davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10

of the California Conference IS the Rev. j..
H. Wythe, Md, DID,, LID. As early as
1853 he wrote the first American textbook
on microscopy; since that time the book
has passed through the second and third
editions and still holds the foremost place
among the textbooks on that growing and
interesting subject. Some years ago DR..
Wythe published book OF rare value en-
titled, "Agreement of Science and Re-
lgion." 1t found its way into the course
of study for the ministers of the Methodist
church and was widely circulated.
His latest and perhaps his most labori-
Gus and valuable contribution to the scien-
tific literature of the day is the ''PhySiology
of the Soul" which has received thSmost
favorable notices from the learned meta
physicians and philosophers of the times,
including such men as Professor Borden
P. Bovine of Boston and DR.. Lionel S. Beale
of London. 1t is certainly very able
work. On account of failing health DIR.
Wythe came to California in 1862 and has
filled some of the leading pulpits on the
coast-was also presiding elder of the San
Francisco district one term.
In addition to his studies in theology DR..
Wythe has wide reputation as a physi-
clan, having graduated from the Philadel-
phia College of Medicine as early as 1850.
In 1880 he received a nominal appointment
from the conference and took up the prac-
tice of medicine and now enjoys large
practice in Oakland and the bay cities. For
a good many years he has held the position
of lecturer in the Cooper Medical Institute,
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10
Rev. e. McClish.
from a photographic

same time William Taylor opened regular
services in San Francisco, Rev. Asa
White, local preacher, having held the
society together in that city.
Sunday, October %, 1849, Isaac Owen
reached Sacramento, where he found the
Rev. DR.. w. j. Deal surrounded by small
band OF earnest Methodists with lumber on
the ground for a new church. The mis-
sionary was received with open arms in
one week from that day the church was so
far completed as to hold services within
the Enclosure. 1t thus appears before the
arrival of the missionaries there were
Methodist societies organized at San
Francisco, San Jose, Santa Cruz, and in
formally at Sacramento under the Gaze re-
spectively of Rev. Asa White, Elihu An
thony and DR.. W. j. Deal. The simple
fact is that there never was break in the
history of the Methodist church in Cali
fornia from the beginning, April "a, 1847,
which was before Alta California was
coded to the United States.
A recent writer in the Overland Monthly,
writing under the caption of 1.-The
Churches of Forty -nine," takes occasion
to say that, "the first Protestant clergy
men to come to California were Methodist,
two missionaries to Oregon having visited
San Francisco, Monterey and other places
as early as April 1S47. But the Methodists
were not so quick in permanently occupy
ing California as were other denomina-
tions." This is very natural mistake for
one who is not acquainted with the
economy of the Methodist church. At
that time the headquarters of the mission
was in Oregon and the California mission
aries reported their work to Mr.. Roberts,
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10

tralia and in many parts of Africa. To
Bishop Taylor belongs the credit of bring
ing the seed OF the Australian gum or
eucalyptus tree to the State of California.
Of course the missionary could not pay
any such price for lumber and it was
equally out of the question for him to pay
such rents for any length of time. But he
was not the man to complain of his hard
lot. He shouldered his ak and put off into
the lumber camp, little north OF the
present town of Olema, in Marin County,
and by dint of hard work succeeded in get
ting enough rough lumber to build him a
comfortable house. Although he worked
on board the schooner as part pay for the
transportation of the lumber, yet it stood
him in about $50 thousand by the time
he got it on the ground. These two heroic
missionaries and their assistants travelled
all over Central California, preaching in
the villages and mining camps, and re-
ceived everywhere with that royal well
come known only among the early pio-
neers of California. From 1947 to 1851
might be styled not inappropriately the
prehistoric age of California Methodism.
The first regular session of the California
Conference met in San Francisco August
IL, 1851. Since that time the records are
complete and accessible as may be seen in
the file of the minutes. Rev. William
Roberts presided and the Rev. S. D.
Slmonds, still membe OF this conference
and residing at 995 Clay street, San Fran
cisco, was elected secretary.
DR.. M. G. Briggs of San Jose is the only
other member of California Conference
who was present at the first session of the
conference. Last year the conference in
vited him to preach his semi-centennial
sermon on the occasion of the fiftieth an
niversary of his ministry, he having entered
the Erie Conference in September. 1916.
I'll al cfa
at that first conference and about as many
local preachers.
From this small beginning it has grown
to two large conferences now in the State
with about 400 ministers, 49, 16 members,
property valued at 81, 1862, spending
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10

In September, ls47 Rev. Elihu Anthony,
now of Santa Cruz and a brother to the
well-known DR.. G. V. Anthony OF the Cali
fornia Conference, with company of emf.
grants from Indiana arrived in the Santa
Clara Valley and camped near San Jose.
Almost at once he opened preaching SER
vice, organizing a Methodist society of
thirty members. He made a good many
trips to San Francisco to encourage the
little society organized by the Rev. Mr.. Rob-
erts, preaching on shipboard and on the
streets as opportunity was offered. Once
he made the trip in an oXcart. John Tru-
body, now residing at 1904 Washington
street. was one of the original members of
the San Francisco Methodist society.
Rev. Mr.. Anthony continued his mission
labors southwark to Santa Cruz, Salinas
and Monterey, and not without consider
able success. In May, 1S4S, the Missionary
Board at New York, having heard such
favor able reports of the work in California
and Oregon, recommended to the General
Conference then in session to regularly or
ganize the work in California into a mis-
sion and make additional appropriations
and man the work in the best possible
manner.
The same year Rev. Isaac Owen of In.
diana and Rev. William Taylor of Balti-
more were duly appointed missionaries to
California and set out for the new field of
labor, one, Isaac Owen, by way of the
plains, and the other, William Taylor,
came around the Horn. Both arrived in
California on the same day in 1S49. Rev.
Mr.. Owen preached his first sermon in
Grass Valley September IA, 1s49, and at the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10

vote on that resolution a substitute is
likely to be offered which will permit the
conference to vote directly on the question
of admitting women. The amendment of
1888 will be taken up again that is adding
the clause to the second article of the con-
stitution: "And said delegates may be
men or women" The Hamilton resolu-
ton is explained in the sketch of that dis
tinguished visitor.
The removal of the time limit will be
discussed under a special memorial which
will go to the committee on itinerancy in
the General Conference of 1896. This
question has had singular history. From
1868 TO 1875 it met with such favor that it
was confidently believed by the friends of
the measure that the General Conference
of 1880 would pass the rule by a large
majority, but in 1880 it was overwhelm-
ingly defeated and but little was heard of
it until eight years later, when 1t suddenly
came forward with such strength as to
carry the committee on itinerancy, and was
only "downed" by compromise measure
extending the time of the pastoral term
from three to five years The lavmen
have SO far been opposed to the lifting of
the time limit. The conservatives think
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10

fourths vote of the annual conferences.
This in substance was the notable resolu-
ton of DR.. Hamilton.
DR.. Hamilton's opponents claim that
his tactics would subvert all law and
break down all the safeguards about the
constitution of all government, whether
church or state. If the Supreme Court
of the United States should decide that
women were ineligible to a seat in
Congress, it would only be necessary &C.
cording to his method to send out an
amendment declaring that men only were
eligible to seats in the halls of Congress,
and if such failed to carry the required
majorities in the various States, the
women would be eligible. Of course it
may seem strange that such resolution
could pass a legislative body like the Gen.
eral Conference, and some have gone SO
far as to say that DR.. Hamilton himself
did not expect it to carry, but was running
"bluff" on his opponents. This, how
ever, he denies, claiming that it was only
fair that the other side should work up
the three fourths and two thirds ma
jorities.
A good many of the conference declare
that they will not vote on the alleged
amendment of DR.. Hamilton at all. 1t is
generally understood that the California
Conference is strongly in favor of admit
ting the women to the General Conference.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10
BISHOP WARREN TO LEAD
Question of Admitting Women
as Delegates Is the
Main Issue.
THE HAMILTON RESOLUTION
Pioneer WesIeyans In the Golden
State-Some Of the Leading
Clergymen.

The forty third session of the California
Conference will convene tomorrow at Pa
cific Grove, in the Assembly Hall, which
will seat nearly 1000. Bishop II. w. War
rem will preside. There are 227 ministerial
delegates and about $50 delegates to the
Law Electoral Conference and the Lay AS
ISOLATION, which meet at the same time.
There will be present all the way from 1900
10 1900 of the leading Methodists of the
State.
There are several things which will give
this conference unusual interest. 1t is the
time of election of delegates to The General
Conference, which meets in Cleveland,
Ohio, the first day of May. 1896. The Cali
fornia Conference will be entitled to four
ministerial delegates, elected by the vote
of the clergy, and two laymen delegates,
elected by the Lay Electoral Conference,
women not yet being eligible to a seat in
the highest legislative council of the
church.
1t is also the time for preparing and
sending forward resolutions and memo
rails asking for such changes in the rules
and usageS of the church as the members
may desire. The opportunity for chang
ing the laws of the church occurs only
once in four years. There are two radical
changes which have been agltating the
church for more than dozen years. One
of these is the lifting of the time-limit on
the pastoral term, which at present per-
mits pastor to remain in the same church
for term not exceeding five years. The
proposed amendment seeks to do away with
the limit altogether.
The other change which will be strongly
urged is the admission of women to the
General Conference. This change is far
more difficult, because it has been decided
by the preceding General Conferences that
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10

that the original change by which clay
delegates" were admitted to the General
Conference did not include women. The
women delegates were therefore excluded
from the General Conference on constitu-
tional grounds.
The friends of the measurelmmediately
framed an amendment and sent 1t on its
rounds, and while it had majority of the
mem bership of the church in its favor it
lacked the necessary three-fourths vote of
the conferences. When the General Con-
ference of 1892 met at Omaha there was an
attempt to Tread the women IN by de-
claring in formal manner that it was the
intention of the act by which the lay dele
gates were admitted in 1872 to include
women, but under the leadership OF the
Rev. DIR. Buckley of New York the whole
question was referred to the judiciary COM
mittee, which decided that the amendment
OF 1872 did not include the women.
1t was then apparent that the only way
they could be legally admitted was to send
the amendment down to the members and
the conferences again as in 1888. DIR.
Hamilton and the advocates of the admis-
sion of women fearing that "three-tourths"
vote of the conferences made brilliant
coup d'etat in the following manner:
That, whereas, the judiciary committee
has decided that women are not eligible to
membership in the General Conference,
therefore resolved, that an amendment be
sent to the annual conferences declaring
that all lay delegates shall be male mem
bers and is such amendment shall fail of
its three-fourths majority vote and the
subsequent two-thirds vote of the General
Conference of 1896, then the words clay
delegates" may include men and women.
1t was in this manner that the laboring
car was shifted to the other side-the
assumption being that the women are
eligible unless rejected by two-th1rds
vote of General Conference and a three
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10
The Rev. H. C.. Benson, DID.

Among the pioneers of the conference
no figure is more conspicuous than that of
DIR. III. G. Benson. He is the Nestor of
California Methodism. For long time
he has swayed the scepter in matters of
ecclesiastical law and parliamentary u.s.
ages. Though high up in the seventies"
he is still in vigorous health, and intensely
active on the conference floor.
Three years ago at the session of the con-
ference he preached his jubilee sermon,
having completed fifty years in the minis
try. forty years of which has been spent in
California. Born in Ohio, near Cincinnati,
educated at the Indiana Asbury Univer-
sity under the presidency of Bishop Simp-
son, entered the Indiana Conference in
1912, taught Greek in the Asbury Univer-
sity in 1S50-5l and came as a missionary to
California in 1852, where his active life has
been spent, with the exception of four
years in Oregon, where he was called to
edit the Pacific Christian Advocate from
1864 to 1868. Besides being pastor and pre-
siding elder in many ofthe leading charges
of California, he was editor of the California
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10
THE METHODISTS AT PACIFIC GROVE.

San Francisco they organized the first
Methodist Episcopal society and the first
Protestant church in the State or on the
Pacific Coast south of Oregon. 1t con-
sisted of six mem bers, over whom was APP
pointed Aquilla Glover and John Trubody
as the class-leaders. They pitched tent
on Powell street, near Washington, organ
lied Sunday school and set up worship
after the most approved Methodist fashion.
This occurred more than eighteen
months before the Rev. Timothy Dwight
Hunt, returned missionary from the
Hawaiian Islands, landed and preached
his first sermon, October %, 1848, and some
months later organized the First Congre-
gatonal Church of San Francisco. The
Rev. S. III. Wiley of the Congregational
church arrived in Monterey February %,
1S49, and became one of the founders of
the Congregational church in California.
Rev. Sylvester odbridge came to San
Francisco February %, 1S49, and began
work for the Presbyterians, and the Rev.
0. c. Wheeler, so long and so we'll known
on this coast, came on the same vessel and
proceeded to organize the First Baptist
Church in San Francisco. The Episcopa-
lians began operations September 8. lS49,
under the able ministry OF DR.. ]. L. Yer
Mehr and Rev. Flavel S. Mines, the
founder of old Trinity. 1t is matter of
interest to the Methodists, who pride them
selves on pioneer work, that they antici-
pated the other denominations by a num-
Der of months.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10
: how thew will disnose OF the Hamilton

but how they will dispose OF the Hamilton
resolution remains to be seen. t will
probably take some good coaching" TO
get that resolution TO the goal
The great society DR.. Hamilton repre-
sents, the "Freedmens Aid" was organ
lied at the close of the war for the educa-
ton and elevation of the freedmen of the
South 1t spends from $3.50, 600 to $500, 900
annually. During the twenty EIGHT years
of its history it has collected and spent
about 100000 This society carries on
schools of high grade. 1t is being recog-
nized by the Southern people themselves
as powerful factor in solving the ''color
question" Dr. Hamilton is a preacher of
most popular talents. 1t was he who
founded the Peoples Church of Boston
and Tiled it with crowd of eager listeners.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10
Daniel A. Goodsell, DID,, Presiding
Bishop Of the Pacific Coast.
From q photograph

Christian Advocate from 1868 to 1880. a
period of twelve years.
He is a man of excellent scholarship,
keeping fresh in his Greek Latin and He
brew to the present day; minister of we'll
defined conviction, straightforward and of a
high grade of piety. He is alert and uulck
at repartee. Woe to the man who attempts
to measure swords with him on the con-
ference floor. In argument he is clear,
concise and convincing, making many
happy "hits" at the expense of his oppo-
nent, and not infrequently "brings down
the house." He is leader on the conser-
vatlve side of the house and the G. 0. M.
on all debatable questions. The sight of q
crank thoroughly arouses him. The young
man who applies for admission to the
ranks of the itinerancy considers his case
won if he passes the searching interroga-
tories of DR.. Benson.
But with all his activity in the debates of
the conference, he is great favorite, highly
regarded for his ability sincerity and worth
of character, and has often received prefer
ment at the hands of his colleagues He
has been the delegate to the General Con-
ferences of 1864. 1868, 1876 and 1884, thus
representing the California Conference in
the highest councils of the church four
times. an honor not usually conferred more
than once. In 1867 he was elected presl-
dent of Willamette University, but oe-
clined the honor. In 1865 he was elected
president of the Oregon Conference, IN the
absence of the Bishop, and adjusted the APP
pOintments with great satisfaction. He re.
mains young in spite of his years.
Rev. J. H. Wythe, Md, DID,, LID.
Perhaps the most distinguished scholar
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10

erts of New Jersey and Rev. James 81.
Wilbur of New York, were sent as mis-
sionaries to Oregon, but authorized to stop
at San Francisco and explore California
with view of opening missions in that
part of the Pacific Coast.
They came ashore at San Francisco
(Yerba Buena, as it was then called) April
"a, 1847. They spent about week investi-
eating the little Mexican village almost lost
in the sandhills, preaching to the English
speaking people on Sunday. 1t has been
claimed that this was the first Protestant
sermon ever preached within the bound
aries of the State of California. After
ministering to few Christian people who
gathered around them they proceeded to
visit the Napa and Sonoma valleys, in
Guiding many of the villages north of the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10

it would require change in the constitu-
ton of the church in order to admit them.
The former change will require simply a
majority vote of the next General Confer
ence. 1t will be the purpose of those who
desire these amendments to send only such
delegates as favor them.
Candidating in a Methodist conference
is rather hazardous thing. The theory
of the ministers is that there should be no
candidating. The vote is supposed 10 be
based upon the spontaneous" choice of
those who rise 'head and shoulders
above their fellows" Whatever amount
of the human element, under the head of
be clothed with thick coat of Sleeps
clothing"
The question of admitting women to the
General Conference is likely to be brought
up under the call to vote on the Hamilton
resolution. If the conference refuses to
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10

California Conference in the interests of
that society, is one of the most Jealous ad-
vocates for the admission of women to the
General Conference. He was brought into
great notoriety as the author of the cele-
brated Hamilton resolution, proposing an
amendment to the constitution of the
church, and which the conferences for the
most part are refusing to vote upon. 1t
will go down in history as one of the
shrewdest parliamentar movements ever
attempted in a representative body.
In order to understand the full force of
the Hamilton resolution and why 1t
should set the church into such an agita-
ton it must be remembered that up to
1872 there were none but ministers per-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10

that the only method OF changing the con-
stitution of the church so as to admit the
.Iaymen" is to submit'the amendment to
the adult members OF the church, men and
women. 1t majority of the Iaitv vote in
favor of the proposed law it is then re-
ferred to the annual conferences, where it
must he carried by q three-fourths vote,
thence it comes before the succeeding Cen
eraI Conference and must be carried by
two-thirds vote in order to becomaa law.
This contention came to a focus in 1888,
when five women, duly elected, presented
them selves at the bar of the General Con-
terence and claimed their seats After one
OF the greatest debates known IN the his
tory of the church the opponents of the
women won by small majority, claiming
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10

who was the general superintendent Tor
the coast. 1t was not until August IA, 1851,
that the California work was formally
separated from the Oregon mission and
ings.
When the Revs. Taylor and Owen reached
California the gold fever was raging and
prices were enormous. Think of lumber
at $500 per thousand. No wonder houses
rented-or shanties rather, for there were
no houses to speak of in those days-for
$50 to 500 per month. This was all the
more appalling when it is remembered
that the entire appropriation for the sup
port of William Taylor and his family was
only $3.50 for the year. William Taylor,
now Bishop of Africa, is one of the most
heroic men of the century. Since the days
of his street preaching in California he has
travelled and preached the gospel in almost
all parts of India, South America, Aus
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10

land, Ohio, these five societies were
merged into one and called the Epworth
League.
Since that time it has grown to nearly a
million members, has a young peoples
paper, published in Chicago, with circu-
lation of over $4,000 In recent conven-
ton held at Chattanooga, Tenn, in which
the Canadian and Southern Methodists
united, 1900 delegates were present. 1t is
confidently expected that this society will
be strong medium for the union OF the
two Methodisms. North and South.
Bishop D. A. Goodsell, DID,, LID.
Bishop Daniel Ayres Goodsell was born
in Newburg, n. Y, fifty-fve years ago of
sturdy Methodist parents, his father being
Methodist minister before him. He was
educated in the University of New York,
and at once took high rank as pastor in
the leading churches of New York City,
Brooklyn and New Haven. He is a born
and skillful litterateur.
He was elected editor of the lions
Herald, but declined in order to accept the
RESPONSE BILE place of secretary of the Board
OF Education of the Methodist Episcopal
church, For eight years he was the liter
airy editor of the New York Christian Ad-
vocate. He was elected Bishop in 1888.
Since that time he has travelled in China,
Japan, South America and in nearly ali
the States in the Union. AS preacher he
is regarded among the Methodists very
highly, being possessed of much solid