The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-19
UNION NOT WANTED.
The Woodbridge Church Presby.
terianS So Aver.
They Claim That the Howard Street PEOPLE
Are Seeking to Take Advantage of
Temporary Troubles

That portion of the Mission embraced be-
tween Twentieth and Twenty-third. on
Cabp street. is just now the scene of con-
siderable churchly strife, so far as the
Presbyterians are concerned. 1t is not ex-
'actly such a strife as occurred in the good
old apostolic days, when Paul withstood
Peter ito the face" and when the dissen-
sion occurred between Paul and Barnabas
in regard TO John, whose surname was Mark.
There are three Presbyterian churches in
the district named, and the Howard-street
people claim that, having built the third
church, which is equal TO all modern require
ments, aud having arranged to give up tn cir
old church between Twenty-frst and Twen-
ty-secOnd streets, the Woodbridge Church
people ought TO give mp and come into the
new congregation. so as to have one strong
church instead of two weak ones. The
Woodbridge Church congregation do not see
it that way, and complain that the Howard
street people are taking advantage of pres
ent financial troubles to force their hand.
The Woodbridge and Howard street Pres
| byterian congregations have been at issue
on the right to the field for number of
years. Those who claim to know say that
while it is unfortunate that the two churches
I
room for both.
HISTORICAL FACTS.
A CALL reporter detailed to investigate
the matter obtained the following facts
which are lmpartlally stated by persons in a
position 10 give trustworthy infOrmatiOn
he Rev. Dr. Sylvester Woodbridge, ID. D..
was the pioneer Presby terau minister on this
coast He came here in 1919 aud went to Be-
nicla, where he organized a church and held
! the passionate for fourteen years. He then
| came TO San Francisco, and finding that the
| Presbyterian Synod was about relinQuishing
| the publication Of its organ, the Occdent,
! he took up the work and made it success
! Just at this time the pastOrate of Calvary
! Church became vacant, and DR.. Woodbridge
! supplied the pulpit for several months In an
! acceptable way.
Soon after Howard-street Presbyterian
! Church, which had been established under
| the auspices OF Calvary, called DR.. Wood
bridge TO ITS pastorate. After he had been
| pastor for several years a disagreement
! arose resulting in the withdrawal of a pOr-
! ton Of the congregation and the resignation
! of DIT, Woodbridge. Some men of means
! tfeced large donations for building q new
| church, and in a short time the present
| Woodbridge Church at the corner of Capp
| and Twentieth streets was erected. Dr.
| Woodbridge became its pastor. II was,
! perhaps, an unfortunate circumstance that
! the organizers of the work did not 90 fur
q
them, and feeling that they decided that
they were a perfect liberty 10 locate their
! church where they pleased. The new ed-
fee WAS so near the other church that there
has been considerable friction ever since be-
tween the two congregations.
ROOM FOR BOTH.
1t is claimed, however, that there is more
than room tor both organizations; that the
population since Woodbridge Church was
erected has increased tenfOld and the mate
rial wealth twentyiold. II is further argued
that the field divided between the two
churches embraces territory Of more than
four square miles, with a population est-
mated at $1,000, or nearly one-fourth OF the
! entire city.
The new church which the Howard-street
people are building at Twenty-tnird and
Capp streets will be opened on March and
Nlll be costly and cOmmOdouS structure.
The promoters CT the movement claim
! that the two churches are so close together
that they practically occupy the same field
and that II Is only necessary to have one
church. The distance between Woodbridge
and The new church is about equal to that
! between the Masonic Temple and HE CALL
business office on Montgomery street.
II Is not denied that Woodbridge Church.
! through certain causes not necessary to
specify, is in debt The congregation con-
SIsts Of only about fifty members and is
financially weak There are liabilities
D
! from the outside. The pastor, Rev. +. J.
! Curtis, left for Australia in January on in
! definite leave Of absence with great I'M
certainty Of ever returning
MUST BE SETTLED AT ONCE.
The general expression Of opinion among
the congregation is that he Will not return.
Help is offered to the church on the condi-
ton that the pastoral relations of Mr.. Cur
lis are dissolved. This does not imply dis
satisfaction with the gentleman personally,
! but an anxiety on the part Of intending do
! nOTs 20 have the question settled at once.
The pulpit Of Woodbridge is being tenn
! p0rarily supplied by the Rev. Mr.. Scott. Dr.
/ Mackenzie, who has raised large sums of
| money for the church and enjoys the conf
| dence OF the wealthy PTeSbyterians of the
! city, is relied on to help out the Congrega-
! ton in the present trouble. About TWO
/ years ago the church was raised and new
/ rooms fitted on the ground floor at a cost OF
| $500. which remains a debt on the CON
/ gregation ana IS covered by "a mortgage held
/ by the Hibernia Bank.
On Sunday next a meeting Of the Wood
/ bridge congregation will be held after
| morning service, when some action will be
! taken as 10 the union proposition. This
| action will be considered on the following
| day by the presbytery. The Woodbridge
| people say that nothing Will be gained by
| putting pressure on them in the present
! crisis aud the outlook for union is not prom