service they resolved on two things: "not to lose their religious attainments, and not to do work on Sunday;" a resolution in the main well kept. And there, it may be said, was gathered the First Presbyterian church of California.

Mr. Williams arrived in San Francisco by the steamer Oregon on April

Presbyterian Chinese Church

1, 1849. Going immediately to Benicia, then a busy centre, he found that the Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge had arrived by the first Pacific Mail Steamer California, a month earlier, and had already made the necessary prepapations for constituting a church, and there on April 15, 1849, they founded the First Presbyterian

church, which was also the first Protestant organization, on the soil of California. Returning to San Francisco Mr. Williams organized the First Presbyterian church of that city on May 20, 1849, in the public schoolhouse, on the southwest corner of the plaza. The original members were the following: W. W. Caldwell,

Geo. F. Turner, Frederick Billings, Mrs. Sarah B. Gillespie, Mrs. Margaret A. Geary, Mrs. Ann Hodghton. With these were associated as attendants on the Church services many names still active and well known in the commercial interests of the Coast. Among the earlier members uniting in 1849 was Judge W. B. Almond, of the "Court of First Instance." The first superintendent of the Sundayschool was Elder W. W. Caldwell. A tent, the property of a disbanded mining association being offered for sale, was purchased by the church. It was erected on a lot then lately secured on Dupont between Pacific and Broadway streets, on Saturday, and occupied for worship on Sunday, August 19th, 1849.

Mr. De Witt, one of the gentlemen who assisted, in its erection, being bantered on his religious zeal, played the old Adam and said he did it for his wife's sake. His interest went further, however, and he surprised the church by informing them that

Washington street, now occupied as the First Chinese Presbyterian church. There they were served by such men as Dr. Anderson, Dr. Eells, Dr. Dodge, and Dr. Patterson, men of national fame. In November, 1883, the congregation moved to Van Ness avenue and Sacramento street, where they are now served by the Rev. Robert Mackenzie, D. D.

This is the mother Presbyterian church of San Francisco. Partaking of the changes and fluctuations incident to the general life of the city, it is now exceptionally well located and strong in all its elements for work and

man of that sturdy Scotch-Irish fiber that has done so much for Presbyterianism in this country, the Rev. David H. Irwin. Among other laymen, two in particular stand out in preeminence in the history of that church, Wm. A. Palmer and Samuel I. C. Swezey.

Calvary Church was formed by

members and friends from the First Church, on July 23, 1854. Their first pastor was the Rev. W. A. Scott, D. D., LL. D., an able and aggressive leader, well supported by a company of christian laymen not often equalled in ability, such men as Dr. Coon, Governor Haight, Mayor Selby, and other scarcely less efficient and equally well seconded by honorable women, not a few. Most

was

worship. A goodly family of thrifty children has grown up from this center. In 1851, Howard Church formed by Dr. Willey, now principal of the Van Ness Girls' Seminary. Among his successors was that genial genius, the Rev. Henry M. Scudder, D. D., who has left his mark for good on this community more deeply than many others. Although but five or six years in that church, and now twenty years since he left it, it is still better known as Scudder's church than by its own proper name. present, it is ably served by a young

At

Scott himself have gone to their reward.

Calvary was first built on Bush street, where the Mercantile Library until lately, was situated, and was removed to the central location, now occupied, on the corner of Geary and Powell streets. The Rev. Dr. Wadsworth, one of the ablest preachers ever on this coast served this church some years, and was followed by the Rev. John Hemphill, D. D., another ScotchIrishman, who for II or 12 years served as pastor, raising Calvary

church to the leading position in the city and State. The present pastor is the Rev. Thomas C. Easton, D. D. On Dr.

Scott's return, after an absence of a few years in Europe and New York, St. John's Presbyterian church was formed. It is now on the corner of California and Octavia, in a commanding position ably served by the Rev. Henry C. Minton, D. D.

From time to time other Churches were formed, until to-day there are 15. Prominent among these are the Westminster Church holding what is the geographical center of San Francisco, Rev. J. Q. Adams, pastor, now arranging for the erection of a new building, and Trinity Church towards the Howard Street church towards the extreme end of the "Mission." The pastor of the latter, the Rev. J. C. Smith, a young

Rev. David H. Irwin

man of vigorous energy, has just led them in the work of erecting what is one of the best church buildings of the denomination in the city. It is a remarkable fact and unique in the history of cities that with one exception among the older churches, and one in the course of construction, all these churches are out of debt. This is largely owing to the wise benevolence of Mr. Alexander Montgomery, who, having liberally helped ten of these churches, did so on condition that they should make a strenuous effort to help themselves until entirely out of debt. This generous help in nearly every case was accepted in the spirit in which it was given and loyally seconded by the churches. The churches that did so were helped by him a second time. They are thus in excellent shape for enlarged and aggressive work, and