The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-02
He Declined to Accept Many
Suggestions as to Interior
PaStorateS.
THE CONGREGATION DIVIDED.
Some of the People Will Go to
Dr. RAIDERS and Some Remain
in Chinatown.

The Cum berland Presbyterian Church
holding services at Mozart Hall on Mar
ket street, is rent in twain. 1t is ex-
pected that about half its members, along
with its pastor, will be received into the
Third Congregational Church next Sun
day. The other members of tie Cumber-
land Church are for the most part wor-
shipping at the Cum berland Chinese Mis-
sion, 3 Clay place, under the ministrations
OF Rev. ]. j. Sitter.
1t is eight and half years since Rev
f. A. Dixon started services in Mozart
Hall IN connection with the Independent
Presbyterian denomination. After TWO
and half years of ministrations the pas
tor resolved to ally himself with the Cum
berland Presbyterians and ever since then
his church has remained in connection
with that denomination. Some time ago
Mr.. Dixon's health began to decline and
he could not labor as diligently as of yore.
1t IS asserted that portion of the co n
gregation became tired of the ailing pastor
and sought to have another pastor APP
pointed. Mr.. Dixon was offered pastorates
in other parts of the State by the Board of
Missions and was made to understand in
board that he should accept one of these
calls. He declined them. however, as he
wished to remain in San Francisco, and
the board Of missions was contributing
nothing to the support of the congregation
in Mozart Hall. "As long" said Mr..
Dixon, las church is self-supporting, its
minister is independent of any board"
Just about the time the pastors health
began to fail plan was on foot for erect
ing building for the Cumberland Pres
byterian congregation, the only one of its
kind in the City outside the Chinese Mis-
sion, which was not connected with it.
About $1,000 was collected and pledged and
placed in the hands of the standing COM
mittee Of the California synod, for though
there are no Cumberland Presbyterian
Church buildings in this City there are
number throughout the State. The Board
of Missions made special promises of as
slstance, and also appointed Rev. T. A.
Cowan financial agent for the building
fund.
1t was at this time that Mr.. Dixon says
the first effort was made to remove him
from the church. He refused, however, to
be sent about by the Board of Missions
and remained with his congregation in
Mozart Hall. Shortly afterward Rev. I.
a. Cowan was removed and the board
withdrew Its offers of assistance toward
the building fund, though the suggestion
was again made to Mr.. Dixon TO go to
another part of the State.
1t is stated by Rev. ]. J. Sitter and by
the members OF the flock who are now
worshipping at the Chinese Mission, that
Mr.. Dixon has been too i'll for some time
to attend properly to his ministerial du-
ties. They say that some Sundays he was
able to preach and that some Sundays he
was not, and that as consequence the
congregation dwindled down till the
l." III
last it seems that Mr.. Dixon himself be-
came aware of his unhtness to hold the
fort any longer. On the last Sunday in
April he rendered his resignation, and
forty-fve of the congregation at once
asked for their letters, as they wished to
follow the pastor.
With such diminished flock it was
found to be financial impossibility to
continue services in Mozart Hail. Mrs.
Sitter, the wife OF Rev. j. Sitter, was the
missionary of the Chinese Cumberland
Mission, and Mr.. Sitter, not having
church, was appointed, or appointed him.
self, according to Mr.. Dixon, temporary
supply. till steps could be taken toward
reorganization.
Those of the flock who follow Mr.. Sitter
20 to Chinatown to perform their deyo-
tons, and Mr.. Sitter SAYS that they form
the ma lority OF the congregation. Those
of the flock who follow Mr.. Dixon will join
the Third Congregational Church next
Sunday. The pastor says he does not con-
slider this an act of disloyaity to the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, as there
is practically no difference in the doctrines,
and the people who follow him would not
go into Chinatown to church. 1t is pos
sible that Mr.. Dixon will present his letters
to the Bay Conference and become
regularly appointed Presbyterian minister.
The $1,000 collected for the church is still
in the hands of the standing committee.
Nearly Fl, 600, 600 worth, of patent medi-