The Stockton Herald of March 1st has an account of an address by Rev. O. C. Wheeler before the Sunday school of the First Baptist Church, Stockton, in which he gives an account of the first Sunday school organized in California, -- excepting the Catholic mission schools. The school referred to is of course that of the First Baptist church, San Francisco.
Mr. Wheeler stated that "just twenty years ago," he and his wife landed in San Francisco, he being the first Baptist minister in California. They at once set about the work of organizing a Sunday school, procuring a room in a private house and the promise of several scholars. When Sunday came, Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler were on hand at the appointed hour to inaugurate their new enterprise; but in the meantime, "an enemy" had been "sowing tares," telling the people that the house in which the school was to be held was not a proper place for their children to go, and only one little boy came. Here was quite a significant incident - two teachers and only one scholar to begin a Sunday school. However, the school was regularly opened, conducted as nearly as possible in the usual way, and closed. The little boy's name was Johnny, then the only son of Col. John W. Geary, the present Governor of Pennsylvania. The second Sunday came around, and no one came to Sunday school but the two teachers and little Johnny. The third Sunday came, and the school comprised only the two teachers and little Johnny. By this time, the owner suggested to Mr. Wheeler that he had better give up that business, as it evidently a failure. Mr. Wheeler informed him that if it was not desirable that the house should be longer used for that purpose, another place could be procured; but as for giving up the Sunday school, that was not at all contemplated. The owner replied, that they were welcome to the house as long as they wanted it. The fourth Sunday came, and the school met - with only the two teachers and little Johnny in attendance. But on the fifth Sunday, there were half a dozen scholars, and the school kept on increasing until, within a short time, three rooms in the house were filled.