The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-27
THE PRESIDENT AT CHURCH.

He Listens to a Discourse and Prayer by
Rev. DR.. Mackenzie.
When President Harrison'S visit to this
city was first announced programme was
arranged for his various movements, and
by it the first Sunday was to be celebgated
by attending services at Calvary Presbyte-
rian Church in the morning.
But important changes were made IN the
whole plan, and the matter of church at
tendance was left in delightful state Of
uncertainty except to a chosen few. The
first arrangement was ignored. and, to keep
faith with the people, on Saturday night a
distinct notice was published by the officers
of Calvary Church that President Harrison
would not attend there yesterday. In spite
of this assurance many people read it in the
opposite, and an unusually large audience
gathered in the hope Of seeing the diStin-
guished guests.
At the same time the church notice of the
First Presbyterian Church was coIspicu-
OHs by its absence from the proper columns,
an omission that was very noticeable To
few Of the members of that society it was
known that the President intended being
present yesterday morning, but the secret
was kept closely, and preparations were
made SO quietly, as not TO provoke any COM
ment
THE UNEXPECTED.
Accordingly, yesterday morning when the
regular attendants at DR.. MackenZie's church
entered their commodiOus audience-rOOm
they saw nothing to excite any surprise, eX-
cept that the pewS of Mayor Sanderson and
John Wright were kept vacant until after
the first anthem. while the occupants were
crowded forward almost under the shadow
of the pulpit.
At Ii o'clock sharp DR.. Mackenzie took
his place and the services began. At the
close Of the first hymn a slight stir was no.
tieed in tile yestibule and q moment later
President Harrison quietly moved up the
left center aisle. He looked remarkably
well considering the fatigues of his long
trip westward, with its numerous stops, re-
ceptions, speeeh-makings and the wrd-up
in this city on Saturday night with the mag
nificent display.
His step was as firm as if on the. gorgeous
tapestry of his own parlors in the White
House, and his complexion was as fresh as
cursion on the Potomac marshes. He wore
a stylish Prince Albert coat with light
trowsers, and carried on his left arm light
colored overcoat.
sTEPPACHER IN CHARGE
He was followed by Mayor Sanderson, W.
w. Morrow and Mrs. George II. Sanderson
Jr. They took seats in the pew of the
Mayor. In the next pew sat MIR. Sanderson
Jr and Jacob Steppacher, who seemed
to have the honored guest of the people in
personal charge A moment later and the
third pew was taken by Patrick Crowley,
Chief of Police Of this city, supported by
Miss Crowley.
With this solid contingent present the
regular services OF the congregation were
continued, the only noticeable thing being
the absence of the tenor from the choir.
The floral decorations of the church were
modest in the extreme, and the pulpit
hardly showed any evidence of dexterOus
fingers or the gifts of single vase of how-
ers from any Of the lighthouses or gardens of
well-to-do parishioners.
A PRACTICAL SERMON.
The sermon of DR.. Mackenzie was par
ticularly practical, and one that was appar-
emily prepared for this regular course.
He lately received very large number OF
members by profession of faith, and his
discourse yesterday was devoted strictly to
them He made no reference in his PRAYER
or sermon to the presence of the President,
aud no one could have known of his being
present until the close of the services, when
the doctor requested the audience to remain
a few minutes after the benediction, so as
10 allow the President and his party to get
to their carr geS without delay.
At this point Mr.. Steppacher slid out Of
bis seat in the corner and after brief con-
sultation with a railroad magnate a few
PAGES back he left the audience-rOom and
stood uncovered at the hack steps. As
soon as the DenedictiOn was said, the
President and Mrs. Sanderson left the
church. followed by the Mayor and ex-Con-
gresham Morrow. They reached the car
riage in safety, and were driven swiftly to
the hotel.