The record-union., 1899-10-26
METHODIST JUBILEE BEGINS
SIXTH-sTREET SERVICES AT
TRACT MANY PEOPLE.
Brief and Interesting Addresses a
Feature of the Initial
Meeting.

There was a large attendance at the
Sixth-street M. Z. Church last night,
the occasion being the commemoration
Of the fftieth year of the church's ex-
istence.
The church was beautifully decorated
and the services consisted of singing
and brief speeches by three former
pastors. They were Rev. J. w. Ross,
Rev. II. B. Heacock and Rev. Al. -.
Buck.
The Sixth-street M. Z. Church was
founded by Rev. Isaac Owen In Octo-
ber, 1S49, at DR.. Miller's store. The
membership at the outset was seventy
two. but there has been wonderful
growth since then. so that to-day there
are 440 members.
Since the church began there has
been a long line of pastors. The Follow
ing table shows the pastors and the
years they were in charge: Isaac owen,
1S49-50; NJ. C. Briggs, 1S50o1; Royal
B. Stratton, 1S51-53; Warren Oliver
and r. Merchant, 1S53-55; n. P. Heath,
1855; George S. Phillips, 1So5-51; j. w.
Ross, 1S57-59; ]. d. Blain 1So9-6l;
Jesse T. Peck, 1861-63; M. c. Briggs,
1S03-65; ]. w. Ross, 1S6o-6S; J. II
Wythe, 1S6S-70; II. b. Heacock, 1870
73; A. NJ. Hough. 1870; NJ. c. Briggs,
1S75-7S; r. Bentley, 1S7S-S1; t. ).
Dunn, 1SS1-S4; f. R. Ollie, loS4-Sl
Arnold T. Needham, 1SS7-9l; T. c.
George, 1S91-93: C. V. Anthony, 1884,
and NJ D. Buck, 1894 to 1897; 8. j.
Carroll, 1897.
The material for the first house OF
worship was shipped by the conference
from Baltimore around Cape Horn.
When erected it made building 24X3o
feet in dimensions. The lot upon which
ii was located at Seventh and l. streets
was donated for the purpose by Gen-
eral Sutter.
The organization was called the Sew
enth-street Methodist Church. In 100
a brick structure was erected in its
place, but soon after it's dedication, IN
the same year, it was destroyed by the
great fire. A cheap structure was used
for some time, and then sold to the
Jewish congregation, the Methodist
members using a hall over the old
Postofflce until the present edffice on
Sixth street between K and l., could
be built The building has fifty-two
feet front and something over 100 feet
depth and it's cost was about S4o,O0O
A few years ago Peter BOIL donated a
lot in the rear of the church and the
building was enlarged to permit the
installation therein of a magnificent
organ.
Last nights meeting was attended by
many who We're familiar with the fore
going facts and who have been with
To them the services were peculiarly
impressive and interesting.
After the preliminary singing Rev. NJ.
D. Buck read from the Scriptures. He
was followed by Rev. S. J. Carroll in
further readings, after which Rev. j.
w. Ross invoked Gods blessing on the
congregation and on churches in al.
lands. There was further singing, after
which the pastor made various an
nouncements concerning meetings OF
the week. He also said that the roll
of the church would be called during
the meetings, whereupon each person
might respond with testimonial to
salvation.
Our hope is" he said, that the
meetings will emphasize the value Of
spiritual life 1 do not care much for
names, dates and figures, but for the
wider fact of salvation. If l cared to
look backward, however, l might say
there has been a remarkable series of
pastors here. Even before Rev. Isaac
owen came, in 1S49. a layman held
services here, DR.. Briggs was also a
wonderful man in the church. He did
much TO shape things, right at the crit
ical moment. Others of ability followed
him, and a line of consecrated men
and women have built this church into
power. I feel how great their service,
and 1 feel too. that thousands have
been made happy by the fellowship
formed in this church"
Rev. J. w. Ross followed in a brief
address, in which he outlined the his
tory Of past church work.
Il am asked to say why the fathers
We're more successful than we are in
getting converts to the faith. l have
been a member. of the church for more
than sixty years, and I confess that
cannot fully answer the question.
am satisfied they had no better equip
ments than we have One reason they
succeeded better than we is that we
have less raw material than they had.
In their day only person in fourteen
professed religion; to-day one in three