The record-union., 1899-10-23

4tS responsibility ana proprlety. INSeli
estate invariably advances in the vicin-
ity OF the meeting house, and its neigh
Dor hood is always sought after 1or
quiet residences. We again say that
the interests and well-being of our citl-
zens are clearly connected with this
enterprise" That EDITORS head was
level. He knew what some business
men Of this city do not seem to know,
namely, that the investment OF money
and energy in maintaining churches IN
the city contributes to the material as
well as moral welfare of the city. Ii
we spent more money in the spread oil
religion we would need less for the sup
preston of crime. If Sacramento had
better churches and fewer saloons, real
estate would be worth more.
Many of the anniversary sermons
that Rev. Dr. Benton preached in this
city were printed in the daily press.
From these sermons I have gathered
many facts connected with the organ
ization and growth of the church.
find in one sermon this statement: "On
the evening Of September 16, 1919 ac-
cording to notice given at the public
service on Sunday, such persons, mem
bers of the Presbyterian and Congre-
gational Churches as were desirous of
aiding the cause of religion by enter
. ing upon some form of organization and
standing in church relations, met TO
consider the propriety of establishing
permanently the institutions of relig
ion. There were eleven persons pres
ent." At this meeting DR.. Benton pre-
sided, and a Rev. S. V. Blakeslee. who
had just got in from the overland jour
ney took part. After a review of the
whole ground of church polity and
church forms it was unanimously re-
solved that I'VE who are present do
band ourselves together and do con-
stitute a Christian church to be known
as the First Church of Christ in Sacra-
mento." A committee was appointed to
prepare and present a full set of arti-
cles of faith and covenant. An ad
journed meeting was held on the fol
lowing Sunday evening, when the or
ganization was completed Some new
persons were present at the adjourned
meeting and were enrolled as members
A. c. Sweetser, who was that day
enrolled as a. charter member. contin-
ues in his membership with US to this
day, rounding out fifty years of hon
orable service in one church. We trust
he may continue with US many years
more. L. L. Lombard, who joined
a little later on and was prominent in
building the first church, is living in
New York at the ripe age of 80, and
sends a letter of greeting which will
be read at the meeting tomorrow.
Some at the organization of the
church were Presbyterians and would
have preferred to make the new church
of that order But as the majority
were Congregational it was decided
unanimously to adopt that policy,
though the name was not used Nearly
all the Presbyterians in the city unit
ed with the church and continued in
its fellowship until 1856 when they
withdrew to organize a church of their
own faith and order.
It was late in October, 40, says DR..
Denton, before we could rally our peo-
plesor ourselves to such pitch of cour-
age as to think we could do much in
the way of church building Lumber
at this time cost 5000 a thousand. Then
the floods came in the winter and drove
some from the city and entirely sus-
pended all religious meetings. The
young pastor was taken seriously i'll
and was compelled to go to Monterey
to recruit his health, where he enjoyed
the hospitality of Rev. Wiley Early
in the following spring he returned 10
his work here. He found enough Of
the men of 40 left to preserve the or
ganization, and more ready to join it.
Measures for progress were at once
put into execution. The Sunday-school
building on the corner of ] and Sixth
streets was secured as a place of wor-
ship. The pastor tells us that his pull
pit was an empty barrel, on the top
Of which was laid a box that held a
dozen or so of bottles of a rather
strong liquor, as one might learn from
the brand on the box, which was care
fully turned toward the preacher, ex-
cept in one instance" Think of a
liquor advertisement greeting the eyes
of the worshippers as they turned Their
gaze on the holy man in the pulpit.
One is inclined to speculate as to wnet
the hearers most craved, the water Ct
life dispensed by the preacher, or a
bottle of that brand of liquor adver-
tised on the barrel pulpit. 1t has been
a fight between those two forces. in
this city from that day to this, and
one can hardly say which has gained
the day. There are several First
Things" that would like here to spec
ify. The first newspaper was launch
ed on the treacherous waves Of jour
nalism April % 40, and was chris
tened "The Placer Times" The first
preaching services were begun in May
'49, by w. Grove Deal, D. D. The frs
Methodist Church was dedicated No
vember 4, 40 The first Baptist ser
mon was preached the second Sunday
in August by Rev Mr. Cook. About
the middle Of August Rev. Flavel s
Mines, D. D., of San Francisco, held
service led to the organization of the
Protestant Episcopal Church. The 7rst
Sunday-school, our own, was organ
lied August 10Th by Professor Shep-
herd, a good name for a Sunday-scboo
Superintendent. The First Church OF
Christ" our own, was organized Sep.
tember %, 40. The corner stone OF
our first church edifce was laid sep.
tember 4, 80, and our first church ded.
ication October 9th Of the same year
This church was burned July 13. '54
On July Goth meeting resolved to re.
build. On September 22, "a, the corner.
stone Of the present edifice was laid
This is said to be the first ceremony
of the kind connected with Protestan nj
church in the State. The stone wa:
furnished by Judge Catln who is will
lis TODAY 1t was "a handsome gran