HISTORY OF
THE FIRST
CONGREGATIONAL
PIONEER
CHURCH
OF
SACRAMENTO,
CALIFORNIA
1849-1949
By
Paul Freye
2700 L.
Street
Across from
Sutter’s Fort
Dr. Torrance
Phelps
Minister
Program
September
11 through September 18, 1949
|
Sunday, September
11 Homecoming Day Tuesday,
September 13 Friday,
September 16 Sunday,
September 18 Centennial Day |
11:00 a. m. -
Sermon by Dr. Lawrence A. Wilson 8:00 p. m. - Civic
Night Program. Representatives of the religious and civic life of the city,
county and state participating 6:30 p. m. -
Homecoming Dinner Addresses: Dr.
Harry E. Tyler and Dr. Arthur B. Patten. At this dinner our former ministers
who are now living will be honored: Dr. Arthur B. Patten, Rev. Harvey V.
Miller, Dr. Harley H. Gill and Dr. Lawrence A. Wilson. 6:30 p. m. -
Anniversary Dinner Addresses: Dr.
Ronald E. Bridges, Dr. Loyal Lincoln Wirt and short addresses from
representatives of the state conference and visiting ministers. At this
dinner the older members of the church will be honored. 11:00 a. m. -
Sermon by Dr. Harley H. Gill 8:00 p. m. -
Historical Pageant on Sutter’s Fort Lawn, directly across from church. |
Foreword
The compilation of
an historical record necessarily must rely on previously printed material as
well as on information supplied by persons who were on the scene when some of
the events occurred.
Much information
for this book was gathered from a history of the church written by A. C. Sweetser after the turn of the century, from memorial
volumes written about Dr. Benton and Dr. Dwinell,
from a manual of the church published in 1900, from newspaper files and from
clerk’s records of church meetings.
In addition, the
editor is grateful to many members of the church, too numerous to list here,
for the willing help they provided.
It is impossible
to set down in a record as brief as this all the events which took place during
the one hundred years of the church. The main events were covered, however, and
some of the more interesting sidelights were mentioned.
It is to be hoped
that the editor of the history of the second hundred years of the Pioneer
Church may find the book some help and interest.
PAUL FREYE
The Editor
History of
the Pioneer Church of Sacramento, California
In 1849 the
State of California had just emerged from Mexican rule and was preparing to
take her place in the great sisterhood of states that comprised the American
Republic. The discovery of gold in the previous year made California, in 1849,
the El Dorado of a great host, who pushed their way across the plains, periled
their lives on the desert, climbed the Sierras, or braved the dangers of the
sea, that they might come into possession of the fabulous wealth, that had lain
so long waiting for hand to gather it. The great majority were young men. They
were men of courage and enterprise. The greater proportion of them came from
different states of the union. It was well that it was so, for the new state needed
such men to mold and fashion her forming institutions. Sacramento from the very
beginning was a central point in the industrial and political life of the
state. Nine tenths of all who sailed through the Golden Gate in 1849 made their
way to this city. If as a nation, we find it wise and profitable to
periodically remind ourselves of the birth of the republic, rehearsing the
incidents that led to its inception, reading anew its declaration of principals, it is surely profitable to recall the early years
of the church’s life and learn from them the lessons they are designed to
teach. (From the Golden
Jubilee sermon of Rev. J. B. Silcox, fourth pastor of
the church.)
One hundred years
ago, on September 16, 1849, in the schoolhouse on the northwest corner of I and
Third Streets, a small group of men voted to form the First Church of Christ in
Sacramento City (Congregational). On the following Sunday a confession of faith
and covenant was presented and the following enrolled their names as members:
Rev. Joseph A.
Benton, J. M. Mackenzie, H. Allen, William S. Baker, H. S. Benedict, Rev. T. A.
Ish, W. P Ewing, Selah Lewis, Denis Buckley, J. S.
Auger, Emmerson Moody, Forest Shepherd, George G.
Webster, Albion C. Sweetser, O. S. Parker, B. F.
Reed, (and later) F. L. Chapman,, Jesse Moore, W. C. Frisbie,
H. Race, S. B. Birdsall, R. A. Wilson, H. S. Senter, J. S. Foster, James C. Zabriskie,
W. C. Walters and Mrs. James Alexander. The latter was the first, and for
nearly two years the only, woman member of the church.
The group
included Congregationalists and Presbyterians. Mr. Ish
was a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, having arrived in
Sacramento only a few days before the organizational meeting. The preponderance
was Congregational, however, accounting for the policy of the church.
Thus was begun
the church which today is a staunch institution in the capital of California,
with its place of worship across the street from Sutter’s Fort, the birthplace of
the city. It is to one strong, devout man that the credit must go for the
conception and the building of the church. Without him the Pioneer Memorial
Church of Sacramento would not be celebrating its centennial.
Joseph Augustine
Benton, a young graduate of Yale College and Yale Seminary, sailed on the ship
Edward Everett on January 12, 1849 from Boston for the Golden Gate. He was the
chaplain of the Boston and California Joint Stock Mining Company, a group of
150 men seeking fortune in the newly found gold fields. Benton was 31 years old
when the company reached San Francisco on July 6, 1849. Although still a
Congregational licentiate, Benton preached for a Presbyterian pastor in San
Francisco on the morning of July 8 and for Rev. T. D. Hunt, a Congregationalist,
in the evening.
The group arrived
in Sacramento on the 14th and on the 22nd Benton preached
in the grove at K and Third Streets, just before leaving with the company for
the Mokelumne River area. The mining company,
however, formally dissolved on August 4 and Benton returned to Sacramento.
Sacramento was a
rough place in those days. Steep banks rose 20 feet and more from the river. To
the east were three or four blocks of a makeshift city among the logs and
stumps and under the trees. There were only a few wooden buildings. Cotton
cloth tacked around willow trees served as houses and stores. One street had
been opened through the timber to Sutter’s Fort two miles away. The city was
the jumping off place for gold seekers who came by steamer from San Francisco
on their way to what they hoped would be fertile fields. Prices were high,
there were few women, and men seemed more intent on gaining wealth than in
obtaining spiritual comfort.
That was the
place in which Joseph Benton decided to stay and continue his work in the
ministry. He wrote in his journal: “The citizens with a few exceptions are here
without their families and not expecting to remain long; yet the place has
grown rapidly in three weeks and is still growing. There are good men here; there
is enterprise and I shall go on and act according to the wisdom I may possess, both natural and acquired. For this God be
praised.”
But Benton was
not the first of the men of God to arrive in Sacramento and begin his work.
Benton himself reported that religious exercises were begun in June, 1849, by a
practicing physician who also was a Methodist Episcopal preacher. His name was
William Grove Deal. The exercises were continued by Deal and others - Benton
among them - until the end of summer months without any respect to a
denominational organization.
Rev. Flavel S. Mines, a Protestant Episcopal clergyman, arrived
in San Francisco on July 4 and on September 23 preached in Sacramento. Grace
Church (Protestant Episcopal) was organized about September 25, Rev. Richard F.
Burnham, who arrived in Sacramento in late November or early December of that
year, became rector of that parish.
On October 23,
Rev. Isaac Owen arrived at Sacramento and took charge as pastor of the
Methodist Episcopal Church where services had been begun in July. This church
afterward was known as the Sixth Street Church.
As far as being
the first church in the city of Sacramento, Benton said later: “It is probably
fair to say that the Methodist instituted the first regular services and the
Congregationalists had the first regular minister and the first regular church
organization.”
After Benton made
his decision to remain in Sacramento, early in August of 1849, he preached on
the 12th in a mechanic’s shed. It may have been the same small
blacksmith’s shop referred to by Dr. R. H. McDonald who had come across the
country by pack mule and arrived here on July 18. Dr. McDonald later described
how Benton preached at the shop at Fourth and J Streets before which stood a
broken down wagon, the tongue and hounds of which were used as a pulpit. The
story no doubt gave rise to the legend of Benton preaching his first sermon in
California from a wagon.
On August 19 the
Sunday school was organized in the schoolhouse with five scholars (all the white
children in the city) taught by Professor Forest Shepherd, the school teacher
of the city. Benton was confined by illness that day. On September 9 the first
prayer meeting was held at the corner of I and Third
Streets, attended by Christians of all denominations.
*
* *
With the
organization of the First Church of Christ began the struggle to keep alive the
flame which had been kindled. Despite the enthusiasm in forming the group, it
was late in October of 1849 before the members could rally themselves to such a
pitch of courage as to consider building a church structure. One of the reasons
for hesitation was the fact that lumber cost $600 per thousand feet.
Even so, in
November a lot was purchased on Third near M Street for $3,000. After $1,500
was paid on it and a committee appointed to raise money and erect a chapel, the
rains came and halted further proceedings. The lot was exchanged for the money
paid on it for one at the southwest corner of the alley on Sixth Street between
J and I Streets. It was 40 by 80 feet.
No further
progress was made during 1849. The year ended with twenty-seven members
received by the church. Four withdrew and one died, leaving twenty-two to begin
the year of 1850.
Mr. Benton became
seriously ill early in the new year and left almost
immediately for Monterey to stay with Rev. and Mrs. S. H. Willey and recover
his health. He had preached on the sixth of January in a large canvas tent on M
near Second Street to a large audience.
On January 8,
1850 the river overflowed its banks and the city became a vast sea all the way
to Sutter’s Fort. All religious observances and most other activities had to be
suspended until the water receded.
Benton returned
to Sacramento on March 19 and on the 20th he preached for Mr. Owen
in the Methodist Chapel which had been sent from the east. Later in the day Mr.
Benton held council with four members of his church to lay plans for the
continuance of Congregational worship. Benton told the group he would be glad
to do the work he came to do if they would provide him with a place to preach
and give him enough money to live on.
Arrangements were
made for services to be held for several weeks in the store at 529 J Street.
Later they were held on the south side of J Street between Sixth and Seventh
and also in the Sons of Temperance Hall at 302 J Street. Seventeen more men
joined the church in April.
In April a
building committee was appointed. One of the members was David Hewes who had entered the mercantile business in Sacramento
that month. Hewes helped solicit subscription for the
church and with the money raised he went to San Francisco to purchase the hard
wood frame of a church building which had been shipped from Australia. The fire
on May 3, 1850 in San Francisco destroyed some of the frame and caused a delay
in the erecting of the building in this city.
Meanwhile, on May
5 the First Ecclesiastical Society was organized to manage the temporal affairs
of the church. Mr. Benton was the moderator and John Danforth
the clerk. On May 12 W. C. Walters, J. L. Chapman, James Gallup, G. C. Cargill,
Hardin Bigelow and W. A. Carpenter were elected trustees and on the 24th
the society was incorporated according to the laws of the state.
In June a one and
a half story parsonage, 12 by 19 feet, was erected on the rear of the church
lot. On June 21 Benton wrote in his journal; “Moved into the parsonage with
much joy.”
On August 26,
1850 work was commenced on the first church building and on September 4 the
cornerstone was laid with appropriate exercises. The stone contained a box
holding a description of the church history to date and the newspaper of the
day.
The church was
dedicated on October 6 with the Methodist pastor, Dr. Deal, assisting. The
edifice was 30 by 60 feet, with a gallery for the choir and a tower. Its total
cost, including the lot and the parsonage was about $8,000. Thus was born the
infant Congregational church and thus was erected its first home.
Cholera struck
Sacramento that fall and struck hard. As many as 50 died each
day. Mr. Benton was kept busy with burials as well as helping attend to
the sick.
*
* *
Near the end of
1850 rules and laws governing the church were passed and on January 6, 1851, at
the annual meeting, permanent officers were elected. They were: W. C. Walters,
treasurer; James C. Zabriskie, clerk; and James
Gallup, J. W. Hinks, John McKee and Z. W. Davidson,
deacons. Hinks soon resigned and Albion C. Sweetser was elected.
Later in January
the church extended a unanimous call to Joseph Benton to become its first
permanent pastor at a salary of $3,000 per year and the use of the parsonage.
Up to that time the young preacher had been receiving the Sunday collections as
his salary. Needless to say, the call was accepted and a council was called for
March 5.
The ordination of
Mr. Benton was the first such Protestant ceremony in California. The council
included pastors from San Francisco, Marysville and Monterey. After an extended
examination of the young pastor, which was satisfactory, the service included
the reading of the Scripture and prayer by Rev. J. W. Hinds, a sermon by Rev.
J. H. Warren, the ordaining prayer and charge to the pastor by Rev. Albert
Williams, the charge to the church and ecclesiastical society by Rev. W. W.
Brier, the right hand of fellowship by Rev. S. H. Willey and the benediction by
Mr. Benton.
The Church of
Christ was on its way. The attendance at the services apparently was
satisfactory in those days. William E. Chamberlain, grandfather of Waldo Julian
who is a member of the Pioneer Church in this Centennial year, noted in his
diary for February 2, 1851: “Went to Mr. Benton’s church. Day very pleasant and
the church well filled.” On April 6 the first communion service was held, at
which time five more men and two more women joined the organization. There were
50 communicants at the service.
The year of 1852
was a hard one, both for Sacramento and the church. On March 17 the flood gate
at the mouth of the slough gave way and the city was flooded again. Later, in
the great fire of 1852, nearly all of the business part of the city was burned,
east to Ninth Street and south to N Street. The church and parsonage were
saved, however. On December 19 the levee broke and the city again was flooded
for the entire winter. Benton’s journal for the last day of that year noted:
“The year goes out buried in the sea and under a cloud for our poor city.”
In the following
year, on February 6, five more persons joined the church at a communion service
attended by about 60.
Two big
milestones of the church were marked in 1853, the organization of the Ladies
Aid Society on July 13 and the first home missionary meeting on September 11.
One of the first
members of the Ladies Aid was Mrs. Lyman Stearns (Ellen Black) Gilman, the
grandmother of Mrs. Malcolm Glenn. Despite her seven children Mrs. Gilman found
time to help take care of the sick and to work for the church. Her prized pair
of candle sticks, standing today on a mantle place in Judge and Mrs. Glenn’s
home, were taken to the church on every social occasion in those early days.
On December 22,
1853, the church celebrated the landing of the Pilgrims. Mr. Benton addressed a
crowded church and about 150 people attended a supper.
A heavy blow fell
during the following year. On July 13, 1854, shortly after the church had been
enlarged by 12 feet and newly papered and repaired, fire broke out in the city
on K below Fourth Street and raged to Seventh and I Streets. The courthouse,
church and parsonage were destroyed. The communion plate and the Sunday school
library were lost.
The speed with
which the church responded to this catastrophe indicates the place it held in
the hearts and souls of its members. On July 26 they resolved to build a new
edifice on the joint stock plan and to raise as much money as possible by the
sale of pews.
The lot on the
northeast corner of the alley opening between I and J
on Sixth Street, almost directly across from the first building, was purchased.
The cornerstone, costing $150 and donated by Judge A. P. Catlin, was laid
September 21. Including the lot and a mortgage of $8,000, the total cost of the
church was $30,000. It was dedicated by Mr. Benton on the last day of 1854.
The organ fund
for the church was begun on January 28, 1855, when the choir gave its first
concert under the direction of John McNeill. Later in the year the Ladies Aid
held a festival for the benefit of the church fund and cleared $1,600.
Early in 1856
most of the Presbyterians withdrew from the church to organize the First
Presbyterian Church. On October 7, 1857, the General Association of
Congregational churches was organized in Sacramento. On April 14, 1858, the
Ladies Aid raised $1,200 for the church fund by giving a fair.
Mr. Benton
preached his tenth anniversary sermon on June 5, 1859, slightly in advance of
the actual date because the following week he left for China and a trip around
the world. He was granted a leave of absence by the church. He visited the Holy
Land and returned by way of New York on December 7, 1860. During his 18 month
absence the pulpit was filled by Rev. E. G. Beckwith.
During 1861 the
pastor gave a series of lectures on the Holy Land and other places he visited
on his tour. On December 9, 1861, the American River levee broke and the city
was inundated, the water being the highest in the city’s history. On January
10, 1862, the river rose again and the water was higher than in December. It
stood 14 inches deep on the church floor. Church services had to be suspended
for most of those two months.
An interesting
incident is noted just before Benton left Sacramento for other fields. In the
month of June, 1862, some of the members of the society raised the question of
the spiritual condition of the church, saying that many young men were not
attending the meetings. Upon investigation by a committee consisting of the
deacons, three of the trustees and Charles Crocker, the situation was found to
be more the fault of the complaining members than the pastor.
*
* *
On December 14,
1862, Mr. Benton tendered his resignation after receiving a call from the
Second Congregational Church (later Plymouth) of San Francisco. He was
requested earnestly to rescind his action but, at his request, a council was
convened on January 7, 1863, and it advised acceptance of the resignation. On
January 15 the church also accepted the resignation but adopted strong
resolutions stating that the decision of the council had been made contrary to
the desire of the church.
Mr. Benton
supplied the church without pay until February 22, preaching his farewell
sermon that evening. Thus ended the first thirteen and a half
year pastorate of our church.
When Benton left
he gave the church a lot at the rear of the church and sold another lot
adjacent on the north to the church society for $500, less than it had cost
him. In 1858 he had given $500 toward paying the debt on the church property
and early in 1862 he had relinquished $500 of his salary because services had
been suspended during the flood of December, 1861, and January, 1862.
He had the
pastorate of the Plymouth church from 1863 to 1869 and then became a professor
at the Pacific Theological Seminary. He died in Oakland on April 8, 1892.
Mr. Benton is
known also as the first editor of The Pacific, beginning in 1851, and as one of
the founders of the College of California which later was merged into the state
university.
November 30,
1850, was the first Thanksgiving Day observed in California and on that day, in
Sacramento, Mr. Benton preached a sermon on “California As
She Was, As She is and As She is To Be.” His ability as a prophet may be
observed in the following quotation:
“A million people
cannot fail to thrive by cultivating this virgin soil and in fifty years they
will be here to make the demonstration; farm houses will dot thickly every
valley, marshes will be redeemed from overflow and wastes will bloom in beauty
and yield harvests of joy.
“The State will
not fall behind the chieftiest (sic) in arts and
manufacturing and in commerce; with hundreds of miles of navigable bays and
rivers, with 700 miles of sea coast, with earth’s broadest ocean at her feet
gemmed with a thousand sea isles and having the shore of a continent,
California is to be the queen of the seas, and with the Golden Gate are to be
the docks and depots of a steam and electro-magnetic marine, of which all the
steam marine that now exists is but the minutest embryo.
“The iron horse
that has drunk, the waters of the Mississippi will fly over mountain and plain
and river, breathe defiance to yonder beetling cliffs and towering peaks of
snow, as he dashes forward through the tunneled depts
(sic) beneath and comes through our streets to slake his thirst at the
Sacramento.”
*
* *
In March of 1863
the church extended a call to Rev. Isaac Edson Dwinell for one year at a salary of $3,000 and it was
accepted. The offer was made by telegraph to Salem, Mass.
Dwinell began his work in Sacramento on the first
Sunday in July. A year later the church asked him to become the permanent
pastor. He accepted and was installed on July 10, 1864. The same year an organ
was set up in the church, largely through the efforts of John McNeill, at a cost
of $4,500.
After Dwinell had been in Sacramento a short while, he wrote in a
letter to the east: “There are many elements in this city of about 20,000.
There is indifference to public sentiment because public sentiment does not
exist. Yet in any case of sickness or suffering no persons have warmer hearts
then the apparently cool and indifferent Californians.”
In the fall of
1868 the church building was elevated 12 feet, presumably to avoid flood waters,
at a cost of more than $8,000. The lecture room was finished, new pews
installed and other improvements made, all at a cost of more than $5,000.
At the time of
the raising of the church a second cornerstone was laid and it was that stone
which first came to light when the edifice was torn down in 1923.
The esteem which
the church and, indeed, the entire city of Sacramento, held for Mr. Dwinell was shown near the end of 1868. Having been offered
the position as first professor or acting president of the California
Theological Seminary Association, he tendered his resignation to the church on
November 17.
The feeling of
the Sacramento parishioners was so intense and the urging of other residents
was so strong that the ecclesiastical council which convened on December 15
would not give consent to Dwinell to leave. He
remained for another fifteen years.
Dr. J. A. Benton,
already a trustee of the seminary association, filled the post which had been
offered to Mr. Dwinell. Later the two were to be
joined in their seminary work.
One of the big
problems of the church, ever since its founding, was
the constant shift in the population of the city. In June of 1871 a committee
was appointed to revise the manual of the church. It reported that up to that
time 347 members had been received into the church and that 109, nearly
one-third, had been dismissed by letters. In addition, 28 died, leaving a total
of 210.
In July of 1874
Mr. Dwinell was granted a three month leave of
absence and that was extended for three more months on account of his health.
During the period the pulpit was filled by Rev. Aaron Williams, the same pastor
who had supplied the church for a period in 1867 when Dwinell
had gone east on business for the theological seminary.
On May 17, 1883,
Mr. Dwinell again submitted his resignation to the
church, having received another call from the seminary, and this time it was
accepted reluctantly. Thus ended the second pastorate of the
church, the longest in the 100 year history.
In his farewell
sermon, Mr. Dwinell pointed out that when he took
over the church there were 83 members of the roll and that there now were 266
on the list. The clerk records of 40 years later show only 11 more on the roll
than in 1883.
At the seminary
Dr. Dwinell assumed the chair of homiletics, the art
of preparing and preaching sermons. The position later was endowed permanently
by three of Dr. Dwinell’s personal friends, Moses
Hopkins, C. P. Huntington and Mrs. Charles Crocker, the latter two having been
attendants during his ministry in Sacramento.
How much value to
the church, to the city and to the state to have a man like Dr. Dwinell in the leading pulpit of the city may be seen in
reviewing his civic efforts during his tenure.
When, in 1868, an
effort was made in the legislature to repeal the Sabbath laws of the state, Dr.
Dwinell spoke vigorously against the move and wrote
strongly in The Pacific and in the daily press in the support of his opinion.
The bill was defeated. The success of the movement fourteen years later was no
fault of his.
Another topic
which brought forth protest from the pastor was the attempt to arouse a spirit
of discontent among some classes of citizens in 1878. In his discourse at that
time, Dr. Dwinell pointed out the symptoms of the
communistic spirit in California and other states. He showed why attempts were
being made to array classes against each other, to override divine personal
rights, to crush individuality, to belittle Christianity and to establish the
unsound doctrine that the state is the only safe capitalist.
Other sermons
written and delivered by Dr. Dwinell touched upon the
conflict of capital and labor, upon the troubled period after the adoption of a
new constitution by the state, and upon the Chinese immigration question. He
also drew up a reform school bill for the legislature, spoke against
speculation in bonanza mines in 1875, helped organize the Sacramento Protestant
Orphan Asylum and aided in the formation of the Sacramento Literary Institute.
Dr. Dwinell died in Oakland on June 7, 1890, at the age of 70,
a few days after handing diplomas to the graduates of the seminary.
*
* *
After Dr. Dwinell left, the church was supplied for a time by Rev. P.
S. Knight and others. During that time a few changes were made in the interior
of the church, notably the moving of the organ at a cost of $600.
On January 15,
1884, the church went to the Pacific Theological Seminary for a new pastor. The
man selected was W. C. Merrill, a student under Dr. Benton. Mr. Merrill was
ordained and installed on May 9. His salary was $2,000.
One of the things
accomplished by Merrill during his six year pastorate was the organization of
the Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor.
Mr. Merrill
resigned on June 1, 1890, and on June 19 the church invited Rev. J. B. Silcox to become its pastor for one year. On May 3, 1891, Silcox accepted the offer to become the permanent pastor
but a year later, having received a call from the Congregational Church of East
Oakland, he resigned, effective August 31. He declined to withdraw his
resignation although urged strongly to do so. He was to return later, however.
In August of 1892
Rev. J. B. Koehne was engaged to preach on trial
during September and October for $400, but early in October the agreement was
changed to a year’s contract. On May 4, 1893, the church asked him to be its
permanent pastor and he accepted. The following April he resigned. At first his
resignation was refused by the church but finally it was accepted.
The church called
Rev. Henry N. Hoyt on September 7, 1894. He began his pastorate during November
of that year and on January 29, 1895, he was installed
formally by a council consisting of representatives of churches in Berkeley,
Lincoln, Rocklin, Oakland, San Francisco, Stockton, Woodland and Vacaville.
During Mr. Hoyt’s
tenure were organized a Civic Club and a Young Men’s League, both to promote
interest in the church work.
On September 9,
1896, Mrs. Frances S. Benton, widow of the beloved first pastor of the church,
presented a life size portrait of Dr. Benton to the church. The presentation
was made by Albion C. Sweetser, the last surviving
charter member of the church.
Mr. Hoyt resigned
on December 29, 1897, to take effect on February 1, 1898, in order to accept a
call from a church in the east. The departure of Mr. Hoyt and his wife was
greatly regretted, both having been very popular with the members.
*
* *
The church
extended a second call to Rev. J. B. Silcox and it
was accepted, service to commence in May of 1898. During the interim the church
building underwent necessary repairs. Rev. Charles Van Norden
supplied the pulpit free of charge for several months.
With Mr. Silcox again in the pulpit, the annual meeting of the
church in January of 1899 was reminded that it was the Golden Jubilee year and
plans were laid for an observance. Sparrow Smith was named chairman and G. W. Capen secretary of a committee to prepare the celebration.
The jubilee was held
on September 22 and 23, beginning on Sunday morning. Two pastors, Mr. Warren
and Mr. Willey, both of whom had officiated in the ordination and installation
of Joseph Benton in 1851, were honored guests.
Mr. Silcox preached the jubilee sermon. He gave a remarkably
complete history of the church, especially of the earlier days. In closing, he
said:
“I have dwelt on
the past of this church in order that we might get
inspiration and aspiration to make a better future for it. The most fitting way
to honor the pioneers of this church is to resolve that, on the foundations
they so well have laid, we will build up a nobler structure to the glory of God
and the service of man. This church is their legacy to us. What shall our
bequest be to the coming generation?”
One of the
important steps taken by the church before the close of the century was the
change of its name. It had been known as the First Church of Christ of
Sacramento City and also as the First Congregational Church of Christ. In
accordance with a resolution offered at the annual meeting on January 22, 1899,
and adopted on May 21, the church was incorporated on June 20 under the name of
the First Congregational Church in the City of Sacramento. The first trustees
were William Geary, S. E. Carrington, L. Tozer, C. T.
Noyes, D. W. Carmichael, P. R. Watts and A. H. Hawley.
The second
pastorate of Mr. Silcox ended in the spring of 1900
and in the fall of that year Rev. C. A. Dickinson, widely known as a pioneer in
institutional church work, came to Sacramento in poor health, however, and was
the pastor for only two years. He left in the fall of 1902 and died a few years
later in Corona, Calif.
The church was
without a pastor during the winter of 1902-3 but in the spring of 1903 Rev. J.
A. Chamberlain of Newark, N. J., accepted a call. He likewise was obliged by
failing health to retire from the active ministry and left in July of 1904.
Rev. Henry K.
Booth became the pastor in November of 1904 and with his coming the church
again began to talk of a new building. By 1905 the church was found to be sadly
in need of renovation but the decision was made to make repairs rather than
seek another place of worship. The interior was redecorated, new stained glass
windows replaced the old ones, a new carpet was laid and other repairs made.
The old organ was entirely remodeled and enlarged and then rededicated as the
Crocker Memorial Organ in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Crocker whose heirs
contributed the money for the work.
In 1904 occurred
a memorable event as far as the distaff side of the church was concerned.
Heretofore the Ladies Aid had been the sole auxiliary of the church. Now the Priscillas were organized and began their work. At that
time there were 318 members on the rolls, about two thirds of whom were women.
By 1906 the
attendance at church services was so good that the time honored system of pew
rentals was stopped and a method of annual contributions was adopted to
supplement the Sunday collections.
On April 18 and
19 of 1906 the city of San Francisco was leveled by the famous and disastrous
earthquake. The catastrophe caused a great rush of people into other
communities and many refugees headed for Sacramento. The church swung wide its
doors. Cots were set up in the basement. Food was provided and clothing was
furnished.
On October 20,
1907, Mr. Booth resigned to accept a call from the North Berkeley
Congregational Church.
Rev. H. G. Temple
was called from Seattle on December 11, 1907, and the church paid $400 for
moving his furniture from Cleveland, Ohio. In January of 1910, however, after a
year of troubled times for the church, Mr. Temple was released from the
pastorate and was replaced in June by Rev. Arthur Bardwell Patten of Santa
Rosa.
Meanwhile, in
October of 1908, the mission property of the church at 23rd and K
Streets was sold to the Seventh Day Adventists for $3,000.
On the church
records for November 3, 1909, appears a special resolution which was adopted in
honor of the ninetieth birthday anniversary of Deacon Albion C. Sweetser, the last remaining charter member of the church.
There are some members today who remember the stories Mr. Sweetser
used to tell of the early days of Sacramento and the church.
Mr. Patten was
installed on December 8, 1910. In June the thought of the church had turned
again toward the possibility of a new building when Mrs. F. W. (Cornelia E.) Fratt gave the church the lot at the northeast corner of
Fifteenth and P Streets. It was valued at $15,000. Earlier in the year the
Sixth Street property had been placed with two real estate firms to sell for
$42,500.
The church had
been without a regular pastor during most of 1910 and the road for Mr. Patten
was rough. A report of the annual meeting of the church on January 10, 1912,
shows only 221 members.
Moreover, it was
a troubled period for the world in general. In 1913 and 1914 the church adopted
resolutions for world peace to be sent to the United States Senate and to
President Woodrow Wilson. On May 17, 1914, the church also adopted a resolution
to support the movement for the prohibition of the liquor traffic.
By January of
1916 there were only 194 resident members of the church. In the Sunday School there were 137 members. One class of boys
successfully defended its city Sunday school basketball league championship.
The report of the
Young People’s Christian Endeavor Society in 1916 shows that a printing press,
purchased for $400 just before Mr. Temple became pastor, had saved the church
more than $1,000 in the cost of weekly bulletins and special programs. The
press still is being used to print the bulletins. In those days the boys and
girls of the Christian Endeavor group helped with the printing.
Mr. Patten’s
letter of resignation was read to the church on December 10, 1916. It contained
a reproach to the church for “not rallying more generally and not winning the
public more largely.” The resignation was rejected at that time but it was
resubmitted and accepted as of April 8, 1917. The scholarly Mr. Patten was well
liked by the church but the need of an administrator to lift the church from a
wartime slump was felt.
The church by
1917 seemed to have reached its lowest ebb. On April 29, the First Methodist
Episcopal Church sent a communication to the Congregational body inviting it to
worship with it because the latter had no pastor. The invitation suggested also
that a delegation from each group meet to consider a basis of uniting, pending
future developments.
The two churches
at that time were within two blocks of each other. Both properties were up for
sale because both were anxious to leave what had become an undesirable part of
the city.
In response to
the invitation the Congregational church voted to join the Methodists for the
May 6th services but to continue to hold its own services later.
On June 13, 1917,
Rev. Harvey Miller of Paradise, Calif., was invited to become the pastor of the
church. The low financial status permitted an offer of only $100 per month but
he accepted. His wife, Dr. Clara Miller, was an osteopath and set up a practice
in the city.
The war took its
toll. The church dropped to 163 active members in 1917. The Ladies Aid sent 14
Christmas boxes to the boys from the church who were
in camp. In 1918 the church suspended services from October 20 to November 24
because of the influenza epidemic.
After the war the
church struggled along with between 200 and 300 members. The organization
apparently was held together by the hopes and dreams of a new church building
in a new location and by the indomitable work of Mr. Miller. In November of
1921 the church thought of buying the lot at the northwest corner of 24th
and L Streets but the deal did not go through.
In 1922, from May
23 to 28, the church held a “Days of ‘49” celebration to which the public was
invited. Costumes were worn and one of Dr. Benton’s sermons was preached. On
the 28th the Sunday school made a pilgrimage to the site of its
founding at Third and I Streets. The daily press made much of the fete.
But the new
building still seemed far away and on September 18, 1922, Mr. Miller resigned
to accept a call from Alameda. In his letter he said: “Five years of study and
experience in this church have convinced me that the only solution is a new
location. I have been unable to accomplish this but I am sure God will send you
a man who can.”
The events which
were to transpire in the next few years made it appear as though Mr. Miller’s
resignation had been a hard felt spur to the church. His words left no doubt
but that action was necessary.
On January 10, 1923,
an offer of $25,000 for the church property was refused and $35,000 was
demanded. This price was agreed upon soon thereafter and it included everything
except the organ, pews and most of the other interior items. At that time there
were 277 members.
Another big step
was taken on March 19 when the lot at 29th and J Streets was
purchased for $6,300 and the church voted to build on it a structure to cost
$60,000.
The last service
in the building which had served the Congregationalists in Sacramento for 68
years was held on April 15, 1923. An historical service was held in the
morning. Concerts by the Schubert and McNeill Clubs were presented in the
afternoon. Vespers were held at 6 p.m. before the evening service.
The final sermon
was preached by Rev. J. B. Silcox, the man who nearly
a quarter of a century before had delivered the Golden Jubilee sermon. Present
at the service was Ed Kripp, the purchaser of the
property. He had been married by Mr. Silcox during
his earlier pastorate. Also on hand were Mr. and Mrs. F. Kripp
who had been married by Dr. Benton.
In May, just
before the work of dismantling the building was begun to make room for the
amusement center which was to take its place, a movement to save the old church
was launched by Mayor Albert Elkus to preserve the
pioneer building for posterity, but the necessary response was not forthcoming.
For many years
the old church had provided the only auditorium in the city for public
gatherings. The Saturday Club presented its concerts there for a long time.
The tearing down
of the building caused some excitement when the cornerstone was reached and
opened. To the disappointment of a curious throng, the items were found to be
dated 1868. Research disclosed that it was the second cornerstone of the church,
laid when the structure was raised and extensively remodeled fourteen years
after its original building. The original 1854 cornerstone was found later and
opened. Both the stones were incorporated into the present structure and the
latest one added, of course, in 1926.
Since the
previous September the church had been without a pastor and now it was without
a place of worship of its own. The Sunday services, however, were held in the
Tuesday Clubhouse and the business meetings of the organization were held in
the Young Men’s Christian Association Building.
Full credit must
be given to two men who helped to give the church the lift it needed during
those months. Rev. Robert Porter had come from the east to become the temporary
pastor. He was an eloquent, well liked man and the church on several occasions
asked him to become its permanent pastor, each offer being refused for his own
personal reasons. Mr. Silcox stepped into the pulpit
for the third time, temporarily, and seemed to hold the congregation together
with flawless oratory and apt leadership.
But in April of
1923 the church voted to call Rev. Harley Hayes Gill from Stockton, Calif. Mr.
Gill already had been offered and had refused the superintendence of the
Northern California Conference of Congregational Churches. He began his
pastorate here on July 7.
The new pastor
almost immediately began a series of advertisements in the daily newspapers,
calling attention to the church services in the Tuesday Clubhouse. Attendance
improved.
The church plunged
anew into the task of preparing its new home. Plans were drawn, committees were
formed, and the never ending search for the necessary funds went on.
More church
members were needed and early in 1924 the first extensive membership drive in
years was launched. The result was the attainment of a goal of 100 new members,
an achievement which served to give a great spiritual uplift to the church as a
whole.
On September 16,
1924, the Diamond Jubilee of the church was held in the Native Sons Hall at 11th
and J Streets. A dinner was served to 150 persons. Talks were given and letters
from former pastors of the church were read.
Since
the sale of the old building plans had been made to erect the new church at 29th
and J Streets. The
architect’s drawing revealed, however, that the lot apparently was too small
and the building would be cramped. Then the idea was conceived by R. C. Wilks that the church buy the
property at the corner of 27th and L Streets, opposite Sutter’s
Fort, and that the edifice be called Pioneer Memorial Congregational Church.
This idea met with immediate favor and enthusiasm and the negotiations for the
property were begun.
The two corner
lots were purchased but it was some time before agreement could be made for the
50 foot portion of ground immediately next to the Tuesday Clubhouse. When the
deal was finally made, the plans were redrawn for the building as it now
stands.
The year 1926
opened auspiciously for the church. The reports of committees at the annual
meeting on January 12 showed that great progress was being made. The reports
were greeted by applause. There were 344 members at the time and the
organization was in a solvent condition, $8,388 having come into the coffers
during the previous year. The trustees went so far as to recommend the hiring
of an assistant pastor.
Ground breaking
ceremonies for the new building were held at five o’clock in the afternoon of
March 30, 1926, and the cornerstone was laid on June 5. The stone was laid by
Mr. Gill and former pastor Harvey Miller assisted in the ceremonies.
The building of
the new church was the biggest event in the modern history of the organization.
A tremendous financial responsibility had to be assumed because the total cost
of the venture was about $135,000, including the property. A loan was made from
the national church building society to go with a gift from the same source.
Proceeds from the sale of the old building and from the sale of the lot at 29th
and J Streets helped. Building fund campaigns brought forth some money but
still a mortgage of $60,000 had to be taken.
The church was
erected by the McGillivray Construction Company at cost plus $1 through the
generosity of George C. Bassett, head of the company and a member of the
church. Much credit for work done during the building was given to Dr. Eugene
H. Pitts, chairman of the board of trustees.
The church was
dedicated November 21, 1926, with ceremonies which lasted all day, beginning
with a breakfast program. Guests were present from San Francisco, Oakland,
Berkeley, Stockton and other cities in northern California. Communion was
served at 11 o’clock and 77 new members, one for each year of the church’s
history, were received.
The dedication
service in the afternoon was featured by the formal presentation of the
building by George Bassett and the construction company to Clarence H. Kromer, chairman of the building committee. He in turn
presented it to Dr. Pitts who accepted it on behalf of the church. The sermon
was preached by Mr. Gill and the dedicatory prayer was offered by Rev. W. J.
Minchin, superintendent of the Northern California Conference. Open house was
held after the services. Tea was served and the Delta Rho Girls acted as guides
for visitors in showing off the building. A sacred concert was given in the
evening.
Many gifts were
presented to the new church. A chancel window was given by Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Witherbee and a pair on the main floor by Mrs. Lester
Hinsdale. (Later, during Dr. Phelps’ pastorate, windows were given by Mrs. Lowell
Sheldon and Mrs. Richard Monson and a large transept east window by A. B. Sholl. During this Centennial year the Quilting Club also
plans to give a window.)
Part of the
historic Crocker organ was used in the church but one full set of new pipes was
given by Mrs. A. G. Folger and a set of organ chimes
by Mrs. Mary E. Noyes who also gave the large lantern lighting fixtures. Flood
lights for the tower were presented in memory of Rev. Henry N. Hoyt and his
wife by their friends, many of whom had been members of Mrs. Hoyt’s Sunday
school class.
Edward Wahl gave
a cabinet safe, Mrs. Mary Ross a piano, the Ladies Aid the outside bulletin
board, an illuminated cross by Mrs. Malcolm Glenn, the pulpit by Mr. and Mrs.
B. F. Anderson, the communion table by Mr. and Mrs. Porterfield, the
cornerstone slab by the workmen on the building, the labor on the window shades
by the W. A. Rapp Co. and two sets of stage scenery by Mr. and Mrs. Archer C.
Sullivan who had organized the Pilgrim Players, a drama group, in the church in
1924.
The large
painting in the narthex of the church was done by the daughter of John E.
Benton, brother of Dr. Benton, and was presented to the church by members of
the Benton family.
The old walnut
pews which had served so long in the old church could not be used. They were
taken over by the Bethany Presbyterian Church of Oak Park.
Soon after the
church was dedicated, the old historic bell was rehung
(sic) in the tower and it rang out again for the first time on the first Sunday
in 1927. The bell had been cast in Troy, N. Y., in 1854 and made the trip
around the Horn in a windjammer to be hung in the belfry of the church on Sixth
Street. It was donated by Richard F. Toomer, an early
day Sacramento businessman. Not only did the bell call the congregation to
Sunday worship but it served as the city’s fire alarm and also to summon the
vigilante committees. A previous bell had been damaged in the great city fire
of 1854.
The supports for
the bell weakened in the old church and the ringing was abandoned several years
before the church was torn down. Today, 95 years after it was cast, it still is
pealing on Sundays.
The enthusiasm
engendered by the building of the fine new Gothic structure as a place of
worship carried the members along in renewed effort. In January of 1929 the
church had a total of 501 members, the first time in
history that figure was reached. It has never stopped growing since. In March
of that year a director of religious education and young people’s work has
hired, also for the first time as a full time, paid position.
Mr. Gill resigned
as pastor late in 1929 to accept, as of January 1, 1930, the position of
superintendent of the Northern California Congregational Conference. He left
with regret but with the expressed feeling that he had accomplished his mission
in Sacramento, that of getting the new church built.
Rev. Lawrence
Wilson of San Diego assumed the pastorate in 1930 and the church continued to
grow in membership year by year. Under Mr. Wilson the College of Life was
organized with its own chapel service and study groups. Later it became the
Pilgrim Fellowship. The Women’s League, composed of representatives of all the
women’s organizations in the church, was formed during Mr. Wilson’s tenure.
The heavy debt of
the church still remained, however. During the first ten years after the
dedication of the church the indebtedness was reduced from $75,000 to $62,500
and no great, determined campaign had been waged.
In 1936, however, under pressure from the Bank of America and with incentive of a generous offer from the bank to write off a portion of the debt, an Emancipation Campaign was launched to raise $20,000. By means of $15,000 in subscriptions and a loan of $5,000 from the building society, the goal was reached within the year and the church was able to erase off a large part of its financial burden.
Mr. Wilson resigned in 1939 and on June 13 of that year Dr. Torrance Phelps arrived from the First Congregational Church in Pasadena. His reputation as a builder had preceded him. In Kalamazoo, Mich., Dr. Phelps had built a $250,000 church, free of debt. In Pasadena he gathered more than 600 new members.
In Sacramento, Dr. Phelps lost no time in making use of the fine new church building. New members began to arrive, church attendance soared, new clubs were formed and the colony system was introduced.
Five and a half years after Dr. Phelps arrived the final indebtedness was cleared. Since the Emancipation Campaign in 1936 the last $30,000 had been whittled steadily down to about $20,000 in 1944. Then, with the help of $12,000 from the legacy of Mrs. Cornelia Fratt and $8,000 in subscriptions, the mortgage was burned on October 8, 1944. The ceremony clearing off the debt was presided over by Mrs. H. A. Travis, David H. Gill and William L. Meuser.
In the spring of 1945 the 40 by 80 foot lot in the rear of the church across the alley and fronting on 27th Street was purchased by Thomas Richards. He gave the lot to the church and it is used for parking automobiles at present.
Since 1939 more than 1,300 new members have joined the church and about two thirds of them still are resident members. The achievement of Dr. Phelps in that work has won him a nationwide reputation. As a feature of the Centennial celebration a class of about 150 is joining the church.
Like Mr. Wilson before him in 1931, Dr. Phelps became chaplain of the California State Assembly. He served in 1945 and 1946 and again in 1949. His prayers to open the daily sessions of the lawmakers have won him nationwide newspaper attention for their unusual subjects, clarity and frankness.
The Sunday school enrollment leaped from about 125 to more than 400 under the membership work of the new pastor. In addition, the Cradle Roll, under Mrs. A. C. Sullivan, has increased to about 350, one of the largest in the west.
Now, with a membership of about 1,400 and with a budget of $25,000, the church is upon the threshold of its greatest era of progress and of service. Beginning with a part time secretary in 1939, the church now supports for its manifold activities an assistant pastor and minister of education, a minister of music, and a church secretary.
Page 27
During World War II, when gasoline rationing was begun, the time of the Sunday school was changed to coincide with church time. Previously the Sunday school had met earlier in the morning and in years before had held its classes in the early afternoon. The change allowed parents and children to be in the building at the same time. Attendance in both places was excellent and the system has prevailed.
The growth of the Sacramento church, from its meager beginning in 1849 to the splendid institution it is in 1949, is evident not only in the tremendous increase in membership, its financial solvency, and its fine place of worship, but in the actual work which the individual parishioners perform. Literally scores of members are officers of the many committees and clubs which are integral units of the church, but all banded together for the great service.
In the early days the church was run by the deacons and trustees. The Ladies Aid was organized in 1853. The Priscillas formed in 1904 and on April 21, 1922, some of the younger Priscillas started the Mayflower Club. Meanwhile, more committees had been added, deaconesses took their place with the deacons and later other clubs were organized as the activities of the church widened in scope.
In addition to the trustees, deacons, deaconesses, the cabinet and the individual officers of the church, the committees include the nominating, ushers, music, religious education, evangelism, social services, world service, worship and fellowship, public affairs, and Boy Scouts.
The women’s clubs, in addition to those already named, include the Women’s League, the Quilting Club, the Pilgrim Club, Tri-S Club, Rose Standish Club, World Friendship Club, Presidents’ Club, North Sacramento Guild, Tahoe Guild and Hollywood Guild.
The friendship clubs, generally organized for social activities, are the Benton Club (men), Business and Professional Women, Colonial, Plymouth, Alden, Circle-Y and Young Married Couples.
The Pioneer Church was one of those which voted, in February of this year at a meeting of the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches, to approve a basis of union with the Evangelical and Reformed Church. Both groups having approved the union, the first session of the United Church of Christ will be held in 1950.
In this connection it is interesting to recall that some of the early Congregational churches in New England were called Church of Christ. Also, the name of the pioneer church in Sacramento was the First Church of Christ.
This seeming reverting to the days of ’49 is not to be interpreted, however, as an indication that the Pioneer Church is looking backward. The valiant men who founded the city of Sacramento and our church will be honored and revered forever in the records of the church and in the spirit of its people. But the Pioneer Church must, and will, look forward always.
Page 30
Church Staff & Officers
OFFICERS OF THE
CHURCH FOR 1949:
STAFF – Torrance T. Phelps, D. D., Minister; Bernard Rice, Minister of Education and Assistant Pastor; Miss Josephine Fithian, Minister of Music; Mrs. Zue Geery Pease, organist; Mrs. Laura Mc Naught, Secretary; Thomas Crawford, Custodian.
TRUSTEES – Three years: Judge Malcolm C. Glenn, George I. Linn, Emmett Seawell.
Two years: Mrs. E. M. Huggins, Dr. Nicholas Ricciardi, H. A. Travis.
One year: Mrs. E. H. Wilmunder, K. S. Farley, J. D. O’Dell.
DEACONS – Three years: H. S. Morgan, Ed. Skeels, O. E. Newhall, H. G. Wright.
Two years: David G. Gill, R. L. Burge, Fred Smith, H. A. Shuder.
One year: C. H. Kromer, R. W. Lorenz, C. O. Porter, H. L. Waddell.
DEACONESSES – Three years: Mrs. Forrest Bailey, Mrs. Ed. Horton, Mrs. F. M. Bernard, Mrs. Harvey Humason.
Two years: Mrs. Harold Green, Mrs. Ward Jett, Mrs. J. E. Cain, Mrs. Katherine Thomas, Mrs. Vey Cramer.
One year: Mrs. R. S. Davies, Mrs. B. F. Driver, Mrs. M. P. Woodhouse, Mrs. E. G. Funke.
CABINET – C. L. Rudine, Mrs. Gladys Tilden, W. F. Browne, H. L. Fehr, George Anderson, Mrs. L. H. Reardan, members from the church at large; also the president and secretary of the board of trustees, the president and secretary of the board of deacons, the president and secretary of the board of deaconesses, clerk, financial secretary, historian, director of religious education, superintendent of the Sunday school, a representative from each of the permanent committees of the church and the presidents of all auxiliary organizations.
CLERK – Mrs. Frank Todd.
TREASURER – Wm. K. Evans.
AUDITOR – Theodore Rosequist.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE – Warren Bugbey, R. W. Lorenz, Mrs. H. A. Travis.
HISTORIAN – A. C. Sullivan.
FINANCIAL SECRETARY – W. E. Squires.
USHERS – R. M. Ewing, chairman.
MUSIC COMMITTEE – Mrs. K. M. Austinson, E. F. Dolder, Mrs. E. C. Kelton, Vernon Jackson, Mrs. E. H. Pitts, Mrs. H. M. Skidmore, Miss Marie Stebbins, Warren Bugbey.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION – Mrs. H. W. Baker, Mrs. Ida Rapp, Mrs. R. W. Lorenz, Paul Westerberg, Mrs. R. C. Anderson, Mrs. R. L. Weid, Mrs. L. D. Locey, Mrs. J. F. Briggs, M. W. Cragun, Mrs. H. E. Boerlin, Mrs. Carsten Grupe, C. R. Krieger.
EVANGELISM – O. L. Brown, John Dixon, Harold Wells, Mrs. Paul Wanner, Gordon Piper, Louis Heinrich, L. O. Kelly, H. M. Gramenz, Ben Sykes, Clark Lee, Wm. McKane, Mrs. Joseph Tuthill.
SOCIAL SERVICE – Ward Jett, Mrs. H. N. Dyke, Mrs. H. E. Shepherd, E. E. Zirkle, Mrs. Lucy Richards, Cameron McKillop, Ulrich Morley, Mrs. Frank Todd, Jack Dennison, Harry Collett, W. J. Kuhrt, H. A. Stockley.
WORLD SERVICE – H. G. Andrews, Tom Leeper, Mrs. J. A. Pearce, Mrs. Aubre Rothchild, Mrs. R. E. Reynolds, Franklin Ohanesian, Mrs. Susan Roberts, Peter Kludjian, David Lester, S. E. Peterson.
WORSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP – Miss Amanda Mutchier, Mrs. Lorain E. Alderdice, Mrs. J. H. Fishbeck, Frank Hodgson, B. F. Berkley, Mrs. John Traub, Mrs. DeVere Bacon, Mrs. Frank Donald, Mrs. Robert Pratt, Mrs. Geo. W. Hemminger, Mrs. Gordon Bunney, Mrs. A. E. Worsley, Mrs. W. W. Rapp, R. P. Du Page.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS – Harry Armstrong, W. H. Haines, C. W. Preston, Judge Rolfe Thompson, Dr. C. L. Bittner, F. G. Schapp, George Bassett, P. V. Burke, Tom H. Richards, Dr. R. E. Simpson, H. E. White, L. L. Madland, J. E. Carpenter, M. B. Scofield, G. F. Clark, A. S. Dudley, H. F. Melvin, R. W. Crowell, James G. Bryant.
COMMUNITY SERVICE – Gordon Fleury, T. H. Richards, III, H. M. Thompson, W. L. Kilgore, J. M. Bull, R. E. Loheit, R. E. Woodward, H. A. Goodling, H. T. King, Jr., Fred Gorman, R. A. Warren, R. P. Everett, L. I. Landau, A. W. Collins, J. W. Meyer, L. R. Yeates, Stanley Lovett, Jackson Faustman, James Jansen.
SCOUT COMMITTEE – O. L. Stubbs, A. C. Merten, Ulric Morley, R. L. Burge, Max King, Harlan Thompson.
SCOUTMASTER – Jason Plowe.
Page 31
OFFICERS OF THE
WOMEN’S CLUBS
LEAGUE – Pres., Mrs. Averil C. Andrews; vice-pres., Mrs. George Hancock; second vice-pres., Mrs. Wm. H. Colgrove; third vice-pres., Mrs. Richard S. Davies; Sec., Mrs. Ray C. Treasher; treas., Mrs. George A. Johnson; commissioner, Mrs. Grace Scott.
QUILTING CLUB – Pres., Mrs. Frank P. Brower.
LADIES AID – Pres., Mrs. Myra S. Warmoth; vice-pres., Mrs. M. C. Glenn; sec., Mrs. Bessie L. Taylor; treas., Mrs. Elizabeth A. Wright.
PRISCILLA CLUB – Pres., Mrs. O. E. Newhall; vice-pres., Mrs. H. N. Coulter; treas., Mrs. Walter Rennie, sec., Mrs. A. C. Sullivan.
MAYFLOWER CLUB – Pres., Mrs. Hugh Zenor; vice-pres., Mrs. F. M. Small; sec., Mrs. Charles Hickey; treas., Mrs. C. L. Rudine.
PILGRIM GUILD – Pres., Mrs. H. S. Morgan; first vice-pres., Mrs. Frank Barton; second vice-pres., Mrs. T. W. Kyddson; sec., Mrs. George Clark; treas., Mrs. H. C. Galloup.
TRI-S CLUB – Pres., Mrs. Paul Anderson; first vice-pres., Mrs. Frank Lang; second vice-pres., Mrs. James Cochran; sec., Mrs. J. A. Pearce; treas., Mrs. R. W. Lorenz.
ROSE STANDISH CLUB – Pres., Mrs. M. W. Cragun; vice-pres., Mrs. Charles Day; sec., Mrs. Tony Sperling; treas.; Mrs. Frank Norris.
WORLD FRIENDSHIP – Pres., Mrs. Katherine Thomas; rec. sec., Miss Henriette Huntington; cor. sec., Mrs. Hettie Lowman; treas., Mrs. Alice Greene.
PRESIDENTS’ CLUB – Pres., Mrs. A. A. Clarke; vice-pres., Mrs. Ray Treasher; sec.-treas., Mrs. John J. Redmond.
NORTH SACRAMENTO – Pres., Mrs. K. M. Austinsen.
TAHOE – Pres., Mrs. D. S. Anstess; vice-pres., Mrs. John K. Dixon; sec.-treas., Mrs. J. Brummer.
HOLLYWOOD – Pres., Mrs. Chas. O. Porter; vice-pres., Mrs. Edward Telford; sec.-treas., Mrs. E. I. Chandler.
FRUITRIDGE MANOR – Pres., Mrs. R. W. Rinehart; vice-pres., Mrs. Harvey Jennings; sec., Mrs. J. L. Swanson; treas., Mrs. L. F. Mayer.
*
* *
OFFICERS
FRIENDSHIP CLUBS
BENTON CLUB – Pres. H. L. Waddell; vice-pres., L. E. Parker; sec., Paul Westerberg; treas., Ward Jett. Directors, L. V. Anderson, H. L. Fehr, C. L. Rudine, H. S. Morgan, Ed. Horton.
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN – Pres., Miss Marguerite Laurick; vice-pres., Helene Hilfiker; sec-treas., Mrs. Esther Winger.
COLONIAL CLUB – Pres., O. L. Stubbs; vice-pres., Mrs. Ted Myrick; sec. vice-pres., Mrs. Paul Freye; treas., John Fishbeck; sec., Mrs. Aubre Rothchild.
PLYMOUTH CLUB – Pres., George Anderson; vice-pres., Robert Pollock; sec.-treas., Mrs. T. W. Kyddson.
ALDEN CLUB – Pres., Mrs. H. E. Carlson; vice-pres., Ed. Wilson; sec., Mrs. LeRoy Armstrong; treas., A. E. Collins; serg-at-arms, Robert Ewing.
SPEEDWELL CLUB – Pres., Mrs. Martin Woodhouse; first vice-pres., Mr. E. W. Abbott; second vice-pres., Mrs. F. E. Furrer; sec., Mrs. E. W. Abbott; Treasurer, Mr. F. E. Furrer.
CIRCLE-Y CLUB – Pres., D. H. Gill, Jr.; vice-pres., Betty Burke; sec.-treas., Patricia Abbott.
YOUNG MARRIED COUPLES – Pres., James Gramenz; vice-pres., Mrs. Marion Matlin; sec.-treas., Mrs. Harold Wilmunder.
COMMITTEES FOR CENTENNIAL
CELEBRATION
Pioneer Congregational Church – September 11 to 18, 1949
CENTRAL
COMMITTEE
|
DAVID H. GILL, Chairman, MISS HENRIETTA HUNTINGTON,
Sec. WARREN M. BUGBEY, Treasurer TORRANCE T. PHELPS, Minister MRS. ARTHUR CLARKE HARRY L. FEHR |
PAUL A. FREYE JUDGE MALCOLM C. GLENN MRS. EUGENE M. HUGGINS MRS. ELIZABETH SWETZER MRS. H. A. TRAVIS LESTER V. ANDERSON |
HISTORICAL
COMMITTEE
|
ARCHER C. SULLIVAN MISS ANN PATRICK |
MRS. MALCOLM C. GLENN WALDO E. JULIAN |
PROGRAM
COMMITTEE
|
DAVID H. GILL |
TORRANCE T. PHELPS |
MUSIC
COMMITTEE
|
MISS JOSEPHINE FITHIAN |
MRS. ZUE GEERY PEASE |
PUBLICITY
COMMITTEE
|
PAUL A. FREYE GEORGE I. LINN |
H. G. ANDREWS EDWARD F. DOLDER |
ADVERTISING
COMMITTEE
|
WARREN M. BUGBEY |
MRS. EUGENE HUGGINS |
MRS. HAROLD DIXON |
DECORATION
COMMITTEE
|
MRS. R. F. REYNOLDS MRS. I. J.
STROMNES |
MRS. GEORGE W. HANCOCK, Chairman |
MRS. EARL MOTTER MRS. RAY C. TREASHER |
HOSPITALITY
COMMITTEE
|
MRS. ARTHUR CLARKE, Chairman MRS. J. E. CARPENTER MRS. H. C. GALLOUP MRS. EUGENE H. PITTS |
MRS. ARCHER C. SULLIVAN MRS. WALTER RENNIE MRS. FRANK TODD MRS. TORRANCE PHELPS |
FELLOWSHIP
COMMITTEE
|
THOMAS B. LEEPER, Chairman W. FRANK BROWN FRANK S. BRIGGS MRS. C. B. BILLS CLARENCE H. KROMER MRS. SUSAN ROBERTS MRS. LUCY RICHARDS |
DR. H. A. SHUDER H. M. SKIDMORE FREDERICK SMITH GEORGE GROHMAN MRS. G. L. STURDAVANT MRS. HARVEY F. CLARKE MRS. CLARENCE H. KROMER |
INVITATION
COMMITTEE
|
MISS HAZEL BELL MISS CLETA BELL W. FRANK BROWNE MRS. HARVEY CLARKE MRS. JACK DENNISON MRS. C. W. DETERDING, JR. MRS. B. F. DRIVER MRS. J. W. DUTTON MRS. L. A. GREEN |
MISS MARGARET MOORE, Chairman |
MRS. GEORGE GROHMAN MISS HENRIETTA HORTON MRS. FLOYD G. SHAAP MRS. EVA SILSBEE MRS. H. M. SKIDMORE W. E. SQUIRES MRS. CHARLES THORP MISS JESSIE WILLIAMS MRS. CARRIE YOUNG |
CIVIC NIGHT COMMITTEE
|
WILBUR H. HAINES, Chairman GEORGE C. BASSETT HERBERT E. WHITE JUDGE MALCOLM C. GLENN JUDGE ROLFE THOMPSON HARRY ARMSTRONG DR. ROY E. SIMPSON P. V. BURKE TOM H. RICHARDS DR. NICHOLAS RICCIARDI F. E. BROLLIAR DEVERE B. BACON |
DR. W. L. BURDICK GORDON FLEURY EMMETT J. SEAWELL DR. C. L. BITTNER R. W. CROWELL FLOYD G. SCHAAP FRANK HODGSON L. L. MADLAND MILES SCOFIELD EDWARD WAHL GEORGE F. CLARK M. K. ANDERSON |
TELEPHONE COMMITTEE
MRS. HARVEY L. HUMASON, Chairman
CAPTAINS:
|
MRS. H. W. DAWSON MRS. PAUL FREYE MRS. ILA JOHNSON |
|
MRS. FRED KEATING MRS. FRANK NORRIS MRS. NELL ZAK |
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEES:
Mesdames Elmer Abbott, Ivan Akins, Georgia Allen, Roger Anderson, A. B. Armstead, Klaire Austinson, V. E. Boardman, Jos. F. Briggs, Lowell Burge, Roen Day, Harold Dixon, Kenneth Farley, George Gibson, Dale Gray, Harold Green, George Grohman, Arthur Hanley, A. E. Holt, E. P. Horton, Eugene M. Huggins, Arthur Johnson, Harry Kotecki, C. R. Krieger, Glenn Larson, Robert Lorenz, Ted Myrick, Frank Porter, Ida Rapp, Leslie Reardon, Susan Roberts, Walter E. Sellman, Orien L. Stubbs, Loy W. Taylor, Katherine Thomas, Walter Travis, Norman F. Weinheimer, Martin Woodhouse, and Miss Henrietta Huntington.
HOMECOMING DINNER COMMITTEE
Mrs. O. E. NEWHALL, Chairman:
Mesdames Susan Roberts, H. Coulter, Grace Scott, H. S. Morgan, P. L. Gowen, W. H. Colgrove, W. R. Towers, M. Woodhouse, R. W. Lorenz, J. A. Pearce, Frank Lang, Paul Kersey, Paul Anderson, Tony Sperling, Earle Hanel, L. H. Reardon, Charles Sigler, M. Cragun, George Johnson, Walter Travis, George Kromer, Hugh A. Travis, Maude Blackwell, F. Keating, A. C. Sullivan, Y. Minas, Charles O. Porter, Don Wiese, Nelson Elliott, E. T. Telford, August Fabian, Alice Green, A. Broughton, Myra Warmouth, and Miss Henrietta Huntington.
ANNIVERSARY DINNER COMMITTEE
MRS. KENNETH KORN, Chairman:
Mesdames Burton Baump, Orla Brown, Melvin F. Clyma, Richard Davies, Fred Dunow, John A. Fargo, Jerome Fletcher, George Gibson, David H. Gill, Cecil J. Graham, Lawrence C. Johnson, Paul Kersey, A. C. King, Frank Lang, Glenn Larson, Robert W. Lorenz, Robert S. McKesson, Franklin Ohanesian, Frank Porter, James A. Pearce, A. J. Johnson, Nathan Portman, P. G. Ritchie, James V. Watson, J. H. Wilson, H. Gilbert Wright, and Paul Anderson.
The serving of
this dinner will be done by the following members of the Pilgrim Fellowship:
Kay Anstress, Dolores Ayres, Bruce Baker, Doris Baker, Wallace Baker, Marilyn Buchanan, Diane Cochran, Bob Colgrove, Virginia Cowan, Arlene De Lano, Theodore Diste, Gil Eidam, Jack Exter, Wayne Ford, Dorothy Gaffney, Velma Hall, Joan Harvey, Louis Hicks, May Hopkins, Alice Horton, Mary Horton, Barbara Huggins, Jean Huggins, Andy Kosieris, Barbara Lohmann, Charles Luethey, Gay McGauthy, Louise McGinness, Jeanne Merryweather, Bill Meuser, Velma Meuser, Ralph Mijares, Leah Ninas, Barbara Riley, Jack Riley, Shirley Robison, Laurie Wait, Ida Way, Walter Wight, Bruce Williams, Alan Wilmunder, and Joy Zumwalt.
PAGEANT September 18th, 1949, at 8:00 P.M.
Lawn of Sutter’s Fort Directly Across from Pioneer Congregational Church
|
CHAIRMAN OF PAGEANT: Mrs. David H. Gill AUTHOR: Mrs. Edward F. Dolder DIRECTOR: Mrs. David G. Foote THE PIONEER CHOIR will
assist in the Pageant, as well as the other Centennial services and the
Roster is as follows: Miss Josephine Fithian,
director: Mrs. Zue Geery
Pease, organist. SOPRANOS: Mesdames N. T. Austin,
Florence Baker, James Cochran, Edward Dolder, Ione
Lewis, H. S. Morgan, Arthur Morgan, Elmer Normington,
Torrance Phelps. Misses Mary Horton, Jean Huggins, Virginia Huggins, Ellen
Ford, Rose Avakian. ALTOS: Mesdames Averil Andrews, Lester Blair, Charles Dimke,
Marvin Fisher, Paul Hobbs, Kenneth Korn, Frederick
Smith, Keith Thompson, Raymond Zimmerman. Misses Ruth Phelps and Elaine Wanner. TENORS: Messrs. Paul Hobbs,
Willis Record, Harold Tresler, Harry Voth and Paul Wanner. BASSES: Messrs. Wallace Baker,
Warren Bugbey, Edward F. Dolder,
William Knosher, Elmer Normington,
Fred Shadle, Norman Thorsteinson
and Walter Wight. |
PARTICIPANTS: Messrs. Lester
Anderson, Paul Anderson, H. G. Andrews, Klaire M. Austinson, William Blackwell, L. K. Broecker,
W. Frank Browne, Arthur Clarke, Julian F. Colby, Harry Collett,
John Fishbeck, Paul Freye,
David H. Gill, Jr., David H. Gill, Sr., Harley H. Gill, Paul Gordon, George Grohman, George W. Hancock, Harvey L. Humason,
Kenneth Korn, Andy Kosieris,
C. R. Krieger, Thomas B. Leeper, George I. Linn, O.
E. Newhall, Leonard Parker, Torrance Phelps, Bernard Rice, Aubrey Rothschild,
Lowell Sheldon, H. A. Shuder, Fred Smith, W. C.
Spann, Archer C. Sullivan, H. A. Travis, H. L. Waddell, Alan Wilmunder, Lawrence A. Wilson, Norman Woodbury. Mesdames
Paul Anderson, Klaire M. Austinson,
William Blackwell, L. K. Broecker, John E.
Buchanan, Julian F. Colby, Marvin W. Cragun, John Fishbeck, Paul Freye, Malcolm
C. Glenn, L. T. Hagopian, George W. Hancock, August
Heilbron, Harvey L. Humason, C. R. Krieger, Frank
Lang, George I. Linn, O. E. Newhall, James A. Pearce, Bernard Rice, Aubrey
Rothschild, Lowell Sheldon, Orien L. Stubbs, Archer
C. Sullivan, Frank Todd, H. A. Travis and Lawrence A. Wilson. Misses Betty
Dawson, Arlene DeLano, Dorothy Gaffney, Alice
Hancock, Alice Horton, Mary Horton, Henrietta Huntington, Jeanne Merryweather, Ann Patrick, Barbara Riley and Marit Austinson, Carol E. Gill,
Christe Anne Heilbron, Lauralee Korn, Jean McKesson,
Kathleen McKesson and Neal Austinson, Eugene
Buchanan, David Briggs, Richard Cragun, Robert Cragun, Bruce Dolder, Carl Dolder, David Dolder, Gordon
Gill, Darrell Korn, William Lorenz, Robert
Rothschild. |
Transcribed
by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
© 2010 Jeanne
Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's Sacramento County