The record-union., 1899-10-23

1oAlO VI O1i OltNCo dlI0 i1OIACS q AeNAAeA
wherein thou shalt eat bread without
scarceness, thou shalt not lack any
thing in it, a land whose stones are
iron and out of whose hills thou mayst
dig Brass Richer even than this is
our land of California, for out Of our
hills We dig gold. This great State,
larger in area than all New England,
with its extensive coast line, and ports
opening out to the lands across the
Pacific. has within itself undreamed of
powers and possibilities. We have
only touched the fringe of it's vast and
manifold resources. No richer gift was
ever put in the hands of man than God
has committed to Us in this great gold
en- State of California. A precious her
itage has been bequeathed to u.s.
What We shall make of it depends on
our fidelity to God, on our obedience
to His commands. Fertile SOIL rich
mines, extensive territory do not Of
themselves make or keep a nation
great. 1t is Righteousness that exalteth
a nation. The men who laid the foun-
dations of this church knew and real
lied this fact. Their patriotism as
well as their piety moved them in those
early days to establish here the insti-
tutions of religion in order that the peo-
pie, educated in the commandments of
God, might enjoy the fullest blessings
OF the life that now is and of that
which is to come. 1t is our faith that
the founders and supporters Of the
church of Christ are among the best
benefactorS of the nation. Every
church standing for God and right
eousness contributes to the permanency
and glory of the State A city with
out church means a people without
religion, and a nation without right
eousness. Let us therefore honor
those who in the early days of this
city and State at personal sacrifice
laid the foundations Of this church
whose jubilee we celebrate. The faith
ers who laid the foundations have
nearly all passed away A few whose
faces we are protd and glad to look
upon are with US in this service of
thanksgiving, but the great majority
have passed to where beyond those
voices there is peace Being dead
they yet speak in the institution that
they established. Their works do fol-
low them in blessing to coming gen
erations.
The year 1S49 is an ever memorable
year in the history of this State and
city. That year is crowded with events
OF great significance to all who dwell,
or ever viii dwell in this goodly land
Ii was the year Of beginnings 1t was
year of stress and strain, of trial and
transformation. The great tidal wave
OF population that poured into this land.
peopling it more rapidly than any other
part of the Republic had ever been peo-
pied, began in 1S49. The Constitutional
convention that determined the future
policy of the State was held in 1S49
at Monterey. The Rev. S. H. Wiley who
Is with us to-day was chaplain of that
convention. The first Protestant
churches Of this State were planted in
1919. In 1S49 the State had Just
emerged from Mexican rule and was
preparing TO take her place in the great
slsterhood of States that comprised the
American Republic. The discovery of
gold In the previous year made Cali
1ornla in 1919 the FL Dorado of a great
host who pushed their way across the
plains, periled their lives on the desert.
climbed the Sierras, or braved the dam
gers or the sea that they might come
INTO possession Of the fabulous wealth
that had so long lain waiting for hands
TO gather it. The great majority were
young men. They were men of courage
and enterprise. The greater proportion
OF them came from different States of
the Union. 1t was well that it was so
Tor the new State needed such men to
mold and foS /,
tions.
IL IS Well to remember that there were
Americans here before 1919 Americans
began TO come here as early as 1870
There We're about three hundred here
In 1850. They We're called foreigners
by the then inhabitants. Between 1910
and 1916 there grew UP in this Sacra-
mento valley quite a large settlement of
Americans, many of whom were most
worthy and capable men. In the "Cali-
fornian" of February 6, 1S47. a paner
published at Monterey, I found this
statement: The Sacramento Valley is
now last filling up with an active and
Industrious people. Civilization with ,ts
humanlzing blessings will soon mako
the wilderness blossom as a, rose and
the DAY is not far distant when tbe
banks or the Sacramento will be dotted
ana oeautlf1ed with fair cities. towns
ana villages" In the same paper about
the same time | found this interesting
paragraph: The English language is to
oe the language of California. The
vast tide of emigration from the United
states VIII inevitably make it SO. 1t
becomes every parent therefore IN have
ms children taught this language and
nave 1t taught them early" The edi-
tors prophecy was correct. The tide
OF emigration soon became higher and
stronger than his fondest ina gination
had dared to picture. The headouar-
ters of this tide of ernigrants fror, +ho
United States was Suffers Fort here
~ our own city. Sutter himself was of
SWISS extraction, but had lived Some
tiIiie IN one OF the States TO the East.
ne came to the coast by the Oregon
ioute. HIS grant of land here he re-
celVed from the Mexican Governor. AL
Varado. In 1914 Fremont THE Path
hhoer came over the NSierras and
pltched his tent here at the fort. IT
was F'remont's able report that re-
vealed to the East the worth and
beauty of this splendid region. We see
that Sacramento from the very. begin
nlng was ascentral point in the indus
trial and political life Of the State.
Nine-tenths of all who sailed through
the Golden Gate in 1S49 made their wav
to this city Here grew up great trad
ing houses, and here in after years was
FORMED that syndicate of ability and
energy that built the railroad over the