Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-03
DAILY HERALD.
THE CONGREGATIONALIsTS.
An lnteresting Session In East Los
Angeles.

THE CONGREGATIONALIsTS.
An interesting Session In East Los
Angeles.
The session of the Los Angeles Con-
gregational Association on "Wednesday
last was full of interest. The East Los
Angeles church, capable of seating 800
persons, was we'll filled with delegates
and visitors. The following additional
delegates had arrived the day before
and been duly registered:
Jas. A. Whitaker, Buena Park; Mrs.
H. Folsom. Pico Heights; Rev. E. Cash
and wife, E. Huntly and wife, Edge
mont; 1. A. White and wife, Sierra
Madre; Rev. D. Jenkins, Villa Park /;
LYMAN Chaplin, Santa Ana; Rev. A. ].
Wells, H. w. Mills, ]. A. Barrows, Mrs.
Simonds and ]. G. G. Harris, this city /;
r. M. Parker and L. M. Knowles, Eagle
Rock; A. 6. Storrs, Pomona; Rev. H.
F. Staat and wife, Pasadena; DIR. Har-
wood, Santa Ana.
The principal event of the morning
was an address by Rev. R. G. Hutchins,
on the subject: "Shali We Perpetuate
the Continental Sabbath"
He commenced his address with the
statement that California was the only
State without Sunday law, but as most
of our population comes from States
where they have such laws, our people
are not prepared to sink into the habits
which characterize the Sabbath in
France, Germany and other European
countries. Leisure for the well-to-do and
toll for the poor classes characterize the
continental Sabhaths. In Russia, in
France, Germany and Spain the same
thing is to be observed. The we'll .to-do
spend Sunday in pleasure and the poor
know no difference between that and
other days as regards relief from tasks.
immortality, vice and crimes of the most
shocking character exist in all these
countries, and are directly traceable to
the non.existence of a day of rest. In
this State We have more suicides, more
insanity and more divorces in proportion
to our population than any other State in
the Union. We also have the continent
tai Sabbath. The two facts have direct
reference to each other. Destroy the
religious character of the Sabbath and
you at once destroy its restfulness. People
say: "But would you keep the poor man
from going to Santa Monica or Catalina
on Sunday who has no opportunity dur
ing the week 7' II man goes to Santa
Monica or Catalina the railroad boys
have to work, or the hands on the
steamer lose their rest, that this man
may have pleasure. If we recognize the
right of the many to spend Sunday in
pleasure, we ignore the right of the few
who convey them to the scene of their
diversion, and our argument at once
falls through. But we need not discuss
ct length the disadvantages of the conti-
mental Sabbath /; they are apparent to all.
The question is, shall we perpetuate this
abusive institution? Society has the in
alienable right of self-protection, and the
Sabbath, as day of rest, is physical,
mental and moral necessity.
DR.. Hutchins gave facts and figures to
show that the non. Observance of Sunday
as day of rest was not good policy or
profitable to employers of labor, and was
liable to result in greater oppression OF
the laborers. Considerable discussion
followed the delivery of the address, and
later in the day the following resolution
was passed unanimously:
Resolued, That we endeavor to secure
in our several municipal corporations
ordinances requiring the closing of places
of business and amusement, and especi.
ally of the saloons, on the Sabbath, and
that we will continue to agitate the
question of civil Sabbath law until oui
Sabbath rights are protected by State
legislation.
The latter part of the morning session
was given up to reports from the various
churches, from which it appears that the
denomination is in particularly -four
ishing condition just at present. The
reports were very interesting, but were,
of course, too lengthy for any special
mention. The church at East Los An.
geles presented the most remarkable re-
port, by all odds. Organized two and a
half years ago by Rev. J. H. Phillips
with thirty-two members, it has grown,
largely through the efforts OF it's pastor,
until it now numbers 200. 1t now has q
beautiful church building, conveniently
arranged, with auditorium, lecture room,
committee rooms, reading room, and a
large and convenient addition containing
a roomy gymnasium, bathrooms and
kitchen for the use of the young mems
club attached to the church and named
after the pastor, the "Phillips Club"
No debt rests upon the church, and while
other pastors complain of their inability
to get the people out to the night service,
the East Side Congregational church
cannot accommodate the crowds that
turn out TO hear the popular young pas
tors evening discourses.
Another interesting report was from
the Pomona College, an institution
where students are fitted to enter any
college in the land, and are able to enter
the corresponding year at Harvard or
Yale without additional preparation.
The institution has an endowment of
about $3.50, 900 at present, has magpif-
icent corps of teachers, and is becoming
deservedly popular.
The event of the afternoon session was
the address of Rev. A. j. Wells, the we'll
known pastor of the Plymouth church,
on "The Type of Congregationalism
Adapted to Our Necessities" After q
brief definition of Congregationalism the
characteristics of the present age were
described. He said:
This is an eager, waiting, ex-
expectant time, when the thoughtful are
looking beyond all the many triumphs of
the age for something broader and bet
ter. An age of development, but also of
great susceptibility to good influences.
The most widely read book of the time is
"Ben Hur;" the interest in "Robert Els
mere" goes deeper than the story, it
is in the religious part of it
that interest centers. The question
of the supernatural in Christianity, the
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