The San Francisco call., 1905-05-02
SAYS SCHOOLS
ARE OVERFULL
Civic League Brings It's
Allegations Before the
Presbyterian Ministers
AN URGENT PETITION
Anti Cigarette Reformers
Preparing to Hold Mass
Meeting in the Y. NJ. G. A.
AN URGENT PETITION

AT a meeting of the Presbyterian
Ministers Union yesterday the Civic
Leagues public school plans were dis
cussed. The league is petitioning the
supervisors TO furnish better school
houses, and it's petition was read
The document sets forth that most
of the school buildings are unsafe and
unsanitary and all classes shockingly
overcrowded," declaring that the pro-
motion clubs and other agencies are
putting forth efforts to attract larger
population to San Francisco, but that
the present inadequate school system
stands as a hindrance to that object"
The petitioners pray that 'all the
money that is to be expended on per-
manent improvements, aside from the
Geary street road, be applied to the
public schools
The petition will be presented to all
the ministerial associations of the city
and concerted action is expected.
The Rev. Theodore F. Burnham ad-
dressed the union on the ten character
istic marks of the future church. He
said it would be an orthodox church, a
church independent of the state, and
that it would be a missionary church
of Christianity.
In the discussion that followed the
Rev. H. N. Bevier, president of the un-
eyes to the moral condition of the city.
which he considered appalling. AS they
preached ethics, he said, the cities be-
came worse. He felt that there was a
more refined letting down of the moral
standard-a moral breakdown.
A special meeting of the Presbytery
Of San Francisco was held yesterday
Afternoon at the First Presbyterian
Church, Van Ness avenue, for the pur-
0f IN IN int cnnSid tiOy1 the
Incorporation of the Presbytery. The
matter, it is expected, will be taken up
at a future meeting. The Presbytery
will assemble on Monday afternoon,
May 15, when William E. Parker Jr.
and Paul G. Stevens will be examined
for ordination.
The Baptist Ministers Union gave a
dinner yesterday afternoon at Harnil-
ton-square Baptist Church in honor of
the Rev. Arthur w. Rider. Pacific
Coast district superintendent of the
American Baptist Missionary Union.
Mr.. Rider leaves on an extended trip
to the Orient shortly.
Among the speakers were the Rev.
A. S. Coats, D. D., who acted as toast
master, and the Rev. c. M. Hill, d. D..
who spoke on the peculiar and close
relations of the Pacific Coast with the
Orient The cables and wires, he said,
were narrowing the Pacific and bring
ing the Orient closer, making it more
necessary for a Christian center here
on the coast. He considered our op-
portunities the great inspiration of the
day.
The election of officers for the half
year for the Congregational Ministers
Association resulted yesterday morn
ing as follows: President. the Rev. w.
H Hopkins of Berkeley; vice president.
the Rev F. L. WalZ. pastor of the
Fourth Congregational Church. San
Francisco; secretary, the Rev. II. F.
Burgess; treasurer, the Rev. Huber
Burr.
Miss M. A. Thompson. representing
the Anti Cigarette League, appeared
before the association asking their CO.
operation in the crusade against the
cigarette habit. Miss Thompson stated
that arrangements were in progress for
a general mass meeting, to be held in
the auditorium of the Young Mems
Christian Association.