Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-12-25
Something Lacking.

1t is with genuine pleasure that we
refer to every evidence of enterprise
on the part of our citizens, and few
copies of the HERALD have been is
sued without calling attention to some
substantial Improvement in our city.
There is still great deal to do how
ever to bring Los Angeles up to the
standard that a city of her wealth and
population ought to aspire to, and one
of the first things that ought to en-
gage the attention of public spirited
citizens is the Improvement of our
church accommodations At present
they amount to just nothing at all,
when the requirements Of city of 12,-
600 inhabitants are considered, to say
nothing Of the constant influx of stran-
gers coming here for health and pleas
ure.
The Jewish Synagogue is the only
creditable church building in town.
1t is a really handsome building, and
should be a standing rebuke to the
Christian denominations for allowing
their fiocks to go unprovided for. The
Catholics have the next best house,
and they have made beginning to-
ward putting up building worthy Of
the church and the city, but their dill
atory progress is not very encouraging.
The Nj. E. Church worships in very
unpretending little brick house on
Fort street, and while it may be large
enough to accommodate the immedi-
ate members, there is nothing about it
to attract the sojourner, and it certain
ly is not an ornament to the city. The
NJ. E. South, occupies Leck's Hall,
and so far as we know have made no
arrangements for building of their
own. The Episcopal Church, we un-
dertand cannot be occupied on account
ofits dilapidatedcondition and the con-
gregatiOn hold services in the Templars
Hall. There has been,we believe, some
talk Of selling their old building and
erecting new one, but we have heard
nothing of it lately. The Congrega-
tionalists have building but, like
the Methodist church, it is small,
cheap, and poorly furnished. These
with the unfinished little box that is
occupied by the colored congregation,
make up the sum total of our churches
and are expected to accommodate
permanent population oftwelve theus-
and, and a floating element that will
represent half as many more.
This is not as it ought to be; in fact
it is positive disgrace to our city,
and has contributed to the loss of more
than one family to our population.
We do not mean to assert that con-
gregation cannot perform Gods SER
vice in little shabby church, and
some of our societies are doubtless so
weak that they can afford no other,
but this city is large enough and
wealthy enough to remove any cause
for such complaint d, and we are conf
dent that if those most interested
would make the proper effort, suffic-
lent funds could be raised to build all
the churches that we need. Our peo-
pie are liberal, and even those that
pay the least attention to sacred things
would contribute freely for such a
commendable purpose.
A handsome church, comfortably
furnished, and good music, are power
ful accessories to the cause Of religion,
and they ought to be provided. Our
Eastern visitors, coming from a land
of churches and rather inclined any,
way to class us as goddess set, are not
favorably impressed with such an evil
dent poverty of church accommoda.
tions, and are apt to allow that consid-
Grafton to weigh against permanently
locating. All the considerations make
it imperative that an earnest effort
should at once be inaugurated to in
crease the number and improve the
character of our church
The first one in the field will, If their
efforts are properly directed, succeed
the best, not only in raising funds, but
in building up society. The church
that within few months, erects a
creditable edifice in an accessible part
ofthe city, furnishing it in good style
and filling its pulpit with an earnest
and talented minister, will achieve a
success that has never yet been ap-
preached in the religious history of our
city.