The history of Detroit and Michigan; or, The metropolis illustrated; a chronological cyclopedia of the past and present, Vol I, Part 102

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Detroit, S. Farmer & co
Number of Pages: 1096

USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The history of Detroit and Michigan; or, The metropolis illustrated; a chronological cyclopedia of the past and present, Vol I > Part 102

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UNION RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

country as a day of special prayer for the preserva- tion of the Union.

During 1860 the work of conducting Sunday schools and distributing tracts was extensively car- ried forward. At the second annual meeting, held November 26, the following officers were elected : president, Robert W. King; secretary, Charles H. Barrett; treasurer, M. H. Croft; Sunday-school visitor, D. Bethune Duffield; superintendent of tract distribution, C. H. Barrett ; members of execu- tive committee, George S. Frost, Francis Lambie, R. O. Wheeler, Bradford Smith, A. T. Barns, H. H. Dunclee, W. B. Smith, J. H. Muir, Andrew Bates, and George B. Dickinson.

The excitement of the war with the South, and the assumption of work so clearly belonging to the churches as the establishing of Sunday schools, caused the Association to decline in favor, and the organization ceased in 1861.

The third Society dates from August 1, 1864. At that time none of those most active in its or- ganization were aware that any such society had previously existed in Detroit.

Its origin was as follows: While on a visit to Chicago, the writer chanced to attend an Interna- tional Convention of the Young Men's Christian As- sociation, and was made the corresponding mem- ber of the Executive Committee for Michigan.

Returning to Detroit, correspondence was had with Mr. Pond of Boston, chairman of the Execu- tive Committee, as to what was expected of a cor- responding member. The organization of an asso- ciation was then undertaken, and every Protestant pastor visited and an endeavor made to enlist them in the work.

After obtaining from nearly all the ministers the names of two persons, members of their churches, to represent them in a meeting, the persons them- selves were visited, and a preliminary meeting was called for July 28. At this meeting a committee on constitution was appointed, and August I their report was adopted, and soon after James W. Far- rell was elected president; F. D. Taylor and A. Treadway, vice-presidents; Silas Farmer, corre- sponding secretary; A. Howard, recording secre- tary ; and T. D. Hawley, treasurer.

Funds were solicited, and the work of fitting up rooms in the third story of Merrill Block was begun. Over $1,000 were expended for this pur- pose, the design being to command immediate re- spect for the enterprise. The rooms were formally dedicated on November 28, and public exercises were held in Merrill Hall on the same floor. Ad- dresses were delivered by Rev. Messrs. G. W. Prime, J. H. Griffith, B. H. Paddock, W. Hogarth, and J. M. Buckley. The rooms were at once visited by large numbers of persons, and became the head-

quarters for all sorts of benevolent and philanthropic enterprise.

On June 24, 1868, the thirteenth International Convention of the Associations began its sessions in the Central M. E. Church. This gathering is noted as being the largest, and up to that time the most profitable ever held ; also for the sad fact that, while delivering the address of welcome, the Rev. Dr. Duffield fainted and fell. This fall was the precur- sor of his death, which occurred a few days later.

In the fall of 1871 the Association acted as almoner for many associations, distributing over $10,000 in money and hundreds of cases of goods for the relief of sufferers by fire in northern Michi- gan.

The growth of the work caused an increasing need for larger and more eligible rooms. From time to time various plans were proposed for the accomplishment of this end, but nothing definite was reached until January 15, 1875, when, on the strength of pledges of $250 each from ten persons towards the first payment, a lot on Farmer Street, between Monroe and Gratiot Avenues, was purchased for $14,100, payable in five annual instalments. The property fronted sixty feet on Farmer Street, and ran back nearly one hundred and forty feet, with an alley all along one side, across the end and half way up the other side.

The building on the lot had been erected in 1851 as a hotel barn. Subsequently, and at the time of the purchase, it was occupied as a factory, and was not thought to possess any permanent value. On the strength of the purchase, several thousand dol- lars were subscribed, but not enough to pay for the lot or erect a building. Meanwhile, it was neces- sary for the Association to move, and it was finally determined to build a new front to the old building, and fit it up for temporary occupancy. This was done at an expense of about $4,000, and very com- fortable quarters were secured. The house was dedicated on February 14, 1876. The free-will offerings then made were noticeably given with hearty good-will and manifest appreciation of the results secured with so small an outlay. The prop- erty was held by the following special trustees, elected on April 5, 1875 : F. D. Taylor, Silas Far- mer, Walter Buhl, Arthur Treadway, Leonard Laurense, E. C. Hinsdale, and Horace Hitchcock.

The work grew, and two additional rooms were fitted up for use. In January, 1877, an arrange- ment was made with the Woman's Christian Tem- perance Union, by which they were given the use of one half of the first story for two years on con- dition that they finished off and floored the room, which was then unfinished; this was done at a cost of $700, and after two years the Association received $400 a year rent therefrom.

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UNION RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

Soon after the opening of the building the appar- atus of a defunct gymnasium was procured, a room was fitted up for its reception, and the most con- venient gymnasium in the city offered to the use of those joining the Association. Not long after the library of the Mechanics' Society was placed in the care of the Association for five years from August I, 1877, and members of both bodies had equal use of it until June 1, 1882, when it was again trans- ferred to the Mechanics'Society. The library, added to other advantages, brought in hundreds of new members, and before the close of 1877 the Associa- tion numbered over twelve hundred paying members.

During its earlier years one of the most successful plans for obtaining funds was the annual strawberry festival, conducted by young ladies from the several churches; the receipts for several years averaged $500 per year, and the festivals were acknowledged to be the most attractive entertainments held in Detroit. The Authors' Carnival, given in June, 1875, under the joint auspices of the Home of the Friendless and this organization, netted the Associa- tion over $1,000. In its earlier years the Association was specially indebted to its treasurer, Walter C. Skiff, who not only contributed liberally but often preserved the credit of the Association by advanc- ing money to pay its bills. On his decease in 1870 he left a bequest of $5,000 to the Association, pay-' able after his mother's death, on the condition that the Association possess, in addition, a property worth $20,000.

At the present time the Association is sustained by membership fees and special donations. The religious work has included a wide range of effort. A Monday evening service has been continuously maintained. Services at mission chapels, and at suitable seasons, open-air meetings have also been held. The jail is visited, and a Bible class at the House of Correction is especially appreciated. The noon meeting has been successful from the first. One of the most important meetings was the Satur- day evening Bible reading. When conducted by Rev. A. T. Pierson, it had an average attendance of over three hundred. Literary, social, and educa- tional helps in the way of classes, lectures, and re- ceptions have also been supplied. From 1876 to 1882 a statement of its meetings and its work was published in a weekly or monthly bulletin.

On the 12th of October, 1880, a conference of ladies and gentlemen was held at the residence of a friend of the work, and it was determined to raise the sum of $70,000 for the purpose of purchasing a more suitable home for the Association in order to enable it fully to carry out its plans of Christian work. The work of canvassing began, and about $40,000 was pledged, and then the project was allowed to sleep. Meantime the trustees were unable

to furnish the Association with rooms free of rent, and at the same time pay the interest due on the purchase price of the property, and finally they were directed to sell, and on March 24, 1882, sold the property for $15,000. The Association, in May, 1882, moved to 250 Woodward Avenue, occupying the store on the ground floor. From here, in April, 1883, they moved to the second, third, and fourth stories of the Williams Block on Monroe Avenue, facing Campus Martius, where they had thirty rooms, which were formally opened on April 5. The rooms were handsomely fitted up at a cost of about $2,500.

From here in April, 1886, they moved to a build- ing known as the Casino, on Griswold Street, oppo- site the High School, and in October following they removed to Witherell Street, near Woodward Ave- nue, remaining there until November 4, 1887, when the Association took possession of its new building on the northeast corner of Grand River Avenue and Griswold Street. The erection of the building was begun in 1886, the corner stone being laid on October 19 of that year. A little more than a year afterwards, on November 6, 1887, the building was formally dedicated. The lot cost $30,000, and the total cost of the lot, building and furnishings was $118,000, the last $37,000 of the amount being subscribed or guaranteed at a banquet given in the building the evening before it was dedicated. The furniture was almost entirely provided by ladies interested in the work, and the building as a whole is supplied with everything that could be desired to attract and benefit the young men of the city.

One of the most hopeful features of the work is the Boys' Branch, established on September 12, 1882, chiefly through the efforts of Mrs. J. E. Fos- ter. They have an enrolled membership of over one hundred, conduct various meetings, and publish a monthly bulletin, called the Branch Record, which is sprightly and healthful in character.

The Association was incorporated on January 12, 1874, and the annual meeting is held on the second Tuesday of January. The society is managed by twenty directors, all of whom must be members of churches holding the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ alone. The directors are elected by the members, and the officers, except the secretaries and treasurer, are selected from and elected by the directors.

The presidents of the Association have been: 1864 and 1865, James W. Farrell; 1866 and 1867, F. D. Taylor; 1868, Silas Farmer ; 1869 and 1870, David Preston; 1871 and 1872, Bradford Smith; 1873 and 1874, E. C. Hinsdale; 1875-1879, F. D. Taylor; 1879-1884, E. W. Wetmore; 1884- . S. M. Cutcheon. The paid secretaries have been : 1864-1866, D. D. Davis and James Westaway ;

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UNION RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

1866-1869, W. H. Gibbs; 1869 and 1870, John Seage; 1871, C. C. Yemans; 1872-1876, E. B. Moody; 1876-1881, C. E. Dyer; 1883- , L. F. Newman.

The Railroad Branch had its origin in a meeting held in the Hall of the Association on May 7, 1876, at which addresses were delivered by Messrs. Lang. Sheaf, and H. W. Stager, of Cleveland, who had been invited for the occasion. Several prominent railroad officials were present, and the movement proved a success from the outset. A committee was appointed, a room on Woodbridge near Third Street secured, and on June 21 it was formally opened, with T. C. Boughton as superintendent. The work grew rapidly, and on November 21 a room was obtained at the Grand Trunk Junction, and neatly fitted up for the use of the men there employed. Religious exercises were held on the Sabbath, and occasionally on week days, and reading matter provided.

In November, 1877, John H. Fry succeeded Mr. Boughton, and three months later H. D. Warren became the superintendent of the rooms. After a few months Mr. C. E. Dyer took charge of both the main Association and the Railroad Branch. In November, 1878, I. G. Jenkins became the secretary of the Railroad Branch. In February, 1878, a room more easy of access to the men seeming desirable, quarters were fitted up under the office of the yard master on the depot grounds, and the room on Woodbridge Street was given up. On the 29th of August following, a new building at the Junction was first occupied. It was erected at a cost of $1,000. In August, 1883, the building was moved to vacant ground near the original location of the rooms. The secretary issues a little monthly paper called the Headlight, which contains much informa- tion of value.

This outgrowth of the Y. M. C. A. has resulted in the establishment of several reading rooms for railroad men at stations along the lines of roads centering in Detroit, and is constantly developing in power and usefulness.

City, County, and State Bible Societies.

The first Bible Society in the State was organized at Detroit in November, 1816. Its first anniversary was held November 4, 1817, and the reports showed that $146 had been received in subscriptions. The following persons were officers in 1817 : Lewis Cass, president; William Woodbridge, first vice-presi- dent; C. Larned, second vice-president; Rev. J. Monteith, corresponding secretary; H. J. Hunt, recording secretary; Henry Brown, treasurer. The organization was in existence in 1820, but ceased soon after.

On November 3, 1830, a County Bible Society was organized with the following officers : president, Lewis Cass; vice-presidents, John Biddle and B. F. H. Witherell ; recording secretary, C. C.Trowbridge; corresponding secretary, Rev. N. M. Wells ; treas- urer and depository, E. P. Hastings; executive com- mittee, J. J. Deming, J. Owen, H. Whiting, W. Ward, and E. Bingham. This society remained in existence for several years, and distributed many. thousand Bibles and Testaments.

In October, 1838, a State Bible Society was again formed, and in 1845 the local society received the following notice :

WAYNE CO. BIBLE SOCIETY.

A meeting of the friends of the American Bible Society was held at the Presbyterian Session Room, October 7th, 1845,- J. Kearsley chairman, W. Phelps secretary. The chair stated the object of the meeting to be to resuscitate or reorganize the Wayne County Bible Society auxiliary to the American Bible Society. Messrs. A. Sheley, A. McFarren, and J. V. Watson were on mo- tion appointed a nominating committee. They reported for president C. C. Trowbridge ; vice-president, C. G. Hammond ; treasurer, John Owen ; secretary, Samuel Hastings. Report adopted and the nominees elected.

W. PHELPS, Secretary.

This third organization seems also to have died out, for on February 2, 1857, under the influence of the revival sentiment of that year, a new society was organized and a constitution adopted.

The depository, from time to time was established at various bookstores, but in April, 1877, it found an appropriate home in the rooms of the Y. M. C. A., and was placed in the care of Mrs. J. E. Foster.

In 1886 it was removed to the Newsboy's Home, and in 1887 transferred to the care of Phillips & Hunt. During 1886, at an expense of about $1,200, which amount was contributed by the churches, a canvass of the city was made, and as far as possible every family destitute of the Bible was supplied, either by a sale or as a gift. The sales amounted to $315, and 349 Bibles were given away.

Union Bethel Society.

This enterprise was organized on September 20, 1830, under the auspices of the Western Seamen's Friend Society. Fifteen years later an old ware- house on Woodbridge Street between Shelby and Wayne Streets was procured, the centre of the sec- ond floor cut out, and an audience room with a gal- lery was thus obtained. The building was dedicated April 2, 1846, with a sermon by Rev. Dr. Duffield. Rev. Dr. Harrison was put in charge, and large numbers of sailors and others gathered at the ser- vices. The building was eventually sold to the Trinity Lutheran Church. On September 8, 1850, a hall on the second floor of store No. 66 Jefferson

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Avenue, on the southwest corner of Cass Street, was dedicated for the use of the Bethel Church, with a sermon by the Rev. Dr. Kitchell. At this time Rev. A. M. Fitch was chaplain. From 1851 to 1863 Rev. N. M. Wells was pastor. At the begin- ning of his term, a room was fitted up in the Hawley Block, on the northwest corner of Bates and Wood- bridge Streets, and there the society held services until 1862; from that year until 1865, services were held in rooms on Woodbridge Street, just west of Wayne Street, with Rev. Mr. King in charge; from 1865 to 1868, a room in the Board of Trade Build- ing was used, and the Rev. William Day was in charge. After 1868 the services were discontinued.

Society of Bethel Workers.

This organization dates from December 30, 1884, and owes its existence chiefly to the earnest and self-sacrificing efforts of Mrs. A. N. Moffat.

The chief object of the society is to maintain a sailors' boarding-house under strictly religious aus- pices, with daily Gospel or temperance meetings. The first rooms were located on Brush Street, in the basement of the Globe Hotel. The old Mansion House, corner of Griswold and Atwater Streets, was subsequently rented, and on June 20, 1885, formally opened by the society with appropriate exercises. The work is largely self-sustaining, and many persons are known to have been greatly bene- fited by the efforts put forth.

City Tract Societies.

The first society of the above character was organ- ized on March 22, 1831, but no details of its work have been found.

In 1839 a society called the Michigan Tract So- ciety was in existence, with B. F. Larned as presi- dent and Charles Cleland as corresponding secretary. A society, called the Detroit City Tract Association, was instituted on January 12, 1846, with the follow- ing officers : Rev. George Duffield, president ; H. L. Hammond, vice-president ; H. Hallock, general superintendent ; A. McFarren, treasurer, and F. Raymond, secretary. Ward Superintendents: First Ward, John Hulbert; Second Ward, Charles M. Howard; Third Ward, David French; Fourth Ward, Ross Wilkins; Fifth Ward, Thomas Rowland ; Sixth Ward, J. D. Baldwin.

The principal object of the organization was to circulate gratuitously the tracts and other publi- cations of the American Tract Society. The city was divided into fifty-nine districts. Monthly re- ports were made by each visitor, and a great amount of faithful labor expended. The society continued its efforts up to 1853, and was then discontinued.

Detroit Evangelical Alliance.

The object of this organization is to promote Christian fellowship among the different church societies. It was organized in Detroit, June 30, 1873, and the following officers elected : president, C. I. Walker ; corresponding secretary, Rev. G. D. Baker ; recording secretary, Silas Farmer ; treasurer, Jacob S. Farrand.

The time for the annual meeting is in October, but only two sets of officers have been chosen. Those in office in 1883 were : Jacob S. Farrand, presi- dent ; H. E. Baker, secretary ; W. H. Brearley, cor- responding secretary ; Rev. A. T. Pierson, Rev. J. M. Arnold, and F. D. Taylor, executive committee.

On October 30, 1877, on the invitation of the society, the Biennial Conference of the Evangelical Alliance of the United States was held in Detroit, at the First Presbyterian Church. There was a large attendance and much interest in the exercises.

The organization then ceased, but in 1888 an entirely new society, by the same name, was or- ganized.

Detroit Ministerial Union.

This organization dates from 1850, and is com- posed of the pastors of the several so-called evan- gelical churches of Detroit. They hold weekly meetings on Monday morning to discuss any sub- ject or question connected with the religious pros- perity of the city or the country.

UNION MEETINGS. Morning Prayer Meetings.

The Union morning prayer meetings were an out- growth of the deep religious feeling that pervaded the entire country immediately subsequent to the panic of 1857. The first of these meetings in Detroit was held at 8 A. M., March 4, in the base- ment of the Baptist Church, corner of Griswold and Fort Streets. The attendance of active business men was a marked feature from the outset, and the meeting grew apace. On account of the large at- tendance, the meetings, after March 29, 1858, were held in the body of the church. Other morning meetings were held in the Congregational Church on Jefferson Avenue, and a noon meeting in the Water- man Block, and in several churches. The meet- ing in the Congregational Church continued till the last of April. On May 4 the meeting in the Baptist Church was discontinued for one week, and a committee appointed to consider the subject of its continuance. On May 10 it was resumed, to be held from 8 to 8.45 A. M. On July 11, 1859, as the church was to be torn down, the place of meeting was changed to the basement of the Sec- ond M. E. Church, on the corner of Randolph

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REVIVALS AND REVIVALISTS.

and Congress Streets. After the burning of that church, on July 18, 1863, the meetings were held in the basement of the First M. E. Church, cor- ner of Woodward Avenue and State Street. Here it was continued till March 4, 1872, when, on its fourteenth anniversary, the last of the morning meetings was held, the attendance not seeming to warrant a further continuance.

Noon Meetings.

In addition to the noon meeting of 1857, which was held in the Waterman Block, and kept up from March to the middle of May, a noon meeting was several times attempted in the Y. M. C. A. rooms, on the corner of Jefferson and Woodward Avenues ; but the attendance was always small and the meet- ings were soon discontinued.

The only successful and continuous noon meet- ing was opened Tuesday, February 15, 1876, in the Y. M. C. A. building, on Farmer Street. It has been continued daily ever since, with an average attendance of from twenty to thirty persons. On May 30, 1882, the first service was held at the rooms in the Mather Block, and on April 2, 1883, the first service was held in the rooms on Monroe Avenue. It is held from 12 to 12.30 M., and many evidences of its value have been made manifest.

REVIVALS AND REVIVALISTS.

The first effort of different denominations to co- operate in a series of religious meetings was made in 1865. The meetings, under the direction of Rev. E. P. Hammond, began on Sunday afternoon, Feb- ruary 26, 1865, at the Fort Street Congregational Church. The house was filled with children and Sunday-school teachers, and the service was remark- able for its solemnity and power. The morning meetings in the Woodward Avenue M. E. Church were soon crowded, and at the evening meetings in various churches, there were always more than could be seated. The closing service was held on March 19.

A series of union meetings, conducted by Messrs. Whittle and Bliss, was commenced on the evening of October 6, 1874, at the Second Congregational

Church, and closed on the 19th of November. These meetings were inaugurated and conducted by the Y. M. C. A., but were heartily supported by most of the Protestant clergymen and grew in interest to the end. The services, held chiefly in the Central Methodist and United Presbyterian churches, are gratefully remembered by many per- sons.

A memorial service, in memory of P. P. Bliss, who perished in the Ashtabula railroad disaster, was held on Sunday afternoon, January 7, 1877, at Whitney's Opera House.

By invitation of the Clerical Union, the Rev. George F. Pentecost came to Detroit, and led a series of religious services, commencing on January 4, 1880, and closing the 18th of March. Most of the meetings were held in the First Congrega- tional and Fort Street Presbyterian Churches, and were highly enjoyed by the multitudes who attended. During his stay, meetings for business men were conducted a part of the time in Merrill Hall and also in a vacant store on Jefferson Avenue near First Street.

In the spring and fall of 1883 Harry F. Sayles, known as the singing evangelist, conducted a series of revival meetings in the Eighteenth Street Baptist, Second Congregational, Third Street Mis- sion, Fort Street Methodist Episcopal, and Twelfth Street Baptist Churches, his successive engagements in these various churches affording the best of evi- dence of the public appreciation of his labors.

Commencing on Friday, November 21, 1884, and lasting over Sunday, a Christian Worker's Confer- ence was held in Music Hall, conducted by D. L. Moody. All the meetings were very largely at- tended.

From January 3 to 10, 1886, a series of special religious services were held in various churches, the meetings being specially notable from the fact that all evangelical churches in the city participated. Special invitations to the meetings were systemati- cally distributed throughout the city.

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The history of Detroit and Michigan; or, The metropolis illustrated; a chronological cyclopedia of the past and present, Vol I, Part 102

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902 Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Detroit, S. Farmer & co Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Detroit, S. Farmer & co
Number of Pages: 1096