Los Angeles herald., 1891-02-08
A CHURCH WITHOUT DEBT.
Interesting Letter in the Evangelist
About a Los Angeles Church,

AuISISStlH& bcIteI III Ine evangelist
About Los Angeles Church.
In the New York Evangelist, of jan
uary 29th, appears an interesting let.
ter from Rev. J. c. Fletcher, in which
he gives fnely-written description ol
the new Emmanuel church, the last and
latest offshoot from the First Presbyter-
ian church. The following extract from
the letter will be read with interest:
Rev. F. d. Seward, the efficient Syn
odical missionary in Southern California,
has furnished me with facts which sur
prised me. He said that nine years ago
not shovelful of earth had been turned
towards building Presbyterian house
of the Lord in Los Angeles. There was,
indeed, small Presbyterian society in
existence, which used little brick
building as temporary make-shift. But
before securing an abiding place for
themselves, they sent out colony to East
Los Angeles to form Second Presbyter-
ian church. Again Third Presbyter-
ian church was organized for that quar-
ter of the city. also drawing away some
members from the First church. Later
still was organized the Boyle Heights
church, which took an elder from the
First church session. About the same
time came into being the Grand-view
church, in the extreme southwestern
part of the city. It was organized,by
Rev. DR.. Condit and F. M. Dimmick.
who, as Rev. Mr.. Seward says, ''came
so near going to heaven literally in a
chariot of fire, by railroad accident in
Massachusetts few months ago. This
last church, though just beyond the city
limits, is where the Rev. DIR. Condit, the
veteran Chinese missionary, has hither-
to mlnistered to congregation mostly
from the southwest portion of Los An
geles, but has recently retired to engage
in other service. Then the First church
sent off still another colony to that part
of the city called Angeleno Heights,
where Mrs. Stilson generously gave a
lot for church, and there a neat little
house Of worship has been erected, and
was dedicated under the name of "Beth-
any Presbyterian Church," on the last
Sunday in December, 1890.
But the most beautiful thing OF all
about this church is that it begins it's
career without debt! This was not
effected without effort and sacrifice on
the part ofsboth pastor and people. It
has been hard work, and yet CHEEKY
work, from beginning to end. The
| women of the women" that
blessed and honored Bible word
worked with the most admirable
| womanly spirit and perseverance. The
cost OF the land, the church and the
| furnishing was $4,000, without count
ing the organ (cost $1,000, built by Jar
dine Bros, New York; and the bell,
each the gift of generous donors in Los
! Angeles-Mr. A. S. Robins and Mr..
Luitweiier.
| One gift touched me very much, that
Of the pulpit by Mrs. Major Elderkin,
who is the Oldest daughter of the
late Rev. DR.. Gurley Of Washington,
who for SO many years was the
leading Presbyterian divine at our ma
tion's capital. President Lincoln, in
that terrible year of 1861, one day in the
white house, said to me with great en-
phasis, II always 60 to DR.. Gurley's
church, for think most highly OF
him." Every picture of the death oil
Lincoln represents DIR. Gurley praying
at the bedside OF his dying parishioner
It is as memorial of such father that
Mrs. Elderkin has presented the pulpit
to Emmanuel Church. This touches me
personally, because it is now forty-five
years ago that Rev. DR.. Gurley, then my
pastor in Indianapolis, led me to decide
to enter the ministry. His daughter
has his spirit. She is not a resident on
the Pacific coast, but is only for time
in Los Angeles, az duty here calls hel
husband, Major Elderkin Of the United
States army, of whom it may be sale
The is not only an American soldier, bu1
q soldier Of the cross."