The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-22
ST. JOHNS CHURCH.
The Cornerstone of the New Edi.
flee in Position.
A Magnificent Building to Be Erected-ln-
teresting "reminiscences of the
Old Structure.

JoHH INC Evangelist at tne southwest CORNER
of Fifteenth street and Julian avenue, was
laid yesterday afternoon by Right Rev.
William Nichols, Assistant Bishop of Cali
fCrnia, aided by Dr. Edward b. Spaldng.
rector of the parish; Rev. II. Hewitt. as
slStant clergyman of the parish DIR. Nc
Clure. late rector at Santa Barbara; Rev. E.
b. Church, principal of Irving Institute;
Rev. Z. de S. Juny, head master Trinity
School, and Rev. Mr.. Mayhem.
After the celebration of the Holy Com
munion at the old church, the Bishop, fol-
lowed by his assistants, marched in pro-
cession across the street alsd to where the
ceremony was to be perfGrsaed. The pre-
liminary services disposed Of, the Bishop
stepped fearlessly beneath tRe cornerstone
as it swung from the derrick, applied the
mortar with silver trowe-, and when he
had skifulIy leyeled the surface he formed
a cross in the mortar with the end of the
trowel. The stone was lowered to its place,
and the Bishop tapped on il several times
with a wooden mallet as he continued the
service.
DR.. Spalding read the following list of con-
tents of the MEAL box within tue corner
stone:
Holy Bible, 1889; Common Prayer BOOK,
1859, gift of DR.. BtotheriOn, the first rector of
the Church OF ST. John the Evangelist, 10 Will
lam Greene the first Senior Warden of tie same
church, and presented for the occasion by Mis-.
A. L. Greene the widow OF the Senior Warden;
brief memoir OF the parish, compiled by Judge
Van Reyneg0m, Senior Warden, James Rolph,
Junior Warden, and Jackson hcNei, Nesiry-
man. for The thirty FIRST anniversary of the build
ina OF the old church; parish record ftom 1881
TO 1890; Pacific Chu Gilman and News and
Forum, The official organ Of the diocese; copy OF
services used during the ceremony: catalogue OF
Trinity School and tenth annual report of
MomanS Auxiliary.
1, FL
scription: Church of st. John the Evangel-
list. Erected Ammo Domino, 1880"
VIRTUE OF THE NUMBER SEVEN.
The Bishop, in his address, stated that
twenty-eight years ago the first service was
held in the old church. That length OF time
made four complete periods, inasmuch as the
number seven in scriptural history always
indicates completeness; therefore, the pres
ent time was the most oppOTtune for the
commencement of anew era IN the history OF
St Johns Church. He referred TO the exist
ence of tender associations i'll connection
with the old edifce. and the bright promise
for continuance of those associations IN the
new church. He ended by congratulating
the rector, vestry and congregation upon the
exhibition of 50 worthy an example in this
new era of church building.
The architects drawing of the new church
was displayed close to the cornerstone. 1t
shows that the magnificent building will be
general form is that of Greek cross, the
dome being at the crossing, above which rise
the tower ana spire. The exterior is to be
faced with specially prepared pressed brick
Of Il buff co'or. The trimmings 10 tile win
dows arches, stream courses and corniceS
are to be in terra Gotta and OF the same color.
The roof viii be shlngied, While the main
entrance from Fifteenth street is to be of IL
handsome design, with granite steps
The chancel will be circular, and on the
east side of it is to be placed morning
chane, aud on the other side an organ
of the interior will be the crypt containing
clergy, veStry, heating chambers. vaults,
etc. Internally the walls of the building
Will be faced with pressed brick, terra Gotta
trimmings, cornees of the same material
used on the exterior. The ceiling of the
dome will be plastered and frescoed.
The morning chapel is q pattern or model
of the man building. being in the form IF
a Greek cross aad having an elliptical dome
rising in the center The altar of the morn
ing chapel is to be in terra Gotta, and series
of open arches, supported On terra Gotta
columns divide the chapel from the ambu-
latory leading TO the crypt.
A TERRA GOTTA ROSE WINDOW.
The main chancel will be faced with
nressad brick and enriched by terra Gotta
frieze and richly carved cornces. The CEN
ter Of the church will be lighted by series
OF WlrluOWS uIIdHPtu dIOuiHi iut uUiut
In the north transept is to be a large terra
Gotta rose window.
One of the sections looking toward the
north transept will show the main entrance,
the doors leading to which are to be finely
carved ald of paneed oak. At the north
transept the vestibule Will run the whole
width of the interior. At each end Of the
vestipule there is to be a tower containing a
small staircase leading to Il gallery. This
gallery. although in no way overhanging the
church inside, Will continue around the
whole building On either side of the chan
Gel the space will be occupied by an auXil-
iary chair. There will be seating capacity
of 80.
The cost of the edifce will be between
$4,000 and $4,000 and the formal opening
viii probably take place next Easter. The
old guild hall will he moved to the new
ground, and the old church will lie torn
down and the material used as much as pos
sibe in the new church.
During the morning service at the church
James Rolph. Junior Warden, read a
memoir of It. johns Parish. 1t gave to
Henry F. Williams, George Seeg'r, John
Chittenden and Miss Mary Page the honor
of establishing the church. The first ser
vices were held in a small building on First
avenue. between Fifteenth and Sixteenth,
Valencia and Mission streets. In Novem-
Der, 1857. the late William Greene identified
himself as ore of the organizers of the
parish, and today his widow, Mrs. A. E.
Greene, is yet conspicuous in the front
ranks If the lady workers of the parish.
HOW THE OLD CHURCH WAS BUILT.
Through the energy of William Greene,
John b. Williams and the ladies' Of the
parish the old ctuch was built, costing
about $1,000. Service was held in it for the
first tine on November @ 1869. and it was
regularly opened on the first Sunday in
Advent in that year. DR.. Brotherton was
the rector. Among those who contributed
TO the Building Fund were Louis McLane,
William C. Ralston, A. B. McCreery. George
w. Gibbs, Theo +. Smlth, John Il. Will
Jams, James Palache, William F. Babcock,
c. l. Breuham, William Gr enc, William
Sharon, X. c. Page, c. l. Beideman, c. Z.
Gibbs and John w. Dwinelle.
1t was about the time the church was
built that Mr. Woodward gave up his resi-
dence and started Woodward'S Gardens.
sionally disturbed by the roar of a lion or
the laugh of the hyena but IN earlier days a
band of music would play all kinds of music
in the plot of land immediately adjoin ng
the church. Mr.. Woodward was appealed
to in the matter and he at once stopped all
band playing on his premises until after the
morning service.
bers 600, of whom $50 are communicates.
The total value of the property of the parish
is estimated at S23.000 DR.. E. b. Spalding.
the rector, has been i'll charge for over nine
years
The following are the present officers of
the church:
Reclor-Rev. DIR. E. B. Spalding. Assistants
Rev. L. de s. Juny A. NJ; Rev Henry Hewitt,
Senior Warden, +. w. Van Reynegom; Junior
Warden, James Roiph; Secretary. ID. Richards;
Treasurer, d. W. Parkhurst; r, Burr, joseph B.