Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-22
CHURCH CELEBRATES ITS
F0RTIETH ANNIVERSARY
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL HAS
BIRTHDAY
Pastor Emeritus Tells of Early Strug-
giles of Organization and Its
Steady and Healthy
Growth

The fortieth anniversary, the middle
age birthday of the First Congregational
church, was celebrated yesterday with
| all the accumulated joy of the early years
| of hardship passed.
| The beautiful large church on Hope
street, near Ninth, the fourth built by
the congregation, was crowded with men,
bers and friends of the congregation.
The main auditorium was a bower of
greenery. Around the pulpit were banked
greens and beautiful blossoms, while
arches of greens were arranged in either
aisle. On the wall were the dates 1857
1907 in green.
Mesdames E. G. Wood and France had
charge of the decorations.
The services throughout the day were
of a very impressive character and were
largely attended.
Old Officers Present
At the services yesterday morning the
members who joined the church during
the first twelve years of its existence
and the officers, past and present occu-
pied reserved seats. Mrs. Amanda Scott,
the only charter member now on the
church roll, and in whose home the
church was organized, was present and
occupied a seat of honor.
During the professional those to occupy
the reserved seats marched in, followed
by the little children of the kindergarten
class, each of whom carried red car
nation.
This professional of the Oldest and the
youngest of the church was very effect
i've the older ones who had seen the
hardships of church life in the pueblo
DAYS and the smiling little tots, all join
ing in the professional.
Rev. DIR. Warren F. Day, pastor emer-
titus, preached a historical sermon on
'"These Two-score Years." He took for
his text, Deut., 2:7. He said in part:
Outlook Not Hopeful
1.-THE Civil war was over and the great
empire west of the Rockies was awaken
ing. There was great furore whose
character would depend on the men who
managed il. The Christian people soon
began to recognize Christian institutions.
The outlook was not hopeful, however.
AS class, with some great exceptions,
those who made this Pacific coast did
not first seek the kingdom of God.
what Congregational fathers had done
on the Atlantic the sons would do on
the Pacific.
"July o. 1867, the First Congregational
church was begun with six members In
cluding a solitary man. This man saved
the church from being known as the
first female church of Los Angelc1. Later
six men ana IOur WOIllell Ieol l6dAihSu eiS
first organization.
"Of the original number who flung out
the banner of the cross only one remains.
Mrs. Scott has made these forty years
of unbroken membership memorable.
Has Had Nine Pastors
During these years the church has
had nine pastors. Your speaker came to
the church December, 1894, and for several
wears worked alone. In 1900 his son was
called from a pastorate in Aurora, Ill.
He was not called as assistant pastor,
but as co-pastor 1t was a novel relation
for father and son, and, so far as Il
know, never duplicated. Two years later
your speaker asked to be made pastor
emeritus.
"This church has been something OF
builder of houses of worship. Up yon-
der ON the banks of New High street was
built the first modest little church. ample
for all needs. 1t was built in 1857 APP
parently out of the way of business or
trade.
I'm 1888 the building was abandoned and
a house of worship was built at the cor
ner of Third and Hill streets, away from
business and in a semi-rural district
I'm 1888 this property was sold to go
farther into the country and property
was purchased at the corner of Sixth and
Hill streets. April 13 of the following
year the corner stone was laid. Six
months later the entire new building was
occupied"
DR.. Day detailed the struggles of the
church to pay the large debt on the
building, coming as it did just after the
boom, time when money was scarce.
July 1s, 1903. when we came into this