USA > Michigan > The history of the Church of the Brethren in Michigan > Part 2
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Frederick Jackson Turner, The Frontier in American History, Henry Holt & Co., New York, 1937. Pages 226, 227.
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History of the Brethren in Michigan
nating characteristic of their lives and in a great measure controlled their actions.
Their patient hands, which transformed settlements into cities and towns, are not without reward, for their spirit of industriousness and prayerfulness has left an impression upon thousands of homes. They brought with them the love of law and liberty. They were strong in their gentle- ness, wise in their simplicity, and practical in their enthusi- asm. We are all pioneers in a sense, and since we have bet- ter opportunities than those of olden times our work should bring forth more fruit.
2. Development and Resources
The rapidly moving westward frontier had now reached Michigan and great developments soon began to take place. These developments have had a tremendous impact even to this present time. Religious movements began to func- tion. Educational systems were started. A territorial form of government was established which proved effective. Counties began to be organized, and finally the state bound- ary was fixed.
After the digging of the Erie Canal, settlement began to turn into Michigan very rapidly. This fact resulted in many new enterprises. Between 1830 and 1840 the popu- lation of the state leaped from 31,000 to 212,000, in the face of the fact that the heavy debt of the state and the crisis of 1837 turned from her borders many of the thrifty, debt- hating Germans. While we have seen that the vast ma- jority of the settlers were New Yorkers, and that Michi- gan is distinctively a child of the Empire State, yet the Germans now outnumber any other single foreign ele- ment. Doctor Turner says, "The lower peninsula of Mich- igan is the daughter of New York and over twelve per- cent of Michigan's present population were born in that
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A Brief History of the State
state, and her traits are those of the parent state. Over one half of the population is of foreign parentage, of which Canada and England together have furnished one half, while the Germans outnumber any other single foreign element."7 This may be a factor in the rapid progress which characterized the development all over the state.
In 1836 when the state constitution was adopted the population was nearly 100,000, mainly from New England and its extension in western New York. These were the people who discovered the enormous possibilities of this country.
Grant says, "Many of the New England farmers who had bought farms from the great land companies in western New York found themselves unable or unwilling to com- plete their payments and sold their equities for enough to buy government land in Michigan and move their families, while from the rocky hills of Vermont a steady stream came without any intervening stop. By this time many of the French Canadians had moved out, and of eighty-nine names signed to the Constitution of 1835, not more than three can be identified as French."S
A group not found elsewhere was the Dutch, who came, like some of the early settlers, seeking religious tolerance and freedom. The town of Holland has been a center for them since 1847. These Dutch settlers chose this beauti- ful site and built up a cultured and industrious community.
The northern peninsula of Michigan is cut off from the southern physically, industrially, and in the history of set- tlement. It would seem that her natural destiny was with Wisconsin or some possible new state embracing the iron and copper, forest and shipping areas of Michigan on Lake Superior.
7 Ibid. Page 227.
8 Op. cit. Pages 162-164.
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History of the Brethren in Michigan
The state has undergone a steady industrial development exploiting her northern mines and forests, developing her lumber interests with Saginaw as the first center, raising fruits along the lake shore counties, and producing grain in the trough of counties running from Saginaw Bay to the south of Lake Michigan. Her state university, founded in 1817 at Detroit and moved to Ann Arbor in 1837, has been her particular glory, furnishing the first educational contri- bution of the Northwest to the nation. Today it is counted one of the foremost universities in the country with an average enrollment of about twelve thousand.
The government of Michigan was founded upon sound principles. Doctor Riddell voiced his opinion of government and law in a statement given in the introductory chapter of his book, Michigan Under British Rule.
I am glad to offer to the people of Michigan, feeling and knowing that despite the rules of International Law, despite the difference in allegiance, we are one people in all that is really worth while, and that the story of British Law and courts in Michigan does not in essence differ from that of American Courts but that both show forth the passion of the English speaking peoples for government and law and not by force, by righteousness and justice and not by the might of the stronger hand.9
The resources of Michigan have been adequate not only to the expense of government, but have been applied also to the construction of public parks and works.
The wilderness has given place to cultivated fields, and industrial centers have arisen where but a few years pre- vious the lofty oak displayed its foliage. Colleges and other institutions of instruction have been founded and endowed. Places the most remote have been brought into close prox- imity by extensive lines of railroads, highways, and steam- ship routes.
William Renwick Riddell, Michigan Under British Rule-1760-1796, Mich- igan Historical Commercial, Lansing, 1926.
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A Brief History of the State
From early stagecoach days the state has reached a high degree of development of modern highways and transporta- tion. The fine state and national highways and the excellent county and township road system permit one to reach any section. National bus lines enter Michigan from every direction, enabling one to reach his destination through con- nection with local bus lines. One can go to his local rail- road station or ticket office and find he can reach every city of importance direct by train. Steamship lines offer service from the east up through the lakes-through the Straits of Mackinac and touching at West Michigan ports. Car ferries and other steamship service operate from the west across Lake Michigan. The same efficient steamship system is found between Detroit, Buffalo, New York, and Cleveland, Ohio. Then, too, Michigan is on the national air routes. Connection points are between Chicago and Grand Rapids; Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Milwaukee; Detroit, Flint, Saginaw, Traverse City and Sault Ste. Marie.
Michigan, as we have noted, is cut into two separate parts by the Straits of Mackinac-divided roughly into wilderness Michigan in the upper peninsula and industrial and agri- cultural Michigan in the lower peninsula. A summarized statement will indicate the great resources of the state. Automobile plants are at Detroit and other cities. Large furniture factories are at Grand Rapids. The nation's lead- ing paper factories are at Kalamazoo. The great iron works and certified seed potato fields are in Antrim County. There are 40,000 acres of orchards found in Berrien County. The world's largest open-air fruit market is at Benton Har- bor. Manistee County is famous for its lumber and salt market-over 10,000 barrels of salt are produced each day here and it is the home of Morton Salt Works, the largest in the world. Mecosta County has the first natural gas
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History of the Brethren in Michigan
field. The largest makers of horsehide work gloves in the country are at Greenville, Montcalm County. A great manu- facturing and tourist center is found at Muskegon. Little Switzerland is the name given to Newaygo County, noted for its winter sports. Battle Creek is famous for Kellogg and Post cereal products and the Battle Creek Sanitarium. Holland is known for its tulip time in May-over 5,000,000 tulips in bloom at one time. Paw Paw in Van Buren County glorifies the grape. And thus we could continue the story of many more historic and important places all over the state.
In the upper peninsula we find a wilderness with forests and streams, familiar only to loggers, trappers and the va- cationists who like to "rough it" in the north woods.
So you see that Père de la Mothe Cadillac found a land greatly favored when he brought his little party of French- men through Lake Ontario to land on the shores of Lake Erie at a point where Detroit now is situated. In 1701 Cadillac wrote in his journal, "The streams and banks are so many vast meadows-the meadows fringed with fruit trees that droop under the multitude of their fruit. The ring-necked pheasant, the quail, the partridge and wood- cock swarm the woods and cover the open country. The climate is temperate-the air very pure. Fish leap in sparkling waters. During the day is a gentle wind and at night the placid sky causes us to enjoy a benign and tranquil sleep." That is Cadillac's description of Michigan -1701 version.
Today in the 1940's, more than two and a quarter cen- turies later, no writer could give a more impressive pic- ture. Flocks of ring-necked pheasants still flourish. There is still good fishing in Michigan's lakes and streams. Where the Indian's birch canoe once was paddled, huge freighters
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A Brief History of the State
and mahogany yachts now steam along. At the same places where the red man fished and hunted for food the white man fishes and hunts for sport. Where wild fruit trees were plentiful, carefully cultivated orchards now supply fruit for the tables of all America. Green fields once carpet- ed with wild flowers now are farmed intensively for grain and fresh vegetables. Near the shores of Lake Erie, where Cadillac landed, stands the important city of Detroit -- "per- haps the world's most modern metropolis."
3. Religious Movements and Denominational Work
The beginning of missionary work and the denomina- tional development in Michigan make a thrilling story.
Père Marquette, who was born in France in 1637, entered the state through Canada and erected the first church in Michigan. He was a young and well-trained Jesuit priest. The Indians welcomed him, and he established many mis- sions along the border.
Illinois Indians visited one of his missions and told won- derful stories of a great river that flowed southward, and also of great lands; these stories created a desire in Mar- quette's heart to find out more about the country. He made the journey southward, founding missions in Illinois on the way and making great discoveries. His health failed and he soon returned to Ludington, where he died May 18, 1675. He was buried at St. Ignace. It is now being planned to have a great stainless steel cross erected above the death site of that great missionary, suitably floodlighted so that it can be seen for many miles in every direction.
Missions were founded by the Jesuits on the northern and southern borders of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Raymbault and Jogues visited the Sault de Ste. Marie in 1641, but do not seem to have any establishment, having returned to their mission at Penc- tanguishine the same year. . . . In October 1665, Father Allonex established the Mission of Chegoimegon, or La Pointe, which had
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History of the Brethren in Michigan
been the destination of Mesnard. The Mission at the Sault Ste. Marie was founded by Marquette in 1668.10
The missions at the Sault Sainte Marie and Michilimack- inac are regarded as the first completely ascertained set- tlements within the present State of Michigan. Both places had much influence upon the spread of religious principles in surrounding territories.
In 1798 Father Gabriel Richard, a priest of the Order of St. Suplice, first came as a resident pastor of the Catholic church of St. Anne, Detroit.
Speaking of religious tendencies among settlers, we quote from Cooley:
Though there were many excellent and sincerely religious persons among them, religion had not been a motive with them in coming into the wilderness. They had come to better their temporal con- ditions, and the hardships and privations of every sort which are incident to life in the woods they had expected to submit to cheer- fully. The Canadian French had their priests and maintained regu- lar church services, but as to the main part of the population Mich- igan might be regarded as missionary ground. Many devoted Chris- tians were for years without opportunity to attend church services; and some so greatly longed for the society of their brethren in Chris- tian Communion that they would go a day's journey, or even far- ther, to attend a meeting. The several denominations sent mis- sionaries hither who came expecting to undergo great hardships and submit to many privations, and none were disappointed in that regard. The Methodists were commonly first in gathering congre- gations in new settlements, and the circuit rider was often a char- acter of note; rough and unlettered and ready to boast, perhaps, that the Lord had been his teacher from the Bible, and not the school- master with fooling grammar. But such men were often sincere and earnest, and being all things to all men, gathered considerable churches and laid the foundation upon which others more compe- tent afterward built. This was the day of camp-meetings and re- vivals, and strange scenes were sometimes witnessed when people had the power and fell to the ground helpless.11
10 James Campbell, Outlines of Political History of Michigan, Scholer & Co., Detroit, 1876. Pages 11-14.
11 Thomas McIntyre Cooley, Michigan: A History of Government, Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston, 1885. Pages 245, 246.
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A Brief History of the State
The first permanent Protestant church in the territory was organized at Detroit in 1818 and called the First Prot- estant Society. Its membership was made up of persons belonging to several bodies of Christians, and it was not denominational in its form, so that ministers of various opinions officiated at different periods. Mr. Monteith was the first settled pastor. Before that time there had been occasional services of different churches, and the society which finally became incorporated had been informally or- ganized in 1816. Methodist clergy had visited Detroit ear- lier, and perhaps some others, but no societies had been formed. Episcopal services had been held by lay-reading, at which Dr. William McDowell Scott generally officiated as reader; and the Rev. Richard Pollard of Sandwich, very soon after the American possession, performed such clerical rites as baptisms, marriages, and burials among the mem- bers of the Episcopal church and others who desired his services. In 1822 the Methodist church became incorpo- rated. In 1824 St. Paul's Episcopal church was organized. Other churches followed. The First Protestant Society be- came a Presbyterian church and is still existing as such.
In his latest book, Religion on the American Frontier, Doctor Sweet records much valuable information about the progress of religious activities. He states that Presbyterian missionaries were sent to Michigan in 1804. Also that a Board of Trust in a meeting at Pittsburgh on January 15, 1822, deemed it wise not to establish a mission among the Ottawa Indians then but to do so as early as convenient.
The beginnings of Presbyterianism in Michigan date from the com- ing of John Monteith to Detroit in 1816 commissioned by the As- sembly's Board of Missions. With Detroit as a center Monteith made frequent missionary excursions, visiting numerous neighbor- ing settlements. For several years following 1818 the Assembly's Board sent out other missionaries for longer or shorter periods, and other Boards, the United Domestic Missionary Society, the United
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History of the Brethren in Michigan
Foreign Missionary Society and the Western Missionary Society of Pittsburgh, also sent workers into the territory both to labor among settlers in the military posts and with the Indian tribes. The well known Indian agent Henry R. Schoolcraft gave encouragement to the work of the Missionaries. In 1827 the Synod of the Western Re- serve authorized the formation of the Presbytery of Detroit consist- ing of five Churches. In 1833 two new presbyteries were formed, the St. Joseph's and the Monroe, which three years later (1836) had thirty-two ministers and fifty-nine Churches.12
In Michigan many churches which began as Congrega- tional became Presbyterian later. This condition resulted from a "Plan of Union" worked out for churches north of the Ohio River. The Plan of Union churches had not proved a success. The Congregational background was influenced by the prevailing theological current of New England and could not adjust to the rigid Scotch-Irish background with the Calvinistic theology of the Presbyterians. These two divergent elements finally brought a schism in 1837-38.
As was mentioned before, the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 greatly facilitated New York immigration into Michigan. Here then we have the beginning of Congre- gationalism. Doctor Sweet says:
The first of the Congregational ministers to arrive in Michigan was Isaac W. Ruggles, who came from a pastorate of the South Bain- bridge Church, one of the New York State Churches which had re- fused to enter the Presbyterian fold. He arrived in Michigan ter- ritory in 1824. Ruggles' staunch Congregationalism and the fact that he had the field largely to himself gave the Congregationalists a start in Michigan which they enjoyed in few other places. Rug- gles settled in Pontiac, where a Presbyterian Church had been formed the previous year, but through him Congregationalism be- gan to blossom in the surrounding territory, to the dismay of the agents of the Missionary Society of Detroit, who were committed to the formation of Presbyterian Churches in the west.13
The preacher was zealous in his work, and by 1833 eight Congregational churches had been started and were under
12 William Warren Sweet, Religion on the American Frontier, University of Chicago, Chicago, 1939. Volume II, page 48.
15 Ibid. Volume III, page 29.
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A Brief History of the State
his care. The controversy which broke out between the Congregational and the Presbyterian Church caused much trouble. Funds were withdrawn from missionary work. The work waned and the activities failed for lack of sup- port from the New England brethren.
Since the great majority of the early Congregational churches in Michigan were made up of people of New Eng- land origin, the worship was patterned accordingly. The majority having come by way of New York brought last- ing elements in their church life. Two churches located at Vermontville and Armada were made up of people who migrated as a colony directly from New England.
During these same years there were many churches of other denominations being formed. The Baptist Church especially was getting started through their revival or pro- tracted meetings. The Episcopalian Church came to the front, but without any revival effort. In southern Michigan the Quakers carried on. They won their way into public affairs through their integrity and thriftiness. They were the first to cry out against slavery, and the slave was always protected by the Friend. In 1847 a party of Hollanders, coming from their native land for greater religious liberty, under the leadership of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte of the Dutch Reformed Church, founded the village of Holland and also Hope College; they were followed from year to year by many others who also settled in the same part of the state, where they had schools and publications in their native language and established many churches. They were sufficiently numerous to give a distinctive character to the population of many localities in that section of the state. But it was a good character and the people were not incongruous with the existing population of the state. A colony of Mormons led by James J. Strong settled in the state but many were lost to the Lutheran Church.
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History of the Brethren in Michigan
Michigan is ranked as the fourth state in regard to the number of denominations within its borders. That is, Illinois leads with ninety-eight, Ohio is second with ninety- six, Pennsylvania is third with ninety-five, and then follows Michigan with eighty-eight. The Methodist Church is the largest denomination in Michigan. The distribution of some of the denominations is significant. Of five prominent denominations in the state, the figures show that the Dis- ciples of Christ has 12,740; the Protestant Episcopal 33,409; the Congregational Christian 35,597; the Lutheran about 116,000; and the Methodist Episcopal 144,094.14
From 1880 on, cities began to grow rapidly, changing the situation from that of a rural to a city church movement. Doctor Sweet says, "So great was the movement of popula- tion from the countryside to cities in such states as Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan that many rural dis- tricts were dangerously depleted." This we know to be true in the northern part of Michigan. Large farms were aban- doned when this rush to the cities occurred about twenty- five years ago.
Such a marvelous state then demands a stronger Church of the Brethren. She must rise to meet the great changes that have taken place within her borders. These and forth- coming changes require a change of emphasis on the part of our church. It seems to be a rich opportunity to fill an ear- nest ministry of Christian teaching by serving both rural and city life in this age. Michigan will continue to be a fertile field for the younger leadership of the church to launch a progressive and sound program for the kingdom. May we actively fill our place of responsibility.
14 Archer B. Bass, Protestantism in the United States, Thomas Y. Crowell Co., New York, 1929. Pages 122 and 123.
CHAPTER II
MOVEMENTS OF EARLY BRETHREN SETTLERS
There are traces of Brethren people who moved into the District of Michigan about the middle of the nineteenth century. The movement was not in large numbers or rapid because there were numerous hazards to overcome. People from other parts of the brotherhood were reluctant to leave their homes and adventure into a state about which they knew very little. In spite of the boasts made by those who had made the venture, their friends were still inclined to wait and see the outcome. Despite the fact that all over the brotherhood many were seeking new locations, the movement to Michigan was rather slow. Dr. John Flory tells us in his book, Flashlights from History, that this period witnessed many migrations of people from the East. These were moving westward into new territory. Undirected development occurred about the middle of the nineteenth century and our people were migrating to vari- ous parts of the country. He states further: "During these years the Brethren Church had spread from the Delaware River to the Rocky Mountains and from Michigan and Iowa to Texas. It was a period of struggle, subduing wild nature, establishing homes and churches."1
These early settlers of our people located mostly in the central part of the state. The land could be purchased for from nine to fifteen dollars per acre. It was a country thickly covered with timber, and the trails were hard and uncertain. It required much hard work to clear the ground. Even today the pine stump fences indicate the tremendous work that it took to get the land ready for farming. One
1 John S. Flory, Flashlights from History, Brethren Publishing House, Elgin, Illinois, 1932. Page 69.
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History of the Brethren in Michigan
sees a marvelous sight when he drives through certain parts of the state and views scores of these fence rows. The settlers had, to a large extent, chosen a favorable part for rural life, with which they were chiefly concerned. They were farmers and naturally were in a position to prosper in the field of agriculture. It was not very long until home- steads were taken up which became their own property, and the brethren and sisters were becoming a part of the
PINE STUMP FENCE
new country. As migration continued, here and there would be formed a nucleus of members who were soon eager to hear the Word preached.
On the records of the churches there are revealed many familiar family names. The records of the Elsie church in Clinton County show such family names as Baker and Al- baugh. These were among the very first Brethren to come into the state and settle permanently. These and several
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Movements of Early Brethren Settlers
other families met and held their services in one another's homes. However, there are traces of a few scattered fami- lies at other places.
A descriptive account of a journey to Michigan was given in the Gospel Visitor by Elder John Wise of Pennsylvania.
I left home on the 28th of October, 1863, on a tour or mission to the State of Michigan, in order to visit the few brethren that we knew resident in the State. Accompanied by br. William A. Murry of Green Co., Pa., we met with brethren in the Black River district, Medina Co., O., and enjoyed a pleasant communion season with them, on the night of the first day of November. We held some interesting meetings with the brethren at Black River. And, on the morning of the 3rd of November, accompanied by br. Samuel Garver of Black River church, we set out for the State of Michigan in a carriage.
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