USA > California > San Francisco County > San Francisco > The retrospect. A glance at thirty years of the history of Howard street Methodist Episcopal church of San Francisco > Part 9
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ence in the church of a Chinese Sunday school, with J. J. Applegate superintendent. If from this cause, the price paid was very insignificant for the privilege of opening the way for the benighted heathen to find the world's and hence their Redeemer. The usual prosperity of the school was fully maintained under the faithful and efficient management of John F. Bvxbee as Superin- intendent : during the years 1869-70, with an average attendance of about 430 schol- ars, with 60 officers and teachers, with 1270 books in the library, Rev. L. Walker was the pastor. There is upon the records this minute. " In memoriam : Bro. E. L. Bar- ber died in January, 1870, and in his re- moval the Sunday school loses one of its most faithful and efficient teachers." W. H. Codington had charge of the Chinese school. and reported satisfactory results from the labors bestowed in that department of the work.
Chas. Goodall again came to the head of the school in 1871, and continued as super- intendent until 1873. The pastor, F. F. Jewell, reported Nov. 11th, 1872, an aver- age considerably smaller than the last fig- ures given in this sketch. The decrease was largely owing to the fact that the charge was without a regular pastor for a large
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part of the Conference year 1871-2, al- though the hour upon which it convened was an exceedingly unpopular one at that time. An increased attendance followed a change of hour almost immediately. A system of bi-monthly meetings held in the audience room of the church was in operation, which worked favorably also in bringing the Sun- day school and public congregation together. and centering healthy attention upon this part of church work. The average attend- ance, as given by the pastor's report in Feb., 1873, was 410. At this time the quarterly Conference, impelled by a healthy impulse, created a committee to establish a Mission Sunday school in Hayes Valley, where a school had for a time existed, but had been discontinued for lack of support. That committee reported May 23, 1873, as fol- lows : " Your committee, to whom you en- trusted the work of looking out a proper location for a Mission School, after having determined upon starting a school in Hayes Valley, found it impracticable to do so at present, because of a feeling which obtained with some that it would interfere with schools already organized." Thus the work which was but just opening in that locality was postponed for years, and we have noth- ing now where, ere this, we would have had
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a strong church organization by the blessing of God.
This year was started a second session of the school, which convened Sabbath A. M. at ten o'clock for instruction in the cate- chism and song services, and with the ex- pectation that many of the children would remain at the preaching service and assist in the singing. The result was excellent so far as the instruction and other advantages to the children were sought, but the second session was unable to rally teachers for its work, and was given up. The clamorings of the infant class about this time, which, under the care of Mrs. Emily Foster, as- sisted by Miss Octavia Jewell, had reached a membership of one hundred and fifty, was beginning to be heard for increased accom- modations. The pastor in his report to the fourth quarterly Conference of the first year of his pastorate, echoed these eries in these words : "I am compelled to say that the place where the infant class meets is entirely unfit for the purpose, being dark, illy ven- tilated, and uncomfortably seated. Nothing but the most inexorable necessity should content you to allow such a state of things to continue. Much more than the present capacity is needed for Sunday school, Bible classes, and infant class."
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S. Mosgrove, the new Superintendent brought into the school his characteristic energy and enterprise, and the school con- tinued to increase in numbers until the remodeling and enlarging of our Sunday school rooms was a necessity not to be long- er ignored ; and in connection with other much needed improvements the work was done. The pastor, in the report to the first quarterly Conference of the second year, 1873-74, so changed the tone of his refer- ence to the school accommodations as to say: "The new rooms, or rather the old rooms remodeled, enlarged and refurnished, are among the finest I have ever seen. The increase of light and of comfort in sitting cannot fail of appreciation, and we are ex- pecting to hear our presiding elder, J. W. Ross, say that as our room was the poorest for the purpose of any of our denomina- tion in the city, it is now the best."
The average attendance increased until at the second quarterly Conference of this year the report indicated fully six hundred in steady attendance. This gentle hint to the quarterly Conference appears in the re- port, which may not be inappropriate at some other time in the history of the school. " If some of the younger teachers were superseded by members of this quar-
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terly Conference and other older members of the church, a higher type of piety might be reached and fuller gospel results real- ized.
At the end of this Conference year the average attendance had reached 630, with nearly or quite 800 on the roll. The school continued to do its work harmoniously and with success during the following years. As the pastor's report was not spread upon the journal, we have not the figures or facts for the years which have elapsed since the dates above given. J. M. Buffington suc- ceeded Bro. Mosgrove as Superintendent, and introduced some new features into the management which worked advantageously. His blackboard drawings of the lesson thoughts were of the best execution, and assisted greatly in getting the lessons clear- ly before the minds of the scholars. Bro. Buffington's spirit and efficiency made him appreciated and beloved by the whole school ; and the work he did shall furnish a fruitage in " harvest home " on high. J. J. Applegate was elected as his success- or, and served a short time only, resigning his place which was filled by the election of J. K. Jones. Bro. Jones introduced the Roll Catechism, which is a feature of our school, and added much of interest to this necessary
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part of our Sunday-school instruction. His untiring labors in the school, his forcible and emphatic advocacy of Methodist doc- trines and usages, were productive of in- creased spirituality in the school, and many were gathered into the church from the Sunday-school ranks, during the remarkable revival under the labors of Bro. Harrison during Bro. Jones' administration.
The present Superintendent, Bro. J. W. Whiting, one of the organizing members of the church, and yet in the vigor and efficiency of full-orbed manhood was elected to the position last January, and is by his efficiency and popularity justifying the call which placed him there. The following is the order of Superintendents from the origin of our work until the present.
SENECA JONES. M. E. WILLING. HORACE HOAG.
W. H. CODINGTON, 3 terms.
SAM'L. S. SPRAGUE. CHARLES GOODALL, 2 terms. JOHN F. BYXBEE.
SAM'L MOSGROVE.
J. M. BUFFINGTON.
J. J. APPLEGATE.
Jos. K. JONES. J. W. WHITING.
HOWARD ST. M. E. SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LIST OF OFFICERS AND TEACHERS, NOV., 1883.
OFFICERS :
PASTOR REV. F. F. JEWELL
SUPERINTENDENT .J. W. WHITING
SECRETARY . J. KIRK FIRTH
ASSISTANT SECRETARY W. F. PERKINS TREASURER J. B. FIRTH
LIBRARIAN
W. M. INMAN
ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN
W. F. JANTZEN
66 WILLIAM HARRIS
66 66 NAT. T. COULSEN
66
66
H. F. PERRY
66 S. B. MARVIN
LEADER OF SINGING. MISS MAMIE CADY PIANIST MISS CARRIE KANOUSE
CLASS NO. 1. Adult Bible class, J. K. Jones, Teacher
66
2 J. B. Firth, 66
3. Mr. Draper,
4. .. Misses Miller and Bowman,
5 J. W. Whiting, 66
66
6. Miss Carrie Jantzen, 66
7 Miss A. Wilson, 66
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LIST OF TEACHERS.
CLASS No. 8. D. E. McConaughy, Teacher. 9 Miss Lizzie Curry, 66 " 11. Miss Laura Jones, 66 " 12 Miss Shearer,
66 66 13 Mrs. Perkins,
14 Miss Maggie Curry,
66
15 Miss S. Jones,
16 Mrs. W. B. Cluff, 66
66 19 Miss Dillie Little,
66 22 Mrs. J. K. Firth,
66
6: " 25 Mr. T. B. Smith,
66
66 26 Miss Nellie Williams,
66 “ 29 R. Pengelly,
30 Mrs. J. K. Jones, 66 66 31 Mr. J. C. Smith, 66
66 " 32 Mrs. Burley,
66
6. 66 33 Miss Annie Thompson,
“ 34. Miss Emma Beach, 66
66
4. 37 Mrs. J. B. Firth,
SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS :
Mr. Henry Thomas, Mr. W. M. Whittaker, Mr. J. H. Stitt (now Teacher Class No. 8).
INFANT CLASS.
Miss Birdie Harris Teacher
ASSISTANT TEACHERS :
Miss Katie Rowe, Miss Hattie Rowe, Miss Alice Reynolds, Miss Alice Stracham. Leader of infant class singing, Mr. S. M. Batchelder. 150 scholars enrolled in the Infant Class.
REV. F. F. JEWELL, D. D. Present Pastor.
FRIENDLY HINTS.
MY DEAR PEOPLE :- I rejoice to greet you in the name of the Lord, and unite with you in thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father for his many mercies to us as a church and people. Grateful for the past, let us prayerfully look toward our future.
Our mission is to save the world, instru- mentally, by bringing the unsaved as soon as possible to the "only wise God, our Sav- ior." No archangel is clothed with a high- er or more honorable commission, and we are not to suspend our efforts until the work is done.
Our qualifications for this work must ev- er consist in personal piety, and that vital alliance with Christ which follows an intel- ligent, earnest. and entire consecration to Him who gave himself for us.
Let us earnestly seek to understand and experimentally to comprehend the Genius of' Methodism. One has said Methodism was born in the heart of John Wesley, when, May 24th, 1738, he went to a society meet-
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ing in Aldersgate Street, London ; and, as he listened earnestly to the reading of Lu- ther's preface to the Romans, in which the great Reformer simply unfolds the doctrine of justification by faith, he suddenly felt his heart strangely warmed-felt that his burden of sin was gone, and that he was a new creature in Christ Jesus-felt " cheer- ed, elevated, excited; transported with sweet affections toward God." From that day the characteristics of Methodism have been :
(1.) Spirituality .- Methodism is emin- ently experimental : its kingdom is the heart. It is nothing if it is not heartfelt, fervent, warm. While it has its distinctive theology, whose salient feature is free-will ; and while it has an ecclesiastical polity of its own, whose distinctive feature is the itin- erancy ; the essential element vet of Method- ism always and everywhere is fervent relig- ion. Denominational, without being secta- rian or straight-laced, it affiliates cordially and promptly with all heart-felt loyalty to Christ; while holding aloft the shining doc- trine of the witness of the Spirit, it encour- ages that fond assurance of hope that en- ables one to say: "I know whom I have believed."
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I would urge you to a careful, prayerful examination of yourselves. Your personal relations to Christ are of vital importance. It is your privilege to know beyond a doubt that your names are written in the " Book of Life."
To know that your sins are forgiven ; that Jesus is your Advocate and Savior ; that the Holy Ghost is your Comforter and Sanctifier ; that your title to a glorious heavenly inheritance is perfect ; is an experi- ence which, dear friend, we urge you to maintain in all its warmth and brightness and power.
If you cannot witness to a present divine assurance that you belong by gracious adoption to the family of God, immediately seek for that witness of the Holy Ghost, whose token is the cry in your heart of " Abba, Father."
That ye may never lack this witness of the Spirit, in the name of the Lord Jesus we exhort you to "go on to perfection." It is your glorious privilege to be saved to to the uttermost ; to have Christ so dwell in your hearts that ye, " being rooted and grounded in Him, may be able to com- prehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to
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know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God."
Deep Christian experience has been the chief element of power in our church in the past, and is the surety of our success to-day. That Scripture which all the world reads is the epistle which is written on fleshly tables of the heart; epistles which walk and breathe and shine and blaze to the glory of God. Such epistles, known and read of all men, do we exhort you, dear brethren, to become. When your whole life shall be radiant with the Spirit of Christ, then will the darkness in the souls of men about you flee before the power of the light that is in you. Then give most earnest heed to personal spiritual life. This is the interest that overtops all others in life.
A constant walk with God, a constant con- sciousness of union with Christ, is secured only by a constant, faithful attention to pri- vate religious devotion. Then give your- selves much to secret prayer, and to the devout reading of God's word. These are the soul's proper food, and unless you gather this heavenly manna daily, spiritual decay and death will follow your neglect.
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ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION.
Methodism differs from other theological systems chiefly in teachings concerning en- tire sanctification or holiness of heart. This doctrine sustains such a relation to its in- ception, polity and subsequent history, that any view that does not make this primal must necessarily be a very imperfect one. The calling of Methodism was forecast in the training and spiritual struggles and ex- perience of its founders.
In reading God's word, they were awakened to see that they could not be saved without holiness of heart. Dr. Mc- Clintock said in his centenary address : "' Knowing exactly what I am saying, I re- peat we are the only church in history, from the apostles' time until now, that has put forth as its elemental thought the great central-pervading idea of the whole Book of God, from beginning to end ; the holiness of the human soul, heart, mind and will. It may be called fanaticism, but this is our mission."
Methodism began her work declaring her mission to be to " spread scriptural holiness over these lands," and she has achieved her most glorious victories when this doctrine
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had a place in her pulpit and in the hearts of the people. If, of God as we have fondly believed, then Wesley must have been right about the mission, if there is any relation between a mission and the work it accom- plishes; for this was the work of Methodism, spreading scriptural holiness everywhere it went.
She began her work by seeking " the power of godliness." She claimed divine sonship through the blood of the cross, and the witness of the Holy Spirit, and she has had something to say to the world on these subjects. This one fact is so blended with the entire fabric of Methodism, that it can- not be displaced without the subversion of the whole. Her testimony to the reality of entire sanctification, as an experience re- ceived by faith subsequent to conversion, is as clear and positive as any testimony ever recorded in her annals. The Wesleys, Fletchers, Bramwells, Carvossos and Cook- mans, together with an innumerable throng whose names are as ointment poured forth, are among her best witnesses on the sub- ject of the "power of godliness" in the human soul. "Their feet rested lightly on earth, they trampled on its wealth and pride. They swept through it like apocalyptic
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angels. They vanished from it like a trans-
lation. They have joined the shining ranks of the redeemed that walk with the Lamb in white, over on the immortal shores. The glory of their transfigured lives will shine as the stars forever and ever."
(2.) Sociality .- The social life of the church is next to its spiritual life, in its rela- tion to its success as a soul-winning agency in the world. It may be misplaced, and re- lied upon for results without reasonable warrant ; or it may be separated from its true relations, and thus involve danger to the church. When you were received into the church, you heard the pastor say : " The fellowship of the church is the communion its members have one with another. Its more particualar duties are to promote peace and unity, to bear one another's bur- dens, to prevent each other's stumbling, to seek the intimacy of friendly society among themselves, to continue steadfast in the faith and worship of the Gospel, and to pray and sympathize with each other."
It requires no severe analysis to discover much more here than a personal attention to the ordinances of worship, and a coming together in the direct services of religion. The " ends " of this fellowship are else-
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where stated, while here we have what the church supposes-and teaches-to be the duty devolving upon each of its members. The " communion " is its friendly, brother- ly intercourse at the table of the Lord, in the social religious meeting, in the walks of business life, in the social gatherings of the brotherhood, and in the closer intimacies of the family and more private circles. And surely, " to seek the intimacy of friendly so- ciety among themselves " is sufficiently spe- cific and distinct to require no help for its interpretation. It points directly to social life. There is no need of any radicalism in this matter, or of any exclusion of those who are not united with us in the same church, but simply to be true to the genius and traditions of Methodism. Let an echo of the Ecumenical Conference endorse what I now say :
"I believe that one of the greatest ele- ments of strength in the early Methodists was the fact that wherever you went into a Methodist church, you found yourself not in a sepulcher but in a home. A great deal can be done in the way of heartily wel. coming visitors. In the early Methodist chapels no young man went and stood for several minutes at the door, wondering
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whether there was any seat which he could enter : there were scores of hands ready to be held out to meet him. And, at the close of the service, those to the right and those to the left were prepared to stand by his side, and help him to live a godly, righteous and sober life. This is one way in which the laymen can help us. The preacher can- not, because he is in the pulpit. We should not leave showing strangers into a seat to chapel-keepers ; but every layman should be a chapel-keeper. Let no one even ap- proach the door of a Methodist chapel with- out receiving a hearty welcome there."
" I attend your church now, because when I came there first your folks gave me a welcome. I concluded that they were social people." Such was the reason given by a gentleman to a member of one of our churches for identifying himself with the congregation. He had gone to several places of worship in search of a Sabbath home, without finding one adapted to his wants. He received no recognition either before or after the services, and re- tired feeling that he was a stranger if not an intruder. But the courtesy shown him by one of the ushers, and the interest mani- fested in his presence by the cordial saluta-
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tions he received from several who politely addressed him as he was leaving the place, impressed him with a sense of their kind- ness, made him to feel that his presence was valued, and gave him assurance that he would find such friends as he would feel at home with. It is not by simply suspend- ing the word " Welcome " in the vestibules of our churches that this result is to be ac- complished. There should be a polite, per- sonal recognition of the stranger, and such a greeting as will not fail to convey the im- pression that sincere pleasure is felt in the presence of the new-comer. By taking pains to make the acquaintance of a stran- ger, and by giving him an introduction to one or two members of the church, ties will quickly be formed that will hold to a congregation not a few who are now stroll- ing from place to place under a miserable feeling of isolation, and which will prove to be one of the strongest links in the chain of means and influences ordained to draw them to God and bind them to his service. " When the First Presbyterian Church of New York stood in Wall street. Robert Lennox, then an eminent merchant, was a member. He took a great interest in young men, especially those who were strangers.
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He invariably on Sundays took the position of usher, welcomed all new-comers, and es- corted them to comfortable seats. Stand- ing in the vestibule one day he saw a young man coming up the steps, evidently a stran- ger, and with the air of one who felt him- self an intruder.
" The frank and hearty merchant met the young man on the threshold, gave him his hand, and told him he was glad to see him that morning in the house of the Lord.
". You are a stranger, I presume,' he said.
"' Yes ; this is my first Sabbath in New York, and my mother charged me to rever- ence the house of the Lord.'
"Just in from his country home the young man was not over-dressed. Mr. Lennox escorted him up the centre aisle and seated him in his own pew.
"The next morning the young man went to a business house, to see if he could get a small bill of goods. He gave his referen- ces.
" Did I not see you in Mr. Lennox's pew yesterday ?' said the merchant.
"' I don't know, sir. A gentleman gave me a seat in church, and sat down beside me.'
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"' Well, young man, that gentleman was Robert Lennox, and I will trust any young man whom Mr. Lennox seats in his pew.' " That young man became an eminent merchant. To the day of his death he said : 'I owe all I am in this world to that Sun- day when Mr. Lennox invited me to sit in his pew.'"
This spirit should more than anywhere else characterize the prayer meetings and class meetings of the Church. The true idea of the Church is that it is a family- God's family. Its members are children of one Father, and brothers and sisters one of another. A prayer-meeting, therefore, is a family meeting. It is a reunion of brothers and sisters. The service is of the character of a feast ; and we all know that after feasting comes talking and exhibition of good nature. After the formal portion of the service is over, brethren, why not stay and have an informal service of your own ? Talk of whatever the Spirit suggests ; tell your joys and your sorrows, your hopes and your fears, one to another. "Laugh with those who laugh, and weep with those who weep." At least stay long enough, after the formal service, to shake hands with the pastor and with each other, and greet any
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stranger that may chance to have dropped in among you of an evening. Lubricate the wheels of your Church machinery with the " oil of gladness," and you will be aston- ished at the ease with which all its parts will soon be working together. "Salute every saint in Christ Jesus."
(3.) Family Religion .- Whilst Ro- manism and some forms of Protestantism make the church the instructor and guide of the child, Methodism has always empha- sized the importance of family religion. I bescech you, dearly beloved, to make your homes the sanctuaries of God. Let noth- ing destroy your family altars. Cultivate hearthstone religion, that your children may grow up taught in the Word, and familiar with the voice of prayer and praise. Let the aroma of your devotion penetrate all your family relations. Let all who dwell in your homes behold the great satis- faction which you have in the service of God. Especially, by the beauty of a holi- ness that puts its glory on all your words and acts, by the charm of a piety that is ever full of hope and of good cheer, by the power of a faith at once triumphant and joyful, commend the religion of Jesus to all your household. If we are to acknowledge
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God in all our ways, if we are to commit our interests to his keeping in the confi- dence that He cares for us and will direct our steps, certainly this ought to be done in the family if anywhere. All the excuses that are offered on the part of those who have no recognition of God in the house ; who sit down to the table morning, noon, and night-a table spread with the bounties of God's providence, and neither ask God's blessing upon the food, nor thank him for what He does for them, feeding themselves like brute beasts off from the bounties of God's providence ; who build no family al- tar, who never call their children together to join in the reading of God's word, and in prayer for Heaven's blessing-what wonder if God's face is against them ? Has he not threatened to pour out his indignation on the heathen, and on the families that call not on his name? There can be no Chris- tian home without a family altar, from which daily rises the incense of prayer and praise. Let care be used that the altar- fires never go out. Let each member of the family, so far as may be, share in the exercises of family devotion. Let all the members of the household be present. Let the children grow up under these influ-
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