Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-01-12
CHRISTIAN CONVENTION.
Discussions women's Christian Temper
ance Union Organized.

iscussions-Women's Christian temper
ance Union Organized.
The two-dsy Convention of the pastors ano
members Of churches 10 the interior, in an.
swer to the call of the resident pastors in thi;
city. convened at the Congregational Church
Yesterday morning with good attendaoc e
and the exercises were characterized with The
deep feeling and earnestness which prevail al
the gospel meetings now in progress here.
The first hour of the Convention wa:
occupied in devotional exercises, conducted
by Mr.. White, and to which he gave great
earnestness. Towards the close an invitation
was giver for asking prayers by any persons
present, for themselves, their friends, or fol-
| the success OF gospel work in churches at othel
! locations, and large number of request;
were made, especially for quickenipg anc
authorizing of Gods spirit in adjoining towns
similar to that being experienced in Sacra,
mento. Mr.. and Mira. MeGranahan closed
the hour by singing very sweetly, There
shall De Showers of Blessings"
Upon the first topic for consideration,
"Our field of labor its difficulties, hinder.
| ances and needs, three minute remarks were
made by large number of speakers. in which
remarks was the following outline of thought
| Rev. L. S. Dunn, OF this city, said the work
In California covered a large field. One Of
the principal hin6erances to the gospel
work here, as compared with that of the
| East, was the lack of sympathy and cooper
alive aid by the secular press, which is the
reverse of what it is largely throughout the
East. Where not infidelic in tone it is in
different. The State is also full of back
sliders, by reason of coming away from the
s1r,-r Chrfct inf -,
earlier years. There are more backsliders to
the acre upon this coast, said the speaker,
than anywhere else in the world. The
surroundings and counter influences are such
| here, and SO strong, and in many localitiesiso
almost unmixed with Christian opportunities
| or Influences, that q 6rmer quality of
Christian character is required to remaia true
and steadfast than anywhere else. Hence there
are to be found here many of the best Christian
| men and women newer knew. The almost uni.
versal tendency to speculate in stocks by all
classes during the past years, and the mania
to become suddenly rich. had been strong
cause in producing the falling away Of church
membership and Of preventing others to give
heed to the Gospel. The breaking up of the
Safeguarding business which had taken
place, 10 addition TO tending to break down
| many evils connected with it, has also opened
the way to carrying forward the Gospel work.
Rev. J. W. Brier, ST., said he was the only
one of the 49ars left in the active ministry,
Rev. Joseph Benton, formerly Of this city,
being now engaged at the Theological Sem
mary, at Oakland; Rev. Albert Williams re-
tired from work By reason of age and Rev.
Q. Z. Wheeler is now connected with the
Central Pacific Railroad Company. The
greatest obstacle to the progress of the Gospel
upon this coast at the present tune, said the
speaker, is the prevalence of infdel-
ity. especially of the heart and life,
and not Of the head. Californians
plume themselves upon the idea of
their superior intelligence over any other
country, but there is less solid thinking and
more empty -headedness in this State than in
any other part of the Christian world. Many
talk about Darwinism, and being disciples of
his, but these same socalled disciples are
utterly incapable of comprehending Darwin
by any amount of study. Hence, when they
come in contact with vital religion it is swept
away, as it is infdelity of the heart, and not
of the head, which they possess. The remedy
is deep conservation of Christian workers and
deeper work Of the spirits power in the
churches and the lives of It's memhers.
Rev. DR.. Deal thought the difficulties in the
way of the California Church had been the
universal and all-absorbing desire of the
people here to become rich. Ia one town
where he was stationed he found two hun
dredi who were members OF the Methodist
Church at the East, but who had dropped
their religion here. He also found a like
representation from other denominations !;
and when he asked them why they did not
maintain their church standing and Christian
life here, they replied that they could not be
religious and get rich at the same time. If
the obstacles are greater here the efforts put
forth to save must be correspondiagly greater
and earnestly applied
Rev. J. J. Powell, of Rio Vista, said what
was wanted to overcome all obstacles was an
entire conservation baptism of the Holy
Spirit, and personal efforts with sinners
This, he claimed, covered the whole ground
of consideration.
Rev. II. II. Rice accounted for the pre-
vailing condition largely from the fact that
this coast is thevery extremity and the pentup
end of the movement of emigration westward.
and in reality the extreme frontier bound of
civilization that it was sort of Arranged
don battlefield, which requires the boldest
stand and work upon the part of all ministers
and the churches.
Rev. J. @. A. Henry believed that the
principal cause leading to the condition met
with on this coast is to be found in the ready
spirit of tenporizing in compromise. The
ministers and church have acceded to this
constant tendency, and thus lowered the
standard and failed to exact the healthy in.
fiuence which more inflexible line would
have done. The secular press act upon the
same standard, and openly say that they shall
print what the people wish to read and fur
nish what is demonstrated by their readers.
Rev. Mr.. Trefren, of Dixon, said that what
is in the way of reviyals, is the constant large
attendance OF members OF churches at balls
theaters, ETC., and the cosmopolitan char
- he IS h.
Rev. -, Of PIacerviile, thought too
much structure should not be placed upon
those who had failed to keep up their church
standing here, as people here had many oh
stacle to faces which those East knew nothing
about. The ups and downs of California life,
and the want of church opportunities in many
localities, largely produced this condition of
things. Another difficulty was the abandon
ment of government in families, and permit
ing the rising generation to come forth upon
the public in the condition which such o
course produces.
Mr. and Mrs. McGganahan sang 81 Shall
be Satisfied" after which Mr.. White made
summary Of the points which had been
presented, and interestingly urged such &C.
tivity in the work as shall overcome all obsta-
cles through the aid of the Master. Chris
tian people. he said, must become living
examples Of Christian principle, goodness and
activity, and when this is strong enough, then
the obstacles will vanish. Christian ladies',
he said, had got to take stand separate from
those who are filed with and following after
fashion and other frivolities. Upon the
question of lack of family government, he re-
marked that it had been APPLY said that there
was just as much family government now as
ever, only it has changed hands, and instead
of the parents governing the children as here
tofore, the children now in many instances
run the household and govern the parents. In
the place of good family government, which
would be a blessing to every family, restraint
is in many cases taken away from children,
and homes are flooded with ligh', flashy read
ing, such IS dime novels, the New York
Weekly, and similar trash. The forenoon ses-
sion was then closed.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session was opened with
short devotional exercises, at the close of
which Mr.. and Mrs. McGranahan sang
Behold what Manner of Love-"
In opening the regular exercises of the
afternoon, MIR. White, presiding, said that
this session would be given to the considera-
ton of woman's work. The coast, said he,
has been cursed with bad women, and we
want to see it blessed with good women. The
women are mentioned prominently in connec-
ton with gospel work in Christ's time, and
their influence and cooperative work are
equally important aad necessary at the pres
emit