hubert howe bancroft - Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History ...

CHURCHES. 729
labors 81 from 1849 ot 1853. Perfect tolerance was
In Sept. 1840 arrived Ver Mehr, missionary of the episcopal church, who
first preached at the American hotel, afterward at the state marine hospital
on Stockton st, and later at private residences. On the 90th of Dec. a plain
building costing $8,000, was erected on the cor. of Powell and John sts., and
called Grace chapel; and in 1850 a parish was regularly organized, £. Bryant
and El D. Turner being first wardens, Ver Mehr being called to the rector*
ship. The congregation increasing, a larger building was erected in 1851,
paid for in part by the proceeds of musical entertainments given by the
Hanger-bund and by Signora Elisa Biscaccianti, who sang the Stabat Mater
of Rosnni. Bishop Kip took charge in 1854. Christ church of the same denomination
was organized in J853 and occupied a room over the post-office;
John Morgan, paitor. St John's church, ' episcopal,' was organized in Stockton,
Aug. 25, 1850, 0. Harriman holding the first service. In May 1850,
James Wood*, who arrived by sea around the Horn at the close of 1849,
preacheJ the dedication sermon of the first church erected in Stockton—
presbyterian—which cost $14,000.
Among the arrival) of 1849 was Wm. Taylor, methodist, who established
the First M. B. church of S. F. on Powell st, of which he was pastor, and in
addition preached Sunday afternoons in the open air on Portsmouth square.
His preaching was well atteuded, and his life was devoted to doing good.
The first meeting of the S. F. Bible Society was held in 1849 in the M. E.
church, Taylor, Ver Mehr, and Williams being elected vice-presidents.
Methodist servicas were also held in 1851 in the recorder's court-room, citv
hill, by J. Biring of the methodist church south. D. W. Pollock of this
church was preaching at Sacramento. AM. E. church was organized in
Stockton in 1851, and a church building erected, and dedicated in July.
The Oal. annual conference of that year instructed Taylor to form a M. 6.
society in the south part of the city, and a congregation was organized under
the name of the Market st charge of the M. E. church, M.C . Briggs,
pa* tor, which met in the school-house on Market st, and in Music hallon
Bush st, uutd their church was erected on Folsom st in 1853, where they remained
uutil 1862. In 1862-3 the present edifice was erected on Howard at
bet 2d an 1 3d sts.
In 1859 a society of Unitarians held services in Robinson's and Edward's
dramatic muieum on California st. Joseph Harrington arrived in 1852 but
died of Pan*mi fever. T. F. Gray succeeded him, but returned to Boston,
aid died in 1855. R. P. Cutler arrive! in 1854 and remained until 1859.
He was succeeded in 1860 by T. Starr King. On the 17th of July, 1853, a
hi"id*nme church was erected on Stockton st bet Clay and Sacramento.
This building was sold to the Zion M. E. church, colored, and a still handso
ner one erected on Geary and Stockton 1862-3. That was also sold, and
the church removad farther from the business portion of the city.
The Hebrew Congregation Emanu El was organized in 1851. Its present
handsome synagogue was erected in 1866 at a cost of $185,000. There are
two other congregations with fine edifices on Mason and Post streets.
Calvary Presbyterian church belongs to the early period, having been
organized with 60 members in 1854. A church building was completed in
1865 on Binh st costing $70,000. The first pastor was William A. Scott
M The first church organized at Nevada city was the M. E. society, in
1850, by R.3V. Isaac Owen. A rude meeting-house was erected, and Rev.
A. Bland settled to preach in it. In the autumn of the same year the M.
E. church south was organized by the Revs Boring and Ballock. In 1851 a
church edifice was erected for Rev. J. H. Warren. In the same year a
catholic church was formed; and in 1855 an episcopal church by Rev. HilL
$35,000 contributed for religious purposes in 1855. Placerville's first church
was constructed of pole*, roofed with canvas. It was erected for Rev.
Ralloch, baptist, father of the afterwards notorious I. S. Kalloch. The first