USA > Michigan > The history of the Church of the Brethren in Michigan > Part 9
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In April 1942 Brother Shafer was called to take over the pastorate at Pontiac. Brother Cornelius Hagle was installed into the ministry on June 6, 1943, and has given much time to the church work at Muskegon. He took over the work until another pastor was called.
Brother Elmer Leckrone was the summer pastor in 1942. At the next council meeting he was elected as pastor. He has carried on devotedly and untiringly with an aggressive spirit, always looking forward and upward for guidance.
On April 11, 1943, Brother R. J. McRoberts was elected elder-in-charge, and he is still serving in that capacity.
The members were looking forward with keen anticipa- tion to the dedication of their new house of worship. The work on the chapel has now been completed. It is a lovely light room that makes one feel the nearness of God. It is well equipped with new pews, pulpit and chairs. This new house of God has been made possible by the work and sharing of the members. It will surely redound to the glory of God.
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On Sunday, July 29, 1945, the new sanctuary was dedi- cated to God. The day was filled with many inspiring thoughts and messages. The pastor. Brother Elmer F. Leck- rone, acted as the general chairman. Brother J. Edson Ulery gave a sermon in the morning on The Evolution of Worship.
The dedicatory service was held in the afternoon. Broth- er Ulery preached the sermon, using for his subject, This House of Worship. Words of greeting were given by the former pastor, Brother L. W. Shafer, and by Brother Arthur E. Taylor, the district fieldman. Brother R. J. McRoberts had charge of the devotions. Special music was furnished by the women's and young people's choirs under the direc- tion of Brother Leckrone. Many of the churches of Michi- gan and Indiana were represented.
So amid the inspired wisdom of the speakers, the beauty and newness of the building, and the love and fellowship of believers was this new church of the district dedicated.
NEW HAVEN
The New Haven church was organized over sixty-five years ago. Brother Daniel Chambers became the first elder. He, with his family, consisting of his wife and three sons, John W., Daniel E., and Milton M., moved to the place which they developed near the present site of the New Haven church. When Brother Chambers moved from Bu- cyrus, Crawford County, Ohio, into Gratiot County, Michi- gan, there were only a few Brethren families living in what afterwards became the bounds of the New Haven church. Some of these folks had come into this section about 1855. A few of these people had settled near North Star.
Services were held in schoolhouses until the church building was erected. The lot for the church was pur- chased in 1887 from Eliezer Bosserman and wife.
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NEW HAVEN
Through correspondence with the Primitive Christian and the Brethren at Work, publications of our brotherhood, and through private correspondence with those who were anxious to secure homes in a Brethren environment and to be of assistance in establishing the Brethren Church, a number of families located in the newly developing country. Among the families were those of Elder John Brillhart, Philip Probst, and James Richard of Crawford County, Ohio. The latter were deacons. About this time Brother Jesse Sherrick and others with families settled at what was known as North Star. Among the families who moved into the neighborhood of the New Haven church were those of David White, Moses Brillhart, George Stone, Jacob Kep- ner, Reuben Yutzey, S. A. Ritter, Jacob Tombaugh, Eman- uel Bollinger, Fred Kleinhan, Barnhart Shrider, William Smith, Robert McMillan, George Emerick, Frank Huffman, William Sower, and H. D. Plott.
The church was strengthened and built up by the evan- gelistic work and the fellowship of the older churches even
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though they were fifty or sixty miles away. Some other churches were started from this congregation. It was characteristic in those early days for churches to have sev- eral houses in one congregation. From here church activ- ity was begun at North Star and at Crystal. In 1901 the Crystal church was organized. This made the New Haven church much smaller.
In 1903 Elder C. L. Wilkins and family were received by letter, and he was elder-in-charge for several years. Elder D. E. Sower and family moved into the church about 1919 and were residents a short time. Elder J. F. Sherrick and family moved from North Star to a farm near the New Haven church about 1910.
In 1919 the church house burned to the ground and some papers which contained very valuable records were de- stroyed. In the following year a more modern building was erected. Elder C. H. Deardorff, elder-in-charge at the time, preached the dedicatory sermon. The building is free from debt.
The church school has been a vital part of this church. It has functioned efficiently for many years. The leaders there have always increased the standards in Christian edu- cation as instituted by our general brotherhood. Sister Lois Sherrick, who has served as Sunday-school secretary for the district and who is a member of the board of Christian ed- ucation, has contributed much to the success of this church school. The church is splendidly situated in a rural com- munity in which it may come in contact with many families.
Preaching services have been a spiritual force through the years. The free ministry has always been the regular plan used here. Brother J. F. Sherrick was elder-in-charge for many years. Brother J. J. Cook is now the presiding eld- er. He and his family moved to a farm home near Middle- ton in 1941. He is the principal of the Middleton high school
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and gives his ministry free to the church. Brother Jacob Dick of Bethany Biblical Seminary, Chicago, was the sum- mer pastor in 1940. His service and leadership gave much inspiration to the people.
Delbert Cook, son of J. J. Cook, was licensed to the minis- try in August 1943. At the same meeting Brother and Sis- ter Burton Sherrick and Brother and Sister Robert Cramer were elected to the deacon's office.
This is a thriving rural church. It is located in a com- munity where its spiritual influence will be lasting.
NORTH STAR
There were a few members located in New Haven Town- ship, Gratiot County, about 1856. The church here was a branch of the New Haven congregation. A new log church building was erected sometime between 1885-1889. The members who lived in the area of this church were M. M.
NORTH STAR
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Sherrick, David E. Sower, Samuel Bollinger, and J. F. Sher- rick and their families. All of these men were elected to the ministry while they were living here. These became prom- inent leaders, and are still ministering. Brother Daniel Chambers, elder of the New Haven church, also ministered here.
There was a frame building moved onto this site about 1900. It was located three miles east of Ithaca, the county seat of Gratiot County, and was built to accommodate the families of members who had settled in that locality. Those were horse-and-buggy days, and the distance was too great for the people to go to the New Haven church, which was thirteen miles south of Ithaca. Services were discontinued here around 1910, because the members could then attend the New Haven church. The building was sold to the Meth- odist people, and it was moved away in 1915.
ONEKAMA
Here is a church that has given continuous support to the district program. It has maintained high standards of Chris- tian living in a tourists' village. The author realizes that much history has transpired here that has failed to reach the pages of this book.
In the autumn of 1902 Dr. Garry Sadler of Waddams Grove, Illinois, came to Manistee County to look for a loca- tion for health as well as a practice. Then in the spring of 1903 the family located in Onekama. About this time the Lake View church was organized, which included all of Manistee County. In the spring of 1906 Dr. Sadler made a professional call to see J. Edson Ulery, who at that time lived near Brethren, Michigan. When pay was offered for the call (a drive of forty miles) Dr. Sadler's reply was: "It can only be paid in preaching." Accordingly, Brother Ulery
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in the month of March held a week's Bible study in the Congregational church at Onekama. The doctor paid the janitor, light and fuel bill. The next month, April 1906, Brother Ulery and his family of five moved to Onekama. The Congregational church, not having a pastor, asked him to preach, and for three years a splendid union service was enjoyed. Meanwhile, because of additions by baptism and
ONEKAMA
others moving in, it was thought best that arrangements should be made whereby services might be held, as Brother Ulery states it, "under our own vine and fig tree."
The church was organized in 1908. The assigned territory included the west end of Manistee County. Brethren George Deardorff and John Lair aided in the organization. In the fall of 1910 a lot was purchased for a building site. Dr. Sadler paid cash in order that the lot might be held until the time when the church could be built. It was not his privilege to see the new building, because he died that winter.
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On June 25, 1911, the church house was dedicated. It was a building that had a good auditorium and a good basement, and it was well equipped for church school purposes. Dr. M. M. Sherrick preached the dedicatory sermon.
Thus was the beginning of the Brethren church in Onek- ama. The church record contains the names of many who have united with the church by baptism as well as by let- ter. The Onekama church was greatly weakened in mem- bership by the industrial movement. As many as twenty- eight letters were granted at one business meeting. The church was never large in membership, but it was always active in the work of the Master.
The deacons that served the church earlier were F. M. Buckingham, Roy Whitehouse, J. E. Erickson, George Bow- man, Howard Deal and David Joseph. On October 17, 1940, John C. Joseph and Daniel E. Deal were elected deacons.
Brother J. Edson Ulery, the present elder and pastor, has been exceedingly faithful in ministering to the whole com- munity for many years. You will be interested in the fol- lowing account. Mr. Keddie, editor of a Manistee County paper, has a popular lecture which he calls A Manistee County History Quiz. One of the questions which he asks is "What man in our county is credited as being the main leader in the organization of five Sunday schools in our county?" While the audience is trying to recall the answer, Mr. Keddie strokes his face in the manner of a man stroking his beard. This becomes the clue that enables somebody to answer, "J. Edson Ulery." This is the correct answer. He led in organizing Sunday schools at Brethren, Harlan, Onekama, Long Lake, and Marilla. This is an outstanding achievement. It would be impossible to relate all the im- portant work of the church and the kingdom that Brother Ulery has done both in his district and in churches outside this district.
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The Onekama church is located in the midst of a popular resort and retreat region. The summer church services in- clude many guests and strangers that enter the house of worship on the Lord's Day. The pulpit is often occupied by some guest speaker.
The church is privileged to have many capable leaders to give advancement to its various organizations. Espe- cially is it blessed with children's leaders. Sister Grace Deal Showalter, who is a member of the district historical committee, was elected to the ministry here in 1928. She is serving on the district children's cabinet. Sister Ulery has been faithful in working with the women of the church. The church has developed many efficient leaders of youth who have served on the district B.Y.P.D. cabinet.
Brother John E. Joseph was a minister who moved into the congregation in 1917. He labored in the ministry here and passed away in December 1944. Brother Howard Deal was elected to the ministry on September 28, 1939, and has given free ministry to the Onekama church. David Joseph was also elected to the ministry here.
Fire destroyed the entire church building on Sunday afternoon, February 17, 1946. This disaster puts a great hardship upon the congregation. Unquestionably the people will unite with a willing spirit to reconstruct a house of worship that will be adequate for future needs. A memorial fund was started a few years ago in honor of Brother and Sister Edson Ulery's forty years of ministerial service in Manistee County. This memorial fund will be augmented by a financial campaign to begin immediately in order to raise the amount needed for the new building. The church is also inaugurating plans to commemorate the fiftieth an- niversary of Brother Ulery's election to the ministry on August 15, 1946, as a closing climax to the fund-raising cam- paign. In the meantime the Congregational church there
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has graciously made available their church building for the Brethren to conduct services until they can rebuild.
OZARK
In the spring of 1906 Brother S. D. Lovegrove and Brother L. F. Lovegrove, both of Jonesboro, Tennessee, came to the North to seek a location where they might establish their homes. They later moved their families and settled in the neighborhood of Ozark, Michigan, in the upper peninsula. A few years passed rapidly in the new, unsettled country. Then a small group gathered in the Ozark schoolhouse and began a Sunday school. Brother S. D. Lovegrove was the first superintendent. These were days in which those com- mitted to the Christian way of life persevered to carry on the work of the Master.
A Baptist preacher, Rev. T. E. Wells of New York, spent a short time with the people there. Later they had with them Rev. Stone, a Methodist preacher, to assist in Sunday- school work and preaching services. The Brethren people were not satisfied until they could be in charge of the work themselves.
In the summer of 1925 Brother E. E. Eshelman, district fieldworker, labored with them, and returned the next sum- mer to help them in the services that were then held in the Ozark schoolhouse.
Brother John E. Wells came from Saskatchewan, Can- ada, in August 1926. He moved there to become the prin- cipal of the public school. Being a Brethren minister he conducted the first revival in the community. Twelve young folks accepted Christ. Brother Wells taught a mission study class during the first year. The same summer, Sisters Vel- ma Clannin and Helen Forney came and conducted the first daily vacation Bible school ever held in that section.
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Brother E. E. Eshelman and Brother Samuel Bowser came on October 13, 1926, for the purpose of organizing the church. At that time Rollin Lovegrove was installed into the min- istry. Brethren E. A. Ball and Cecil Lovegrove were elected as deacons.
Reuben Boomershine, fieldworker for the district, held a meeting in which fourteen were baptized. Then Brother J. E. Wells began as pastor and elder. This was in August
OZARK
1927. That summer a young people's organization was started, and they met for worship and discussion.
The first communion service was held in the Ozark school- house in September 1927. Brother and Sister I. G. Blocher of Greenville, Ohio, were there and assisted in the service. At that time there were twenty-one members.
A building program was launched in May 1928. Brother J. E. Wells was chosen to solicit for the building fund. Then in July 1928 the schoolhouse was bought for $150.00 and used for church purposes. On May 12, 1929, Brother Samuel
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History of the Brethren in Michigan
Bowser of the Elmdale church came to assist in finding a location for the church building. The church voted to locate on Brother L. F. Lovegrove's farm. One and one-half acre of land in a maple grove was purchased for the church site. In the spring of 1932 the schoolhouse was moved to the church grounds and placed on a concrete foundation. On September 25, 1932, Brother I. G. Blocher preached the dedicatory sermon. His text was chosen from Matthew 16: 18, "Upon this rock I will build my church." It was an all-day meeting and a large group enjoyed the fellowship.
Paul Lovegrove, son of S. D. Lovegrove, was licensed to preach in the fall of 1941 and relicensed in 1942. At the same meeting Earl Funderburg was licensed to the min- istry. Both of these brethren were installed into the min- istry on August 1, 1943. Earl Funderburg moved to a farm at Homestead, and became pastor of the church there in April 1944. He was a good leader in the Sunday school and with the youth of the church. The Ozark people were reluctant to release him to go to a new field.
In November 1932 Brother Charles Forror of Brethren held an evangelistic meeting in which seven came out for Christ. He returned the following year for another meeting. In the fall of 1934 Brother I. G. Blocher held a week's meet- ing and five were added to the church. Sister Elma Rau of Beaverton conducted the song service during those meet- ings, and her work was inspiring and helpful to all.
Leon Telgenhoff was installed into the ministry by mem- bers of the district ministerial board and since then has gone to labor in other fields in another denomination. Broth- er J. E. Wells labored here faithfully as pastor and elder until he went to another city of the upper peninsula in 1941. Brother John L. Van Meter succeeded him. He moved here from Midland in June 1942. The church had
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been without ministerial help for several months until he and his family located here.
This church, being isolated from all of our other churches, has done some remarkable service in the community which it serves. It is now free of debt. The building is in need of some repairs which will make it more adequate for church purposes. Many young men of the community have been called to serve their country; this fact places more responsi- bility upon the few who remain. So this little rural group of Brethren are finding Christian fellowship as they pro- mote the cause of Christ in a difficult section of our district.
PONTIAC2
The first Church of the Brethren in Pontiac, Michigan, started as a small Sunday school at the home of Brother and Sister Enoch J. Ebey, in July 1920. The following ac- count is quoted from the thesis of their son, Robert Ebey, who was called to the ministry in this church.
When the Ebeys moved to their home at 139 North Jessie Street in 1920, the nearest churches were the large downtown churches. The "East Side," as it was called, did not have the best reputation. A few years later when some of the church men had picked out the desired church lot the real estate man forcefully remarked, "You don't want to build a church in that neighborhood. You wouldn't get anyone to come." This East Side community could hardly have been called religious. But one major characteristic of this part of town was a tremendous asset in the growth of the church. This was the great community spirit which prevailed. "We all worked to- gether" was a common remark. The neighborhood turned out for every community activity. Before the coming of the Church of the Brethren there was no East Side church to bind the people together religiously.
" NOTE: Permission has been granted by Robert Ebey, a ministerial student at Bethany Biblical Seminary, Chicago, to quote several paragraphs from his thesis, Pioneering of the Brethren in Michigan. The author desires to give him due credit, because it is his home church and in giving the account many interesting experiences as he remembered them from his youth are related which otherwise would have been omitted from this history.
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History of the Brethren in Michigan
The Ebey home in Pontiac had always been a meeting place for the neighborhood children. While the Ebey family was living in North Manchester, Indiana, Louise had become enthusiastic over their Junior League, and since there were so many children of all ages in Pontiac, she started a similar program there. The children en- joyed the stories so much that they soon brought their parents. The children called it "Ebey's Church," but Mr. Ebey stressed the title, "The Brethren Sunday School."
PONTIAC
Prayer meetings were started and were held quite regularly before the first Brethren church service was actually held. This first preaching service was held one Sunday evening during the summer of 1921 and was conducted by Rev. Charles Deardorff. The theme of his sermon was, "If you take a group of live coals and spread them out they grow dim and die in a short time, but if you rake them to- gether they glow and produce warmth." Nearly a hundred persons heard this sermon from the front lawn and porch of the Ebey home. Brother L. T. Holsinger held the first revival service in the Ebey home during January, 1922. As many as sixty-five were in the home at one time during these revival meetings. At the close of this revival meeting the first baptisms were administered by the Church of the Brethren in Pontiac and the first communion service was held.
The writer can remember a few services in which the home actually overflowed with people. One service in particular, within his mem-
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ory, was attended by so many people that the preaching was done from the front doorway with the preacher facing the house. The dining room, the living room, the kitchen and the bedroom were all full. The writer was with a group of youngsters sitting on the stair- steps peering out between the bars of the banister. More people were upstairs listening as best they could while still more persons were on the front porch and lawn.
Many of the early prayer meetings were directed by ministers from the various Pontiac churches. At one of these the Nazarene min- ister who was in charge asked each individual to name the church to which he belonged. Mr. Ebey answered, "The Church of the Brethren." The minister asked him what creed they followed and his reply was, "The only creed we follow is the New Testament, but we follow such practices as feet washing and-" At that the min- ister threw up his hands and retorted, "Feet washing! Oh, there's nothing to that." But a good Mennonite woman effectively replied, "Well, if you don't think there's anything to feet washing you'd just ought to try it sometime.".
During the summer of 1922, the church lot was bought and an old school shack was purchased and torn down for building materials. Though only seven years old at the time, the author [ Robert Ebey] has the pleasant memory of helping to pull nails and of doing other simple tasks which delight any boy. Grandpa Crumrine, a car- penter, had started the building on July 3, 1922, but July 4th showed the greatest progress. Since it was a holiday from regular jobs, the men turned out in a body to build the church. They began at day- light and were served breakfast and dinner at the church by the women. By night the four walls were up, the floor joists were in, and they were ready for the rafters. On July 14, 1922, the first serv- ice was held in the church even though the windows and doors were not yet in. Several persons, too timid to come in, listened to the music and the sermon from the street.
The church now is situated in one of the most desirable parts of the city, at 46 North Rose Lawn Drive, on a beauti- ful street, within a few blocks of the junior high school building and within one block of the street accessible to city transportation.
Brother John R. Snyder of Pennsylvania held the first services in the church building, beginning before the doors and windows were placed. At the time, July 1922, three were baptized. In September 1923 Brother George Mishler
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of South Whitley, Indiana, conducted a two-week revival, which resulted in twenty-nine conversions. In the spring of 1925 Brother George H. Killian conducted a revival, bap- tizing eight. In March 1924 Brother J. Edwin Jarboe held a revival which resulted in twenty-two conversions. The work of faithful leaders was producing a harvest.
During May 1926 Brother Homer A. Schrock of Middle- bury, Indiana, conducted the dedicatory services for the new church. Brother C. L. Wilkins was the first elder. The ministers from Detroit served in the preaching program and in other ways during the beginning of the church. The young people of the Live Wire class have been of great serv- ice in building the church. By means of social activities and freewill offerings they have furnished money to provide comfortable chairs for the church in addition to furnishing very enjoyable work for the people of the community.
The first daily vacation Bible school was directed by Sis- ters Helen Forney and Velma Clannin in August 1926. The enrollment was sixty-nine with an average attendance of forty.
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