New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-10-24
SKETCHES or SERMONS.
CHRISTIANITY IN CALIFORNIA.

Yesterday afternoon the Rev j. H. Brayton delivered
lecture on the state OF Christianity IN ClhiOnla at the
PIesby teHan Church West Twentieth f. Inc lecturer
commenced by remarking that the finger II Providence
vas ny concerned IN the events which occurred in
is4s in connection with this western settlement In that
year contract was made 10y the United states Govern
inent with the Pacific Seamshp Company, for the trans
mission of mails Early in May OF the same year peace
was declared with Mexico and California became one Of
our Possessions In that the succeeding week gold
was discovered and it about this time that Mission
aries therwork nthat country having arrived
there before obtaining inell gence of that event
II was in the Mon Theological Seminary Of New York
that fellow student first had hs attention turned to that
field Gs that oud hereafter become 81 great Interest
end importance. tie, n company with cassmate enlisted
In the Home Missionary Society and had Just obtained the
appointment proceed ththeE when the news OF the DIS
coyeIy Of gold reached tbs coast There could DC no
clearer evidence of the direction of Providence in this
matter than that ne population VINO rushed mere az INC
CIV Of gold should be By the preachers Of the Gospel
Beside those who went from this part OF the country the
Rev Mr Hunt who had charge Of church az Honolulu
on the Sandwich Islands whose members locked to San
Francisco joined in the mis- ionary work in a~ city Tbs
the commencement OF the missionary enterprise IN
California.
After describing the harbor and city of san Francisco
The lecturer proceeded 20 descrbe the land IN the neigh
hothood as m :. beautiful and fertile IL impossible
10 conceive of anything exqulsieiy beautiful than
hose valleys when adorned with all the yerdure OF spnns
The slopes the hills covered VITA green consisting
enher Of Wild oats or I'D grass studded here ana there
with proud and lofty trees, and richly inter peset with
natur, choicest ornaments flowers and shrubs Ice
county around tie city Tor Aeen or twenty hIe' "es
of the attractive character and well adapted Tor VIA
residences and exc client homes =,
One hundred and twenty miles up the Sacramento RIVER
stood tie city Of Sacramento and along the coast TOR
seven or eight hundred miles there tact OF county
b.uded by the high mountain peaks on me norm ana me
Sacramento valley on the south which hemmed in be
tween tho hills and overlooked during the WINTER AMI
string On the San joaquin River stood Stockton, AMI IN
addition TO the principal towns were many smaller ones
rising III various parts Of tie country Auburn ana ullo
ma where gold first discovered were places Of con
siderable interest At first the Inhabitants OF these towns
were exceedingly unny tim, and Their morals OF the low
est description But during the asl five years great i'm
provome1ts had bee Elected in this respect To the Rev
Nh Taylor a Methodist Missionary, was due the ere.
M Of be inc the ls ~ raise hs voice in the plaza Of
San Francisco in the praise OF the living God lie com
meucoL fIst by giving CAT hymn and singing 1t himself
This attracted the attention Of the bystanlcr and IN
short time he Joined 10y considerable number OF that
mixed population. lie ayailed himself ri he opportunity
proclaim 70 them tie truths OF tie Gospel and aier con
inLoUs eIorts lie succeeded in securing me an)h OF
the more serious portion Ibis humble beginning was sue
ceedCd by more sysematc effort. aud tie ea0.ishnelt
OF church The Rev. Nr HUNK 60 nmcu'el preaching 10
a small room ia the city with services 81 very
simple 1t gratifying 10 see that n" these
cities and towns contained many churches wan ther Deau
ul white spires bearing 81 Ostantia evidence OF the sue
cess which has attended missionary aboTs 10 that country
Cities and towns which few years ago were composed
OF The hnbest tents were noW beng CONSTRUCTED OF SUP
staEtal brick, and the trees were presenting Sd ini lIe
alpearancc OF eastern cies hat were Il nOt Tor
tie abseIce II friends and the superior character oi the
climate j. would be easy 10 imagine oneself 10 home.
During Lis stay in the cOaIiry he had m vh several
instances OF mOnOmauiacs rather he should say money
maniac One vas that OF old gentiem "a rom Phna
deIfIa, who hA4 iut l.tl az 4iAiS
10 him in dream Of lake with sands Of gold which he
believed he should fnd somewhere between me hlIs. lie
succeeded in converting hundreds and thousand 81 PEI
rlc t@i faith who followed him hill and through
rc,ires several hundred mes II az last sng their con
fde1ce In their prophet they attempted T. make hin
ausrtyr to his deusion he how YER escaped from their
,iol,nce and his disciples returned 20 their homes
The Sabbath observed there in very different way
from what be bad been accustomed to- ~ one place where
he preaching h. found that two auct0neers we're n
yalng him IN attractions. Some OF tbs people would
stand and i-fen h PREACHING for time, and then
divert their attention O. the preceding u the auc
tOneers who eNFerdng their coquence IN PRAISE OF
the horses and cattle which being exhibited before
them.
There were nearly hundred thousand Mexican Cab
olc ~ enty ave thousand Chinese and vast number OF
various other nations now resident 10 Calf IN and al
though the safe OF sociey there was blt-altnouyh
gambling carried 70 fearful extent and other
vices existed which deeply TO Be dep.ored-these
were being suhdUed By the influence Of enlightened
Christianity and California might be pronounced az better
than either India China any Of the Pagan nations
Political corruption however the most dhcut 70 Do
removed. He believed that California would ere lOng
become the great center OF missionary operations for the
cony ersiou OF the Pagan world few year, ago Il was
difficult ind one in twenty Of tie settlers who did not
intend 10 return their homes but there scarce
~ in twenty who had not determined upon remlning
there finding that the peesanter than IN the
Eastern States and the scenery more inviting and nyrs
grand.