and liberally paid two hundred and fifty dollars a night for the hall and orchestra. Subsequently they removed to the Superior Court room, which, we have already seen, had been frequently used for similar purposes, and attracted large and respectable congregations. Rev. John Upson officiated as pastor of this society.

On the 28th of August, 1853, a second Congregational society was organized, and a house of worship, capable of seating three hundred persons, erected in Greenwich street, between Dupont and Stockton streets. Its pastor, Rev. W. C. Pond, was supported at the inception of the enterprise by the American Home Missionary Society.

There are more Methodist Episcopal churches in San Francisco than of any other denomination. Beside that of Mr. Taylor, there is one in Powell street, near Washington, Rev. M. C. Briggs, pastor; the Wesley Chapel, at the corner of Bush and Dupont streets, Rev, Dr. Boring, pastor; the New Jerusalem society, which meets in the Superior Court room every Sabbath morning, and which has no permanent pastor; and a church for the colored population on Stockton street, of which Rev. James Moore is pastor.

In Spring Valley, a chapel has been erected, in which every Sunday afternoon, various clergymen, of all denominations, preach to the people of the vicinity. The Jewish citizens, very generally, observe their peculiar rites at their synagogues. The French and Spaniards have services in their own languages at the Catholic churches. In July, 1853, efforts were commenced to erect a chapel for the Chinese residents of the city, and so popular was the enterprise, that at a single lecture on the 21st of that month upwards of $8000 were subscribed for the erection of the building. This was finally completed on the corner of Sacramento and Stockton streets at a cost of $18,000, and opened by dedication on the 4th of June, 1854. Rev. Wm. Speer is the pastor; Messrs. Jas. B. Roberts, David S. Turner and H. C. Beals, are the trustees. The building is neat and resembles churches generally, except that its walls are hung with tablets inscribed with Chinese hieroglyphics.

Such an array of churches and societies are surely evidences enough of the sincerity, zeal and success of the early spirit of +

moral reform.

It has also established numerous benevolent

institutions, and sought to excite sympathy and gratitude, by alleviating sorrow, softening the harsh blows of misfortune, and leading the erring by example and precept back to the road from which they had strayed, many of whom have shunned the chapel door, first through shame and then indifference. In all of these societies, the members of the various churches, as will be seen elsewhere, took prominent parts; but there are others yet, which are more particularly of a religious character. We have already spoken of the public-school effort, and of the good accomplished through it, and we may remark now, that it has been ably seconded by the establishment, in almost all the churches, of Sabbath-schools and Bible-classes, which are extremely well attended.

On October 30th, 1849, a meeting of citizens friendly to the formation of a "Bible Society," was held at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Powell street, at which Rev. T. Dwight Hunt presided, and Mr. Frederick Billings acted as secretary. Addresses were delivered by F. Buel, agent of the "American Bible Society," Messrs. F. Billings and W. W. Caldwell; and on motion of Mr. William R. Wadsworth, the "San Francisco Bible Society," auxiliary to the " American Bible Society," was organized, a constitution adopted, and the following officers chosen, whom we recognize as the early laborers on this field, and who, with characteristic real morality, frankly joined hands, irrespective of sect or denomination :-President :-John M. Findley; Vice Presidents :-Rev. Dr. Ver Mehr, Rev. Albert Williams, and Rev. Wm. Taylor; Treasurer:-W. W. Caldwell; Secretary :Frederick Buel.

Since its organization the society has been steadily engaged in its appropriate work of supplying the Scriptures to the citizens of the State, and has issued from its depository about ten thousand volumes, in the different languages spoken in the State and adjacent territories, the majority by sale and the remainder by donation to those unable to purchase. This institution has ably commended itself to the spirit of catholic Christianity, by the universal circulation of that book within which its doctrines are comprehended. Other societies for the same purpose, established

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in the interior, have materially aided this object. The depository of the society was destroyed by fire on the morning of the 26th of April, 1853, in place of which a new fire-proof brick building has been erected on a lot belonging to the society, No. 376 Stockton street, between Union and Green streets. The officers for 1854, are, President :-Hon. D. O. Shattuck; Vice Presidents: -Rev. B. Brierly, Rev. M. C. Briggs, and Rev. S. H. Willey; Secretary:-F. Buel; Treasurer :-E. P. Flint; Executive Committee:-Col. D. S. Turner, Major A. B. Eaton, Nathaniel Gray, George Wyckoff, and R. P. Spier.

On the 24th of February, 1850, "The Pacific Tract Society" was organized for alike creditable objects, as indicated by the name. Maj. A. B. Eaton is the President of this extensive organization; Hon. R. H. Waller, Col. D. S. Turner, and Hon. E. J. Willis of Sacramento, are the Vice Presidents; D. L. Ross is Treasurer; Rev. A. F. White and Willard Leonard are Secretaries; while the Board of Directors embraces almost every clergyman in the State and many distinguished men from its various cities. From its depository in Clay street it has already distributed a great many useful and moral productions.

Another society of later birth, dating from July, 12th 1853, but of fast rising importance, is the "Young Men's Christian Association," intended particularly to improve the moral and mental condition of the young men of the city. A well stocked library and a reading-room, in the second story of the post-office building, at the corner of Clay and Kearny streets, and occasional lectures by clergymen and others, to the society, to which both strangers and residents are alike welcome, furnish rational means of enjoyment to the youth of the place, and effectually remove them from the tempting scenes of frivolity and dissipation, here so numerous.

We have said enough, we hope, to prove that not all, nor nigh all the citizens of San Francisco are lost to every thing but reckless dissipation. No city of equal size-few of ten times its age -can present such a list of men and institutions, who have accomplished so much real good, with so little of cant and hypocrisy.

IMMEDIATELY after the excitement into which the town of San Francisco was thrown by the capture, trial, and expulsion of the notorious "Hounds," had in a measure subsided, some of the most prominent citizens, dreading a recurrence of like scenes, conceived the idea of organizing a permanent volunteer military company, to aid the legal officers in the maintenance of order and personal security. The proposal met a ready acquiescence, and in the early part of July, 1849, several preliminary meetings were held for that purpose in the "Institute," as the schoolhouse on the plaza was designated, and on the 27th of the month, forty-one gentlemen signed the following Preamble, organizing an artillery corps to be known as the "First California Guard."

"We, the undersigned, do hereby form ourselves into an association under the name and style of the First California Guard, and for the good govern

ment thereof, have adopted a Constitution and By-Laws, for the support of which we mutually pledge ourselves:

Of these the following officers were chosen :

Captain.-Henry M. Naglee.

Wm. H. Davis,

E. Mickle.
John Sime,

A. G. Abell,

Jas. Creighton,

First Lieutenants.-W. D. M. Howard, Myron Norton.
Second Lieutenants.—Hall McAllister, David T. Bagley.
Orderly Sergeant.-Richard H. Sinton.

Surgeon.-Samuel Russell Gerry, M. D.

At this time there was not a suitable room for an armory in the town, and the gentlemen who had organized the company, being all men of ample means, agreed to form a joint stock company (out of members of the guard only), whose income would be sufficient to defray all their military expenses and enable them to purchase a lot of land and erect a building with a hall adapted for drilling purposes. This scheme was soon carried into effect. The stock was divided into three hundred shares of one hundred dollars each, all of which were readily taken. A lot was purchased, situated on the north-east corner of Dupont and Jackson streets, and a two and a half story building, forty feet square. was erected in the course of the fall-the whole expense amounting to about $30,000. The company commenced occupying it in the latter part of 1849, and soon obtained arms and accoutrements sufficient for the drill, which was that of the infantry, though the company was organized as artillery. The Guard prospered, and received many new members. The 22d of February following was celebrated at their hall by the most recherché entertainment ever given in San Francisco, and on all similar subsequent occasions, public parades, etc., they have formed an essential and imposing portion of the body politic.