The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-05
"A HUNDRED
CHURCHES
TOO MANY
Strong and Novel State
ment by Rev DR.. ]. K.
Mclean.
OTHERS SPEAK IN LIKE
STRAIN.
Bad Conditions Said to Retard
Christian Growth in This
State.
COMMISSION TO BE APPOINTED
TO PLACE CHURCHES.
Flow of Reason at the Congreg alton al
Club Meeting ani Banquet
Last Evening.
COMMISSION TO BE APPOINTED
TO PLACE CHURCHES.
Flow of Reason at the Congregation al
Club Meeting chi Banquet
Last Evening.

"There are 100 churches too many in
the State of California, and if they should
die off it would be the best thing for the
kingdom of God"
That was the novel, and what at first
sight would appear startling. statement
made by Rev. DR.. ]. K. Mclean at tho
meeting of the Congregational Club held
in the Third Congregational Church last
evening. 1t seemed to strike the fancy of
the ministers present, however. and the
applause that followed represented several
denominati
The circums tances which led up to the
making of the statement tend in great
measure to moderate the force Of its ap-
plication.
The Ladies' Aid Society of the Third
Congregational Church had prepared
sunptuous banquet in the dining hall,
and ladies and gentlemen of several diff
ferent churches had been invited to par
tIcipate. A large number responded, and
1t was therefore thought advisable to have
feast of reason as well as of more ma
terlal things, Rev. w. w. Scudder, the
president of the club, acted as chairman OF
the com bined meeting and feast.
The theme for discussion was "Inter
UNCONVENTIONAL Comfy" and various
phases of the subject were assigned to
Rev. S. M. Jefferson, Ii. D., dean OF the
Berkeley Bible Seminary, opened the dis
cussion, which was limited to ten minutes
for each speaker, by treating of 'Its
Grounds"
His notion was that denominations
should try to unite on fundamentals. He
believed that they should be willing to
,fFa Win 70 mill ont NV
ciashing.
Rev. DR.. E. r. Ollie, pastor of the Gen.
trail Methodist Church, followed with
discussion of its scope. He asserted that
$12 900, 600 is annually wasted in this
country on account of lack of inter
UNCONVENTIONAL comfy.
Take Healdsburg for instance" he
said. There is a little city with popu-
lation of only about 1000 and vet it has
eight churches. That is too many.
81 believe a commission should be APP
pointed representing all the evangelical
churches to arrange the placing of
churches according TO population. As to
what churches should be placed in any
one city let priority of establishment
determine"
Rev. W. H. Loudon. D. D., of the Presby-
terrain Theological Seminary, spoke on
Decentralization Comfy" He be-
lieved that the ministerial unions sho ud
have more meetings. because they cult
vate spirit of fraternity and good-fellow
ship.
Rev. ]. R. Knodell, pastor of the Pill
grim Congregational Church. Oakland,
took for his theme, Pioneer Movements
He believed that there is at present en-
tirely too much talk about comfy and too
little done. The last chord in the great
Christian harp of to-day he asserted to be
that of inter-d enominational comfy and
~ oh ho lot
Rev. 7. G. Brownson of the California
Baptist College came next with briet
address on present Infellclties." His re-
marks were broad and liberal in their
spirit and showed the great difficulties
encountered in the path leading to comfy
on the part of the churches.
Then came DR.. Mclean, who made the
remark that heads this article, in sharp,
decisive tones, and then proceeded to ex-
plain his terse exordium.
What l mean," he continued, sis that
there are at least that many superfuous
churches, a condition OF affairs which
| tends to retard the power for good of the
| church taken as unit. We are not doing
| things in a business-like way by overload
! ing a small population with so many
| churches.
"The banner of Christ should be higher
| than that of John Wesley or John Knox
| or John Robinson. Christianity first and
| church afterward.
''The supertluous churches should be
| weeded out. so the others can grow, and
l am in favor of such a com ission as
suggested by DR.. Ollie. 1t could accom-
| plish much good"
A resolution was then adopted unani-
mously, providing that steps be taken
preparatory to the establishment of a
State commission. which shall have for
| its object the placing of evangelical
| churches according to population. Rev.
| DR.. RAIDER was present, as we'll as many
others OF the local ministry, but contented
| himself with simply listening to the adj
| dresses and took no active part beyon
welcoming the invited guests.