Alameda County, Oakland, California
German Methodist Episcopal Church
From about the year 1868 to 1872 the preachers of the German Methodist Episcopal Churches of San Francisco felt it their duty to come over to Oakland on Sabbath afternoons, in order to preach the gospel to the German inhabitants of this city. In the year 1882 the Rev. Hermann Brueck was sent here by the authorities of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Oakland and vicinity was taken up as a regular mission field. Mr. Brueck commenced holding meetings in the Congregational Chapel on Second Street between Broadway and Washington Street, where a few members were gathered, and a Sunday-school instituted, which was attended by about twenty-five children. This place being rather on one side, and out of the way for many of the congregation, the hall of the Knights of Pythias was rented for a short time and there the congregations were better, and the Sunday-school rose to the number of about forty-five children. At the annual Conference of 1874, Rev. H. Brueck was removed to another field of labor and Rev. Frederick Bonn took charge of the church at Oakland. During his term of service, the First Methodist Episcopal Church at the corner of Ninth and Washington Streets concluded to sell their house of worship, in order to build a new church at the corner of Fourteenth and Clay Streets, and offered it to the Germans for five hundred dollars, reserving the seats. A Board of Trustees, consisting of Messrs. August Kaese, Christian Rode, Philipp Fuchs, I. Rouse, and Charles Ska was formed according to the discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the law of this State, and that church edifice was bought. A lot on Seventeenth Street, near San Pablo Avenue, was bought for the sum of $3,500, and the church was moved to that place.
The expenses for moving, repairing, and putting in new seats, amounted to $2,000.
A parsonage was afterwards secured, moved to one side of the church and repaired, which added another $1,200; the whole costing now $7,200. Of this amount the sum of $2,200 was raised among themselves, and $5,000 secured by mortgage. At the annual Conference of 1876, Rev. H. Brueck was sent back again for one year. Then the Rev. C. H. Afflerbach took his place. During his a dministration $2,000 were raised among the members and paid on the mortgage, so that at this time there is a debt of $3,200 resting on the church property. ^^
A Pastor's Aid Society consisting of the ladies of the church and outside friends was formed, which still meets once a month for mutual spiritual edification, and for contributing money for helping poor members and for other purposes.
Rev. R. Steinbach followed the Rev. C. H. Afflerbach at the annual Conference of 1880, and remained in charge until September, 1882, when the present incumbent, Rev. C. A. E. Hertel was appointed to the charge. The number of members now is twenty-nine; probationers, four. The benevolences of the church are considerable. The average attendance of hearers on Sunday morning is fifty-five. The Sunday, school has an efficient corps of teachers under the superintendency of Mr. Ph. Fuchs. The church, according to Methodist usage holds to total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks. It is growing in influence and numbers. The church is located on Seventeenth Street, near San Pablo Avenue.
Alameda County, California,
Including Its
Geology, Topography, Soil and Productions
Oakland.: M.W. Wood Publisher, 1883
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, November, 2007 Pages 731-732
Archive Church Records ~ Archive Index
This Web page is sponsored on behalf of the California portion of The USGenWeb Project by Richard S. Wilson. Although believed to be correct as presented, if you note any corrections, changes, additions, or find that any links provided on this page are not functioning properly please contact the Archive Coordinator for prompt attention to the matter.