The record-union., 1899-10-23

Edward Everett sailed from Boston for
the Golden Gate, with large passen-
ger list of argonauts,r seeking the golden
fleece. They entered San Francisco
Bay on the 9th of July, having been
six months on the way. Among others
on that ship, and serving as Chaplain
during the voyage, was a young minis
ter, a graduate of Yale College and
Seminary, by the name of Joseph Au-
gustine Benton. He came not to seek
gold, but to save the souls of men.
He made his way at once to Saera-
mento. He describes the city as he
saw it in July, 1S49: Reaching Sacra-
mento. one found steep banks rising
twenty feet from the water. Back from
the river. eastward three or four blocks,
lay a cloth city among logs and stumps
and under trees which originally COW
cred the site of charming grove There
were only two or three buildings of
wood. Only one street had been opened
through the timber out upon the pral-
rie. and that run to Suffers Fort, two
miles away The city was mainly the
growth of a few weeks. The scene
was a weird one when night came on.
shone anywhere. A dim candle set in
bottle or other convenience was the
chief means Of Illumination" To-day
instead of tallow candle, we have q
blaze of electric lights.
Between the 18th and 22d of July the
young preacher visited all the profess
ing Christians he could find in the city
They encouraged him to remain and
preach, which he did. He preached his
first sermon here July I'D. There was
then no organized church of any kind
here. There had been preaching by
different persons, but no church had
been organized. 1t is difficult to dis
cover accurately the beginnings of re-
religious work here. 1t has been said
that the first sermon preached in Sac
ramento was in March, 1919, by
Presbyterian minister named James
Douglas The first regular preaching
services We're begun not by clergy
man, but by a physician.
Dr. Benton is authority for the state
ment that religious exercises were be-
gun in May, 1S49, by a practicing
physician. a local Methodist Episcopal
preacher These We're kept up by him
out any respect to a denominational or
ganization till the end of the summer
months" This physician was w.
Grove Deal Thus, as DR.. Benton says:
1T is probably fair to say that the
Methodists instituted the first regular
services, and the Congregationalists
had the first regular minister and the
first regular church organization
On the 10th of July the Rev. Mr.. Rob-
erts of Oregon preached at the corner
of K and Third streets in what was
then pleasant grove. In the Placer
Times of July u, 1S49, I find reference
to this service under the heading, Sun
day in the Grove" 1t reads as follows:
ION Sunday the 10Th, the Rev. Mr..
Roberts, missionary of the NJ. E. So
ciety Of Oregon, preached in the beau
tiful grove near the corner of K and
Third streets. The audience was high
ly respectable, and seemed very much
interested in the service. The speaker
discoursed eloquently of the beauties
of religion and the moral observance of
the Christian Sabbath He said he had
two churches on the way for Califor-
mia, one for San Francisco and the 9TH
er for some growing city in the coun-
try, and probably be sent here if those
who had plenty, of the shining dust in
their pockets would aid" The editor
added: I'VE hope the reverend gentle
mans efforts will be seconded by our
citizens, for nothing is more calculated
to aid in sustaining a kindly feeling
between man and man than the preach