The San Francisco call., 1896-04-16
Celebration of DR.. Spalding's
Long Connection With
st. Johns.
HE rs POPULAR IN THE CHURCH
Last Night Marked the Appreciation
by the Parishioners of His Guild.
ance of Affairs.

The fifteenth anniversary of Rev. E. B.
Spalding's rectorship in the parish of ST.
John the Evangelist was celebrated last
night at the handsome church on Fiji
teenth street and Julian avenue.
The parishioners assem- bled in mass in
the church to give to their beloved pastor
reception worthy of the occasion,
In the early part of the evening praise
service was held in the body of the church
by DR.. Spalding and his assistants, with
the full cnoir. Afterward the congrega-
tion retired to Guild Hall adjoining,
where it was joined by Bishop Nichols and
the following clergy: Rev. G. E. Walk,
Rev. IL. B. Collier and Rev. E. Lyon, with
Senior Warden Judge Van Reynegom and
junior Warden F. H. Eichbaum
varied programme of music and sing
ing was offered preliminary to the even
ing's reception and presentation of the ad-
dress to the pastor on his fifteenth ami
versary.
Bishop Nichols spoke feelingly of the
sterling qualities of mind and heart of the
Rev. DR.. Spalding and the wonderful
success ne had accomplished in his fifteen
years ministration of his duties as pastor.
DR.. Spalding being introduced by
Judge Van Reynegom, spoke of the able
| assistance rendered him by the mem bers
of his parish, particularly the two wardens
| who stood by him for the good of the
parish. The LADIES' also came in for their
share OF praise in their labors of love and
! devotion for the welfare of those depend
ing upon their moral support.
Junior Warden Eichb baum read the fol-
lowing report OF the committee, giving the
statistics of the parish since 1881:
| Your committee appointed to take suitable
nT TinTN IN vi
Spaldlngs rectorship of this parish feel that in
| congratulating him we have equally if not
| greater cause to congratulate ourselves upon
| this happy occasion.
The records of our parish, gathered through
these many years of DR.. Spaldings rectorshiD
and summarized herewith, speak for them
| selves. They viii compare favorably with
| those OF sister parishes of our own and other
| dloceses, and should be a cause for deyout
| thankfulness. Such results, humanity speak
| Ing, however, could only have been obtained
| through wise leadership. Through a wise guild
ance and by personal sacrifice as unusual. per-
hapS as are the statistics of our parish has its
| plished.
Long rectorships are, as a rule, the exception
! IN the history OF our church in this country
| Many reasons might be assigned for this Here
| at the West, especially, is q constant change
| and tiuctuation in parish life that often him
| ders deep and lasting attachments, and not in
| frequently encourages differences and even
| partisan strife. There is also an increasing de-
| mano for financial support for Gods work in a
new country like our own which is not always
cheertully recognized, and oftentlmes tempts
| our rectors to fee away an be at rest II Is q
cause Tor congratlation for us that in these
years differences have been almost unknown
among us. With q united front as a parish
we have gone on from our little church the
memory OF which is so dear to our older mem
bers' o,.o to our present beautiful building with
our Holy lnnocentS' Chapel and prospering
Good Shepherds Mission in peace and har,
mony.
1t is hard to realize the growth from that
hIJi1 iru off
congregation all scattered and its few mem
bers, to our present condition-united, we trust
in love Tor Gods work-with nearly 700 com
municantS. Indeed, If to-day, those bantizad
and confirmed in these fifteen years should
gather at our church door our present bniId
ing, large as it is could not contain them We
may well say, as we look back on this spirftuaI
harvest, "What hath God wrought"
Financially. we are not wealthy parish.
our Location is III poorer part of this growing
City; and yet we have been able in these years
to do Tor ourselves and assist in general chnrcb
work In way that (as we examine our ste
tlstics), 1t should be matter OF honest pride
10 renect upon and think how much has hpen
done. 10 accomplish this our rector has been
an important factor; without his self-sacrifce
1t could not have been done. When we couId
not have afforded it, he has provided essistsnte
Tor large and growing parochical needs Other
generous sacrifices of DR.. Spaldingis have
been made; some to assist in meeting current
expenses some to beautify our church
Nor have his labors been confined to onr
parish interest Is alone. His gratuitous services
aided the seif-denying efforts of those ladies' of
our church In this City, to whom is due. under
God, The resuscitation of st. Lukes HosnitaJ
His voice has ever been raised earnestly for the
support of missions at home and abroad. The
Del Monte chapel, an artistic and substantiaI
church building in the magnificent grounds nj
the Hotel Del Monte at Monterey, stands as a
monument to the untiring zeal of DR. SpaId
ing; both the building and the lot on which il
STANDS having been secured to the church
chiefly through his efforts
IhaI the value OF his ability and services has
been recognized in honors and position in the
dioeeSe has been matter of pride to us. his
parlsh1oners, and on this, the fifteenth ami
yersary of his long and successful rectorshin
with warm esteem we pledge him our heariy
support IN his efforts as rector for this work OF
the church, and pray that our present rels
uons with him may long remain unbroken,
Committee OF Vestry-F. W. Van Reynegom
senior warden; f. II. Eichbaum, Junior war
den; James Rolph Jr., clerk; F. L. Southack
treasurer; Henry KirSe White, choirmaster
Committee of st. Johns Guild-Mrs Henry r
Williams, Mrs. Emma G. Wendell, Mrs +. [.
Southack, Mrs. w. Weston, Mrs. NJ A. Gale.
The church records show the progress
made to be remarkable. They comprise:
Eleven hundred and forty baptisms from