The San Francisco call., 1895-10-13
Fifth Annual Meeting of the
Societies Of the Pacific
Coast.
NEED OF MISSIONARY WORK
General Growth Reported-Life of
the Church Paper Is
Threatened.


Swedenborgians of this coast was opened
yesterday in their little stone church on
O'Farrell street, near Buchanan.
Delegates from seven of the eleven soci-
eties in California and Oregon were pres
ent, and also many visitors and members
Of the church in this City.
One of the most important matters that
came up for consideration was the means
OF maintaining one or more missionaries on
this coast. All agreed as to the advisable
lty Of having some one to take regular
charge of such work, particularly in the
Northwest. Southern California also is a
field in which the churchmen believe that
there is promising opening for the ex-
tension of their work.
The Swedenborgian church was organ
lied In London in 1888, and slowly and
gradually extended over England, Ger
many and America until to-day it has a
general mem mbership of 10000
There are about 1000 members in America,
and the church in the country is probably
stronger than elsewhere, being particularly
we'll established in the New England
States. In August, 1885, the Pacific New
Church was started on this coast, and has
had regular growth to membership of
about 700. The policy of the church is to
thority, and to teach the doctrines of Scrip
ture as expounded in the writings of Eman-
uel SWedenborg, the Swedish philosopher
and expounder of religious doctrines, who
lived in the seventeenth century.
The convention was opened at half-past
10 O'Clock, with services conducted by the
Rev. B. Edmiston of Riverside, who read
the 103d psalm.
Credentials of delegates showed the fol-
lowing complete roll:
First New Jerusalem Society of San Fran
cisco-Judge R. R. provinces, 7. P Valleau, A.
w. Manning, George H. Saunders, Miss Alice
darcy, E. ". G. Hartford, Mrs. L. Carpenter.
Mrs. NJ. L. Pierce, L. G. Louderbeck, Y. A. de
Prose-, Mrs J. Doughty, Rev. F. L. Higgins,
Mrs. F. L. Higgins. DR.. NJ F. Underwood, Mrs.
L. D. Latimer.
San Francisco Society of the New Jerusalem
Captain Oliver Eldridge, J. E. Mills, DR.. w.
Boercke, Mrs. Elviza Hutchings, Mrs. F. S.
Butler.
Alameda-Miss Mary Shepherd, Miss Sara s.
Crittenden, Mrs. G. Berkmeyer
Riverside-The Rev. B. Edmiston, Mrs B.
Edmiston, NJ. B. Ogden.
San Jose-Mrs. Alva Burr, ]. C. Black.
Los Angeles-Dr. Samuel Worcester, Mrs.
Samuel Worcester.
Portland-1he Rev. J. S. David.
DR.. Joseph Worcester, president of the
society, delivered during the morning ses-
sion an address in which he reviewed the
spiritual work of the church in relation
to the reform movements of the world.
Then followed this resolution, offered
by the Rev. j. E. Mills of this City. 1t
was much discussed and finally adopted
unanimously
RESOLVED, That every subject of human con-
cern is dark on one side until the light of re-
vealed truth shines upon it,
,Resolued, That it is the work of the church to
throw the light of revealed truth upon every
subject of vital concern TO men.
Reports from the different societies
showed uniform growth and hopefulness
! in the work Of the church throughout the
coast. A communication from the society
at Portland, Or, asked for the extension
OF their pastors field and some financial
aid from the general fund toward his
maintenance.
The mention of this subject brought on
the discussion of the day. DIR. Higgins
said that there is not another field in
America so promising as the Northwest
for the New Churcn; that in Oregon and
Washington the people seem receptive of
| the doctrines of the church-at least, they
will give them a hearing. Every one
agreed that there should be coast mis-
sionary, and DR.. Worcester thought that
missionary or several missionaries could
be maintained if the members of all the
societies would make provision for them
as parents do for additions to their fami-
lies. He said that the trouble with nine
tenths OF the church people of this coast is
nothing.
A committee of five was appointed to
consider the financial possibilities of the
missionary question and to report at the
concluding session of the conference on
Monday.
An amendment to the constitution of the
church, offered at the last conference, held
IN February, 1894, was declared adopted.
IL provided for president, a vice-presi-
cent, q secretary, treasurer and board
OF nine directors for the Pacific Coast New
Church. A nominating committee con-
slstlng OF one person from each of the
seven societies represented was appointed
to report Monday upon officers for the en-
suing year.
The Rev. B. Edmiston of Riverside read
paper at the afternoon session in which
he outlined the character of work that il is
the duty OF the church to undertake. He
said that corporations and trusts unless
restrained will battle down the bulwarks
OF American institutions; that the church
! should take up the reform measures, for
| the politicians wont; that the men who
| build churches and found colleges to re-
lleve their consciences will not come down
| from their dizzy heights to sound the
alarm; that corrupt practices IN business
or IN any other department of life should
| be exposed, and that to teach general truth
| is to expose falsity and untruth.
The report on the "New-Church' Pacific -
the monthly published by the church on
this coast, showed that it is just about
holding its own against expenses.
j. Il. Mills characterized the paper as
editorially weak and unrepresentative OF
the vigor and life of the church on this
coast, and asked that it be discontinued.
as the church had other papers that are
representative, and this one was unneces-
sary. The matter was deferred until
Monday.
Tho avanino oassion ros darotoa L.
informal social in the church.
This mornings service will be held in
the O'Farrellstreet church, and the sermon
will be delivered by the Rev B. Edmlnston
of Riverside. Immediately after the morn
ing service, the holy communion will be
observed. This evening DR.. Worcester will
conduct the services.