The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-05
new CHURCH DEDICATED.
Second United Presbyterian
Edifice Now Open to Wor-
shippers.
AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY.
The Rev. DR.. Gibson Tells Of the
Many Struggles to Establish
the Mission.

In a simple but impressive manner the
Second United Presbyterian Church was
The following ministers assisted in the in
teresting services: DR.. Beard, president OF
Napa College; Rev. E. S. McKitrick of Al
legheny, Pa; Rev. M. M. Gibson, pastor
of the First United Presbyterian Church,
and Rev. E. B. Stewart, pastor of the new
house of worship.
Following an appropriate selection by
the choir and an eloquent prayer by Rev.
Mr.. Kitrick, the Rev. DR.. Gobson delivered
an address in which he described in a
graphic, yet, at times, amusing way, the
struggles and trials of the United Pres
byterian Church to establish its missions
in different sections of the City. Among
other things he said:
~ am here to-day to rejoice with those
that do rejoice. l have personal interest
sion because / helped to build it. l love to
see the cause of Christ prosper in every
church in San Francisco. There is no
selfish blood in my VEINS and | do not be-
heve in pulling down one church to build
up another. love them all. We are to
rejoice not for any particular denomina-
ton, but for the entire church of Christ.
II have watched this mission grow in
strength and grace until now love it as a
father does his child. This church is the
first result of our missionary work. First
we tried Tar Flat, and we had as much as
we could do to keep the benches down, to
say nothing of the children. The pastor in
charge went East on visit, and when he
returned only the building remained. Next
we tried the goats of Telegraph Hill, but
one Sunday morning we had drop from
eighty to twelve scholars.
eve then organized school in the Mis-
sion, starting out with twelve scholars.
This was in 1881, and year later Rev. F..
B. Stewart came out from New York and
took charge of the mission. In 1888 the
Second United Presbyterian Church was
organized, and for two years held its meet
ings in a vacant store on the corner of
Twenty fourth and Mission streets. In the
spring of 1885 the church moved to its pres
ent location, occupying the building in the
rear of this magnificent structure. Some
months after this the pastor, MIR. Stewart,
went East for the purpose of securing the
necessary funds to build this very edifce.
We all remember how he sickened and
died. and how it came that the present
pastor, his cousin, came out to finish his
work. We are standing to-day in the light
u
earnest worker and Christian, who died
working for the cause of Christ. He is in
the light of an upper glory, while we are
in the light of glory here below. We are
here to-day to give the same support to the
present pastor that we gave to him. This
is an ideal church, and l predict great
things for it,"
The speaker then stated that the church
cost completed $12, 4i0, and that there was
LII l,,a <b 81 1f u,
wanted the congregation to show its ap-
probation of what had been done by snb-
scribing that amount then and there. In
few minutes he secured $3.50, of which
amount the ladies of the church pledged
$500, and a gentleman who desired his
name withheld, $780,
The ceremony of dedication was then
impressively performed, and at the close
the members of the church, as with one
voice, said:
This house which we haveSbeen per-
mitted to build through the gracious favor
of divine providence, we dedicate unto the
worship and service of God unto the earn
est preaching of the unsearchable riches
of Christ, unto the faithful administration
of the sacraments which Christ instituted
and which become effectual only through
his blessing; unto the edifcation of Gods
people, the instruction of the young in the
Holy Scriptures, the gathering of those
who are strangers to the covenants of
promise that they may become fellow-citi-
zens with the saints and of the household
of God unto the furtherance of all the in
terests of Christ's kingdom until all shall
know him from the least unto the greatest
and his will done on earth as it is in
heaven. Unto these great ends we do now
formally dedicate it as church of Christ,
and this we do in the name and for the
glory of the Father, and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, amen.'
The new church is situated on the west
side of Guerrero street. near Twenty-third.
1t occupies portion of the lot belonging
to the church society, which measures Tx
III feet. The old building has been placed
be used as an infants school.
The foundations and walls to the level of
the lower windowsills are of stone. The
arches over the entrance are also of stone,
and all the rest of the structure, including
the quaint tower, is frame, covered with
cedar shingles. The building is arranged
in two stories, following favored plan IN
Presbyterian churches.
The ground floor will be devoted to
schoolrooms and rooms for social gather
ings, and the upper story to the service
room.
The extreme measurements of the build
ing are sixty feet in width and seventy-two
in length. The platform occupies the
center of the end of the rooms, and the
seats, in natural redwood, are arranged in
amphitheater style.
On the right of the rostrum is choir
and organ loft, and to the left the pastors
(Rev. E. B. Stewart) study. The auditor
ium is lighted from three sides by tripli-
Gated stained glass windows, set in the
gables which accentuate these sides. The
timbering of the roof is open and the work
is finely finished, as it is exposed. The
church is provided with incandescent cleo
trio LIGHTS and heated by steam. The build