USA > California > Contra Costa County > The history of Contra Costa County, California > Part 24
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Back in 1879, on the 27th and 28th of March, for the benefit of the Congregational church fund, one of the most elaborate and successful entertainments ever given in Martinez took place. It was in charge of Mrs. James Weeks, who, as Miss Jane Lyons, one of the early Mar- tinez teachers, arranged the first school exhibition ever presented in this town. She gave much time and thought to the production of the pro- gram, and made many of the costumes herself.
In a reminiscence of this entertainment, Mrs. Weeks says that the large rude building in which it was given was admirably fitted to her requirements. The mechanism of the stage was arranged by a young man then connected with the church, and it worked perfectly. The pea- cocks which drew Juno's chariot were made of pasteboard and paper, painted to imitate the plumage of the real birds. They were drawn by invisible wires across the stage. Iris flew through the air in advance of the chariot, and so perfectly did the sliding apparatus work that the de- lusion of flight was excellent. The first scene was the fairy scene, which showed a forest with two fountains playing. The edge of the stage was turfed and dotted over with pansies. The rocks were made of fruit- boxes, painted to simulate stones. Fairies were perched everywhere. During the scene the music of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was played on a piano in the gallery. The playing was fine, but the specta- tors did not listen to it, for they became so excited at the beauty of the tableaus that they rose to their feet and shouted with pleasure, drown- ing the sweet strains. A beautiful rainbow, made of wire and tarleton, was exhibited during the Norse scenes, and was an excellent imitation of the heavenly arch.
Several prominent Martinez people took characters in the different scenes, among them being George Sherman, who represented Jupiter ; Mrs. Sherman, Juno; Mr. Wittenmyer, Mars; Mr. Bailhache, Pluto; Mrs. Davenport, Persephone ; Mrs. Mathews, Roman Liberty.
These two entertainments netted two hundred dollars for the church fund.
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CONGREGATIONALIST
The Congregationalists instituted their first societies in this county in 1863, in which year they organized two churches, one at Crockett and the other at Clayton. These churches have continued their existence all these years, and have served the communities in which they exist with faithfulness. The oldest Congregational church building in the county is that at Clayton, erected in 1868. Crockett has had two church build- ings, the first being built in 1883. In 1913 it was so completely remodeled and enlarged as to become practically a new building. The present pas- tor of this church, the Rev. E. O. Chapel, was the pastor at that time.
In 1865 the society at Antioch was organized and soon thereafter erected a building, which was succeeded in 1891 by the present large and beautiful church. In 1910 a handsome and commodious parsonage was added. The Antioch church is one of the most beautiful and well- kept church properties in the entire county. The Rev. A. B. Roberts has been the pastor since 1912.
Nine years elapsed before another Congregational church was started in the county. In 1874 a society was organized at Martinez. From that time this organization has worked uninterruptedly, and today they have a very attractive church and an uncommonly convenient and commodi- ous manse, centrally and beautifully situated at the county seat. This society numbers among its members now, as it has in the years gone by, many of the substantial and influential men and women of the com- munity. To meet the needs of this rapidly growing center, the church has just called the Rev. George E. Atkinson to become its pastor. He entered upon his work at the beginning of September, 1916. This church is facing a great opportunity, and facing it with courage.
In 1882 a church was started at New York Landing, called the Black Diamond Congregational Church. This organization worshiped in the brick schoolhouse for some time, until the church building, at Norton- ville was moved to Black Diamond; then later, with the change of the name of the town to Pittsburg, the church's name was changed accord- ingly. This organization in the years just passed has done much good in the community. It is fully abreast the times. The adequate and artistic parsonage, built a little over a year since, is the home of their energetic and pushing pastor, the Rev. C. C. Champlin. It is just announced that two splendid lots, one on either side of the church property, have been
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given to the church, looking forward in the near future to the erection of a building adequate to their growing community needs. This church aspires to meet the needs of the Protestant community for all sorts of church and social life.
The Port Costa church was organized and built in 1891. Here a Sun- day-school has been maintained faithfully for these years, and the con- gregation has depended for the most part for its preaching either upon a student from the seminary or a pastor of one of the neighboring churches at Crockett or Benicia.
The Bay Point church was built in 1909 by the co-operation of the community, the lumber company, and the Congregational Conference. A society was organized in 1910. A parsonage was erected two years later. This church has therefore just begun a service that is much needed.
The last society to be organized in this county by the Congregational- ists was at Richmond, in 1915. Its activities are confined to the district across the railroad tracks toward the hills, entirely away from the exist- ing churches, and in response to a demand by the people in that vicinity. At its organization the pastors of several churches in other parts of the city of Richmond were present, and the council decided to start this church in response to the people's statement of its need in the com- munity. The Rev. J. B. Orr is its pastor at the present time. The rapid growth in membership and in the number of Sunday-school pupils testi- fies to a good future in store for it.
Perhaps the best page of Congregational history in this county con- sists in the church deaths it has had. In 1877 a church was started at Pacheco and continued to exist as long as it seemed that a center of any considerable size would exist there. Thus the denomination manifested its desire to be of service to communities that might need it. In 1903, to meet the needs of the newly organized community, a church was start- ed at Oakley. Later the Methodist church at Neroly moved into town ; still later a Baptist church was organized. There seemed to be no room for so many Protestant societies in so small a community. The Congre- gationalists therefore sold the church to the improvement club, and their members work with the Methodist church, thus doing in this county what needs to be done in many places, consolidate little churches into larger ones.
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BAPTIST
Baptist history in Contra Costa County is of quality rather than quan- tity. There are only four Baptist churches now at work in this county, the oldest of which is the San Pablo church. Our Gospel Boat colpor- teur is visiting a number of towns with a view of organizing missions and churches in destitute religious fields, but this is of the future rather than the present.
The San Pablo church was first organized in the old town of San Pablo, and later was moved to the new town. It is the only Protestant church in the community, and the only Baptist church in the State, so far as we know, that has its own cemetery.
The next oldest is the church at Oakley, which was organized Au- gust 10, 19II, with a charter membership of seventeen. This church gave liberally to missions during that year, as they averaged over three dollars a member.
The Point Richmond church was organized in 1911, with a member- ship of eighteen. Their growth has been steady, and they now have a membership of forty-four.
Calvary Church, Richmond, was organized as a branch of the Point Richmond church January 8, 1912, with a charter membership of thir- ty-two. They also have had a steady influx of members, now having 108. This church since its organization has always taken a keen interest in missions, having met its budget and sometimes exceeding it every year.
At the present time the Point Richmond church is the only church that has a pastor, although the others will probably call one soon. The Rev. C. W. Howd, a student at the Berkeley Divinity School, is supply- ing the Point Richmond church as pastor very acceptably.
CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST
The inauguration of the Christian Science movement in Contra Costa County dates from the early part of January, 1909, when seven women who had felt the healing touch of divine love, and whose gratitude could only find expression in giving to the field that which had been of such inestimable value to themselves, met in a private residence and perfected plans for the holding of Christian Science services. Accord-
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ingly, two second-floor rooms were rented in the building occupying the southeast corner of Macdonald Avenue and Seventh Street, and. the first service was held there on January 17th. Soon, however, these rooms proved inadequate, and it was decided to erect a small building, to be used as a Christian Science reading-room, on a lot in Sixteenth Street owned by one of their number, and in it all the activities of the movement were conducted.
With the removal into their new building in April the attendance in- creased. The interest manifested seemed to justify an organization, and on May 5, 1909, the Christian Science society of Richmond was organ- ized with eighteen members. In the spring of 1910 the society purchased a lot in Nevin Avenue near Fifteenth Street and moved their building thereon.
While these activities were being conducted the Christian Scientists in the county seat were not unmindful of the good to be accomplished in their field by united action, so only about one year after the Rich- mond society was organized a similar organization was formed in Mar- tinez, which is still being maintained and is making a steady and stable growth.
The organization of a society which followed close upon that of Mar- tinez was that of Stege, it being formed in the latter part of the year 1910.
Meanwhile Christian Scientists in Antioch were holding meetings in a private residence, but early in the year 1911, as more and more inter- est was manifested in the work, the hall of the Odd Fellows and Ma- sons was secured, where their services are still being held. In July of the same year the Christian Science society of Antioch was formed, and later purchased a desirable lot and is now contemplating building.
In June, 1912, the society at Richmond disbanded and reorganized as the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Richmond, and since that time they have twice found it necessary to seek larger quarters ; the first time in Pythian Castle, and about one year later in the auditorium of the new building of the Richmond Club, 1125 Nevin Avenue, near Twelfth Street, where their services are now being held.
In July, 1912, the society at Stege reorganized, and Stege having been in the meantime annexed to Richmond, this organization became known as the Second Church of Christ, Scientist, in Richmond. A lot was pur-
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chased on Bay Avenue and a small building erected, and there services are still being conducted.
In February, 1913, two women at Walnut Creek began reading the lesson-sermons together, and as this became known others joined them, and very soon the room was outgrown. In April a temporary organiza- tion was formed and later Masonic Hall was secured for their regular services. A permanent organization was effected in January, 1914, and a growing interest is being continually manifested in the work there.
The experience at Walnut Creek was not at all unusual and was re- peated in Pinole in the summer of 1914, when three persons began read- ing the lesson-sermons in a private residence and were soon compelled to seek larger quarters. Great interest in Christian Science is being man- ifested there, and it is only a matter of a little time when the work will be organized.
All the Christian Science organizations have Sunday-schools which are being largely attended, the children being particularly receptive to the truth and verifying the saying of our Master : "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein."
The Churches of Christ, Scientist, as well as some of the societies, maintain free reading-rooms and circulating libraries, thus affording the public an opportunity to read or purchase authorized Christian Sci- ence literature.
The reader will have noticed that the growth of Christian Science in Contra Costa County has not been phenomenal, but steady and stable ; the foundational work being thoroughly well done, the future growth of the movement is assured.
Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer and founder of Christian Science, defined the church as "The structure of Truth and Love," "That insti- tution which affords proof of its utility," and Christian Scientists every- where are proving that it does "elevate the race" and is "casting out er- rors and healing the sick."
EPISCOPAL
The first services of this church within the present boundaries of Con- tra Costa County, so far as there is any record, was held by the Rt. Rev. William Ingraham Kip, D. D., Bishop of California, at Martinez, in 1855 or 1856. These were followed in the next few years by occa-
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sional service as lay-readers by one or another of the United States Army officers from the arsenal at Benicia. In 1869 a missionary parish was formed and a small church building erected under the direction of the Rev. E. C. Cowan, of Doctor Lloyd Breck's associate mission at Benicia, and named Grace Church.
Under the ministrations of a succession of earnest clergy the parish had a healthy growth, and on the excellent site originally chosen there have since been erected a suitable church building and rectory with other improvements, and a considerable extension of these buildings is now being planned. The present resident priest in charge is the Rev. E. G. Davies.
The next church, called St. Paul's, was built at Walnut Creek in 1891, where a most devoted little band of people have faithfully sus- tained services under the direction of the Rev. Hamilton Lee, the Rev. Hale Townsend, and others.
At Richmond services were begun and Trinity Church was organ- ized in 1901, by the Rev. D. O. Kelly. A good parsonage on a fine site well up on the hill looking out over the bay toward the Marin County hills, was soon afterward built, and later a church near the business center of the city. The original plan of the beginners of the church here contemplated an institutional work, as best suited to the prospective in- dustrial character of the place. It is hoped such a plan may yet be rea- lized. At present, as in fact it has been from the beginning, nominally at least, the administration of the mission here is under the Venerable John A. Emery, archdeacon of the diocese, through the Cathedral Staff for Missions.
A branch of the Seamen's Institute of the diocese, at Port Costa, with its reading-rooms and chapel nestled upon the hillside overlooking the wharves, should be mentioned as an interesting and valuable work for seafaring men.
Occasional services are held at several other points, as Concord and Lafayette, in the interior of the county.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL
The original Methodist church of Martinez was built on lot I, block 32, of the original survey of the town. On December 13, 1853, the lot was donated by Seth M. Swain to the following trustees : Isaac P. Van Ha-
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gew, William S. Bryant, and Stephen B. Cook. Lots I and 2, block 32, and the buildings thereon, were sold to the Congregational church for one thousand dollars on February 8, 1878, by the following trustees : Orris Falls, H. M. Stanage, and W. C. Pratt.
On April 23, 1888, the Rev. M. D. Buck, presiding elder of the Napa district, purchased lots 7 and 8, block 23, for $350, which money was part of sale of original property. On August 2, 1889, the Rev. J. M. Van Every, the pastor, secured a quitclaim deed for them, and the lots were conveyed to the following trustees: James M. Stowe, Samuel Kelly, and D. R. Thomas. On May 30, 1889, a church was organized, but, after consultation with an attorney, it was thought illegal, since the day was a legal holiday. Because of needed time to secure a proper title, the organization was delayed until August 12, 1889, when it took place at Masonic Hall, with the Rev. J. M. Van Every as president and Fanny Van Every as secretary. Brother Van Every brought his family to Martinez, March 22, 1889, and preached his first sermon in Martinez, March 24, 1889, in Bennett's Hall, to a congregation of nine people. Within a week or two a Sunday-school was formed, and after a month of services in Bennett's Hall the congregation moved to Masonic Hall. On May 9, 1889, a ladies' aid society was formed. During May and June a course of lectures was given by the following pastors : The Rev. W. W. Case, D. D., pastor of Central Methodist Church, San Fran- cisco; the Rev. Robert Bentley, D. D., presiding elder of Oakland dis- trict ; and the Rev. E. R. Dille, D. D., pastor of First Methodist Church, Oakland.
On September 16, 1889, Rev. Jas. Blackledge was appointed to Mar- tinez. In March, 1890, Antioch was joined to the charge, and there the pastor preached every Sunday evening. About the same time he also organized a Sunday-school at Pinole and preached there Sunday after- noons.
At the fourth quarterly conference the following trustees were ap- proved : C. F. Diehl, Samuel Kelly, and Hart A. Downer. It was de- cided to purchase a more central location for the church property, so lots 1 and 2, block 39, were bought from Byron Brown for one thousand dollars, Doctor J. Strentzel lending the money to the trustees for one year without interest. Building on the new church, which was to cost about twenty-five hundred dollars, was begun August 16, 1890.
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The Rev. D. Brill was appointed to Martinez September 20, 1890. The new pastor found the frame of the church up and partly inclosed and no money in sight to complete the enterprise.
During the year Doctor Strenzel died, but Mrs. Strenzel and her daughter, Mrs. John Muir, continued to be of great financial help to the church, as Doctor Strenzel had been.
The lots purchased during Brother Van Every's pastorate were sold for six hundred dollars, and shortly after a contract was let to build a parsonage adjoining the church for six hundred and fifty dollars.
On February 15, 1891, the church was opened for dedication, but because of a severe rain-storm was postponed until March.
The Rev. G. M. Meese was pastor in 1893 and 1894. On Christmas day, 1894, Mrs. Strenzel presented to the board of trustees the can- celed note for one thousand dollars. This left the church with an in- debtedness of two hundred and eighty dollars. During the year Mrs. Strenzel and Mrs. Muir spent two hundred dollars in improvements on the church. A new organ was secured, and Mrs. Muir paid the bill. March 2, 1895, Martinez was made a circuit with Pinole.
The pastors of the Martinez church, with time of their pastorate, are as follows: John M. Van Every, March 22, 1889, to September, 1889; James Blackledge, September 16, 1889, to September, 1890; D. Brill, September 20, 1890, to September, 1893; G. M. Meese, September II, 1893, to September, 1895; E. B. Winning, September 16, 1895, to Sep- tember, 1896; S. Kinsey, September 15, 1896, to September, 1899; Thomas Leak, September 12, 1899, to September, 1901 ; J. R. Wolfe, September, 1901, to September, 1902; T. C. Gale, September, 1902; Leon E. Bell, September 19, 1903, to December 27, 1903; George F. Samwell, September, 1904, to September, 1905; M. J. Gough, Septem- ber, 1905, to September, 1907; E. H. Mackay, September, 1907, to Sep- tember, 1908; E. J. Bristow, September, 1908, to September, 1910; L. C. Carroll, December, 1915, to date.
Antioch became a charge by itself in 1890, and has continued since, with pastors in charge as follows, in the order named : F. A. Morrow, 1901-1902; J. M. Barnhart, 1902-1906; C. B. Sylvester, January 14, 1907, to September, 1908; T. A. Towner, 1908-1909; Earnest Grigg, 1909-1911 ; D. O. Colgrove, 1911-1912; L. P. Walker, 1912-1914; W. C. Howard, 1914-1915; and the present pastor, Charles Swithenbank,
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appointed by Bishop Edwin H. Hughes at the Annual Conference held in San Francisco, in September, 1915.
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
The Byron Seventh-Day Adventist church was organized in 1913, with a membership of fourteen. A handsome new church was erected in that year costing one thousand dollars. Religious worship is held each Sab- bath at three P. M., and Sabbath-school is held at two P. M. on Sabbath day. Doctor J. W. Hammond, of Byron, is elder, and his wife is treas- urer.
CHAPTER XXI
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
BY DR. C. L. ABBOTT
ACCORDING to early Indian traditions of the San Francisco Bay section of California, there were both medicine-men and medicine-women. The superstitions of these primitive people attributed to them supernatural powers, in virtue of which they were held equal to the chiefs of their tribe. All honor to the medicine-man when he could bring back to his tribesmen strength and endurance for conquests, but should he fail he was apt to be physically punished for his shortcomings.
The great cure-all was the sweat-bath in the sweat-house, or temescal, which, quoting from Bancroft's "Native Races of the Pacific States," "was built in the shape of an inverted bowl, generally about forty feet in diameter at the bottom, built of strong poles and branches of trees, cov- ered with earth to prevent the escape of heat. There was a small hole near the ground, large enough for Diggers to creep in, one at a time, and another at the top to give out the smoke. When a dance is given, a large fire is kindled in the center of the edifice, and the crowd assem- bles. The apertures, both above and below, are then closed, and the dan- cers take their positions. Simultaneously with the commencement of the dancing, which is a kind of shuffling hobble-de-hoy, the 'music' bursts forth. Yes, music fit to raise the dead. A whole legion of devils broke loose. Such screaming, shrieking, yelling and roaring was never before heard since the foundation of the world. A thousand cross-cut saws filed by steam power-a multitude of tom-cats lashed together and flung over a clothes-line-innumerable pigs under a gate-all combined would produce a heavenly melody compared to this ; yet this uproar, deafening as it is, might possibly be endured, but another sense soon comes to be saluted. Talk of the thousand stinks of the City of Cologne. Here are at least forty thousand combined in one grand overwhelming stench. Round about the roaring fire the Indians go capering, jumping, and screaming, with the perspiration streaming from every pore. They rush
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frantically around the walls in hope to discover some weak point through which they may find egress, but the house seems to have been constructed purposely to frustrate such attempts. More furious than caged lions, they rush bodily against the sides, but the stout poles resist every onset." The medicine-man of the ranchería would then open the door and, followed by all the inmates, rush wildly to the river, into which they would plunge, and those who survived the awful shock would gather on the bank to sleep off their exhaustion, and the fandan- go was over.
In 1833 cholera killed thousands of Indians, destroying whole settle- ments, and even tribes, often not leaving enough of the living to dispose of the dead.
The dead were held sacred. The burying-ground was a place of re- ligious worship and prayer, although the majority of Indian dead of this section were burned. The funeral bier was a weird scene of wild orgies and cantations of friends and relatives of the deceased.
Mount Diablo, practically centrally situated and rising to a height of nearly four thousand feet, causes a climatography which is peculiar only to Contra Costa County. The ocean winds of the summer and the southeast winds of the winter, blowing against its ragged rocks, antag- onize and yet harmonize the seasons most perfectly. The western half of the county, cool and temperate, with a daily ocean breeze, has always been practically free from epidemics of contagious diseases, yet the frail and anemic are here subject to the catarrhal congestions of mucous- membrane diseases.
The great central valley, with its coast windbreak of western hills sheltering it from the fog and the force of heavy winds, and giving a modified temperature under the fog-bank without its disagreeable fea- tures, forms a recreating and recuperating spot second to none in the United States.
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