History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 109

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co.
Number of Pages: 814

USA > Michigan > St Clair County > History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.. > Part 109

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The church lost its watchfulness over this precious flock during the following years when preaching was suspended. The fruits of this revival were gathered into the church, but by its sub- sequent neglect some of these young converts have wandered far from God, an inevitable result when a church suspends its watebfulness.

The pastorate of Mr. Wastell closed in the spring of 1870, and in June of that year Rev. II. B. Dean was called with the promise of a salary of $1,000, including a donation. The meeting lionse was again repaired, and it was resolved that " the church looks very much better than before it was renovated," and a general vote of thanks was moved and carried. Mr. Dean's pastorate lasted a year and three months. It was a year of stir and activity, but along with those came troubles. The amount raised for parish expenses was greater than any other year, reaching $1,600, benevolent contributions were $100. Mr. Dean began his ministry under more favorable circumstances than any other minister, but an unfortunate division arose in the church over the character of the pastor, and the bright prospects were not realized. Several dismissions from the church are recorded, but no admissions except that of Mr. Dean. He terminated his work in September, 1871, leaving the church with a membership of 116, and the Sunday school of 145.

A period of three months was then bridged over by reading services, and in December the pulpit was filled again by Rev. George F. Waters, a theological student from Oberlin. The records for

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

1872 show a serious falling off in membership caused by removals, which reduced the church to sixty-eight members, and the Sunday school to ninety. Mr. Waters spont three months with the church, and did vigorous work which greatly blessed it, but returned to his studies at Oberlin after his vacation had expired. He was here during December, January and February, 1871 and 1872. The following in regard to the Baptist Church appears :

" October 13. 1872 .- The Baptist congregation and their minister Rev. Mr. Deland, will hold their services in our church on Sunday evenings until further notice."

This brotherly aet shows the spirit which the Congregational Church has entertained toward the other churches in the place.

Now follows a period of a year and eight months from March, 1872. to November, 1873, in which there was no regular preaching. Calls were extended to Rev. G. F. Waters and Rey. J. F. Ellis, but were not accepted. Letters of dismission decreased the membership to fifty-eight. It was a period of retrograde. But in November of 1873, the wheels began to move again, and Rev. John V'an Antwerp became pastor of the church. He remained one year. His pastorate was one of faithful work. No additions are reported, but letters of dismission were frequently granted, and at the end of the year the membership stood fifty-five, while the Sunday School numbered sixty. The five years between September, 1871, and 1876, were the darkest since the old pioneer days. No benevolent contributions were taken. The membership dwindled to fifty-three. The flock was scattered while the fold was empty. Some wandered on the mountains and have never yet returned to fellowship with their spiritual mother. Some grazed in other pastures, wisely deciding not to starve even though their own table was empty. All these days neither sun nor stars appeared, and voices were heard asking whether it were not better to give up the ship. The old pioneer spirit, however, came to the rescue ; the honorable and sacred church of nearly a century was not to per- ish ; the Lord whom they sought suddenly came to His temple. After persistent and noble efforts on the part of several, and after one severe disappointment in not securing a pastor. the present pastor was called, and in September. 1876, church work under his ministration regularly began. During the two years between September, 1876, and the present month, the membership of the church has in- creased from fifty-three to seventy-nine. Thirty-seven have been received. eighteen by letter, and nineteen by profession of their faith. A number have been dismissed by letter. The constitution and by-laws of the church have been remodeled. The society has resumed its regular and dis- tinetive work as a secular body. In the fall of 1876. the meeting house was again repaired and repainted. and the choir seats changed from the rear to the pulpit end of the house. Quarterly contributions for benevolent objects are regularly taken ; the contributions for 1877 being in all over $100, and for 1878 they promise to be the largest ever made by the church in one year. The Ladies' Aid Society is thoroughly organized and doing efficient service in the church. The Ladies' Auxiliary Missionary Society raised over $30 last year and hopes to double it during the present year. The pastor's salary has been paid monthly and for the most part promptly. Looking back over the long and checkered years, we see that the hand of God has been over this people. A few of my hearers to-day have trod the whole journey and can remember the first beginnings. Their hair has gathered whiteness during the long journeying, and their eyes dumess, and the hand has learned to tremble, but they can testify that God has blessed this church, and they can testify to the sacrifices which its members have made all along the way, and they can rejoice as the most of us cannot. over the present favorable prospects in which the smile of heaven again rests upon this Zion.

This historieal sketch will not be complete without some mention of prominent workers in the church who have died or moved away. Of those now living here, Mr. and Mrs. S. F. Hopkins and Mrs. Deborah Palmer were present at its organization, and Deacon Cady soon after its organization. Among those who are dead or removed the following are worthy of special mention : John John- son, Sr., Elisha Smith. Dr. Justin Rice, Andrew Blakie, Reuben Moore. Benjamin Bissell, A. North- way. Everett Beardsley. Gen. D. Northrup. Harmon Chamberlin. George Pahner. JJolin Doan.

Reuben Moore united with the church in March, 1850, and from then till the day of his death he gave himself. heart, hand and pocket-book, to the work of the Lord. He was the statl'on which the pastor might always lean. When the plan of rotary Deaconship was adopted, he was elected one of the two Deacons and was always unanimously re-elected Deacon of the church until the time of his death. His deeds of liberality and love are too many to mention, but they were continually blessing the church, and the cause of the Lord he delighted to serve, and both he and his faithful wife will always be held in loving remembrance by those who know the history of this church.

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

Andrew Blakie joined in 1851, by letter, from the Scotch Presbyterian Church in Detroit. He also put his broad Scotch shoulder to the wheel and made himself a power for good. A letter from him to the society, urging them to keep good faith with the pastor in regard to paying his salary, has such a hearty, genuine ring that I would be glad to quote it in full, but lack of time forbids. He became a Deacon in 1852, and was often re-elected to that office.

Dr. Justin Rice and his wife were received in 1846; but, after one year's most valuable service as a pillar of the church, Dr. Rice was removed by death.

Elisha Smith was one of the three Deacons who in 1841 were elected in the newly organized Congregational Church. His name appears often in the records, in committees and among the workers in the front rank. Ile was called from his work by death in 1847, and "received the promise."

Gen. D. Northup united in 1845, was prominent in church work and a great help in the choir. In 1850, both he and his wife requested and received letters of dismission.

The name of George Palmer appears among the Trustees of the Tabernacle Society at its organization in 1835. He was one of the financial committee during the building period, between 1835-40, and one of the six Trustees of the Congregational Society at the time of its organization in 1841. He died in August, 1859. Another prominent member for a short time was Deacon S. S. Barnard, who united in 1838 and was elected Elder, and in 1841 helped to organize the church in Algonae. Afterward he removed to Detroit and was for years a stanch pillar of the first church in Detroit, both spiritually and financially. He lives in St. Clair in feeble health, but sound in mind and in spirit as in his working days. The others we cannot now mention par- ticularly. Some who are still members of the church have done faithful service for many years, but their work is not yet done and we cannot speak of them here.

A large percentage of those who have formed the body of this church during its history are from New England. Out of a package of letters of dismission from other churches to the Con- gregational Church of St. Clair, nearly one-halt are from the Eastern States. It is remarkable that all of the former pastors of this church are yet living, and all but one are in the State of Michigan. (The whereabouts of Rev. IT. H. Morgan are not known to me.)

Is not this a history that should inspire courage and hope and respect for the church among all who value the cause of Christ and appreciate the influence of a church? The two great sins of the past have been allowing personal dissensions to continue in the church and that long sus- pension between 1871-76, but "let him that is without sin among you east the first stone."

Amid discouragements and differences and financial weakness and indiscretions in the pulpit and out of it, amid reverses and removals and business depression in the town, amid skepticism and indifference without and financial straits within, through the long famine of 1837, through obstacles that would have crushed any church not having a tenacious faith, this venerable church has held together. She has struggled through them all. For forty-six years she has held up the toreh of religion in this town, maintained regular preaching and won a reputation for generosity. With all the faults of the past she has a noble history. By much the oktest church in St. Clair, and the oklest in St. Clair County, her very age is honorable."

The corner-stone of the present Congregational Church of St. Clair was laid with appropriate form, September 3, 1879. The building is of red brick with stone facings, modern Gothic, with a clock tower sixty-six feet high, at the southwest corner. The length of the building is 103 feet, breadth forty-eight feet, and to height of apex of roof fifty feet. The audience room measures 59x40 feet. The pews are arranged in amphitheatrical form, and afford seating capacity for 360. The Sunday school room is 35x26 feet, while the Bible and class rooms, and apartments for secular use in the basement, are large and numerous.

Articles in the corner-stone. An account of organization of the church and its formeffortser to build ; a list of officers for 1879 ; Rev. A. H. Ross' address ; Plymouth Collection hymn book ; Gospel Songs hymn book ; American trade dollar, dated 1878, with the name S. F. Hopkins stamped on it ; a copy of Sunday School Times; a copy of the Royal Road ; a ship bearing the names of the Governor of Michigan and Mayor of St. Clair ; a photograph of the old church ; the old pulpit Bible which was presented to the church forty years ago ; an old pewter communion cup, in use at Bar- rington, Mass., for fifty years, and at St. Clair for the forty years ending in 1879 ; names of United States officers ; stamps, religions statisties, and a copy of the St. Clair Republican.

The church property is valued at $15,000. The building committee appointed by the society,

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

May 8, 1879, was composed of Mark Hopkins, R. II. Jenks, Crocket MeElroy, Frank Moore and George W. Barnard. The present officers of the society are Rev. Clarence Eddy. pastor ; S. F. Hopkins, Mark Hopkins, William Grace. R. I. Jenks. C. F. Moore and P. A. Cady. Trustees. The present membership is stated to number 115.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

The first movement toward a Baptist Church in St. Clair County was made in the township of China, south of the city. The Rev. Y. Z. R. Jones began work here in 1835. Afterward Rov. E. K. Gront came to the pastorate of the church in China and a church in Newport (now Marino City) a branch of the China church. He began a service in St. Clair at the old log court house. This led to the organization of the church, November 5, 1848. The original members were Rufus Swift, John M. Oakes, Daniel Stewart, Minerva Oakes, Elizabeth Swift, Mary Nicols and Maria C. Eldridge. Of these original seven members. Mrs. Mary Nicol, the wife of John Nicol, owner of the woolen mills of this city, is the only one now living. During the whole history of the church she has been a faithful laborer. The officers of the infant organization were, Pastor, E. K. Grout ; Deacon, Rufus Swift ; Clerk, Daniel Stewart. One of the earliest acts of the church was the adoption of a temperance resolution, February 24, 1819, reading as follows : " Resolved, That as a Church of Christ, we will not admit any person to membership with us that makes an habitual use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and that we will carry the amount of our influence, moral and religions, to effectually remove the evil of in- temperance from the work[." The spirit of this resolution has been kept alive in the church through all its history, and at every covenant meeting the temperance pledge is solemnly renewed. being incorporated into the covenant itself. On account of the failing health of pastor Grout, Rev. Nelson Eastwood was called as pastor of the church, and began his labors November 30, 1850. In June, 1856, we find Rev. Silas Finn as pastor of the church. His pastorate was a long and successful one of nearly ten years. In the spring of 1866, Rev. D. C. Marybin became the pastor. On January 6. 1969, William A. Kingsbury was called to the pastorate, and June 24 of that year a council of the neighboring Baptist Churches was convened with the church of St. Clair, and Brother Kingsbury was ordained to the work of the Gospel ministry. April 1, 1874, Brother Peter Cary was called to the pastorate, and on June 18, following, he was ordained by a council convened for that purpose. On account of failing health, he served only a little over a year. June 5. 1878, Rev. Edward Blanch- ard was called to the pastorate and served nearly two years. Ile was followed February 14, 1877, by Rev. Henry Carroll. In November, 1878, Rev. J. Hall, D. D., of Port Huron, was engaged as permanent supply, and served as such for a year. At the close of this service the church enjoyed only occasional preaching until October, 1880. They were at this time very much discouraged by a debt that had rested upon them from the dedication of the church in 1871. On account of the financial depressions of these years, many subscriptions had failed, and a debt of over $600 on the now weak church was the consequence. It had been reduced in strength by both re-

movat and death, and this amount small in itself, hung like a vampire over them. At this time, however (October 20, 1880), they secured the services of Roy. S. Hendrick, and began again in faith. The sisters took hold of the matter. the debt was soon raised, and the church moved on with the enthusiasm of former days. The present membership is tifty-six. The present officers are : Pastor. S. Hendrick ; Deacons, M. A. Cook. IT. A. Cusick ; Clerk, D. K. Oakes ; Treasurer, Mrs. B. A. Jenks.

The Sunday school numbers about eighty and is in a flourishing condition.

The first meeting house was built about 1851 or 1852. There are no records to be found of the exact date. This house stood upon the present site of the church -Fourth street, between Trumbull and Cass. It was destroyed by fire, March, 1870, and was rebuilt in 1873. It is of brick. 40x70 feet. The audience room is twenty feet high, and will comfortably seat three hundred people. The basement contains a lecture room, parlor, kitchen and pantry. The building is well heated by furnaces. It was a fine building at the time of its creetion, with a tower and spire on the southeast front corner. The present value of the house is $6,000. although when built, in 1873, it cost over $10,000.

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Trinity Church. St. Clair City, was organized in 1818. In 1815. Rev. Phineas D. Spaulding visited the village and preached to the congregation from 1815 to 1817. when the society was organized. In 1819, Rev. Milton Ward came, and remained until 1854. He was succeeded by Rev. George B Eugle, in 1855 ; Rov. G. B Hayden, in 1860 ; Rev. Osgood E. Fuller, in 1861 ;

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

Rev. Joseph Pritchard, in 1862 ; Rev. Thomas Dooley succeeded Mr. Pritchard. In 1876, Rev. A. B. Flower took charge of the parish and served until 1880. The church edifice, a small brick building near the Union School, was built in 1854. The parsonage was built in 1867. The church building was destroyed by fire in 1873, and since that time services have been held in the City Hall.

In March, 1875, a meeting of the members of Trinity Church was held at St. Clair. D. D. O'Dell, A. L. Padfield, Joseph George, S. B. Brown, Henry Luck, James McJennett, John E. Kitton, George I. Ward and Alexander Bartley were elected Vestrymen. A committee was elected, con- sisting of John I. Kitton, S. B. Brown and D. D. O'Dell, to take steps to build a church edifice on the grounds belonging to the parish. Whatever action was taken by this committee is not known ; in any case a house of worship was not erected. Now, however, with the revival of indus- try and the growth of religious enterprise, there is every reason to hope that still another Christian temple may be added to those of which the city now boasts.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The Methodist Episcopal Society of St. Clair was organized in 1850, by Rev. J. S. Smart. The new Methodist Episcopal Church of St. Clair was dedicated May 22, 1870. Rev. J. S. Smart con- ducted the dedicatory services. The reverend gentleman related some reminiscences of his pastoral labor in St. Clair twenty years ago, when he organized the Methodist Episcopal Society of St. Clair. His earnest, eloquent and humorous appeal to the members and others present for funds to free the church from debt was a master-piece of persuasive Christian argument and entreaty, and resulted in over $7,000 being subscribed in the church. At a meeting of the Sabbath school in the afternoon over $100 were subscribed by the children, which goes to liquidate the debt on the new organ. The evening services were opened with prayer by Rev. T. C. Higgins. This was followed by singing, after which the Presiding Elder, Rev. T. G. Potter, delivered an able and learned discourse, which showed depth of mind and liberality of views. Subscriptions were again taken up and over $1,000 was raised, the total amount, nearly $9,000, being more than sufficient to pay all debts on the edifice. The dedicatory service was then performed by the Rev. Mr. Smart, the Trustees being ranged in front of the altar, and solemnly charged to dedicate themselves to the cause of Christ ; Henry Whiting acted as sponsor for the Church.

The description of the building is as follows: "The first thing which attracts the attention of the visitor is the admirable arrangement of the seats, which, like those in most churches bnilt within the past few years, are arranged in a semi-circle or concave form, so that nearly every per- son seated faces the pulpit. There are three isles, one in the center, and one on each side of the apartment. On each side of the center aisle are thirty-one pews, and also three on the north side of the pulpit, making sixty-five pews in all, with a seating capacity for 425 persons. At the east- ern end of the nave is a gallery, some ten feet deep, and extending the entire width of the church. In this gallery are six pews, which will seat from ninety to one hundred, making a total seating ca- pacity in the auditorium of over 500. The choir will be seated in chairs, on the south side of the pulpit. The seats are of pine and whitewood, with cheery rails and black walnut elbows at the ends. The backs are of matched lumber and the boards are stained alternately in imitation of mahogany, oak, cherry, maple and walnut. The cherry rails and the ends of the seats where they front the aisles, are stained in imitation of mahogany, and the varying but generally dark and warm tints give the body of the room a peculiarly fine and rich appearance. An open box consisting of slats extending two-thirds of the length of the pew, is placed at the back of each seat, and is an improvement over the common narrow shelf or desk in general use for holding Bibles, hymn-books, etc. The wainscoting around the room, as well as the wainscot paneling in front of the gallery, are stained in imitation of different kinds of wood, similar to the backs of the seats. The pulpit is a simple but elegant desk of black walnut, with panels corresponding to the backs of the seat. The platform on which it stands (on which also is placed the seats for the choir) is about ten feet deep, fifteen inches above the floor, and is inelosed by a railing of black walnut. We here make bold to express our opinion that the bare, blank, white wall on the west (or pulpit) side of the room, pro- duces an impression of incompleteness which the otherwise excellent appearance of the interior fails to entirely remove. The accoustic properties of the room, as tested during our visit, are not good, there being a reverberatory echo which will doubtless prove a source of annoyance, if not rec- tified by a sounding-board over the pulpit. It is said, however, that when the room is filled that this defect will not be so observable. The windows in the auditorium are twelve in number, which,

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

with four in the tower, at the eastern side, sufficiently light the room. They are of stained glass, and the effect is very beautiful and pleasing to the eye. The design in the center is a fillgree-like tracery of drab, bordered with a vine of the same color, of a darker tint; surrounding this is a lemon-colored strip of oak leaves and acorus, which in turn is bordered with marginal lines of blue. ruby, green and pink. The window-casings are imitation maple, with an outside molding of mahogany. The doors at the head of the north and south staircases have maple panels and oak stiles. The plaster- ing is very good throughout. the walls and ceiling having the best kind of pure white . hard finish.' and where they meet is molded a broad and graceful cornice, while overhead are three plaster . con- ters,' with hooks in the middle to sustain chandeliers. The free circulation of pure air, which should form an important feature in all public buildings, has been amply provided for, there being two ven- tilators in the walls, and four close to the floor, in different parts of the room. The carpet on the floor is of green and salmon color, diamond pattern, and harmonizes with the fittings and general appearance of the room. The damask seat covers are of a similar color and pattern. The best of- forts of the painter's art, however, are outside the auditorium. The wainscoting on the staircase and vestibule is beautifully grained in close imitation of mottled and bird's-eye maple, relieved with mahogany rails and cap moldings. The graining of the door at the main entrance is said by good judges to be first class. It is grained in imitation of mahogany. with bird's-eye maple panels. The rooms on the lower floor are plain and serviceable apartments.'

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ST. CLAIR.

The beginnings of the church at this point are noted in the history of the church at Port Huron. In 1863, St. Clair and Marysville were organized as a parish, and Rev. Francis Van der Bom appointed pastor. Under his direction a brick house of worship was erected in 1864 at a cost of $13,000. In 1866, Lev. 1. Reichenbach was appointed pastor of St. Clair by Bishop Lefevere, and held the charge up to the summer of 1882, when an Episcopal interdict was laid on the church and its doors closed to the people. Early in December, 1882. the principal members of the congrega- tion jomed in an effort to have this interdict removed, and in compliance with their petition Bishop Borgess ordered the re-establishment of worship to be observed in December, 1882.

THE PROTESTANT METHODISTS.

It is perhaps not generally known that the religious society known as the Methodists, formerly named Methodist Protestants, had become a numerous and influential body in 1869 -70. The associa- tion is known as the " St. Clair Circuit." and under the charge of Rev. J. D. Schults. In his charge were three appointments each Sabbath as follows : At the Court House at St. Clair every Sabbath at 2 o'clock in the afternoon ; alternating each Sabbath at the following places : At Boman street schoolhouse at half-past 10 o'clock in the forenoon ; at the town line schoolhouse, about five miles west of the city, at 7 o'clock in the evening ; at the Canada settlement schoolhouse at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, and at Bell River schoolhouse, in China, at 7 o'clock in the evening. The number of members in this cirenit in March, 1870, was 119, being an increase of 13 since the middle of No- vember, 1869, when the minister took charge of the circuit. Two donations were held in 1870 -- one at the Canada settlement, in January, 1870, the proceeds netting SI10; and one in Boman street, in March, netting $85. The society purchased the site for a new church in this city, just West of the Catholic Church, and intended erecting a new brick church in the summer of 1870. The State was divided into two districts called the " Michigan Conference" and the " Western Michigan Conference." each having a President as its official head, to perform the duties usually developing on a Presiding Elder, in addition to presiding at the annual conference. a conference of this, the Michigan Conference, was held at Pontiac in August, 1869, and the next meeting was held at Richfield. in Genesee County, commencing the first Tuesday of September. 1870. One lay mem- ber for each minister attends from each circuit and composes the conference. Adrian College was under the auspices of this denomination and was located within the conference, presided over by Prof. Mahan, an eminent educator and author.

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History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 109

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co. Number of Pages: 814

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co.
Number of Pages: 814