The morning call., 1892-12-24
FOR FIFTY YEARS.
Interesting Career of the
Rev. DIR. Akerly.
OAKLAND'S FAvORITE RECTOR
He Relates the Story of His Early
Struggles to Establish an EpiS-
c0pai Church.

coat off his back. if you were in need OF IL.
He is man and q Christian in every
sense of the word. Ii he ever needed a
dollar. and it was all the money / had,
gladly would j give it to him."
These were some OF the remarks Of COM
mendation made 10 me In reference to the
venerable Rev. DIR. Benjamin Akerly, the
veteran and much loved Episcopal minister
of Oakland. So many statements of SINH
lar nature did bear about the aged rector
of St. Johns Episcopal Church that / de-
cided TO pay him visit. and learn from his
own lips some of his interesting experiences
ia early days.
"When did come 10 this coast?" lie re-
peatea the question soon after | had en-
tered his study in his cozily appointed old
fashioned abode ia the center Of big lot at
Sixteenth aud Adeline streets. DR.. Akerly
certainly looks the remarkable philanthro-
pist he is said TO be.
Two months ago he celebrated his eighty
first birthday, but Father Time seems TO
have dealt kindly with him. He has an erect,
graceful figure, and beneath his snowy locks
are wondrous blue eyes that still fash with
intelligence. His memory. too, is keen, else
how could he describe so wildly Incidents
of nearly forty years ago? To give an ac-
curate account of his early lie here would
be to chronicle the growth Of Oakland itself,
so closely is the history of the man and the
city interviewer. But TO return 10 DIR.
Akerly's narrative.
81 came here early n 1851" said he, land
bought four acres Of land right here where
| still live. AT that time Oakland bad less
than 500 inhabitants, and there was scarcely
any population south of Third street and
west OF Broadway. This place. way out
here where live, was called Sailors lane.
by reason of the residence of several old
shin eanfnlua Thprp w lanAipe,
place along the water front, and that was
at the foot of Broadway. a little steamer
called the Contra Costa was the only ferry
boat on the bay.
'Oh. yes, l remember now. There was a
grocery-store al Seventh and BroadN
Last Chance the place was called, be-
cause 1t was the last chance OF farmers to
get drink while they were returning to
Contra Costa County.
1t was Soon after my arrival that | held
my first religious services IN the little old
Presbyterian church. When the Rev. Mr.
Bills arrived | vacated to make room for
him. Then rented the Baptist building,
now used as the German Turn Nerein
School on Ninth street. baptized a great
many children, and the Baptists, not liking
the Episcopal service, soon gave NE my
walking papers. Next | obtained permits
sion to hold services in the little school,
house which Carpenter built on Twelfth
street. Mr.. Carpenter. by the way. also
constructed the Twelfth-street bridge, and
as COMPENSATION secured considerable Of
tile water front. Many Oak anders who
have since passed away Were members or
the congregation that assembled in the
school. Soon, however, the building be-
came too small and we had 20 seek pew
quarters.
Then where do you suppose we moved /?
To the Last Chance store at the southwest
corner of Seventh street and Broadway,
and the grocery and saloon had to move
The place was fitted up so as 10 seat fifty
persons. large dry-goods box was pro-
cured for an altar, and long shoe box an
swered for pulpit. Both boxes were COW
cred with white muslin, and answered the
purpose very well. The front of the altar
was decorated with The large white cross
that now appears over the chancei in ST.
Johns Church. For two years | preached
to the congregation from the top of that big
dry-gOods box"
Questioned about the st. Johns Episco-
pal Church on Grove street, Dr. Akerly
was 10th to admit that it was built by his
own exeriiOns and almost entirely at his
own expense.
( u remem Der the church was consecrated
in 1860 by Bishop Kip" continued the vet
eran minister, land during the first service
Acs- DIR. j. l.. Davis was confirmed"
Through all these years the church has
prOspered and the congregation has stead
lily increased under the guiding hand
u
to retire, but he could not be spared
from the parish. SO he was made rec
tor emeritus ana DR.. True was Sc
leeted rector. Nearly every Sunday, how
ever, DR.. Akerly assists in the service
When not upon the altar he sits in pew
with lhls gr0wn-up sons. When | entered
his study yesterday he was actively engaged
In writing report TO the Bishop of the
diocese. lie had remained at home because
his children would not let him venture
forth in the storm OF wind and rain.
The good old rector is Of Scotch and
English descent, and was the son of n noted
physician Of New York. On July 3, 1872
fifty years ago from the Sd of last ,Iuly.-he
was ordained. While still young man he
became acquainted with Miss Matilda Har-
denberg, an estimable young lady. who
taught IN the Sunday-sehool connected with
the New York church of which he was rec
tor. An affection that distance only strength
ened was formed between them. So il is
not strange then that when Miss Harden
berg came 10 Sacramento to visit relatives
Dr. Akerly was there to meet and marry
her.
Tears came to the venerable rector's eyes
as he spoke OF his marriage. Here on Sail
ors lane we lived for nearly thirty-seyen
years." said he. land ten sons and two
daughters were born unto us. Ny two eld-
est sons are physicians, and one is located
in London, while the other is here at home
with me. Five years ago my beloved wife
passed away and I'm anxious to join her.
Yes. I'm anxious to 90 where men are
judged by their hearts and not By their &C
lions"
OF course every resident of Oakland
knows and loves DR.. Akerly. For many
years he has been a Freemason of high
standing IN Oakland and San Francisco
lie rs past master of Oak Leaf Lodge and
past high priest of the Royal Arch Chapter.
Some years ago one Of his brother Masons
insisted MAKING him If
fine new suit Of clothes. So the rector was
induced to enter a tailoring establishment
and be measured. But DR.. Akerly never
intended to accept the suit. The same day
he met poorly attired friend aud induced
the tailor to make the suit for him.
A few days later the brother Mason met
DR.. Akerly and asked: "Well, doctor,
wher3 Is the new sut?"
For an instant the rector was very un-
easy. Then he explained: you see," he
said, II met a friend who was not dressed
as well as / and who needed the suit more
than did. Therefore gave it to him.
"a new suit you shall have" said the
friend az he marched the rector to the tailor
ing shop again. This time the tailor was
given orders to deliver the garments to no
one except DIR. Akerly. In this way be was
compelled to accept the suit which he would
also have given away IL an opportunity had
been presented.
Other stories of similar nature are told.
SO charitable has he been that to-day be is
comparatively poor man.
Conductors on streetcars refuse 10 accept
any money from him. and this he explains
in his good natured way: "a year ago |
was very sick with the grip" he said, land
one OF the papers published the news of my
death. I'm worth dozen dead men vet.
bnt tbs conductors think Pm ghost Be-
ing dead, OF course, I'm 'deadhead,' and
that is why the conductors refuse to collect
my fare"
Just now the white-h haired rector is very
happy. Several of his married children are
coming to spend Christmas with him, and
he declares that the innocent glee of his
grandchildren is most sublime music to him.
Il love children" he said to me. land if
you can get TIE any send them along. Send
me bushelful and let the measure be
koa -