The San Francisco call., 1910-02-05
CHURCH HAS BIG
LAND INTERESTS
CongregationaIist Organization
Has Figured Prominently in
City's Development

the local congregational churches ap-
pears in a report by Morris Marcus,
secretary of the congregational church
extension society of San Francisco.
Congrega tional church building in
San Francisco, so Marcus reports. be-
ginning promptly with the arrival of
the pioneers in 1S4s. had periods of
activity that were followed by periods
OF inaction.
The founding of the First Congre-
gational church in san Francisco led
to the establishment in the early six
ties Of the Second. Third and Fourth
Congregational churches. Changes in
the residence district caused the First
and Second churches to sell their orig
inal locations the former going to Post
and Mason streets in the seventies and
the latter to the Western addition in
the eighties. In the meantime the
Bethany church was formed from the
membership of the Third church. OF
the Bethany church Rev DR.. Pond was
the pastor for more than 80 years.
In 1879 an organized attempt was
made at church extension by the Con-
gTegational association, which was
formed by a number of laymen headed
by the late Deacon s. s. Smith. This
organization planned to acquire land
and property, by dona tion or otherwise,
and to assist in the locating and carry
ing on of churches, Sunday schools and
mission work. Within the city limits
of San Francisco chapels were erected
in the Excelsior homestead tract, at
Ocean View, in Eureka valley and in
the Richmond district
In 1888 Deacon Smith built the Pierce
street chapel, placing the title in the
name of three trustees, whose success
sors still hold It, During the nineties
the associates wound up their affairs
and decided their properties TO the sew
eral churches that were concerned. In
1898 q united effort was made by the
ministers and laymen. on both sides OF
the bay. headed by the officers of the
Pacific theological seminary, to push
the work of the church extension. The
Congregational church extension
society of San Francisco and vicinity
was incorporated, with representatives
OF each Congreg egational church in San
Francisco. Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley
and vicinity, and also of the faculty of
the Pacific theological seminary, the
superintendents of the Home mission
ary society. the Sunday school and pub
fishing society and the congregational
church building society.
The Congregations church extension
society operated successfully from 1898
to 1903, in which time churches were
established at Piedmont Fruitvale.
Fitchburg and Mill Valley, and assist
ance was given to churches in San
Francisco. Owing to an amendment in
the bylaws of the society in 1908 the
actual work of the organization has
been confined to San Francisco since
1903
The last seven years have been ma de
particularly interesting in relation to
the work Of the church building efforts
f1F "a ~ 10 ian So
by Marcus as follows:
The seven years since the separa-
ton have witnessed the financing of
the affairs of Park and Richmond
churches, the extinguishment of the
original mortgage on the Sunset
church lot in Ninth avenue, and nego-
tiacions with the Congregational
church building society OF New York
for the purpose of obviating the taxa
ton of mortgages on church property
in this city
Prior to 1908 church property in
the state of California had been taxed
like any other property, but a consti-
tutionaf amendment was adopted. ex-
empting such property when used for
purposes of worship EXCLUSIVELY. The
county assessor, however, continued to
tax existing mortgages on church
property, although this imposed a
burden upon churches that was not
equitable. In 1901 Park church, being
then involved in litigation over it's
building, decided the property to the
Church extension society, which paid
off existing liens, except two mort
cages given the Church building So
ciety Of New York, one for $4,000
loaned to pay last bills. the other for
$685., representing the donation
granted by the New York society, plus
the gifts to local donors as per agree
ment of 1896. While Park church
should have had no taxes to pay in
1903 the assessors roll showed taxes
due on $685. standing against the
property in the name Of the New York
society. In order to relieve this sit
uatfon. it was decided, after two years
OF strenuous effort in several direc-
tions, to deed>the property TO the New
| York society, thereby extinguishing
the mortgages and freeing the prop
erty from annexation. In this way the
title to Park church passed to the
Church building society, which still
holds 1t.
The great fire following the earth
quake OF April 18, 1906, totally de-
stroyed the First, Third, Fourth,
Swedish and Chinese church buildings.
The heroic work of rebuilding the
First and Fourth (Green street,, and
of calling together the scattered CON
] bioiiS VI ShCcc anu OlDtI
/ is fresh in mind; also the generous
/ h clip given by means of the earthquake
| fund, of which Rev. H. II. Wikoff was
/ treasurer. The fire has made neces-
sary some changes of location, notably
that of the Third church, now consoli-
dated with Olivet. Under the name of
the Mission Congregational church the
united congregations plan to build a
brick church at Nineteenth and Dolores
| streets. They own fine corner lot
| s5x114 feet, free Of debt also the
Fifteenth street lot, valued at $4,000,
and have about $4,000 in bank. A bank
loan, or an advance of say SIS 5000 from
| New York, would enable them to con-
struct at once permanent house of
worship, which is urgently needed.
/ Richmond church has sold its lot
| 75x120 feet. southwest corner Seventh
avenue and Clement street, for s23,-
| 600, and has bought the northwest COR
ner Seventh and Point Lobos avenues
! for $4,000. the present church building
| improved. This church will refund to
| the New York society the money loaned
! it some years ago.
! The Sunset district, two miles south
of Richmond church, is developing rap
| idly as a residence section. and needs a
commodious building for it's Congrega-
tional church. At present the church
| has two pieces of property, but is EN-
| barrassed by street assessments and