The morning call., 1893-12-26
CROWN OF TOLL.
A German Baptist Church
in Our Midst.
THE CORNERSTONE is LAID.
This Is the First of Its Kind Built
in This City.
THE CORNERSTONE is LAID.
A FAIR MONUMENT OF PIETY.
Throngs at the Interesting Exercises
Yesterday y Brief History of
the New Building.

There was real Christmas gathering
during yesterdays noontlde at the corner
of Seventeenth and Dehon streets. The
unenclosed walls and incompleted spire
were, nevertheless, to the sturdy German
American Baptists of this city the
realization of some eighteen years OF
faithful although slow labor.
The exercises attending the laying of
the cornerstone of the First German Bap-
list Church in this city were in themselves
interesting. The building was well filled
when the pastor, Rev. H. l.. Dietz, began
the programme with the German hymn,
"Grosser Gott" Rev. Lander OF Berk-
eley then gave prayer. One of the most
beautiful features of the exercises was the
rendering OF the song "Liedertafer' by a
well-trained male choir under the dlrec-
ton of Herr +. Fischer.
The general missionary of the Baptist
church, Rev. w. II. Latourette. followed
in an eloquent discourse. He dwelt on
tho purposes for which public edlhce Is
erected. This chapel meant an open
Bible for all the people. converted and
consecrated church membership and the
bringing of God to unsaved souls.
Rev. Mr.. Burcehett of Emmanuel
Church of the Mission made pleasing
cOngratulatOry address The pastor then
told the story of the church. 1t was on
May ). 1879, that Mr.. and Mrs. +. w.
Schalike arrived in this city from Pitts
burg aud began the movement to interest
the German Baptists Of San Francisco.
The little band met for long time in an
unoccupied baptist church. which has
since been destroyed.
In 1877 they met in the lecture-roOm of
the Metropolitan Baptist Church. But it
was not until several years later. on May
80, 1884, that the present German Baptist
church was organized. The council recOg-
nzed the church on February "a, 1885,
The first pastor was Rev. l.. Chaser, who
began his work in December. 1886. and
WAS followed by Rev. c. Hirouinomous In
1883. On the 81 of July. 1891. the present
pastor, Rev. II. j.. DIetZ, began his eff
cient and successful la bors.
He made the members realize the neces-
sity Of church building aud went East
| last fall to raise money therefor. He Sc
cured cash subscriptions in the East and
| among outside friends in this city to the
amount OF S2700, with a promise of $1,000
| from the home missions. a cash suDscrip-
| ton of $1,000 from the members of the
| church raised the total 10 $500.
The lot, 2Sx139 feet, Oh the corner of
! Seventeenth and Dehon streets was pur-
! chased for $500 and tue cost of the chapel
/ edfice will beS 2000, leaving but an insight
| ticant Indebtedness. E
! At the conclusion OF the statement the
assembled congregation adjourned 10 the
j x,erior where the pastor deposited in the
! cornerstone copies Of the German Baptist
/ Church and Sunday-school Lapers and OF
/ the San Francisco daily papers.
Mr.. Wagner. who had contributed as
/ his gift the masOnwork, sealed the rock
with his trOwel, and the ceremony was
concluded with a PRAYER. benediction and
song by the choir, Blessed Be the Tie
/ That Binds"
f. BOhm. the architect of the pretty
chapel. states that IL will be com pleted
and ready fol. use by the last Sunday in
January. The seating capacity will be
go. A feature of the interior decoration
will be the chancel. which will be fres-
coed and noticed Oh either side and in the
center .by Elm CLAUDE" ''Ein Aerr,"
Zine Taufe." meaning "One faith, one
! God. one baptism"
There are other churches or this coast
Mt Los Angeles. Portland and Salem. The
Mission Church has a membership of
| fifty-fve.