Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 80

HIS is the month that marks the Centennial anniversary of Oakland's First Methodist Church on Broadway at 24th and Web- talk I told the students that we had come on another day, and that it was not Napoleon, the elder "William (of Germany) or Diaz, whom-we should honor, but Pasteur, and Lincoln, and Justice Holmes. As I said this I looked up at the wall where there was hung a large portrait of General Bidwell, and I was moved to say, "Male a hero of that man who blazed the Vail to California, then labored to make it a place of wealth, and beauty for your service and mine and for the thousands like us whV today dwell here in happiness." When Judge Shields reached the age of 99, still spr and, alert and deeply concerned with important national and international problems of the day, he shrugged off with the determination of a real pioneer, the nagging re- minders of nearly a century of lif ejta his annual letter to the people of Sacramento he said: 'We are threatened with a war the consequences of which no one can foretell. But with his invincible optimism he concluded, 'I have great faith, in the ability of our government and firmly be-lieve that through the justice of our cause a way Will be found for One of the most splendid letters I received from any man came from this great Californian in 1955. In a concluding tribute to Judge Shields I am happy to quote: 'As you and I recall the West of Buffalo Bill and the California of our childhood and youth, and feel the grip of those youthful memories, we felt that was the mold in which we were cast, the condition which formed our tastes, our ideals, our sympathies and our satisfaction. We helped to make the New World, but it is the heritage of our children.

God was wise when he limited the span of our lives so that we do not have. to. live in a world which has outgrown our emotional preparation. ii i XtwniinnfeMi at 14th and Clay Sts. from 1 876 to 1 91 4 when a new church was built on Broadway i i This, was Oakland's First Methodist Church Hughes made the dedication sermon at -the church 50 years ago.

On Sunday, Oct 28, Bishop Donald Harvey Tippett of the Northern California-Nevada Conference, will address the celebrants. In fact, every Sunday of the month will feature a Centennial event of some nature at the church 6ermons, musical programsdinners, Homecoming banquet, the Glenn Shields Daun organ recital, special programing of the Chancel choir, and again, the colored slide lecture by Historian Norman. Going Home i HE KNAVE: During these first two weeks of October I'll-be revisiting scenes of my boyhood 57 years ago in southeastern Indiana's Dearborn County. The trip "home" is being made by Western Pacific's Vista Dome train via Chicago and by the New York Central to Cincinnati, Ohio. Dearborn County is just across the state line in Indiana.

Lawrence-burg, nestled on the banks of the Ohio River, is the county seat Next to old Vin; cennes it is the oldest settlement in the state. Colonists direct from England settled there around 1800. They were largely Methodist people, their descendants being neighbors of mine inifteryearsTrAmong-them were the Eubanks, Liddels, Wardsr Dowdens, Dawsons, Nowlins, Hargitts. Lazenbys, Harpers, Bundys, Sawdons and the Blasdells. All were sturdy, industrious and neighborly.

From here, years later, came Henry G. Blasdell who arrived in California during the gold rush. He later settled in Virginia City, owning and operating a mill there, This faithful Methodist refused" torun hisTnTHnoirSun-- days, and some mine-owners refused to patronize him. They soon learned that a iiilP rn 1 ster Streets. It will be a gala month for the Methodists with festive programs every week in October, but climaxed by an anniversary sermon on Sun-Say, Oct 21, by the Rev.

Charles E. Lord, present pastor. It was exactly 100 years jago Oct 21, 1862) that the Rev. Charles gathered 14 ambitious and prayer-itul Methodists into a single band and set up. the First Methodist Church in Oak- land; There had been previous attempts toward a Methodist organization here by several Methodist circuit riders, but none tyere successful until the Reverend Rich arrived on the scene.

These first Meth odist churchgoers held their initial services in the old Carpentier schoolhouse, a building they eventually purchased and had -moved to a lot at Washington and Sixth Streets. Once the building was on solid foundation there they remodeled it into; a church and sanctuary for worship. Aj soon as he had the church Rich turned his attention to a Sunday School There was no room for activity in the little one-room school-bouse turned church, so he began classes ijf a hotel on Broadway operated by a Mr. Rullen. It is this heritage that Oakland Methodists now salute with a humble feeling of tremendous debt to the pioneers a century ago.

There were numerous Methodists who preceded the Reverend Rich here. Some of the earliest preaching by attestant minister was that of the Rev. William Taylor, who later became a famed Methodist bishop. Reverend Taylor was in Oakland In 1849 preaching undetthe red- wood trees in the hills back of San An fonio, where Park and Mouiitain Boulevards now meet The Rev. W.

S. Urmy preached in the San Antonio schoolhouse oh 10th Avenue as early as 1856. In 1861 Methodist Conference sent the Anthony and the Rev. J. B.

Wickes fo.lht Alameda circuit and they preached tonumerous occasions in the old Alameda County Agricultural Society Pavilion on Broadway at i Fourth Street, where the County Courthouse and Hall of Records recently stood. irR. LORD'S Centennial sermon on YJ Sunday, Oct 21, will ha Mowed that same evening by an illustrated talk presented by Albert E. Norman on lEarly History of the First Methodist Church in Oakland." Realtor Norman is the church's official historian, but his Qct 21 lecture will be his first as an author. Although now recuperating from surgery, Norman managed to send manuscript on the history of Oakland's First Methodist Church to the printer for publication in book form.

Present reports say it will be ready fof distribution by the Oct 21 anniversary date. A special guest and reunion speaker at the Norman lecture will be the Rev. William Poole who was an early day as- sistant pastor at the church. "Those who remember Reverend Poole should also remember to bring along a dictionary ixuiuiau wuus. xuc iNuriuau History will Include numerous Oakland photographs in addition to church pictures--Ifc-might well be a bit of Oaklandia that should rest on the shelves of home libraries through out Oakland.

We can but skim the church historv herftN and rpralt that thp littlo band of 14 who worshipped in that first schoolhouse-church expanded rapidly; By itH54 tne scnooihouse edifice was out-l grown, and the Methodists constructed a bigger House of Worship on Washington -Street at Ninth Streetllere4he-sanctuary held 350 persons. It cost $6,000 a con-J sideraWe sum of 1864. But expansion fol-X lowed expansion. In 1874 the Ninth and I Washington Street lot was traded for a larger parcel of ground at 14th and Clay Streets. There a $40,000 edifice was i erected and dedicated on May 21, 1876.

Here-theJaethodists attended i services for 38 years. Their next move was to the present church on Broadway aj 24th and Webster Streets. iriORNERSTONE of the present First yjMethodist Church was laid in 1912 just 50 years ago. Thus IhTCenten-j. rtwl anniversary doubles as a Golden an-: m'versary for the present church.

The semi-Gothic style building was con-" structed in the shape of a cross (modeled after St Paul's in London) and was dedicated Jan. 18, 1914. It was free of debt from the start, but- the celebrants who attended the dedication rites contributed $11,000 in a free will offering, sum distributed to smaller Methodist churches throughout Oakland. First Methodist Church houses the Leisz Memorial Chimes," a 2note Carillon unit installed-' in May of 1940 as a gift from' the Leisz family in memory of George W. Leisz Sr.

During the recent pastorate of Dr. George Warmer a Children's Educational unit was completed at the church and includes a play yard. A nursery was added in 1952. Norman also tells us that a parcel of land with 80-foot frontage on 3roadway was purchased as recently as 1959 with i church trustees eyeing a great future for. this downtown church, Bishop Edward 1 1 1 A honored.

He was recognized as the real founder of the College of Agriculture of -the University of California at Davis, now the seat 6f one campus of the great State University. This is not the time to review his long and influential career. But it is fitting to draw attention to his supreme loyalty to his native California, and I cannot refrain from making mention of his patriotic sentiment and splendid cooperative spirit in presenting and preserving our history. One or two of his letters to me were masterpieces. Some of the finest I have ever received from any man.

I quote from a 1956 letter: 'California in my childhood days was one of the most beautiful places in the world. Its streams ran clear. There was no pollution of the waters. Fish were abundant and wild life filled the woods and wild flowers the MUCH earlier, in 1924, when Judge Shields learned that Dr. Hunt had undertaken a major task in the writing of California history he wrote him with his-own hand a friendly letter still cherished.

"I wish to quote says Dr. Hunt 'If I can help you in your work, even in the smallest way, I will gladly do it. I think that the tribute of history, its written word, is the just due of those who helped to make it. If I can help to rescue some of the lesser of these from the forgetfulness into which their modesty prompted them to try to retire, it will give me In another letter that same year he wrote: 4A good many years ago I delivered jthe Com-encmentddrSsohegraduating class of Chico State College. Mrs.

Bidwell was. in the audience. In the course of my By MiKe ParRs stage driver -The rst -elevator in Oakland Sonoma COUNTY intheHOMEof (1 1 man.who,would rather lose trade than break his principles was a man they could trust. They returned their business to him. Later the people of Nevada twice elected him governor.

My old neighbors who settled Dearborn County also established a male and female college, one of the first to enroll both bpys and girls. That was more than 100 years ago. It was known as Moores Hill College, later to be moved to Evansville, and there called. Evansville College. I graduated at Moores Hill in 1905 and then went to Boston University.

Eight members of my Moores Hill class are still living and we hope to have a reunion on the old campus. John W. Winkley Judge Shields DEATH of Judge Peter J. Shields in Sacramentp recently brings the following message of deep reverence from Dr. Rockwell D.

Hunt. "When I learned that death had claimed this truly great California, man I was impelled to pause in a moment of silence. He was a life-long citizen of Sacramento County who had lived beyond the full century mark, and as I paused in silence I was filled with sentiment of profound grati- -tude for sueh-a lifeand for the rare priv ilege of calling him my friend. Only last August I had been in Stockton on the unique occasion of the 100th anniversary of anotherfriend of more than national -eminence Amos Alonzo Stagg. He was just a few months younger than Judge Shields and, though in feeble condition, he is still with us.

Peter J. Shields was born April 1, 1862. For almost half a century he emds aHSuperior-ourt-judgeof Sac--' ramento County before retiring in 1949. He was universally respected and highly following service as MEXICAN WAR RESIGNED Wells fargo FROM THE ARMY TO BECOME A SETTLER OU A SONOMA WITH WHOM IT AN Buried Treasure FROM Berkeley comes the fascinating paperback book of fact, folklore and fantasy concerning sites of hidden wealth written and edited by R. A.

Pierce. AH is succinctly and accurately described along with a map for the guidance of treasure seekers. Pierce first published his work in 1961 and says this is his fourth printing; greatly revised and enlarged. There are scores of yarns, but we'll look at something close at hand. "In 1893," Pierce relates, "there was a flurry of digging on Adams Point that juts out into what is now Lake Merritt in Oakland.

Those swinging picks and wielding shovels were after loot supposed to have been buried there by two bandits, one of whom then killed partner, concealing the body in a brick kiln. The surviving bandit was later sent to San -Quentin where he died, first imparting the story to a minister and handing the man of cloth a crude map. What was probably a variant of the same tale appeared two years later-when there was digging around an oak tree at Second Avenue and East 11th Street for a box of gold worth $80,000, said to be the loot of a robber then in San Quentin." Pierce quickly points out that the figure $80,000 seems to be favored treasure, tales, evidently being 'large enough to seem interesting but not so large as to be fantastic. "TTIERCE points out that the stories" he J-'has collected have either a factual base or have acquired a certain substance by being believed. I'Where possible," he says, "the romantic, fanciful or supernatural have been cleared away and replaced by facts.

There is romance enough in what actually happened." Here's Buena Island, -throughhoseunheU4housandsof-mo-torists pass daily en route across San Francisco Bay or to the Naval base on adjoining Treasure Island, suppose'dly has two treasures." When the Mexican government secularized the- California missions, padres at San Francisco's Mission Dolores are said to have packed air into chests in greatthaste and then put them, aboard a sioop for shipment to A squall struck and piled me vessel on the north shore of Yerba Buena where the treasure was buried for safekeeping and supposedly has remained to this day. Another hord is supposed to4 have been deposited on the island by the skipper of an American whaler, who put in at Calao, Peru, en route to the North Pacific, but found a revolution in progress so he took certain valuables for wealthy patrons on board his shin for safplrppn- ing. The revolution continued and the captain finally sailed away, intending to stop again on his way, back. At San Francisco, aided by two crewmen, he deposited the treasure on one of the islands in the Bay until his return from Arctic whaling grounds. One of the crewmen, Charles Stewart, native of the West Indies, jumped ship and remained in the Bay Area." The whaling ship was never heard of again, and Stewart never revealed the exact hiding place, maintaining that as, a man of honor he could not be expected 10 violate ms oatn of secrecy There are pages of tnese exciting tales.

The book is moderately priced 'and, we presume. can be found on the shelves of most book dealers. THE KNAVE -CiMF-ORIH CAVfiLCMl 7 i 'FlGHTINS'JOE" hooket? A CAPTAIN IN THE WAS CONSIDERED HONOR TO RIDE WAS THE SUBJECT OF SUCH WRITERS AS MARK TWAIN Horace Greelev and his county ranch. Recalled to duty in the Civil wat? the Sonoma ranch- torian H.H. BANCROFT.

HE WAS CALLED VlNS OF THE WHIPS "UNTIL HE ABDICATED to Uohn Barleycorn. "er becametvbeneral COMMANDING THE THE Doctor Samuel METRrm C1TVS HUGE BACHELOR MAYOR WHO TIPPED THE. SCALES AT 340PQVNDS AND DCD NOTtdKE TO CUMB STAIRS.