Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-24
ADJOURN WITH
DISASTER TALK
CoNGREeATloNALISTs HEAR
NORTHERN FAST0rS
In One San Francisco Church 425 Out
Of $50 Members Lost Their Homes.
A Big Cathedral Is
Suggested

were held yesterday in the First Con-
gregational church.
Prof I. y. Bosworth opened the
morning session with an address on
THE Christian as witness" A con-
ference, led by Prof. Bosworth. and
communion followed the address.
At the afternoon session Rev. II. r.
Meridith was the moderator.
Rev. g. E. Adams was the first
speaker on the general topic, "The
Problem of Congregationalism in the
Stricken Cities" He said:
San Francisco WAS the worst
churched city anywhere before the dis
aster. They were few and not in good
condition. This may seem strange, but
we did not have churches enough to
command common respect.
"The First Congregational church, of
which am pastor, was destroyed, and
out OF $50 members 425 of them were
burned out, and those who did not lose
their homes are scattered and 1t Is
difficult to ascertain where they are.
congreg cations Scattered
MANY of the sufferers are living in
tents and other temporary abodes. Some
are crowded with friends who are
more fortunate. This matter of scat
tering the congregation is hard to ad-
just but we are doing all we can to
get 1t together.
Many are the discouraging features
with which to contend, but the Con-
gregational churches do not propose to
shut UP. A broad spirit is extended
everywhere to press onward through
the adverse circumstances.
THE Chinese church suffered much,
but it is doing we'll Chinatown will
not be rebuilt as it was before the dis
aster The low places will not be re-
opened. The respectable Chinese
arn1,n ante I,n fhnir Ixf- 1At
be driven out, neither should they be,
for they are honest in their dealings.
Regarding the rebuilding of the
churches, it has been advocated to
build one great cathedral to accommo-
date them all. That, to my mind,
would not be the best way out of the
quandary, for it is a quandary, indeed,
that we are encountering. We do not
know which way TO turn. We will
have to abide by the actions, to a great
extent, of the people and churches
around u.s. The former financial con-
dition of my church of 200 year
has dropped to nothing. But the men,
bers remaining are hopeful and are
planning for rebuilding.
One Great Drawback
zone great drawback in our churches
has been the scandals and fights that
have invaded them, which have been
hard to overcome. 1 feel that I can
suffer for my own misconduct with
some grace, but to be obliged to be
thrown into jeopardy by the sins of
others is hard to stand But with all,
we must do the best we can to press
onward in the work of our churches
in the stricken city"
Rev. j. K. Mclean said:
Before the great calamity 1
prophesied that San Francisco would
he nf the 11rppqt Prnial cities
in the world. For several years past
my prophesy seemed to be coming to
pass. 1 think now that San Francisco
has great future before it.
etl The Two seminaries
Regarding the two seminaries at
Berkeley it will require 100000 to re-
pair them. 1t is a sad blow to that
place, but with financial aid much can
soon be accomplished in placing them
in order for their work. The churches
which have suffered much will come
out with outside aid"
Rev. Mr.. Patten spoke of the condi-
tions at San Francisco. He said:
when 1 was aroused by the earth
quake I hastened to get up and out,
and yet 1 was comparatively quiet and
composed. My first thoughts were to
get to where my wife was and then die
together"
The speaker dwelt on the various con-
ditions of the churches and the hopeful
spirit of rebuilding.
Rev. Mr.. Meserve made a short ad-
dress on the same lines as the preced-
ing speaker.
Recommend Leniency
The following recommendation was
adopted:
"The Pacific Coast -Cengregational
congress, now in session in Los Angeles,
unanimously and earnestly urges upon
the Congregational Church Building
society the Importance of granting
that our California churches recently
stricken by earthquake and fire shall
not be required to make financial return
for such gifts as the Congregationaiist
of the country may send to them in
their present distress through the so
ciety's treasury. And we therefore re-
quest the society to open it's doors for
such unrestricted gifts as the Congre-
gational fellowship may designate for
this purpose.
This we urge with confidence in our
Church Building society with approval
of it's general plan of assisting the
churches and with gratitude for it's
long and loyal service. But. being on
the ground. facing the desolate district
with its burned churches and homes
and it's impoverished people and long
ing that our churches shall rise again
in harmony with the fairer cities and
be fitted for their share i'm the richer
spiritual life and work we trust that
such restrictions as probably apply to
the ordinary gifts of the society may
not be made binding i'm this great
emergency upon these special gifts for
the helpless.
civilian HERMAN HOPKINS,
CIVILIAN c. MERRILL,
"W. w. SCUDDER. JR.,
"ELWIN l.. HOUSE,"
Acommittee was selected to arrange
for the printing of the principal
minutes of the congress. consisting OF
E..A. Sweitzer, Rev. William Horace
Day and Rev. F. j. Culver.
Francis Murphy, the well known tenn
perance apostle. was present at the ses-
sion, seated among the delegates as an
honored guest.
Missionary Talks