THE STORY OF EARLY
BAPTIST HISTORY IN CALIFORNIA

PREPARED AT THE REQUEST OF
CALIFORNIA BAPTIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY,
1888
And read before the Society at Sacramento,
April 13, 1889

By O. C. WHEELER, D. D., LL.D.

HERALD OF TRUTH ~ MAY 1, 1889.

BAPTIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

This society was called to order by the President, Rev. O. C. Wheeler, LL.D. Prayer was offered by Dr. J. B. Saxton, of Vacaville. President Wheeler then called Dr. G. S. Bailey to the chair. The order of the day was a paper on early Baptist history in California, by Dr. Wheeler. If there is a man on our coast, or in our country, who has a history, that man is the very pioneer of all evangelical ministers on the Pacific Coast. His address was one no else on earth could have delivered, it was a masterly presentation of history as romantic and stirring as any in the annals of man. Dr. Wheeler has been more history than most men ever read. He was made a life member of the society. On motion of Rev. A. J. Frost the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved. That this body return a hearty vote of thanks to Rev. O. C. Wheeler, LL. D., for his able. Exhaustive and pains-taking record of important events in the Baptist History of California.

Resolved, that this expression of appreciation be made by a rising vote.

THE CALIFORNIA BAPTIST ~ APRIL 18, 1889.

THE GENERAL BAPTIST CONVENTION OF CALIFORNIA.

SACRAMENTO, APRIL 19, 1889.

Friday morning the devotional exercises were led by G. S. Bailey.  Rev. O.C. Wheeler, D.D., LL.D., the President of the California Baptist Historical Society, called the Society to order, and prayer was offered by Rev. J.B. Saxton, D.D. of Vacaville.  In the absence of the Vice President, Rev. W.H. Pendleton, D.D., the President called on G.S. Bailey, D.D., to preside while he, Dr. Wheeler, delivered the annual address, which was a review of the early Baptist history of California. This address, delivered by the pioneer Baptist of this coast, and occupying nearly two hours, was the richest document of its kind we ever heard; and by turns, it moved the audience to enthusiastic applause, and then melted them to tears.  It was simply amazing that this venerable pioneer could thus review the work of forty years with such thrilling interest, and hand over to Dr. Hartwell, the Secretary, as he did, pamphlet after pamphlet, and document after document, thus preserving so much of the early history of California Baptists.  These documents would make a volume of 500 pages.  We expect to give this address, but not the documents to the readers of the California Baptist as soon as our columns are a little relieved from their present pressure.  The like of it can never be repeated in California or elsewhere.  When Dr. Frost asked the Society to give a vote of thanks to Dr. Wheeler by rising, the profound feeling evinced by choking hearts and moistened eyes, told how deep and sincere was the unanimous response.  

     Among the documents handed to the Secretary was a bound volume of the first Baptist newspaper published in California.

     Dr. Wheeler was made a life member of the Historical Society and a large number of annual members were enrolled.  Rev, O.C. Wheeler, D.D., LL.D., was re-elected President; Rev. W.H. Pendleton, D.D., Vice President, and Rev. J.B. Hartwell, D.D., Secretary and Treasurer.  The Society appointed Rev. J.B. Saxton, D.D., to present historic paper next year.

    History is an account of past events.  It may be preserved in memory, and communicated orally, or in painting, sculpture, hieroglyphics and written language for individual study.  Memory is unwritten history.  But for history, all the past would be a blank, its lessons and achievements blotted out, and the world to us as though it had never been. Each day of toil and every effort of life would be an experiment, and the whole world would have to begin anew every morning.  But history, like the orb of day, ascending from the Horizon to the Zenith, illuminates the entire area of human existence, sustaining by the facts of the past, the hopes of the future.

     As the storms of the elements during the ages, have beaten upon and disintegrated the granitic rocks and auriferous ledges of the mountain tops, releasing the particles of fine gold, and allowing them to be washed down into the gorges and ravines and crevices, whence the toiling miner, extricating them, enriches himself, aids in the development of his country's wealth, and enlarges the commerce of the world, so practical history segregates the important facts and precious truths of the past, and places them where the student, the scholar, the philosopher can so gather and arrange them as to constitute a mirror of previous time, with all its varied and innumerable transpirings, reflecting upon each day of the present, and of the future, as it passes, all the advancement in knowledge, and attainment in art, and development in science that the mind and the hand of man have wrought during the cycles of past duration.

     Like all other terrestrial things history is imperfect. In its continuance, it is far from being an unbroken chain. Its links have been dissevered, and its fragments lie scattered all along the highway of time.  We are taught to refer to, and believe in an "Historic Period" covering the few thousand years since the invention of letters and the use of written language, which is supposed to be continuous and legible, all the way.  But is it so?  Go with me to the shore of the Pacific, and look westward; is there anything to interfere with the boundless view?  Does it not seem perfect?  But let us go instead of merely looking westward, and we shall soon see multiplied groups of islands, towering toward heaven, and stretching to the right and left until they shut out all further view in that direction.  All beyond is to us, as though it were not.  But pass around the group on either hand, and another boundless view expands before us.  This we may repeat and repeat, until we give up in utter weariness, despairing of finding any expanse unbroken.  So in the pursuit of history, we often are confronted with darkness which mortal vision cannot penetrate, chasms that no mortal power can span.

     But on, on beyond, another vast expanse, bridged by time, we find another historical epoch, bordering the era of pyramids and monoliths and sculpture and hieroglyphs and paintings, and these lead us back to the morning of creation and place us in the back door of time looking into a past eternity.

     History is imperfect in its character also.  All historians - says an eminent literary  philosopher - seem to record the great rather than the good deeds of men, thus leaving half the truth untold; the omissions rendering the whole a series of imperfections and, in a measure, unreliable.

     Still, with all its imperfections, history is absolutely invaluable, which should incite every intelligent person to record each fact as it transpires, and every event that is recognized; that all may eventually be found in the great storehouse of knowledge, and form the basis of universal history.

     A few weeks since, I sent a book - a California production - to a gentleman in one of the Atlantic States. He is a man of broad intellect and thorough culture, a literarian of rich and ripe attainments, for many years an ornament to the New York bar.  I have just received from him the following, referring to the book.  He says, "I thought, upon its receipt, I would give it a more thorough perusal, and then, perhaps, express an opinion of it, when acknowledging its receipt.  At leisure intervals I have gone through it.  It is indeed a superb volume.  Its contents are exceedingly interesting in many ways.  The historical sketch of the application of steam power in the Pacific; the achievements of the Pacific Mail Steam-Ship Company; the voyage of the pioneer steamer "California," are all interesting; and the graphic incidents, attending the passengers on her, and on the "Falcon," and the crossing of the Isthmus; their various experiences, and their biographical sketches, are, in many instances, highly dramatic.

     I write, as you see, on the fortieth anniversary of the advent of these "Pioneers" on the Pacific shore; and in contemplating the account given of it, in this volume, the profoundest considerations are pressed upon the mind.  "Gold had slept in the bosom of these mountains, from time immemorial.  Spanish occupants of the country had been there a century or more, apparently content with a few vines, and pastoral herds, never dreaming of the hidden gold, nor caring for the richer agricultural wealth of the soil.  These pioneers evoked those elements, and transformed a barbarous wilderness into a highly civilized commonwealth; an achievement unparalleled in the annals of man.

     "The 'May-Flower' landed her 'Pilgrims' on Plymouth Rock, 200 years before these pioneers entered the 'Golden Gate,' and the results of that event have since been celebrated as a marvel of modern civilization.  But, excepting the promulgation of certain religious tenets, they can no more be compared with the work of these California pioneers, in celebrity of action, in breadth and scope of achievement, in the great march of human progress, than the State of Massachusetts can geographically compare with California.  No more than the old mail stage coach can compare with to-day's telegram."

     Now, if the views of this writer are well founded - and the facts surely seem to warrant them - then we are fully justified in using the events occurring on this coast since the year 1849, as the basis of a distinct chapter in history. 

     You have asked me to give you "A Paper on the Early History of Baptists in California."  A territory of vast proportions, more than equal to all New England, New York, and New Jersey combined, during a period of forty years from the initial point of its growth; a time and place more full of inventive genius and energized activity, more rapid in commercial development, more diversified in population, more progressive in everything that constitutes national greatness that the world has elsewhere seen.

     From the hour you presented this request I have been averse to attempting the task.    First - because I knew that a paper sufficiently full to give any sort of satisfaction to either you or myself, would necessarily consume more time in its reading than your patience would quietly endure.

     Second - more than twenty years ago I was appointed by the San Francisco Association to do the very work I now have in hand.  But I knew then, as I know now, and as you know, that no man, forced to the front as I was, and compelled for nearly two years to stand entirely alone, and for a long time after that often worse than alone, contending with evil in every form, and of every class, and on every hand, and conquering at night, only to be re-attacked in the morning, not only by open enemies, but by that worst of all foes,  "false brethren," can give a fair account of the transpiring of the times, without bringing himself more prominently to view than would be agreeable to any one of common modesty. After being re-appointed three times, and declining the service for three successive years, it was for a long time abandoned.  But the circumstances under which your appointment came, seemed to make the demand almost imperative, and I yielded, with the determination to write only the things that are essential, condense as much as possible, and leave the time it takes to read it, to battle with your patience.

     I also resolved to go forward, telling the facts as I know them to have transpired, hoping that the mollifying influences of the gospel, during a quarter of a century, may have so softened and subdued human infirmities, that the least possible offense may be given.

     And furthermore, to free myself as far as may be from the restraints of all false modesty, and write of myself and my own acts as I would of any other. 

     In all this account of churches and organizations the statements refer only to the work of the modern Protestant churches; having no reference whatever to the ancient works and present ruins of the Catholics.

     In order to understand and appreciate a work done and results obtained, we must know something of the circumstances surrounding the work when it was begun, as well as the facilities for its execution and the obstacles to its progress.

     California was a territory of vast area - recently a State of the Mexican Republic.  Civilization and semi- barbarism were about equally prevalent.

     Everything was controlled by the Catholics.  Their great day of relaxation and amusement was the Sabbath.  After morning "Mass" the day was largely devoted to such rude and barbarous sports as bull-fighting, bear-baiting, horse racing, and the exercises of the cock-pit.  In all the broad land there was no church organization, no religious, moral, social, literary or scientific organization of any kind.  There was no public library, no infirmaries, no asylums for the dumb, blind and helpless; none of those institutions that spring up indigenous to a pure Christianity; not one.

     The term "early" in this connection, indicates the time beginning with the influx of population consequent upon the discovery of gold; more especially dating at the beginning of immigration from the eastern States, inaugurated by the arrival of the first steam-ship, in February of 1849.

     The beginning of the work of "Early Baptists in California," a historical sketch of which you now require at my hand, was so entirely different from any other missionary work attempted by our denomination, in this or any other land, that it seems eminently fitting, if not demanded, that in a paper of this kind the facts of its origin should be presented with more than ordinary detail.

     On the first of November, 1848, as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Jersey City, N. J., I attended, at the First Baptist Church of New York, the usual Monday morning "Minister's meeting." While the exercises were in progress, a messenger from the rooms of the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, which were immediately overhead, whispered in my ear, "Dr. Hill, the Secretary wishes to see you in his room."  I went immediately; he took a seat at my side, laid his hands on my shoulder, and without any preliminary remark said: "We want you to go to California as our pioneer missionary."  I replied: "I have been here, in Jersey City less than a year, and the work has so developed, and is now in such progress that I would not exchange my pulpit for any other in the United States.  I cannot go, sir."  To this the Secretary responded: "It is because things are in such shape in your church and work, that we want you to go to California, and we think you must."  My positive reply was: "No, sir; I will not leave."

     This interview was daily repeated, with such variations in motives presented as the Secretary and his associates thought best adapted to secure their object, for sixteen days.  During this time numbers of the most influential clergymen of the denomination brought all the power of their influence to bear upon me, among whom was the venerable Dr. S.H. Cone, pastor of the First Church in New York and President of the Society proposing to send me out, who, after exerting all his powers to convince me of the greatness of the work and my personal duty to undertake it, stopped short and said: "But do you know where you are going my brother?  I would rather go as a missionary to China or Cochin-China, than to San Francisco.  Don't you stir step, my brother, unless you are prepared to go to the darkest spot on earth," a statement of which I was often reminded by the scenes through which I was called to pass in subsequent years, and on the morning of the sixteenth day, after a night of prayer, without sleep, and at the close of an unusually earnest and agonizing season of family devotions, a burden as distinct as that which rolled from the shoulder of Bunyan's Pilgrim, at the foot of the cross, was removed from my shoulders, and my wife and I arose simultaneously and without the interchange of a word, both broke out in the song:

"To God I'm reconciled;

His pardoning voice I here;

He owns me for His child,

I will no longer fear."

     In an hour I had informed the Secretary.  He replied; "Thank God; I knew it would be so.  Let us go to the steamer and secure your stateroom."  After the room was selected, the Secretary addressing the captain, said, "You sail as per advertisement, December 20th, I suppose."  The captain replied, "No, orders are changed; we shall sail December 1st."  Is that positive?" said the Secretary.  "Positive," replied the captain.  The Secretary, with sad countenance, turned to me and said, "Then you cannot go; you cannot get ready."  "Yes, sir," I replied.  "After what I have endured, to yield this point?  I would rather go tomorrow morning than give it up, and have the Baptists fail to be as early in the field as the foremost."  "But you wife will have to remain; she certainly cannot get ready."  I said, "She will," and she did.

     Thus the first missionary, the sole representative of the denomination, then numbering more than a million of communicants, was chosen and dispatched to his field. 

     In the fourteen days which preceded the sailing of the steamer I resigned my pastorate, closed up all my business for life (it was not expected that I would ever return), made a trip to Philadelphia, preached ten sermons, delivered three addresses, superintended my entire outfit, and was, with my wife, on board the steamer "Falcon" one hour before she sailed, December 1st, 1848 at 12 M., the first and only instance in which the initial steamer, inaugurating a great national line, sailed promptly at the published time.  The order to "cast off the lines" came while the clock was striking 12, and was obeyed in less than one minute.  The voyage to San Francisco lasted just ninety days, and was full of incidents calculated to measure the strength and try the grace of Christian patience and fortitude.  Between Charges and Cruces we were in a canoe on the Charges river, three days and three nights of watchfulness, in peril and in storm. Although our steamer was the pioneer in carrying the United States mail between New York and San Francisco, and had sailed three days before the news of the discovery of gold was published in Washington, five vessels on hearing the news of gold had been dispatched, their passengers reaching the Isthmus, and overtaking us before we had crossed it.

     At Cruces a vast multitude had collected.  One afternoon a noble young man, one of our fellow-passengers, was attacked with cholera, and died in two hours.  Terrible alarm ensued. A Captain of the U.S.A. being of our number said, "We are all fools; we don't take care of ourselves; we ought to die.  I have today eaten five bananas and seven oranges, and drunken both whiskey and brandy, and run a foot-race in the sun, which is enough to give anybody the cholera."  He was attacked within an hour, and before midnight was a corpse.     

     At daylight all was confusion, everybody striving to get away.  It was twenty-five miles to Panama, and no roads but a bridle-path over what seemed to be impassable streams and mountains, and no means of conveyance but the worst class of saddle animals.  My wife and an intimate traveling companion, each dressed in her husband's cloths, and riding as he rode, under my special care, started, a little after daylight, and reached Panama in ten and a half hours, during which time Mrs. Wheeler did not once dismount, a feat seldom ever performed by the strongest of men, even a general on the day of battle.  She was the first woman who ever passed through the gates into the ancient city in males attire, and riding as a man rides, and the enthusiasm with which she was greeted as she passed within the walls was of the most hearty and prolonged character. 

     We remained in the isthmus, waiting for the arrival of the steamer that had been sent around to meet and take us to San Francisco, thirty-four days.  When she, the" California", arrived, the captain came on shore, and seeing the multitude that lined the beach, the first words he uttered were, "I hope to God you haven't any missionaries for me to take." This expression is a fair index of his character and of the treatment we received at his hands during the twenty-eight days of out trip from Panama to San Francisco.

     To detail the incidents of that trip, both pleasant and painful, (especially the later) would require a volume.  We pass them by.  The missionaries arrived at San Francisco on the morning of February 28th, in as good health as they ought to have expected.

     Commander Thomas ap Catsby Jones, in command of the Pacific squadron, was in the harbor, and received the steamer (the first steamer that ever passed the Golden Gate) with a full salute from each of the five men-of-war under his command, the "Ohio", his flag-ship, being reputed the largest war-ship afloat, being last, and as she fired her first gun she "manned her yards," fifteen hundred men springing into her rigging with the agility of an army of emmets.  That our hearts swelled to our throats, and our eyes swam in tears, you will not think strange.

     Thus your first missionaries, Rev. O.C. Wheeler and wife, reached the field.  The labors and the results of the mission I do not propose to follow in chronological order, but in the order of analogous events.  Two great classes of such events are distinct, and cover all the time that can be allotted to this paper.

     The favorable and the unfavorable are the two classes to which I refer, and in order that the most desirable effect may be left on the mind, I propose to refer:

      First - To some of the obstacles we had to encounter, and unfavorable circumstances that impeded our progress, and

     Second - To the favoring facts and encouraging events that cheered the laborers all along their path.

OBSTACLES AND DIFFICULTIES

     First - The government of the territory was little if any better than that of the jungles of India under their nomadic chiefs, hence the gospel laborers found themselves as little sustained by legal influences and restraints as they would have been in the interior of Africa or on the plains of Persia.  This every intelligent person will at once recognize as a most unfavorable condition for the commencement of the work.

     Second - Another and far greater obstacle to our work was that all the religion in the country was Roman Catholicism, in its most dilapidated stage and lowest forms of superstition and degradation.

     Only those who have lived in a country purely Catholic can have any idea how thick the darkness is.  It is really a "darkness that may be felt" - the dark pall of mildewed immorality that overspends and enshrouds every human aspiration.

     In every attempt to promote virtue and elevate society it confronts the gospel laborer at the threshold of his work, and recedes only as its powers are exhausted.  It also awakens more promptly from its lowest depths of deepest slumber, and wages its warfare against all spiritual religion more vehemently and persistently than any other human organization.

     Mohammed and Buddha and Confucius each had a system of his own, and each openly and avowedly stands opposed to Christianity.  But Romanism, equally the foe of pure Christianity, professes to be our friend and elder brother, and hence making itself doubly difficult to overcome or remove.

     Here their great day was the Sabbath, which, after morning "mass," was usually devoted to such rude and barbarous sports as have been referred to.  Not a move was made that was called religious but what directly interfered with the propagation of a spiritual gospel.

     Third - An absolute destitution of all religious or moral organization or association. 

     In all the broad land there were no vestry meetings, no class meetings, no prayer-meeting, no organization of any kind for moral, social or literary improvement.  There was no library, no infirmary, no "home" for the aged and the helpless.  None of those institutions that spring up, indigenous to a  pure Christianity, for the amelioration of human suffering and the glory of God.  Absolutely not one. So far as associated effort for the establishment of righteousness was concerned, the whole land was one vast moral desert, without one oasan spot on which the man of God might place his foot.

A Want of Laborers

     Fourth - When the American Baptist Home Mission society dispatched its first missionary to California, it promised him that an assistant should be sent to him by the next steamer (steamers then sailed once a month), but they failed to do so, and it was twenty months before the first man of their appointment reached the field.  For this delay the society was severely censured, and I was among the foremost of the censors.

     By the following extracts from letters written by Rev. Dr. Hill, secretary of the society, we learn something of the state of things.  Under date of June 11, 1852, he writes, "We have probably lost ground in California, but so far as we are concerned it could not be avoided.  We have done as much as men could do to supply the right sort of men for that field, but we could not get them, and we would not think of sending men unless we could place decided confidence in them."

     Again under date of February 3rd, 1853, he writes (I was at the time editing the Pacific Banner), "I have received the Pacific Banner regularly since the commencement of its publication, and presume we are indebted to you personally for the favor.  Therefore I thank you.  It is a good, very good paper, and I pray for the blessings of God to attend its distribution and reading wherever it goes.  The publication of such a periodical is attended with joys and sorrows, like all things else in this world, sometimes one, then the other preponderating.  You will have your share, but persevere.  If you meet with faultfinders still persevere, regardless of mere carping, but always cheerful in the correction of the statement of facts.  Now, after such fatherly advice, you will think it strange that I appear as a fault-finder, especially as I believe it is the first time with you; but there must be a first time to things which happen, and so I commence:  I have just read the Pacific Banner of Dec. 18th and find in it an article headed, 'More Missionaries,' which upon one point is entirely out of square, conveying an impression to the public which is anything but correct.  It is so far derogatory.  The truth is, that from the moment California was adopted as a missionary field (which was previous to the knowledge of its mineral wealth) it has stimulated among us great solicitude and great exertion to supply it with a reasonable number of properly qualified ministers.  We have sent out some, as many as could be induced to go, at great expense.  We have actually appointed, on their previous agreement to go, several who subsequently declined, and we have had a very burdensome correspondence with a large number of others, besides journeys and verbal conversations to induce men to go.  Now does such a course justify an editor in saying, on the 18th of December, 1852, that we are at this late day beginning to act as though we knew of the existence of California?  Does it warrant the sarcasm of being only now awakened to a sense of our duty?  And does it justify the charges of having lost ground by past indifference's and neglect?

     "Your error is that you have put the saddle on the wrong horse.  The ministers are to blame, and not the Society. Write your article over again, substituting the Ministry for the Home Mission Society; show up their blindness and stupidity, their indifference and inactivity; sharpen your wit and sarcasm to the keenest edge, and I will try to give it wings and speed its flight through the Ministry of the North."

     Our want of laborers was not because they did not come to California, for between the 1st of April, 1849, and the 1st of August, 1850, I counted and registered forty-six men, all wearing the vestments and claiming the character of  Baptist ministers in good standing, who arrived at San Francisco and passed through to the mines, not one of whom would stop a single day to aid me in rolling to the top of the hill the ball that seemed ready to fall back upon and crush me - not an hour in the work of the Master.

     "The more a man has, the more he wants," is an aphorism never more fully illustrated than in the case of the miner searching for gold.  As he approaches the deposit of nuggets, his emotions suddenly assume the form of "some bedlam statuary's dream; the crazed creation of misguided whim."  And as the first grain of gold sparkles in his view he seems to see

"A violet opening in the moss,

Half hidden from the eye;

Fair as a star, when only one

Is shinning in the sky."

     As the eye that has looked the noon-day sun full in the face sees only a sun, so the miner sees nothing but the glitter of gold, and hears nothing but the clink of coin. This is not charged as a crime, but simply referred to as one of the characteristics of human infirmity, which in its development here became one of the principal impediments to our progress.

Want of Harmony

     Fifth.- With such a conglomerate mass of people as were attracted hither by the gold from nearly every "kindred and nation and tongue and people under the whole heaven," uniformity or even harmony of sentiment, much less of purpose and action, it were presumption to expect.  But the large majority of those who had come here were men in early middle life, not especially schooled in life's refinements, but of strong, well-developed intellects, full of enterprise and energy and self-assurance, and every one of them firm in his opinions and fixed in his habits, fully convinced that his views were absolutely and invariably correct, and the habits in which he had been reared, if not the only ones, the best in the world, a striking illustration of which occurred at the organization of the First Baptist church in Sacramento, this church with which we now have the honor of meeting, and whose generous hospitalities we are now sharing.  

     It was September 4th, 1850, we were in Judge Willis' parlor on I Street.  I had made all proper preparations as I supposed, and we were considering certain rules and regulations to be observed.  Among others was this; that at a reception of a member the pastor, on behalf of the church shall present to the candidate the hand of fellowship, and Brother B., from Missouri, sitting in the rear of the room, sprang to his feet and said, "What is that?  Pastor on behalf of the church give the hand of fellowship?  I never heard of such a thing in my life."

     "What form have you been accustomed to, brother?" inquired the moderator.  

     "Why, the whole church give the hand of fellowship, of course," said Brother B.  Deacon W., a venerable looking man from New England, sitting near the door, at once and in astonishment said, "What, every individual in the church give the hand of fellowship?"

     "Certainly," said B.  "Always."

     "Never heard of such a thing in my life," exclaimed the deacon.

     This menacing difficulty was, however, easily disposed of.  I interlined after the word "pastor" the words, "and as many of the members as desire to," to which none could object.

     Now this case, perhaps more ludicrous than serious, is a fair example of what we encountered at every step and in every department of life, especially in all religious organizations and plans for work.

II.

Favorable Conditions and Facilities

     I gladly turn to brighter scenes, more in harmony with joy.

     First - Our Mission was initiated under most favorable auspices.  No denomination, as such was in the field before us.  In that respect we were wholly untrammeled, in an open sea and no sectarian storms blowing.  Funds were guaranteed us at "Carte Blanche," so that we were freed from all anxiety about our support, nor were there laid upon us any unwelcome restrictions.

     God had in his providence sent a man before us, without our knowledge, to prepare the way for us.  He had been here two years, displaying a genius and enterprise in business, seldom equaled by any man anywhere.  He had some traits of character developed to a most extraordinary degree, traits which, on occasion, in the wild and unprecedented state of things consequent upon the heterogeneous influx of gold-seekers, served as well in religious as in commercial enterprise.  A fact or two will give a better view of his character than a whole chapter of disquisition.

     After the discovery of gold, early in 1848, and before any communication was had with the  commercial ports of Europe or America, the demand for supplies of almost every kind often became oppressive.  There were no railways, no telegraphs, no steamships by which they could communicate. No intimation when any vessel would approach the coast.  Yet it was of the utmost importance to the merchant, that he obtained the earliest opportunity to board an incoming craft and make such purchases as would in a measure forestall the efforts of his rivals.  For this purpose each of several trading houses kept in constant readiness a good boat and set of oarsmen with which they might hope to get on board of a vessel that came into harbor and secure the first chance at the cargo.  In the first rank of these competing houses were those of Howard & Mullus, and of C.L. Ross.  It was extremely rare that a vessel of any kind came into the harbor with merchandise.  One day, a few weeks before we arrived "A brig is coming in" was shouted.  As quickly as possible Howard was in his boat with the rudder lines in his hands, and Ross had his as soon.  Every oarsman sprang his "ash" to the utmost. It was about three miles to the brig; and the race was earnestly contested.  Ross was less than a hundred yards ahead; when he reached the vessel seized the ropes and sprang over the bulwarks.  The captain (who was also supercargo) met him at the rail; without one preliminary word, Ross said in his peculiar rapid style, "Got any red woolen shirts?"

     "Yes," said the captain, "A hundred dozen."

     Without asking another question as to what the vessel contained, Ross said "What will you take for your entire cargo, everything in the ship?"

     "A hundred per cent, on the New York invoice," said the captain.

     "It is done" said Ross, "And this binds the bargain," as he handed him a hundred dollars.

     As the captain received the money, and said "Yes," Howard reached the deck, to find that his rival owned "everything in the ship."

     There were no red woolen shirts in the country, and every miner must have a pair if they cost him a hundred dollars; and Ross knew it.

     This same spirit of dash and enterprise was equally developed in his religious life.  When the steamer arrived having on board the first missionary and his wife, (Mrs. Wheeler being the first, and for a long time the only female missionary in California),  Mr. Ross came immediately on board, and said to them, "Everything is changed and in confusion; times are terrible, but never fear I will see that you are taken care of."  And from that moment he personally assumed all our expenses, of every kind; when board and lodgings, such as he furnished us were worth at least five hundred dollars a month.  He also, a few months later, assumed the entire financial responsibility of purchasing a lot at ten thousand dollars and erecting a church edifice thereon at an expense of over six thousand dollars.  And a few weeks afterwards, mews of General Taylor's death, the President of the United States, came, and at the close of the first Sabbath morning service, thereafter, I announced that the next Sabbath morning I would preach on the life and labors of General Taylor.  Mr. Ross arose in the congregation and said, "Parson, if you are going to do that, this house must be enlarged, for it is crowded on common occasions."  Next morning he hired the mechanics, purchased the material and personally superintended the work; and before midnight on Saturday of the same week he had completed an addition to the church 25x40 feet.  It was finished in every particular.

     I preached the sermon, promised and (here is the manuscript) for the archives of your Society, (handing the copy to Dr. Hartwell).

     We also found here brother George Inwood, a young man from England who had been here about a year.  He was not a classically educated man; but of unflinching principles, especially in his religion.  He went to the mines, early in spring of 1849.  After a few weeks he sent $800 as his first contribution for the erection of the new church.  After ninety days he returned bringing with him fourteen thousand dollars in gold lumps.  One of his first moves was to advance five thousand dollars of it (two thousand as a gift, and three thousand as a loan) to the church to aid in paying for the church and lot.

     God had sent these two men here to prepare a cheering sunrise for the mission.  Gentlemen of the army and navy on the coast, inferior to none in the service, received and treated us with every possible courtesy and attention.  And nothing that our American population could do to forward our interests was undone.

     And again, helps were sent from the east; men of intellect learning, and piety, and energetic devotion to the cause of Christ.  Notably among whom was the man on my right, who almost alone remains to this present time, the venerable Dr. Saxton of Vacaville, for whose continued life and vigor in maturity, we most devoutly thank God.  Also this other man, Rev. Dr. Peneleton, (a mere boy then) came, and with his voice and organ rang sweet melodies through the congregation, cheering to the saints and inviting to sinners.  He left his preparation for the bar, and turned to studies for the ministry.  He was ordained here and served in the pastorate for a time.  But our facilities for intellectual and theological training did not equal his desires, and he went east, and after extended intercourse with the wisest and best theologians and philosophers in both America and Europe, returns to employ his mature powers in extending the work and illuminating the afternoon of life in our midst.

     Preveaux, our first denominational teacher, learned in all the wisdom of the best schools and universities of New England came, but while it was yet the early morn of life with him his mortal sun went down, his spirit entered the University above.  And others of equal worth came and joined in the work.  Churches were multiplied, Bible and tract and missionary and temperance societies were organized and the work progressed until, in 1865, when in a report which I had been previously appointed to prepare on California as a Missionary field, "it will be found that we had organized one hundred regular Baptist churches, but that fifty-five of them had already become extinct, leaving us forty-five Churches with which to commence the second series of our conventional labors.

     Here is a copy of that report for the archives of your Society.

Our First Baptism

     The first candidate for baptism in our work in this mission was Col. Thomas H. Kellam, of Accomac county, Va.  He sailed from Norfolk, in the brig Mariana, in March of 1849, for San Francisco, where he arrived after a voyage of some six months.  On October 25, 1849, he wrote an intimate friend in Northamton, Va., who furnished a copy of the letter to the Religious Herald of Richmond, which published it, with the following prefatory remark:

     "Fortunate has it been for Col. Kellam if, in pursuit of the shining dust of earth, he has found the gold tried in the fire, the pearl of great price.  We trust that the perils and dangers of the great deep had the effect to show him the need of a Savior, and his journey into the strange land, like the prodigal, led him to seek his Heavenly Father."  The letter is as follows:

"San Francisco, Oct. 23, 1849.

     Dear George:-Agreeable to my promise, I now proceed to inform you of my safe arrival in this place, and the dealings of a kind Providence toward me.  It is my privilege to communicate intelligence that will be pleasing to you and to all my friends who love the Savior.  I now thank my Heavenly Father I am able to inform you I have found peace in Jesus, and have all confidence in Him, that He is able to save me. I bless His name, that in mercy He has sent me to this place, and made me willing to love and obey Him.  On last Sunday, Oct. 21st, I was baptized by Elder Wheeler, in the bay of San Francisco, being the first baptized on this side of the Pacific.  I felt thankful that I was permitted to own my Lord in His ordinance, and be buried with the Blessed Redeemer in baptism."

     Thus much of his letter is given, that readers may know, in his own language, something of the character of the man and the thoroughness of his conversion. 

     Upon his arrival in San Francisco, he made it his first business to find the missionary and make known to him something of the great change he had undergone, and to ask for baptism and membership with the church.  He had been well and religiously educated, and was familiar with the doctrinal views held by the various denominations of Christians, and was himself thoroughly a Baptist.  At an appointed time he came before the church, related his experience, and was with entire unanimity and with deepest interest elected as a candidate for baptism and membership in the church.  On the following Sabbath morning - it was the 21st of October, 1849, one of those lovely mornings that characterize San Francisco climate in autumn; clear, still, warm and cheerful to the fullest extent, we assembled at our humble sanctuary, on the north side of Washington street, one door east of Stockton. We had such a congregation as perhaps never assembled to any other time or place.  The other churches in the city suspended their morning service.  Their pastors with their officers and the body of their congregations were present and joined in the procession.  The mayor and other municipal officers of the city, and several of the officers of the State, and officials of the general Government, resident on the coast or here temporarily on business, also Commodore Jones, commanding the Pacific squadron, U.S.N., and his naval staff, together with a large number of marines, all in full uniform, the chiefs of the medical staff of the Pacific division of both the army and navy, with their assistants, swelled our numbers and officially gave endorsement to our proceedings.  We also had with us Dr. Judd, prime minister of the Hawaiian kingdom, then on his way as "Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary" to the United States, England and France, having with him the heir-apparent and his cousin, who under Dr. Judd were receiving their royal education, and each of them afterward became king, preceding the present ruler of the nation.  We also had with us large numbers of visitors from nearly every civilized nation on earth, who had been drawn here by the gold excitement, and hundreds of the citizens of San Francisco.

     We formed with due deference to the rank and standing of our guests, and marched down Stockton street to Union, to Powell, to North Beach, where the water was shallow with sandy bottom.  There was no wind that morning, and the water was clear and calm as a pond in the country.  The whole train, from the church to the beach (about three-quarters of a mile), marched with all the decorum and precision you would expect to see in a platoon of the regular army or navy on dress parade.  At the water each department of the long and numerous procession took its assigned position in silence, and gave to all the exercises the most undivided attention. Rev. S.H. Willey, of the Presbyterian mission at Monterey, who had been a fellow passenger with me from New York to that place, was on my left and, at my request, read portions of Scripture and announced the hymn.  He was deeply moved, having never before witnessed the ordinance of baptism in the Bible mode, though born, reared and educated in New England and New York.  Rev. Mr. Hunt of the Congregational Church was on my right and offered the baptismal prayer.  (I could not then, nor can I now see how he could have prayed more earnestly and appropriately if the exercises had been in and of his own, church)  On his right was Commodore Jones and staff, while all around us was the official and unofficial multitude of spectators, every one of whom seemed to be as fully interested as if a personal participant in the exercises.

     When all was ready, the candidate, a noble specimen of man, 6 feet 2 inches tall and finely proportioned, took my hand, and we walked about 100 yards before reaching a depth of water sufficient for the ordinance.  While we were thus going "down into the water," according to previous arrangement, the hymn was announced and the first two stanzas sung by the whole concourse; the last two as we were "coming up out of the water," (after the baptism in the scriptural form).  And such singing I never elsewhere heard.  It seemed as though every professional and every layman, every soldier and every marine, every officer and every subordinate, every citizen and every foreigner of that vast throng was suddenly and specially inspired by the holy grandeur and the spiritual significance of the divine ordinance which we were administering, to sing for that once, if never again this side of heaven, with the fullness of both his spirit and his voice.  And as we neared the shore and the song rang out the mighty paean of the last stanza, it seemed to evoke responsive strains from before the "great white throne," which, as they rolled over the battlements of the New Jerusalem, came down to mingle with and sanctify our best efforts to "Magnify the Lord" in songs of praise to the Great Jehovah.

     The hymn was that inimitable effusion, written by Dr. Adoniram Judson, to be sung at the first baptism in the Burman Empire, at the beautiful pond on the bank of the Irrawaddi, at Rangoon, June 27, 1819, reading as follows:

"Come, Holy Spirit, Dove Divine,

On these baptismal waters shine,

And teach our hearts, in highest strain

To praise the Lamb for sinners slain.

We love Thy name, we love Thy laws,

And joyfully embrace Thy cause;

We love Thy cross, the shame, the pain

Oh, Lamb of God, for sinners slain.

We plunge beneath Thy mystic flood,

Oh, plunge us in Thy cleansing blood;

We die to sin, and seek a grave

With Thee, beneath the yielding waves.

And as we rise, with Thee to live,

O, let the Holy Spirit give

The sealing unction from above,

The breath of life, the fire of love."

     As we reached the shore, Commodore Jones came forward and, giving me his, warm, earnest hand, expressed his extreme delight and gratitude for the privilege of attending that most solemn and interesting service of our denomination.  We then re-formed and returned, in the most perfect order, to our sanctuary, where the assembly was dismissed.

     I find, in my diary of that day, among other things, this entry:  "This has been a day of arduous work.  Sabbath-school in the morning, two regular services, two funerals, baptism, Lord's Supper and prayer-meeting; but O, how glorious the work!  How inspiring the results promised by Him whose work it is!"

Miscellaneous

     Confirmatory of what I have quoted from Dr. Hill, on the reluctance of desirable ministers to come to California, early in 1854 it was twice intimated from the H. M. board in New York, that I should visit the East, in the interest of securing ministers for this field.  In April I went, and spent about four months, under the direction of the H. M. board; traveling more than 5000 miles, visiting associations, conventions and the national anniversaries; my travels extending from Va. to Me., every where pressing the call for ministers to go to California.  Large numbers were willing to go, but they were not such as the Society was willing to send.  Some were willing to go provide a strong church in a pleasant town or city, and a good salary were guaranteed.

     The result of all my efforts was that I obtained one man, my own natural brother, to go, by paying from my own purse the entire expenses of himself and his wife and five children and a servant girl, from New York to Placerville, in California.

     But there was some success in the effort.  He remained and did yeoman service in Eldorado, Placer and Amador counties for ten years, teaching and preaching and organizing and building up churches.

     In one of his tours in the mountains, his horse fell and he was so injured that he was obliged to cease his labors, and ere long returned to the place of his birth and died in the arms of his early friends.

     The Postal Department of the Government had contracted with the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. to carry mails between New York and San Francisco, leaving each port on certain designated days of the month.  Capt. Knight, agent of the contracting company, came to me one night and said, "Our company have been trying for a long time to get the Postmaster General to allow us to dispatch the steamer, with the mails, on Saturday when the regular day would come on Sunday.  He utterly and persistently refuses to do so, although he allows it to be done in all other sea-ports whence mails are to be dispatched.  It is a terrible obstacle to all moral and religious progress.  I want you to preach a sermon on Sabbath Desecration, that I can have published and send to the heads of departments at Washington, to see if the change cannot be effected and we be allowed to keep the Sabbath like other Christian peoples."

     I complied with his request and preached the sermon; the captain had it printed in pamphlet form, and sent copies of it to those in authority in Washington; and the return mail brought the desired order, that when mailing day came on Sunday the mails should be dispatched on Saturday.  This was in 1851, and has since been the rule.

     And here is as copy of the sermon for your library.

     There was a time, in 1851, when lawlessness, especially incendiarism, burglary and assassination, seemed to threaten the overthrow of all the functions of legally constituted authority and the speedy destruction of the city of San Francisco.  A large representation of the most prominent citizens came to me and besought me to make an especial effort to stay the tide of death, and aid the authorities in saving the city from the impending evil.  It was arranged that I should prepare a discourse and deliver it to as many as could be induced to come, and hear it, and then the citizens would publish it as a pamphlet and give it as extensive circulation as possible.  All of this was done, and the result, as many expressions testified, was highly satisfactory.

     I preached from the text, Jonah 3:9: "Who can tell if God will turn and repent and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not."   And here is a copy of the sermon for your library.

Pastoral Vacations

     Were not then quite as formal and as long and as recreative as now; nevertheless, they were sometimes enjoyed.  I had one.  In the winter of 1849-50, being worn down with excessive labors, I went to San Jose for a few days' vacation.  I arrived about the middle of the day, Wednesday.  Before I had time to alight from the stage-coach, James H. DeVoe, editor of the evening paper, grasped my hand and exclaimed, "I am so glad to see you; I have to go to San Francisco this afternoon, and I want you to edit my paper while I am gone."   "But, my dear sir," said I, "you must excuse me.  I am really unable to work, and merely came down here for a few days of rest."  He was an early and warm friend of mine, and actually demanded that I should at least write his leader for his paper each day.  Was I fool enough to agree to do so?  I was, and did it.  On Friday a committee of the State Senate (the Legislature being then in session there) called upon me with a formal request that I would, on Sabbath morning, preach a sermon on the subject of Divorce, saying that a bill on the subject had just passed the Assembly and was now before the Senate.  They thought it objectionable and desired, if possible, to prevent its passage.  The request came on Friday at 8 p.m.  I had never heard or read a discourse of any kind on the subject; my library was fifty miles distant, and I knew of no available source of assistance.  I took until 9 a.m. of the next day to reply; and then said, "I will try."  During the day I tried, but failed, to find something on the subject in some of the small family libraries in town.  At 7:30 p.m. I took a sandwich, a mug of cold tea, pen, ink and paper, and went to my room.  Such was the confidence of the Senate Committee that they arranged for the printing of the discourse before it was written.  At midnight the printer called for the manuscript, supposing it was done.  I handed him the sheets that were written, and went on with my work, which I completed at 8:15 Sunday A.M.  At half-past ten I filled an appointment to dedicate a church; at half-past two p.m. delivered my sermon on Divorce.

     And here is a copy of it for your library.

     In the evening I presided at a meeting of the Pacific Tract Society, of which I was President, and delivered the address.  Monday morning I concluded I had vacation enough, and went home.

     About midsummer of 1851, immigrants, across the plains, were arriving in great numbers, and many of them in an appalling state of destitution.  The great rendezvous was at Sutter's Fort.  The cholera broke out then in most terrific and fatal fury.  There was no hospital, no alms-house, no organized charities, but the Free Masons and Odd Fellows, laying aside for the time being all distinctions and forms and ceremonies, joined like a band of united brothers in the relief of the sick and dying and the burial of the dead. 

     Before the scourge ceased, besides all their personal labor they had expended of their own means more than twenty-seven thousand dollars.  After a while this wonderful illustration of the fundamental principles of these Orders became the subject of general discussion.  The time for a meeting was set, and everybody invited to attend.  It was "St. John's Day."  Having been appointed to deliver the discourse, I selected as my theme "Human Charity."  The gathering of the people was immense, and the manifestations of pleasure in listening to it were phenomenal.  They published it in the daily papers and in pamphlet, and in the most popular magazine in Boston.

     And here is a copy for your society's library.

     At the dedication of the Baptist Church in San Jose, May 8, 1859, the San Francisco Baptist Association, holding its annual meeting at the same time and place, I had been appointed to write the circular letter of the Association, and also engaged to preach the dedication sermon.  I combined the two in a sermon, entitled "Our Ministerial Destitution and its Supply."

     And here is a copy for your library.

     In August of 1852 Hon. Edward Gilbert, one of the first representatives in Congress from this State, was killed in a duel at Sacramento.  He was universally esteemed, and hence his untimely death caused general consternation and excitement.

     I was called upon to address the public on the evils of the code.  I responded to the call in a sermon before an immense concourse of the friends and admirers of the noble departed statesman.  They demanded it for publication.

     And here is a copy of it for your library.

     The only man in our denomination with whom I was so unfortunate as to have a serious difficulty was Rev. Benjamin Brierly.  All the misunderstanding was caused by the tale-bearing and malicious misrepresentations of a few men who envied both of us, and determined, if possible, to make us destroy each other.  When the iniquity was exposed and the truth brought to light, there was voluntary and perfect mutual reconciliation, which was complete; and thenceforth, to the day of his death, our friendship was absolutely without alloy. He was pastor of the Nevada City church, and when his new church was ready to dedicate he insisted that I should preach the dedication sermon, though I was not a pastor, and there were several much nearer him.  A few months after that he became violently ill, and telegraphed me that he was about to die, and wished by all means to see me.  I hastened, but before my horse could be harnessed another message came saying he was dead; and his last request was that I should preach his funeral sermon.  To answer that request I drove to the place (seventy-five miles) in the mountains, and in his study, at his table, on his chair, with his pen, from his ink-stand, on his paper, I wrote the sermon, and on the 26th of July, 1863, preached it.  The church published it, but I give you the manuscript for your library.

Epitome

     Slow and toilsome and disappointing as has been the progress of our mission in California, there is yet a most cheering succession of achievements for our joy and our encouragement.  Let us enumerate a few of them:  You have, through your early missionaries---

     Organized the first church, the first Sunday-school, and occupied the chair of the two most important State organizations in the cause of temperance-the "Sons of Temperance" and the "Good Templars."  You have furnished the house for the first free school and the teacher of that school, and thus became the real parent of our noble system of public schools, which is without a superior.  You furnished the president of the Pacific Tract Society, and you organized the first Bible society on the Coast, and never have been behind in any of the great moral and missionary enterprises of the times.  Moreover, you have 165 churches, and 10,290 members and a full set of the approved organizations for doing the work of the Lord.    

     Allusion has been made to the

"Pacific Banner."

     It was, in fact, edited and published by your first missionary though there were nominal helpers-was the first Baptist paper published west of the Rocky Mountains.

     I wrote its editorials, stood at the press and received the sheets as they were printed, folded, enveloped, superscribed and mailed them, being often until two o'clock in the morning before the work was done, and then (in winter) a mile to walk home in the rain.  And when the volume was completed I found that it had cost me, beside all my labor and the receipts, more than $3,000 in gold.  I now ask you to accept it and preserve it in your archives.  It is full of the then passing events, now early history of Baptists in California.  By including it in this paper, I at least secure for my production the virtue of quantity.

Reflections

     To have been a bold, uncompromising preacher of righteousness on this coast, during the first decade of its occupancy by English-speaking people, was to meet every class of evil in every possible form.  To encounter, in overwhelming numbers, the veteran troops of the Prince of Darkness, clad in all the panoply of sin, and armed with every implement of moral death, from the sleek-haired devotee of chance, thinking to buy your silence with gold gotten at the game, to the bold blasphemer and loathsome debauchee, threatening to take your life or drive you from the public, by fear of contact with his infectious degradation; from the insidious propaganda of fatal heresies, and the bold champion of an open infidelity, down to the backsliding deacon, profaning the name of his God, and the apostate minister, covered with the slime of his black hypocrisy, and loathsome with the stenchful ichor of his ill-concealed drunkenness and debauchery, all combining with tale-bearers and busy-bodies, false friends and defamers, to stir up strife, to steal away his good name, to obliterate his influence, and reduce him to a level with their own degradation.  Of such trials, ask at my hand no effort at description.

     But there is another side of this picture.  Will you spend a moment tracing its outline?  To have been such a minister, during such time on this coast, is to have tested the truth, and the blessings of the gospel of peace, to

have realized that in the path of duty, even the "gates of hell cannot prevail against him."  To have inhaled the breath of heaven, all fragrant with the aroma of ambrosial fruit, while surrounded with the simoon of the second death, pregnant with the fumes of future woe, to have basked in the effulgence of a spiritual sunlight, while all around, the votaries of vice, and the victims of disobedience groped in a darkness that "might be felt," to have made a journey through the wilderness, escorted by a convoy of ministering spirits commissioned by Jehovah to see that not a hair of his head should be injured, while the multitude around him fall by the hand of the destroyer, at every step, to have passed the fiery ordeal, arranged by divine wisdom for the trial of his faith and reach the end of his journey, the haven of everlasting rest, the consummation he has so long and devoutly wished, and as he takes his last retrospect of time, and sees, through his instrumentality, society organized, and Sabbaths kept holy, schools established and Churches reared in the wilderness, to be enabled, as he wraps the mantle of death about his mortal frame; in the full assurance of hope to calmly say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Right Judge shall give me at the day": and then turning to the opening gates of Paradise, to be welcomed as one of

"Those in bright array,

That exulting, happy throng,

Round their altar night and day

Hymning one triumphant song

Worthy is the Lamb, once slain,

Blessing, honor, glory, power,

Wisdom, riches, to obtain,

New dominion every hour."

Submitted by Jim Brower jandbbro@worldnet.att.net