the Union he was busy organizing the First Bap- tist Church at the residence of Judge E. J. Willis on H Street between Sixth and Sev- enth. He was probably assisted in the work by Mr. Cook. Judge Willis and John A. Wadsworth were elected deacons: Madison Walthall, treasurer: Leonard Loomis, clerk ; and Rev. J. W. Capen, pastor. The first public services were held the following day in the court-house on I Street. A church costing $4,000 was built in the spring of 1851 on the corner of Seventh and L Streets, and was con- sumed in the fire of November 2, 1852. What was claimed to be the finest church building in the state was erected in 1854 on the west side of Fourth Street, between K and L. While costing only $8,000. it was a very fine edifice for the price and had a main auditorium 35 by 85 feet, with a vestry 15 by 32 feet in the rear. In the great fire of July 12, 1854, it was only saved from destruction by the most stren- uous exertions of the citizens. During 1877 it was sold for $3.000 and was afterwards re- moved to the corner of Fourteenth and K Streets, where it was used for a number of years by the United Brethren in Christ. The present building on Ninth Street between L and M was erected in 1877-1878 at a cost, in- cluding the lot, of $18,230.48. The corner-stone of the edifice was laid with Masonic ceremo- nies August 20, 1877, and opening services were held March 10, 1878. Ah Mooey, a China- man, was admitted into the church September 2. 1855, and subsequently was licensed to preach, his baptism being supposed to have been the first one of that nationality in Cali- fornia. His conversion occurred during the pastorate of Rev. J. L. Shuck, who was then an accredited missionary to the Chinese of Sacramento and later went to South Carolina, where he died in 1863. Rev. Bryant Wilson, chaplain in the World War overseas, is the present pastor.

The Siloam Baptist Church (colored) was

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organized in 1856 and existed until late in the eighties.

The Seventh Day Adventist Church of Sac- ramento was organized February 6, 1885, with ten members, by Elder E. A. Briggs, then a resident of Oakland. The congregation had been first established at Pleasant Grove, Sut- ter County, and had borne the name of that town, but in October of 1887 the place name was changed to Sacramento. The members of this denomination observe Saturday as the Sabbath.

In March of 1872 an Advent Church was organized in Sacramento by Elder Miles Grant with about thirty meinbers, but the organiza- tion existed only about four years. That con- gregation also observed Saturday as the Sab- bath.

The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was established in Sacra- mento in 1865, and met at first in the Chinese chapel on Sixth Street between H and I, next in Graham's Hall, later in the lower hall of the Masonic Building. Finally, in 1884, the society erected a frame building, 34 by 44 feet, on the corner of Twenty-fourth and K Streets, costing $2,100. This society has worked faithfully for the wiping out of polyg- amy. Among the elders who have served in the church are E. H. Webb, G. W. Harlow and J. H. Parr. The denomination also has a church on Fifth Avenue, Oak Park.

A small society of Brighamite (polygamous) Mormons were in existence in Sacramento in 1872, and for a few years afterwards.

The first Unitarian sermon preached in Sac- ramento was delivered by Rev. Mr. Brown, December 29, 1867, in the Metropolitan The- ater. During the spring of the following year the First Unitarian Church of Sacramento was organized, and the congregation increased rapidly for a time. It went down in 1873, but was revived in 1887 and worshiped in Pioneer Hall. A lot on Sixteenth Street between K and L was purchased, on which to erect an edifice. For some years Rev. C. P. Massey (now deceased) preached occasionally. For nearly seventeen years, with the exception of the occasional sermons of Mr. Massey, the church was without a pastor: and then, in 1911, Rev. Franklin Baker assumed the pas- torate and resumed the work.

Congregation B'nai Israel was formed in 1852. Previous to that there had been another organization, which met at the residence of M. Hyman, a jeweler on Front Street. Rev. Mr. Wolf officiated. The first synagogue owned by the society in this city was a small frame building on Fifth Street between N and O. This was sold afterward to the colored Baptists, who worshiped there until the build-

ing was destroyed by fire in 1861. The frame house on Seventh Street near L was purchased from the Methodist Episcopal Church for $3,500 and was converted into a synagogue. This building also was destroyed by fire in October, 1861, and in the early part of 1864 the congregation purchased the building on Sixth Street between J and K, previously used by the First Presbyterian Church. The build- ing was remodeled and then used for some time, but eventually was sold. The congrega- tion now worships in a fine synagogue which they erected on Fifteenth Street between N and O.

Ebenezer Church, Evangelical Association (German), was organized in 1881, and the fol- lowing year the present edifice was erected. It stands on Tenth Street between O and P. The old building, which was owned by Trinity Church, Evangelical Association, was sold in 1887, and that society disbanded many years ago. The church is now known as "The Evan- gelical Church.

The United Brethren in Christ have been represented in Sacramento for many years. During 1875-1876 Rev. Alexander Musselman took the first steps toward organizing a church of this denomination here. A series of meet- ings were held in the Calvary Baptist Church in 1876 by Rev. J. H. Becker and Rev. J. L. Field. In the fall of that year the present or- ganization was formed. The old building known as the Fourth Street Baptist Church was purchased for $3,000. The closing of the sale was delayed for some reason, and the society did not obtain possession of the build- ing until November, 1877. In September, 1878, they removed it to the corner of Four- teenth and K Streets, raised the building six feet, and repaired, repainted and refurnished it, the total cost of the work being $2,800. In 1884 a parsonage was erected on the lot ad- joining on the west. The pastors have been as follows: J. H. Becker, 1877-1878; D. D. Hart, who became pastor in 1878 and died in the pulpit in 1881; J. H. Becker, for various periods ; Revs. Field and Demondrum to 1883; Francis Fisher, two years; T. J. Bander, to September, 1888; J. W. Baumgardner, 1888- 1890; M. S. Bovez, 1890-1892; Harvey Bell, 1892-1894: Olin Lowe, 1894-1895; Daniel Shuck, 1895-1899; T. J. Bander, 1899-1900; William Thompson, 1900-1903; Homer Galla- her, 1903-1906; T. J. Bander, 1906-1907; L. Harter, 1907-1912; G. H. Smith, 1912-1913; J. T. Black, 1914-1917; J. J. Canoles, 1918; H. H. Haller, 1919-1920; O. P. Harnish, 1921 to the present time.

Almost every denomination is represented in Sacramento.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

CHAPTER XXVIII

FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS

Inception of Masonry in California

HE HISTORY of Masonry in California is so inextricably interwoven with the history of Masonry in Sacramento City, that we may be pardoned if we give a some- what extended mention of its inception. The first meeting of lodges that resulted in the formation of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of California took place in the city of Sacramento. For the early history of Masonry in the state we are indebted to the deep and tireless research of old records by Edwin A. Sherman (thirty-third degree), the venerable grand secretary of the Masonic Veteran Asso- ciation of the Pacific Coast, as set forth in his "Fifty Years of Masonry in California."

Even with the first explorers of the wilds west of the Rocky Mountains, came Masons as trappers, hunters and traders. Few, if any, such parties did not embrace within their ranks at least one or more Masons, fearless, energetic men, who carried in their bosoms the doctrines and secret ceremonies of the Mystic Tie, men of moral courage as well as physical, of stern integrity and fidelity to their Masonic obligations. Many a tale could be told of the devotion of these daring spirits to their distressed or imperiled brethren, and also to their comrades not bound to them by the ties of Masonry.

The first Masonic missionary, for he might well be classed as a missionary, who came to California, and returned to Missouri to bring from the grand lodge of that state the first charter for a Masonic lodge, was Peter Lassen. Long before the discovery of gold, he came here, brave, hardy and determined, and was untiring in his resolve to found a Masonic lodge here, while the country was still under the Mexican rule. Lassen was born in Copen- hagen, Denmark, August 7, 1800, and there learned his trade of blacksmith. At twenty- nine years of age he crossed the ocean to Bos- ton, and a few years after removed to Mis- sotiri. In 1839, with a party of others, he came to Oregon, and after spending the winter there, sailed in an English ship to Fort Bode- ga, then occupied by the Russians. The Mexi- can comandante sent a party of soldiers to prevent their landing, but the Russian gov-

ernor ordered the Mexican soldiers to leave or be shot down, and they retired. Lassen and his comrades were stranded and unable to get away, and appealed to the American consul at Monterey, stating that they had been denied passports and were without funds. that they wanted to proceed to the settlements or to obtain a pass to return to their own country. The appeal wound up with the characteristic statement: "Should we receive no relief. we will take up our arms and travel. consider ourselves in an enemy's country and defend ourselves with our guns."

After remaining at Bodega fifteen days, however, they managed to reach Yerba Buena and later Lassen went to San Jose, bought some land. in 1841 at Santa Cruz and set up a sawmill. In 1843 John Bidwell, Lassen and James Burheim pursued a party bound for Oregon as far as Red Bluff and recovered some stolen animals. Bidwell made a map of the valley and named the streams, and on his return Lassen applied to Governor Michel- torena for a grant of land, based on Bidwell's map. He received it and selected Deer Creek. in Tehama County, proceeding there the next spring and making the first settlement north of Cordua at Marysville. He laid out a town which he named Benton City, where he pro- posed to start a Masonic lodge. He laid out the Lassen road for immigrants and named Lassen Peak. This was before the discovery of gold, and in 1847 he went back to Missouri to get a charter for a lodge, several other Masons having joined him at Benton City. He obtained a charter for Western Star Lodge No. 98, May 10, 1848, naming Saschel Woods. master; L. E. Stewart, senior warden: and Lassen, junior warden. Hle returned with the charter and an immigrant train of twelve wagons, being joined at Pitt River by a party of Oregonians who had heard of the discovery of gold, of which he had not heard until they joined him. He did not learn that a Masonic lodge had been instituted at Oregon City, Sep- tember 11. 1848. under authority of the grand lodge of Missouri, or that Joseph Hull, the master, and several other Masons of that lodge were with the Oregon train. Neither party learned till long afterwards that any of the others were Masons, or that Lassen had a

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History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1923, Part 36

Author: Reed, G. Walter Publication date: 1923 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1026

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026