The herald., 1895-08-11
On the Old Harris Property
Near Temple Street
THE BROADWAY CHRISTIAN
That Is Its Name, and II Is the Prop
erty of Mr.. B. F. Coulter
To Be Furnished With All nodern AppIi.
anccs and Have Besides q Free Read
ing Room for Young Men

" How far that littlo candle throws
his little beams So shines good deed
in the naughty world"
What lot tho immortal William knew
about this naughty woild, and how
continually are people in the same
naughty world reminded OF his vast
knowledge of it by recalling his upper
ishable words. The good deed that has
brought up memory of them at this
time is the building Of the Broadway
Christian church. on the west side OF
Broadway. near Temple street. and it
will send out Its first glimmer of light
about November 1st. And with no dis
respect intended in the metaphor-on the
contrary, with all honor and only highest
respect may it bo stated that Mr.. b. +.
Coulter. president OF the Coulter dry
goods firm, is the candle who has before
and for years past sent out his modest
yet clear beams of light to those who
needed it most, by providing for them
opportunities tor taking part in and en-
ioying religious worship. Mr.. Coulter
came to Los Angeles from the south
nineteen years ago. In 1879 he built
the Ten pie street church, with the aid of
business and other friends. He is an
ordained minister. and he occupied the
pulpit himself until the church, having
become self-supporting, he left it in the
hands of the flock that had gathered
there and turned his attention and
moral and financial strength in other
directions. About 1889, i.i tent in the
river bottom. he again began to preach
and drew another congregation from the
east side. The little nucleus soon grew
in numbers, and he hired q hall on
Downey avenue and preached there an
til the congregation outgrew the hall.
when again. with the aid of friends, he
built second church on Workman
street. That was six years ago, and
now there is steady attendance of
over three hundred there and the
Sunday school mum bers about 175 pupils.
A short time since. Mr.. Larrabee was
placed in charge of the Workman-street
self-supportinc. and MI. Coulter deter
mined to erect and maintain church
himself.
He purchased the old Harris property
on the east side of Broadway for SIS, GOO.
a lot 65x165 feet, and the building now in
cost $50. 600 more. 1t will nearly cover
the lot. The audience room will have
raised seats and the latest appliances IN
the way If heating and electric lighting
will be introduced.
The lots for the Temple and Workman
street churches Mr.. Coulter bought. but
he was aided IN erecting the edifice by
mem bers and his business friends. The
Broadway lot and church are his own in
dividual property. and he will occupy the
pulpit as soon ss the church il ready tor
occupancy. The mem bers of the new
ion mil ho ApoD ho rfh
two have been. not from the other con-
gregations. but from the class in the
community who do not feel able to own
pews in more fashionable churches, and
who will not in consequence become
members ,, OF p1aca such congtegatiions; nhe
40 it is to be called, will not be sold and
all seats will be free.
One of the features OF the church will
be y free reading room for young men.
which will be directly under the audience
room. 1t will be properly heated and
in attendance there and 1t will be stocked
with a religious library OF books. papers
and periodicals.
Another feature Of the church will be a
fine baptistry.
Mr.. Coulter has recently withdrawn from
all active association with the dry goods
business. although he still owns stock
and is president of the company. But
his two sons. Benjamin F., jr.. and
Frank. manage the business. thus leav-
ing him free to dsvots his whole time to
the work in which he has thrown his
whole heart and strength. His boys re-
joice in his work, as does his wife, and
she spends all hei time with him visit
ing the members Of the two congrega-
:Ions and helping him in the formation
of the new one that wnen Novem ber
comes the real work may commence in
aarnast and without delav