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For Half A Century

For Half A Century image For Half A Century image
Parent Issue
Day
2
Month
April
Year
1897
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Just fifty years ago last Sunday the Congregational churcti of this city heid its iirst pubiic religious service, and in commemoration of that event appro pviate exercises, were held 1 st Saturday evening and all day Sunday. Saturday evening the Ladies' a id society served supper in the lecture room of the church, to which about 300 people, consisting of the members and pewholders, sat down. The occasion took the form of a family reunión and was a most informal and delightful affair. President Angelí prcsided in his most happy manner. opening the exercises with brief introductory remarks and reading sever;il congratulatory letters from friends and former members of the church. Mrs. Martha Ilill Taylor and Mr. Addison P. Mills, two of the nal members of the church, were present, and tolrt of the strugdes, trials and triumphsof tli ose pioneer days. They recalled many incidents and events, almost miraculous, connected with the church's history which shnw'd that the guiding spirit of the Almighty has bt-en with this organiz ition in a rriarked degree" during its fifty years of existence. Followinar the reraarks of these pioneers carne Kev. II. P. DeForest, ü. D. of I etroit, who in behalf of the ('ongregationalists of the State, extended the heartiest congratulations and well-wishes. He pointed out the fact that tliis church, owing to its proximity tothe great University of Michigan, is favored bevond most chUrches. He closecl by paying a heartl'elt tribute to the present pastor, Hev J. V. Bradshaw, congratulating thé church upon having a pistor who stands so hisjh in the esteem and love of all Michigan Oongregationalists. After a solo by Airs. 11. II. Kempf, which was rendered in her usual creditable marnier, Rev. J. M. (Jelston of the Presbyterian church, made a brief conerr.itulatory addiess, expressing the kindliest greetings of the sister cnurcnes or the city. The Ladies' Aid Society, which has" done so mueh for the church. was represented by Mrs. H. S. Dean, who traced the history of that organization sinH its inception. The society has raised in va'ious ways since it was orgaized. over $11,000. The audience was then favored with another solo by Mrs. Kempf, after wliich Prof. M. L. D'Ooge, who for 22 years was superintendent of the Sunday sclv ol. gave an interesting historical sketch of that useful auxiliary to the church. The Sunday school was organized on the same day as the church -0 years ugo Ilon. N. W. Cheevor, on )elialf of the society and choir, revievvrd the history of those organizaions. ifter whu-h Kev. JS'ehemiah lo.vnton of Detroit, and Rev. V. If Ryder, were calle I out for impromptu dddres-.es. The exerdses of the even ng were closed by singing " JJlest be he Tie that Binds" 'J'he services Sund y were of a lielp'ul and inspiring oharacter. Thechurch vas beautifully decorated with poited plants A large audienc ■ was present at the moniing service, which oconrred at 10:3(1. A chorus choir led tne singng, and rendered tüe following fion: "The Jleavens are Telling." Mr. Dudley Taylor, accompanied by the choir, sang "Lord, With GlowinoIleart," after whieh Rev. Wm. II. Kyder, I). D., of Andover Theological -eminary, preached from the text,"I have sent you to reap that wtureon ye bestowed no labour; other men laourêd and ye are entered into their labours." - Jolin 4, 'S-i. Dr. Ryder was pastor of the First Congregational church of Ann Arbor from 1877 to 1888, and is pleasantly remembered by the people of this city. Kis address, which was practical and helpful, was listened to with deep interest. At 12 o'clock occurred the Sunday school exercises. which were of a com memorative nature. Short addresses were delivered by Dr. Ryder and f ormer superintendents of the school. At 4 p. m. a communion service was observed, at which Mrs. N. 8. HofE sang " He Was Despised and liejected," from' " Alessiah." The evening service, however, was probably the most inter.sting of the sunday exercises. The church was packed to its utmost capacity. Many were present from the different city churches. An elabórate mus cal pr - gram was rendered by the chorus choir, asssted bv Master Freddie Daley. It was as follows: AltoSolo- "Ave Maria," Luzzi Mi.-. Alta Boach. Soprano Solo-" Guide us. O Savior, " . . . Goodwin Master Freddie Daley. Violin Solo-"Cradle Son " Hauser Mr. Ariuand Miller. " Inflammatiis." from ■ Stabat Mater" Master FreJdie Daley and Chorus. Bev. J. W. Brádshaw, D. D., pastor oí the ehurch, delivered an historical aildress, and by a curious coincidence took for his text the same passage of scripture that Dr. Uyder had preached from in the inorning. JJelow we print the address in full. Dr. Brad-haw lias been pastor of this chureh since Jíovember Ist, 1888, and under his ministrations he chureh has grown steadily in numjers and in spiritual strength rl here certainly eould be no more auspicious eommencement of a second half cenury's work and service thin to have ihis devoted, earnest pastor in charge. Ti ik Üem crat joins with a multitude of f riends in wishing for the chureh another flt'ty years ot' even more blessed ervice in tne advaneement of Ohrist's ciimdum. We are able to present in this ssue a picture of the first chureh buildng, which will be a familiar ight to ne . i rl y all of our readers. This old chureh stood at the corner of Fif'th ave. and Washington st. When the present beautiful edilice was erected on the corner of t-tate and Williams sts., the old chureh was sold to the Zion chureh, who rem odeled it somewhat and occupied it until 1893, when the present Zion's chureh was built. We are. also, vei y glad to be able to publish portraits of live of the pastors of the chureh, and regret that we are unable to obtain photographs of the other pastors. Dit. BRADSHAW'S ADDRESS. John IV, 38- Other men labored; and ve are entered into their labors. As the heirs to a heritage we are met today to sarvey the legacy which has been bequeathed to us. A considerable number, indeed, are still with us. wbo recall and who participated in the struggle and self denial of which this beautiful and bel .ved church home is the abiding memoriai. A few, a very few, look hack across the interim of half a eentiiry to t'e feeble beginnings of this church's life. and recall the incidents and vicissitudes of the long journey to the point at which we stand today. For the most of us, however, who are at present enjoying the privileges and blessings of this church of Jesus Christ, tlie words with which we began are literally trae: "Other men labored and ye are entered into their labors." To recall those labors, to retrace the steps by which, from humble beginnings, our present favored eondition has bef n attidned for us is the duty and privilege of this occasion. Any organization which possesses sufflcient vitalitv to m nntiin its existence and increase its strength for fitïy years, may be assumed to be an outgrowth of the life of its time. In the conditions amid which it originated, may be sought the inttuences which gave it. birth, and which molüed its early development. As we look back to the birth day of this church, we shall more just y appreciate the significance of this half century of its history, if we endeavt r torecall, in out, ine, the status of iifty years ago. In 1847 Michigan was jnst completing her first decade of statehood. With her population of . 375,000, scattered principally through the three southern tiers of cnunties, she was graclually emerging froin Ihe period of pioneer life. Detroit, still tinged with the romance of colonial dajs, had become a town of 20.i'00 people; and Ann Arbor with a population of 4,000, stooct second in the state. We may f mey the seat of govern ment. from pureíy geographieal considations, migrating in this year 1847 trom Detroit to Lansins;- wherd it f und avvaiting it a cap. tal city, reported two years earlier s coutaining a population of 88 soiils. Grand Kapids had aitaind apopulatioi of 2,600, while East sa?i naw, Hay City, Muskegon, JVIanistee and other plae-s of importauce at present were yet to be. Methods of communicition were slill largely primitive. 'L'ravel eistward from Detroit was al'o?ether by water; and the burst of enthiisiasm foriniernal improvements had resulted in a grievous debt and three fracrments of railway; reaching respectively froin Detroit to Pontiac, from Detroit to Marshall and from Monroe to Ilills d;le. Michigan IJniversity, with a faculty of seven and wi h 89 students. had graduated lts seeond class the preceding summer. The follovving statement taken from the catalogue of l4ti-47 will sutlicientiy indícate the modest siinplieity of the life of those davs: "Including board, washing and hooks, the necessary expenses for a student for a ye ir will range froin $70 to $100.'' UoiuiuucU on pagu ü. Continued from pagel. i ' The early móüthsöf 1847 sawths ; country tense with excitement touching the question of slavery ollow ing tól eleet.cn oí President Polk. the annexation of Texas the war with Mexico S the discussion oí the Witmot Proriso had roued the mti-slavery sentiment of the northem states to a pitch Btftoteosityneverbeforeattainea. With this condition of tbe public uiind the beginnings of this church are closely Scarcely less marked was the agitation in the realm of theologicil opinión occasioneel by the teachings of überiin ■eminary. The views ot Kev. Chas G. Finney, Professor of Theology in that nstitution. coQcerning . certain doctrines especiallythose lelating todivme overeígnty tlie agency of man and fK-rsonal hoüne-s. were widely divergen! ram those of the older Calvimsni. Asaiesult Oberlinand ita iheology w.re at this time, Larjtely under ban anxong the Presbyterian churches of this región. Sucli in unperreci. üuuhk ww "■ environment, social political and tbeofogical, within which this church had its Origin. The fresbyterian church in Ami Ar kor from its organization in 1820, had included unong its inembers some who were of Congregational antecedent. Durinï the twenty yeara which follovved, psrsons of Congregational sym patines who carne to reside here generally ilentifii-d themselves with that church. AmoDg these were some who accepted the modifled Calvinism oí New England and the teachings ot Oberlin Tne membership also included many who shared fully the ani islavery sentiment of their time; anieetiDgof prayer for the enslaved being iieaularlv maintained. The pastor of the Presbytenan cnurcn, at the time of which we are thinking, white disti iguished for his abihty, ïeaming and high eharacter, was. hoy ever very firin in his adherenoe to Calvinismof the more positive type, and bc ng a Southerner by birth and in sym y. he was not in accord with a considerable portion of the ehurcli touch ing the questiou of slavery. As a consequence the advisabmty ot TKanizing anotlu r church caine tobe eonsidered. At a meeting held I Dth 1847, at the resdence of Clias Moseley, the following resolutions wcic adonted: I.- That the cause of religión demands at this time the organization of another religious society in Ann Arbor. II -That we are in favor of organiz ioir soo:i a Congregatiooal church in Ann Arbor, and a relig.ous society connected therewith. III.- That when we orgamze ourselves into a church we adopt articles at Christian faith. deemed essenlial by NewEngland and Michigan Orthodox Conifrejíational (fhurches. The steps preliminary to the organization of the church were marked by busiiwsslike promptness and decisión. At thia tirst meeting, Dr. Geo. Hill, U'm. Kiiishv and Win. S. Saunders were appointed a committej to select a lot for a hoiw of worship. The lot on the corner of Washington and Fifth streeta was selected and purcbased; artieles of faith, based on i of the First church of Har! Conn.. and a covenant modeled alter tliat of the Coigregatiooal churc Wetlineii. Mhi s. were agreed upon; and the f ramework of an organization was tlius completed before any list of ïneinbers had been secured or any previous ehirrch connections severed. On March 23d, 50 years aso la-l Tnesday, at a eouneil convened in the byterian house of worship, The Pirst Congregational Ohurch of Am Arfaorwas duly recgnized, consisting f 45 members dismisseii irom the Presbytenan church Two sermons rere preached, Lonm Milis aun james {íibson were ordained as deacons: the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered, and tiie churctl, completely organized, started up n its c-ureer ustsix weeks trom the date of Üie first preliminary meeting. ïhe court house had been sécured as a plai-e oí' worship tor the period of six ïnonths, and on Suiulay. March 28th, 50 years ao tliis day, the örst Sabbath services were held, with preaching in the morning, afternoon and evening by the Be.r. E. 1'. Ingersoll. Of Uie original 45 members live still remain, four of whom, Mrs Mail ha Hill Taylor, Mr. Calvin W. B1ÍS3, Mr. A. K. Hall and Mr. Addison 1'. Mills. are with us today. The fifth. Mr. Prederick 11. Hall, is prevented by feeble health from being present. The early days of the new organization were dfays 'of struggle. lts mefflbers were richer in faith than ia this ■world's goods. For a year and eighl months their repeated efforts to secure apastor were unavailing. During the greater part of this time, however, the pulpit was acceptably supplied by Rev'. E. P. Ingersoll. At the same time, through the exercïse of great self-denial, sutlieient funda had been obtamed to begin the erection of a house of worship. !iut thedisappearanceof a contractor with several hundred dollars of the society's funds before the building was finished left the treasury euipty, and conipelled the heavilv burdened Chutch t borrow an amount sufficient for the osmpletion of the work. ïhe experiences of this period were not altogetlier disconr;iging, however ïlie spiritual life of the church was ■rigorous and alert. The inspiration o1 deiioiniiiational fellowship was securec thiough unión with tne jacKson Assooiation of Congregational churehes; and, within a year and eight months from the organization of the church, 20 were added to its membership. ïhe coming of the lirst pastor marked the dawn of better days. On the 18th of Xovember, 1848, "l?ev. L. Smtth llobart began his fruitf ui pastorate of nearly six years. 'J he work of buildwascarried fonvard eaergetically, and on the 2lst of June 184. the fint church ediflce was dedicated to the service of Ahnighty God. In the autumn following special services wete held under the direction of üev. J. T. Avery, as a result of which 22 were added tó the church on confesOf their faith. During the pastorate of Mr. Hobart ïlie ehurch began to make regular con tributionsto the work of missions, the American Missionary Association being chosen as the agent for the distribntion of its gifts A contingent fund was established for the relief of indigent members. A inonthly meeting of praver for the enslaved had been one Of the institutions of the church from itsincepüon and ata later date, antislavery reaolutions were adoptea. pedarme that "the practice of treating liunian beings as property inyclvcsau utter disregard of the plainest dicti of humanity, and is a gross violation of the spirit and principies of the gosnel of Christ." . . „ lt was also votecl that the juice of the grape obtain d from raisins should be furnished for sacramental use. rath' r than the commou alcolionu We are surely warranted in the indulKence of an honorable pnde that in the beginning of its history the attitude of tais church upon graat que3tions of reform was so aecidedly in advance of current sentiment. lnjanuary, 1851, after two years of service Mr.' Holiart wa formally in stalled. and continued in the paatorate of the church until November 5, I8o4. During bis ministry the prospenty oí the church was uninterrupted. One hundred and eight members we ( added the membership at the time of hi i-Pinnval beinar one hundrea ana seventeen. ... „ Wnjlewe thus honor tlie fidelity ot Mr. Ilobart in his ministry to this church c shóuld do ourselves discredit did we fail torecall the important services he was rendering to i op greirationalism in general: not onlv 111 i interior states, but in the older pari of tl ie country as well. In the earlydaysof western migration, it was assumed by those wbo na nherited the church polity of the nl rrim Fathers that Congregationalism would not bear transporting to new and unsettled regions. lt was iinigined that a stronger form of church government was indispensable in the conditions of pioneer life. s a consequence, those who removed from Xew Ëngland and eastern New York lo the newer seotions of the country were advised by men of influence in Congregational circles at the Kast to aftiliate themselves wïth l'resbvterian ihurche3. The result was that, until about 1840, Congregationalism had few representatiyes and still less recognition in all this interior región. fongregat'onal ministers from the Eaa( identitied themselves with Presbytery. Congregational cburch mem bêrs built up Presbyterian ehurches: manj f the churcbes of that denomination in Michigan at the present time being t!it' offspring of Xew Englind : Congregationalism. Mr. I rnhart v:is one of the flrst of the Congregational ministers who, coming to Michigan trom the Kast, were determined to be loyal to the polity of their lal her-;. Regardless of the iotim.it ion that he need not expect aid trom the Home Missionary Society un [esa heunited with the Presbytery, he stoutly refused to do so. Under liis influeace the Marshall, now the ülivet, Assoeiation of Consregational churches was organized in .lán. 1841. Uecognizing the need of still more extended cooperation, he inaugura' ed the move aentwhich led to'the organizstion of ,lie Stilte Assoeiation in May 1842. . Under the same impulse, in 1845, as ecretary of the State Assoeiation and vith its 'approval. he proposed a ;()eneral Convention of Western Congrega;ionalists" to delibérate concerning denominational advancement. As a result, such a convention, com posed of delegates from the northwestern states and a few from the Kast, was held at Michigan City, Ind., in July 184K. The impulse which went out from this convention led to the calling of the Albany council in Oct. 1852; the first gatherlng representativa of American L'ongregationalism as a whole which had met since the Cambridge Synod of I.64Ö. At this council steps were taken for the organization of the American ('ongregational Union, now known as the Congregational Church Building Society, and mtluences were set in operation which led to the. Hoston Council of 18155, and subsequently to the establishment of the present Triennial Council. It was while pastor of this church that Mr. Hobirt, who had given the original impulse to the whole movement, attended the Albany Council as one of the representiitives of Michigan Congregationa'ism. ]n anöther direction his influence led to results no less beneficial. At the meeting of the State Association held in Aim Arbor in 1853, Mr. Hobart, then pastor of this church, presented a plan f'or theological education; which, receiving the approval of the Association, and being recominended to the consideratioñ of similar bodies in other western states, led to the organizatiqn of the Chicago Theological Semmaryin September. 185). We may be pardoned a feeling of satisfaction in the remembrance tlint the lirst pastor of this church was one so influentially associated with Congregational interests which are national in their scope. In honoring hini we do honor to ourselves. Alter an interval of several months, Mr Hobart was succeeded in the pas torate by Hev. Wm. L. Mather, who was called -Tune 85, 1865, and instaüed on the 7th of November following. During his pastora'e a plan of sysicniatic beneticence wras adopted, providing for contributions to home and foreign missions, the Bible society and ulier objects. The conditions of admisión to membership were made some what less rigid by permitting caodidates to interpret the articles oí the creed afflrming the doctrines oí election and the perseverance "f the saitits "accordingtotheir own judgmentand conscienee " After ministertag to thchurch for about a year and a halt. -Mr. Matber was dismissed on the 12th ot Maich. 1857 A church is to be considerd fortúnate whicn succeeds in holding ita own in the interim between successive pastoratea The instances in which, during such periods, marked progresa is made are certainly rare. tuch, however, as the expejrience of this church djiring the vear succeeding Mr. Mather's iemovál. Wüüe üechning a cali to the pastorate, Prof. Joseph Esterbrook BUpplied the pulpit and l'aithfully ministered to the church. Under his direction the religious life of the church was greatlv quickened. and the period of his service was one of continu. ms tngatherin"- Filty-one were added to the membership, 38 of whom were received on canfessioa. l'rot'. Esterbrook resigried the worfc to the care of liev. s. J) Cochran, who, having accepted the invitation of the church to become its pastor, entered upou his duties in July, 1858, and was iustalled on the 29th ol September fol lowing. . , Mr Cochran was a man of decided intellec ual ability and energetic in the adniinistration of alïairs. shortly after his coming the church voted.to meet regularly on the flrst Tuesday afternoon of ach month for the conduct of business. The statistics of the church received more careful attention The spirit of Christian giving was cultivated by the contribution of one Sabnath offering in each month to benevolent purposes, instead of one in three nionths, as heretofore. The number of deac nis was inereased to three. Tl e church was aroused to new ödelity in the care of its inembers, and special ciïort was made to recall any wlio had become delinquent, to ïhe fatthful dis charge of christian duty. Mr. Cochran's pastorate covered tbe peiiod of excitement immediately preceding the civil war. aid continued for several roonths after hostilities had commeneed. He was himself intensely loyal, and fearlessly advocated the cause of the Uüioii. As might be anticipated from its early lii-tory, the attitude of the ehurch was no lesa pronnnniwl TwpIvp. at least of its bers servid in the Union army, and severa! laid down their lives in the service of their country. Wlu-.i. in the winter of 1860-61, just before the nutbreak of tlie rebelhon, VVendell Phillips was den'ed the use of the Court House and of any public hall in which to plead the eau e of the oppressed, this Congregational church opened the doors of Lts house of worship to him; and within its walls, surrounded by a niob determined to pre vent him trom speaking aud threateniog to destroy the building, he deliverea one of h'is incomparable philippics, which is said to have settleci the question of free speech in this c tv, and to have triinsformed many before indifferent into ardent abolitionists. There are still living, and among our membership today, tliose who served as conductors on the "underground railway," in assisting fugitives from slavery to a land of freedom. A f ter a service of three years, Mr. Cochran was dismissed on the lTth of Julyl861. Buring his pastorate sixty were added to the church, and the membership increased to one hundred and sixty nine. The church was without a pastor until the following summer. liev. (eo. Candee is remembered as supplying the mlpit very acceptably during a part of ;his time. On the first of June 1802. Iïev. Abram E. 13aldwin entered upon his labors. He was not invited to become pastor of ;he church, however until the folio wng May; was installed in December IW3, andcontinued in the pastorate until September IH67. This fiutiful and Inspiring ministery of somewhat more than live years ia remembered with aft'eetionate gratitude by niany who Btill retain their connection with this church. In September 186-1 a more elabórate consiitution was adopted. The number of deacons was increased to four, and their term of office extended from one to four years. The e'mrcti finding its ediflce inadequate to its needs, in July 1W55 adopted a resolution declaring "in order to ensure the grawtb, pcospeiity or even the respectabie existence" of this church.we deern it absolutely necessary that we build a new house of worship next BUmjoer", and ])ledgitig the faith of the cliurch and society to raise twelve thousand dollars for that purpose. In the accoinplishinent of the purpose thus expressed Mr. L-ialdwin was deeply interested. 1 1 is ministery olosed, towever, leaving the desireof bis heart in this particular unlullilled. Upon the 28th of November, following his dismissal, the church adopted a new t'onn of creed and cóvenant, simple, liberal yet thoronghly evangelical. whicb, with slight modilications, is still in usr. In the ea?ly part of 1808 Rev. Wm. A. Smilh was inviied to become the pastor of the church; the cali being accompanied by the statement that past expenence had strongly impressed the church against the utility of the installataon of the pastor. Mr. Smith began his labors on the l.jth of March and remained for a y. ar. rhen be seemsto have quietly withdrawn; no record of his resignation having 'been preserved. Hewas, however, permitted tosee fruit of his labors in the additiou of thiny one to the memberahip of the the church. During the year of Mr. Smith s ministry the church had attained lts majority 1 he Uventy one years of lts historyhad been years of fruittulness, and yet of difflculty. Four hundredand öfty four persons had been added to lts original membership; but constant removals had continaally depleted ïts strength. The whole number of members at the termination of Mr. ámith's pastorate was one hundred and eighty two of whom not more than one luindred and lifty were resident in the city. '1 he remark made at the organization of the church that lts members "COuld Di-av far better than they could pay, hact remained true throusih all the succeediiis yi-ars. ÜJ 'o this time. it had maintained a stniggling and precanous existence. With the coming of its next pastor, Rev. II. L. Hubbell, June lüth, 1889, a brighter era dawned, and the ehurch enterecl upon that career of unbroken prosperity which, in the blessing of God, still' continúes. . About this time the strength oi the church was greatly augmented by the accession of a aiumber of members who were persons not only of energy, but alsq of financial and administrative ability. . , bhortly after Mr. Hubbell s arnval, steps were taken looking to the erection of a nevv house of worship. by his untiring perseverance, his hopefulness. his winning spirit, his success in -.- 11 k Jl aiaa .-k4-' 4lii nlmr'jli o 1 U I society in the work of erecting this edifice aswell as in securingthe hearty co-operation of the various organizaLiona couaeoted with the chureh, Mr. Hubbell rendered a service which was iuvaluable; without which the work of building could not have been completed as it was. . , , He was hi-artily seconded, indeed, by the members of the church and congregation. All gave at the cost of great self sacrifice. The edifice, estiinated to cost, with the lot upon which it stands, from Ï12.00U to $20,000, wa completedand farnished at an expenditure'of Ï40,0( 0. Un the 22dof June, 1873, its cornerstone was laid, an address being deliveredbyJudge Thom-is M. Uoqley, and it was dedicated w th appropriate services on the 10ih of iNlav, 187Ö. It is speeially worthy of notice, also, that the intere'st in the work of build ing was not maintained at thö cost of other departmentsóf christianactivity. Immediately alter Mr. Hubbell's accession to the pastorate, a committee was appointed whose duty it was u search out strangers ana weicome mem tothe services of the chareli and the number of deacons was increased to seven. Additions to the ïnembership were frequent, and, what was especially creditable. during these years oE con tinual self-deniai in order to the erec tion of this ertilice. tlie benevolen contritmtions advanced from 124 to 1796 per annum. In the enjovmant of this manifolc prosperity the church entered upon th occupancy of its new and beautifu house of 'worship. Jiut the tax upoi the strength of its pastor had been to severe, and under the continued straij lis health had given way. For nearl i year tiie church ban granted hin relief from the duties of the pulpit; kut as at the end of thai time the prospec of Lmmediate restoration was not en couraging, lie resignea nis paswrai duties on the 7th of üetober, 1876. Though not itistalled, Mr. Hubbell's pastorate exceeded in length that of any of is predecessors. The results of his ministry of seven years f'illv w.irranted the words of his letter of resignation; 'tJnder God's help" the church had been raifed " from aa uucertain and struggling position to one that, humauly speaking," was '-stable and secure." During these years the membership of the church had increased from 182 to '278. And so again ths saying was fulfilled, " One soweth, and anotner reapjtti." He had labored faithfully, and another was to enter into his labors. The pastorate of Rev. W. TI. Kyder, which began May lst, 1877, was to crown the work of Mr. Ilubbell in the erection of the elmrch editice,- carryinc this work to its completion by the removal of the debt of 88,000-and was greatly to enlarge the strength and usefulness of the church in uil directions. Benefactions were sttll further increased; the contribution of the second as well as the tirst Sunday of each month being appropriated to benevolent uses. The membership of the church was steidily enlarged; increasing djiring Mr. Kyder's ministry from 27 to 858. As the years passed, the church at length overéame its distaste for instal lation; and on May 4th, 1886, Mr. Kyderwas installed. " After the lapse of 11 years, all things conspired to en courage the continuance of this pastorate and the expectation of continued progress; when, in the spring of 1888 Mr. was invited to accept the chair "of New Testa inent Interpretatiou in Andover Theological Seininary. Keluetantly, though feeling itself Dred in the honor thus shown lts pastor, the church released him; and this longest, and in many respects most fruitfu) ministry in the history ol the eliurcl closed ivlay lat. 1888. Af ter an interim of six months the present pastor began his labors on the ttrst of tlie fo lowing November. And now we are reminded of the adage, "Happy is that people whose annalB are tedious" These eight and a half years have been marked by nothing peculiarly noteworthy. The growth of the church has been quiet and steady. 'I hree hundred and thirty seven members have been received. and the present membership is four hundred the yearly average of benevolent contributions during the past five years lias been $t,(')8U. All departments of the work of the church have been steadily niaintained. The former Young ïJeople's Society has been transformed into the Y . P. S. C. E., which, with its membership of over one hundred. is rendering invaluable service to the church in cultivating the Christian spirit of its younger rnembers, and in affording a rneans of reacliing and assisting the students of Congregational afflliatiqns. A somewbat similar work is being aceomplished by the Young Men's Sunday Kvening Club, under whose efforts the problem of the Sunday evening service has attained a measure of solution. Jt is with greit gladness T ara permittecl to say that, never during reuent years lias the spiritual condition of the êliurch been more encouraging than ït is today; and it is under auspicious oinens. witb the manifest blessing of (iod abiding upon us, that we enter the second half-eentury of onr history. The chureh of God is built of liviDg stones. It is through the contributions of individual Uves that strength and beauty are in II is sanctuary. By means of these contributions, as the successive generations come and go, the chureh becomes rich in the accumulated treasure of spiritual Lfe. ïhis treasure, the abiding intluence of lives that have passed on to "i-he general assembly and chureh of the Horn ', is 3 precious element in the letracv wliich has been bequeathed to us Omte as precious and quite as real as buildings, numbers or wealth. To recounf the ñames of all whose labore and character have eontributed toenricli our lieritage, would be both a labor of love anda benediction. But time will permit no more th'an the mentiou oí those whom the churcli has seen tit lo honor as its oftice holders, or vho have been called to eonspicuous ervice in the kingdom of our Lord. During the life of the church, twenty f its members have ministered.to it as ea ons. In the order of their appointnent they were, Lorrin Mills, James Gibson. ,T. D. Baldwin, llorace Carpener, Solomon Manu, Charles Easton Iunson Wheeler. üarius S. Wood, .1 Vustin Scott, .1 O. Willams, P. L. Page lustin A. AVoid, Charles Kendall Vdams, W. S. ferry, Uobert Campbell, iufusVaples..N.S. üott,i-.u w agner, A. S. Lyon and ,T. ï. Jacobs. Of these the followini! uve held the office for a period of ten years or more. J. Austin Scott, elven years; Rufus Waples, twelve years; Robert Campbell thirleen years; V. S. Ferry, four ,eeu years; 1'". L. Page, twenty t.hree vears; J. 1). Baldwin, twenty six yers and Lorrin Mills, forty two years. Very closely connected with the spiritual life of the church during all these years has been the Sunday enool. As is so of ten the case it bas been f rom the lirst the principal sowrce f rom which accessions to the church on confession of faith have been denved. ürganized ifty years ago today, in connection with the lirst Sunday services, of the church.it has been a'blessiug incalculable to the young people who carne within its intluence As its iirst Superintendent, the saiuted Deacon Mills, whose memory is a benedictionand a perpetué fragrance ia the lives of many in thiscommuuity, presided over it for nearly nineteen years. During this period the school srrew to a membership of three hun dred. Mr. Thomas White succesded Deacon Mills in Uecember, 1865, and continuad in the office of Superintendent Ufltil his death in 18Ö8; wten Trof. Martin L. U'Ooge was cliosen as his suceessor. Undrr this wise and genial administration, so consonant with the spirit of those whicli had preceded, the school wrougnt its valuable work and exerted its blessed influenee for a longer period than under the direction of any ocher Superintendent. Prof. D'Ooge's term of service covers twenty-two years; duriug two years of which, however, Mr. lieo. S. Wheeler performed the duties of Superintendent, in the absence of Prof. D'Ooííe. In 1890 Ut. X. S. Holï succeeded Prof. O'Ooge, and alter three years was f ollowed by Prof. FiMnk C. Wagner. In January, Iü95.the present Supanntenaenr,, jur. z.. u. uou ilard, was chosen, under whose direction the school lias enjoyed a large pros )eiity, and adopted ne w meihous whieh jive promise of greatly increased ■ilieiency. secoud to none in the value of services renderen to the school is Prof. W. S. Perry, who, wlrle declining the ofiice of (Superintendent, has acted for nearly hirty years as its Assistant Superintendent; and with these names should be coupled that of Mrs. Win. Wagner, who for more than twenty years has presided over the Infant Department. üne of the raarked features in the life of the church for the last 28 years m particular, has been the steady and arge increase in benevolent contribu tions. For this resu!t credit is due in grf ;i t measure to the Ladies'Aid, Young Peopie's and Children's Missionary Societies, to whose enthusiastic interest and generous gifts the progress made is laraely attributable. Duriug all these years the financial support necessary for the maintenance of the activities óf the church bas been generoasly provided and wisely administered by the Kcclesiastical Society, wliich was organized April 20. 184Í. Inder the direction of the board of trustees two houses of worship have been erected and about S140,0U0 exppnded. While the church has been excee'lingly fortúnate, from the beginning in all those who have served it as trustees, the gentlemen who consi i tuted tlie board at the time of the erection of this house of worship, and who, under the presidency of Deacon J. Austin Scott, sustained the weighty responsibilities connected with that work, are perhaps deserving of especial remembrance. These gentlemen were Mr. J. Auatin Pcott. .Judge Thomas M. Cooley, Mr. Charles Tripp, Mr. Sellick VVood, Prof. 0. K. Adama, Mr. II. M. Perrin, and Judge X. r. Cheever. The services rendered by Deacon Scott in the generous employment oí' his meanf, his time and his' business a'oility. can scarcely be over-estimated; and it is noteworthy that after more thdti21years of continuous discharge of the duties of a trustee, .ludge Cheiver süll retains his connection wiih the board. Honor is also due to the Ladies' Aid Society, which during these lifty years has contributed many thousauds of dolará to the funds of the society, and which, by its labora, has been and continúes to be one of the most important factors in our church work. Ko review of the life of this church would be at all complete which did not recognize the relation ie has sustained to the great University, under whose shadow it abides. On the one hand, its own efficiency has been greatly furthered by the alliliation with it of those who were either directly associated with the University. or were attracted hither by its presence. On the other hand, during these years the church has been permitted to extend the shelter and inlluence of a church home to man y hundreds of those who have sought tiiis community in pursuit of anedueation. Among those connected with the üniversity, aside from the persons already mentioned, who have contributed to the prosperity of this church we may recall Trof. Elisha Jones, Prof. Frieze. Dr. C. L. Ford. Prof. J. B. Davis and ])r. E. S. Dunster; while the Large and gracious service which. for more than a quarter of a century has been so freely rendered by President and Mrs. Angelí is more readily appreciated than appropriately characterized. More than 300 students of the University have been included in the membershfp of this church; and the number regarding this as their church-home du' ring tlie years of student life has been many times as large. Of these, 18 have entered the Christian ministry, and seven have given their lives to missionary work in t'oreign lands. The names of 'these latter should certainly have permanent place upon the roll of honor of this church. They are Mrs. 1 1 A ___ _-1 _ _ fc. 1-. i , . _ . 1 fl"y-_ Ij 1 - _- %■ í _ r aimy vnurews snexuu, mis. n uucuuc Andrêw.s Xeal, Mr. Calvin Scott AVilliams, Mr. Edward R. Wagner, Miss Elizabeth M. Trowbridge, Mrs. Francés Nieberg Uoddard and Mr. F. Allsworth Waples. Of these Mrs. Francés Andrews Xeal has entered into rest. The remainder are today in active service, and the four last 'named still retain their membership in this church. Bev. A. K. Spence. for 21 yeirs connected with Fisk University, seven years as a-ting president, and 14 years ás dean of the i'aculty. is one ot its former members whom this clmrcli delights to honor; and two others, Miss E. C'. Allmendinger and Miss Susan Miiynard were also for a number of years under the direction of the American Missionary Association, in its wnrk aiiintiLr thp, oolored rjeoDle. Such, in rougli outline, are the chief notable features in the past of this church. Hut aside from ail this is a vast history of events and experiences in the realm of the spirit, to be promulgated only when the great time of prevailing shall bring to light the subtle currents of inliuence which have been radiating from this center of Oliristian life, and contributing to transformations of character and conduct all uiisuspected. Results which it is impossible to compute, this church has accomplished; by its attitude on questions of vital interest to society; by the quiet radiation of the spirit ofjesus Christ in the life of its members; by impressions produced upon thousands of the students gathered here, who have dwelt for a little under its influence, and have gone henee to multiply . that influence through their lives; by its connection, through those who are still its members, with the forward movement of Christ's kingdom today, at the very ends of the earth. A favored history this has been. A precious and honorable heritage it is which is bequeathed to us. May we never forget that our high privilege is also our sacred trust. As we appreciate. this day, the truth of those words of our Lord: ''Other men have labored, and ye are entered into their labors," with eqnal distinctness we may hear liim saying unto us: "Behold, Ihave set before thee an open door; and no man can shut it." Situated here, at a position of influence such as few churches in all this land are pennitted to occupy, it is for us to recognize our noble opportuuity, our sacred responsibility. Standing midway between the past and the future; reviewing what has been, looking on to what is to come, in thrilling tones .this occasion summons us to the supreme de'dication of ourselves to Almighty God, for the accomplishment of the great work to which this church is so manifestly called. Through no recreancy of ours may this work fail of its most perfect achieveinent. For this great and noble task may God equip us. Amen.

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Ann Arbor Democrat