Alameda County, Oakland, California
Methodist Episcopal Church (South)
In the month of March, 1881, Bishop H. H. Kavanaugh appointed Rev. W. H. Layson to visit Oakland to spy out the land, and found that there never had been any organization of this church in that city, although there were a few whilom members there resident, but so little was the interest taken in the matter that it was not thought even advisable to rent a hall wherein to make a trial. Mr. Layson, however, was not to be thus easily deterred, he therefore personally secured Camron Hall, commenced services and soon secured a regular attendance of about one hundred persons. Eleven names were enrolled, and soon followed this lead. The hall of the Odd Fellows, at the corner of Eleventh and Franklin Streets, was permanently secured and in it services were regularly held, and the congregations grew numerically and substantially. Within six months the membership approximated to sixty persons, there being nine on the baptismal-roll. Monthly socials were inaugurated with about ninety in attendance, there was a full and efficient choir, while the ladies had a useful and energetic sewing union. A Sunday-school, to meet before service, was organized with a membership of about fifty, while the attendance had increased from one hundred to three hundred persons. In the latter part of December, 1881, Mr. Layson retired from the church and was succeeded by Rev. J. C. Simmons.
Alameda County, California,
Including Its
Geology, Topography, Soil and Productions
Oakland.: M.W. Wood Publisher, 1883
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, November, 2007 Page 732
Archive Church Records ~ Archive Index
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