quently died in 1852, the only clergyman who has ever deceased in this city. This society has lately increased in size, and ranks among the most prominent in the city. Its building is adjacent to the Second Baptist Church, in Pine street, between Montgomery and Kearny streets. Rev. Dr. Wyatt is the present pastor.

The next of the early religious pioneers, whose zealous labors have raised this city to the rank of a Christian community, was the Rev. Dr. Ver Mehr, the first missionary sent by the Protestant Episcopal Church to California. This gentleman arrived in San Francisco in September, 1849, and preached his first sermon in the American Hotel, now the State Marine Hospital, on Stockton street. During three months he officiated in Mr. Frank Ward's, afterwards Mr. George Plume's residence, at the corner of Greene and Stockton streets. Meanwhile, a subscription list had been filled to the amount of more than six thousand dollars for the erection of a chapel. A fifty-vara lot, for one year rent free, was given by Mr. James C. Ward, on which Grace Chapel was opened, Sunday, December 30th, 1849 (a very plain building, costing, however, eight thousand dollars), at the corner of Powell and John streets, which has since been converted into the private residence of Mr. H. B. Truett.

In April, 1850, at a meeting of the congregation presided over by Mr. W. Burgoyne, "Grace Parish" was regularly orga nized, Col. E. Bryant and Col. D. E. Turner being appointed first wardens. The missionary, Rev. Dr. Ver Mehr, was called to the rectorship. Towards the end of the same year, the congregation became too crowded, and it was contemplated to build a larger church. The whole fifty-vara lot was purchased, and a contract made with Mr. G. L. Murdock to erect a substantial building, which was progressing, when the fire of May, 1851, arrested further subscriptions. The church, however, was nearly completed, when the June fire swept away the whole neighborhood; and it was only saved with great difficulty and unusual exertions. Finally, July 19th, 1851, it was opened to a crowded congregation. To pay part of its indebtedness, a sacred concert was given in February, 1852, by the Sänger-bund; and a second one in the same year, by the talented Signora Elisa Biscaccianti,

who, in December, sang for the same object, the Stabat Mater of Rossini, which was the first oratorio ever performed in San Francisco. The debt was further discharged in 1853, by the sale of the remainder of the fifty-vara lot, not occupied by the church and parsonage. Dr. Ver Mehr, having established a female seminary at Sonoma, found it necessary, in February, 1854, to resign the principal charge of the church to the Right Rev. Bishop Kip, remaining himself as an assistant. A third Episcopal Church (Christ's Church) now worships in a room over the post-office, under guidance of Rev. John Morgan, rector.

The summer of 1849 had brought still others, who were no less ardent in their endeavors to reform the city. Among them were the Rev. J. A. Benton, Congregationalist, who located at Sacramento; and the Rev. William Taylor, Methodist, whose untiring exertions in behalf of the religious cause have accomplished much of the good that has been done. This gentleman is pastor of the "Seamen's Bethel," a Methodist Episcopal Church; but in addition to his labors there, he preaches regularly every Sabbath afternoon to large congregations that assemble in Portsmouth Square. These latter meetings are universally conducted with the utmost propriety, and their results have been exceedingly beneficial. Probably no man in modern times has followed up the practice of out-door preaching so successfully and to so great advantage, as Mr. Taylor, whose unremitting zeal and religious deportment have gained for him the esteem and admiration of the entire San Francisco community.

Early in 1850, a society of Unitarians held divine services every Sunday in Robinson & Evrard's Dramatic Museum, in California street; and on July 17th, 1853, the same denomination opened a very handsome church on Stockton street, between Clay and Sacramento streets, of which Rev. Dr. F. T. Gray was pastor, for about one year, when he removed to the Eastern States. At the dedication of this church, five ministers of three different denominations sat in the pulpit. How much better would it be if divines elsewhere should imitate the truly religious spirit that actuates ministers here in their practice and preaching of the gospel! Their freedom from sectarian rancor has contributed as much as any thing to their wonderful success. People

are more disposed to listen where they can hear something besides abuse of contrary beliefs.

The southern part of the city, in the beginning of 1850, attracted the attention of many Christian people as a field demanding religious effort. Along the beach, from the intersection of Market and First streets to the Rincon, numerous families were residing in temporary houses and tents. Many people were employed in this section of the city in various branches of business, and throughout the neighborhood there was a large number of children. Of the older population few went to any place of divine worship on the Sabbath, while the greater number, both old and young, passed the day in frivolous employments at

home, or in riding, walking, or hunting game among the hills. These facts, and the prospective growth of this portion of San Francisco, seemed to establish the necessity of erecting a church in the vicinity; and, accordingly, after several preliminary meetings, the "Howard Street Presbyterian Church" was organized on the 15th of September, with six members; and a temporary place for worship and Sabbath-school secured. Subsequently a lot was presented to the congregation by Mr. Wm. D. M. Howard, and a building capable of seating four hundred persons commenced in February, 1851; and dedicated on Sunday, June

15th, following. Its board of trustees consisted of Major A. B. Eaton, Henry Haight, Wm. H. Dow, Capt. W. A. Cheever,

D. N. Nawley and J. S. Bacon. Its pastor was Rev. S. H. +

Willey, who had left Monterey, where we have already noticed his arrival as being that of the second Protestant minister in the State.

These were the earliest efforts made in San Francisco for the extension of a purer and holier philosophy over the riot rampant spirit that had so firmly seized upon the place. Now the city is full of societies, though as yet but few permanent structures have been erected. Still, it is a matter of gratulation that so much has been accomplished, and the self-sacrificing efforts of the clergymen who immigrated here cannot be too highly estimated. On the 9th of June, 1851 (the festival of the Pentecost), Rev. John Maginnis, curate of the diocese of Monterey, founded a Catholic church, and held divine service every Sunday for three months, in a house rented for the purpose, at the corner of Third and Jesse streets; and on the first Sunday in September, the building, known as St. Patrick's Church, in Happy Valley, fronting on Market street, between Second and Third streets, was opened for worship. The congregation has increased so rapidly that a new building is already designed. Attached to it is a flourishing school and orphan asylum, under the charge of five Sisters of Charity (superintended by Sister Frances Assisium McEnnis), a branch of the house of St. Joseph, near Emmetsburg, Md. There are two other Catholic churches in the city; one in Vallejo street, between Dupont and Stockton streets, in which services are conducted by the Rt. Rev. Archbishop Joseph Allemany and Father Liberea, vicar-general; } and one at the Mission de Dolores, of which Rev. E. O'Connell is pastor. All of these are largely attended. Services are held in English, French and Spanish. Before long they will have erected large and magnificent churches, which are already projected, of one of which, "St. Mary's," corner of Dupont and California streets, we give a representation. It will be principally constructed of brick, but will have a rough stone foundation, and mouldings of cut stone. The interior will be columned and arched, and the different parts of the edifice finished in the Gothic style of the

sixteenth century. The dimensions of the building are seventyfive by one hundred and thirty feet. It will have a spire two hundred feet in height. Altogether this building will be one of the architectural beauties of San Francisco.

Towards the close of 1853, the Universalists, comprising a large body of intelligent and respectable citizens, met and established a society, which, regularly every Sabbath evening, held meetings for divine worship in Meiggs' Concert Hall, on Bush street. They employed the Pacific Music Troupe as their choir,