The San Francisco call., 1896-07-08
TO REOPEN THE CHURCH.
Rev. w. L Birch, Now Of
Calvary" Is a Promi-
nent Candidate.
Weekday Concerts and Thursday
Services for the Business
Men.

1t looks now as though some decisive
steps will soon be taken by the authorities
to reopen the First Congregational Church,
and the most prominent candidate who is
in the field for the pastorate is the Rev.
w. L. Birch, Ph.D., at present filling the
pulpit of the Rev. John Hemphill, DID,,
at Calvary Presbyterian Church.
The First Congregational Church has
been closed now for some months, and
since it has been definitely decided by the
board OF trustees not to sell the property,
general wish for its early reopening has
been expressed by the congregation. 1t is
argued that the factional feeling arising
from the trial of its late pastor, DR.. G. o.
Brown, has virtually died out since his
resignation and that now no time should
be lost in bringing the congregation
together again under the spiritual guild
ance of some suitable Christian minister.
Pastor Birch, who is comparative
stranger, since his arrival in San Fran
cisco has visited and inspected the old
First Church. He is delighted with its
tine acoustic properties, its central loca-
ton, etc., and sees in 1t fruitful field for
the service of the Lord. II chosen as its
pastor he intends to introduce. with the
sanction of the authorities, new and
practical line of earnest work which will
undoubtedly meet the approval OF the
people.
81 have expressed 10 L. H. Clement, the
honorary secretary of the First Congrega-
tional Society,"" said Pastor Birch, 'my
willingness TO undertake the ministry.
subject to the approval of my good friend,
the Rev. DR.. Hemphill. I also desire the
hearty cooperation of the trustees and
members, WHO through all its recent
troubles have remained loyal to the
church. l suppose that the trustees are
naturally somewhat discouraged in conse-
quence of their unhappy experiences, and
feel reluctant to reopen the church. Still.
If they are only willing 10 put their shouI-
ders to the wheel and carry it on as it
should be carried on, / believe that the
church could be regularly flied with men
and women who feel the need of Christian
cheer and inspiration to fortify themselves
against the numerous worldly temptations
by which we are all assailed.
81 do not believe in the utility of fam
ing posters upon the church door to an.
nounce the catch-the-eye topics of the
Sabbath discourses but in quiet, earnest,
practical work for the relief of the desti-
tute and the consolation of the broken
hearted and the erring of this great CITY.
In this way the First church should act in
conjunction with Calvary and other allied
Christian churches. Should be honored
with the pastorate of the First church it
would be my aim, with the aid of the min
listers of this City and Oakland, to hold
regular half-hour Thursday services at
noon, or at convenient hour in
the afternoon, for business men, and
if possible, to keep the church
open all day, for the benefit of
anybody who might wish to pass a few
moments in quiet meditation or prayer.
should be glad, too, if pew rents could
be abolished and our sources of revenue
be vested in voluntary contributions In
strumental and vocal concerts of sacred
music might be given in the afternoon
and evening of every week day by profess
sional and amateur musicians. To these
admission should be free and the lecture
and class rooms of the church could be
used each evening for the moral and phys.
ical culture of young men and maidens.
The adoption of these methods would, I
am sure, make the church a practical
blessing TO the residents of San Francisco.
AS to my own remuneration, l should be
content not to take dollar until all of
the expenses of II work were paid
The spiritual affairs of the First Church
are vested in the deacons, who select the
pastor subject to the confirmation of the
con gregation, while the business and
financial details are under the control of
the board of trustees.