The record-union., 1899-10-23
EVENING EXERCISES.

in the church.
EVENING EXERCISES.
More Interesting Addresses, Choice
Music, Etc.
There was a very large congregation
in the evening, and the services We're
intensely interesting. They consisted of
addresses by c. P. Massey, Rev. S. H.
Wiley, DR.. Charles Van Norden, and
Rev. B. Fay Mills of Boston. The
choir, which was doubled for the oc-
casion, rendered the following music:
"Te Deum," I'VE Will Give Thanks .
"Song of Thanksgiving, "Jubilate, =
Fear Not, o. Lord" BE Thou Ex-
alted,'' when Thou Cometh."
Rev. S. H. Willey's address was his
torical and interesting. He said it was
a great pleasure for him to be at the
reunion, for the very building seemed
to make him feel that he was in the
presence of the heroic and beloved Rev.
J. A. Benton, the first pastor of the
church. He dwelt on the life and work
of DR.. Benton, who came to California
around the Horn in pioneer times.
Though he had every opportunity a
young man could have wanted in New
England, starting in life with a Yale
education, he cast his lot in California
and was sterling man.
II met him first in a tent on the river
shore wrapped in college gown, shaE-
ing with ague. He was often sick, but
he kept at his work and remained here
until 1862
The speaker spoke Of the illustrious
successors of Benton, and of the great
good the church has done in the years
since it was founded.
ADDRESS BY MR.. MASSEY.
After singing by the choir c. P. Mas
sey delivered an address, choosing for
his subject, THE Church in the Past
A Tribute to It's Founders and Minis
ters' Mr.. Massey said:
Whatever significance my appoint
ment to a place upon the program of
your golden festival may be understood
to possess, connects itself with the fact
that for just one-half of the fifty years
now numbered into the life of your
church. I have sustained with you re-
lations of more or less intimate char
dIlCls <AAo llldy dSh VI you III d1-
vance to pardon the personal note in
a portion of what I may wish to say,
for cannot see how that note is to be
entirely eliminated from an address
which has it's only warrant in associa-
tions which have brought me in con-
tact with all the men who have ever
stood in this pulpit as your recognized
ministers.
My own arrival In your city was not
until 1874, just twenty-five years ago
but something like eight or ten years
previous to that date I met DR.. Ben
ton at times in the family of one of his
parishioners in San Francisco, and fire.
quently in company with some of the
ladies of that household, attended upon
his preaching in the Second Congrega-
tional Church, then situated on Taylor
street. The ample scholarship and
sterling integrity of the man were i'm
mediately recognized, and a few years
later, when the young lady who was
to unite her fortunes with mine in the
building Of a home, was journeying
from New England village to this
western land, and I received an init
nation that my own minister, DR.. Steb-
bins, as a representative of the liberal
school of Christian thought, might not
be entirely persona grata to herself and
friends, 1 selected DR.. Benton to per,
form the ceremony. Your first minis
ter is thus associated with one of the
marked occasions of my life, and re-
lationships were established which were
destined to grow closer with succeed
ing years.
I am not sure that at that time I was
aware of DR.. Benton's early connection
with this people, but I was soon after
ward informed. for had hardly arriv-
ed in your city when announcement
was made that the twenty-fifth ami
versary of the founding Of this church
would be celebrated. and that Dr. Ben
ton, the first minister. would preach
the sermon. I have made no endeavol
to recover the discourse from the print
ed files, but I remember his description
of the topography of the landscape ir
those early days. when the foundations
of this church were laid, and how the
indigenous growth of sycamore and cot
tonwood, and poplar and oak made q
forest where the homes of the people
stand to-day, and belted a river whose
deep, pellucid stream foated the ocean
1eviathan to your wharves.
I was a homesick and heartsick youne
man at this time, for my change of res
idence had deprived me of the minis.
trations of one whom I regarded then
and whom I still regard, even In the
late afternoon of his life, as one Of the
commanding intellects of this country
and time. but I soon found myself 9
regular attendant upon the Sunday ser.
vices of DR.. Dwinell whose liberia
learning attracted my mind, and whose
generous and sympathetic nature wor
my heart.
But DR.. Dwinell, unable or unwilline
to recognize my limitations, wanted
more of me than I could give. He wa:
not satisfied with companionship. he
claimed cooperation. he appreciated
| the respectful attitude of an attentive
| listener, but he wanted the exhibition
of enthusiasm in the work to which he
| had dedicated his life. At last, at hi:
earnest solicitation I handed him a let
| ter from Christian church with which
| in my boyhood had been connected
| the act giving me the status of mem
| bership here, and afterward with hi:
counsel and advice. I undertook
course of reading and study in the Di
vinity School in Oakland. in the found
| ing of which institution he had taker
a prominent part. and in which he oc
cupied a professors chair after hi
resignation of the pastorate here. Re
| lations Of the most delightful charactel
were thus renewed with DR. Benton
who was President of the seminary
and instructor in several branches O.
study, and my observation of him dur
| ING all the wears of the cnnrSsa CON firm