The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-11

the state. The very nature Of the coun-
try CONT ined with these conditions to
give to California certain freedom that
partook to some extent of the uncivil-
ICED. Thus society was organized here
IN the west. ana the elements which
shared In giving il the peculiar cast it
did are still manifest.
They may be noticed in the holiday
air OF our Sundays, in the freed ON with
which the press speaks upon all topics
neutrality-suspicious. considerations and the
secular atmosphere surrounding the two
great universities of the state and the
number OF non-sectarian societies and
the deep root taken BY many OF the semi
scientific schisms among the better
classes of the people.
While the statement that California is
not religious in the sense that her east.
ern sisters are cannot be contrJverted,
it is erroneous, however. to measure
from conditions Of ten ysafs ago. Opin-
ions thus formed are with more difficulty
removed than the things which caused
them. This is especially true in the
present instance. While the opinions
just mentioned still prevail, many of the
sources from which they were drawn
have long since disappeared before the
rapid pr 'gress of the growth of western
society.
With Los Angeles there are additional
reasons why former conditions should
not exist today. The great body Ut the
city is of recent building. In no city or
town 10 the west is there such a large
percentage OF eastern people as in Los
Angeles. Practically all Of the lpresens
community is maze up OF people from
the east 1t is but natural, then, that
her society should have an eastern tone
and 1t is true thst it docs. Perhaps IN
no other thing is this shown so much as
in the religious character If tho place.
With these evidences before us it
may not create any surprise when the
statement Is made that Los Angeles
ranks with such cities as Boston, Brook
Ign and Philadelphia in the tone and
character of her religious institutions.
What has been said would be niislead-
ing were it to create the impression that
entirely by. religious scots. The truth is
that ths ministry have encountered great
difficulty in trying to overcome certain
social imperfections. owing to the strong
public sentiment which approved OF their
existence. Los Angeles has many strict
sunday ordinances and they are reason
toward Liberalism In all things.
This principle has found expression not
alone from the pulpits of some of the
most conservative orthodox churches,
but has been made manifest in the atti-
tude OF the churches themselves. A
notable instance that OF tho First Pres
byterian church, which was divided by
act Of the presbytery into theiWestminster
and Central churches. Those who were
constituted the Westminster division
took exceptions to the action Of the pres.
byterv; the pastor ana elders were tried
and found guilty of contumay IN rebel.
ling against the action OF their governing
body, and the case was appealed to the
synod and the former decision reversed,
The real issue in the case was the stand
taken by the pastor upon certain doc-
trines, which are held in great reverence
by the old-school Presbyterlans. The
case 10 significant in this connection as
II indicates the general trend Of religious
feeling in Los Angeles even among the
most orthodox of the evangelical
churches. That Los Angeles should
have been the place in which was ex-
pressed that tendency Of q portion OF the
Presby terian church to depart from some
OF the old theology that has SO long held
II firmly to the weight Of Calvinism is of
special signihcancs. 1t 10 indicative of
tho general we'll tempered freedom which
obtains throughout every branch Of the
sUcisty.
Generally speaking, Los Angeles is
religious; her churches numerous and
well attended. A religious atmosphere
pervades the entire city; not dogmatical
or aggressive, but sush as was portrayed
by Bseoher when ne said: "a genial
warmth OF love 80 seasoned with the in
tellect OF truth. that Nil were happy in Its
rays and all saw God beyoud."