The San Francisco call., 1905-01-07
q NEWS OF THE COUNTY OF ALAMEDA 70.
CLOSES FIRST
HALF CENTURY.
AT ST. JOHNS

OAKLAND. Jan. s.-The celebration
Of the fiftieth anniversary Of the or
ganization Of st. Johns Episcopal
Church Of Oakland began this morning
with parochial communion of the
members Of the parish. The Rev. Ed
gar F. Gee. rector, conducted the SER
! vice and afterward addressed the con-
gregation. Many Of those baptized or
confirmed at st. Johns Church during
the half-century of it's work, who have
since moved away from the parish, at
tended the service this morning, once
more meeting old friends
The first of the regular Jubilee ser
vices was held this evening, being a
union meeting of all the Episcopal par
,, ishes of Alameda County, with all the
rectors of these parishes participating.
The Right Rev. William Ford Nichols,
Bishop of the diocese, preached the
, opening jubilee sermon, in which he
told of the great work of DR.. Benja-
min Akerly, founder of st Johns,
/ during the forty years OF his rector
ship.
After the reading of the lesson by the
Rev. c. T. Walkley, rector of ST. Paul's,
the Rev. Edgar F. Gee welcomed the
clergymen and laity to the church
After announcing the time of the vari-
Gus jubilee services the rector said:
To this our golden Jubilee celebration 1 bid
you welcome. Especially do I extend a hearty
welcome to the people who after long alb
sence from the parish have come once more to
the old home. For this is home. fthe first home o
our church in Alameda County st. Paurs
Church, the Church of>te Advent in East Oak
land. St Andrews. Trinity and all the other
Episcopal churches in Alameda County are the
children of ST. Johns and in the same sense
are the result of the great work of DIR. Akerly,
the beloved founder and father of our parish.
The address of the rector was fol-
lowed by the opening anniversary ad-
dress of Bishop Nichols, who took as
his text, Let your light so shine be-
fore men that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which
is in heaven" After speaking at some
length of the history of ST. John s
Church and parish in the work of the
diocese, Bishop Nichols said:
In the course OF these golden jubilee services
you are to have historical address on the
great work of St. Pauls parish during its fifty
years, and you will hear a part OF what may
be told of the life of Dr. Akerly its founder.
But But It IT,. seems to me that tonight may take
this parish was devoted to It's welfare. and
the. welfare Of its people. as an example of
my text.
Benjamin Akerly was a pioneer. and, as
your rector has said. he was expansive. Dr.
Akerly believed that one of the best ways to
insure the growth and prosperity of this par
ish was to build UP others around it. and to-
day we see the result of his work in the other
churches Of Alameda County. But his work
was not easy. DR.. Akerly pioneer, and
be met the same difficulties as confront others
engaged in pioneer work. But with the true
pioneer spirit he conquered these difficulties
and layed the foundations which we have
since built.
Holy communion will be celebrated
tomorrow morning at 1880 o'clock in
memory Of departed members of the
parish. On Sunday elaborate services
will be held.