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ORGANIZATION 


—  OF   THE  — 


S^ort  Street  f^resbyteriai)  dljurcl) 


DETROIT,    MICH. 


Compiled  under  Direction  of  the  Session. 


DETROIT, 

O.   S.   GULLET'S   8TBAM   PBINTINQ   HOUSE     10    AND   li  LARNEID   STREET. 

1874. 


S  Clikptef  of  f^i^eliniii^krie^. 


On  the  seventeenth  day  of  December,  1873,  the  Elders  and 
Deacons,  of  the  Fort  Street  Presbyterian  Church  of  Detroit,  con- 
vened at  the  study  of  the  pastor.  Attention  was  called  to  the  fact 
that  the  church  was  organized  upon  the  third  Wednesday  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1849,  (February  21st,)  and  that,  consequently,  the  third 
Wednesday  of  February,  1874,  (February  i8th,)  would  be  an 
appropriate  day  to  be  observed  as  marking  the  completion  of 
the  first  Quarter-Century  of  its  history. 

It  was,  accordingly,  resolved  to  hold,  upon  that  day.  Anniver- 
sary Services.  The  pastor,  the  Rev.  Arthur  T.  Pierson,  was 
requested  to  conduct  the  correspondence ;  and  with  the  aid  of 
George  W.  Hoffman,  elder,  and  Douglas  Payne,  deacon,  to  act  as 
a  general  Committee  of  Arratigements.  Edward  C.  Walker,  elder, 
was  invited  to  act  as  Historian  and  Necrologist^  George  W.  Hoff- 
man, to  report  upon  the  Financial  and  Benevolent  Outlay  of  the 
quarter-century,  and  Bradford  Smith,  deacon,  upon  the  Sabbath 
School  and  its  Officers. 

It  was  further  determined  to  invite  the  Rev.  James  B.  Shaw, 
D.  D.,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  to  preach  the  Anniversary  Sermon ; 
and  to  set  apart  the  evening  of  the  Anniversary  for  the  hearing  of 
brief  addresses  from  brethren  of  other  churches,  and  for  a  colla- 
tion and  social  gathering. 

The  Choir,  consisting  of  Henry  Meakin,  Esq.,  Organist,  Prof 
F.  Abel,  Mr.  A.  Mensell,  Miss  Mary  C  Brewster,  Miss  Frances  L, 
Chaffin,  were  constituted  a  Committee  on  Music,  and  the  following 
ladies,  committees  on  decoration  and  collation  : 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSAEY 


Committee  o?i  Decoration  .—Mrs.   EDWARD  C  WALKER, 

Miss  Minnie  Abbott,  Mrs,  R.  A  Alger,  Mrs.  G.  F.  Bagley,  Miss  Anna  Eots- 
ford,  Mrs.  Mary  Buckley,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Buhl,  Mrs.  C.  A.  Cliamberlain,  Mrs.  J. 
W.  Dailey,  Mrs.  Anna  M.  Evans,  Mrs.  J.  S-  Jennings,  Miss  Lottie  Ladue,  Mrs. 
E  D.  Lay,  Mrs.  M.  F.  Merrick,  Miss  Mary  Orr,  Mrs.  G.  H.  Prentis,  Mrs. 
Chas.  Root,  Miss  Mary  E.  Sherrill,  Mrs.  S.  P.  Wilcox,  Miss  Alice  Woodruff. 

Committee  ofi  Collation  .—Mrs.  FRANKLIN   MOORE, 

Mrs.  F.  Adams,  Mrs.  E.  W.  Bissell,  Mrs.  C.  C.  Blodgett,  Mrs.  F.  Buhl,  Mrs.  C. 
C.  Cadman,  Mrs.  A.  P.  Cameron,  Mrs.  S.  Davis,  Mr.s.  Geo.  Foote,  Mrs.  R.  W. 
Gillett,  Mrs.  J-  F).  Hayes,  Mrs.  William  Hull,  Mrs.  W.  M.  Johnson,  Mrs.  J.  F. 
Joy,  Mrs.  A.  G.  Lindsay,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Longyear,  Miss  Mary  Penny,  Mrs.  Allan 
Shelden,  Mrs.  Mary  Thompson,  Mrs.  S.  W.  Thompson,  Mrs.  Samuel  Zug. 

Beside  special  invitations  issued  to  the  previous  pastors  and 
stated  supplies  of  the  church,  and  to  the  families  of  such  previous 
ministers  as  are  now  deceased,  the  following  circular  letter  was 
printed  and  sent  to  those  former  members  of  the  church  now 
living,  whose  present  residences  were  known,  and  to  various 
clergymen  and  prominent  laymen  in  the  city,  state,  and  country 
at  large  : 


FORT   STREET   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


^,^  quarter  of  a  Century  having-  passed  since 
the  org-anization  of  iho  Fort  Street  Presbyterian  Oturch 
of  Detroit,  Wednesday,  the  eighteenth  day  of  February  inst., 
will  be  observed  as  the 


If    it  :l  i  1,1 ,       #ft  If  i  i  t  liU'l  iiff  aU  (Pt  M  iU  « 


At  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  a 


will  be  preached  hy  the  Rev.  JAMES  B.  SHAW,  D.  D., 
of  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  a  paper, 

will  be  read  by  the  Hon.  EDWARD  C.  WALKER,  fol- 
loTv^ed  by  reports,  covering  the  financial  and  be- 
nevolent outlay  and  christian  ^vork  of  the  last 
tw^enty-flve  years. 

At  hah'-past  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
there  wiU  be  a  SOCIAL  REUNION  AND  COLLATION, 
"With  brief  addresses  by  various  brethren,  whose 
names  are  linked  "with  the  history  of  the  church 
of  Christ  in  our  city  and  "^acinity. 

It  is  hoped,  also,  that  the  Rev.  JOHN  HALL,  D.  D., 
of  Ne^w  York  City,  will  taivc  part  in  these  Memo- 
rial Services. 

We  urge  the  presence  of  all  friends,  and  espe- 
cially all  former  members  of  the  congreg-ation. 

In  behalf  of  the  Church  : 

ARTHUR  T.  PIERSON,  Pastor. 
GEORGE  W.  HOFFMAN,    Elder. 
DOUGLAS  PAYNE,  Deacon. 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSAKT 


Was  one  of  rare  beauty,  with  an  atmosphere,  at  once  balmy  and 
bracing;  the  glorious  sunshine  from  a  cloudless  sky,  beaming 
upon  our  gathering,  like  the  smile  of  God. 

The  interior  of  the  church  was  elaborately  and  exquisitely 
decorated  with  evergreens,  and  flowers  in  tropical  profusion  and 
luxuriance.  Upon  the  wall  panels,  to  the  left  and  right  of  the 
pulpit,  appeared  the  significant  dates:  "  1849  "  and  "  1874."  The 
communion  table  bore  a  bank  of  living,  blooming  plants,  artisti- 
cally arranged  in  the  form  of  a  quadrangular  pyramid,  which 
almost  hid  the  pulpit,  whose  balustrades  were  gracefully  wreathed 
and  festooned  in  evergreens,  and  whose  chief  balusters  supported 
basket  bouquets.  The  front  of  the  choir  gallery  bore  a  silver 
shield  with  a  group  of  callas  at  its  center,  and  bouquets  at  its 
angles,  while  living  vines  of  ivy  wound  about  the  carved  openings 
and  standards. 

A  large  portion  of  the  floral  decoration  was  in  memory  of  the 
dead.  From  the  canopy  above  the  pulpit,  hung  a  colossal  crown, 
fit  tribute  to  those  godly  ministers  who  have  received  their  immor- 
tal diadem,  and  whose  names  and  memories  are  especially  dear  to 
the  Presbyterians  of  Detroit,  viz :  the  Revs.  John  Monteith, 
George  Duffield,  D.  D.,  Robert  R  Kellogg  and  James 
Means. 

In  the  window,  on  the  left  of  the  pulpit,  seven  superb  crimson 
flowers  represented  the  name  Rowland,  and  a  floral  cross,  on  the 
right,  commemorated  McFarren,  both  deceased  elders.  From 
the  opposing  brackets  supporting  the  roof-truss,  were  suspended 
crosses  of  evergreen,  expanding  at  the  base  into  quadrangular 
tablets,  which  bore,  respectively,  the  names  of  Knight  and  Ray, 
two  other  departed  members  of  the  session,  who  were  also  super- 
intendents in  the  Sabbath  School.  A  floral  anchor,  a  widow's 
tribute  to  her  husband,  Henry  J.  Buckley,  and  a  broken  column 
rising  Irom  a  mossy  base,  and  bearing  the  initial  "  P,"  reared  by 
a  sister  to  the  memory  of  Selden  Jones  Phillips,  completed  the 
memorial  decorations. 


PORT   STREET   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


The  following  hymns,  composed   by  the  pastor,  for  the   occa- 
sion, were  printed  on  slips  and  distributed  in  the  pews  : 

h:  ^  nvn  :n-  s 

FOR   THE 

Twenty-Fiftli  Anniversary. 


Happy  is  that  people  whose  God  is  Jehorah." 

I. 

Thou  God  of  Love  and  Grace, 

To  Thee  we  bow ! 
O,  let  Thy  radiant  face 

Beam  on  us  now  ! 
To  every  humble  heart. 
Thy  life  and  love  impart ; 
Our  hope  and  help  Thou  art. 

And  only  Thou  ! 


Years  fly  on  fleetest  wing  : 

Thine  may  we  be  ! 
Then  shall  they  only  bring 

Us  nearer  Thee  ! 
O,  be  our  guard  and  guide, 
Walk  ever  at  our  side. 
Till  with  Thee  we  abide. 

Thy  face  to  see  ! 

III. 

To  Thee  we  gladly  give 

Our  every  power ; 
In  serving  Thee,  to  live 

Till  life's  last  hour. 
Help  us  the  cross  to  bear ; 

Thy  throne  and  bliss  to  share. 
Then  give  the  crown  to  wear, 

Joy's  perfect  dower. 


TWENTY -FIFTH    AJSTNIVEESART 


«*  Hitherto  Hath  the  Lord  Helped  Us." 

I. 

Hear,  thou  God  of  gifts  and  graces, 

While  our  prayers  and  praise  we  bring. 
Gathered  in  these  hallowed  places, 

Grateful  songs  to  Thee  we  sing. 
Thou,  with  gentle  hand,  hast  led  us, 

In  the  midst  of  foes  and  fears  ; 
And,  with  lavish  bounty  fed  us. 

Through  these  five  and  twenty  years. 


Thanks  for  ceaseless  care  and  kindness, 

Countless  ministries  of  love  ; 
In  our  darkness  and  our  blindness, 

Light  and  guidance  from  above. 
For  the  heirs  of  life  immortal. 

Saved  by  blood  and  sealed  by  grace, 
And  for  those  who,  through  the  portal 

Now  have  passed,  and  see  Thy  face. 

III. 
Spread  Thine  own  pavillion  near  us, 

Where  our  pilgrim  tents  delay  ; 
Let  Thy  Pillar  guide  and  cheer  us, 

Through  the  yet  untrodden  way. 
And  when  we,  our  journey  ending. 

Stand  upon  the  golden  shore ; 
All  our  songs  in  chorus  blending. 

Will  we  bless  Thee  evermore. 


FORT   STREET   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH, 


"  Honsehold  of  God." 

I. 
Thou,  to  whom  all  praise  belongs, 
Hear  Thy  children's  thankful  songs ; 
From  Thy  throne,  where  seraphs  bow, 
Pour  Thy  blessing  on  us  now ! 


Bearing  Jesus'  hallowed  name, 
Breathing  His  inspiring  aim, 
Be  our  freedom  and  our  joy 
Found,  like  His,  in  Thine  employ ! 

III. 
Here  may  heralds  speak  Thy  word, 
And  with  docile  hearts  be  heard  ; 
Many  souls  be  saved  by  grace, 
And  prepared  to  see  Thy  face. 

IV. 

And  when  all  Thy  children  meet. 
Where  the  household  is  complete ; 
May  we  join  that  countless  throng. 
Praising  Thee  in  perfect  song ! 


The  building  was  well  filled  both  morning  and  afternoon,  and 
crowded  in  the  evening,  with  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
churches  of  the  city,  and  christians  of  every  name. 


10  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVEESAKY 


Opened  at  ir  o'clock  with  a  "  Te  Deum,"  by  the  choir.  The  six- 
tieth chapter  of  the  Prophecy  of  Isaiah  was  then  impressively 
read  by  the  Rev.  J.  Ambrose  Wight,  of  Bay  City,  and  prayer 
offered  by  the  pastor,  in  grateful  recognition  of  the  goodness  of 
God,  and  with  fervent  entreaty  for  the  continuance  of  His  favor, 
and  for  increased  consecration  upon  the  part  of  His  people.  The 
first  of  the  special  hymns  was  sung,  and  the  Anniversary  Sermon 
was  preached,  with  great  earnestness  and  power,  by  the  Rev. 
James  B.  Shaw,  D.  D.,  from  Revelations  VI. :  9,  10,  11.  The 
theme  was  "  The  Martyr  Spirit  ;  tfs  necessity  in  order  to  the 
vitalitv  and  spirituality  of  the  churchy  It  was  heard  with  the  most 
absorbed  attention  and  interest,  as  the  venerable  and  beloved 
preacher  proceeded  to  speak  especially  of  the  martyr-saints  of 
Scotland,  and  the  effect  of  their  lives  and  deaths  upon  the  church; 
imparting  to  his  discourse  all  the  enthusiasm  kindled  by  a  recent 
visit  to  that  land.  From  the  closing  portion  of  this  memorable 
sermon,  we  are  permitted  to  publish  the  following  personal 
address  to  the  pastor  and  the  church  : 

"  We  have  been  speaking  of  the  martyr  spirit  as  essential  to 
to  the  life  and  growth  of  the  church  : 

"  Dear  brother,  may  I  put  your  name  on  the  illustrious  roll  of 
martyrs ,?  Pause  a  moment.  The  question  may  have  a  deeper 
import  than  you  suppose ;  it  may  involve  more  than  at  first  sight 
you  would  be  willing  to  believe.  What  if  I  should  tell  you,  and 
I  do  tell  you,  that  a  man  is  a  christian,  only  so  far  as  he  is  a  mar- 
tyr— only  so  far  as  he  yields  an  implicit  obedience — makes  Christ 
supreme  ?  You  have  sometimes  asked,  no  doubt,  "  Could  I  die 
as  the  martyrs  did?"  "Could  I  meet  the  lions,  could  I  face  the 
flames.''"  Brother,  there  are  no  lions  to  meet,  no  flames  to  face — 
that  day  has  gone ;  and,  as  we  devoutly  hope,  never  to  return. 
But  can  you  meet  the  temptations  peculiar  to  the  times  in  which 
you  live }  Can  you  make  the  sacrifices  which  the  Master  is  now 
calling  for  :  Can  you  part  with  your  luxuries  .'  Can  you  forego 
your  comforts  1  Can  you  renounce  your  earthly  aspirations  1  Can 
you  lay  your  pride  in  the  dust .?  Can  you  walk  in  the  Master's 
blessed  footprints,  no  matter  whither  they  may  lead  } 


FORT    STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  1  1 

"  O,  remember,  do  remember,  that  a  man  is  a  christian,  only  so 
far  as  he  is  a  martyr — only  so  far  as  he  yields  an  implicit  obe- 
dience to  Christ.  C),  remember,  do  remember,  that  the  martyr 
spirit,  is  the  essential  element  of  your  spiritual  life  ! 

"  My  dear  brother,  the  pastor  of  this  people,  this  is  an  auspi- 
cious hour  for  you — the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  your  church, 
the  fifth  anniversary  of  your  pastorate,  coming  thus  together,  lend 
a  peculiar  interest  to  the  present  occasion.  Two  suns  have  com- 
bined their  light  and  glory,  to  make  this  day.  You  know  how  I 
love  you.  You  know  that  you  are  the  same  as  a  son  to  me.  You 
know  that  I  have  a  father's  interest  in  you.  You  know  that  I 
have  scarcely  any  thing  so  much  at  heart,  as  that  you  should  be  a 
star,  and  a  star  of  the  first  magnitude,  in  the  right  hand  of  Him, 
who  standeth  in  the  midst  of  the  golden  candlesticks.  When  I 
think  of  your  rare  gifts,  your  high  position,  your  growing  influ- 
ence, your  golden  opportunities,  I  thank  God  that  you  are  not  so 
far  along  on  the  journey  of  life,  as  I  am — I  thank  God  that  there 
is  not  a  furrow  in  your  face,  nor  a  gray  hair  on  your  head,  nor  the 
slightest  indication  of  declining  strength — that  your  eye  is  not 
dim,  nor  your  natural  force  abated.  I  must  number  my  days, 
while  you  may  number  your  years,  and  I  thank  God  for  it.  Now, 
it  is  because  you  are  so  dear  to  me,  that  I  feel  constrained  to 
remind  you,  that  everything  in  your  ministry,  as  well  as  every- 
thing in  your  individual  life,  depends  on  your  having  the  martyr 
spirit.  We  are  told  that  Calvin's  seal  contained  a  burning  heart, 
held  by  a  steady  hand — that,  over  the  burning  heart,  were  the 
words  :  ''''  I  keep  nothing  for  myself"  and,  under  the  burning  heart) 
the  words  :  ^^  I  give  all  to  Thee!"  Let  that  heart,  all  on  fire,  be 
your  emblem.     Keep  nothing  for  yourself — give  all  to  Christ ! 

"  My  dearly  beloved  brother,  it  is  my  heart's  desire  and  prayer, 
that  your  ministry  among  this  people,  may  be  an  exceptionally 
long  and  successful  one  ;  and  that  here  it  may  end  !  May  your 
last  sermon  be  preached  in  this  pulpit.  Heed  no  call,  but  such 
as  took  the  prophet  away — when  the  King  sends  the  chariot,  then, 
of  course,  His  servant  must  go. 

"And  what  is  so  true  of  the  christian,  is  just  as  true  of  the 
church.  A  church  can  live  and  grow,  only  so  long  as  the  martyr 
spirit  is  kept  alive.  As  the  glory  departed  from  Rome,  when  the 
last  spark  of  that  fire  over  which  the  vestal  virgins  watched,  went 


12  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVEESAET 

out,  SO  the  extinction  of  the  martyr  spirit  in  any  church,  is  the 
signal  for  God  to  go ;  and  when  God  goes,  all  sweet,  and  good, 
and  gracious,  and  gentle,  and  hallowed,  and  vital  influences  go 
with  Him.  There  is  the  holy  and  beautiful  house  which  stood  on 
Mount  Zion.  Can  you  discover  anything  amiss  ?  Not  a  stone  is 
gone,  not  an  ornament  is  missing — the  altar,  the  victim,  the  priest, 
the  worshiper — they  are  all  there.  And  there  too  is  the  Most 
Holy  Place,  and  the  thick  darkness,  and  the  mercy-seat,  and  the 
overshadowing  cherubim,  and  the  tables  of  the  law,  and  the  pot 
of  manna,  and  the  rod  that  budded.  Do  you  discover  anything 
amiss?  Call,  and  see  if  any  answer  comes  back,  but  the  echo  of 
your  own  voice  !  God  has  gone — the  martyr  spirit  is  extinct — and 
that  holiest  of  all,  and  the  thick  darkness,  linger  only  to  testify 
against  an  ungrateful  and  degenerate  people.  So,  beloved  in  the 
Lord,  these  walls  may  stand,  and,  as  often  as  the  door  opens, 
crowds  may  flock  to  the  place,  and  there  may  be  every  outward 
indication  of  prosperity ;  and  other  congregations  may  vainly 
wish,  that  it  were  as  well  with  them,  as  it  is  with  you  ;  but  if  the 
martyr  spirit  is  extinct,  if  God  has  gone,  what  can  this  strong,  and 
rich,  and  intelligent,  and  influential  church  do,  but  die  !  " 

After  the  sermon  and  this  most  affecting  address,  prayer  was 
again  offered  by  the  pastor,  who  then  proceeded  to  read,  as  his 
own  contribution  to  the  anniversary, 

V]:\e  JVTenioi'ikl  f^oerq. 


BY   REV.   ARTHUR  T.    PIERSON: 


Like  birds  that  fly  across  the  sky, 

Tlie  heralds  of  the  spring, 
Or  noiseless  sweep  along  the  deep, 

On  swift  and  silent  wing  ; 
With  hopes  and  fears,  with  smiles  and  tears. 

With  sob,  and  song,  and  sigh, 
With  burdens  borne  and  garlands  worn. 

The  years  go  gliding  by  ! 
And  so  a  score  of  years  and  more. 

Their  rapid  course  have  run. 


FORT   STKEET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  13 


As  planets  trace  their  paths  in  space, 

Swift  cycling  round  the  sun, 
And  move  not  back  along  their  track, 

Plowe'er  our  work  is  done  ! 

Their  solemn  scroll,  the  years  unroll — 

What  record  there  appears  ! 
Success  secured,  with  toil  endured, 

And  triumph  reached  through  tears  ! 
The  page  here  shines  as  though  the  lines 

Were  writ  by  rays  of  liglit  ; 
And  there  the  mark  of  shadows  dark 

Suggests  the  gloom  of  night. 
The  changing  hues,  the  varied  views 

Which  autumn  scenes  present, 
Or  Western  skies,  when  daylight  dies. 

Beneath  his  gilded  tent, 
Portray  the  strange  and  wondrous  change 

'Mid  which  our  life  is  spent. 

We  look  along  the  lines  of  light. 

Which  memory  illumes. 
And  trace  these  five-and-twenty  years 

Back  toward  the  twilight  glooms. 
A  little  band  of  twenty-six 

Through  distance  dim.  appear. 
Who,  on  the  precious  corner  stone, 

A  church  of  Christ  uprear  ; 
They  seek  another  flock  to  form. 

Another  fold  enclose. 
Where  shepherds  shall  keep  watch  for  souls 

Against  malignant  foes  ; 
Where,  from  the  strife  of  struggling  life, 

The  weary  may  repose. 

Where  Christ's  dear  name,  by  loyal  hearts. 

Shall  as  a  badge  be  worn. 
And  lambs  be  fed  with  tender  care, 

On  throbbing  bosoms  borne. 
Through  paths  of  sacrifice  they  trod. 

By  faith  and  not  by  sight, 
Like  him  who  climbs  the  mountain  slopes 

To  reach  the  cloudless  height  ; 
But  God  has  blessed  and  crowned  their  work 

With  garlands  of  delight ! 


14  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVEKSART 

Most  of  that  band  have  reached  the  land 
Where  Eden  builds  her  bowers  ; 

Their  work  survives  their  fleeting  lives, 
And  wreathes  their  names  in  flowers  ! 

The  links  of  tive-and-twenty  years 

Join  in  one  chain  of  gold, 
And  bring  this  anniversary 

Which  our  glad  eyes  behold. 
We  come  with  joyful,  grateful  voice, 

To  swell  the  choral  lay. 
And  hail,  with  sacred  festival. 

This  "  silver  wedding  day  !" 
From  distant  homes  or  near  at  hand, 

We  gather,  young  and  old, 
A  re-united  family 

Within  one  common  fold  ! 
With  hands  that  clasp  in  love's  strong  grasp. 

Each  other  to  behold. 

A  "  nursing  mother"  is  the  church, 

God's  precious  gift  of  love; 
Next  to  the  Word  and  Christ  the  Son, 

Best  blessing  from  above  ! 
To-day  we  gather  in  response 

To  this  our  Mother's  call, 
To  kiss  the  lips  that  taught  our  youth 
•  To  love  the  God  of  all. 
As  sweet  her  charms,  as  strong  her  arms. 

As  warm  her  heart,  to-day, 
As  when  she  led  our  feet  to  tread 

In  wisdom's  narrow  way, 
And  shun  the  road  which  sinners  trode, 

That  leads  from  God  astray  ! 

Well  may  we  love  our  mother  church 

And  bless  the  household  bands. 
Which  make  in  Christ  one  family, 

Uniting  hearts  and  hands. 
With  holy  harmonies  of  praise, 

We  lift  our  grateful  song 
To  Him  who  wove  the  golden  strand 

Which  has  endured  so  long. 
And  shall  unite,  in  realms  of  light, 

A  countless,  spotless  throng. 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  15 

Thrice  cordially  we  welcome  all 

Our  brethren  and  our  friends, 
In  faith,  that  where  His  children  meet, 

Our  Lord,  Himself,  attends. 

Time  weaves  his  web  with  threads  of  change 

How  fast  his  shuttles  shift  ! 
Yet  all  shall  show  a  plan  divine 

When  God  the  veil  shall  lift  ; 
The  faithful  souls,  who,  years  ago, 

Within  the  vineyard  bore 
The  heat  and  burden  of  the  day, 

Toil  with  us  now  no  more. 
This  Mother  watched  their  ebbing  life 

And  closed  their  sightless  eyes, 
And  bade  the  soul  attain  its  goal. 

And  grasp  the  shining  priee. 
While  earth  in  trust  receives  their  dust, 

Till  Jesus  bids  them  rise  ! 

Yet  others,  with  their  life-work  done. 

Stand  almost  at  the  gate, 
Within  which  victor's  palms  and  crowns 

The  ransomed  soul  await. 
And  so  to-day  our  future  way. 

Untried,  untrodden  lies. 
Yet  at  God's  word  our  loins  we  gird, 

And  upward  lift  our  eyes. 
What  toilsome  loads,  o'er  desert  roads, 

We  shall  be  called  to  bear, 
We  cannot  tell,  but  He  knows  well. 

Whose  love  can  sweeten  care, 
And  Whose  repose  is  shared  by  those. 

Who  learn  His  yoke  to  share  ! 

One  glance  we  cast  along  the  Past, 

Its  five  and  twenty  years. 
And  with  a  smile  the  hours  beguile — 

A  smile  that  shines  through  tears  ! 
'Twere  sweet  to  stay  upon  our  way  ; 

Here  rest  our  moving  tent  ; 
For  heart  from  heart  is  loth  to  part. 

By  hallowed  converse  blent. 
But  Time  is  fleet  ;  with  tripping  feet 

He  speeds  his  onward  course. 


16  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSAET 

And  we  are  drawn  forever  on 

By  his  resistless  force, 
Till  life  shall  end  and  being  blend 

With  being's  wondrous  Source  ! 

God's  onward  word  will  soon  be  heard, 
•  That  bids  us  fold  our  tents  ; 

The  Cloud  shall  rise  before  our  eyes, 

And,  moving,  lead  us  hence. 
So  glides  away  our  festal  day 

Into  that  realm  so  vast. 
Where  clouds  abide  and  memories  hide — 

The  dream-land  of  the  Past. 
But  ere  we  part,  afresh  to  start 

For  Life's  uncertain  goal. 
Be  this  our  vow,  recorded  now. 

Our  future  to  control  ; 
That  Duty's  call  shall  never  fall 

Unheeded  on  the  soul ! 

What  though  our  life  be  full  of  strife, 

Whose  struggles  never  cease  ; 
Though  yoke  be  worn  and  burden  borne 

Till  dying  brings  release  ! 
God's  ways  invite  to  true  delight  ; 

And  all  His  paths  are  peace. 
Let  me  rehearse,  in  simple  verse, 

A  myth  of  Eastern  sages. 
Which,  like  a  flower  from  Eden's  bower, 

Has  floated  down  the  ages  ; 
Beneath  the  veil  of  mystic  tale, 

Its  lesson  still  is  plain: 
That  those,  who  will  God's  law  fulfil. 

The  purest  bliss  obtain. 


Duty   kud    Deli^lit. 


A    PARABLE    IN    A    POEM. 


I. 

Somewhere  in  Oriental  climes, 
Among  the  tales  of  olden  times, 

And  legendary  lore, 
We  read  in  weird  and  wondrous  words, 
That  when  at  first  God  made  the  birds, 

They  had  no  power  to  soar. 


FORT    STREET    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  IT 


They  had  sweet  voices  and  could  sing, 
With  gorgeous  plumage,  yet  no  wing, 

With  which  to  mount  and  fly. 
In  lowly  meads  the  warblers  sang, 
Hut  no  lark's  notes  in  echoes  rang 

Along  the  arching  sky. 

III. 
Then  at  God's  word  the  wings  were  wrought, 
And  by  angelic  hands  were  brought, 

While  to  the  birds  He  spake : 
"Go  bear  these  burdens  at  my  beck. 
And  wear  this  yoke  upon  the  neck, 

For  God's  and  Duty's  sake." 

IV. 

At  first  they  seemed  a  heavy  load. 

And,  bowing  with  the  weight,  they  trode 

Along  the  verdant  fields; 
But  he,  who  bears,  increases  strength. 
And  so  the  heaviest  yoke  at  length. 

Before  his  patience  yields. 

V. 

Thus  on  their  shoulders  meekly  borne. 
From  mom  to  night,  from  night  to  morn. 

Upon  each  side  a  wing; 
The  burdens,  folded  o'er  the  breast, 
Instead  of  weariness  brought  rest, 

And  led  the  birds  to  sing. 

VI. 

And  so,  the  legend  says,  at  last 

The  warblers  found  the  wings  were  fast, 

Each  to  its  socket  grown  ! 
In  form  and  fashion  still  the  same, 
The  burdens,  pinions,  now  became, 

And  each  possessed  his  own. 

vn. 
Then,  pouring  from  each  golden  throat, 
The  silver  streams  of  music  float 

And  mingle  into  one  ; 
On  pinions,  which  just  now  they  bore. 
The  songsters  all  together  soar 

In  triumph  toward  the  sun. 


18  TWENTY-FIFTH   ANKIVEESART 


VIII. 

We  are  the  birds — without  the  wings 
Our  duties  are  the  loads  God  brings 

And  lays  before  our  feet  ; 
At  first  but  burdens  they  appear, 
But.  borne  with  faith  and  holy  cheer, 

To  wear  the  yoke  seems  sweet. 


With  daily  growing  strength  to  bear 
The  weight  of  duty  and  of  care, 

The  load  is  daily  less  ; 
Easy  the  yoke  of  Jesus  grows. 
His  burden  light,  His  work  repose, 

When  He  shall  deign  to  bless. 


At  first  we  think  our  service  hard, 
Perhaps  like  slaves  we  feel  debarred 

From  privilege  and  joy  ; 
But  by  and  by  His  servants  learn 
Their  highest  freedom  to  discern, 

Alone  in  His  employ. 

XI. 
Freedom  to  rise  and  reign  with  Him, 
Beneath  the  skies  that  never  dim 

Their  all  unclouded  light  ; 
To  him  who  bears  his  daily  cross, 
And,  for  his  Lord,  counts  gain  as  loss, 

Duty  becomes  delight. 

XII. 

So  be  it  ours,  while  life  shall  last, 
Our  cheerful  lot  with  those  to  cast 

Who  love  to  do  his  will. 
Then  dark  may  be  our  future  way. 
But  out  of  darkness  dawns  the  day. 

That  knows  no  shade  of  ill ! 

After  the  reading  of  the  poem,  an  offering  was  made  to  the 
cause  of  Presbyterian  Church  Extension  in  the  city,  to  be  expend- 
ed by  the  Presbyterian  Alliance  of  Detroit;  the  second  of  the 
special  hymns  was  sung,  and  the  assembly  dismissed  with  the 
benediction  by  Dr.  Shaw. 


FORT  STREET  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  19 


¥l\e  Sftefi\ooi\  5<xei^di^e'^ 

Began  promptly  at  3  o'clock,  with  a  "  Jubilate  "  by  the  choir,  and 
prayer  was  offered  by  the  Rev.  George  D.  Baker,  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church.  The  following  paper,  was  then  read,  and, 
though  occupying  nearly  two  hours  in  delivery,  was  listened  to 
with  unflagging  interest  to  its  close : 


BY   THE   HON.   EDWARD   C.   WALKER. 


"On  the  2ist  day  of  February,  A.  D.,  1849,  in  the  one-story 
brick  session-room  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  in  Detroit, 
there  assembled  Revs.  Geo.  Duffield,  D.  D.  and  Robert  R.  Kellogg, 
and  Elders  E  P.  Hastings  and  Thos.  Rowland,  a  Committee  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Detroit,  to  organize  a  second  church  of 
our  order,  in  the  city.  With  them  came  twenty-six  persons, 
sixteen  from  the  First  Church,  who  then  and  there  entered  into 
covenant  relations  with  each  other  and  their  God,  to  walk  together 
as  a  christian  church. 

This  event,  after  the  lapse  of  a  quarter  of  a  century,  we  have 
to-day  met  to  commemorate.  Twenty-five  years  seems  a  long 
period  to  anticipate.  How  short  it  seems  to  many  of  us  as  we 
look  back  over  its  fleeting  hours. 

That  we  may  fully  appreciate  the  bearings  of  this  small 
beginning,  that  scarcely  caused  a  ripple  in  our  city  life,  let  us 
glance,  for  a  moment,  at  the  surroundings  of  this  event. 

Gen.  Zachary  Taylor  had  just  been  elected  President  of  the 
United  States,  Epaphroditus  Ransom  was  the  Governor  of  Mich- 
igan, and  Charles  Howard  had  just  succeeded  Frederick  Buhl  as 
Mayor  of  Detroit.  The  city  had  then  only  eight  wards,  and  was 
bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Pontiac  Rail  Road,  and  on  the  west 
by  the  high  board  fence  of  the  Woodbridge  Farm.  The  State, 
three  years  before,  had  sold  the  Central  Rail  Road  to  Boston  cap- 
italists, under  the  lead  of  John  W.  Brooks  (long  an  honored 
member  of  this  congregation).  In  the  spring  of  iS-ig  the  road 
reached  Lake  Michigan,  and  the  "  T  "  rail  took  the  place  of  the  old 


20  TWENTY-FIFTH    AJTlSriVEKSART 


flat  bar  as  far  west  as  Jackson.  The  Pontiac  Rail  Road  had  its 
depot  beside  the  Rail  Road  Hotel  on  the  site  of  the  present  Opera 
House.  Colin  Campbell  kept  the  Scotch  Store  in  a  low,  two  story 
building  on  Smart's  corner,  now  the  Merrill  Block.  The  rest  of 
that  block,  to  Larned  Street,  was  mostly  covered  with  low,  wooden 
tenements.  The  next  block  was  nearly  all  occupied  by  the  Pres- 
byterian and  Episcopal  churches.  Copland's  block  on  the  next 
corner  had  just  been  built,  and  the  old  "Odd  Fellow's  Hall" 
(so  long  the  India  Rubber  Store)  loomed  up  all  alone  as  the  only 
building  of  any  note  on  the  opposite  side.  Woodward  Avenue 
had  hardly  yet  began  its  triumphant  rivalry  over  Jefferson.  The 
old  City  Hall,  the  Capitol,  the  French  Church  and  the  two  church- 
es on  Woodward  Avenue,  were  the  noticeable  public  buildings. 
The  dwellings  of  Judge  Sibley,  (late  the  residence  of  Edmund 
Trowbridge,)  of  Robert  Stuart,  (now  of  Dr.  Morse  Stewart,)  of  E.  P. 
Hastings,  (now  of  Governor  McClelland,)  and  of  C.  C.  Trowbridge 
on  Jefferson  Avenue — of  Albert  Crane,  (now  of  Mr.  Grout,)  and  of 
Charles  Howard,  (now  of  Gen.  Alger,)  on  Fort  Street,  were  the 
admiration  of  our  citizens.  The  present  Jones  mansion  was  not 
yet,  but  its  predecessor  was  a  low,  white  house,  embowered  in 
trees  and  shrubbery,  on  the  River  Road.  It  was  to  be  yet  five 
years  before  an  architect  located  in  Detroit.  The  population  was 
just  about  20,000,  one-fifth  of  its  present  number.  We  then  had 
nineteen  churches ;  four  Roman  Catholic,  two  Presbyterian,  one 
Congregational,  four  Episcopal,  four  Methodist,  two  Baptist,  one 
Lutheran,  one  Swedenborgian.  Now  there  are  fifty-nine,  three 
times  as  many ;  nine  Roman  Catholic,  seven  Presbyterian,  two 
Congregational,  seven  Episcopal,  nine  Methodist,  six  Baptist,  ten 
Lutheran,  two  Swedenborgian,  two  Christian,  one  Unitarian,  two 
Synagogues,  and  two  Christadelphians. 

The  Catholic  churches  were :  St.  Anne's,  on  Larned  Street, 
claiming  to  be  the  religious  home  of  5,000  souls  ;  the  Cathedral,  on 
Jefferson  Avenue,  which  was  dedicated  in  June,  1848,  and  under 
the  care  of  Bishop  LeFevre,  was  attended  by  most  of  the  non- 
French-speaking  people  this  side  of  the  eighth  ward.  The  tem- 
porary roof  over  the  base  of  its  tower,  gave  promise  of  a  spire 
soon  to  come,  a  hope  which  the  lapse  of  a  quarter  century  has  not 
turned  to  fruition.  There  was  the  German  church  on  St.  Antoine 
Street,   in  the  "  extreme  north-eastern   part  of   the  city,"  as  the 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH,  21 


record  says, and  Trinity  church,  founded  among  the  rapidly  in 
creasing  population  of  the  eighth  ward.  These  churches  repre- 
sented probably  one-half  of  our  city  population. 

The  Congregational  church  was  five  years  old,  and  the  earnest 
work  and  classic  sermons  of  their  new  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Kitchell, 
were  soon  to  change  their  little  church  on  Jefferson  Avenue,  with 
its  unique  Detroit  architecture,  (now  Rolfe's  Livery  and  Sale 
Stables,)  into  the  elegant  building  just  above  us. 

Bishop  McCoskry,  (long  may  he  be  spared  !)  was  rector  of  St 
Paul's,  which  stood  about  where  Wetmore's  crockery  store  now  is, 
soon  to  give  place  to  business,  and  be  succeeded  by  the  ivy-cov- 
ered sanctuary  on  Congress  Street.  He  had  also  under  his  Epis- 
copal care,  Christ  Church,  with  its  slight  wooden  building  on  its 
beautiful  lot  on  Jefferson  Avenue;  and  the  colored  church  on  St. 
Antoine  Street,  of  Father  Monroe,  whose  shining  black  face  and 
gold  spectacles  are  a  part  of  our  city's  history.  The  Mariners' 
Church  was  not  dedicated  till  December,  1849. 

The  First  Methodist  Church,  (now  St.  Andrew's  Hall,)  had 
been  finished  in  1848,  and  the  record  says  that  "great  credit  was 
due  to  John  Owen,  James  Burns  and  Elisha  Eldred  for  the  build- 
ing of  the  same."  The  Second  Church,  which  afterwards  united 
with  it  to  form  the  Central,  had  a  small,  plain  building  on  the 
corner  of  Congress  and  Randolph  Streets.  There  were  also  a 
'colored  and  German  Methodist  Church.  The  old  Methodist 
church  which  stood  so  many  years  on  the  corner  of  Woodward 
Avenue  and  Congress  Street,  where  Gunn's  store  now  is,  had  been 
moved  to  the  corner  of  Lafayette  and  Fourth  Streets.  It  has  just 
now  given  place  to  Mr.  Tefft's  new  house,  and  its  now  enlarged 
congregation  are  finishing  a  new  edifice  on  Howard  Street. 

The  Baptist  Church  had  its  home  on  the  corner  of  Fort  and 
Griswold  Streets,  on  the  present  site  of  Music  Hall,  and  was  then 
ably  ministered  to  by  Rev.  (now  Dr.)  Haskell,  of  Ann  Arbor.  The 
Tabernacle  Baptist  Church  was  not  organized  by  Rev.  James 
Inglis,  of  fragrant  memory,  till  September,  1849.  The  African 
Baptist,  the  Lutheran  and  Swedenborgian  Churches  completed  the 
list,  outside  of  our  o\vn  denomination. 

The  First  Protestant  Society  was  the  corporate  name  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  so  called  because  it  was  the  first  protestant 
organization  in  Detroit,  and  for  years  embraced  all  denominations 


22  TWENTY-FIFTH   AN"N"IVERSARf 


in  its  fold.  As  the  city  grew,  one  by  one  the  different  sects  with- 
drew, and  the  church  which  was  organized  on  a  very  broad  basis 
in  t8i6,  was,  on  the  23d  of  January,  A.  D.  1825,  forty-nine  years 
ago,  converted  into  a  strictly  Presbyterian  Church.  It  was  the 
largest  and  most  influential  church  in  the  city.  It  had  on  its  roll 
the  names  of  many  who  have  been  efficient  in  moulding  the  histo- 
ry of  the  State  and  nation.  During  one  term,  not  only  the  Gov- 
ernor, but  nearly  all  his  cabinet,  were  from  its  ranks.  It  has 
furnished  at  least  three  members  of  Congress,  Stuart,  Buel  and 
Wm.  A.  Howard,  and  five  United  States  Senators,  Woodbridge, 
Porter,  Cass,  J.  M.  Howard  and  Chandler. 

At  this  time.  Dr.  George  Dufifield  had  been  for  ten  years  its  pastor, 
and  was  then  in  the  full  vigor  and  strength  of  his  intellect,  and  of 
his  influence,  which  was  widespread  and  powerful.  Nothing  that 
pertained  to  humanity  was  foreign  to  him.  His  reputation  in  his 
own  church  was  national.  The  eldership  of  that  church  had  con- 
tained some  remarkable  men.  Robert  Stuart  was  one  in  a  million 
in  personal  appearance,  intellectual  power  and  vigor  of  character. 
His  manner  and  presence,  as  it  impressed  us  boys,  is  ineffaceably 
photographed  on  our  memory.  We  called  him  the  "  Apostle 
Paul,"  in  honor  of  our  conception  of  what  a  splendid  man  Paul 
must  have  been,  rather  than  in  accordance  with  the  Apostle's  own 
account  of  his  "  bodily  presence."  Converted  late  in  life,  he  car- 
ried into  his  Christianity  the  same  stern  purpose  and  indomitable ' 
will  which  had  marked  his  worldly  career,  only  softened  by  the 
new  life  within. 

Major  Frank  Larned,  U.  S.  A.,  was  a  most  polished,  courteous 
christian  gentleman — loved  and  respected  by  all ;  his  house,  now 
the  residence  of  Solomon  Gardner,  was  for  years  the  center  of  a 
large  and  christian  hospitality. 

Major  Jonathan  Kearsley,  who  left  a  leg  at  the  sortie  of  Fort 
Erie,  was  a  bluff",  blunt  old  soldier,  who  made  his  mark  upon  our 
State's  history,  especially  upon  our  educational  institutions.  The 
University  owes  much  to  him  as  its  regent.  His  Perfect  Latinity 
and  his  Ross'  Latin  Grammar  were  the  terror  of  the  boys  upon 
examination  day,  who,  in  the  Branch  University,  on  the  site  of 
Farrand,  Williams  &:  Go's  present  store,  were  preparing  for  col- 
lege, under  the  able  instruction  of  Chaplain  Fitch,  now  of  Fort 
Wayne. 


FORT   STREET   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  23 


Eurotas  P.  Hastings  is  a  name  inseparably  connected  in  this 
State,  with  the  history  of  our  denomination.  It  may  ahnost  be 
said  that  the  church  crystallized  about  him.  As  one  of  our  earli- 
est pioneers,  his  influential  position  for  the  first  twenty  years  of 
his  residence  here,  enabled  him  to  exert  a  controlling  influence  in 
the  formative  period  of  the  church.  The  preciolis  memory  of  his 
earnest  piety,  and  his  christian  fidelity  to  the  last,  has  survived 
every  member  of  his  immediate  family. 

Equally  conspicuous  and  noble  at  an  early  day,  but  less 
known  to  this  generation,  was  Edward  Bingham.  The  sterling 
honesty  and  unswerving  devotion  to  duty  of  Alexander  McFarren 
(for  a  time  also  an  elder  in  this  church)  were  worthy  of  his  Scot- 
tish ancestry,  and  would  have  carried  him  to  the  stake  if  the  cause 
had  demanded.  Of  the  old  board  of  elders,  Horace  Hallock, 
whom  we  all  know  and  love,  alone  remains. 

The  church  at  this  time  had  450  members.  The  congrega- 
tion was  so  large  that  for  some  years  there  had  been  no  desirable 
pews  to  rent  in  the  church.  This  was  located  on  the  corner  of 
Woodward  x\venue  and  Larned  Street,  where  Tunis  now  dispen- 
ses books  and  papers.  The  society  owned  one-half  of  the  block 
up  to  the  line  of  St.  Paul's,  where  stores  now  rent  for  $3,000  per 
annum.  A  brick-session  room,  surrounded  with  tomb-stones,  was 
between  the  two  churches.  The  following  description  of  the 
church  is  from  '  Welling's  Directory,' of  1846:  "  It  cost  $25,000. 
"  It  is  deemed  one  of  the  best  churches  in  the  western  States. 
"  The  beauty  and  finish  of  the  building  have  been  often  noticed. 
"It  is  arched,  and  the  arch  is  divided  into  four  panels,  enclosing 
"  a  quadrangle  which  overhangs  the  center  of  the  floor.  The  quad- 
"  rangle  is  ornamented  by  two  elegant  center-pieces,  from  each  of 
"which  is  suspended  a  bronze  chandelier." 

With  such  a  church,  such  a  pastor  and  such  an  eldership,  it  is 
not  strange  that  no  movement  was  made  for  church  extension. 
All  clung  with  tenacity  to  the  revered  associations  of  the  old 
church.  There  was  no  wealth  in  Detroit  at  the  time,  except  in 
French  farms.  There  was  not  a  farthing  of  surplus  capital.  Our 
present  wealthy  men  were  just  laying  the  foundations  of  their 
wealth,  and  such  outlays  as  we  are  now  making,  were  not  only 
unthought  of,  but  impossible.  The  large  congregation  of  the  First 
Church,  had  its  famous  "  Dwight  Debt  "  of  $2,500  hanging  over 


24  TWEKTT-FIFTH    ANNIVEESART 

it,  which  never  was  paid  till  the  burning  of  the  church  in  1854. 
The  same  church  could  raise  and  pay  :|25,ooo  easier  to-day,  than 
the  whole  body  of  Detroit  Presbyterians  could  then  raise  $2,500. 
In  the  summer  of  1848,  Rev.  Robert  R.  Kellogg,  a  brother  of 
Mrs.  Edward  Orr,  who  had  just  resigned  a  pastorate  at  Romeo, 
happened  providentially  to  be  in  Detroit,  and  thought  he  saw  an 
open  door  for  a  second  church.  He  found  very  many  who  were 
earnest  in  saying  that  a  second  church  was  demanded,  but  only  a 
handful  who  said,  "  we  will  join  in  such  an  enterprise."  He 
appeared  before  the  session  of  the  First  Church  on  the  7th  of 
August,  1848,  and  asked  their  co-operation  in  his  plan.  The  ses- 
sion appointed  Thomas  Rowland,  Alexander  McFarren,  Samuel 
Zug,  Sylvester  Lamed,  T.  W.  Lockwood,  Alanson  Sheley  and  J. 
S.  Farrand,  a  committee  to  aid  Mr.  Kellogg,  and  to  raise  a  sub- 
scription of  $1,000  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  first  year.  On 
August  31st  the  committee  reported  that  they  had  raised  only 
$500,  but  that  Mr.  Kellogg  was  willing  to  commence  his  labors, 
and  rely  upon  future  subscriptions  for  his  support. 

Accordingly,  having  procured  the  use  of  the  Capitol  School 
building,  he  began  his  labors  September  loth,  1848.  A  Sabbath 
School  was  commenced  on  that  or  the  next  Sabbath,  and  the 
enterprise,  whose  results  we  now  see  about  us,  was  fairly  launched. 
Mr.  Kellogg  was  an  indefatigable  worker.  He  went  from  house 
to  house.  He  hunted  up  every  family  in  the  city,  who  had  their 
church  letters  from  the  east,  (as  some  of  you  have  yet,)  stowed 
away  in  bureau  drawers,  and  who  made  the  fullness  of  the  First 
Church  an  excuse  for  not  showing  their  christian  colors.  He 
went  into  the  streets,  and  "compelled  them  to  come  in."  A 
respectable  congregation  was  at  once  gathered.  After  five  months 
of  this  preparatory  work,  on  February  5th,  1849,  an  application 
was  made  to  the  Presbytery  for  leave  to  form  a  church,  which 
was  done  on  February  21st,  1849,  three  days  short  of  a  quarter 
of  a  century  ago. 

The  names  of  the  original  twenty-six,  were  as  follows  :  From 
the  First  Church — Samuel  Zug  and  wife,  Sylvester  Larned  and 
wife,  S.  p.  Wilcox  and  wife,  Thomas  Rowland  and  wife,  William 
Gilbert  and  wife,  Mrs.  John  H.  Harmon,  Robert  Beattie,  Mrs. 
Charlotte  Thompson,  Miss  Catherine  A.  Fisher  (afterwards  Mrs. 
William  Walker),  and  Delia  Mather  (now  Mrs.  Edwin  Jerome,  Sen.) 


FORT  STREET  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  25 

From  other  churclies — Mrs.  Elizabeth  Weir  and  two  daughters,  Mrs. 
R.  R.  Kellogg,  William  Haworth,  Marion  Rutherferd,  U.  O.  Penfield 
and  wife,  J.  J.  Briscoe  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  William  Stewart.  Of 
these,  only  thirteen,  just  one-half,  are  living  to-day,  as  far  as  we 
know.  Only  three  remain  in  the  church  :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zug  and 
S.  P.  Wilcox.  Prior  to  the  organization  of  the  church,  a  request 
was  presented  to  the  First  Church  session,  asking  that  elders  Row- 
land, McFarren  and  Sheley  might  be  dismissed,  to  constitute  the 
Board  of  Elders  of  the  new  church.  The  session  unanimously 
directed  its  clerk  to  grant  letters  to  such  of  said  elders,  as  should 
apply  for  them. 

"  Major  Rowland  alone  asked  for  such  letter.  The  others  did 
not  see  their  duty  clear,  or  lacked  faith  in  the  enterprise.  Major 
Rowland  and  Mr.  Zug  were  elected  the  first  elders,  but  Messrs. 
McFarren  and  Sheley  for  some  time  sat  and  counseled  with  the 
new  Board,  at  the  special  request  of  Mr.  Kellogg,  and  by  appoint- 
ment of  their  own  session. 

In  March,  1849,  the  corporation  of  this  society  was  organized, 
and  the  question  of  a  church  building  was  at  once  agitated.  The 
financial  ability  of  the  little  church  was  small,  but  it  had  pluck, 
courage  and  faith,  especially  in  the  person  of  its  pastor.  General 
Cass  donated  a  lot  on  Lafayette  Avenue,  where  R.  W.  Gillett  now 
lives,  but  that  was  so  on  one  side,  so  out  of  town,  that  it  was  not 
suitable  for  the  site  of  a  new  church,  and  the  Trustees  bought  of 
James  A.  Van  Dyke,  Esq.,  for  $1,500,  the  lot  on  the  corner  of 
Lafayette  and  Wayne  Streets,  and  applied  General  Cass'  lot 
towards  the  payment  for  the  same,  at  $700.  Messrs.  Zug  and 
McFarren  were  appointed  a  building  committee,  and  obtained 
plans  and  estimates  for  a  church  ;  but,  on  the  25th  of  July,  1849, 
the  society  put  the  whole  matter  into  the  hands  of  the  pastor,  with 
full  power  to  raise  the  money  and  build  the  church,  "  provided 
that  he  should  not  run  the  corporation  in  debt."  Accordingly, 
Mr.  Kellogg  raised  the  subscription,  collected  the  money,  let  the 
contracts  in  his  own  name,  superintended  the  whole  work,  put  in 
all  the  money  he  had  received  from  the  sale  of  his  house  in 
Romeo,  and  turned  it  over  to  the  Trustees  complete,  on  the  7th 
of  April,  A.  D.  1S50,  when  it  was  dedicated  with  rejoicing. 

It  cost  $4,364,  of  which  Mr.  Kellogg  had  raised  and  collected 
$3,260,   leaving  him   personally   responsible   for  $1,104.     In   the 
4 


36  TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVEKSAKT 

light  of  the  present  day,  that  subscription  paper  is  a  study.  The 
largest  donor,  after  General  Cass,  was  Samuel  Zug,  $300,  the  next, 
Mrs.  DeGarmo  Jones,  $200,  the  third,  Sylvester  Larned,  $150, 
while  Mrs.  Zug  (who  has  been  doing  just  such  good  things  ever 
since)  is  credited  with  $400,  the  proceeds  of  a  fair.  She  also  col- 
lected all  the  money  with  which  to  furnish  the  church,  from  ladies, 
mostly  of  the  First  Church  ;  and  of  all  the  sums  donated,  only 
two  were  as  large  as  five  dollars. 

In  November,  A.  D.  1849,  ^  call  was  extended  to  Mr. 
Kellogg,  at  a  salary  of  fSoo,  but  as  the  Trustees,  by  S.  P.  Wilcox, 
their  Treasurer,  long  an  able  and  efficient  officer,  reported  that  it 
was  impossible  to  raise  but  $600,  the  pastor  agreed  to  donate 
the  deficiency  for  the  first  year.  He  was  installed  during  the 
session  of  the  General  Assembly,  May  21,  1850,  and  Drs.  Riddle, 
of  Pittsburgh,  and  Mason,  of  N.  Y.,  took  part  in  the  services. 

The  salary,  actually  paid  to  Mr.  Kellogg  the  first  year,  was 
$329,  and  the  second  year,  $520,  but  these  deficiencies  were  all 
eventually  made  up  to  him.  The  history  of  this  first  five  years  is 
one  of  intense  financial  struggle  of  a  few  determined  men  of  fee- 
ble resources,  left  to  sustain,  alone,  an  enterprise  too  great  for 
their  strength. 

But  there  is  a  bright  side  to  this  picture — a  silver  lining  to 
this  cloud.  Hardly  a  communion  occurred  during  the  time  with- 
out accessions  to  the  church  upon  profession  of  faith.  During 
that  five  years,  190  names  were  entered  on  the  roll,  69  upon  pro- 
fession of  their  faith.  A  Mission  School  on  Elizabeth  Street  was 
established,  and  a  nice  building  erected  in  1851,  which  lived  and 
flourished  under  other  hands,  many  years. 

In  1853,  Mr.  Kellogg,  seeing  the  complication  that  might 
arise,  owing  to  the  swarming  of  the  old  hive,  and  the  contemplat- 
ed erection  of  a  new  church  on  Fort  Street,  tendered  his  resigna- 
tion, to  take  effect  September  ist,  of  that  year,  thus  leaving  the 
way  open  for  the  Second  Church  to  join  the  Fort  Street  move- 
ment, if  desired. 

Rev.  Robert  R.  Kellogg  was  born  at  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  May 
iSth,  1813.  He  graduated  at  New  York  University,  and  studied 
his  profession  at  Auburn  Seminary,  that  noble  School  of  the 
Prophets.  He  had  preached  at  Gowanus,  N.  Y.,  and  there  erect- 
ed a  church,  and  in    1841,  became   pastor  of  the   Congregational 


FORT  STREET   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 


37 


Church  at  Romeo,  where  he  was  also  principal  of  an  academy. 
He  was  also  at  one  time  a  Regent  of  our  University.  After  leav- 
ing Detroit,  he  was  settled  at  LeRoy  and  Lima,  N.  Y.,  and  died 
suddenly,  after  a  five  years'  pastorate  at  Milford,  Pa.,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1866,  aged  54  years.  Rev.  David  M.  Cooper,  of  Albion,  son 
of  Elder  David  Cooper,-of  the  First  Church,  was  converted  under 
his  ministry,  while  attending  school  at  Romeo,  and  afterwards 
united  with  this  church,  and  was  only  taken  from  us  by  his  ordi- 
nation vows.  In  a  letter  I  have  seen  of  Mr.  Kellogg's,  dated 
July  13th,  1841,  he  speaks  of  one  John  S.  Newberry  as  "a  boy 
of  great  promise,"  just  about  to  unite  with  his  church  on  pro- 
fession. 

No  one  can  thoroughly  search  the  records  of  the  first  five 
years  of  our  church  life,  without  being  impressed  with  the  devout 
earnestness  and  self-sacrificing  spirit  of  its  first  pastor.  His  was 
a  pure  missionary  work.  He  displayed  the  same  untiring  energy 
in  leading  sinners  to  Christ,  that  he  manifested  in  building  our 
first  edifice,  almost  unaided  and  alone.  Though  only  eight  mem- 
bers, admitted  under  his  ministry,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zug,  Mr.  Wilcox, 
Mrs.  Shepard,  Mrs.  Mair,  Mrs.  Knight,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bloss 
remain  among  our  active  members,  his  memory  and  his  work  here 
should  not  be  forgotten  by  us,  and  the  record  ever  remaineth  on 
high.  Like  the  first  pioneers  in  our  western  wilds,  who  clear  up 
the  forest  and  then  leave  the  smooth  meadows  and  fruitful  orchards 
to  be  enjoyed  by  others — he  labored,  and  we  have  entered  into 
his  labors. 

His  widow,  in  a  letter  written  in  view  of  this  day,  from  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  thus  sweetly  tells  of  the  last  day  of  his  life  :  "  Not  soon 
"  will  be  forgotten  his  last  public  service  as  his  heart  dilated  upon 
"  a  text  so  appropriate  to  the  close  of  his  ministry  :  '  The  Lord 
"  '  direct  your  hearts  into  the  love  of  God  and  into  the  patient  wait- 
"  '  ing  for  Christ.'  The  abundance  of  his  pulpit  labors  on  that  day 
"  was  followedup  by  visiting  the  sick  and  dying,  and  conversing  about 
"  the  interest  of  Christ's  kingdom,  until  evening  came,  when  he  re- 
"  turned  to  his  home,  only  to  lay  himself  down  to  die  ;  and  in  the 
"  presence  of  his  family,  to  breathe  out  his  life  before  the  morning's 
"  light,  upon  the  bosom  of  that  Saviour  to  whom  all  his  energies 
"  had  been  consecrated. 


28  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVEESART 

"  Servant  of  God,  well  done — 

"  Rest  from  thy  loved  employ ; 
"  The  battle  fought,  the  victory  won, 

"  Enter  the  Master's  joy." 

After  the  organization  of  this  society,  the  mother  church  pro- 
ceeded in  the  even  tenor  of  her  way,  prospering  outwardly  and 
spiritually.  In  January,  1851,  it  leased  the  seventy-five  feet  in 
front  next  to  St.  Paul's,  to  Holmes  and  Sheley,  for  twenty  years, 
at  an  annual  ground  rent  of  $975-  In  November  of  the  same 
year,  a  special  meeting  was  called  of  that  society,  on  the  petition 
of  E.  P.  Hastings,  F.  Wetmore,  W.  A.  Bacon,  W.  A.  Raymond, 
Cullen  Brown,  M.  H.  Webster  and  J.  W.  Tillman,  to  consider  the 
propriety  of  selling  some  of  their  real  estatt,  and  building  a  third 
church  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city.  On  motion  of  Dr.  Morse 
Stewart,  it  was  voted  to  be  inexpedient.  This  was  only  an  index 
of  a  desire  for  church  extension,  which  was  afterwards  more  fully 
developed. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  February  7th,  1853,  Shubael  Conant 
in  the  chair,  after  the  election  of  Trustees,  Wm.  A.  Howard,  Esq. 
introduced  a  resolution,  providing  for  the  sale  of  all  the  Wood- 
ward Avenue  property,  and  building,  eventually,  from  the  proceeds, 
three  churches,  one  on  Fort  Street,  one  on  Jefferson  Avenue  and 
one  near  the  Grand  Circus.  It  was,  after  discussion,  referred  to  a 
committee  of  nine  persons,  viz :  B.  Wight,  A.  Sheley,  T.  W. 
Lockwood,  W.  A.  Howard,  F.  Moore,  J.  Kearsley,  J.  S.  Farrand, 
F.  Buhl  and  F.  Wetmore,  to  which  the  Elders  were  afterwards 
added.  On  the  loth  instant  the  majority  of  the  committe,  by  T. 
W.  Lockwood,  reported  in  favor  of  the  project,  a  minority,  by  A. 
McFarren,  against  it.  After  long  and  heated  discussions,  and 
two  other  adjournments,  on  January  24th  a  preamble  and  four 
resolutions  were  introduced,  and,  upon  a  vote  by  ayes  and  noes, 
were  adopted,  by  a  vote  of  forty-seven  to  sixteen.  They  provided 
that  the  160  feet  in  front  on  Woodward  Avenue  should  at  once  be 
conveyed  to  James  F.  Joy,  E.  P.  Hastings  and  J.  S.  Farrand  in 
trust  to  sell  the  same  within  twenty  months,  but  not  to  give  pos- 
session of  the  church  for  two  years^;  and,  after  paying  all  the  debts 
of  the  First  Protestant  Society,  to  pay  over  to  said  society  four- 
tenths  of  the  residue,  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  new  church, 
either  on  Jefferson  Avenue  or  in  the  5th  or  6th  ward  as  it  should 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  2f9 

elect ;  2d,  to  pay  three-tenths  to  a  church  to  be  built  on  Fort 
Street,  and  three-tenths  to  a  church  in  the  locality  which  the  First 
Protestant  Society  should  not  choose.  They  also  provided  that  if 
the  Second  Church  should  accede  to  this  plan  and  unite  with  the 
Fort  Street  project,  that  its  property  should  be  divided  in  the  same 
way.  It  was  understood  that  the  decision  as  to  the  location 
of  the  First  .Church,  was  to  be  left  to  the  pastor,  who 
was  at  that  time  abroad ;  and  that  only  two  new  churches 
should  be  built  at  once.  This  Y)\an  was  carried  out  to 
the  letter,  except  that  the  providential  burning  of  the  old  First 
Church  January  loth,  1854,  permitted  an  immediate  sale  of  the 
premises,  and  imposed  the  necessity  under  the  selection  made  by 
the  First  Society,  upon  all  three  churches,  of  building  at  one 
time. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  A.  D.  1853,  the  parties,  interested  in 
building  a  church  upon  Fort  Street,  assembled  in  Judge  Conant's 
famous  office,  in  rear  of  the  Michigan  Insurance  (now  First 
National)  Bank  building,  on  Griswold  Street,  and  resolved  to 
organize  temporarily  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  church,  under 
the  name  of  the  Fort  Street  Presbyterian  Church  Society.  F. 
Moore  was  made  President,  Z.  Chandler,  Treasurer,  and  E.  C 
Walker,  Secretary.  A  building  committee  was  appointed,  consist- 
ing of  F.  Moore,  F.  Buhl,  Capt.  A.  Canfield,  S.  Conant,  Z.  Chand- 
ler, T.  W.  Lockwood,  J.  W.  Brooks.  After  discussing  the  question 
of  site,  some  advising  the  purchase  of  the  corner  of  Cass  Street, 
where  Dr.  T.  A.  McGraw's  house  now  is,  it  was  decided  to  buy 
this  lot,  which  was  purchased  of  Shadrach  Gillett — 100  feet  front — 
for  $7,000,  he  moving  off  the  house,  which  was  one  of  the  first 
built  on  the  Cass  Farm,  and  now  is  occupied  by  Marcus  Stevens, 
PLsq.,  corner  of  Second  and  Lafayette  Streets. 

The  first  subscription  for  church  building  was  at  once  taken 
up,  and  twenty  persons  subscribed  $20,200.  A  supplementary 
subscription  by  the  same  parties  brought  up  the  amount  to  just 
$30,000.  Near  the  completion  of  the  church,  a  third  subscription 
was  made  by  other  and  new  parties,  amounting  to  $6.850 — total, 
$36,850 — all  of  which  was  paid  except  $1,000.  The  sum  received 
from  the  First  Church  was  about  $15,000.  The  cost  of  the  church 
and  lot  was  $70,000.  After  selling  the  pews,  there  remained  a 
permanent  mortgage  debt  of  $15,000  on   the  building.     Four  of 


30  TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY 

the  subscribers  paid  $3,000  each,  three  paid  $2,000  each,  and  four 
paid  $1,500  each.  The  architect  of  the  church  was  A.  H.  Jordan, 
late  of  San  Francisco. 

On  the  13th  of  July,  A.  D.  1853,  a  committee  of  the  society, 
Messrs.  Moore  and  Lockwood,  proposed  to  the  Second  Presby- 
terian Chuich  to  unite  with  its  organization,  and  transfer  the 
new  church  and  society  to  the  new  building  on  Fort  Street,  when 
completed,  the  edifice  on  Lafayette  Street  to  be  sold  and  proceeds 
divided  among  the  three  churches.  This  overture  was  cordially 
accepted,  and  soon  the  families  connected  with  the  Fort  Street 
enterprise  took  pews  in  the  Second  Church. 

On  the  12th  of  September,  A.  D.  1853,  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  call  a  pastor ;  Messrs.  Gibson  and  Bloss  from  the  old 
members,  Messrs.  Moore  and  Walker  from  the  new.  The  services 
of  Rev.  E.  O.  Haven,  then  a  Professor  in  the  University  and  after- 
wards its  President,  were  secured,  and  he  ministered  to  us  most 
acceptably  till  a  pastor  was  obtained.  On  the  4th  of  December 
thereafter,  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  (now  Dr.)  Henry  Neill,  of 
Lennox,  Mass.,  at  a  salary  of  $1,500,  to  be  increased  to  $2,000 
upon  going  into  the  new  church.  He  entered  upon  his  work  on 
January  22d,  1854,  but  was  not  formally  installed  till  October  15th, 
1854,  when  Dr.  R.  W.  Patterson,  of  Chicago  preached  the  install- 
ation sermon.  Mr.  Neill  preached  almost  two  years,  till  Novem- 
ber, 1855,  in  the  old  building.  On  the  8th  of  that  month,  the 
special  Trustees  of  the  Fort  Street  Presbyterian  Church  Society, 
conveyed  the  title  and  delivered  the  keys  of  this  finished  House 
of  God  to  the  corporation  of  this  church.  On  the  i8th  of  the 
same  month  it  was  dedicated  with  joy  and  thanksgiving.  On  the 
next  day  the  pews  were  successfully  sold  at  auction,  Zachaiiah 
Chandler  officiating  as  auctioneer.  The  building  we  left  was  sold 
to  the  United  Presbyterians  for  $6,000,  and  it  is  a  great  pleasure 
that  such  a  congregation,  with  such  a  pastor,  should  have  succeed- 
ed to  the  tenement  we  had  outgrown. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  those  who  took  letters  from  the  First 
Church  during  the  first  year  of  Mr.  Neill's  ministry  :  Mr.  and  Mrs, 
Angus  McKay,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Brown,  T.  W.  Lockwood,  wife, 
mother  and  sister,  Mrs.  Franklin  Moore,  Mrs.  Chris.  Reeve  and 
daughter,  Mrs.  Solomon  Davis,  Mrs.  F.  Buhl,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  C. 
Walker,   Mrs.  J.  M.   Welch,    Shubael  Conant,  Alex.  McFarlane, 


'  FORT  STREET  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  31 

Geo.  B.  Dickinson,  George  Foote,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  W.  Hodgkin, 
Mrs.  T.  H.  Hinchman,  Mrs.  Cornelius  Wickware,  Dr.  E.  M.  Clark, 
Mrs.  James  Stephens,  Mrs.  De(iarmo  Jones,  Shadrach  Gillett, 
wife  and  daughter,  and  Mrs.  F.  H.  Steevens — twenty-nine  persons 
in  all — of  whom  twelve  have  gone  from  us  in  twenty  years,  for- 
ever, and  only  nine  remain  upon  the  rolls  to-day,  viz  :  Mrs.  Buhl, 
Mrs.  Davis,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walker,  Mrs.  Welch,  Geo.  Foote,  Mrs. 
Hodgkin,  Mrs.  Wickware,  and  Shadrach  Gillett. 

Many  heads  of  families  then  or  soon  after  united  with  us,  not 
represented  on  this  list.  Many  did  not  present  their  letters  till  we 
entered  the  new  church.  Many  joined  our  congregation  from  other 
churches.  Among  those  were  Cyrus  W.  Jackson,  Col.  Levi  Cook,  C 
H.  Buhl,  J.  W.  Brooks,  Geo.  E.  Hand,  Capt.  E.  B.  Ward,  Cap.  Eber 
Ward,  T.  F.  Abbott,  Edward  Orr,  David  Thompson,  Jas.  F.  Joy, 
Z.  Chandler,  J.  P.  PhilHps,  Geo.  F.  Bagley,  B.  B.  and  W.  R.  Noyes; 
Geo.  W.  Bissell,  M.  H.  Webster,  John  Palmer,  Elisha  Eldred,  John 
Q.  Dudley,  Charles  Ducharme,  John  Stephens,  James  Williams, 
Allan  Shelden,  Jacob  Beeson,  F.  J.  B.  Crane,  J.  G.  Erwin,  H.  J. 
Buckley,  Hovey  K.  Clarke,  Catherine  Hinchman,  Jos.  Law,  Jr., 
Walter  Chester,  Philip  Thurber,  Bradford  Smith  and  J.  W.  Smith, 
his  brother,  Duncan  Stewart,  Ransom  Gardner,  Wm.  L.  Wood- 
bridge,  C.  G.  Brownell,  Waldo  M.  Johnson,  S.  G.  Caskey,  Alfred 
Russell,  A.  P.  Cameron,  R.  Hosie,  C.  D.  Farlin,  J.  V.  Beane,  W. 
P.  Yerkes,  Chas.  Root,  L  N.  Swaine,  Sarah  Perkins,  Jas.  Menzies, 
Geo.  McMillan,  H.  Morrison,  and  J.  W.  Ray. 

On  the  17th  of  June,  A.  D.  1857,  Rev.  Mr.  Neill,  after  a  pas- 
torate of  three  and  one-half  years,  tendered  his  resignation. 
During  his  ministry,  ninety-four  members  were  admitted  to  the 
church ;  thirteen  upon  profession  of  their  faith.  Mr.  Neill  was  a 
man  of  decided  but  peculiar  genius.  Sometimes  as  an  orator  he 
rose  to  great  heights  of  poAver,  and  carried  his  auditors  with  him 
by  storm ;  but  his  efforts  were  unequal  and  irregular.  His  piety 
was  true  and  earnest.  His  social  qualities  were  most  charming 
and  delightful.  So  strong  a  hold  had  he  upon  the  hearts  of  those 
who  knew  him  best,  that  when,  after  leaving  this  church,  he  was 
invited  to  organize  still  another  Presbyterian  Church  in  Detroit, 
he  drew  from  us  by  the  jK)wer  of  his  personal  attraction,  fifteen  or 
twenty  families  of  the  congregation  of  the  highest  social  and  relig- 
ious culture,  whose  departure  was  felt  at  the  time  as  a  heavy  blow 


32  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 

to  our  new  enterprise.  Now,  in  view  of  the  good  work  Westmins- 
ter has  done  in  the  past,  and  what  we  know  she  will  do  in  the 
future,  when  before  long  she  shall  stand  with  completed  church 
on  Woodward  Avenue;  and  in  view  of  the  most  cordial  and  happy 
relations  that  exist  between  us,  we  have  no  regrets  to  remember, 
but  rather  joy  and  pride,  that  such  a  daughter  has  gone  from  our 
household  in  the  first  quarter  of  a  century  of  our  church  life. 

From  June  i8th,  1857,  we  were  without  a  pastor  for  sixteen 
months,  but  providentially  were  not  as  sheep  without  a  shepherd. 
Rev.  T.  S.  Byington,  then  a  young  man  under  commission  from 
the  American  Board,  now  returned  from  the  foreign  field  on 
account  of  health,  and  preaching  at  Newton,  N.  J.,  ministered  to 
us  with  great  acceptance  and  profit,  for  three  months. 

The  Rev.  James  Means,  of  Andover,  Mass.,  in  feeble  health, 
ventured  to  preach  to  us  for  a  little  while ;  but  we  held  him  for 
six  months.  Beyond  any  man  I  ever  met,  he  seemed  one  after 
God's  own  heart.  Winning  souls  to  Christ  was  to  him  as  spon- 
taneous and  natural  as  breathing.  A  blessed  revival  was  given  us 
under  his  labors,  and  many  of  the  young  whom  he  specially  loved, 
were  gathered  into  the  church,  as  well  as  many  of  the  older  ones 
of  the  congregation,  among  them  Franklin  Moore  and  Elder  F. 
Buhl.  Forty-eight  were  added  to  the  church  in  this  interregnum; 
all  but  fourteen  upon  profession  of  faith.  Mr.  Means  died  as 
chaplain  in  the  army  during  the  war.  If  ever  any  christian  soul 
will  have  a  crown  studded  with  stars,  James  Means  will,  I  believe, 
be  among  the  blessed  number. 

After  him,  we  enjoyed  for  two  months,  the  ministry  of  Dr.  Edwin 
Hall,  of  Auburn  Theological  Seminary,  and  were  then  fortunate 
enough  to  procure  the  services  of  one  you  all  know.  Rev.  W.  A. 
McCorkle,  till  a  new  pastor  arrived.  During  this  time,  a  call  had 
been  extended  to  Dr.  Walter  Clarke,  ot  Hartford,  and  declined. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  American  Board  in  this  city,  in  October, 
A.  D.  .i85<S,  Rev.  Azariah  Eldridge  was  present.  He  was  born 
upon  Cape  Cod,  had  graduated  with  high  honor  at  Yale,  where  he 
was  a  college-mate  of  S.  Earned,  J. W, Waterman  and  myself,  through 
whom  his  name  was  given  to  the  church.  He  was  converted  in  his 
senior  year,  and  entered  at  once  into  the  ministry.  He  was  called 
to  a  churcl\  in  New  Bedford,  to  which  he  ministered  successfully 
for  several  years ;  had  then  traveled  several  years  in  Europe,  and 


FORT  STREET   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  33 

was  just  returned  ready  again  for  ministerial  work.  In  1853,  the 
committee  appointed  to  call  a  pastor,  had  heard  Dr.  Eldridge  at 
New  Bedford  and  were  delighted  with  the  ability  and  strength  of 
his  sermons,  but  he  was  then  immovable.  Now  he  was  approach- 
ed on  the  subject  of  the  pastorate  of  this  church.  He  intimated 
that  if  the  debt  was  paid  he  would  come.  An  effort  was  at  once 
made  in  that  direction,  and  the  whole  debt  of  $19,000  was  provid- 
ed for  in  a  week.  He  accepted  our  call  at  a  salary  of  $2,500,  and 
was  duly  installed  as  pastor  on  the  2d  of  December,  A.  D.  1858. 
He  was  a  man  of  thorough  learning  and  high  culture.  His  dis- 
courses were  models  of  purity  of  diction,  and  power  of  expression. 
He  faithfully  and  conscientiously  ministered  to  this  people  for  six 
and  one-half  years,  to  June,  1865,  when  he  resigned  on  account 
of  ill  health.  The  proof  of  Dr.  Eldridge 's  ministry  is  shown  in 
the  roll  of  the  church,  to  which  one  hundred  and  sixty  names  were 
added  during  his  term,  seventy-three  of  them  upon  profession  of 
faith.  His  name  is  specially  loved  by  the  poor  and  sick  among 
his  people,  for  whom  his  heart  always  went  out  in  sympathy  and 
benevolence. 

It  is  right  to  speak  of  pastors'  wives,  after  they  are  no  longer 
with  us.  No  church  ever  had  better  ones,  than  Mrs.  Kellogg,  Mrs. 
Neill  and  Mrs.  Eldridge,  Of  the  two  latter  best  known  to  us,  it 
is  enough  to  say  of  Mrs.  Neill,  that  she  was  a  daughter  of  Dr, 
Heman  Humphrey,  and  in  every  way  worthy  of  her  family  and 
parentage.  "The  heart  of  her  husband  did  safely  trust  in  her." 
Mrs.  Eldridge,  without  being  specially  demonstrative,  won  and 
held  the  love  of  every  member  of  the  congregation,  by  her 
thorough  goodness,  crowned  by  every  grace  of  social  and  intel- 
lectual culture. 

In  1859,  by  act  of  our  Legislature,  the  name  of  the  society 
was  changed  from  the  "  Second,"  to  the  "Fort  Street"  Presby- 
terian Church. 

After  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Eldridge,  Rev.  W.  H.  Clark, 
nephew  of  Elder  Farrand,  filled  the  pulpit  very  happily  for  three 
months.  The  session  then,  in  October,  1865,  emplyed  Rev.  Sam- 
uel T.  Clarke,  of  Buffalo,  to  supply  the  pulpit  for  a  short  time, 
during  which  the  society  extended  a  call  to  Rev.  Dr.  James 
Eells,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  since  of  San  Francisco  and  Cleveland 
and  San  Francisco  again,  which  call  was  declined. 
5 


34  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 

After  the  declination  of  Dr.  Eells,  in  December,  1865,  Mr. 
Clarke  was  engaged  to  preach  for  us  for  six  months,  at  a  salary  of 
$2,500  per  annum.  He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Walter  Clarke,  D.  D., 
and  a  licentiate,  not  yet  ordained.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Hamil- 
ton College  and  Union  Theological  Seminary.  Before  the  expi- 
ration of  the  six  months,  he  had  performed  his  duties  with  so 
much  acceptance  to  the  congregation,  that  he  was  called  to  the 
pastorate  on  the  14th  of  May,  1866,  at  the  same  salary,  and  was 
duly  ordained  to  the  ministry  and  installed  as  pastor  on  the  first 
day  of  July  thereafter.  Dr.  Walter  Clarke,  his  father,  preached 
on  the  occasion,  a  sermon  of  great  power  and  ability. 

Mr.  Clarke  continued  in  the  pastorate  till  November,  1868, 
when  he  resigned.  He  filled  the  pulpit  as  pastor  and  supply, 
three  years  and  one  month,  during  which  period  sixty  persons 
united  with  the  church — thirty  by  letter,  and  a  like  number  on 
profession.  He  is  now  the  successful  pastor  of  a  church  at  Owego, 
N.  Y. 

We  now  enter  upon  what  we  may  well  call  the  "  golden  age  " 
of  the  church — the  last  five  years  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
Arthur  T.  Pierson.  On  the  14th  of  December,  1868,  a  committee 
to  procure  a  pastor  was  appointed,  consisting  of  J.  F.  Joy,  F. 
Buhl,  Duncan  Stewart,  J.  D.  Hayes,  E.  Y.  Swift,  Allan  Shelden, 
and  E.  C.  Walker.  One  of  our  committee,  J.  D.  Hayes,  who 
belongs  not  only  to  the  "  Blue  Line  "  of  rail  roads,  but  the  blue 
line  of  Presbyterianism,  asked  Dr.  J.  B.  Shaw,  of  Rochester,  N. 
Y.,  to  recommend  the  right  man  for  the  vacant  pulpit.  He  point- 
ed at  once  to  Rev.  Mr.  Pierson,  of  Waterford,  N.  Y..  as  the  man 
for  the  place.  Mr.  Hayes,  with  the  promptness  and  decision 
which  belong  to  Michigan  Central  Rail  Road  officials,  at  once 
went  to  hear  him.  He  reported,  without  any  doubt  or  misgivings, 
that  he  was  the  "  coming  man."  Mr.  Pierson  was  induced  to  come 
and  look  at  us,  and  I  was  appointed  a  committee  of  one  to  go 
and  look  at  him  and  his  antecedents.  I  shall  not  say  a  word 
of  what  I  learned  and  saw — while  mousing  around  among  the 
archives  of  colleges  and  churches,  and  interviewing  all  sorts  of 
people — except  what  most  of  you  already  know  :  that  he  is  a  native 
of  New  York  City;  age,  uncertain;  graduated  at  Hamilton  Col- 
lege in  1857,  in  the  same  class  with  Dr.  Herrick  Johnson  ;  studied 
theology  at  Union  Seminary ;  preached  a  while  in  Connecticut ; 


FORT  STREET  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH"  35 

was  settled  three  years  over  a  Congregational  church  at  Bing- 
hamton,  N.  Y.,  and  had  enjoyed,  for  six  years,  a  most  hap|)y  and 
successful  ministry  at  Waterford,  near  Troy,  N.  Y. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  1869,  we  gave  him  an  unanimous 
call  at  a  salary  of  ^3,000 — since  increased  to  84,000.  He  entered 
at  once  upon  his  work,  and  was  installed  May  5,  1869,  Dr.  Shaw 
very  appropriately  preaching  the  sermon.  If  our  pastor  is 
sorry  that  he  ever  enlisted  and  took  this  large  congregation  upon 
his  shoulders,  (and  I  think  he  is  not)  we  emphatically  sorrow  not, 
but  all  the  time — Sabbaths  and  week  days — we  bless  God  and  are 
thankful  that  He  in  His  i)rovidence,  sent  us  such  a  man  to  preach 
the  Gospel  to  us, 

"  To  point  to  brighter  worlds,  and  lead  the  way." 

His  earnest  and  faithful  labors  were  crowned  with  success  in 
the  very  first  year  of  his  ministry.  God  rejoiced  his  heart  by  the 
out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  upon  the  congregation — mostly  ujjon  the 
young  people  and  Sabbath  School.  Some  forty  were  converted  in 
the  revival.  Twenty-seven  united  with  the  church  at  one  time, 
on  the  2d  of  March,  1870,  a  day  long  to  be  remembered  by  many. 

Among  the  elements  of  progress  and  growth,  and  the  events  of 
this  five  years,  we  may  mention  the  following  : 

The  "Young  People's  Union"  began  Noveml^er  i  ith,  1869,  and, 
continuing  for  two  years,  was  a  source  of  grent  good.  It  accom- 
plished the  object  at  which  it  was  aimed,  viz  ;  by  joint  social  and  re- 
ligious intluence,  to  unify  and  bring  into  mutual  knowledge  and  sym- 
pathy, all  the  young  people  of  the  society,  and  thus  make  them  inis- 
sionaries  in  drawing  other  young  people  into  the  church  and 
congregation.  The  young  element  of  our  church  had  always  been 
small  to  the  great  regret  of  former  pastors  and  office- 
bearers of  the  church.  This  "  Union  "  wrought  a  decided  change 
for  the  better  in  this  respect.  Its  influence  still  lives  and  breathes 
among  us,  after  the  organization  itself,  which  fulfilled  its  destiny, 
has  passed  away. 

The  "  Young  People's  Prayer  Meeting  "  was  commenced  Jan- 
uary 30,  1870,  Otto  Kirchner  leading  the  first  meeting.  It  has 
ever  since  been  held  one-half  hour  before  the  Sunday  evening 
service,  and  has  been  a  source  of  life  and  strength,  to  many  young 
souls. 

In  March,   1870,  the  congregation  felt  so  happy,  united  and 


36  TWEKTT-FIFTH    ANNIVERSAET 

prosperous,  that  they  determined,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  pastor, 
to  make  a  thorough  renovation  of  the  interior  and  basement  of 
the  church.  When  the  original  plans  of  the  church  were  under 
consideration  in  1854,  the  architect  was  instructed  to  cut  down 
the  cost  to  a  certain  amount.  He  did  so,  but  in  order  to  save  his 
exterior  design,  of  which  he  was  justly  proud,  he  made  his  reduc- 
tions entirely  on  the  interior  finish  of  the  church.  The  result  was, 
the  inside  of  the  edifice  was  not  at  all  in  keeping  with  the  beauty 
of  the  exterior.  The  basement  was  badly  arranged,  without  areas, 
the  earth  lying  against  the  walls,  and  was  unventilated,  damp  and 
unhealthy.  A  committee  of  sixteen  was  appointed  to  raise  the  money 
and  do  the  work.  They  began  the  repairs  in  March,  1 870,  and  we  re- 
entered this  upper  sanctuary,  made  new  and  beautiful,  on  January 
first,  1 87 1.  The  basement  and  the  very  foundations  of  the  build- 
ing were  overhauled,  a  thorough  and  elaborate  system  of  drainage 
adopted,  and  the  rooms  made  cheerful  and  pleasant,  without 
dampness  or  mildew  from  that  time  forward.  The  old  furnaces 
were  taken  out,  and  a  satisfactory  system  of  steam-heating  intro- 
duced. The  badly-laid  roof  was  re-slated ;  the  organ  was 
improved  and  enlarged ;  a  gallery  was  added  to  the  audience- 
room,  increasing  its  capacity  one-third ;  and  the  whole  interior 
made  over,  as  you  see.  The  cost  was  ^34,000,  which  the  commit- 
tee raised  and  paid.  They  did  their  work  so  faithfully  and  so 
well,  that  their  names  should  be  recorded  :  Geo.  E.  Hand,  Chair- 
man, F.  Moore,  F.  Buhl,  J.  F.  Joy,  C.  H.  Buhl,  J.  D.  Hayes, 
Bradford  Smith,  S.  G.  Caskey,  R.  W.  Gillett,  A.  G.  Lindsay,  Francis 
Adams,  Allan  Shelden,  J.  Huff  Jones,  George  McMillan,  Robert 
Hosie,  and  Emory  Wendell.  "  Si  qua'ris  iiioimmentu/n,  circiiinspice." 
If  you  would  know  their  labors,  behold  and  see. 

In  187 1,  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  congregation  was  estab- 
lished, which  occurs  about  this  time  each  year,  wherein  the  work 
of  the  year  is  fully  reviewed.  The  pastor,  the  session,  the  dea- 
cons, the  trustees,  the  treasurer  of  the  benevolent  fund,  and  the 
Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  School,  all  render  an  account  of 
their  stewardship,  and  report  the  history,  in  detail,  of  the  year's 
work.  After  this,  by  the  help  of  good  things  to  eat  and  drink, 
served  up  on  Mr.  Hayes'  beautiful  crockery-gift  from  the  church 
kitchen,  an  hour  or  two  is  passed  in  delightful  social  intercourse. 
The  influence  of  such  gatherings  is  most  excellent,  giving  unity  and 


FORT   STREET   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  37 

esprit  du  corps  to  the  congregation,  making  strangers  better  known, 
and  posting  up  the  whole  people  in  the  work  of  the  church. 

The  Pastor's  Bible  Class,  interrupted  necessarily  for  a  while, 
and  now  again  resumed,  has  been  a  new  and  interesting  feature  of 
the  church.  No  one  who  has  attended  has  failed  to  be  interested 
and  profited,  and  many  have  come  in  from  other  churches  to  hear 
and  enjoy.  When  a  whole  congregation  shall  come  together,  as  it 
should,  to  study  Clod's  Word,  we  may  well  think  the  approach- 
ing Millenium  near  at  hand. 

The  Monthly  Concert  has  been  re-established.  The  first  action 
taken  by  the  little  session  in  1849,  was  to  vote  that  the  Monthly 
Concert  should  always  be  held.  May  that  resolution  never  again  be 
l)ractically  suspended  ! 

The  great  increase  in  the  benevolences  and  in  the  benevolent 
spirit  of  the  congregation,  and  its  more  intelligent  ac<[uaintance 
with,  and  appreciation  of,  the  work  of  our  denomination,  will  be 
alluded  to  by  another.  Especially  has  the  interest  of  the  church 
in  the  cause  of  Foreign  Missions,  been  enlarged.  Our  ladies 
belong  to  and  attend  the  Women's  Board,  composed  of  members 
of  all  our  churches.  We  have  a  most  successful  Young  Ladies' 
Missionary  Society,  organized  by  Mrs.  Hoffman,  whose  annual 
festival  has  become  an  event  among  us,  and  which  has  just 
assumed  the  entire  support  of  a  female  missionary  in  the  capital 
of  Persia.  There  has  just  been  organized  also,  the  "Rhea  Mis- 
sion Band,"  among  the  little  girls  under  fifteen  years  of  age. 

A  new  and  complete  Manual  of  our  church  was  made  in  187 1, 
containing,  among  other  things,  the  name  and  address  of  every 
man,  woman  and  child  in  the  congregation.  Though  a  work  of 
great  labor  on  the  part  of  pastor  and  session,  it  has  been,  and 
is,  most   useful   in   all  the  work  of  the  church. 

In  1872,  we  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  beneath  our  roof- 
tree,  the  General  Assembly  of  the  United  States.  The  opinion 
has  gone  abroad,  as  wide  as  the  denomination,  that  it  was  the  best 
managed  and  most  delightful  meeting  of  the  Assembly,  ever  held. 
We  think  the  opinion  is  justifiable  and  correct.  This  success  was 
due  to  three  things:  ist,  To  the  organizing  power,  executive 
ability  and  excessive  labor  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
Arrangements,  the  pastor  of  this  cluirch.  2d,  To  the  capital  men 
and  workers  on  the  committee,  who  stood  by  him  and  held  up  his 


38  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 

hands  all  the  time  :  Dr.  Hogarth,  Rev.  Mr.  Baker,  Hovey  K. 
Clarke,  J.  S.  Farrand  and  Elisha  Taylor*.  3d,  To  the  unbounded 
hospitality  and  liberality  of  the  citizens  of  Detroit,  of  every 
name  and  church.  How  few  among  us  will  live  to  see  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  in  its  cycle  of  thirty  years.,  again  in  the  City  of 
the  Straits. 

To  summarize  the  work  of  the  five  years :  one  hundred  and 
eighty-five  have  been  added  to  the  church,  ninety-one  upon  pro- 
fession. Twenty-eight  adults  have  been  baptized,  and  fifty  chil- 
dren. The  number  of  paying  pewholders  in  1869,  was  eighty-two; 
now,  one  hundred  and  fifty-one.  The  income  from  pew  rent  for  the 
year  ending  in  March,  1869,  was  ;|4,203^for  the  year  ending 
March,  1873,  ^8,214,  nearly  double.  The  number  of  members  on 
the  roll  in  spring,  1869,  was  238 — the  number  now,  after  a  thorough 
sifting  and  striking  off  all  lost  members,  is  359.  The  benevolent 
contributions  reported  to  Presbytery,  March,  1869,  were  $1,927.64. 
Those  reported  March,  1873,  were  $3,677.91.  The  past  year  will 
show  a  large  increase  upon  that  amount. 

During  these  five  years,  some  interesting  facts  have  occurred, 
which  concern  our  whole  church  in  Detroit. 

The  severed  Presbyterian  Church  has,  by  God's  blessing,  again 
become  a  unit.  We  that  were  two,  have  now  become  one  band. 
This  happy  event  was  duly  celebrated  by  a  union  meeting  of  all 
the  churches,  on  the  evening  of  December  5th,  18O9,  in  the  house 
of  the  First  Church,  the  loved  mother  of  us  all. 

During  these  five  years,  every  other  Presbyterian  church  has 
gained  or  lost  a  pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Baker  has  succeeded  Dr. 
McCorkle;  Dr.  Aikman  has  followed  Mr.  McLaren;  and  Dr. 
Hogarth,  the  Nestor  of  the  Detroit  Pulpit,  has  left  a  great  vacancy 
in  Jefferson  Avenue,  not  yet  filled.  May  God  be  as  kind  to  that 
church,  in  sending  one  to  go  in  and  out  before  her,  as  He  has 
been  to  her  sister  churches,  in  this  regard. 

On  the  20th  of  November,  1872,  was  formed  the  "Presbyteri- 
an Alliance,  of  Detroit."  It  is  composed  of  all  the  ministers  and 
elders  of  our  denomination  in  the  city.  Its  object  is  to  promote 
co-operation  and  unity  in  city  evangelization,  and  in  extending 
our  church  work;  to  select   sites   for,  and   organize  new   mission 

*The  modesty  of  the  speaker  prevented  his  adding  the  name  of  one  of  the  most  efficient 
members  of  that  committee.  A.  T.  r. 


KOUT   STREET    PRESHYTEKIAN    CHUKCH.  30 

schools;  to  determine  when  and  where  a  new  church  shall  be 
built,  and  then  take  hold  and  build  it  altogether.  It  bids  fair  to  be 
a  power  in  our  Presbyterian  Zion,  and  to  illustrate  in  the  church, 
what  is  so  often  seen  in  business  and  commerce — the  result  of 
combined  capital  and  effort.  Its  first  work  was  to  take  hold  of 
Calvary  Mission,  the  child  of  Westminster,  pay  its  debts,  put  it  on 
its  feet,  and  make  it  a  church.  The  amount  to  be  raised,  was 
$1,500.  It  was  divided  among  the  four  churches,  and  was  at  once 
forthcoming.  Calvary  Church,  though  just  begun,  is  to-day  a 
prosperous  and  growing  church  under  the  fostering  care  of  Dr. 
Atterbury. 

Offidei'^s^  of  tlic   Cl(tii'cl|. 

The  first  elders  were  Samuel  Zug  and  Thomas  Rowland.  The 
latter  was  one  of  Detroit's  best  citizens.  He  held  many  positions 
of  honor,  having  been  post-master  of  Detroit  and  Secretary  of 
State  under  (Governor  Woodbridge.  His  piety  was  of  the  clear- 
est type.  Doing  good  and  leading  souls  to  the  Saviour  was  the 
leading  passion  of  his  life.  Leaving  the  old  church,  and  casting 
in  his  lot  with  this  little  band  of  workers,  was  characteristic  of  the 
man.  He  died  within  six  months  of  the  organization  of  the 
church,  and  his  wife  followed  him  four  years  later.  His  home- 
stead was  the  late  residence  of  William  J.  Waterman,  on  Wash- 
ington Avenue,  now  the  rectory  of  St.  Aloysius'  Catholic  Church. 

In  1850,  Jonathan  R.  Axtell  was  elected  elder.  He  was  a  good 
man  and  a  good  elder,  but  in  1850  he  removed  to  Howell,  where 
he  still  lives. 

Henry  C  Knight  was  elder  in  185  i,  and  filled  the  post  (most 
of  you  know  how  nobly  and  how  well)  sixteen  years,  till  his  death 
in  1867.  What  he  was,  and  what  he  did  and  what  a  blessed  mem- 
ory he  leaves  behind,  will  be  told  you  by  another. 

After  the  accession  from  the  First  Church,  in  March,  1854, 
Hovey  K.  Clarke  and  Edward  C  Walker  were  elected  elders. 
The  former  was  already  an  experienced  officer,  coming  from  the 
Board  of  Elders  of  the  Marshall  Church,  in  this  State  ;  and  he 
has  since,  in  the  great  courts  of  the  church,  made  his  name  most 
favorably  known,  as  wide  as  American  Presbyterianism  itself.  We 
lost  him,  and  AVestminster  gained  him  in  1857. 

In  1859,  Alexander  McFarren,  an  elder  of  the  First  Church, 
came  to  us  and  was  soon  after  elected  elder,  and  served  the  church 


40  TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY 


and  his  Master  faithfully  till  he  returned  to  the  First  Church,in  1866. 
About  the  same  time  elder  Zug,  who  had  for  seventeen  years  been 
clerk  of  session,  and  the  most  laborious  worker  in  it,  withdrew 
from  the  duties  of  the  eldership. 

In  1867,  the  church,  by  an  almost  unanimous  vote,  adopted  the 
rotary  system  of  eldership,  which  so  far  has  worked  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  the  congregation.  In  making  this  change,  elders 
Knight  and  Walker,  all  that  remained  of  the  old  Board,  were 
elected  for  six  years,  and  Frederick  Buhl  and  Samuel  P.  Wilcox, 
for  four  years.  In  November,  1869,  Joseph  G.  Ray  was  elected 
elder  in  place  of  Mr.  Knight,  and  two  additional  ones  were  chos- 
en— Philip  Thurber  and  George  E.  Hand.  In  less  than  two 
years,  in  September,  1871,  elder  Ray  followed  him,  whose  place 
he  was"  chosen  to  fill,  to  another  and  better  world,  to  the  great 
sorrow  and  grief  of  us  all.  He  was  the  child  of  foreign  mission- 
aries, born  at  Islington,  England,  on  the  19th  day  of  July,  A.  D. 
1832.  He  had  one  brother  in  the  ministry.  With  such  a  train- 
ing, and  with  great  reverence  for  religion,  he  had  never  given  his 
heart  to  God,  till  in  the  revival  of  1865,  he  was  struck  under  con- 
viction one  Sabbath  evening  under  a  sermon  of  Dr.  Eldridge,  (I 
well  remember  where  he  sat  in  the  pew  just  before  me,)  and 
there  and  then,  before  the  benediction  was  pronounced,  he  sur- 
rendered his  whole  being  into  the  hands  of  his  Heavenly  Father. 
I  never  shall  forget  his  beaming  face  as  he  told  us  the  good  news 
in  the  vestibule  at  the  close  of  the  service,  or  Dr.  Eldridge's 
look  of  joy  and  almost  of  wonder  that  God  should  have  blessed 
his  sermon  to  the  conversion  of  a  man  like  Mr.  Ray.  He  seemed 
to  grow  from  that  moment  in  all  the  graces  of  a  christian  charac- 
ter. It  has  never  been  my  lot  to  witness  so  rapid  a  spiritual 
development.  He  was  at  once  imbued  with  love  for  souls, 
and  took  hold  manfully  in  every  field  of  christian  labor.  In  two 
years  he  was,  by  the  vote  of  the  church,  made  a  deacon,  and  in  two 
years  an  elder.  As  faithful  to  his  business,  as  he  was  to  the  church, 
he  died  from  overwork,  in  doing  even  more  than  duty  demanded. 
His  death  was  triumphant  and  glorious.  How  much  these  depart- 
ed elders  were  loved  by  this  ])eople,  these  tablets  of  flowers  are  but 
a  slight  token. 

In  March,  1872,  George  W.  Hoffman  was  elected  elder  in 
place  of  elder  Ray,  and  in  September  last,  our  Board  was  increas- 


FORT    STREET    E'RESBTTERIAN    CHURCH.  41 

ed  to  seven,  by  the  election  of  Charles  G.  Brownell.  So  far  no 
elder,  once  elected,  has  fallen  off  the  wheel  of  rotation.  If  our 
pastor  sometimes  wishes,  as  I  think  he  ought,  that  he  had  a 
more  devoted  Board  of  Elders,  he  cannot  wish  for  one,  more 
harmonious  and  united. 

Deacon^. 

This  church  had  no  deacons  till  1867.  Elder  Zug  always  did 
all  the  deacon's  work,  besides  his  work  as  an  elder,  clerk  of  ses- 
sion and  trustee.  Brother  Ray  was  elected  the  first  deacon  in 
1867. 

In  1869,  George  B.  Dickinson  and  Charles  G.  Brownell  were 
elected  deacons.  In  1871,  Lucien  E.  Smith  was  elected  in  place 
of  Mr.  Ray,  made  an  elder.  In  1872,  Bradford  Smith  was  elected 
in  the  place  of  George  B.  Dickinson,  resigned  ;  and  in  September 
last,  Douglas  Payne  succeeded  C.  G.  Brownell,  transferred  to  the 
eldership,  making  an  active  Board  of  three  persons  to  serve  tables 
and  care  for  the  poor. 

)«I  u  )ji  i  c . 

The  end  of  the  church,  opposite  the  pulpit,  deserves  mention 
in  a  history  like  this.  The  organ  was  built  by  Stevens,  of  Cam- 
bridge, Mass.,  and  with  its  enlargement  and  improvement  made  in 
1870,  has  ever  given  most  perfect  satisfaction.  L.  C.  Smith,  now 
of  Howell,  presided  at  the  keys  at  the  beginning,  with  great 
acceptance,  and  Vas  succeeded  by  Richard  Yarndley,  whose  ris- 
ing reputation  as  an  organist,  opened  to  him  some  more  inviting 
field,  and  he  left  us,  to  be  succeeded,  happily,  for  a  time,  by  Mrs. 
Ketchuni,  a  daughter  of  Solomon  Davis,  who,  after  a  few  months, 
resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  George  L.  Whitney,  whom  all 
old  citizens  will  remember.  After  he  had  served  us  a  year,  he 
was  succeeded  by  Henry  Meakin,  our  present  organist,  who,  for 
twelve  years,  in  heat  and  cold,  in  rain  and  shine,  has  faithfully 
and  wisely  not  only  fulfilled  his  duties,  but  won  beside  the  lasting 
gratitude  and  good-will  of  pastor  and  people.  Long  may  he  serve 
us. 

Those  who,  in  the  twenty-five  years,  have  aided  in  the  worship 
and  service  of  song,  have  many  of  them  left  echoes  of  sweet 
sounds  still  ringing  in  our  hearts.  The  church  owes  a  special 
6 


42 


TWENTY-FIFTH    AKNIVERSAKT 


debt  of  gratitude  to  those  who,  in  an  early  day,  without  fee  or 
reward,  except  the  consciousness  of  duty  done  and  the  Master 
served,  conducted  so  long  that  important  part  of  our  worship. 
Many  of  them  are  still  with  us — others  we  trust  are  singing  the 
song  of  the  redeemed  in  heaven. 


¥lie    ¥fti^tee^ 

The  prosperity  and  growth  of  a  church  depends  mainly  on  the 
piety  and  earnestness  of  pastor  and  people ;  but  there  is  a  secular 
side  to  a  church  as  there  is  a  worldly  side  toman's  life  and  nature. 
Without  money,  churches  cannot  be  built,  pastors  cannot  be  sup- 
ported, the  ordinances  of  religion  sustained,  missionaries  sent  out, 
or  the  nations  evangelized.  A  successful  and  prosperous  church 
needs  faithful  and  judicious  trustees  as  well  as  a  godly  and  able 
pastor,  devoted  elders  and  pious  laymen.  Moreover,  it  is  of  little 
importance  how  much  wealth  there  is  in  a  congregation,  unless 
there  is  a  heart  to  give,  and  that,  liberally  and  cheerfully. 

The  financcial  exhibit  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  will  be  made 
by  another.  It  remains  for  me  to  express,  to  the  individuals  who 
have  managed  the  temporalities  of  the  congregation,  the  great 
debt  of  gratitude  we  owe  to  them,  for  their  gratuitous  and  suc- 
cessful labors. 

The  following  persons  have  been  trustees  of  the  society  : 

A.    McFARREN, 2  years,  from   1849  to   1851. 

SAMUEL  ZUG, 11  " 

D.  O.  PENFIELD, 7  " 

S.  EARNED, 5  " 

J.  J.   BRISCOE 6  " 

S.  P.  WILCOX 3  •' 

HOVEY  K.CLARKE 2  " 

E.  C.  WALKER i  " 

GEO.  B.  DICKINSON, 7  " 

ELISHA  ELDRED 3  " 

F.  MOORE, 6  " 

Z.  CHANDLER 2  " 

C.  H.  BUHL, 9  ■• 

GEO.  E.  HAND, 15  " 

J.  HUFF  JONES, 14  " 

JOHN   GIBSON, 5  " 

DUNCAN  STEWART, 5  " 

ROBERT    HOSIE, 7  " 


" 

'  i860. 

" 

'  1856. 

"    "   ' 

'  1854. 

"    "   ' 

'  1855. 

"  I85I  ' 

'  1854. 

"  1854  • 

'  1856. 

"   ' 

1855. 

"    1855  ' 

'  1862. 

" 

'  1858. 

"  1856  ' 

1862. 

" 

1858. 

"  I85S  ' 

1867. 

" 

1873. 

"  i860  ' 

1874. 

"  1862  ' 

1867. 

"    " 

1867. 

"  1867  ' 

1874. 

FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  43 

GEO.    McMILI.AN 4 1871, 

ALLAN  SIIEl-DEN 3 1870. 

J.  D.  HAVES 4  "           "      1870"  1S74. 

S.  G.   CASKEY 3  '■           "      1871    "  1874. 

R.  A.  ALCiER, I  "           "      1873"  1874. 

No  one  without  exjierience  can  estimate  the  amount  of  labor 
it  has  cost  these  twenty-three  men  to  raise  the  amount  of  money, 
they  have  disl)ursed  in  twenty-five  years. 

As  we  look  back  for  fifteen  years  over  the  term  of  Judge 
Hand,  it  looks,  humanly  speaking,  as  if  the  ship  would  have 
foundered  without  him — without  his  unfailing  courage,  his  indomi- 
table perseverance  and  his  skill  in  collections.  We  do  not  believe 
it  would  have  done  so,  for  we  have  faith  that,  if  necessary,  God 
would  have  raised  up  some  other  man  to  take  his  place,  as  no 
man  is  indispensable  in  this  world  ;  yet,  none  the  less,  the  Fort 
Street  Church  owes  to  Judge  Hand  a  debt  it  can  never  pay,  except 
bv  not  forgetting  the  past,  and  generously  holding  up  the  hands 
of  all  the  trustees  who  shall  come  after  him.  He  closed  his  last 
annual  report  in  March,  1873,  as  Chairman  of  the  Board,  when 
he  refused  to  be  re-elected,  with  these  words,  •'  The  kindness  of 
the  Society  to  me  during  my  long  service  is  fully  felt  and  appre- 
ciated; its  liberality  in  subscriptions  has  been  wonderful.  The 
cordial  and  earnest  co-operation  of  my  associates  receives  my 
grateful  and  heartfelt  acknowledgements." 

Next  to  Judge  Hand,  we  owe  most  to  Sam'l  Zug,  at  an  early 
day,  and  to  the  clear  head  and  able  financial  management  of 
C.  H.  Buhl,  for  nine  years;  to  J.  Huff  Jones,  whose  pains-taking 
devotion  for  fourteen  years  to  the  interests  of  pew-holders,  we  all 
appreciate  and  admire. 

¥lie  IJedoi'd  of  the  f^oi't  ^t.  dbtii'd^  dtii'ir)^^  tl^e  War. 

This  Church  was  ever  forward  during  the  war  in  contributing 
to  the  Sanitary  and  Christian  Commissions,  and  Dr.  Eldridge  and 
one  of  the  Elders  (the  speaker)  each  served  at  the  front  in  the 
hospital  work  of  the  latter  organization.  That  we  were  always 
true  and  faithful  to  the  flag  is  no  credit,  when  all  were  alike  loyal. 
Our  young  men  were  few  at  that  time.  The  following  list,  as  far 
as  I  have  learned,  comprises  all  who  left  our  congregation  for  the 
war. 


44  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 

John  Goring  enlisted  at  the  first  call  of  his  country  in  the 
rst  Michigan  Infantry,  (three  months  men,)  under  Col.  Wilcox  ;  was 
at  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run.  Re-enlisting,  he  was  through  all  of 
McClelland's  seven  day's  battles  in  the  peninsula.  He  earned 
promotion  by  brave  and  faithful  service,  and  was  discharged  as  a 
ist  Lieutenant  in  October,  1862,  from  permanent  disability,  caused 
by  a  fall  from  his  horse.  He  re-enlisted  in  the  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps  as  soon  as  it  was  formed,  and  remained  till  Jefferson  Davis 
was  captured  by  a  Michigan  regiment.  He  served  with  efficiency 
for  a  long  time  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  O.  B.  Wilcox. 

William  H.  Perkins,  whose  mother  and  sisters  are  with  us, 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  Col.  Broadhead's  ist  Mich.  Cavalry,  in 
July,  1861 ;  was  made  lieutenant  before  leaving  the  State,  and 
served  as  lieutenant  and  captain  four  years.  He  was  for  a  while  on 
the  staffs  of  Gen'Is  Stahl  and  Wilson,  and  two  years  on  that  of 
Gen.  Kilpatrick,  as  ordinance  officer  of  the  3rd  Cavalry  Division. 
He  was  actively  engaged  in  the  battles  of  Falling  Waters  and  of 
Winchester,  and  in  the  latter  battle  had  two  horses  shot  under 
him.     He  made  a  brave,  capable  and  active  officer. 

Emile  Shepard,  whose  mother  and  grand  mother  areamong 
the  very  oldest  members  of  the  church,  enlisted  also  in  the  ist 
Mich.  Infantry,  (three  month's  men)  in  the  company  of  the  la- 
mented Horace  S.  Roberts.  He  was  in  the  first  battle  of  Bull 
Run,  and  while  hunting  for  a  surgeon  to  save  the  life  of  his  lieu- 
tenant (Mauch,  who  died  soon  after  at  Richmond)  he  was  struck 
by  a  ball  and  lay  three  days  unnoticed  upon  the  field.  He  was 
at  last  cared  for  by  the  rebels,  and  his  leg  amputated.  He  was 
taken  to  Richmond,  and  was  the  first  Michigan  soldier  exchanged 
in  the  war. 

On  his  return,  his  elder  brother  must  needs  take  the  place  that 
the  wounded  Emile  could  not  fill,  and  Adolph  Shepard  enlisted 
in  1862,  in  the  24th  Michigan — that  historical  regiment  of  Detroit. 
He  was  at  Fredericksburg  and  several  other  battles.  On  the  first 
day  at  Gettysburgh  he  was  on  detached  service  upon  a  regular 
battery  when  he  was  fatally  shot  by  a  minnie  ball.  He  lived  only 
long  enough  to  say  to  his  comrades ;  "  Take  my  bible  to 
sister  Katie,  and  tell  them  at  home  I  died  doing  my  duty," — 
words  worthy  of  a  soldier  and  an  hero. 

Still  another  brother,  Edward  Shepard,  enlisted  in  the  navy. 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  45 

at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  being  discharged,  from  illness,  re-enlisted 
in  the  52d  N.  V".  Regiment  and  served  to  the  end  of  the  war. 

Htram  M.  Towne,  was  a  teacher  in  our  Sunday  School, — a 
nephew  of  Col.  C  H.  Towne.  so  well  known  as  an  officer  of  the 
[st  Michigan  Cavalry.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Battery  C,  ist 
Michigan  Light  Artillery  ;  won  his  promotion  by  steady  steps  to 
a  first-lieutenancy;  and  remained  in  active  and  faithful  service  to 
the  end  of  the  war. 

CuTHBERT  W.  L.AiNG,  vvas  for  a  while  a  lieutenant  in  Battery 
"  R."  of  the  same  regiment;  and  was  mustered  out  in  April,  1863. 

(lEO.  L.  MAi.rz,  now  of  Alpena,  enlisted  in  the  4th  Michigan 
Infantry;  was  made  second  lieutenant  in  1862  and  first  lieutenant 
in  1864;  and  was  badly  wounded  in  the  sanguinary  battle  of  Cold 
Harbor ;  and  was  mustered  out  on  account  of  his  wound  in  June 
1S64.     He  was  a  most  capable,  efficient  and  praiseworthy  officer. 

Geo.  W.  Hill,  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  5th  Michigan  Cav- 
alry in  August,  1862  ;  was  made  a  second  lieutenant  in  the  7th 
Cavalrv  ;  and  was  with  Custer  in  all  his  famous  raids  in  1863. 

He  was  with  Kilpatrick  in  his  bold  dash  around  Richmond  ; 
was  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness  till  May  nth,  when  he  was 
taken  .  prisoner  at  the  Yellow  Tavern ;  vvas  in  Libby  Prison,  at 
Savannah  and  Charleston  (under  the  fire  of  Federal  guns)  ;  and 
was  exchanged  after  ten  months  incarceration.  He  remained  in 
the  army  and  saw  active  service  on  the  plains  till  1866  ;  and  was 
mustered  out  a  first  lieutenant,  with  a  capital  record. 

L.\NDON  Warren,  son  of  Joseph  Warren,  once  editor  of  the 
Tribune,  now  of  Washington,  D.  C,  enlisted  as  a  private  in  August, 
1862,  in  the  20th  Michigan  Infantry;  was  three  years  in  service; 
was  present  at  Fredricksburgh,  and  the  Wilderness,  and  with  the 
9th  Corps  in  front  of  Petersburgh ;  and  was  commissioned  a  first 
lieutenant  in  1864. 

Robert  Spear  Warren,  his  brother,  entered  the  army  as 
second  lieutenant  in  the  ist  Cavalry,  in  November,  1863.  After 
being  in  active  service  for  six  months,  was  killed  by  a  shell  on  the 
1 2th  of  June,  A.  D.  1864,  at  Custer's  disastrous  battle  of  Trevillian 
Station,  Va.  He  died  in  the  arms  of  Capt.  Joseph  Bullock,  now 
of  this  congregation.  He  was  a  noble  lad ;  and  many  an  eye  was 
moist  when  the  news  of  his  sad  death  came. 

Frederick  Augustus  Buhl,  of  all   those  who   perished  from 


46  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 

this  congregation  in  the  war,  was  best  known  and  best  beloved. 
Of  nol)le  form  and  feature;  of  good  intellect  and  of  the  most 
kind  and  lo\'ing  ways,  he  was  a  favorite  with  all.  As  a  member 
of  my  bible  class  for  many  years,  I  had  every  trust  in  his  Christian 
character ;  and  loved  him  almost  as  a  son.  He  was  in  the  Univer- 
sity at  Ann  Arbor ;  and  there  seemed  to  be  every  possible  tie  of 
love,  ambition  and  a  happy  home,  to  keep  him  from  the  service. 
But  a  conscientious  sense  of  duty  was  stronger  than  all  these  silk- 
en bands.  He  offered  himself  to  the  government ;  and  went  out 
as  second  lieutenant,  24th  Michigan  Infantry,  in  July,  1862,  and  was 
promoted  to  first  lieutenant  in  December  after.  He  was  in  all  the 
battles  of  the  regiment  till  November,  1863.  He  had  hair-breadth 
escapes  at  P^redericksburg ;  and  was  shot  through  the  thigh  at 
Gettysburgh.  He  then  recruited  a  company  and  became  captain 
in  the  ist  Michigan  Cavalry  in  November,  1863.  On  the  25th 
of  August,  1864,  at  Shepardstown,  Va.,  he  received  a  fatal  wound 
while  on  a  skirmish,  from  which  he  died  in  hospital  at  Annapolis, 
Md.,  on  the  15th  of  September,  thereafter,  nursed  by  a  mother's 
loving  hand.  He  was  a  brave  and  noble  soldier  to  the  end.  It  is 
well  with  him, — those  left  behind  can  mourn  only  for  themselves. 
Selden  Jones  Phillips,  son  of  Capt.  J.  P.  Phillips,  and  broth- 
er of  Mrs.  George  F.  Bagley,  enlisted  in  the  navy  in  1863,  receiv- 
ing from  Commodore  Porter  a  commission  as  acting  master's  mate. 
He  served  as  a  brave  and  gallant  officer  on  the  Mississippi  fleet, 
but  mostly  on  Red  River,  till  he  was  discharged  in  1864,  on 
account  of  illness,  contracted  from  exposure  and  the  climate,  and 
which  caused  his  death  May  loth,  1865.  He  was  in  that  famous 
retreat  of  the  Red  Ri\ser  Squadron,  when,  for  three  days,  with 
cotton  bales  lashed  to  their  sides,  they  ran  the  dreadful  gauntlet 
of  the  rebel  batteries.  The  Juliet,  on  which  young  Phillips 
belonged,  was  almost  torn  to  pieces  with  shells,  and  being  disabled, 
had  to  lash  herself  to  another  steamer.  She  was  only  saved  from 
utter  destruction,  by  the  sudden  advent  of  a  Federal  iron  clad, 
from  below.  During  his  service,  a  bible  put  in  his  trunk  by  a 
loving  mother,  and  read  and  re-read  in  hours  of  enforced  idle- 
ness, first  called  his  attention  to  religious  truth.  Daring  his  long 
and  tedious  illness,  he  turned  still  more  to  these  blessed  themes. 
He  gave  his  htart  to  the  Saviour,  and  died  rejoicing  in  His  love. 
I  never  shall  forget  the  sweet  and  solemn  scene,  when,  just  before 


FOKT   STREET    I'RESBYTEUIAN    CHUKCH.  47 


his  death,  Dr.  Eldridge  and  the  session  gathered  around  his  bed 
to  administer  the  ronimunion  and  allow  him  to  take  upon  himself 
those  vows,  which  he  could  never  enter  the  luKise  of  God  to 
assume.  His  face  seemed  to  shine  as  though  he  anticipated 
already  the  communion  of  the  saints  in  heaven. 

His  brother,  John  P.  I'Hii.i.ii's,  Jr.,  at  the  age  of  i8,  in  August, 
1 86 1,  enlisted  in  Captain  Howrigan's  Company,  of  First  Michigan 
Cavalry,  and  served  his  three  years  of  enlistment,  with  courage 
and  fidelity,  as  a  soldier  and  non-commissioned  officer. 

Ai.EXANDiiR  H.  McGk.aw,  SOU  of  Virgil  W.  Mc(;raw,  entered 
the  service  as  quarter-master's  sergeant,  in  the  Fifth  Michigan 
Infantry,  and  served  assiduously  and  faithfully  in  that  capacity 
for  three  years. 

Thomas  S.  McGraw,  his  brother,  enlisted  in  the  Sixteenth 
Michigan  Infantry,  (Colonel  Stockton)  in  March,  1862.  On  the 
2d  of  September,  after,  he  was  in  the  disastrous  fight  at  Gaines' 
Mill,  where  sixty  of  his  company  (I)  fell  at  a  single  volley.  He 
was  struck  by  a  ball,  which  went  clear  through  his  chest.  He 
lay  on  the  field  for  six  days,  saved  from  death  only  by  a  flask  of 
brandy  given  him  by  a  rebel  colonel.  He  was  taken  to  Libby 
Prison,  and  after  thirty-two  days  was  exchanged  to  go  north.  In 
visiting  him  at  Bellevue  Hospital,  N.  Y.,  I  took  my  first  lesson  in 
seeing  how  nobly  northern  soldiers  could  suffer  and  endure,  as 
well  as  fight,  for  their  country. 

\Vh.liam  Rekd  was  in  the  Second  Michigan  Infantry,  and  was 
all  through  the  seven  days'  battle  under  McClellan.  The  expo- 
sure almost  deprived  him  of  his  eye-sight,  and  after  the  battle  of 
Harrison's  Landing,  he  was  discharged  for  this  disability  He  is 
said  to  have  been  as  brave  in  battle,  as  he  is  now,  in  another  church, 
earnest  and  faithful  in  the  work  of  his  Master. 

EinvARD  WiLSiJN  was  assistant  librarian  of  our  Sunday  School, 
and  enlisted  in  August,  1862,  in  the  I'wenty-Fourth  Michigan 
Infantry,  Company  H,  Captain  Vinton,  and  after  faithful  service, 
died  of  disease  contracted  in  the  field,  at  Brook's  Station,  Va., 
in  December,  1862. 

Norman  Johnson,  of  Hay  City,  enlisted  in  Captain  Lum's 
Company  A,  First  Michigan  Infantry,  May,  t86i,  at  the  first  call, 
and  was  badly  wounded  in  the  chest  and  shoulder,  in  the  first  bat- 


48  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVBK8AET 

tie  of  Bull  Run,  and  mustered  out  at  the  end  of  his  service,  with 
a  high  record  for  gallantry. 

David  A.  Granger  was  a  leader  of  our  choir.  He  recruited 
a  company  in  the  Fourth  Michigan  Infantry,  in  1861,  but  his 
record  is  unknown. 

Besides  these  who  went  from  us  to  the  war,  may  we  not  men- 
tion one  or  two  who  came  from  the  war  to  us  ? 

I  well  remember,  after  working  for  six  weeks  among  the  wound- 
ed at  City  Point,  of  spending  the  5th  of  July,  A.  D.  1864,  on  the 
beautiful  banks  of  James  River,  with  Custer's  corps,  just  resting 
after  one  of  his  daring  raids.  There  first  I  met  General  (then 
Colonel)  R.  A.  Alger,  of  the  Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry,  whose  record 
as  a  soldier,  is  surpassed  by  few  of  all  the  brave  men  which  Michigan 
sent  to  the  conflict.  Now  in  the  pursuit  of  peace,  forgetful  of 
sabre  and  trumpet,  he  fills  well  his  part,  as  a  man  of  business,  and  as 
a  member  and  trustee  of  this  church. 

It  may  not  be  generally  known  that  another  officer  of  this 
church,  Deacon  Lucien  E.  Smith,  won  laurels  in  the  army,  before 
entering  the  ranks  of  trade.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Sixth  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers, 
was  promoted  at  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville  and  Getteys- 
burgh,  was  then  transferred  to  the  west  under  General  Hooker, 
was  made  first  lieutenant  at  Lookout  Mountain,  and  in  command 
of  his  company,  made,  with  Sherman,  that  whole  glorious  "  March 
to  the  Sea."  He  will  care  for  the  poor  none  the  less  tenderly,  that 
he  has  mingled  nobly  and  well  in  so  many  scenes  of  carnage  and 
suffering. 

Captain  F.  C.  Adamson  also  deserves  mention  as  a  most 
able  and  capable  officer.  He  went  out  as  second  lieutenant,  in 
1861,  in  the  Third  Michigan  Cavalry,  was  promoted  to  first  lieu- 
tenant April,  1862,  and  to  captain  in  October,  1862.  He  was  seri- 
ously wounded  and  permanently  disabled  in  .\ugust,  1864,  at 
Duvall's  Bluff,  in  Arkansas. 

i^etiofd  of  ©edeajs'ed  jVlembei'ji. 

We  now  come  to  those  whose  names  have  been  transferred,  as 
we  trust,  from  the  roll  of  the  church  on  earth,  to  the  roll  of  the 
redeemed  in  heaven.  Oj)posite  their  names  in  the  Lamb's  Book 
of  Life  will  never  be  written  the  date  of  their  departure,  for  "there 


FORT   STllKKT    PKESBYTKRI A  N    CU  rilCH.  40 


is  no  death  there."  We  approach  this  theme,  not  with  sorrow  and 
sadness,  but  rather  with  exultation  and  joy,  that  so  many  have 
gone  from  our  number,  in  the  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality,  and 
are  there  awaiting  us  as,  ''one  by  one,"  we  shall  cross  the  river. 

Of  those  who  left  us  in  the  first  five  years  of  Mr.  Kellogg's 
ministry,  the  present  officers  knew  but  little.  The  ranks  of  those 
gathered  into  a  missionary  church,  as  this  was,  are  not  stable  and 
permanent.  Many  died  away  from  the  city,  and  the  entry,  '  died  " 
at  such  a  date,  opposite  their  names,  is  all  we  know  of  their  spir- 
itual life.  Little  more  than  a  list  can  be  furnished.  Marked  with 
a  star,  are  the  names  of  Chester  Spaulding,  Helen,  Mary  and 
Cherry  Weir,  (all  sisters  of  Judge  J.  D.  Weir)  Sarah  Burroughs, 
Hannah  C.  Smith,  Mrs.  John  (iibson,  John  Cook,  Albert  G.  Ful- 
ler, Martha  Fielding,  Elizabeth  Schoonmaker,  Eiisha  Wells,  Mrs. 
Captain  W.  W.  Allen,  Mrs.  William  Stewart,  Harriet  Prentis,  (a 
sister  of  George  H.  Prentis,  now  of  this  chuich)  Mary  Conner, 
Louisa  Praigg,  David  W.  Ellithorpe,  and  Mrs.  William  Walker. 

The  first  death  among  those  of  us  who  joined  the  church  in 
1854,  was  that  of  one  greatly  regretted  by  us  all,  Mrs.  Ahnis  C. 
Moore,  a  woman  of  marked  character,  religiously  and  intellectu- 
ally. A  sister  of  Senator  Chandler,  she  was  a  worthy  specimen 
of  a  New  England  woman.  She  had  ever  dispensed  a  large  hos- 
pitality, and  left  a  void,  not  easily  filled,  in  our  social  life. 

The  next  year  (1857)  took  from  us  two  most  estimable  heads 
of  families  :   Mrs.  Christopher  Reeve  and  Mrs.  James  Stephens. 

In  1858,  one  name  only  is  on  the  roll  of  the  departed — Mrs. 
Phoebe  Foote.  She  was  a  woman  of  great  activity  and  energy,  and 
without  doubt  one  of  the  most  earnest  and  efficient  christian 
women  in  the  city.  The  record  of  her  work  for  the  souls  of 
others  is  on  high. 

In  1859,  also  one  only, — Mary  E.  McGraw.  She  was  convert- 
ed in  the  revival  of  1857.  The  day  she  gave  her  heart  to  Cod,  is 
as  fresh  as  yesterday  in  my  recollection.  Her  dt.'ath,  in  the 
very  hey-day  of  her  youth,  was  one  of  triumphant  hope,  peace 
and  joy,  the  sight  of  which  was  enough  to  convince  the  most 
skeptical  of  the  value  of  christian  faith  in  a  dying  hour. 

In  i860,  one  also — Mrs.  A.  H.  Jordan — who  died  in  Scotland, 
on  a  visit  to  her  childhood's  home. 

In  1 86 1,  one  also — John  V.  Beane — whom  we  all  had  reason 
7 


50  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSAKT 

to  love  as  a  christian  and  to  respect  as  the  founder  and  teacher  of 
the  Detroit  Kemale  Seminary.  Those  who  have  had  daughters 
under  his  wise  care,  or  in  the  school  he  founded,  owe  much  to 
him.  The  very  next  year  there  followed  him  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Caro- 
line G.  Page.  In  1864  another  daughter  of  great  promise,  Emma 
L.  Beane;  and  in  1873  his  only  son,  John  B.  Beane — all  rejoicing 
in  the  love  of  Christ,  till  now  there  is  more  of  the  family  together 
in  heaven  than  on  earth. 

In  1862  we  lost  away  from  us  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Perry,  (sister  of 
Henry  N.  Walker,)  and  Mrs.  Helen  M.  Boardman,  (sister  of  Philo 
Parsons.)  The  former  died  away  from  us.  The  glorious  christian 
life  and  triumphant  ha})py  sickness  and  death  of  the  latter,  has 
lew  parallels  in  our  history. 

In  1863  the  Angel  of  Death  passed  us  by  untouched  ;  but  in 
1864,  beside  Mrs.  Page,  he  took  from  us  Mrs.  Charity  Southard, 
Mrs.  James  Henry.  Mrs.  Theodosia  Snow,  (the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Heath,  and  Mrs-  Knight,)  an  aged  saint,  and  Mrs.  Mathilde  G. 
Moore.  The  last,  a  native  of  sunny  France,  with  all  the  spirit 
and  vivacity  of  her  race,  refined  by  culture  and  travel,  with  great 
capabilities  of  enjoyment  and  usefulness,  was  called  away  in  her 
young  motherhood  ;  but  not  without  a  bright  hope  beyond.  Two 
years  before  she  had  united  with  this  church  ;  and  her  exami- 
nation before  the  Session  will  long  be  happily  remembered  by  all 
present. 

In  1865  the  call  came  for  Mrs.  Henrietta  Pond,  Selden  Jones 
Philips,  of  whom  we  have  spoken,  and  Mrs.  Levi  Cook,  the  wife  of  one 
of  our  oldest  and  most  worthy  citizens.  Thus  death,  that  year, 
gathered  his  harvest  equally  from  youth,  middle  and  old  age. 

In  1866  the  number  increases,  and  six  are  on  the  list  of  the 
departed.  Miss  Eliza  A.  Rosebrook,  almost  a  stranger  among  us, 
Mis.  William  L.  Woodbridge,'  Mrs.  Julia  L.  Jenks,  Mrs.  Joseph 
Nicholson,  Mrs.  Theodore  Ronieyn,  and  Joseph  C.  Heath.  Mrs. 
Woodbridge  was  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Ebenezer  Hurd,  and  sister  of 
Mrs.  G.  W.  Hoffman.  She  was  a  devoted  and  loving  christian 
mother,  and,  like  Mrs.  Nicholson,  was  taken  from  a  group  of  little 
ones,  left  to  be  cared  for  by  Him,  who  careth  always  for  the 
orphan  and  the  bereaved. 

Mrs.  Romeyn  was  long  known  in  this  city — a  woman 
of  mark  and  influence  in  every  circle  in  which   she  moved,  with 


FORT  STREET    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  51 


culture,  position  and  abilities,  fitting  her  for,  and  making  her,  a 
leader  in  society.     Her  whole  life  was  consecrated  by  a  pure  and 

earnest  piety. 

Joseph  C.  Heath,  a  brother-in-law  of  P:ider  Knight,  was  a 
man  of  singular  and  simple  piety,  to  whom  devotion  and  religion 
seemed  inborn,  and  prayer  but  the  natural  breathing  of  his  life. 

In  1867,  five  went  before  us:  Mrs.  Anna  Bryant,  (mother  of 
Mrs.  E.  C.Walker)  John  Gibson  and  Shubael  Conant— all  aged— all 
having  lived  beyond  their  fellows,  and  left  comparatively  alone  in 
life;  and  two  others  :  Mrs.  Lucia  W.  Smith  and  Mrs.  Harriet  N. 
Cameron,  just  in  the  ripeness  of  womanhood,  each  from  a  circle 
of  dependent  little  ones,  each  with  clear  hope  and  confiding  trust, 
called  to  go  up  higher. 

John  Gibson  was  one  of  those  solid,  reliable  men,  in  whom 
every  one  believes,  and  whom  every  one  trusted.  His  character 
as  a  christian  and  a  man,  was  one  any  of  us  might  covet  without 
sin.     For  several  years  he  was  ah  efficient  trustee  and  treasurer  of 

this  society. 

Shubael  Conant,  at  his  death  aged  84,  had  been  a  resident  for 
sixty  years  of  this  city,  and  its  history  would  not  be  complete 
without  a  record  of  his  life.  Beginning  his  career  when  Detroit 
was  but  a  fur-traders'  station,  he  had  prospered  with  its  growth. 
A  merchant  and  a  trader,  his  honesty  was  unimpeachable.  No 
man  in  Detroit  was  ever  so  perfectly  trusted  by  his  fellow-citizens, 
or  so  often  made  an  arbiter  or  trustee  for  the  interests  of  others  ; 
with  happv,  pleasant  ways,  winning  the  love  and  respect  of  all; 
full  of  charity  in  word  and  deed ;  having  no  family  of  his  own, 
the  door  of  every  family  in  Detroit  was  freely  open  to  him.  He 
was  converted  after  he  was  fifty  years  of  age,  and  even  then  God 
gave  the  life  of  an  ordinary  generation  to  illustrate  the  purity  and 
sweetness  of  a  well  poised,  harmonious  christian  character.  When, 
from  a  peaceful  and  happy  death -bed,  he  was  gathered  to  his 
fathers,  the  Fort  Street  Presbyterian  Church  lost  one  of  its  best 
supporters  and  fastest  friends. 

Five  names  were  also  starred  in  1869,  of  those  in  whose  crowns 
above,  we  hope  are  many  stars  :  Lyman  Briggs,  Mrs.  Catherine 
H.  Jones,  Miss  Mary  L.  Palmer,  Mrs.  Catherine  Hinchman,  and 
Mrs.-Elmira  Green. 

Mrs.  Hinchman  had  a  motherly  christian  spirit,  which  not  only 


52  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 

her  death  bed,  but  her  life  witnessed.  She  had  ever  been  faithful 
to  the  work  that  God  had  imposed  upon  her  widowed  life.  Two 
years  years  later,  we  carried  from  the  same  house,  to  Elmwood, 
Joseph  Law,  Jr.,  the  husband. of  her  only  daughter. 

So,  also,  two  years  from  the  death  of  Mary  Palmer,  went  up 
from  the  same  household  to  meet  her  whom  he  so  much  loved, 
and  on  whom  he  so  much  leaned,  her  father,  John  Palmer.  His 
history,  like  Judge  Conant's,  goes  back  to  the  early  history  of 
Detroit.  His  old  homestead  and  the  sweet  garden  about  it  on 
the  present  site  of  Moffat's  building,  are  inseparable  from  the  re- 
ccollection  of  Detroit,  as  it  has  been  for  forty  years.  An  honest 
merchant,  a  faithful  agent,  a  consistent  christian,  his  record,  to  our 
eyes,  has  no  blemish. 

Mrs.  DeGarmo  Jones  came  to  this  city  as  a  bride  on  the  first 
trip  of  the  ''Walk  in  the  Water,"  in  1819,  fifty-five  years  ago. 
They  soon  located  in  a  charming  spot  on  the  brink  of  the  river, 
then  some  ways  below  the  city,  on  the  front  of  the  Jones  Farm, 
where  the  Michigan  Car  Works  have  lately  stood.  Colonel  Jones 
was  a  man  of  high  character  and  position  in  the  community,  and 
she  made  his  house  always  the  center  of  a  refined,  delightful 
social  life,  full  of  all  the  hospitality  for  which  Detroit  was  famous, 
and  which  we  trust  will  never  entirely  leave  us.  Left  a  widow 
many  years  ago,  the  same  social  life  remained,  only  modified  by 
her  new  position.  Left  with  wealth,  she  used  it^conscientiously 
and  wisely.  She  was  the  third  largest  contributor  to  the  building 
of  our  first  edifice,  when  she  was  in  no  way  connected  with  the 
congregation  ;  and  in  the  building  of  this  church,  she  stood  side 
by  side  with  the  very  largest  donors,  in  each  successive  demand 
for  means  and  money.  That  christian  is  well  along  in  the  divine 
life,  who  has  learned  that  he  is  only  a  steward  of  God's  bounties, 
and  who  gives  to  His  cause  liberally  and  cheerfully. 

Our  number  was  diminished  by  four  in  1870  :  Mrs.  Harriet 
C.  Boyd,  Mrs.  Mary  Ward,  Mrs.  Abbey  E.  Stevens,  widow  of  F- 
H.  Stevens,  a  leading  citizen  of  thirty  years  ago  ;  and  Anna  S. 
Gillett,  daughter  of  Shradrach  Gillett.  The  last  left  behind  a 
bright  and  shining  record.  For  many  months  before  her  depar- 
ture, she  was  brought  face  to  face  with  death,  and  suffered  pain 
bevond  measure  ;  but  her  faith  and  hope  and  spiritual  joy  deep- 
ened to  the  end.     The  close  of  her  life  seemed  meant  by  God  as 


FOKT   STREET   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  53 

a  long  and  ])ointed  lesson  to  all  around  her,  to  teach  them  how  a 
christian  should  suffer  and  should  die.  Again,  after  two  years, 
her  mother,  a  sweet  and  sainted  character,  followed  her  to  the 
home  above. 

In  1871,  there  left  us — beside  Elder  Ray,  Joseph  Law,  Jr.  and 
John  Palmer,  already  alluded  to — Mrs.  William  Champ  and  David 
Stewart. 

In  1872,  beside  Mrs.  Gillett,  there  left  us  one  of  the  original 
twenty-six  members  of  this  church  :  Mrs.  Louisa  Wilcox.  Some- 
what retiring  in  her  ways,  a  life-long  invalid,  those  that  knew  her 
most,  loved  her  best.  Her  long,  last  sickness,  developed  to  her 
pastor,  and  all  who  stood  by  her  bedside,  an  unexpected  force  of 
christian  character  and  christian  knowledge.  She  died  in  triumph 
at  the  last,  and  her  memory  is  a  rich  legacy  to  her  children. 

In  the  year  just  drawn  to  a  close,  we  have  followed  to  the 
grave,  one  by  one,  all  that  was  mortal  of  John  B.  Beane,  Albert  S. 
Knight,  son  of  our  beloved  elder,  Silas  L.  Fuller,  suddenly  cut 
down  away  from  home,  within  one  week  from  his  reception  into 
this  church,  and  Mathilde  Foex.  The  impression  of  their  lives 
and  deaths  is  too  fresh  in  your  minds  to  need  one  word  from  me. 

Beside  these,  we  have,  within  these  years,  lost  from 
the  congregation,  several  heads  of  families,  whom  we 
have  greatly  mourned,  and  many  whose  hearts  were  deeply 
interested  in  the  success  and  upbuilding  of  this  church.  Among 
whom,  we  would  not  forget  Captain  Augustus  Canfield,  U.  S.  A., 
son-in-law  of  General  Cass,  who  did  us  good  service  on  the  build- 
ing committee  of  the  church  ;  Cyrus  W.  Jackson,  alwas  liberal  in 
his  benefactions  to  us  ;  James  Williams,  steady,  faithful  and  true 
in  every  relation  of  life  ;  Colonel  Levi  Cook,  the  veteran  mer- 
chant, ever  kind  and  genial  to  all ;  David  Thompson,  the  success- 
ful business  man,  only  prevented,  by  an  unwise  statute,  from  mak- 
ing a  noble  gift  out  of  his  wealth,  to  the  educational  interests  of 
our  denomination  ;  Charles  Ducharme,  a  model  of  mercantile 
honor,  trustworthiness  and  success,  doing  his  share  in  every  benev- 
olent work ;  and,  though  educated  in  another  communion,  giving 
freely  and  generously  to  this  church  ;  Henry  J.  Buckley,  cut  off 
from  wife  and  little  ones,  in  the  prime  of  his  years,  just  as  integ- 
rity and  capacity  in  business,  had  earned  distinguished  success; 
and  Henry  W.  Standart,  the  most  devoted  and  loving  of  fathers 


54  TWfiNTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 

to  sons  and  daughters,  who  returned  his  love  with  interest.  Time 
would  fail  us  to  say  all  that  might  wisely  be  said  of  these  men, 
and  others,  who  have  left  us  within  the  quarter-century  now  closed. 

In  conclusion,  we  have,  as  a  church,  great  cause  to  "  Thank 
God  and  take  courage," — thank  God,  because  all  we  have  done, 
and  all  we  are  to-day,  comes  from  Him;  "take  courage,"  be- 
cause He  is  "  the  same  yesterday,  to-day  and  forever," 
and  will,  if  we  serve  Him,  bless  us  in  the  future  as  He 
has  in  the  past.  We  have  no  occasion  for  pride  or 
vain  glory.  May  every  heart,  amid  the  congratulations  of  this 
happy  day,  be  enabled  to  say,  from  its  deepest  recesses,  "  Not 
unto  us,  O,  Lord,  not  unto  us,  but  unto  Thy  name  be  the  glory." 
Let  us  remember,  that,  with  growth  and  prosperity,  come  enlarged 
duties  and  responsibilities.  Our  first  need  is  a  new  baptism  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  that  all  those  who  have  in  any  way  aided  in 
building  up  this  church  and  society,  may  themselves  be  living 
stones  in  God's  Temple.  Let  us  aim  to  be  a  living,  working  giv- 
ing church,  full  of  the  missionary  spirit  of  the  Master,  laboring, 
not  for  ourselves  alone,  but  for  Detroit,  for  our  country,  for  the 
world. 

After  the  reading  of  Mr.  Walker's  address,  Mr,  George  W. 
Hoffman  presented  the  following  financial  exhibit  of  the  pecuni- 
ary outlay  of  the  quarter-century,  for  congregational  and  benevo- 
lent purposes ; 


^l]e   S^iiiki^c^e)*^  ki|d  ©ei^evoleride^. 

It  is  sometimes  said  that  the  prayer  meeting  is  an  index  to  the 
spirituality  of  the  church.  May  it  not  also  be  said  with  propriety, 
that  the  money  contributed  is  an  inde.x  to  its  benevolence  and  its 
prosperity. 

With  reference  to  the  latter  proposition,  I  think  it  will  be  fully 
shown  by  the  statement  I  have  to  make  of  the  expenditures  by 
this  congregation  from  its  organization  to  the  present  time,  that 
in  proportion  as  it  has  bestowed  liberally,  so  it  has  prospered. 

It  has  increased  in  numbers  and  wealth,  and  has  realized  the 


FOliT   STKKKT    I'liKSlt  YTKIU  A  X    CIirKCH-  55 

assurance  given  in  God's  Holy  Word:  "Give,  and  it  shall  be 
"  »;iven  unto  you,  good  ineasure,  |)ressed  down  and  shaken  togeth- 
"  cr,  and  running  over;  for  with  what  measure  ye  niele,  it  shall  be 
"  measured  to  you  again." 

The  small  beginnings  of  this  church,  may  at  this  day,  seem 
strange  to  us,  and  perhaps  as  much  so  to  the  few  of  its  first  mem- 
bers who  are  still  with  us. 

The  salary  of  its  lirst  pastor  was  fixed  at  eight  hundred  dollars 
a  year. 

A  committee  to  whom  was  confided  the  then  difhcidt  task  of 
raising  that  amount  by  subscription,  after  some  days  of  dilligent 
effort,  reported  they  had  obtained  pledges  for  about  six  hundred 
dollars,  and  that  there  might  not  be  any  failure  in  the  result,  the 
pastor  himself  had  subscribed  the  other  two  hundred.  Of  this 
six  hundred  dollars,  there  was  a  considerable  deficiency  at  the 
close  of  the  year. 

The  benevolent  contributions  for  the  first  year  amounted  to 
fifty-five  dollars  and  fifty-two  cents. 

But  it  is  not  my  province  to  go  into  the  history  of  the  church, 
that  ha\ing  been  left  to  other  hands.  It  seemed  however  not  out 
of  place  to  allude  to  these  items  as  a  starting  point  in  a  report  of 
the  benevolent  collections  and  contingent  expenses  of  this  church 
and  congregation,  during  the  first  twenty-five  years  of  its  exist- 
ence. 

.>ot  to  go  too  minutely  into  detail,  I  have  thought  it  advisable 
and  as  fully  covering  the  object  of  this  report,  to  condense  it  into 
periods  of  five  years,  embracing,  in  brief,  expenditures  by  the 
trustees  as  found  upon  the  records,  for  contingent  and  current 
expenses  ;  and  collections  by  the  session  for  missionary  and  other 
benevolent  purposes,  which  have  been  as  follows  : 

For  Corningent  Expenses,  lirst  five  years,  to  1S54 $     3,203  68 

second"  "1859, 26,31180 

third      "  "   1S64, 27,635  81 

fourth    "  "1869 32,74658 

fiftli        "  "   1S74 46,61640 

Total  of  Contingent  Kxpt-nses  foi  twenty-five  years, $136,514  27 


56  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 

For  benevolent  purposes : 

Fiist  period  of  five  years,  to  1854 $     1,276  15 

Second     "  "  "    1859 3.84699 

Third        "  "  "    1864 , 7,27687 

Fourth      "  "  "    1869 8,50978 

Fifth  "  "  "  1874,  $26,712  43,  In  addition  to  this 
last  named  sum,  there  has  been  given  for  various  specific, 
benevolent  and  charitable  purposes,  $10,426  55,  making  for 
the  last  period  of  five  years. 37,i38  98 

Total  for  benevolence  for  twenty-five  years $  58,048  77 

Thus  it  is  shown,  that  the  amount  given  for  benevolent  and 
charitable  purposes  within  the  last  five  years,  has  been  nearly 
double  the  amount  given  during  the  previous  twenty  years. 

The  expenditure  for  church  property,  has  been  as  follows  : 

For  the  lot  on  virhich  the  church  stands $     7,000  00 

Original  cost  of  building 63,000  00 

Remodeling  and  rebuilding  in  1870 35. 000  00 

Organ 5, 500  00 

Total $110,500  00 

The  gross  sum  expended  for  all  purposes  so  far  as  can  be  ascertain- 
ed from  the  books,  has  been $305,063  04 

Many  contributions  have  been  made  in  answer  to  appeals  for 
aid,  that  do  not  appear  on  the  records.  Added  to  these,  have 
been  numerous  donations  from  sympathising  and  loving  hearts, 
"  where  the  left  hand  knoweth  not  what  the  right  hand  doeth."* 

The  Ladies'  Benevolent  Society  has,  during  the  past  winter, 
sent  clothing  and  other  useful  articles  to  families  of  home  mission- 
aries in  this  State  and  Kansas,  to  the  amount  of  $391.08. 

The  Young  Ladies'  Society  has  provided  for  the  continuance 
of  two  schools  for  girls  in  India,  established  last  year,  and  are 
expending  between  three  and  four  hundred  dollars  among  the 
poor  of  the  city. 

I  will  also  take  the  liberty  of  mentioning  one  other  generous 
gift  desirable  and  appropriate  for  social  purposes,  from  one  whose 
liberality    is    too    well    known    to    need    mention    at    my    hands, 

*It  is  due  both  to  justice  and  to  generosity,  to  state,  what  really  belongs  to  this  history,  that 
during  the  past  five  years,  the  present  pastor  of  this  church  has  been  made  the  recipient  of 
various  sums  of  money  from  the  members  of  his  congregation,  amounting  in  the  aggregate,  to 
nearly  four  thousand  dollars,  which  he  here  gratefully  acknowledges.  A.  T,  p. 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  57 

of  some  fifteen  hundred  pieces  of  china  and  glass,  from  which  to 
dispense  the  good  things  always  so  cheerfully  and  bountifully  pro- 
vided by  our  ladies  whenever  called  upon. 

The  method  of  benevolent  collections  in  this  t:hurch  during 
past  years  (except  the  last  four)  was  the  same  as  practiced  in 
most  churches:  by  subscriptions,  donations,  and  plate  collections, 
on  the  Sabbath. 

Four  years  ago  cards  were  introduced  on  which  was  designated 
one  of  the  objects  of  church  benevolence  for  each  month  in  the 
year,  with  a  blank  column  in  which  the  donors  stated  the  amount 
they  would  give  to  each  object  named. 

This  system  was  found  to  be  an  improvement  on  the  former 
method,  but  passing  the  plate  was  still  necessary  to  collect  the 
card-subscriptions,  and  to  give  those  who  did  not  adopt  them,  an 
opportunity  to  contribute. 

Recently,  former  methods  have  been  discontinued,  and  the 
envelope  system  (so  called)  adopted,  which  it  is  believed  will  prove 
much  more  agreeable  and  convenient,  and  will  lead  to  a  com[)li- 
ance  with  the  scri|)ture  injunction  :  "  Upon  the  first  day  of  the 
week  let  every  one  of  you  lay  by  him  in  store  as  God  hath  pros- 
pered him,"  and  by  which  all  members  of  the  congregation,  old 
and  young,  may,  as  an  act  of  worship,  present  their  offerings  unto 
the  Lord. 

To  carry  out  this  system,  a  small,  tin  rack  has  been  placed  in 
each  pew,  and  in  the  rack  a  leather  envelope,  in  which  each  per- 
son may  deposit  an  offering  (after  the  sermon,  and  before  the 
final  hymn)  during  morning  service.  After  service  the  envel- 
opes are  collected  and  the  amount,  found  therein,  appropriated  to 
the  several  objects  of  benevolence  stated  on  a  printed  card  which 
is  also  placed  in  the  rack  with  the  envelope. 

Any  persons  wishing  to  designate  the  particular  purpose  or 
object  to  which  their  contribution  shall  be  given,  can  do  so  by 
writing  on  a  slip  of  paper  and  depositing  it  with  the  gift  in  the 
envelope. 

This  system  was  introduced  on  the  first  of  January  of  this 
year,  and  has  thus  far  proved  much  more  successful  than  was 
anticipated,  and  it  is  believed  will  receive  the  liearty  and  cordial 
co-operation  and  approval  of  this  entire  congregation,  and  will 


58  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 

prove  to  be  the  most  popular  and  efficient  method  ever  practiced, 
to  develop  the  beneficence  of  the  church  and  people. 

The  Fort  Street  Presbyterian  Church  is  now  free  from  debt, 
save  a  small  amount,  and  has  money  in  its  treasury  to  meet  all 
current  demands,  and  has  adopted  Paul's  injunction  to  the 
Romans:   ''Owe  no  man  anything,  but  to  love  one  anoiher." 

This  was  followed  by  an  address  by  Bradford   Smith,  Esq.,  on 

For  a  long  time  before  the  organization  of  our  church,  the 
friends  of  "  Mission  Work  "  had  not  been  idle  in  the  vineyard  of 
the  Lord  ;  but  had  been  doing  what  they  could  to  keep  pace  with 
the  growth  of  the  city.  The  old  First  Church  was  full  of  praying 
earnest  and  faithful  men  and  women,  who  could  not  remain  at  ease 
within  her  walls  and  see  the  city  extend  East  and  West,  without  the 
Gospel  of  Peace.  And,  although  the  First  Congregational  Church 
had  gone  out  from  her  and  planted  the  Banner  of  the  Cross  of 
Christ  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city,  they  determined,  early  in 
the  autumn  of  1848,  to  plant  another  colony  in  the  western  portion 
of  the  city.  Accordingly  a  few  courageous  and  faithful  ones  went 
forth  from  the  mother  church,  as  Mr.  Samuel  Zug  says,  "  burning 
their  ships  behind  them."  At  once  they  organized  a  Sabbath 
School.  Mr.'  Alanson  Sheley  was  asked  to  take  the  superinten- 
dency  of  the  new  enterprise,  as  he  had  had  experience  in  such 
matters  as  superintendent  of  the  First  Church  Sabbath 
School,  (in  which  place  he  has  continued  faithful  until  this  day). 
Mr.  Sheley  refused,  saying,  wisely,  "  Let  those,  who  have  confi- 
dence in  the  thing,  take  charge  of  it."  Consequently,  Messrs. 
Sylvester  Larned  and  Samuel  Zug  were  elected  joint  superintend- 
ents of  the  school,  the  former  being  called  the  "  Aaron,"  and  the 
latter  the  "  Moses  "  of  the  Exodus. 

The  first  records  of  the  school  show  that,  on  the  twelfth  of 
November,  A.  D.  1848,  there  were  present,  superintendents  Sylves- 
ter Larned,  Samuel  Zug;  also.  Miss  Delia  Mather,  Teacher  of  the 
infant  class.  Miss  Isabella  G.  Duffield,  (now  Mrs.  Or.  Morse  Stew- 
art,) Mrs.  A.  E.  Mather,  Miss  Laura  Brisco,  Miss  Harriet  Bond. 
Miss  Cherry  Wier,  Miss  Roberts,  Miss  Norton,  Mrs.  Kellogg, 
Messrs.  Alexander  McFarren,  John  Stevens,  William  Hannorth, 
S.  P.  Wilcox,  and  seventy-six  children.     Of  these,  Mr.  Samuel  P. 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  59 

Wilcox  alone  remains  in  the  school ;  and  of  him  it  is  not  too 
much  to  say,  he  has  ever  been  at  his  post  of  duty.  He  has  so 
deported  himself  towards  all  the  superintendents,  as  to  make  them 
regard  him  as  their  true  friend. 

Mr  Larned  continued  in  the  school  only  a  short  time,  but  on 
account  of  failing  health,  went  south,  leaving  the  superintendency 
entirelv  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Zug.  He  bore  the  burden  and  heat 
of  the  day,  and  the  work  prospered  under  his  management.  At 
the  end  of  three  years  he  resigned  The  teachers  urged  upon 
him  the  importance  of  his  remaining  in  office;  he  kindly  but  positive- 
ly declined  to  serve  them  any  longer  in  that  capacity.  He  advised 
the  election  of  Henry  C-  Knight,  then  a  teacher  in  the  school. 
Flis  advice  was  accepted,  and  Mr.  H.  C.  Knight  became  the  super- 
intendent. Mr.  Zug  took  Mr.  Knight's  class,  and  continued  as  a 
faithful  worker  and  teacher  in  the  school  many  years.  His  sym- 
pathy and  attention  are  now  turned  towards  another  mission  field 
of  labor,  still  farther  west  in  our  beloved  city,  north  of  Michigan 
Avenue. 

Henry  C.  Knight  was  born  in  East  Bethlehem  Township, 
Washington  County,  Pa.,  September  3d,  1817.  He  was  a  loving 
and  dutiful  son,  and  early  in  life  won  the  confidence  and  affection 
of  his  youthful  companions,  and  was  respected  and  trusted  by  all 
who  knew  him.  He  loved  books  and  study,  and  so  diligently  did 
he  devote  himself  to  them,  that  in  1836  he  graduated  at  Jefiferson 
College.  He  studied  law  in  Boston.  Mass.  one  year  ;  came  to  Detroit 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1839,  when  but  twenty-two  years  of 
age.  He  soon  thereafter  removed  to  Pontiac,  where  he  practiced 
law  until  1848,  when  he  gave  up  the  law  for  the  ministry.  In  185 1, 
he  removed  to  this  city,  having  reluctantly  given  up  the  ministry 
on  account  of  the  failure  of  his  voice.  He  again  resumed  the 
practice  of  law,  and  was  ever  the  faithful  advocate  and  friend  of 
the  poor  and  oppressed — without  regard  to  recompense  or  reward. 
He  remembered  that  He,  in  whom  alone  there  is  salvation,  had 
said  :  *'  Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of 
these  my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me."  Men  soon  learned 
to  trust  him.  and  his  fellow-citizens  called  him  to  fill  many  places 
of  trust  and  honor.  He  was  Alderman,  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education,  Regent  of  the  State  University  of  Michigan,  and,  at 
the   time  of  his  death.   Prosecuting  Attorney   for  the   County  of 


60  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVEESAEY 


Wayne.  He  was  the  uncorrupted,  and  ever  faithful  public  ser- 
vant. When  chosen  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  School,  he 
entered  upon  the  work  with  all  his  heart.  Mr.  Knight  loved  chil- 
dren, and  they  soon  learned  to  love  him.  There  is  no  power  like 
love  to  win  the  young  to  a  life  of  obedience  to  law  and  usefulness 
in  the  world.  He  continued  in  the  good  work  as  superintend- 
ent, for  sixteen  years,  until  his  death,  in  the  spring  of  1867. 
"  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord  ;  they  rest  from  their 
labors,  and  their  works  do  follow  them." 

Joseph  G.  Ray  was  chosen,  after  the  death  of  our  beloved 
brother.  Henry  C.  Knight,  to  fill  the  place  thus  made  vacant.  Mr. 
Ray  was  born  of  missionary  parents,  in  Islington,  near  London, 
England,  1832.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  this  country,  and 
settled  in  Rochester.  N.  Y.,  1841  ;  removed  to  Michigan  and  made 
his  home  in  Detroit,  about  the  year  1853.  He  was  a  good  boy, 
and  became  an  honest  and  upright  man.  He  inherited  from  his 
godly  mother,  a  remarkable  sweetness  of  temper,  amiability  of 
disposition,  and  gentleness  of  manner,  which,  when  permeated 
with  the  spirit  of  his  Divine  Master,  made  him  a  most  faithful 
and  efficient  worker  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.  He  won  the 
esteem  and  love  of  us  all,  but  on  account  of  his  nearness  of  sight, 
he  resigned  the  superintendency  in  October,  1869,  and  took 
a  class  in  the  school.  He  was  ever  the  faithful  friend  of  his  suc- 
cessor in  office.  Mr.  Ray  was  a  sun-beam  in  the  school.  Who 
does  not  remember  how  he  came  into  the  room  singing,  and  as  he 
would  stop,  saying,  "  I  feel  like  singing  all  the  time  "?  His  work 
here  and  with  us  was  soon  ended.  His  Lord  called  him  up  higli- 
er.  Truly,  ''  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way."  Of  our  departed, 
sainted  brother,  it  may  truly  be  said  :  "  Well  done,  good  and  faith- 
ful servant." 

His  friend,  Bradford  Smith,  who  succeeded  him,  did  what  he 
could  during  three  years,  to  advance  the  permanent  interests  of 
the  school. 

In  January,  1873,  Mr.  E.  C.  Walker  was  elected  superintend- 
ent, and  still  continues  to  hold  the  office.  The  school  is  in  a 
prosperous  condition.  Mr.  Walker  needs  no  one  to  write  his  his- 
tory for  him,  for  he  has  been  compelled,  in  giving  the  history  of  the 
church,  to  be  his  own  ^''auto-biographer^''  which  has  been  faithfully 
done.  I  may  add,  however,  he  has  been  identified  with  the  work 
of  the  school,  for  about  twenty  years. 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  61 

^\\e  '^im  I^iV>i'ki'y  of  tlie  ^dliool. 

About  a  dozen  little  girls  met  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Zug  in  the 
winter  of  1S49,  and  organized  themselves  into  a  sewing  society,  to 
work  for  benevolent  and  religious  causes.  They  determined  first 
of  all  to  raise  money  to  buy  a  small  library  for  the  school. 
Accordingly,  they  went  to  work  in  earnest  to  make  fancy  articles 
for  a  fair.  They  made  a  complete  success.  Their  generous 
frientls,  one  of  wiiom  it  is  distinctly  remembered  was  ('aptain  E. 
V,.  Ward,  attended  their  fair,  and  soon  bought  them  all  out.  They 
raised,  to  their  surprise  and  great  gratification,  one  hundred  dol- 
lars. Of  this  sum,  they  took  twenty-five  dollars  and  bought  their 
longed-for  library,  and  the  remaining  seventy-five  dollars  they 
appropriated  to  purchase  materials  for  further  benevolent  enter- 
prises, connected  with  the  church  and  Sunday  School. 

During  these  twenty-five  years,  the  school  has  increased  from 
year  to  year,  and  numbered  at  one  time  between  400  and  500 
teachers  and  scholars ;  our  average  has  been  about  250.  Three 
"Missions"  have  been  off-shoots  from  us;  and  many  of  their 
most  faithful  and  devoted  teachers  were  some  of  our  own  most 
self-sacrificing  workers. 

The  Ninth  Avenue  "  Mission,"  of  which  our  Congregational 
brother,  D.  M.  Richardson,  is  superintendent,  and  our  Scotch 
Presbyterian  friend,  Mr.  F.  Lambie,  is  the  bible  class  teacher,  took 
off  from  us  at  one  time  about  200  children.  We  bade  them  "God 
speed  "  in  their  labors  of  love.  Christ's  kingdom  is  progressive 
and  aggressive.  His  last  command  to  His  disciples,  "Co  ye  unto 
all  the  world  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature,"  should  be 
heeded.  Let  the  churches  of  Jesus  Christ  plant  "  Missions."  and 
nourish  them,  till  they  are  fairly  established  in  the  community 
where  they  are  located. 

•p^iHiit^^  of  tlic   Work. 

We  find,  from  a  careful  examination  of  the  imperfect  records, 

that  at  least  120  children  and  youth   have  united   with   our  own 

church    on  profession    of    faith,   from  the   Sabbath   School,  while 

many  others  have  joined  sister  churches  in  the  city ;  and  may  we 

not  hope  that  many  more,  if  not   all   who  have  been   with  us  so 

long  in  this  most  interesting  relation,  if  not  members  of  the  visi- 

« 


62  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSAET 


ble  church  here,  may  become  citizens  of  the  heavenly  kingdom. 
Some  of  the  dear  lambs  of  the  Hock  have  been  taken  from  us  by 
the  Good  Shepherd  to  His  fold  above.  And  while  our  hearts 
have  been  almost  crushed  by  the  blow  of  separation,  still,  when 
we  realized  that  it  was  given  by  our  Heavenly  Father's  hand,  and 
that  He  has  taken  the  little  pets  to  His  divine  love  and  care,  we 
have,  as  we  hope,  been  able  to  say,  "  Even  so,  Father,  for  so  it 
seemed  good  in  Thy  sight." 

When  this  changing  life,  with  its  cares,  duties,  trials,  tempta- 
tions, hopes,  fears,  joys  and  sorrows,  is  ended,  may  we  have  the 
unspeakable  pleasure  and  eternal  satisfaction  of  a  glorious  re-un- 
ion with  the  dear  ones  we  so  loved,  whose  memory  is  so  sacred, 
who  have  gone  before  and  are  now  on  the  "shining  shore,"  wait- 
in^T,  as  we  trust,  to  welcome  us  to  the  heavenly  mansions  which 
our  blessed  Saviour  has  gone  to  prepare  for  His  faithful  followers. 

Pfe^eiit  Offidef^  ai|d  l^ekdl^ef^. 

E.  C.  Walker,  Superintendent. 

S  P.  Wilcox,  Assistant  Superintendent. 

Robert  M.  Zug,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

Robert  W.  Standart,  Librarian. 

Bradford  Smith,  Teacher  Bible  Class. 

Geo.  W.  Hoffman,  Teacher  Bible  Class. 

Mrs.  H.  C  Knight,  Teacher  Infant  Class. 

Miss  Jennie  Wilson,  Teacher  Infant  Class. 

Messrs.  George  N.  Ladue,  Charles  B.  Woodruff,  Lucien 
E.  Smith,  James  R.  Button,  Walter  Buhl,  Otto  Kirchner, 
Henry  M.  Park,  John  McFarlane. 

Miss  Julia  A.  Knight,  Miss  Mary  Penny,  Miss  Jennie  A. 
FooTE,  Miss  Sarah  H.  Standart,  Miss  Mary  L.  Orr,  Miss 
Mary  C  Brewster,  Miss  Mattie  Joy,  Miss  Cora  Woodruff, 
Miss  Anna  Botsford. 

Mrs.  A.  G.  Lindsay,  Mrs.  Geo.  F.  Newland,  Mrs.  S.  P. 
Wilcox,  Mrs.  H.  M,  Park,  Mrs.  Margaret  E.  Hodgkin,  Mrs. 
M.  F.  Merick,  Mrs.  Henry  Graham. 

At  the  conclusion  of  these  interesting  historical  papers,  the  hour 
was  so  late,  that  the  exercises  were  at  once  concluded  with  the 
benediction  by  the  Rev.  John  P.  Scott,  pastor  of  the  United  Pres- 
byterian Church,  of  this  city. 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAK    CHURCH.  63 


Was  introduced  by  prayer,  offered  by  the  Rev.  S.  M.  Freeland,  of 
the  Second  Congregational  Church,  of  this  city. 

The  pastor,  acting  as  chairman  for  the  evening,  then  e.xjjlained 
the  absence  of  the  Rev.  John  Hall,  1).  D.,  of  New  York  City,  who 
was  e.\pected  to  have  been  present,  and  to  have  preached  on  the 
evening  previous,  but  who  was  detained  at  home  by  the  religious 
interest  prevalent  throughout  the  city,  and  by  the  consequent  mul- 
tiplied services  in  connection  with  his  own  church. 

Letters  of  congratulation  were  then  read  from  the  widow  of 
the  Rev.  R.  R.  Kellogg,  first  pastor  of  the  church,  from  the  Rev. 
Henry  Neill,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Azariah  Eldridge,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Taylor  Clarke,  successive  pastors ;  from  the  brother  of  Rev. 
James  Means,  who  acted  for  a  time  in  the  same  capacity,  and 
from  the  Rev.  S.  D.  Burchard,  D.  D.,  of  New  York  City,  under  whose 
preaching  and  pastoral  care,  Mr.  Pierson  himself  passed  his  youth. 
These  letters,  with  others,  will  appear  in  their  proper  place,  in 
subsequent  pages. 

Short  congratulatory  addresses  were  then  delivered  by  various 
brethren,  who  were  introduced  with  brief,  appropriate  remarks, 
by  the  chairman.  Much  that  was  said  cannot  be  re-produced, 
and  much,  that  might  be  preserved,  naturally  dies  with  the  occa- 
sion, as  the  aroma  of  a  flower  ceases  to  exhale  when  the  blossom 
fades.  But  so  much  was  said  which  contributes  to  the  history  of 
tlie  period  commemorated  on  this  day,  and  which  evidences  and 
exemplifies  the  unity  of  all  true  christians,  and  inspires  enlarged 
effort  and  enterprise  in  the  cause  of  Christ,  that  we  have  secured 
from  each  of  the  several  speakers,  an  outline  of  his  remarks,  by 
which  we  are  thus  enabled  to  complete  our  otherwise  imperfect 
record  of  this  pleasurable  and  memorable  anniversary. 

Coiigfkturatoi'y  s^ddfe^^e^. 

The  chairman  said  :  "  Our  first  speaker  this  evening,  is  our 
Detroit  bulwark  of  orthodoxy,  a  beloved  brother,  the  longest 
settled  here  of  any  of  our  city  pastors,  and  who,  for  fifteen  years, 
has  demonstrated  that  the  preaching  of  the  pure  and  simple  gospel 
does  not  '  dislodge  a  preacher,'  nor  wear  out.     He  reminds  me  of 


64  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 


a  home  missionary  in  Kansas  of  whom  it  was  said,  that  '  he  kept 
teUing  men  that  they  were  sinners  and  needed  a  Saviour,  until  they- 
actually  believed  it!'  1  take  pleasure  in  introducing  the  Rev 
John  P.  Scott,  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church." 

Mr.  Scott  responded  :  "  From  the  depths  of  my  heart  I  thank 
my  good  brother  Pierson  for  the  high  honor  conferred  upon  me  in 
representing  me  as  ''  the  bulwark  of  orthodoxy  in  this  city."  He 
could  scarcely  have  done  me  greater  honor,  and  I  do  not  know 
how  I  can  better  re-pay  him,  than  to  express  to  you  my  gratifica- 
tion at  having  such  an  able  and  efficient  co-laborer  in  the  main- 
tenance of  orthodox  principles.  I  will  not  say  anything  about 
these  other  brethren,  but  will  assume  that  they  are  not  present, 
and  say  to  you  that  any  doxy  that  does  not  agree  with  our  doxy, 
is  not  ortho-doxy.  We  were  told  this  afternoon  in  that  very  inter- 
esting paper  read  by  Mr.  Walker,  that  this  congregation  worshipped 
at  first  in  the  church  building  in  which  the  congregation  to  which 
I  minister,  now  worships ;  perhaps  that  is  what  has  caused  this 
congregation  to  flourish  so  well ;  it  had  a  good  orthodox  begin- 
ning. We  have  been  watching  you  with  a  special  interest  to  see 
whether  you  would  remain  steadfast  to  the  faith,  and  are  happy 
this  evening  to  congratulate  you  on  your  theological,  congrega- 
tional and  financial  status;  and  as  you  have  done  so  well  for  the 
quarter  of  a  century  that  is  past,  I  think  you  may  be  safely  trusted 
in  the  future,  especially  so  long  as  you  have  such  an  orthodox 
leader  as  my  brother  Pierson  :  and  these  orthodox  men  are  not 
given  to  frequent  change,  either  as  to  location  or  theological 
views  ;  they  stand  on  such  a  firm  basis,  that  they  stand  very  steady  ; 
they  build  long  and  they  build  strong. 

"  I  thought  this  afternoon  when  listening  to  that  very  minute 
and  interesting  review  of  your  history  as  a  congregation  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  how  full  that  same  period  had  been  of  events 
of  the  highest  importance  to  the  church  at  large — to  this  nation 
and  to  all  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

"  Within  this  period  the  foundations  of  our  government  have 
been  tested  as  we  did  not  expect;  and  severe  as  the  test  was,  we 
have  demonstrated  to  the  hereditary  rulers  and  crowned  monarch- 
ists of  the  world,  that  there  is  a  central  power  in  republicanism 
that  they  had  not  dreamed  of;  and  during  the  same  i)eriod  the 
church  has  made  aggressions  on  the  territory  of  the  enemy  great- 


FORT  STREET   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  65 

er,  I  believe,  than  during  any  previous  quarter  of  a  century  since 
the  days  of  Christ  and  His  apostles.  In  proof  of  this,  we  need 
only  to  consider  what  has  been  done  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel 
in  India,  and  China,  and  Egypt,  and  Spain,  and  Italy,  and 
Turkey,  and  Mexico,  and  in  other  nations.  In  many  of  these 
countries,  twenty-five  years  ago,  it  required  not  only  a  martyr 
spirit,  but  a  martyr's  head  would  have  been  the  result  of  attempt- 
ing to  distribute  the  Bible  or  to  preach  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  ; 
but  during  this  period,  barrier  after  barrier  has  been  removed  ; 
tyrannical  and  wicked  laws  against  the  dissemination  of  christian 
truth,  and  the  proclamation  pf  the  gospel,  have  been  rescinded  ; 
prejudices  removed ;  and  treaties  formed  between  nations ;  until 
now  the  missionaries  of  the  cross  from  the  two  great  christian  nations 
of  the  world,  can  go,  with  the  assurance  of  protection,  and  preach 
the  gospel  throughout  the  wide  world.  The  way  being  now  open, 
we  may  expect  glorious  results. 

''  But  the  services  of  this  occasion  demand  that  we  should  con- 
sider specially  the  past  and  present  religious  condition  of  our  own 
city;  and  what  are  the  facts?  Twenty-five  years  ago,  with  a  popu- 
lation of  twenty  thousand,  we  had  nineteen  churches,  nearly  one 
church  organization  to  each  one  thousand  inhabitants.  We  have 
now  one  hundred  thousand  inhabitants  and  fifty- nine  churches — 
almost  two  thousand  inhabitants  to  each  church  organization. 
Some  of  these  churches  are  large  and  strong,  but  many  of  them 
are  small  and  feeble ;  thus,  while  the  population  has  increased 
five-fold,  the  churches  have  only  increased  three-fold ;  and,  as 
to  church  accommodations,  were  all  the  population  disposed  to 
attend  some  place  of  public  worship,  there  would  not  be  church 
accommodations  for  more  than  one  in  five  of  the  inhabitants. 

"Is  this  as  it  should  he?  Shall  we  remain  indifferent  and 
inactive  in  view  of  these  facts  ?  Does  not  the  comparative  increase 
in  population  over  the  increase  in  churches,  and  the  large  numbers 
of  our  population  who  do  not  attend  any  place  of  public  worship, 
and  who  could  not  be  accommodated  if  they  did  desire  to  attend, 
call  for  increased  activity,  and  devotion,  and  zeal  upon  the  part  of 
the  officers  and  members  of  the  various  churches  in  our  city.? 
Let  us  consecrate  ourselves  afresh  to  the  work  and  service  of  our 
Master,  in  this  city." 


66  TWENTY-FIFTH    AJSTNIVERSART 

Chairman  :  "  In  the  year  1867,  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Old  School  Presbyterian  Church  at  Cincinnati,  I  heard  an  elder 
deliver  a  long  and  elaborate  speech,  and  I  felt  like  the  Scotch- 
man, who  joined  the  debating  club  because  he  ^  wanted  to  contra- 
dict a  wee  !'  But  I  have  since  learned  to  sympathise  with  that 
brother  and  love  him,  as  one  of  the  most  trustworthy  of  men,  and 
to  understand  why  the  farmer  called  his  team  '  new  school '  and 
'  old  school,'  saying  that  'one  horse  was  fast  and  the  other  sa/e,  but 
both  together  made  a  splendid  span.'  We  will  now  hear  from  the 
Hon.  Hovey  K.  Clarke-" 

Mr.  Clarke,  after  some  playful  allusions  to  his  impressions  of 
Mr.  Pierson  in  that  same  Assembly,  proceeded  to  say  :  "  I  believe 
in  anniversaries.  They  have  their  uses,  and  some  of  them  are 
valuable.  Even  the  sad  ones  have  lessons  in  them  which  we 
cannot  afford  to  lose.  They  have  their  abuses,  too,  sometimes 
most  conspicuous  in  religious  observances.  When  the  Saints' 
days  and  Fast  days  of  the  year  become  more  numerous  than  the 
Sabbaths,  and  are  observed  with  more  devotion,  we  may  conclude 
that  the  anniversary  business  is  overdone.  But  of  all  events  which 
have  their  origin  in  associated  action,  I  am  sure  that  there  are 
none  more  worthy  of  commemoration,  than  the  founding  of  a 
church. 

"' The  evil  that  men  do,'  says  the  great  English  poet,  'lives 
after  them.'  In  an  ever-widening  circle,  it  extends  and  perpetu- 
ates itself.  No  fact  can  be  more  solemn  than  this.  I  would  fain 
believe  that  some  of  tlie  evil  which  some  men  do  is  obliterated  in 
the  blood  of  Christ ;  otherwise,  it  seems  to  me  that  there  must  be 
reflections,  even  in  the  world  above,  closely  akin  to  remorse. 
'The  good  is  often  interred  with  their  bones:' — but  not  always; 
for  the  blessed  dead  are  assured  when  they  rest  from  their  labors, 
that  "  their  works  do  follow  them  "  There  may  be  some  who 
now,  from  the  spirit  world,  are  permitted  to  mingle  in  the  rejoic- 
ings of  this  occasion,  and  who  were  in  that  little  company,  gathered 
in  the  Senate  Chamber  of  the  old  Capitol.,  on  the  fourth  Sabbath 
in  February,  twenty-five  years  ago,  to  found  this  church  !  And 
are  there  not,  among  the  experiences  by  which  this  church  has 
been  led  to  its  present  position,  some  to  be  most  gratefully  remem- 
bered, and  which  are  the  last  that  the  brethren  of  that  company — 
two  of  whom  I  see  before  me — Zug  and  Wilcox — would  relinquish  .'' 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  67 


"  But  I  am  not  permitted  to  extend  these  reflections.  What 
is  the  lesson  of  the  hour?  is  the  question.  This  building  is  a 
power.  This  congregation — tiie  mcMi  and  women  who  compose  it, 
and  the  means  they  command — is  a  power.  This  pastor  is  a  pow- 
er; and  in  all,  there  is  an  aggregate  involving  a  great  responsibili- 
ty. It  is  in  your  hands — what  are  you  going  to  do  loith  it  ?  The 
usefulness  of  a  church  is  to  be  measured,  not  by  what  is  does,  or 
is  capable  of  doing  for  its  members  ;  but  by  what  it  stimulates  its 
members  to  do  for  others.  Colonization  is  the  lesson  which  the 
facts  before  us  this  evening  are  teaching  the  Presbyterian  Church- 
es of  Detroit.  Colonization— '^\\'tx^\(S.t,  Grand  Trunk  Junction, 
Ilamtramck — unless  we  see  our  duty  to  these  localities,  we  shall 
miss  the  most  striking  and  important  lesson  of  this  most  interest- 
ing occasion." 

Chairman:  "When  our  Congregational  neighbors  on  Fort 
Street  wanted  to  get  a  pastor,  they  took  good  care  to  choose  one 
whose  preaching  must  be  to  edification !  All  I  have  against  this 
brother  is  that  he  is  a  Congregationalist.  but  he  is  so  near  a  Pres- 
byterian that  we  can  hardly  tell  the  difference;  and  I  will  only 
remind  him  that  Congregationalism,  like  .•Jew  Hampshire  is  a 
'good  State  to  go  from  !  '  Let  us  hear  from  the  edifyitig  pastor  of 
the  Fort  Street  Congregational  Church,  Rev.  Zachary  Eddy,  D.  D.'' 
Dr.  Eddy  spoke  as  follows  :  "  I  have  been  courteously  intro- 
duced by  the  pastor,  as  a  Congregationalist;  but  I  would  thank 
some  friend  to  decide  the  question,  whether  I  ought  to  be  called 
a  Congregationalist  or  a  Presbyterian.  My  father  was  a  Congre- 
gational minister,  and  the  pastor  of  a  Congregational  church,  but 
at  the  same  time  a  member  of  Buffalo  Presbytery.  In  my  early 
youth  I  became  a  member  of  the  same  Congregational  church, 
which  was  represented  by  delegates  in  the  Presbytery,  and  once 
or  twice  furnished  lay  commissioners  to  the  General  Assembly.  I 
was  ordained  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  was  for  several  years  a 
member  of  Presbytery ;  but  was  also,  for  some  time,  the  pastor  of 
a  Congregational  church,  and  the  scrib-  of  a  Congregational 
Association.  The  truth  is,  in  those  days,  many  of  us  scarcely 
knew  whether  we  were  Congregationalists  or  Presbyterians;  for 
it  was  in  the  time  of  the  glorious  old  "  Plan  of  Union,"  whose 
memory  is  blessed. 

"  In  those  days  I  loved  the  Presbyterian  church ;  but  not  more 


68  TWENTY-FIFTH   AISTNIVEKSAKY 

than  I  love  it  now.  When  I  was  a  raw,  undisciplined  youth,  I 
was  tenderly  taken  in  hand  by  the  noble  Presbytery  of  Buffalo, 
trained,  encouraged  and  started  on  my  career  as  a  minister,  not 
without  prayers  and  benedictions.  Till  my  heart  stops  beating,  I 
can  never  cease  to  love  the  great  orthodox,  learned,  orderly  and 
evangelical  Body,  under  whose  cherishing  and  genial  nurture,  I 
passed  the  earlier  years  of  my  ministry. 

"  This  is  not  the  time  to  boast  of  it,  but  I  cannot  help  saying 
that,  though  our  revered  and  beloved  Dr.  Shaw  did  not  mention 
my  name  this  morning  as  one  of  the  "  noble  company  "  of  Pres- 
byterian martyrs,  I  had  the  honor  to  suffer  in  the  cause  of  genu- 
ine 'Constitutional'  Presbyterianism.  In  1837,  my  head  was 
taken  off  so  neatly,  by  the  Breckenridge  guillotine,  that  I  felt  no 
pain.  I  was  a  member,  at  that  time,  of  one  of  the  four  exscinded 
synods.  For  a  considerable  period  after  that  event,  I,  with  many 
of  my  brethren,  stood  aloof  from  both  Assemblies,  almost  ready 
to  say — '  A  plague  on  both  your  houses  !'  I  must  confess,  that  the 
excision  quickened  the  love  of  the  free  Congregational  Order, 
which  my  revered  father  had  planted  in  my  heart,  but  which  had, 
for  several  years,  been  in  a  state  of  suspended  animation.  With  a 
true,  but  not  idolatrous  love  of  that  Order,  T  now  recognize,  with 
filial  affection,  in  the  re-united  Presbyterian  Church,  the  spiritual 
alma  mater  of  my  youth.  God  bless  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
the  United  States  ! 

"And  God  bless  the  Fort  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  of 
Detroit !  Though  I  am  a  new  comer  among  you — almost  a  strang- 
er, indeed — I  enter  heartily  into  your  joy,  and  offer  my  sincere 
congratulations  on  this  twenty-fifth  birth-day  of  your  church. 
You  will  permit  me  to  say,  that  I  rejoice  in  your  prosperity,  not 
so  much  because  yours  is  a  Presbyterian  church,  as  because  it  is, 
in  my  belief,  a  living  and  fruitful  church  of  Jesus  Christ.  The 
value  of  a  true  church  to  such  a  city  as  this,  cannot  be  told.  Its 
purifying  and  beneficent  influences  can  only  be  measured  by  the 
Omniscient  One.  For  what  is  a  christian  church,  considered  with 
reference  to  the  work  which  God  has  given  it  to  do }  A  hospital 
for  the  cure  of  sick,  death- smitten  souls;  a  fold  for  the  protec- 
tion and  safe-keeping  of  the  weak  and  unwary ;  a  school  for  the 
nurture  of  christian  disciples;  a  gymnasium  for  the  training  of 
spiritual    athletes,  to  wrestle  with  principalities  and  powers;  a 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  69 

FELLOWSHIP  OF  LOVE,  satisfying  the  social  cravings  of  rich  and  poor, 
of  old  and  young,  of  rude  and  cultured ;  a  fountain  of  reno- 
vating VIRTUE,  sending  streams  of  moral  purity  and  health 
through  all  the  ramifications  of  society,  cleansing  and  hallowing 
the  household,  the  drawing-room,  the  workshop,  the  school,  the 
court  of  justice,  the  ballot-box,  the  political  caucus,  the  municipal 
assembly,  and  the  legislative  chamber.  The  church  is  a  camp  of 
INSTRUCTION  for  drilling  the  soldiers  of  the  sacramental  host,  in 
all  the  arts  and  exercises  of  glorious  war,  and  sending  them  forthi 
armed  in  panoply  divine,  to  conquer  new  provinces  for  King 
Immanuel.  The  church  is  to  raise  the  fallen,  succor  the  tempted, 
heal  the  broken-hearted,  visit  the  sick,  feed  the  hungry,  clothe  the 
naked,  care  for  the  widow  and  the  fatherless,  point  the  heavy-laden 
sinner  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  and  the  dying  saint  to  the  open  gates 
of  '  Jerusalem,  the  golden.'  Such  is  the  work  of  the  church — 
your  work,  my  brethren.  In  the  belief  that  you  are,  with  a  good 
degree  of  earnestness,  doing  this  work,  I  wish  you  all  joy,  and  bid 
you  God  speed  !  May  your  future  be  more  prosperous  and  fruit- 
ful than  your  past !  May  floods  of  grace  descend  from  the  open 
windows  of  heaven,  on  this  beloved  church  !  " 

Chairman  :  "  There  is  another  brother  here  whom  Ave  have  all 
learned  to  respect  and  love,  as  filling  out  the  Miltonian  concep- 
tion of  a  man,  'fitted  to  .perform  justly,  skillfully  and  magnani- 
mously all  the  offices,  both  public  and  private,  of  peace  and  war, 
in  church  and  state.'  He  was  prominently  instrumental  in  bring- 
ing about  the  re-union  of  our  beloved  Presbyterian  church  ;  and 
if  there  be  any  man,  whom  I  should  like  to  have  near  my  dying 
bed,  and  whose  hand  I  should  like  to  grasp  in  a  dying  hour,  it  is 
he,  in  whom  we  all  recognize  a  bulwark  of  integrity^  the  Hon. 
Jacob  S.  Farrand." 

Mr.  Farrand  then  said  :  "  Twenty-five  years  is  not  long  in 
the  life  of  a  church.  It  is  long  in  the  life  of  an  individual  who 
has  grown  to  manhood — twenty-five  years  ago  Dr.  Duffield  was  in 
the  full  strength  of  his  manhood,  wielding  that  intellectual  and 
moral  power,  that  has  and  will  continue  to  make  his  name  a  strong 
tower,  and  a  fragrant  memory  forever.  Then,  Rev.  Dr.  R.  W. 
Patterson  had  been  here  on  his  return  from  his  first  trip  east  of 
the  AUeghanies,  and  had  preached  in  the  old  hive  several  weeks, 


70  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 

and  had  just  commenced  his  life  work  in  Chicago,  which  has 
given  his  church  great  renown,  and  made  him  illustrious;  but  the 
past  has  been  so  fully  gone  over  to-day,  that  it  may  be  well  to 
look  a  moment  at  the  future. 

"  When  you  celebrate  your  fiftieth  anniversary,  Detroit  will 
contain  a  half-million  of  inhabitants,  and  we,  as  christians,  can 
measure  our  responsibility  by  this  statement. 

"  The  gospel  will  then  be  preached  in  all  the  lands  and  lan- 
guages of  the  earth. 

"  The  christian  religion  will  not  only  have  broken  down  all 
obstacles  in  its  spread,  but  will  have  established,  through  a  con- 
gress of  nations,  a  common  currency  ;  weights  and  measures, 
universally  recognised  and  used  by  mankind ;  and  the  swiftly- 
moving  shuttle  of  commerce,  under  its  influence,  will  have  woven 
a  seamless  robe  for  our  race. 

''  I  believe  in  the  universal  Fatherhood  of  God,  and  the  uni- 
versal Brotherhood  of  man." 

Chairman  :  "  The  next  speaker  is  one,  in  whose  calm,  clear 
judgment,  large  experience,  varied  learning,  and  theological 
soundness,  we  have  all  been  accustomed  implicitly  to  confide. 
We  look  upon  him  as  a  brother,  while  we  look  up  to  him  as  a 
father.  You  remember  the  good  old  Scotch  woman  who,  in  send- 
ing her  sons  into  the  wide  world,  said  to  them,  '  Lads,  if  ye  can 
find  a  lassie,  that  can  make  p:;ude  butter,  sing  aiild  hundred  and  say 
the  catechism,  why  lads,  ye  may  bring  her  alang  !  '  vSome  such 
mother  must  have  had  the  training  of  the  Rev.  J.  F.  McLaren,  D. 
D." 

Dr.  McLaren  said  :  "  However  many  good  deeds  may  have 
been  done  by  others,  there  is,  always,  some  good  left  for  us  to  do. 
But,  really,  after  the  many  good  things  said  on  this  pleasant  occa- 
sion to-day,  there  appears  to  be  little  left  for  the  rest  of  us  to  say. 
So,  at  least,  it  seems  from  my  point  of  view.  But  I  am  open  to 
the  contrary  conviction,  when  the  other  brethren  shall  have  spok- 
en. Indeed,  my  conviction  has  been,  already^  somewhat  shaken 
by  those  who  have  preceded  me.  this  evening. 

"  This  day  has  been  called  the  silver  wedding-day  of  the  Fort 
Street  Church.  I  reckon  it  to  be,  rather,  a  birth-day  celebration. 
I  like  such  memorial  days  in  a  church.     They  give  special  oppor- 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  71 


tiinity,  not  only  for  recounting  the  Lord's  providential  favors  and 
tlie  triumphs  of  His  grace,  but  also  for  bringing  to  grateful  remem- 
brance those  persons,  sleeping  in  Christ,  who  have  been,  while 
living,  His  faithful  and  exemplaiy  followers.  We  have  many 
examples  of  such  reminiscences  in  the  Bible;  as  in  the  105th  and 
106th  Psalms,  and  in  the  nth  chapter  of  Hebrews. 

"  Dr.  Shaw  this  morning  told  us  about  the  noble  army  of  mar- 
tyrs. Let  us  remember  that,  in  our  churches,  if  we  have  not 
martyrs,  we  have  confessors  ;  and  Fuller  well  says,  '«  confessor  is 
a  martyr  in  bullion,  wanting  only  the  stamp  of  a  violent  death  to 
be  impressed  upon  it.' 

"  How  many  cases  of  faith  and  love,  shown  in  christian 
patience  and  christian  activity,  the  Lord  has  given  to  His  church. 
These  should  not  fade  away  from  our  remembrance.  There  is 
much  material  of  this  kind,  honoring  to  God  and  helpful  to  piety, 
which  we  leave  unused  in  our  common  Sabbath  discourses. 
English  poe"ts  never  tire  of  allusions  to  the  lark  of  their  country, 
rising  from  its  lowly  nest,  singing  as  it  ascends  higher  and  higher, 
till  its  sweet  notes  reach  the  ear  after  the  form  is  no  longer  visible 
to  the  eye.  So,  many  a  christian's  song  of  faith  and  hope  and 
joy,  as  they  ascend  to  heaven,  leaves  its  sweet  tones  echoing  in  our 
hearts,  long  after  their  persons  have  disappeared  from  our  sight, 
i^et  them  be  remembered,  to  strengthen  our  trust  in  Christ,  to 
brighten  our  hopes,  to  stimulate  our  activity. 

*'  Twenty-five  years  old  !  That  seems  pretty  old — not  to  me. 
I  was  a  minister  for  twenty  years,  before  this  church  was  born. 
But  a  good  deal  has  been  done  for  Christ's  cause  in  this  city, 
during  this  quarter  of  a  century.  There  are  five  limes  as  many 
people  here,  as  there  were  twenty-five  years  ago ;  and  there  are 
five  times  as  many  Presbyterian  congregations,  of  our  order:  and 
these  others,  as  good  Presbyterians  as  ourselves,  and  still  more 
who,  though  not  so  good  Presbyterians,  are  as  good  christians. 
The  multiplicity,  or  even  the  variety,  of  churches  does  not  prove 
that  we  have  different  religions.  Evangelical  churches,  holding 
essentially  the  same  faith,  ha\e  multiplied  hopefully  in  these  twen- 
ty-five years.  So  many  churches,  with  faithful  men  in  the  over- 
sight of  them,  are  a  blessing  beyond  computation,  to  this  city. 
The  ancient  Patristic  rule,  still  followed  by  some,  was  one  over- 
seer or  bishop  in  one  city.     The  more  ancient,  apostolic  rule  was, 


72  TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSART 

to  have  as  many  as  were  needed  to  feed  the  flock  over  which  the 
Holy  Ghost  had  placed  them.  This  rule,  we  and  most  of  the 
Protestant  churches,  follow,  as  did  the  church  of  Ephesus.  whose 
Presbyter  bishops  Paul  met  at  Miletus,  and  as  did  also  the  church 
of  Philippi,  which  he  addressed,  by  letter,  together  with  their 
bishops  and  deacons. 

"While  we  rejoice  with  all  the  churches  that  honor  Christ  and 
His  truth,  we  especially,  here  and  now,  congratulate  this  congre- 
gation and  its  pastor,  and  the  Presbyters  associated  with  him  in 
the  oversight  of  the  flock." 

Chairman  :  ''  I  had  expected  next  to  introduce  to  you  our 
beloved  brother  from  the  Jefferson  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church, 
the  Hon.  Elisha  Taylor;  who  would  have  probably  entertained  us 
with  an  account  of  his  experiences  as  a  committee  of  supply  for  that 
vacant  pulpit.  I  have  been  told  that,  so  numerous  have  been  the 
letters  received  by  him  from  aspiring  candidates,  that  he  medi- 
tates establishing  z. paper  manufactory,  to  use  up  the  waste  material. 

''  Inasmuch  as  he  is  detained  by  illness,  I  have  been  asking 
whom  I  might  best  put  in  his  place ;  and  I  think,  were  the  matter 
put  to  vote,  you  would  unanimously  say  that  we  must  have  a  few 
words  from  our  venerable  and  beloved  friend,  the  Rev.  James  B. 
Shaw,  D.  D." 

Dr.  Shaw :  "  First  of  all,  let  me  help  Dr.  Eddy  out  of  his 
dilemma.  He  said  he  hardly  knew  whether  he  was  a  Congrega- 
tionalist  or  a  Presbyterian,  or  whether  he  might  not  be  both. 
Now  the  fact  is,  my  good  brother  is  too  big — there  is  too  much  of 
him — for  any  one  church  to  monopolize.  We  all  own  an  interest 
in  him.     We  all  claim  him  as  part  of  our  spiritual  patrimony. 

"  And  now  I  feel  constrained  to  say,  that  the  pastor  of  this 
Fort  Street  Church  has  been  a  regular  problem  for  me.  I  have 
been  puzzled  to  know  for  what  the  Lord  made  and  meant  him.  A 
few  years  since  he  delivered  a  poem  in  Rochester  which  met  with 
great  favor,  and  then  I  thought  that  the  Lord  meant  him  to  be  a 
poet.  Not  long  after,  I  read  some  profound  articles  of  his,  on 
Aristotle,  and  then  I  thought  that  the  Lord  meant  him  for  a  phi- 
losopher. When  I  saw  his  Report  on  Music,  which  the  General 
Assembly  of  1867  was  so  glad  to  accept  and  publish,  and  know- 
ing, at  the  same  time,  how  skillfully  he   played  and   how   sweetly 


FOKT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    fllURCII.  73 

he  sang,  I  was  ([uite  sure  that  the  Lord  sent  him  into  the  world  to 
look  after  the  service  of  song,  and  see  that  His  church  in  this 
respect  did  not  bring  Him  any  more  vain  oblations.  But,  on 
looking  the  whole  matter  over,  I  have  concluded  that  he  was 
intended  for  something  better  than  any  or  all  these, — that  he  was 
intended  to  be  just  what  he  is,  a  preacher  and  pastor. 

"  A  brother,  who  gave  us  an  excellent  speech  this  evening,  was 
introduced  to  the  audience  as  the  bulwark  of  orthodoxy  in 
Detroit.  He  is  the  oldest  pastor  in  the  city,  having  been  over  the 
same  church  fifteen  years.  Now  I  do  not  set  up  any  claim  to 
being  a  bulwark  of.  orthodoxy,  but  perhaps  I  may  be  allowed  to 
say,  that  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  last  December,  I  celebrated  my 
thirty-third  anniversary.  When  I  first  went  to  the  city  of  Roches- 
ter. I  was  then  pale  and  broken  in  health.  I  had  to  put  on  an 
overcoat,  to  cast  a  respectable  shadow.  The  church,  up  to  my 
going,  had  never  been  able  to  retain  a  pastor  any  length  of  time. 
My  immediate  predecessor  was  one  of  the  Beecher  family,  with 
his  full  share  of  the  hereditary  genius  of  that  tribe  in  Israel,  and 
he  stayed  less  than  two  years.  The  wisest  man  in  the  city,  a  man 
regarded  as  an  oracle,  said  that  I  would  not  stay  a  year.  Every- 
body thought  that  I  was  installed  over  a  capped  volcano,  and 
some,  no  doubt,  were  disappointed  because  the  predicted 
eruption  did  not  take  place.  More  than  once  I  have  told  my 
people,  that,  if  they  had  known  how  long  I  meant  to  stay, 
they  never  would  have  given  me  such  a  unanimous  call.  They 
said  to  themselves,  his  health  is  so  poor  that  if  we  should 
make  a  bad  bargain,  he  will  not  trouble  us  long ;  and  yet, 
I  have  entered  on  the  thirty-fourth  year  of  my  ministry.  My 
continuance  there  is  a  wonder  unto  many,  and  a  still  greater  won- 
der to  me.  But,  1  can  give  you  a  key  which  will  unlock  the  mys- 
tery. Immediately  after  my  installation,  overwhelmed  with  a 
sense  of  my  utter  insufficiency,  I  called  the  church  together  and 
besought  them  never  to  draw  nigh  unto  God  without  remember- 
ing how  poor  and  weak  a  man  had  been  sent  to  serve  them.  In 
the  closet,  before  the  altar,  in  the  house,  at  the  place  of  prayer, 
and  when  the  great  congregation  came  together,  I  begged  them 
with  tears  in  my  eyes,  to  remember  me.  I  told  them  that  they 
could  make  me  just  such  a  minister  as  they  wanted  me  to  be  ; 
that  it  would  be  their  own  fault  if  in  any  respect  I  came  short  of 


74  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVEKSART 

their  expectations ;  that  if  I  were  not  right  they  could  pray  me 
right,  and  they  took  me  at  my  word ;  they  have  remembered  me. 
Scarcely  a  prayer  is  ever  offered  at  any  of  our  meetings,  in  which 
the  pastor  is  not  mentioned.  Your  hearts  to-day,  dear  friends, 
are  full  of  prophetic  hopes,  and  you  can  more  than  make  those 
hopes  good.  Never  go  to  the  Throne  of  the  Heavenly  Grace, 
without  taking  this  dear  brother  with  you.  Remember  him  as  my . 
dear  flock  has  remembered  me.  Whatever  else  you  may  deny 
your  pastor,  I  beg  you  on  my  bended  knees,  I  beg  you,  not  to 
deny  him  a  place  in  your  prayers.  A  praying  people,  will  make 
a  permanent  pastorate.     The  whole  thing  is  in  your  own  hands." 

Chairman  :  "  There  are  confessed  disadvantages  in  the  sys- 
tem of  ministerial  itineracy,  as  was  exemplified  in  the  little  girl 
who,  being  asked  where  she  was  born,  replied  :  ''leant  tell ;  my 
father  was  a  Methodist  minister,  you  kiioti.'  !  '  But  one  compen- 
sating advantage  of  the  system  is,  that  each  point  in  the  periphery 
of  the  great  wheel  of  rotation  returns  to  its  original  place,  eventu- 
ally, and  if  a  man  only  holds  on  to  the  wheel  long  enough,  it  will 
drop  him  where  he  lodged  before.  And  so  we  can  forgive  Metho- 
dist rotation  for  having  removed,  since  it  has  returned  io  our  city, 
the  Rev.  L.  R.  Fiske,  D.  D  ,  of  the  Central  Methodist  Church, 
whom  I  introduce  as  our  next  speaker." 

Rev  Dr.  Fiske  :  "Mr.  Chairman — I  am  glad  of  the  privilege 
of  presenting  my  personal  gratulations  on  this  joyous  and  festive 
occasion;  and  also  that  I  am  able  to  assure  you  of  the  very  kind- 
ly feelings  of  the  body  of  christians  with  whom  I  am  more  inti- 
mately associated.  The  history,  to  which  I  have  listened  to-day, 
has  greatly  interested  me.  1  see  that  you  have  had  a  feeble 
infancy,  a  troublous  childhood,  but  a  growing  youth ;  and  that 
now,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  in  your  greater  maturity,  you  have 
become  strong— strong  financially,  strong  numerically,  and  I  trust, 
strong  spiritually.  The  future  will  certainly  show  bra\e,  noble, 
and  successful  work  for  the  Master. 

"As  I  have  attended  your  exercises  during  the  day,  and  now 
unite  with  you  in  the  festivities  of  the  evening,  1  have  said  to 
myself  that  I  am  glad  we  are  not  thrown  back  fifty  years  in  the 
history  of  the  church.  You  would  not  then  have  invited  me 
here ;  but  if  for  any  reason  you  had  done  so,  I  surely  would  have 


FOUT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


hesitated  a  long  time  before  accepting  the  invitation.  Could  a 
Calvinibt  and  Arminian  meet  without  breaking  swords.'  To  have 
had  a  Methodist  with  you,  would  have  been  decidedly  out  of 
character;  and  would  he  not  have  been  (X)mmitting  sin  by  endors- 
ing a  Calvinistic  gathering.' 

"  1  am  not  going  to  say  we  are  better  than  our  fatiiers.  There 
were  noble  men  in  those  days — strong,  bra\e,  of  intense  convic- 
tions of  right — men  who  would  risk  everything  in  defense  of  right, 
as  it  appeared  to  them.  But  this  led  to  war,  for  reciprocal  dis- 
trust ])ervaded  the  different  wings  of  the  christian  army,  and 
sometimes  they  fought  each  other  more  than  the  common  foe. 
This  however  I  do  say,  that  the  gospel  is  preached  more  in  love 
than  it  formerly  was,  and  hence  we  get  a  jnirer  and  richer  gos])el. 
Denominationalism  is  being  reduced  to  a  minimum,  and  Christ,  as 
the  Head  of  our  undivided  church,  is  being  exalted. 

"  But  I  must  not  forget  that  I  am,  after  all,  in  a  Presbyterian 
meeting  this  evening,  and  ought  not  to  feel  that  1  am  standing 
strictly  on  a  common  platform.  .\nd  yet  somehow  I  have  an 
impression  that  1  have  a  right  to  be  here,  as  much  as  some  of  you. 
1  remember  hearing  the  chairman  of  this  meeting  say  that,  when 
he  was  converted,  he  united  with  the  Methodist  church.  You  see 
he  must  have  "'fa/Ir//  from  i(race,"  for  he  subsequently  joined  the 
Presbyterians.  Is  not  this  case  alone  sufficient  to  establish  the 
Methodist  doctrine  of  falling  from  grace  .^  I  had  a  Presbyterian 
mother  and  hence  did  not  "fall  from  grace,'  but  have  remained  in 
the  Methodist  church  all  my  life.  Our  venerable  friend.  Dr. 
Shaw,  has  discoursed  to  us  eloijuently  to-day  upon  the  martyr 
spirit.  Mav  I  not  i)ut  in  a  claim  in  this  direction  ?  With  a  Pres- 
byterian mother,  a  Presbyterian  brother,  three  Presbyterian  sisters, 
a  Scotch  Presbyterian  wife— Presbyterian,  until  I  proselyted  her  into 
the  Methodist  church,  a  Presbyterian  mother-in-law.  Presbyterian 
brothers  and  sisters-in-law,  Presbyterian  grand-parents  on  both 
sides,  and  Presbyterian  ancestry  extending  back  to  the  time  where- 
in the  memory  of  man  runneth  not  to  the  contrary — to  stem  all 
this  Presbyterian  influence  and  remain  a  steadfast  Methodist,  must 
not  a  man  display  the  martyr  spirit ;  and  does  not  such  a  case 
illustrate  the  doctrine  of  the  '' perseverance  of  the  saints}" 

"  But,  to  speak  soberly,  the  grand  feature  of  this  age  is  that 
with    the    minor  differences  among  the   sects,  the  churches  are 


76  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSAEY 

becoming  thoroughly  joined  in  heart.  Distrust  is  being  scattered 
to  the  winds,  and  it  thus  seems  to  me  that  the  millenium  with  its 
glories  is  hastening  on. 

"  In  behalf  of  the  Methodist  church — no,  I  take  that  back — in 
behalf  of  our  common  Christianity  which  knows  neither  Metho- 
dist, nor  Presbyterian,  but  only  Jesus  Christ  and  Him  crucified,  I 
bid  this  church  God  speed.  May  the  next  twenty-five  years  see 
thousands  of  penitents  at  this  altar,  and  witness  the  rejoicing  of 
thousands  of  converts  saved  through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb. 
May  many  in  heaven  have  it  to  say  that  just  here  is  the  one 
precious  place  on  this  earth,  because  it  was  here  they  were  born 
into  the  family  of  God." 

Chairman  ;  "  I  understand  that,  on  the  recent  visit  of  an  English 
prince  to  this  land,  Duncan  Stewart,  Esq.,  of  this  city,  caused  one 
of  his  vessels  to  bear  aloft  this  beautiful  motto  :  '  Welcome,  laddie, 
for  t/iy  fnit/ier's  sake  I '  lam  sure  that,  aside  from  his  personal 
merits,  and  all  other  considerations,  we  should  all  welcome,  for 
his  father  s  sake,  the  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  Dufifield,  whom  this  church 
still  looks  back  to  as  its  spiritual  father.  I  introduce  D.  Bethune 
Dufifield,  Esq.,  of  this  city." 

"  Mr.  Dufifield  said  :  "  Mr.  Chairman — After  all  that  has  fallen 
on  our  ears  to-day,  there  are  none  of  us  who  do  not  feel  that  *  the 
light  of  other  days  '  is  about  us.  As  we  turn  our  vision  back  to 
the  Detroit  of  twenty-five  years  ago,  we  behold,  not  the  stately 
stores  and  well  paved  avenues  of  to-day,  but  the  muddy  streets 
and  wooden  shells  of  buildings  that  then  were  almost  universally 
occupied  for  mercantile  purposes;  and  as  my  mind's  eye  looks 
back  upon  the  edifice  of  the  'Mother  Church,'  of  which  we 
have  heard  so  much  to-day,  I  see  it  lifting  itself  in  almost  moun- 
tain-like proportions  among  the  fragile  and  lowly  tenements  around 
it.  It  was  an  attractive  building  in  the  interior,  and  not  without 
impressiveness  in  the  exterior.  Built  by  Alanson  Sheley,  Esq.,  in 
the  days  when  material  was  abundant  and  labor  cheap,  and  con- 
tractors honest  and  fair  in  their  dealing,  its  entire  cost  did  not 
exceed  $30,000 ;  yet  it  was  an  admirable  structure.  I  wish  all 
our  Presbyterian  churches  of  to-day  could  boast  of  equally  liber- 
al aisles ;  equally  ample  galleries,  with  pannelled  fronts  running 
round  all  three  sides  of  the  building;  as  neat  a  pulpit;  as  fine  an 


FORT  stre?:t  pkesbyterian  church. 


organ  ;  as  sweet  a  choir;  and  above  all,  as  grand  a  congregation. 
1  look  into  it  to-night  as  it  first  opened  to  my  view,  more  than 
thirty  years  ago.  and  see  its  pastor,  then  but  forty-five  years  of 
.age,  in  his  early  prime,  and  with  a  congregation  around  him  sel- 
dom equalled  in  any  community.  There  were  United  States  Sena- 
tors, Members  of  Congress,  the  Governor  of  the  State,  the  State 
Treasurer,  Auditor  General,  and  Secretary  of  State.  There  were 
United  States,  and  Supreme,  and  Circuit  Court  Judges,  and  a  large 
l)roportion  of  one  of  the  most  cultivated  Bars  that  could  be  found 
west  of  Albany  There  were  Officers  and  Paymasters  of  the  army  ; 
active  merchants  (some  of  whom  have  since  become  merchant 
jirinces),  master  mechanics,  well  represented  by  that  sterling  old 
giant  of  a  man,  Turner  Stetson,  (a  giant  in  form,  but  graced  as  a 
christian,  with  the  humility  of  a  child),  besides  scores  of  other 
men  representing  the  various  avocations  and  industries  of  life. 
And  in  all  that  crowded  congregation,  there  was  scarcely  one  gray 
head  to  be  seen ;  all  were  men  in  the  prime  of  youth  or  the 
strength  of  middle  life,  and  all,  or  nearly  all,  hailing  from  other 
States  than  the  one  in  which  they  had  staked  their  chances  for  the 
future. 

"  Its  then  bench  of  elders — now  all  gone  save  one  (Mr.  Hallock) 
— was  a  very  imposing  body  of  men.  Many  here  present  can 
recall  with  me  the  white  cravat,  and  the  stern,  determined  expres- 
sion that  frowned  over  it  from  the  shaggy  eye-brows  of  Robert 
Stuart;  the  bland  and  smiling  countenance  of  Eurotas  P.  Hast- 
ings; the  grim,  1812  look  of  Major  Jonathan  Kearsley ;  the 
solemn  mien  of  David  French  ;  the  gentle  and  sincere  face  of  the 
ever  reliable  Edward  Bingham  ;  the  honored  face  of  the  soldier 
Larned ;  the  generally  anxiovis  look  of  Thomas  J.  Hulbert ;  the 
strong  and  earnest  countenance  of  Horace  Hallock,  Superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunday  School;  and  the  rough  but  honest  Scottish 
brogue  of  the  large-hearted  Alexander  McFarren."  (Here  Mr.  D. 
related  an  interesting  incident  showing  the  generous  sympathy  of 
Elder  McFarren  with  young  men,  and  his  ready  benevolence 
toward  all  who  needed  a  helping  hand.)  "They  were  truly  an 
extraordinary  band  of  earnest,  christian  men,  and  the  impress 
they  have  left  on  this  community,  will  not  soon  die  out. 

"But  the  old  church  went  down  in  the  fire  of  January,  1854, 
and  thereafter  three  churches  sprang.  Phoenix-like,  from  its   ashes 


78  TWENTY-FIFTH    AJSTNIVERSAKY 

— this  one  on  Fort  Street  being  one  of  the  three.  I  said  the  old 
church  was  a  noble  one,  and  none  before  me  will  dispute  the  asser- 
tion, for  by  its  fruits  of  to-day  even  the  stranger  may  know  what 
it  must  have  been.  Not  only  in  the  city,  but  throughout  the  State, 
was  its  influence  felt,  and  to-night  we  look  back  upon  it  with  rev- 
erence as  the  Common  Mother  of  us  all.  God  grant  that  the  future 
of  all  her  daughters  may  be  more  glorious,  even  than  that  of  the 
mother  ! 

"And  on  this  pleasant  anniversary  of  this  prosperous  church, 
we  offer  not  only  our  congratulations  over  the  past,  but  our  best 
wishes  for  the  future.  The  exercises  of  the  day  have  been,  I 
doubt  not,  inspiring  to  us  all.  The  noble  discourse  of  the  morn- 
ing, shedding  down  upon  us  as  it  were,  the  very  fire  from  heaven, 
strengthened  us,  as  in  the  afternoon,  we  listened  to  the  roll-call  of 
your  beloved  dead ;  and  grouping  the  events  of  the  entire  day 
together,  we  seemed  to  be  furnished  with  a  fresh  testimonial  and 
a  new  argument  for  the  reality  and  beauty  of  the  christian  faith. 
What,  Mr.  Chairman,  means  this  elegant  bank  of  flowers,  dropped 
from  milder  climes  into  your  winter  anniversary,  and  piled  with 
such  tropical  magnificence,  to  your  pulpit's  very  top .''  Think 
you,  if  Christianity  was  a  mere  myth,  a  rose-colored  dream  of  the 
East,  we  could  sit  by  the  graves  of  our  dead,  as  we  have  done 
to-day  with  hearts  at  peace  while  our  eyes  were  full  of  tears  ?  '  If 
the  dead  rise  not,'  we  should  not  witness  anniversaries  such  as 
this  has  been  to-day.  If  the  dreary  grave  is  '  the  be  all,  and  the 
end  all  of  life,'  instead  of  being  here  crowned  with  flowers  and 
singing  the  ever-enduring  hymns  of  the  christian  church,  we 
should  have  been  seen  sitting  with  dust  and  ashes  upon  our  heads, 
mourning  over  the  departure  of  those  gone  out  never  to  return — 
the  mother's  heart  rent  anew  over  her  dead  child ;  the  wife's  over 
the  absent  husband;  the  father's  over  the  son  fallen  in  battle,  and 
all  voices  commingling  in  the  sad  chorus  of  a  grief  that  is  forever 
barren  of  hope — bewailing  life's  sorrows  as  the  heathen  bewail 
thei)-  dead;  no  wiser,  no  better  off  than  they.  But  we  know  that 
'Christ  has  risen!'  and  given  not  Himself  only,  but  all  His 
followers,  an  immortal  life  !  And  these  lovely  flowers  lying  in 
mass,  are  typical  of  that  life  in  the  land  where  there  is  no  more 
death,  and  where  sorrow  and  crying  shall  forever  flee  away.  These 
are  your  tributes  to  those  who  have   died  in  the  Lord  ;  these  tall 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  T9 


and  graceful  Hllies  beautifully  commemorating  the  names  of  the  fair, 
christian  women  who  have  walked  and  labored  among  you,  and 
the  remainder,  symbolizing  the  great  multitude  who  have  gone 
hence  during  the  last  twenty-five  years,  each  one  having  his  name 
and  life  thus  brought  fragrantly  into  memory. 

"Says  the  (ierman  Poet  Schiller,  'he  who  would  reap  a  harvest 
of  tears  upon  his  gra\  e,  must  sow  the  deeds  of  love' — and  that  is 
just  what  the  christian  does.  The  spirit  of  love  to  God  in  his 
heart,  insjjires  him  to  deeds  of  love  towards  his  fellow  men.  Such 
were  the  lives  of  your  departed  dead,  and  hence  these  tender  tri- 
butes of  christian  love — These  friends  are  not  here,  their  dust 
sleeps  in  Elmwood,  but  they  have  risen  !  'This  day',  (that  is  the 
language  of  Scripture,)  the  very  day  of  death,  they  were  with 
their  Savour,  the  risen  Redeemer,  in  Paradise ;  and  while  we 
weej)  that  here  we  see  their  faces  no  more,  we  rejoice  that  they 
have  already  become  citizens  of  the  Heavenly  City,  the  new  Jeru- 
salem. And  now  the  years  below  fly  swiftly  on.  Another  twenty- 
five  years  and  this  church  will  touch  its  Golden  Anniversary.  How 
many  of  those  into  whose  faces  we  now  look  will  be  here  to  share 
in  its  joy.'  (iod  grant  that  you  all  may  so  live,  and  when  the 
>ummons  comes,  may  so  die,  that  when  that  golden  day 
shall  dawn,  each  departed  member  of  this  church  may  have 
blooming  round  these  altars,  his  memorial  flower,  emblem  of  the 
immortal  life  which  is  the  sole  heritage  of  those  who  follow  Christ." 

Chairman  :  "  There  are  two  good  things,  at  least,  about  our 
Baptist  friends  ;  first :  they  are  sound  in  the  faith.  They  do  not  tire 
of  the  pure  gospel,  although  1  did  know  a  Baptist  minister  once 
who  told  me  he  had  "  exhausted  the  Bible  "  and  was  going  to  preach 
the  ''''Pilgrims  Progress,"  and  I  foresaw  that  both  he  and  his  peo- 
ple would  get  stuck  in  the  Slough  of  Despond,  and  they  did  ! 
However  there  is  no  danger  of  such  a  catastrophe  under  the 
])reaching  of  the  pastor  of  the  Lafayette  Ave.  Bajjtist  Church. 
He  don't  believe  in  exhausting  the  Bible.  The  second  good  thing 
about  our  Baptist  brethren  is  they  baptize  a  man  all  orer,  brain, 
heart,  stomach  ''  pocket  ", — all  share  the  consecration.  Let  us 
hear  from  my  i>ersonal  friend  Rev.  Alfred  Owen,  D.  D.  " 

Dr.  Owen  replied  : — '*'  Circumstances  forbade  my  presence  at 
the  afternoon  session,  and  I  have  been  able  to  be  here  this  evening 


80  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVEESAEY 

only  a  few  moments  ago.  I  feel  that  I  am  not  up  to  the  spirit  of 
the  occasion  and  would  gladly  have  escaped  my  brother's  eye. 

And  yet  I  am  glad  to  have  the  opportunity  to  give  expression 
to  my  deep  interest  in  this  church,  and  my  sincere  affection  for 
its  pastor.  The  strength  of  this  place  is  a  common  support  to  all 
who  cherish  the  faith  of  the  gospel,  and  I  am  sure  that  here  the 
truth  is  uttered  fearlessly  and  faithfully." 

"  I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  congratulate  my  brethren  here  on 
the  wonderful  progress  so  quickly  made,  and  the  noble  record  of 
the  church  in  its  private  and  public  labor. 

"  I  recognize  also  the  fact  that  I  stand  here  in  a  representative 
position,  to  bear  to  you  the  fraternal  regards  and  affection  of  the 
body  which  I  have  the  honor  to  serve.  I  am  sure  no  one  can  do 
this  more  heartily  than  I,  for  no  one,  not  even  among  yourselves, 
can  feel  a  greater  admiration  for  the  history  which  the  Presbyterian 
body  has  been  permitted  to  make,  and  no  one  is  more  ready  to 
confess  the  inestimable  value  of  its  service  to  the  world. 

In  the  body  of  which  I  am  a  member  and  with  which  I  am  in 
fullest  sympathy,  perhaps  the  representative  idea  of  all  is  liberty  ; 
by  which  we  do  not  at  all  mean  license,  or  anarchy,  but  simply 
the  right  of  each  soul,  without  interference  or  control  from  another, 
to  do  the  thing  which  he  believes  the  Lord  requires.  To  interfere 
with  a  man's  conscience  is  to  do  injury  to  him,  and  equally  it  harms 
him  who  interferes.  The  time  has  been  when  this  idea  needed  all 
the  prominence  that  could  be  given  to  it,  nor  is  that  time  yet 
wholly  gone  by. 

"  At  this  moment  Presbyterianism  seems  to  me  to  represent 
more  than  anything  else,  organization  in  the  church,  compact,  co- 
gent. Perhaps  circumstances  have  impressed  upon  me  more  than 
ever  before  the  value  of  this.  Your  growth  and  power  are  wonder- 
ful. But  in  any  case,  we  are  all  brethren  of  one  household.  Each 
in  his  own  way  doing  his  own  work  as  the  Lord  has  put  it  in  his  way 
and  in  each  other's  prosperity  we  will  alike  rejoice.  There  is  no 
danger  that  too  much  will  be  done.  All  that  all  disciples  can  do, 
is  too  little  for  the  world  which  yet  sighs  and  suffers  under  its 
heavy  burdens. 

''  I  may  be  permitted  to  add  a  word  in  the  way  of  exhortation. 
My  brethren  here  have  reached  a  very  interesting  point  in  their 
history   and  naturally  jjause  to  survey  "the  path  already  trod." 


FORT    STKEET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  81 

If  this  occasion  shall  lead  you  to  count  your  work  done,  it  will 
l)c  a  sorrowful  day  for  you.  It  will  be  happy  only  if  it  shall 
l)e  so  gratefully  remembered  as  to  be  an  encouragement  to  new 
labors.  One  who  climbs  a  mountain  side,  may  pause  on  the  way 
to  gaze  on  the  widening  scene  that  opens  to  his  vision.  But  he 
only  stops  to  refresh  himself  and  gather  up  his  strength  for  new 
toils,  ever  to  continue  till  the  summit  is  gained.  Much  of  your 
work,  your  greatest  work,  is  yet  before  you.  How  much  this 
great  city  needs  the  power  of  a  divine  life  in  the  churches.  Your 
day  of  refreshing  should  be  truly  a  memorial  of  the  past  mercies 
of  God,  in  whose  recollection  faith  and  devotion  may  be  quick- 
ened for  the  toil  which  the  future  will  surely  bring  upon  you.  In 
this  hope  I  give  you  my  sincere  congratulations  on  your  past  histo- 
ry, and  express  the  earnest  hope  that  for  generations  to  come  this 
church  may  remain  as  now  faithful  to  its  calling  and  zealous  in 
every  good  work. 

Chairman  :  "  On  the  western  borders  of  our  city,  there  stands 
a  new  Presbyterian  church — an  infant  enterprise,  few  as  yet  in 
numbers,  but  strong  in  graces.  When  I  think  of  them,  I  remem- 
ber what  one  of  the  delegates  at  the  Evangelical  Alliance,  Pastor 
Fisch,  of  Paris,  said  with  regard  to  the  small  body  of  christians 
which  he  and  his  colleagues  represented  :  '  Don't  measure  us,  but 
7c>eig/i  us.'  Such  a  church  as  Calvary  ^cit/i  such  a  pastor,  weighs 
heavily,  however  small  in  numbers.  I  need  not  introduce  to  a 
Detroit  audience,  the  Rev.  J.  G.  Atterbury,  D.  D." 

Dr.  Atterbury  remarked:  "You  have  called  me  on  this  plat- 
form as  the  pastor  of  Calvary,  the  youngest  of  the  sisterhood  of 
Presbyterian  churches  in  this  city.  But,  sir,  my  interest  in  this 
occasion  has  a  far  deeper  and  e.irlier  root.  I  have  a  closer  his- 
torical relation  with  this  church,  than  you  probably  are  aware, 
having  ])reached  the  first  sermon  heard  within  any  walls  it  could 
call  its  own. 

"  It  was  my  privilege  to  know  and  love  that  brother  of  fragrant 
memory,  by  whose  labors  the  stones  were  gathered  and  the  foun- 
dations laid  of  the  spiritual  edifice  which  you  now  call  the  Fort 
Street  Church.  Mr.  Kellogg  was  one  of  the  Presbyters  who  passed 
upon  my  earliest  trials  and  licensed  rne  to  preach  the  gospel  as 
a  candidate  for  the    holy    ministry.     As   his   co-presbyter  on    the 


II 


83  TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY 

ground  for  several  years,  I  had  opportunity  to  learn  his  simplicity 
and  godly  sincerity.  Of  his  plans  and  hopes  when  entering  on 
his  work  in  this  city,  and  of  his  subsequent  discouragements  as 
well  as  of  his  confidence  of  success  in  God's  strength,  he  freely 
opened  his  heart  to  me.  When  at  length,  after  much  struggle,  the 
completion  of  the  first  house  of  worship  was  reached,  he  invited 
me,  with  the  concurrence  of  his  session,  to  share  with  him  and  his 
people  the  joy  of  its  occupancy,  and  to  preach  the  sermon  of 
dedication. 

"  Hence,  of  the  earlier  experiences  of  your  history,  so  well 
traced  in  the  discourse  of  this  afternoon,  I  have  perhaps  a  livelier 
sense  than  the  most  of  those  who  now  constitute  the  officers  and 
members  of  this  congregation. 

"  That  historical  discourse  marshalled  before  the  thought  such 
a  noble  band  of  Presbyterian  elders,  as  this  land  is  rarely  permit- 
ted to  see.  They  might  be  recalled  with  interest  and  profit  for 
further  study  on  this  occasion,  did  not  the  crowded  condition  of 
the  hour  forbid.  These  men  are  now  but  names  to  the  mass  of 
this  audience,  but  they  are  living  parts  of  my  experience.  Each 
one  of  them,  with  his  salient  characteristics,  is  associated  with  the 
birth  and  development  of  my  own  christian  life.  I  should  delight, 
were  it  permitted  me,  to  render  my  grateful  tribute  to  their  memory, 
by  adding  some  lines  to  the  picture  already  drawn  so  graphically, 
but  only  too  briefly,  by  Mr.  Walker. 

"'  In  reviewing  your  early  trials,  and  labors,  and  triumphs ;  in 
placing  the  beginning  of  your  history  by  the  side  of  your  present 
consummation,  I  am  not  surprised  at  the  exultation  so  manifest 
to-day ;  or  should  I  not  rather  say  exaltation — with  the  sense  of 
the  goodness  and  faithfulness  of  God,  who  has  led  you,  all  this 
way.  But  as  I  have  sat  here  through  this  day,  an  earnest  sympa- 
thiser in  all  your  services,  there  has  been  vibrating  through  my 
mind  a  deeply  serious  thought  which  this  church  ought  to  accept 
even  in  the  fullness  of  its  jubilation.  It  is  a  thought  of  responsi- 
bility. It  relates  to  those  workings  of  power  which  lie  in  every 
true  christian  church,  for  the  use  of  which  an  account  must  be 
given.  'No  man  liveth  to  himself;'  and  no  church  liveth  for 
itself.  God  has  given  you  the  Word,  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  Office  of 
Prayer,  the  Sacred  Ministry — the  enginery  and  material  of  power, 
which  in  the  great  spiritual  conflict  are  to  conquer  the  kingdom 


FORT   STREET   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  83 

of  darkness,  and  wrest  the  world  from  Satan.  The  twenty-five 
years  commemorated  by  you,  are  twenty-five  years  of  control  of 
this  divine  artillery.  How  fully  has  it  been  used  by  you  in  the 
common  assault  on  the  gates  of  hell  ?  It  is  not  enough  to  be  per- 
mitted to  i)oint  to  this  elegant  temple  of  worship,  and  to  increased 
membership  and  wealth,  and  throngs  of  worshippers,  with  large 
social  and  moral  influence ;  to  call  the  roll  of  faithful  men  who 
have  lived  and  died  among  you  ;  and  to  report  augmented  contri- 
butions to  christian  benevolence.  The  lines  of  the  great  enemy 
crowd  us  closely  all  around.  We  are  to  be  pressing  them  back  ; 
to  strive  to  throw  the  light  further  and  further  into  the  realm  of 
darkness. 

'■  May  the  Lord  dispose  both  pastor  and  people  to  accept  the 
accomplishments  of  the  past  but  as  a  preparation  for  a  new  depar- 
ture in  a  more  vigorous  warfare  for  hasting  the  conquest  of  this 
city  and  the  world  to  Christ." 

Chairman :  ''  In  the  Spring  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  of 
New  York  City,  thirty  years  ago,  I  knew  and  loved  a  lad,  a  little 
younger  than  I,  who,  like  myself,  now  occupies  one  of  the  Pres- 
byterian pulpits  of  this  city.  I  cannot  tell  you  how  much  I 
rejoice  that  the  fellowship  so  happily  begun,  so  long  ago,  grows 
dea'er  every  day,  now  that  we  who  were  boys  together,  are,  as 
pastors,  working  side  by  side.  When  I  think  of  the  i)urity  and 
simplicity  of  that  brother's  preaching,  I  remember  what  Landor 
answered,  when  asked  where  Dickens  got  his  style  :  '  JF/iv,  from 
the  Neiv  Testament,  to  be  sure  !'  Let  us  hear  from  a  New  Testa- 
ment preacher,  Rev.  George  D.  Baker,  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church." 

Mr.  Baker  responded:  "It  seems  to  me  ahiiost  unfair  to 
inflict  another  speech  upon  this  patient  audience  at  so  late  an 
hour.  I  am  reminded  of  an  incident  which  occurred  in  a  certain 
Mission  School,  not  long  since.  A  collation  was  to  close  the  even- 
ing's entertainment,  and  the  speaker  commenced  his  address  to 
the  restless  children,  with  the  question,  'And  now  what  shall  I  say 
to  you  ?  '  \Vhereui)on  a  curly-headed  little  fellow,  from  a  remote 
corner,  cried  out,  'Say  Amen!'  I  shall  not,  therefore,  venture  to 
interrogate  you  as  to  what  you  would  have  me  say  on  this  occa- 
sion— seeing  the  air  is  already  redolent  with  savory  odors — lest  I 


84  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSAKY 

might  be  obliged  to  make  a  speedy  exit ;  and  this,  I  confess,  I 
should  dislike  exceedingly  to  do,  for  there  are  some  things  in  my 
heart  which  I  should  be  sorry  not  to  be  able  to  express  openly 
upon  this  festal  day.  My  brother  has  referred  to  the  manner  in 
which  his  path  and  mine  have  blended  from  our  very  childhood, 
and  without  any  fuller  expression,  I  have  only  this  to  say  to  him 
personally,  to-night :  I  am  glad  because  he  is  glad — glad  with  him 
and  for  him. 

"But  I' stand  here  to-night  rather  in  behalf  of  others  than  for 
my  own  sake.  I  have  the  honor  and  privilege  of  conveying  to  you 
the  congratulations  of  the  Mother  of  the  churches  of  this. city,  the 
First  Protestant  Society,  to  which  so  many  kind  allusions  have 
been  made  to-day.  I  would  that  another  were  here  to  extend  his 
hand  in  blessing  upon  you — one  whose  shoes'  latchet  I  truly  feel 
I  am  not  worthy  to  unloose,  whose  name  more  than  that  of  any 
other,  is  identified  with  Presbyterianism  in  this  City  and  State. 
But  this  may  not  be  ;  and  rather  than  that  the  kindly  word  should 
be  left  unsaid,  I  will  venture  to  say  it.  Other  children — God  bless 
them  every  one — went  out  from  beneath  the  roof  of  the  old  church 
in  a  somewhat  irregular  manner — ecclesiastically  speaking — but 
you  were  the  first  who  asked  and  obtained  permission  to  set  up 
house-keeping  for  yourselves.  Regretfully,  yet  affectionately,  she 
bade  you  go,  and  commissioned  certain  brethren  to  accompany 
and  abide  with  you,  until  you  should  be  fairly  settled.  Since  that 
time  you  have  no  need  that  I  tell  you  she  has  watched  you 
with  sincere  interest.  Over  and  over  again,  around  the  family 
altar,  has  she  prayed  for  your  welfare.  In  all  your  prosperity  she 
has  rejoiced,  and  sympathised  with  you  in  adversity.  And  to-day 
she  stretches  forth  her  hand  and  blesses  you  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord.  Paul  had  no  greater  joy  than  to  hear  that  his  children 
'walked  in  truth,'  and  your  spiritual  Mother  to-night  rejoices  most 
of  all  that  through  all  these  eventful  years,  so  full  of  excitement 
and  temptation  throughout  our  land,  you  have  been  right  loyal  to 
the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  !  She  congratulates  you  upon  all  your 
abundant  outward  prosperity,  upon  this  beautiful  sanctuary,  whose 
attractions  can  scarcely  be  enhanced  even  by  these  rare  flowers  so 
exquisitely  arranged;  but  most  of  all,  we  joy  and  rejoice  with  you 
all  when  '  we  behold  your  order  and  the  steadfastness  of  your 
faith  in  Christ.' 


FORT  STREKT   PHESRYTERIAN   CHURCH.  85 

"  Tn  the  name  therefore,  dear  brethren,  of  your  mother  in  the 
Lord.  I  say  to-night,  M'eace  be  within  thy  walls,  and  prosperity 
within  thv  palaces.  I-'or  my  brethren  and  companions'  sake,  I  will 
now  sav,  ])eace  be  within  thee.' 

"Suffer  me  another  word.  I  have  been  thinking  all  day  what 
a  blessed  gift  memory  is,  and  what  a  means  of  grace  !  And  I  am 
sure  we  do  not  sufficiently  employ  it  as  such.  How  often  did  the 
God  of  Israel  remind  that  people  of  the  past,  in  order  to  strength- 
en their  faith  in  Him  for  the  future.  'Do  you  not  remember.'*" 
was  the  gentle  rebuke  of  the  Master  to  the  disciples  of  wavering 
faith.  Truly  has  it  been  said,  '  We  must  go  into  our  yesterdays  to 
find  God.'  Men  are  poor  indeed  who  permit  the  blessed  memo- 
ries of  other  days  to  slip  away  and  be  lost ;  for  of  the  multiplied 
enjoyments  of  the  christian  life,  one  of  the  most  blessed  is  to  call 
up  hallowed  recollections  of  the  past,  to  strengthen  us  for  the 
duties  of  the  present.  If  a  child  of  God  would  have  a  rich  expe- 
rience, let  )iim  cultivate  memory. 

"  But  you  cannot  chronicle  all  the  memories  of  these  five  and 
twenty  years  !  When  our  brother  was  reading  that  wonderfully 
comprehensive  history  this  afternoon,  I  said  in  my  heart,  '  Well 
done;  but  you  can't  give  us  all  that  is  written  in  God's  book  ;  you 
cannot  tell  us  of  all  the  prayers  that  have  entered  into  the  ears  of 
the  Lord  God  of  Sabbaoth  :  of  all  the  tears  that  have  fallen  into 
God's  bottle;  of  all  the  longings  after  holiness;  all  the  aspirations 
heavenward  ;  all  the  sacrifices  of  broken  hearts  and  contrite  spir- 
its which  have  here  been  offered  !' 

"  Brethren,  what  a  hallowed,  never-to-be-forgotten  place  is  this 
to  many  who  throng  these  courts  to-night ;  some  seen,  not  a  few 
unseen.  In  these  pews  battles  have  been  fought,  and  crowns  won. 
When,  in  the  decline  of  life,  the  Duke  of  Wellington  re- visited  the 
scenes  of  his  education  and  boyish  sports,  he  exclaimed  aloud,  '  It 
is  here  that  Waterloo  was  won!'  So  in  this  'gate  of  heaven,' 
immortal  souls  have  obtained  eternal  victory  over  sin  and  self, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  ;  and  forevermore  they  will  remem- 
ber this  sanctuary  as  the  place  where  heaven  was  won  !  As  it  has 
been  in  the  past,  so  may  it  be  still  more  in  the  future,  the  birth- 
place of  souls.  May  the  Lord  love  these  gates  of  Zion ;  and 
when  He  '  shall  count  and  write  up  the  people,'  may  it  be  said  of 
multitudes,  that  they  were   here  born  into  the  Kingdom  of  God." 


86  TWENTY-FIFTH   ANKIVERSART 

Chairman  :  "  I  have  told  you  about  my  early  acquaintance 
and  friendshi])  with  brother  Baker,  in  the  Spring  Street  Presby- 
terian Church,,  of  New  York  City.  Well,  after  he  and  I  had  set- 
tled here,  and  Westminster  Church  became  vacant  who  should 
come  out  here  to  look  after  us  and  take  a  kind  of  pastoral  and 
paternal  oversight  of  us,  but  the  very  man  w/w,  after  our  day,  was 
the  pastcv  of  that  old  Spring  Street  Church  ?  I  almost  fear  to  call 
upon  him,  lest  he  may  report  something  unfavorable.  However, 
let  me  introduce  to  you  the  Rev.  William  Aikman,  D.  D.,  of  West- 
minster Presbyterian  Church." 

Remarks  of  Dr.  Aikman  :  "  I  will  not  say  all  the  pleasant 
things  that  are  in  my  heart ;  many  have  been  worthily  said,  and  I 
will  not  make  a  surfeit  of  sweetness.  My  brother  Pierson  knows 
that  I  love  him ;  and  this  church  can  easily  believe  that  I  pro- 
foundly rejoice  in  all  their  good  of  to-day. 

"  I  look  around  on  this  beautiful  structure,  I  listen  to  the 
recital  of  your  success,  and  I  know  the  blessed  results  over  which 
you  rejoice  ;  but  while  I  mingle  my  congratulations  with  you,  I  see 
here  more  than  the  present.  In  these  lofty  and  decorated  walls  and 
solid  foundations,  I  see  the  material  representation  of  immaterial 
but  of  very  precious  things.  Here  is  the  result  of  endeavor,  of 
prayer,  of  toil,  of  tears,  of  anxieties  through  protracted  years.  I 
heard  the  statistics  of  expenditures  this  afternoon,  but  what  a  wealth 
of  care  and  prayer  those  figures  presented  !  I  see  one  before  me  with 
ear  bent  to  catch  tones  which  perhaps  are  not  full  enough  to  reach 
him.  I  heard  his  name  mentioned  as  for  many  years  the  president 
of  the  board  of  trustees  (Judge  Hand).  He  knows  what  I  mean 
when  I  say  that  this  edifice,  as  it  rose  from  foundation  to  top-stone, 
as  it  passed  from  point  to  point  to  its  completed  beauty,  at  each 
stage  has  spoken  of  what  men  do  not,  have  not  seen — labor,  wearing 
anxiety,  and  tearful  cries  to  the  Infinite  Helper.  The  ministry 
has  been  a  power  here,  and  other  forces  have  been  in  view,  but  much 
of  that  which  has  made  you  what  you  are,  lies  out  of  sight,  like 
those  great  foundation  stones,  all  unseen,  covered  up  under  ground, 
but  holding  all  above  them. 

"■  I  listened  too,  to  the  necrological  list.  For  a  little  while  it 
seemed  to  me  dry  and  uninteresting.  To  me,  a  stranger,  those 
names  carried  no  associations  and  awakened  no  memories.  But  I 
soon  bethought  me,  that  to  many  who  listened,  that  list  was  the  most 


FORT   STEEET    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  87 

touching  part  of  all  the  history.  The  name  came  in  its  order,  the 
name  of  some  one  loved  and  away — father,  or  sister,  or  mother,  or 
brother,  husband  or  wife,  and  with  the  word  straightway  your 
look  became  dreamy,  and  you  saw  the  familiar  forms  again  as  they 
sat  in  yonder  pew.  Vou  lost  the  other  names  as  memory  sum- 
moned them  to  your  side.  The  long  list  was  not  wearisome  to 
you.  The  living  and  the  sainted  dead  seemed  to  mingle  in  the 
congratulations  of  these  hours. 

"And  then  how  I  rejoiced  that  you  have  put  on  record  the  roll 
of  your  sons  that  you  sent  to  the  war.  1  wondered,  as  name  suc- 
ceeded name,  that  you  had  sent  so  many  forth.  They  are  your 
glory — those  soldier  boys  who  fought  so  well  and  won  the  price- 
less boon  of  salvation  for  our  fatherland.  They  are  not  all  here 
to-day.  Some  of  them  lie  sleeping  in  far-off  graves,  perhaps  with 
'  unknown  '  written  over  them  ;  but  they  are  not  unknown  here  ! 
Memory  and  affection  hold  them  in  everlasting  honor.  Kossuth, 
a  score  of  years  and  more  ago,  spoke  in  his  own  majestic  and 
impassioned  way  of  the  heroes  who  fought  and  died  for  Hungary 
in  her  great  struggle  :  'And  so  they  fell,'  cried  he,  '  those  unnamed 
demi-gods  I  '  So  we,  to-night,  think  of  our  heroes  living  and  dead. 
Living,  they  walk  among  us  clad  in  the  garments  of  peace,  these 
veterans  of  a  hundred  fights !  I  meet  them,  and  would  fain  bare 
my  head  in  their  honored  presence !  They  saved  what  was  dear- 
er than  all  beside  to  me,  what  had  in  it  the  well-being  of  all  that 
was  dearest — my  country !  Ah,  you  did  well  to  record  their 
names,  and  make  them  a  part  of  your  joy  to-day ! 

"  W'e  may  take  this  mention  of  soldier  life,  and  have  it  give 
direction  to  our  thoughts  at  this  hour.  It  has  been  said  here  to- 
night, and  it  has  been  said  well,  that  the  church  is  a  home  for  the 
weary  and  the  sad,  a  sweet  resting  place  for  tired  pilgrims.  It  is 
all  that.  It  is  the  place  where  the  sorrowing  and  the  sin-weary 
may  find  repose ;  it  is  the  home  all  blessed,  where  the  family  of 
God  are  gathered,  where  there  are  songs  and  sweet  communings. 
Around  it  gather  a  thousand  hallowed  associations;  there  center 
our  joys,  there  are  found  our  hopes — 

'  There  my  best  friends,  my  kindred  dwell  ; 
There  G-  d,  my  Saviour  reigns  ! ' 

But  this  is  not  all.  This  does  not  fill  and  cover  all  the  idea  of  the 
Church.     The  New  Testament  thought  is  different.     In   many  a 


88  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 

varying  phrase,  this  life  of  the  believer  is  a  race  and  christians  run 
eagerly  after  a  prize ;  it  is  warfare  and  they  fight  the  good  fight  of 
faith  ;  they  are  warriors,  and  each  day  is  a  battle,  a  tramping 
onward  to  victory  and  to  glory  ! 

"  So  we,  as  we  look  each  other  in  the  face  at  this  anniversary 
hour,  may  send  along  the  line  a  shout  of  encouragement,  and 
make  it  a  call  to  rush  forward  to  the  conquest  of  earth  for  our 
Lord  !  There  never  was  a  time  in  all  the  history  of  this  world, 
when  the  encouragements  were  so  great  and  the  inducements  so 
strong  to  work  for  the  Master.  We  shall  lose  all  the  blessed  fruits 
of  this  anniversary,  if  we  gather  no  strength  for  the  future.  You 
stand  on  this  eminence  with  the  sunlight  of  God's  favor  upon  you, 
with  the  voices  of  the  twenty-five  by-gone  years  calling  to  you. 
Go  forward  now  with  a  new  consecration.  The  voices  are  full  of 
joy,  of  favor;  they  speak  of  blessings  untold,  and  your  hearts  echo 
back  answering  calls  of  joy  and  gratitude.  Then  step  forward 
bravely,  boldly  as  never  before  in  the  work  that  lies  in  front  of 
you.  The  rejoicings  of  to-day  will  then  be  not  all  empty  gladness, 
but  have  in  them  all  promise  of  greater  good  and  more  glorious 
success." 

Chairman  :  "  I  think  it  was  Sidney  Smith  who  said  that  in 
preaching,  '  The  sin  against  the  Holy  Ghost,  is  dullness.'  Now,  I 
know  that  with  all  their  sound  scriptural  learning,  Scotch  preach- 
ers have  been  charged  with  dullness.  But  whatever  sins  he  may 
have  been  guilty  of,  this  one  will  not  be  laid  to  the  account  of  my 
friend  and  brother,  the  pastor  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  Church, 
of  Detroit,  the  Rev.  George  M.  xMilligan,  A.  M." 

Response  of  Mr.  Milligan :  "  Mr.  Chairman  and  Christian 
Friends — The  fraternal  feelings  and  acts  manifested,  in  our  day, 
among  the  different  branches  of  the  christian  church,  furnish  a 
cheering  contrast  to  the  polemic  and  exclusive  spirit  of  former 
times. 

"We  most  cordially  rejoiced  in  listening  to-night  to  the  kindly 
greetings  extended  to  you,  Mr.  Chairman,  and  your  people.  I  am 
sure  that  these  congratulations  are  not  only  pleasing  to  you 
because  you  happen  to  be  their  recipient;  but  because  they  also 
express  your  abstract  belief  respecting  the  relation  that  ought  to 
subsist  between  the  various   denominations  of  christians.     In  this 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  89 

regard,  permit  me  to  say  that  my  opinion  is  in  exact  accord  with 
your  own. 

*'  Care,  however,  is  needed  lest  the  virtue  of  catholicity  degen- 
erate into  an  evil.  Effective  religious  work,  and  true  broth- 
erliness  of  spirit  among  christians  of  different  ecclesiastical  names, 
demand  well-defined  ideas  of  the  genesis  of  a  vital,  christian 
catholicity.  Let  us  offer  a  few  words  that  may  be  helpful  to  the 
formation  of  such  ideas. 

"  We  should,  at  this  time,  like  to  have  spoken  concerning  the 
structure  and  function  of  the  religious  aggregate — a  christian 
congregation.  It  was  our  purpose  to  have  noticed  the  dependence 
of  the  phenomena  and  factors  of  this  aggregate  upon  the  elements 
and  structure  of  its  units.  We  must,  however,  forbear,  at  this 
late  hour  carrying  out  this  purpose,  and  content  ourselves  with 
presenting  a  few  suggestions  upon  the  point  above  indicated. 

"  He  is  possessed  of  a  false  spirit  of  christian  brotherhood  who 
alleges  that  he  has  a  general  love  for  all  churches,  but  has  no 
special  attachment  for,  or  allegiance  to,  any  individual  denomina- 
tion or  congregation. 

"  All  real  attachments  towards  the  universal  must  be  individual 
in  their  beginnings.  First,  that  which  is  special,  and  then,  that 
which  is  general,  expresses  the  law  of  intellectual,  social  and 
religious  life  and  progress. 

"  He  looks  upon  the  events  and  surroundings  of  his  daily  life 
with  an  intelligent  eye,  who  has  his  special  seasons  of  devotion  to 
mental  culture.  He  bears  a  loving  heart  to  his  race,  whose  tendril 
affections  have  been  reared  upon  the  stay  of  parental  love  and 
service,  and  whose  maturer  attachments  have  been  blessed  with 
the  gift  of  loyal,  personal  friends.  Is  not  misanthropy  often  the 
dark  outcome  of  the  frequent  betrayal  of  misplaced  friendship  ? 
He  who  has  never  found  a  friend  has  not  learned  to  love  his  kind. 
Special  friends  are  the  alphabet  of  which  the  literature  of  philan- 
thropy is  composed.  Charity  must  begin  at  home,  although  it 
should  not  remain  there.  We  need  one  holy  day  in  the  week,  that 
all  the  other  days  may  have  clearly  and  distinctly  written  upon 
them — "  holiness  unto  the  Lord."  The  patient,  accurate  factualist 
is  the  parent  of  the  wise  and  comprehensive  theorist.  We  never 
love  children  so  well  in  general,  until  we  have  had  sons  and 
daughters  of  our  own.     We   repeat,  therefore,  the  declaration  we 


90  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 


have  made  above :  First,  that  which  is  special,  and  then  that 
which  is  general,  expresses  the  law  of  intellectual,  social  and 
religious  life  and  progress.  The  bearing  of  this  pleading  upon 
the  origin  and  growth  of  a  genuine  catholicity  of  spirit  and.action 
among  christians  of  every  denomination  is,  we  trust,  now  suffi- 
ciently obvious. 

"  Pastor  and  people  owe  their  first  and  choicest  love  and  ser- 
vice to  their  own  congregation,  because  they  mutually  determine 
each  other's  character  and  efficiency  as  christian  workers  in  an 
exceptional  degree. 

"  The  power  of  the  pulpit  is  largely  dependent  upon  the 
regular  and  attentive  presence  of  the  members  and  adherents  of 
the  congregation  upon  all  the  services  of  the  sanctuary.  That 
congregation  is  in  a  truly  prosperous  state  whose  people  hear  no 
preacher  so  acceptable  to  them  as  their  own,  and  who  recognize 
as  of  special  obligation  upon  them  all  claims  he  may  present  to 
their  liberality  and  prayers. 

"  We  have  spoken,  in  very  general  terms,  of  the  duties  requir- 
ing to  be  fulfilled  by  the  people  to  insure  congregational  success. 
Did  time  permit,  we  should  have  indicated  the  pastoral  require 
ments  necessary  to  the  achievement  of  the  same  end.  The  adage  : 
"  Rolling  stones  gather  no  moss,"  is  true  of  pastor  as  well  as 
people.  It  is  our  belief  that  "  a  settled  ministry  "  conduces  to 
the  best  developments  of  pastoral  and  pulpit  work.  It  enables  a 
man  to  infuse,  more  thoroughly  than  he  could  otherwise  do,  his 
excellencies  of  head  and  heart  into  the  thoughts  and  aff"ections  of 
his  people.  The  valuable  minister  is  he  who  has  the  ({ualifications 
and  desire  to  sustain  a  lengthened  pastorate. 

"We  rejoice  to  think  that  these  mutual  conditions  of  congre- 
gational success  exist  among  you. 

"  My  dear  brother  :  after  a  five  years'  pastorate  in  this  charge, 
you  have  proven  yourself  "  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be 
ashamed."  You  give  evidence  of  but  beginning  your  work,  at  a 
time  when  a  merely  "  starring "  preacher  would  be  planning  a 
change  of  field  as  he  "  'gins  to  pale  his  uneffectual  fire." 

''  May  this  occasion  mark  a  new  departure  in  your  labours. 
This  event  may  be  regarded  as  the  celebration  of  your  wooden- 
wedding  in  connection  with  your  present  charge.  May  God,  at 
this  time,  present   you  with  a  wood-gift,  in    that  "  instead  of  the 


FORT   STREET    PRESHYTERIAN    CHURCH.  91 

thorn,  shall    come  up   the  fir  tree,  and   instead  of  the  brier,  shall 
come  up  the  myrtle  tree." 

•'  To  you,  the  c  hristian  friends  of  this  congregation,  we  extend 
(uir  sincere  and  cordial  congratulations  on  this  imj)ortant  and 
ha])py  occasion.  May  you,  while  gathering  inspiration  and 
wisdom  from  the  i)ast,  to  impart  strength  and  improvement  to 
the  thoughts  and  actions  of  the  future,  keep  clearly  before  you 
the  end  for  which  God  has  given  you  those  sweet  and  noble  lives, 
the  revival  of  whose  memories  is  sought  in  the  exercises  of  to-day. 
May  you,  by  this  event  receive,  in  mulliijlied  degree,  the  glow  of 
the  heavenly  fire  which  animated  your  earth-de])arted,  spiritual 
fathers  and  accpiaintances,  so  that  you  may  bring  to  a  worthy 
development  the  desires  of  their  hearts  and  the  labors  of  their 
hands.  May  the  material  beauty  of  your  edifice  and  of  your 
anniversary  decorations  be  emblematic  of  a  beauty  forming  here, 
excelling  that  which  eye  can  see — a  beauty  which  will  survive 
"  the  wreck  of  matter  and  the  crash  of  worlds." 

Chairman  :  "  You  will  see  that  our  next  speaker,  though 
'Wast,"  is  not  '''■leasts  I  was  lately  playfully  reminding  my  mother 
that  some  fault  for  which  she  censured  me  might  be  attributed  to 
in\  descent,  when  Dr.  C.  S.  Robinson,  of  New  York,  who  was  pres- 
ent, observed  that  sometimes  the  descent  is  verv  rapid.  Looking 
at  the  stature  of  this  brother,  and  remembering  his  father,  I  am 
sure  we  cannot  say  the  'descent  has  been  rapid.'  Let  me  intro- 
duce, as  the  last  to  address  you,  my  tall  brother,  Rev.  George 
Duffield,  D.  D.,  whose  '  head  tcnvers  higher'  even  than  his  famous 
and  eminent  father's." 

Dr.  Duffleld  :  "  My  very  dear  brother :  After  meeting  you  so 
often  at  different  places  in  the  State,  at  Young  Mens'  Christian 
Associations,  and  Christian  and  Sabbath-School  Conventions,  it 
gives  me  no  little  pleasure  to  greet  you  on  such  an  interesting  anni- 
versary as  this  in  your  own  church.  I  have  never  heard  that  they 
complained  of  your  labors  of  love  elsewhere,  and,  certainly  T  do 
not  think  that  they  are  any  the  worse  for  your  thus  ''looking  on 
the  things  of  others." 

"  It  has  more  than  once  occurred  to  me  to  ask  who  was  your 
model  in  your  abundant  labors;  but  never  until  to-day  was  I 
aware  that  it   was  Dr.    Shaw,  of  Rochester.     That  sermon  of  his 


92  TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVEKSARY 

this  morning  was  a  rich  means  of  grace  to  us  all — it  struck  pre-, 
cisely  the  right  chord  ;  and  that  which  vibrated  the  deepest  in  every 
Christian  heart — and  if  you  and  all  the  rest  of  us  are  not  the 
better  for  it  in  a  new  consecration  of  heart  and  life,  it  will  be  our 
fault  and  not  his.  O,  for  a  return  of  the  ''  Martyr  Spirit  "  in  deed 
and  in  truth  I 

"  At  first,  on  receiving  your  invitation,  I  confess  that  I  looked 
at  the  word  "  Presbyterian  "  with  some  suspicion,  lest  there  might 
be  too  much  of  the  denominational  and  too  little  of  the  Christian ; 
but  then  I  remembered  your  truly  Catholic  spirit,  and  how  recently 
we  had  been  together  on  that  high  mountain,  where  we  had 
breathed  so  pure  an  atmosphere — and  came  so  near  to  Christ  and 
to  one  another — with  the  dear  brethren  of  the  Alliance,  and  I  felt 
certain  that  I  could  trust  you,  if  I  could  trust  any  one. 

"  Presbyterianism  hitherto  in  the  City  of  Detroit,  and  in  the 
State  of  Michigan,  has  been  but  of  one  kind — evangelical  and 
co-operative,  rather  than  sectarian.  To  this  present  moment  the 
style  and  title  in  law  of  the  "  Old  First,"  which  has  been  so  cor- 
dially remembered  this  day  as  the  "  mother  of  us  all,"  is  "  The 
First  Protestant  Society  of  Detroit."  Not  the  first  Presbyterian^ 
but  the  first  Protestant  church ;  and  in  that  very  title  we  perceive 
at  once  that  the  original  spirit  with  which  they  were  animated  was 
to  magnify  the  things  in  which  they  agreed,  rather  than  those  in 
which  they  differed,  according  to  the  admirable  rule  of  the 
apostle:  "  Whereto  we  have  attained,  let  us  walk  by  the  same  rule, 
let  us  mind  the  same  thing,  and  if  in  anything  we  be  otherwise 
minded.  God  shall  shew  even  this  unto  us." 

"  Of  the  same  noble  spirit  were  the  brethren  who  formed  the 
Synod  of  Michigan  in  1834:  earnest,  evangelic,  missionary  and 
reform — loving  Christian  men — "  Plan  of  Union  "  men — among 
whom  Dr.  Eddy  would  have  found  himself  perfectly  at  home. 

"Twenty-five  years  after,  when  celebrating  the  first  quarter-cen- 
tury of  their  ecclesiastical  existence,  the  one  characteristic  in 
which  they  seemed  to  rejoice  more  than  any  other  was  their 
catholicity.  They  had  made  common  cause  with  their  brethren  of 
other  churches  against  a  common  foe,  and  had  stood  for  others' 
rights  as  well  as  their  own. 

"  This  has  been  the  very  spirit  exemplified  here  this  evening, 
and  in  all  the  exercises  throughout  the  day.     From  first  to  last  we 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  93 


have  been  under  the  outstretched  wings  of  the  Holy  Dove,  and  so 
delightful  is  the  aroma  of  Christian  union  that  even  the  odor  that 
comes  up  to  us  from  the  lecture  room  seems  for  the  time  being 
greatly  wanting  in  its  usual  attraction.  It  has  been  so  "  good  for 
us  to  be  here,"  that  it  is  no  wonder  we  have  taken  so  little  notice 
of  the  passing  hours,  and  are  so  unwilling  to  separate. 

"When  on  my  way  for  the  first  time  to  Detroit,  I  noticed  some- 
thing on  the  part  of  the  pilot  which  I  did  not  (piite  understand. 
He  stood  with  his  back  to  the  wheel,  and  for  ten  minutes  or  more 
kept  his  eye  steadily  fixed  on  the  light-house  of  the  port  he  had 
just  left.  What  could  it  mean  .'  He  told  me  "  he  was  taking  his 
departure,"  and  from  that,  as  his  base  line,  he  could  make  his 
angles  from  one  light  and  headland  to  another,  until  the  dangers 
of  the  lake  were  passed-  This  whole  scene  comes  before  me  in 
a  new  form  this  evening,  my  dear  brother,  as  applicable  to  you 
and  your  people.  You  have  done  well  to  observe  such  a  day  as 
this,  and  you  have  good  precedents  for  it,  to  "  remember  all  the 
way  that  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  led  thee."  In  the  history  of  the 
last  twenty-five  years,  as  so  admirably  brought  out  this  afternoon, 
you  have  a  most  magnificent  "  departure,"  in  view  of  which 
"  to  thank  God  and  take  courage."  Henceforth  in  your  Christian 
experience  and  your  Christian  labors  may  your  silver  be  turned 
into  gold  ;  and  when  the  great  golden  wedding  shall  have  arrived, 
when  so  many  of  us  shall  have  gone  over  "  to  the  great  majority," 
may  it  be  your  still  higher  honor  here  to  stand  in  your  lot  at  the 
end  of  days,  and  receive  congratulations  even  warmer  and  more 
numerous  than  those  of  to-day. 

"  The  beautiful  crown  that  hangs  suspended  over  the  pulpit  is 
but  a  corruptible  one  ;  it  soon  will  fade  and  vanish  away.  But 
let  it  remind  you  of  that  other  crown,  high  and  far  above  this  or 
any  other  earthly  crown,  which  belongs  to  the  faithful  minister  of 
Christ — when  your  people,  who  are  truly  the  people  of  Christ, 
shall  be  your  crown  of  rejoicing  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus." 

Stepping  forward,  then,  to  Mr.  Pierson,  and  grasping  him  warmly 
by  the  hand.  Mr.  D.  said  in  conclusion  :  ''  In  the  name  of  those 
whom  you  have  asked  me  to  represent  on  this  occasion,  I  once 
more  extend  to  you  the  hand  of  Christian  fellowship,  and  pray 
not  only  for  a  blessing  on  you  and  your  beloved  people,  but  that 
you    and    they,  in   your  mutual   harmony  and   co-operation,  may 


94  TWENTTY-FIFTH    ASTNIVERSART 

long  continue  to  be  a  blessing  on    all    around  you  in  this  city  and 
commonwealth.     God  bless  you.     Amen." 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  brilliant  series  of  fraternal  congratu- 
lations, which,  with  marvellous  pithiness,  terseness  and  brevity, 
had  been  condensed  within  the  space  of  two  hours,  the  benedic- 
tion was  pronounced  by  Rev.  Maltby  Gelston,  and  the  audience,  or 
as  many  as  could  remain,  adjourned  to  the  basement,  where  ample 
and  varied  refreshments  were  bountifully  served  to  hundreds  of 
friends.  And  so  the  Anniversary  Day  was  brought  to  its  close, 
amid  a  not  unfitting  participation  in  God's  bounties  around  a  com- 
mon board.  Who  of  us  shall  live  to  enjoy  such  another  day  of 
holy  festivity,  over  which  fell  not  a  single  shadow  !  Let  us  hope 
that  at  our  Father's  table,  in  His  Kingdom,  we  shall  together  eat 
and  drink,  and  be  filled  with  all  the  fullness  of  God  ! 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  95 


Cor^^fktulatofY  I(ettei'^ 

Were  received  from  all  sources  in  response  to  the  invitations,  sent 
out  by  the  committee.  Among  them  were  the  communications 
which  are,  wholly  or  in  part,  incorporated  herewith  as  a  necessary 
addition  to  our  little  Memorial.  The  first  four  of  the  following 
letters,  together  with  those  of  Dr.  Burchard  and  Dr.  Edwin  Hall, 
were  read  at  the  opening  of  the  evening  meeting.  The  rest,  for 
want  of  time,  received  only  a  grateful  mention — or,  failing  to 
arrive  in  time,  were  not  read  on  the  anniversary  day,  but  will  be 
perused  with  interest  as  they  appear  in  these  pages. 

The  first  letter  is  from  the  widow  of  the  Rev.  R.  R.  Kellogg, 
the  founder  and  father  and  first  pastor  of  the  church. 

No.  64  Kosciusko  St.,  Brooklyn,  February  13th,  1874. 
Rev.  Arthur  T.  Pierson  : 

DE.A.R  Sir  : — On  receiving  your  letter,  and  the  card  of  invitation  for  myself 
and  daughter,  to  your  approaching  anniversary,  we  felt  you  had  exceedingly 
honored  us,  and  I  assure,  you  it  would  be  "  especially  agreeable"  to  us  to  be 
present  on  that  occasion  ;  but,  as  this  is  impossible,  permit  us  most  sincerely 
to  send  you  our  hearty  greetings. 

The  Lord  be  with  you,  and  verify  His  promise  to  "  bless  his  people  with 
peace."  Could  I  be  present,  I  imagine  I  should  feel  as  Paul  did  when  he  met 
the  brethren  at  Appii  Forum.  I  should  "  thank  God  and  take  courage" — thank 
Him  that  He  ever  put  into  the  heart  of  my  dear  husband  to  be  His  instrument 
in  planting  this  vine,  and  thank  Him  that  He  has  caused  it  to  take  root  not 
only,  but  abiatdantly  to  grow.  Work  for  the  Master  ever  brings  with  it  its  own 
reward,  and  I  shall  ever  be  cheered,  the  short  remaining  period  of  separation 
from  my  dear  husband,  as  I  realize  more  and  more  that  his  works  are  following 
him  to  glory.  "  To  save  a  soul  from  death,"  he  thought  worth  every  other 
achievement — this  animated  him  amid  all  the  discouragements  attending  upon 
(what  was  twenty-five  years  ago)  a  w/w  enterprise.  And  I  doubt  not  his  harp 
is  often  strung  anew  with  praise  to  the  Master,  as  one  after  another  greet  him 
in  the  upper  sanctuary,  who  were  brought,  through  his  instrumentality,  to  accept 
the  great  salvation.  And  may  we  not  believe  (I  love  to  think)  that  his  pure 
and  holy  soul  may  be  among  the  "  great  cloud  of  witnesses  "  at  your  joyous 
gathering  ? 

He  has  not  forgotten  the  church  in  Detroit,  and  for  aught  we  know,  may  be 
among  the  "  ministering  spirits  "  in  their  heavenward  progress. 

May  you  long  be  spared  to  the  people  of  your  charge,  and  continually 
blessed  in   your  labors  among  the   flock,  and   unitedly,   may  Jesus   not  only  be 


96  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 

with  you,  but  in  you  by  His  blessed  spirit,  endowing  you  more  and  more  plen- 
teously  with  His  grace,  for  "  the  promise  is  unto  you  and  to  your  children,  and 
to  as  many  as  the  Lord  our  God  shall  call." 

As  I  have  already  sent,  at  the  request  of  my  niece,  Miss  Lizzie  Orr,  a  short 
account  of  Mr.  Kellogg's   life   and   labors,  answering   for  her  some  inquiries  of 
Mr.  E.  C.  Walker,  I  will  not  detain  you  longer  with  this  letter. 
In  christian  bonds,  your  friend, 

MARY  E.   M.  KELLOGG. 

The  second  letter  is  from  the  Rev.  Henry  Neill,  D.  D.,  who 
succeeded  Mr.  Kellogg  in  the  pastorate. 

Philadelphia,  February  14th,  1874. 

Rev.  and  Dear  Sir  : — Your  letter  of  the  gth  of  February  has  just  reached 
me      To  its  fraternal  invitation  and  to  its  object,  I  am  not  insensible. 

To  trace  the  way  of  the  Past,  and  to  learn  its  lessons,  is  strengthening  even 
to  an  individual  overlooking  his  own  life  How  full  of  instruction  and  of  encour- 
agement may  it  not  be  to  a  church. 

Twenty-five  years  of  history  have  enough  in  them  to  stir  many  a  fountain 
of  gratitude,  and  to  make  apparent  gates  of  usefulness  yet  unopened,  and  to 
plant  impulses  never  to  be  rooted  out,  and  approved  of  God.  And  is  it  not  a 
blessed  thought  that  as  on  the  fields  of  rural  labor  the  good  seed  live,  whilst 
the  defective  ones  are  also  made  to  be  useful  in  their  way,  so  on  the  wider  and 
more  enduring  plains  of  moral  life,  right  aims  take  root,  whilst  the  evil  is  over- 
ruled for  good?  How  patient  and  long-suffering  is  our  God!  Surely  His 
mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

I  well  remember  the  early  days  of  the  Fort  Street  Church  :  the  convocations 
in  the  brick  building  on  Lafayette  street  ;  the  first  communions  ;  the  names 
and  forms  of  those  who  there  professed  their  faith  in  Christ,  some  ot  whom  are 
now  sleeping  in  Jesus,  Nor  can  I  forget  the  ardor  of  the  young,  the  generosity 
of  the  middle  aged,  and  the  fidelity  and  aff'ection  of  large  numbers  whose 
names,  if  not  now  recorded  in  the  books  of  the  church,  may  yet  shine  in  the  Lamb's 
Book  of  Life.  I  hear  of  your  growth.  Faith  and  love,  once  sown,  never  die. 
"  Tho'  tliy  beginning  was  small,  thy  latter  end  shall  greatly  increase,"  is  the 
promise.  And  now  that  which  was  "  sown  in  weakness  is  raised  in  power." 
So  it  will  ever  be.  I  hear  that  .the  building,  always  a  model  of  architectural 
beauty,  is  made  still  more  commodious,  and  that  the  banner  of  the  Ancient 
Covenant  is  still  a  glory  in  your  midst. 

With  best  wishes  for  all  who  worship  with  you,  I  may  be  permitted  to  quote 
the  words  of  Haggai :  "  Be  strong,  O,  Zerubbabel,  and  be  strong,  O,  Joshua, 
son  of  Josedech,  the  high  priest  ;  and  be  strong  all  ye  people,  according  to  the 
word  that  I  covenanted  with  you  ;  so  my  spirit  remaineth  among  you  ;  and 
I  will  fill  this  house  with  glory,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts." 

Though  unable  to  be  present,  yet,  affectionately  yours, 

HENRY  NEILL. 
The  Rev.  Arthur  T.  Pierson. 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  97 

The  third  letter  is  from  Rev.  Azariah  Rldridge,  D.  I).,  the  third 
pastor  of  the  Fort  Street  Church. 

Nice,  J.-inuary  28th,  1874. 

RkV.  a.  T.  PlERSON"  : 

Dear  Brother  : — \'onr  kind  letter  of  January  5th,  has  just  reached  me, 
and  I  hasten  to  thank  you  and  the  dear  people  of  your  charge  for  the  kind 
invitation  which  it  contains.  It  will,  of  course,  not  be  possible  for  me  to 
attend  the  ([uarter-century  anniversary  in  contemplation,  but  I  hope  this 
response  may  arrive  in  season  for  that  pleasant  occasion,  and  that  you  will  duly 
emphasize  the  expressions  thus  conveyed  of  my  strong  interest  in  all  that  relates 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  Fort  Street  Church  at  Detroit. 

From  these  borders  of  the  old  Mediterranean  sea,  I  send  greetings  to  all  the 
members  of  my  former  charge,  without  exception,  to-day,  and  not  to  them  only, 
but  to  all  those,  even,  who,  through  God's  blessing  on  your  successful  ministry, 
have  been  drawn  to  worship  and  labor  there  with  them  in  the  Lord.  May  He 
continue  to  bless  them  as  a  church  and  a  congregation,  and  as  a  special  grace, 
may  He  keep  alive  in  the  very  midst  of  their  gratitude  and  thanksgivings  a 
strong  sense  of  responsibility  for  that  which  He  so  lavishly  bestows.  Tell  your 
noble  hearted  people,  dear  brother,  as  from  me  now  afresh,  that  distance  from 
what  they  enjoy,  and  the  absence  of  those  mercies  which  flood  them  is  needful 
in  order  for  one  most  clearly  to  see  and  feel  how  God  is  distinguishing  them. 
And  it  is  by  such  contrast  with  the  wants  of  others  and  the  destitutions  of  the 
world,  that  we  can  ever  best  perceive  the  Master's  will  concerning  those  to 
whom  much  has  been  given.  For  at  no  time  in  history,  and  in  no  place  on 
earth,  are  the  faithful  so  called  upon  to  let  their  light  shine,  that  the  Father 
may  be  glorified,  as  are  they  there  where  you  are  standing  this  day.  That 
church  is  set  on  a  hill.  All  the  churches  of  our  land,  especially  those  of  the 
West  towards  which  emigration  looks,  and  more  especially  those  of  command- 
ing power  and  position,  are  there  at  the  center  of  world-wide  observation,  and 
should  be  the  source  of  boundless  influence  for  good  ;  for  is  not  this  the  day, 
already  come,  and  this  the  promised  hour  at  which  God  is  working  all  abroad 
with  foreordained  energy  and  signal  success  to  prepare  the  way  of  the  Lord  ? 
Has  He  not  girdled  the  Upas  tree  at  Rome,  rooted  up  many  oppressive 
despotisms,  and  is  He  not  planting  far  and  wide  those  institutions,  civil  and 
religious,  which  spring  from  the  New  Testament  ?  Let  American  churches 
hold  forth  the  true  light,  let  American  influence,  chastened  by  christian  charity 
and  justice,  be  iully  high  advanced  and  steadily  extended  for  one  quarter  of  a 
century  more,  and  may  we  not  hope  that  the  worst  will  have  been  passed  ;  the 
darkest  time  be  over  and  gone  ;  the  great  organized  systems  of  evil  overthrown 
and  demolished ;  these  gigantic  obstacles  to  human  progress  swept  out  of  the 
way,  for  the  gospel  to  run  and  be  glorified  I  That  day,  as  a  return  of  this 
happy  festival,  some  of  us  may  be  permitted  to  behold  in  the  flesh  ;  but 
whether  then  to  be  present  or  absent,  let  us  live  in  the  faith  of  Christ  and 
prepare  to  die,  when  the  time  comes,  in  the  hojie  of  meeting  again  where  the 
sweet  relations  of  this  life  will  be  recalled,  and  where  the  memories  of  those 
13 


98  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVEESART 

who    have   loved   and   labored    together  for  the   same  good  cause,  may  prove  a 
source  of  endless  enjoyment. 

Farewell,  dear  brethi'en  and  friends.  Th5.t  God  may  continue  to  bless  you. 
and  keep  you,  and  make  His  face  to  shine  upon  you  and  give  you  peace  like  a 
river,  will  ever  be  the  prayer  of 

Your  former  pastor  and  constant  friend, 

A.  ELDRIDGE,    . 
Hotel  et  Pension  Suis<:e,  Nice,  France. 

The  fourth  communication  is  from  the  Rev.  Samuel  T.  Clarke, 
the  fourth  pastor,  and  immediate  predecessor  of  Mr.  Pierson  in 
the  ]mstoral  office. 

OWEGO,  N.  Y  ,  February  i6th.  1874. 
Dear  Mr.  Pierson  : — Many  thanks  for  your  kind  remembrance  of  me  upon 
the  occasion  of  the  "  Silver  Wedding  "  of  your  parish.  It  was  a  very  happy 
thought,  upon  your  part,  to  invest  the  day  with  such  bright  memories.  Silver 
is  rare  now,  save  on  the  heads  of  the  aged.  But  "  Fort  Street  "  is  by  no  means 
venerable.  May  its  future,  under  your  devoted  care,  be  not  only  silvery  but 
golden. 

May  the  Lord  give  to  you  the  pleasure  of  gathering  many  vvhom  I  knew  as 
infants,  about  the  holy  table  of  communion,  as  one  by  one  they  arrive  at 
maturity,  and  are  accepted  in  the  Beloved. 

With  kindest  regard, 

SAMUEL  TAYLOR  CLARKE. 
To  Rev.  Arthur  T.  Pierson,  Detroit. 

The  six  letters  immediately  following  are  from,  or  concerning, 
brethren,  who  for  a  longer  or  shorter  time  served  the  church  as  its 
ministers,  but  were  not  inducted  into  its  pastorate.  The  first  of 
these — fifth  in  the  order  of  publication — is  from  the  Rev.  T.  L. 
Byington,  already  referred  to  in  the  pages  of  Mr.  Walker's  histori- 
cal address  : 

Newton,  N.  J.,  February  17th,  1874. 

My  Dear  Brother  Pierson  : — Your  kind  invitation  was  duly  received. 
It  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  be  present  at  the  Twenty-fifth  Anniversary 
of  the  Fort  Street  Church. 

Although  my  connection  with  that  church  was  of  short  duration,  it  was  of  a 
very  pleasant  nature.  It  was  my  maiden  effort  to  minister  statedly  to  any 
church.  I  entered  upon  my  brief  work  there  with  many  misgivings,  but  the 
uniform  kindness  and  the  very  generous  treatment  I  experienced  were  very 
encouraging  to  a  young  man. 

I  have  ever  regarded  the  few  months  I  spent  in  Detroit  as  among  the  most 
pleasant  of  my  life. 

I  rejoice  to  learn  of  the  prosperity  of  the  church  under  your  labors.  May 
the  Lord   make  that   church  a  tower  of  strength  ;  may  its  influence  for  Christ 


FOHT   STREET   PRESBYTERIAN    (HI  KCH.  99 


be  perpetuated  with  ever  increasing  power,  and   the  blessing  of  God  rest  upon 
both  pastor  and  people. 

Thanking  you  again  for  your  kind  remembrance, 

I  remain  yours  in  the  gospel, 

T.  L.  byin(;ton. 

The  next  two  letters  arc  from  the  widow  and  the  brotlier  of  Rev. 
James  Means,  another  who  temporarily  sujiplied  tliis  pulpit,  and 
whose  memory  is  blessed  among  us. 

Akdover,  Mass.,  April  ist,  1874. 
Rev.  Arthur  T.  Pierson  : 

Mv  Dear  Sir  : — Your  kind  note  of  March  23d,  I  received  the  last  week. 
I  send  you  a  copy  of  the  address  delivered  by  Prof  Park  at  the  funpral  of  my 
husband,  not,  of  course,  because  it  would  be  fitting  and  proper  to  use  m  re 
than  a  small  part  of  it,  but  because  the  analysis  of  his  character,  drawn  by  one 
who  had  known  him  long  and  intimately,  was  so  much  better  than  anything 
which  I  could  prepare. 

The  few  months  which  Mr.  Means  spent  in  Detroit  were  always  remem- 
bered with  much  pleasure,  and  the  warm  affection  of  the  members  of  the  Fort 
Street  Church  was  most  heartily  reciprocated.  lie  often  expressed  a  wish  to 
visit  the  place  where  he  had  received,  what  seemed  to  him,  such  unaccountable 
kindness. 

May  I  ask  you  to  give  my  regards  to  those  friends  who  were  so  kind  as  to 
extend  their  interest  in  my  husband,  to  his  family  also  ? 
With  much  regard  yours, 

ELIZABETH  P.  MEANS. 

Boston,  February  i6th,  1874. 
My  Dear  Sir, — I  am  only  this  morning  in  receipt  of  your  note  covering 
invitations  to  my  sister  and  family,  and  to  myself,  to  be  present  at  the  Memorial 
services  of  the  "  Fort  Street  Church,"  too  late  to  make  any  response  in  time  for 
the  meeting  of  the  rSth.  I,  myself,  know  but  little  of  my  brother's  ministry 
in  Detroit,  only  remembering  that  he  was  greatly  interested  in  his  work  there 
and  the  people  of  his  charge,  among  whom  he  found  several  friends  of  his 
youth  who  had  attained  to  merited  honor  and  distinction  in  their  chosen  home. 
I  do  not  remember  the  year  of  my  brother's  stay  in  Detroit;  and  cannot  there- 
fore speak  intelligently  of  his  former  or  his  subsequent  life,  but  enclose  to  you 
a  letter  written  by  Rev.  Horace  Jame^  wiio  sacceeded  him  in  the  office  of 
Superintendent  of  Blacks  (this  was  before  the  Freedman's  Bureau  was  estab- 
lished), upon  the  occasion  of  his  death. 

Thanking  you  for  your  invitations  and  remembrance  of  my  brother, 
I  am.  dear  sir,  very  respectfully  yours, 

WM.  G.  MEANS. 
To  Rev.  Arthur  T.  Pierson, 

Pastor  of  Fort  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  Detroit 


100  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVEESARY 


The  letter  referred  to  above  will  be  of  so  much  interest  to  those 
who  knew  and  loved  Mr.  Means  that  we  publish  it  in  full. 

CHAPLAIN  JAMES  MEANS. 

Plymouth,  N.  C,  April  17th,  1863. 

Before  this  can  reach  the  eye  of  the  reader  it  will  be  generally  known  at  the 
North  that  our  dear  brother,  Rev.  James  Means,  hospital  chaplain  at  Newbern, 
and  more  lately  "  Superintendent  of  Blacks  "  in  this  department,  is  no  more. 
He  fell  a  victim  of  typhoid  fever,  on  the  6th  inst.,  at  the  age  of  50  years. 
Knowing  and  loving  him  most  tenderly,  it  falls  upon  me  as  a  personal  affliction 
for  many  a  time  have  we  taken  sweet  counsel  together,  and  felt  our  spirits 
refreshed  thereby  in  this  far  country  of  our  banishment.  Ofien  were  the  great 
questions  of  morals,  government,  liberty  and  humanity  which  underlie  the 
national  struggle  now  pending,  themes  of  earnest  discussion  with  us,  while  the 
events  of  the  war  slowly  unfolded  the  history  of  the  last  summer's  campaign. 
It  was  by  reason  of  an  uncommon  interest  in  these  questions  that  he  was  led  to 
leave  his  home  and  engage  in  army  work.  Entering  the  department  in  the 
month  of  July,  1S62,  he  was  immediately  assigned  to  the  general  hospital 
known  in  Newbern  as  the  ■'  Academy  Green  Hospital."  the  capacity  of  which 
is  sufficient  for  only  70  or  80  patients,  and  which  on  its  first  occupancy  was 
nearly  filled  with  wounded  men  from  the  battle  of  Newbern.  Up  to  the  period 
of  Mr.  Means'  appointment  it  shared  only  such  spiritual  attentions  as  could  be 
devoted  to  it  by  the  regimental  chaplains  stationed  at  the  post.  Some  of  the 
most  touching  incidents  of  hospital  life  that  ever  fell  under  my  notice  were  in 
this  place  and  at  this  time.  When  about  to  enter  upon  the  duty  assigned  him, 
it  is  pleasant  now  to  recollect  with  what  earnestness  and  Christian  simplicity 
our  brother  inquired  how  he  could  gain  access  to  the  patients,  and  possess  him- 
self of  our  experience,  who  had  been  some  months  upon  the  ground.  But  he 
needed  not  our  aid.  He  brought  to  the  work  such  ripeness  of  Christian  char- 
acter and  attainments,  together  with  such  a  virinning  and  graceful  address  as 
opened  his  way  at  once  to  the  hearts  of  the  soldiers,  and  made  him  the  valued 
and  beloved  friend  of  every  patient. 

He  was  also  well  fitted  for  this  work  by  the  training  of  the  sick  room,  and 
by  years  of  struggling  dyspeptic  weakness.  He  had  learned  sympathy,  like  the 
Carthagenian  queen,  in  the  school  of  adversity,  and  could  say  with  her : 
"  Haud  ignara  mali  miseris  succurrere  disco."  It  was  not  in  vain  that  he  had 
personally  suffered,  for  a  beautiful  patience,  and  a  chastened  tenderness  breathed 
through  his  life. 

Having  mastered  the  details  of  his  duty  in  the  hospital,  and  still  finding 
himself  with  time  to  spare,  and  few  books  at  hand,  or  congenial  friends,  he 
turned  his  attention  toward  the  contrabands  in  this  department,  and  wished  to 
do  something  for  their  good.  He  taught  a  little  school  at  his  room,  of  evenings. 
He  entered  their  church,  and  preached  the  gospel  to  them.  "  Wonderful  man  !" 
some  of  them  exclaimed.  "  He  told  us  right  smart  of  things  ;  all  about 
Jerusalem,  and  the  temple,  and  every  other  place.  We  were  greatly  lifted  up." 
His  subject  was  Christ   weeping  over  Jerusalem  as  expressive  of  his    divine 


FOKT   STREET    rUESBYTEKlAX    CUL'UCll.  lUl 

compassion.  And  he  improved  his  personal  knowledge  of  those  interesting 
localities  obtained  in  travel,  to  illustrate  divine  truth  to  their  eager  minds. 
They  always  loved  to  hear  him  preach.  Subsequently,  on  the  ist  day  of 
January,  and  after  he  had  assumed  the  special  oversight  of  them  by  appoiut- 
ment  of  Gen.  Foster,  and  a  commission  from  Gov.  Stanl«y,  he  gathered  them 
together  in  their  churches,  and  read  to  them  the  President's  proclamation,  and 
plainly  instructed  ihem  respecting  their  new  relations  to  society,  and  their  new 
duties  and  obligations  as  free  citizens. 

Another  object  dear  to  him  at  this  period  of  his  chaplaincy  was  the  support 
of  a  regular  service  in  the  Presbyterian  church  on  Sabbath  mornings.  In 
March  and  April,  1862,  while  the  25th  Mass.  Regiment  were  doing  provost 
guard  duty  in  town,  it  was  regularly  maintained  by  the  chaplain  of  that  regi- 
ment Subsequently,  and  through  the  summer,  Chaplain  Clark,  of  the  23d 
.\fass.  preached  there.  But  after  this  regiment  had  given  place  to  the  17th 
Mass.,  who  then  had  no  chaplain,  Mr.  Means  volunteered  to  uphold  the  service. 
Most  acceptably  did  he  do  it,  until  he  had  gathered  a  congregation  larger  than 
had  worshipped  there  for  many  months  before. 

One  sermon  delivered  there  by  Bro.  Means  was  from  this  te.\l :  "  Thv  gentle- 
ness hath  made  me  great."  It  illustrated  his  own  taste,  and  as  the  discourse 
fell  with  sweet  and  delicate  intonations  from  his  lips,  enriched  with  valuable 
thought,  clothed  in  a  chaste  and  scholarly  garb,  one  could  scarcely  refrain  from 
saying  that  he  was  himself  an  eminent  example  of  his  theme. 

When  appointed  .Superintendent  of  Blacks  he  had  serious  doubts,  as  did 
aho  his  friends,  whether  his  delicate  organization  would  be  sufficient  for  the 
endurance  of  its  arduous  cares  and  labors.  But  his  warm  interest  in  those 
oppressed  people,  and  desire  to  benefit  them,  led  him  to  hazard  the  undertaking, 
at  the  risk,  as  it  now  appears,  of  his  precious  life.  "  I  will  just  take  the  weight 
upon  my  shoulders,"  said  he  to  a  friend  "  give  it  a  brief  trial,  and  resign  the 
load  if  it  be  too  heavy  for  me.''  He  assumed  it  hopefully  and  lovingly,  and 
for  two  or  three  months  to  all  appearance,  endured  well.  He  organized  the 
work,  superintended  the  camps  of  contrabands,  systematized  the  labor  depart- 
ment, carried  on  large  correspondence,  and  in  general,  very  ably  and  acceptably 
discharged  the  duties  of  his  important  trust.  How  much  it  had  cost  him  in 
expenditure  of  mental  and  physical  energy,  did  not  appear  till  he  was  suddenly 
prostrated  with  nervous  fever  early  in  March,  from  which  he  had  scarcely 
recovered  when  the  more  severe  typoid  seized  upon  his  exhausted  frame,  and 
hurried  him  to  the  grave. 

It  was  the  method  by  God  ordained  in  which  to  take  his  servant  home.  It 
was  given  him  to  be  a  pioneer  in  new  and  hallowed  labors,  to  lay  foundations 
upon  which  others,  and  yet  others,  shall  build,  until  in  the  next  ages  the  work 
should  be  complete.  His  life  is  another  costly  sacrifice,  cheerfully  laid  upon 
the  altar  of  patriotism  and  religion. 

Mr  Means  was  born  in  Amherst,  N.  H  ,  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in 
1833,  entered  the  Christian  ministry  and  became  pastor  of  the  church  in  Con- 
cord, January,  1840,  .subsefjuently  assumed  charge  of  the  Lawrence  Academy, 
at  Groton,  spent  two  years  abroad,  traveling  in  Egypt  and  Palestine,  as  well  as 


K)2  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 

European  lands,  returning,  engaged  in  teaching  a  ladies'  school  in  Auburndale. 
which  position  he  had  left  but  a  few  months  prior  to  his  going  to  Newbern 

His  illness  was  of  that  distressing  character  which  clouds  the  reason,  and 
deprives  attending  friends  of  the  poor  satisfaction  of  listening  to  last  messages 
and  dying  words.  He  had  lucid  intervals,  however,  in  which  he  recognized 
the  friends  that  stood  beside  him,  and  inquired  tenderly  for  others.  After  some 
days  of  extreme  prostration,  during  which  the  tide  of  life  was  imperceptibly 
ebbing  away,  he  sweetly  breathed  his  last  a  little  after  9  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
just  as  the  band  of  the  45th,  that  had  been  serenading  Dr.  Upham,  (to  the 
regret  of  all,  about  to  leave  the  department)  were  playing  the  last  strains  of 
"  Home,  sweet  Home."  What  more  angelic  symphonies  were  just  then  engaging 
his  ear,  as  he  was  wafted  toward  "the  Christian's  home  in  glory,"  who  of  us 
can  tell?  The  stillness  of  his  chamber  was  undisturbed,  except  by  the  soft 
rustling  of  wings  from  the  spirit  land,  the  voice  of  the  Master  saying  to  his 
faithful  servant,  "  Come  up  higher."  He  was  eminently  fit  to  go.  The  grace 
of  God  had  made  him  a  pillar,  the  Holy  Spirit  a  temple.  As  we  remember 
him,  his  speaking  countenance  was  radiant  with  benevolence  ;  how  resplendent 
it  now  must  be  with  the  glory  of  God  and  the  Lamb  ! 

H.  J. 

Mr.  Means,  though  only  a  temporary  supply  in  the  pulpit  of 
the  Fort  Street  Church,  left  so  deep  an  impress  on  the  hearts  of 
those  that  knew  him,  that  we  are  constrained  to  add  somewhat 
lengthy  extracts  from  the  address  of  Prof.  Park,  upon  his  character 
as  preacher  and  teacher. 

EXTRACTS   FROM    PROF.    PARK'S  ADDRESS   DELIVERED    IN 

ANDOVER,  APRIL,  1863. 
"  Mr.  Means  preached  the  simple  gospel,  and  in  an  earnest  and  honest  way. 
His  tones  of  voice  bore  witness  that  he  believed  what  he  said,  and  felt  what  he 
believed.  He  was  so  graceful  in  his  manners,  and  so  sincere  in  his  words,  that 
he  commended  himself  at  once  as  a  pastor,  especially  to  the  sick  and  the 
troubled.  ******** 

"As  Principal  of  Lawrence  Academy,  he  will  be  long  remembered  for  the 

bounties  which  he  distributed  among  his  indigent  pupils,  as  he  was  the  active 

and  the  happy  almoner  of  the  charities  coming  to  these  pupils  from  his  kinsman 

and  friend,  the  late  Amos  Lawrence,  a  prominent  benefactor  of  the  academy. 

*  *  *  *  *  "*  * 

"  He  moved  with  ease  among  all  classes  of  men,  from  the  most  affluent  to 
the  most  indigent.  All  classes  felt  an  interest  in  him,  because  his  heart  was  so 
sensitive  and  sympathetic.  There  was  a  courtesy  in  his  manners,  correspond- 
ing with  the  delicacy  of  his  sentiments.  The  suavity  of  his  address  and  the 
tenderness  of  his  sensibilities,  made  him  a  favorite  with  refined  circles,  who 
might  have  been  otherwise  repelled  by  his  decision  of  thought  and  aim.  For, 
although  he  was  characterized  by  a  shrinking  modesty,  he  was  noted  as  well  for 
his  positive  opinions  and   firm   purposes.     His  personal  attachments  were  not 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  lOii 

stronger  than  were  his  convictions  of  duty.  With  all  his  nicety  of  taste,  he 
combined  such  an  inflexible  adherence  to  what  he  deemed  right,  that  men  were 
often  surprised  at  the  boldness  of  sentiment  which  he  uttered  in  such  bland 
and  gentle  accents.  He  could  say  what  few  other  men  would  dare  to  say.  He 
gained  friends  where  others,  as  strenuous  as  he,  would  have  made  enemies.  His 
decision  of  character  was  manifest  in  his  self-denials  for  the  wellare  of  his 
race.     Wlserever  he  lived  he  labored  in  the  service  of  the  community.     *     * 

"  His  pecuniary  charities  transcended  the  proportion  of  his  pecuniary 
resources.  He  was  whole-souled  in  every  good  scheme  to  which  his  mind  was 
called,  and  he  often  sacrificed  his  comfort  and  his  health  to  a  philanthropic 
enterprise  which  had  no  more  claim  upon  him  than  upon  those  who  lived  at 
ease  around  him 

"  His  enterprising  spirit  had  the  peculiar  tincture  of  the  Gospel.  It  was 
commonly  exhibited  in  behalf  of  the  poor.  He  became  the  friend  of  those 
who  had  no  other  friend.  In  order  to  enlist  his  sympathies  in  any  work,  it  was 
only  needful  to  assure  him  that  the  work  was  hard  as  well  as  useful,  and  if  he 
7coiilii  not,  no  one  woztld  take  hold  of  it.  He  never  labored  for  a  cause  that 
was  popular,  so  successfully,  as  for  a  cause  that  was  unpopular,  when  he  was 
fully  convinced  that  the  cause  was  right  and  good  He  seemed  to  have  a  kind 
of  instinct,  as  well  as  a  Biblihal  faith,  that  "  truth,  though  crushed  to  earth, 
would  rise  again,"  and  that  the  structure  of  the  world,  as  well  as  the  promises 
of  grace,  would  in  the  end  secure  the  triumph  of  christian  love.  Ten  years  ago 
I  heard  him  foretell  the  methods  in  which  the  down-trodden  and  the  oppressed 
of  our  land  would  gain  their  freedom  at  the  last  I  did  rot  believe  in  his 
predictions.  He  was  no  prophet.  Still,  tuhat  he  foretold  has  come  to  pass. 
In  that  kind  of  intuition  which  is  lighted  up  by  sympathy,  he  anticipated  the 
very  scenes  which  our  journalists  are  now  recording.  And  when  the  terrible 
calamities  which  he  then  predicted,  if  he  did  nol  then  foreknow,  did  come  upon 
his  afflicted  country,  he  gave  himself  as  a  free-will  offering.  He  did  not  love 
political  strife,  but  whenever  he  mingled  in  it,  he  espoused  the  interests  of  the 
poor.  He  was  like  his  Master,  who  came  from  heaven  to  earth  for  the  sake  of 
those  who  had  no  other  helper.  *  *  *  * 

"  As  Superitendent  of  Blacks,  he  had  the  direct  guardianship  of  2,500,  and 
had  the  indirect  control  of  about  12,000  liberated  slaves.  Many  of  them  were 
miserably  clothed  ;  he  provided  raiment  for  them.  Many  of  them  were  incapa- 
ble of  procuring  their  daily  food  ;  he  fed  them.  Many  of  them  were  diseased  ; 
he  sent  them  medical  aid.  Many  of  them  complained  of  wrong  treatment 
from  their  fellow-men  ;  he  inquired  into  their  grievances,  and  obtained  redress 
for  their  injuries.  W\  of  them  were  ignorant;  he  gave  them  bread  for  their 
famishing  minds.  All  of  them  needed  religious  counsel ;  he  was  a  spiritual 
father  to  them  as  well  as  a  temporal  iriend.  He  was  their  legal  defender  and 
also  their  civil  judge,  the  Provost  Marshall  committing  these  offices  to  him. 
Occasionally  he  would  hold  a  court  in  his  rooms,  and  at  this  court  the  negroes 
would  appear  before  him  and  plead  their  own  cause,  and  he  would  pronounce 
the  decision  in  his  gentle,  loving  tones.  He  would  never  allow  any  one  to 
sneer  at  the   negroes,  in    his  presence,  and  would  always  allege  in    their  behalf 


104  TWENTY-FIFTH    AI^ISTIVEKSARY 

the  various  reasons  for  a  mild  estimate  of  their  character.  We  know  how 
scrupulously  neat  he  was  in  his  own  person  ;  yet,  he  would  walk  among  the 
crowd  of  degraded  negroes,  giving  his  right  hand  to  those  on  one  side  of  him, 
and  his  left  hand  to  those  on  the  other  side  of  him,  not  shrinking  from  contact 
with  those  for  whom  he  came  to  lay  down  his  life,  as  his  Blessed  Lord  had  come 
to  die  for  publicans  and  sinners.  His  opinion  of  the  negroes  he  often  expressed 
in  his  wanted  style  of  clear  decision.  In  a  letter  dated  only  a  month  ago,  he 
writes .  "  All  questions  of  the  capacity  and  intelligence  of  the  blacks  are 
impertinent.  It  is  the  white  man  who  troubles  the  negro,  the  government,  the 
world  and  its  Ruler.  The  black  man  is  brave,  and  sensible,  and  patient,  and 
willing  and  obedient.  We  call  him  a  coward,  and  refuse  to  allow  him  to  prove 
his  courage.  We  call  him  vicious,  and  deny  him  all  opportunity  to  demonstrate 
his  virtue.  We  oppress  and  depress  him,  and  then  complain  that  he  is  not 
equal  to  the  free  white  man.  Oh  !  pray  for  the  poor  blacks  ;  they  are  the  Lord's 
uncomplaining  poor.     He  will  avenge  them." 

"  On  the  i6th  of  January  he  wrote  :  "  The  negroes  are  capable  enough  in 
the  main.  I  have  never  had  reason  to  change  a  single  opinion  about  them. 
Indeed,  the  elements  of  a  judgment  are  very  simple.  Thus :  they  are  rational 
beings,  with  all  the  faculties  ;  they  are  moral  beings,  with  all  the  rights,  privi- 
leges and  responsibilities  ;  therefore,  the  axiom,  '  what  man  has  done,  man 
may  do,'  applies  to  them  as  to  all  colors.  The  conclusion  is  modified  only  by 
the  circumstances  of  successive  generations  of  barbarizing  servitude.  The 
solution  of  all  questions  about  them  is  sure  in  time  to  be  wrought  out." 

"  On  the  27th  of  last  December,  he  wrote  :  "  My  contrabands  !  my  contra- 
bands !  Not  for  money,  not  for  sflver  and  gold,  would  I  labor  in  their  cause. 
My  soul  is  sustained  by  a  steady  purpose  and  desire  to  do  them  good.  How 
have  I  desired  the  high,  the  noble  privilege  of  working  for  them,  of  shaping 
their  condition,  of  organizing  their  infant  society,  of  regulating  their  nascent 
institutions?  It  seems  a  dream  to  me,  but  so  it  appears:  God  has  accounted 
me  worthy  of  the  opportunity.  At  present  my  cares  are  almost  purely  secular, 
relating  to  their  day's  work,  their  wages,  their  clothing,  their  food,  their  lodging, 
their  protection.  But  soon  I  shall  emerge  from  this  and  expatiate  in  efforts  for 
their  elevation  as  intellectual  and  moral  beings.  I  am  making  a  little  progress 
in  winning  their  confidence,  and  causing  them  to  feel  that  I  mean  to  be  kind 
and  good  to  them.  **=!=**** 

"On  Ma'ch  17th,  shortly  before  his  death,  he  wrote  one  of  his  familiar  and 
characteristic  letters  :  "  The  Lord  is  always  so  much  better  to  me  than  I  deserve, 
that  I  can't  help  thinking  He  has  a  '  favor  to  me.'  At  any  rate  I  mean  to  try 
and  be  much  better  than  ever  before,  out  of  gratiiude  for  past  favors.  What  a 
sweet  christian  theory  it  is,  that  '  whom  the  Lord  loves.  He  chastens  !'  He 
don't  neglect  His  favorites,  but  keeps  after  them,  and  blesses  them,  and  scourges 
them,  and  smiles  on  them,  and  uses  all  acts  to  make  them  worthy  at  last,  to  be 
brought  home  with  honor.  It  will  be  a  wonderful  talk  we  will  have  together 
in  tlie  Paradise  of  God,  over  all  the  checkered  experiences  of  this  life.  I  very 
often  give  you  my  thoughts  and  prayers  ;  I  hope  you  don't  forget  me.  If  you 
do  not  keep  a  sharp  look  out,  I  shall  slip   in  before  you,  and  one  of  these  days 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  105 


go  up.  Let  us  turn  our  regards  more  than  ever,  more  and  more,  towards  the 
future  recompense  of  reward.  We  can  win  it  by  our  faith,  never  by  our  works. 
It  is  all  purchased  and  promised.  When  we  yet  it,  we  can't  be  proud  of  it,  for 
it  will  be  stained  by  no  merits  of  ours.  But  it  is  all  the  mo>e  sure  to  us  if  we 
love  Jesus,  the  meritorious  sacrifice  and  High  Priest.  He  gives  it;  we  must 
accc]it  it.  Thai  is  the  whole  of  salvation.  He  gives,  we  take;  He  suffers  ; 
we  enjoy."  *:■:****  :i-.  * 

"  Three  of  the  hymns  which  he  reiterated  often  during  his  last  illness  were 
singularly  pertinent  to  his  condition.  He  had  left  his  wife  and  children,  sepaiate 
from  each  other  as  well  as  from  himself:  so  he  uttered  the  verses : 

"  Jesus,  I  my  cross  have  taken, 
All  to  leave  and  follow  Thee." 

"  He  was  wearied  out  and  worn  down  with  the  tale  which  was  daily  brought 
to  him,  of  man's  inhumanity  to  man  ;  so  he  soothed  himself  with  the  stanza  : 

•'  Well,  the  delightful  day  will  come."  &e. 

"  The  city  in  which  he  was  lingering  out  his  last  hours  had  been  threatened 
with  an  attack  from  the  rebel  army.  It  was  alive  with  troops  ready  to  defend 
it,  but  the  women  and  children  had  been  ordered  to  retire  into  the  suburbs  for 
safety.      He  had  heard  the  roar  of  cannon  ;  so  he  whispered  forth  the  words  : 

"  No  more  fatigue,  no  more  distress." 

*  *  *  *  if  *  * 

"  No  rude  alarms  of  raging  foes." 

"  Just  before  he  became  too  weak  to  converse,  he  slightly  raised  his  head 
and  said  :  "  All  is  so  clear,  so  bright,  so  beautiful." 

"  The  last  syllables  he  uttered  aloud  were  evidently  tliose  of  a  prayer,  for 
his  hands  were  clasped  and  his  lips  moved  as  if  in  devotion,  and  he  whispered 
forth  the  two  words :  "  Heavenly  Father,"  And  these  were  a  fitting  close  of  his 
child-like  life.  ******* 

"  A  friend  who  was  present,  wrote  the  following  description  of  the  funeral 
scene  on  April  Sth  ;  "  When  I,  with  several  friends,  drew  near  the  church,  we 
-aw  a  crowd  of  blacks  in  waiting  for  the  doors  to  be  opened.  The  large  galleries 
were  crowded  with  negroes.  Their  presence  had  all  the  effect  of  a  heavy 
drapery  of  mourning.  As  I  entered  the  church,  this  was  very  impressive,  this 
li^'ittg  sable  curtain.  ****** 

"Dr.  Stone,  of  Park  Street  Church,  Boston,  offered  the  prayer.  He  gave 
God  thanks  for  the  boon  to  friends,  and  to  the  world,  of  such  a  lovely,  gentle, 
able,  faithful  servant  of  the  Most  High  In  his  pastoral  work  ;  as  teacher ;  in 
all  the  sweet  relations  of  life  ;  for  all  the  graces,  divinely  bestowed,  he  returned 
thanks  to  the  Great  Giver.  For  his  labors  as  chaplain,  and  his  later  efforts  for 
the  uplifting  of  men  oppressed  and  degrade.!,  he  blessed  the  Lord.  Most  fer- 
vently he  prayed  that  He  would  raise  up  for  tki'in  another  who  should  receive 
the  mantle  of  him  who  had  gone  up  higher.  At  this  stage  of  the  prayer,  it  was 
alTecting  indeed  to  notice  the  suppressed  "  aniens  "  and  groans  of  the  negroes, 
who  are  wont  to  be  demonstrative   in  their  worship.     They  evidently  felt  that 


106  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 

here  they  must  not  give  way  to  their  emotions  ;  but  from  every  portion  of  the 
house  the  subdued  responses  could  be  heard.  *  *  *  * 

"  I  noticed  that  as  the  procession  moved  along,  both  officers  and  soldiers 
who  were  passing  on  the  sidewalks,  stopped  respectfully  and, removed  their  caps, 
every  sentinel  presented  arms,  the  patrol  guard  of  che  city  stopped  and  presented 
arms  ;  in  short,  every  token  of  respect  which  it  was  possible  to  show  to  any 
high  official,  was  voluntarily  offered  to  the  remains  of  him  who  was  so  universally 
beloved,  so  much  respected.  But  I  have  omitted  the  most  prominent  feature  of 
the  procession,  viz:  the  motly  crowd  of  blacks  of  all  ages  and  conditions. 
Some  walked  in  the  street,  behind  the  procession,  but  they  mostly  followed  on 
the  sidewalks,  in  no  order  ;  many,  however,  were  in  the  street  on  each  side  of 
the  hearse  and  procession.  I  noticed  aged  men  and  women,  white-headed, 
tottering  along,  groaning  aloud.  I  could  fancy  that  they  were  saying  in  their 
hearts  ,  "  We  thought  it  had  been  he  who  would  redeem  our  Israel."  All  felt 
that  they  had  lost  a  friend.  Everybody  had  a  kind  word  to  speak  of  the 
departed,  and  a  hope  to  express  that  the  "poor  lady  at  home  should  not  take  it 
hard  ;  God  bless  her."  ***** 

"  When  we  stand  at  the  bar  of  Him  who  came  to  save  the  poor  and  down- 
trodden, we  shall  be  astonished  at  the  welcome  to  us :  "  Well  done,  good  and 
faithful  servants,"  for  the  grace  of  God  will  be  always  amazing  to  those  who 
receive  it.  Still,  there  does  seem  to  be  more  of  a  fitness  in  the  words  of  the 
Judge  to  our  friend,  who  died  in  the  service  of  the  poor,  than  to  the  great 
majority  of  us  who  hope  to  hear  these  wondrous  words:  "  I  was  an  hungered, 
and  thou  gavest  me  meat  ;  I  was  thirsty,  and  thou  gavest  me  drink  ;  I  was 
sick,  and  thou  didst  visit  me  ;  I  was  in  prison,  and  thou  didst  coiii^  unto  me." 

''  Inasmuch  as  thou  hast  done  it  uato  one  of  the  least  of  these  my  brethren, 
thou  hast  done  it  unto  7ne" 

The  eighth  letter  is  from  Rev.  Edwin  Hall,  D.  D.,  of  Auburn 
Theological  Seminary.     It  was  read  on  anniversary  evening. 

Auburn,  N.  Y.,  February  gth,  1874. 
Rev.  a.  T.   Pierson  : 

Dear  Sir  : — It  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  be  present  at  the  commem- 
oration of  the  Twenty-fifth  Anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the  Fort  Street 
Church,  were  it  not  that  my  duties  in  the  seminary,  and  my  ill-health,  render 
it  impracticable.  I  remember  with  much  interest  the  two  pleasant  months 
which  I  spent  with  the  people  of  that  church  while  supplying  their  pulpit 
during  our  seminary  vacation  of  1S58.  I  have  great  reason  to  remember  the 
great  generosity  of  the  ladies  of  the  congregation,  who,  after  hearing  of  the 
great  need  of  our  seminary,  sent  to  us,  after  ray  return,  a  box  of  bedquilts  and 
comfortables,  the  largest  and  most  valuable,  I  think,  that  ever  came  to  the 
seminary,  and  which  have  ever  since,  as  often  as  I  have  visited  student's  rooms, 
reminded  me  of  the  pleasant  and  liberal  donors.  With  such  helpers,  and  with 
the  common  blessing  of  the  Lord  upon  those  who  love  to  do  good,  the  Fort 
Street  Church   may  well  be  expected  to  flourish.     I  should  love  to  meet  with 


FOUT   STIIKET    I'RESliYTKUlAX    CllUiail.  JO" 

many  of  the  people  with  whom  I  became  ac(|iiainted  there,  and  should  rejoice 
to  be  present  at  the  proposed  anniversary,  but  it  is  ([uite  beyond  my  power 

\'ours  with  much  esteem, 

EDWIN    IIAl.L. 

Mr.  Walker's  address  mentions,  with  gratefid  recognition,  the 

services  of  Rev.  W.  A.  McCorkle,  (now    D.  1).),  from   whom   this 

ninth  letter  comes. 

Princeton,  April  2d,  1S74. 
Rkv.  a.  T.   Tiekson  : 

My  Dear  Brother  : — My  remembrance  of  the  Fort  Street  Church  goes 
back  as  far  as  the  year  1858.  I  knew  something  of  it  before,  but  not  until 
then  had  I  any  intimate  acquaintance  with  its  people  and  its  affairs.  During 
July  of  that  year  I  made  my  entry  into  Michigan  as  a  citizen.  Arriving  in 
Detroit  with  my  family,  I  took  up  a  temporary  residence  there  until  a  suitable 
held  of  labor  should  upen  to  me.  The  Fort  Street  Church  had,  for  .some  time, 
been  without  a  pastor ;  they  had  opened  a  correspondence  with  Dr.  Eldridge, 
and  were  then  waiting,  until  he  could  visit  them,  with  the  expectation  of  calling 
him.  As  he  was  just  returning  from  Europe  considerable  time  would  neces- 
sarily pass  away  before  the  question  would  be  finally  settled.  I  was,  therefore, 
called  upon  by  one  of  the  Elders  :  first,  to  supply  for  a  sabbath  or  two  ;  and 
then  to  continue  during  my  convenience,  or  until  Dr.  Eldridge  could  arrive  on 
the  ground.  Thus,  I  became  a  temporary  supply  for  the  Fort  Street  Church, 
and  for  four  months  ministered  to  its  congregation.  It  was  the  gateway  by 
which  I  entered  into  the  State  and  Synod  of  Michigan.  My  first  friends  in  the 
State,  with  a  few  exceptions,  were  made  in  it,  and,  so  far  as  I  know,  they  are 
all  friends  to  this  day. 

The  Eldership,  if  I  remember  rightly,  was  composed  of  Messrs.  Walker, 
Knight  and  Zug.  Of  these,  the  first  and  last  remain  to  this  present  ; 
brother  Knight  is  not,  for  the  Lord  has  taken  him. 

I  accepted  a  call  to  the  church  in  Marshall  a  few  weeks  before  Dr.  Eldridge 
took  charge  of  the  Fort  Street  Church,  and  thus  terminated  my  connection 
with  it  as  a  supply. 

I  have  only  pleasant  remembrances  of  my  service  in  conection  with  the 
people.  They  were  kind  to  me  then  ;  they  have  been  kind  ever  since.  After 
years  brought  me  in  contact  with  the  church  under  different  circumstances. 
When  illness  laid  me  aside  from  my  work  in  Marshall,  I  found  a  temporary 
residence  again  in  Detroit,  and  a  home  among  the  people  of  the  Fort  Street 
Church.  As  a  hearer,  I  sat  with  them  in  their  house  of  worship,  until  a  kind 
Trovidence  restored  my  health.  And  when  Detroit  was  no  longer  a  temporary, 
but  a  permanent  home,  and  when  I  was  pastor  of  the  First  Church,  and  they 
were  destitute  of  a  pastor,  it  was  very  pleasant  to  have  them  turn  to  me  for 
such  offices  as  they  needed,  and  I  could  render. 

Vou  will  remember,  my  dear  brother,  that  it  was  my  pleasure  to  welcome 
you  upon  your  arrival  in  Detroit,  and,  at  your  installation,  to  deliver  to  you  the 
charge  which  still  rests  upon  you,  and  with  which,  by  Divine  grace,  I  believe 
it  is  your  earnest  endeavor  faithfully  to  comply. 


108  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVEESAEY 


The  church  ha>,  througli  many  vicissitudes  and  not  a  few  discouragements, 
made  its  way,  under  Divine  guidance,  from  a  state  of  feebleness  to  a  condition 
of  strength.  Since  your  pastorate  began,  much  has  been  done,  and  now  the 
church  stands  among  the  strong  ones  in  the  central  part  of  our  country. 

I  congratulate  you,  my  brethren,  upon  having  reached  so  desirable  a  posi- 
tion ;  upon  the  memorial  services  you  have  so  lately  held  upon  your  Twenty- 
fifth  Annivei'sary  ;  and  upon  the  bright  future  which  lies  before  you.  May  the 
present  pastorate   be   long  continued,   and  may  abundant  blessings   rest  upon 

pastor  and  people. 

Sincerely  yours, 

WM.  A.   McCORKLE. 

The  tenth  letter  is  from  the  Rev.  Edwin  B.  Raffensperger,  who 
preached  for  some  \veeks  immediately  previous  to  Mr.  Pierson's 
call  and  settlement.     It  arrived  too  late  for  reading  on  Anniversary 

Day. 

Cumberland,  Md.,  February  r6th,  1874. 
Rev.  a.  T.  Pierson  : 

My  Dear  Brother  : — Were  it  possible  for  me  to  come  down  just  now  from 
my  mountain  parish  into  the  plains  of  Detroit,  I  would  like  to  join  you  in 
celebrating  the  Twenty-fifth  Anniversary  of  the  Fort  Street  Presbyterian 
Church.  Your  beautiful  card  of  invitation  brings  to  mind  the  few  Sabbaths 
I  spent  with  your  dear  people  when  they  were  waiting  for  the  man  whom  they 
had  selected  as  their  pastor.  Great  expectations  had  been  raised  in  their  minds 
concerning  you,  and  I  am  happy  to  know  that  all  these  have  been  realized  ; 
that  the  great  Head  of  the  church  has  signally  blessed  your  ministry  in  Detroit, 
and  that  through  your  instrumentality  such  great  praise  has  been  conferred  on 
your  congregation.  Long  may  you  live  to  fill  the  distinguished  position  that 
you  now  occupy. 

The  Fort  Street  Church  is  celebrated  throughout  the  nation  for  its  princely 
hospitality.  The  Lord  grant  it,  in  coming  years,  a  corresponding  celebrity  for 
the  effusions  of  His  grace,  is  the  prayer  of 

Your  fellow  worker, 

EDWIN  B.  RAFFEN.SPERGER. 

The  eleventh  letter  was  read  in  connection  with  the  anniversary 
exercises,  from  the  personal  connection  of  the  writer  with  the 
present  pastor,  as  will  appear  from  the  letter  itself. 

New  York,  February  nth,  1874. 
My*  Dear  Brother  Pierson: — I  have  just  received  an  invitation  to  the 
Twenty-fifth  Anniversary  of  the  Fort  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which 
you  are  the  esteemed  pastor.  It  would  afford  me  real  pleasure  to  be  present, 
and  to  take  part  in  the  exercises  of  an  occasion  so  interesting  to  your  people 
and  to  yourself,  calling  up  to  memory  so  many  changes,  so  many  joys  and  so 
many  sorrows  ;  so  much  culture,  so  much  toiling,  sowing,  and  yet  so  much  fruit, 
such  a  harvest  of    blessings  !     You  may  all,  on  such  an  occasion,  raise  your 


FORT   STREET    I'UESIJ YTEHIA.N    ('IIL'KCII.  109 

Kbene/.er,  and  with  united  voice  say:  "  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us." 
In  your  personal  success  as  a  minister  I  greatly  rejoice,  and  pray  that  the  past 
may  be  the  earnest,  the  pledge  of  yet  larger  blessings  in  reserve.  The  twenty- 
five  years  to  come  are  pregnant  with  mighty  events — untold  blessings  to  the 
church  of  our  God.  Blessed  is  the  man  that  can  live  and  labor  for  the  Master 
during  these  eventful  years,  and  be  in  the  conflict,  and  witness  the  coming 
triumphs  of  His  kingdom.  This,  my  dear  brother,  will  be  your  privilege. 
Clladly  would  I  tarry  and  toil  on,  that  I  might  rejoice  with  the  sowers  and  the 
reapers  in  the  great  harvest  of  the  world.  But  my  work  is  almost  done.  Still 
I  desire  to  be  out  in  the  field  doing  my  allotted  and  remaining  work,  until  the 
shadows  of  life's  evening  fall,  and  the  voice  of  the  dear  Master  is  heard  through 
all  the  vineyard  saying :  "  Call  the  laborers  and  give  them  their  hire."  There 
is  even  now  a  voice  continually  sounding  in  my  ears  urging  me  to  "  Work 
whilst  it  is  called  to-day,  for  the  night  cometh,  when  no  man  can  work."  Of  the 
brevity  of  our  season  of  spiritual  toil  I  am  deeply  conscious.  Of  all  the 
Presbyterian  pa.-tors  laboring  in  this  city  when  I  was  ordained  to  the  work  of 
the  ministry,  not  one  now  abides  at  his  post,  and  only  three,  out  of  more  than 
twenty,  survive,  so  that  I  am  the  oldest  in  the  pastorate,  of  all  the  Presbyterian 
minister:  of  the  city,  and  yet  I  do  not  feel  old.  My  eye  is  still  undimmed  and 
my  natural  force  unabated.  Still  I  know  that  my  time  draweth  near.  But  I 
rejoice  that  I  i-hall  live  in  my  sons,  natural  and  spiritual — those  '  that  I  have 
begotten  in  the  gospel."  Thou  art  my  Timothy,  and  I  charge  thee,  "  Preach 
the  Word  " — "  Neglect  not  the  gift  that  is  in  thee,  which  was  given  thee  by 
prophesy,  and  with  the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  Presbytery.  Take  heed 
unto  thyself,  and  unto  the  doctrines,  continue  in  them,  for  in  doing  this,  thou 
shalt  both  save  thyself  and  them  that  hear  thee." 

Wishing  you  all  joy  in  the  Lord,  and  the  fellowship  of  His  spirit,  and  many 
years  of  labor  and  fruition, 

I  am  yours  affectionately  in  the  gospel, 

S.   D.  BURCHARD. 

The  following  words  of  cheer,  from  one  who,  as  a  co-laborer, 
occupied  the  pulpit  of  the  Jefferson  avenue  Presbyterian  Church 
during  more  than  half  of  the  years  which  measure  the  life  of  our 
own  church,  would  have  been  read  at  the  anniversary  but  for  the 
fact  that  they,  through  some  mistake,  made  their  appearance  not 
until  several  days  after ;  their  herald  on  the  day  of  our  festival 
being  a  beautifully  directed  envelope  containing  a  blank  envelope 
whicli  liad  been  accidentally  enclosed  instead  of  the  leffer. 

Geneva,  N.  Y..  February  i6th,  1874. 
My  Dear  Piersun  : — I  have  looked  at  that  programme  and  that  beautiful 
card  of  invitation  very  often  within  the  last  ten  days,  and  until  to-day  have 
hoped  I  might  "  turn  up"  and  become  a  "  magna  pa — rs  to  a  stirring  speech." 
One  thing  I  could  do  with  success,  I  am  sure,  J.  e..  give  attention  to  the 
matters  that  will  go  off — not  come  off — in  the  parlors  of  your  church  on  Wed- 


110  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 


nesday  evening.  The  fame  of  the  entertainments  given  by  your  good  people 
cannot  exceed  the  fact.  You  have  faith  in  eating  and  drinking,  and  "  show 
your  faith  by  your  works,"  and  I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  be  with  you. 

But  pray  tell  me  why  you  are  celebrating  this  Twenty-fifth  Anniversary  ? 
Is  it  because  you  have  lived  so  long?  have  grown  to  such  a  stature?  Why, 
my  dear  brother,  that  church  is  good  for  a  century.  Or,  are  you  keeping  a  holi- 
day because  you  are  so  old,  yet  feel  so  young?  The  whole  affair  seems  to  me 
as  hilarious  as  the  pranks  of  a  frisky  boy.  I  trow  the  church  is  well  cared  for, 
and  in  the  tide  of  prosperity  ;  has  good  substantial  provender  every  Sabbath, 
or  they  would  be  gaunt  and  spiritless. 

Sincerely  do  I  rejoice  in  your  festival,  g,nd  in  the  occasion  for  it.  If  I  may 
depute  some  one  to  speak  for  me  on  that  oceasion,  I  will  depute jj'i?«  to  give  my 
congratulations  and  compliments  to  old  friends  assembled  with  you.  May  the 
Fort  Street  Presbyterian  Church  stand  for  another  twenty-five  years,  and  throw 
abroad  an  increasing  light,  in  the  city  and  in  the  State  ;  be  a  church  of  genuine 
revivals  and  signalized  by  the  rich  gifts  of  God's  grace.  May  its  entire  mem- 
bership be  devout,  loyal  to  truth,  and  a  strong  support  of  their  much  loved 
pastor,  who  is  loved  by  none  more  than  by  his 

Affectionate  brother, 

W.  HOGARTH. 

The  next  letter  deserves  a  place  here,  if  only  for  the  long  con- 
nection of  the  writer  with  the  evangelical  work  of  the  State. 

Big  Rapids.   February  14th,   1874. 
Rev.  a.  T.  Pierson  : 

Dear  Brother  : — I  received  from  my  wife,  a  day  or  two  since,  a  letter, 
saying  that  an  invitation  had  come  to  me  to  attend  the  Twenty-fifth  Anniversary 
of  the  organization  of  the  Fort  Street  Church  As  I  am  the  oldest  working 
minister  in  the  Synod,  and  have  long  been  acquainted  with  many  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church,  and  my  wife  was  for  a  time  a  member  of  your  church,  I  am 
gratified  to  receive  the  invitation,  though  my  appointments  are  such  that  I  shall 
not  be  able  to  accept  I  have  written  ray  wife,  requesting  her  to  attend,  and 
hope  she  will  be  with  you  on  that  interesting  occasion.  I  am  glad  your  church 
celebrate  that  event.  It  is  right  that  they  should  recount  the  day  of  small 
things  ;  it  is  right  that  they  should  talk  over  the  past  and  praise  the  Great 
Head  of  the  church  for  what  He  has  done. 

I  wish  to  say  that  I  was  well  acquainted  with  the  first  pastor  of  your 
church.  Rev.  R.  R.  Kellogg.  My  acquaintance  was  formed  in  a  revival  at 
Romeo.  I  labored  with  him  in  scenes  of  deep  interest  among  his  own  people, 
when  the  Spirit  of  God  was  present  in  power  I  was  with  him,  also,  in  a  time 
of  deep  distress,  when  his  heart  was  wrung  with  anguish,  at  the  time  of  his 
dismission  from  that  church.  I  knew  him  to  be  a  man  of  culture,  an  excellent 
spirit  and  an  earnest  christian.  I  also  read  with  deep  emotion  the  account  of 
the  close  of  his  ministry  and  his  useful  life,  as  he  passed  from  earth  to  his  rest 
and  reward  in  heaven. 

I  was  also  acquainted  with  Major  Rowland,  oae  of  the  first  elders   of  your 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAX   CHURCH.  Ill 


church,  a  noble-minded,  large-hearted  christian  gentleman,  and  his  amiable, 
<;odly  wife.  I  had  shared  their  hospitality  some  days,  with  my  wife  I  loved 
him,  and  trust  he  received  an  abundant  entrance  into  the  presence  of  his  Saviour 
and  God.  v 

II.  K.  Knight,  Esq.,  another  Elder  of  your  church,  was  a  man  of  a  choice 
spirit,  and' in  many  respects  a  man  of  rare  qualifications  to  do  good.  Asa 
sabbath  school  superintendent  he  had  few  equals.  He  loved  children  ;  he 
loved  the  church  ;  he  loved  to  work  for  the  building  up  of  the  church.  He 
died  in  the  midst  of  life  with  the  harness  on.  Ills  memory  is  fragrant  and 
his  influence  will  long  live. 

I  trust  your  anniversary  will   do  much  good.     The  reminiscences   of  the 

past  wake  up  the  tenderest  emotions  in  our  hearts.     I  trust  the  good  Spirit  of 

our  God  may  be  with  you  all  and  showers  of  blessings  descend  on  your  church 

and  congregation. 

\'ours  sincerely  and  trulv, 

CALVIN  CLARK. 

For   a   similar   reason,  we  publish    the  following  brief  note  of 

congratulation  : 

i8^i.  July  10,  1844.  1874. 

Organized.  Present  Pastor  Installed.  Nearing  the  city. 

I  Tim.  6:20  Rev.  21:23. 

Richland,  Mich.,  February  i6lh,  1874. 

RkV.    a.    T.    I'lERSON  : 

De.vr  Brother, — The  oldest  pastor,  Presbyterian,  in  Michigan,  sendeth 
greeting  to  the  Rev.  bishop  of  the  Fort  Street  Presbyterian  Church  of  Detroit, 
Mich.  Thank  you  for  the  invitation  to  be  present  at  your  Anniversary  Services 
of  the  iSth  instant.  Distance,  time  and  work  will  not  permit.  May  the  bless- 
ing of  our  Lord  rest  upon  you,  "  All  that  are  with  me  salute  thee.  Greet 
them  that  love  us  in  the  faith.     Grace  be  with  you  all.     Amen." 

^'ours  fraternally, 

MILTON  BRADLEY. 

As  has  already  been  explained,  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Hall,  of  New 
York  city,  was  expected  to  take  part  in  the  Anniversary.  The 
sul)joined  communication  explains  his  absence. 

30  West  i8th  Street,  N.  Y.,  February  3d,  1874. 

Dear  Sir, — Doctor  Hall  has  gone  by  the  night  train  to  Philadelphia,  and 
has  begged  of  me  to  write  to  you  and  express  how  very  much  he  regrets  not 
being  able  to  go  to  Detroit  at  all  this  season.  He  is  overrun  with  work  ;  the 
pressure  is  so  great  that  I  sometimes  dread,  notwithstanding  his  iron  frame, 
that  he  will  be  broken  down. 

There  are  at  present  public  services  held  all  over  this  city,  and  the  anxiety 
is  very  great  that  a  special  blessing  will  follow  and  attend  them.  He  says  he 
cannot  be  absent.  He  is  really  quite  grieved  at  being  obliged  to  write  to  you 
to  this  effect.  Trusting,  dear  sir,  thai  the  Lord  will  direct  you  to  some  one 
whose  words  and  preaching  he  will  greatly  bless, 

I  am  vours  very  sincerely, 

EMILY  HALL. 
The  Rev.  A.  T.  Pierson. 


112  TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 

Beside  these  letters,  which  have  been  embodied  here,  fully  or 
by  extract,  it  should  be  mentioned  that  very  courteous  responses 
came  to  us,  among  many  others,  from  the  following  Reverend 
gentlemen  : 

Roswell  D.  Hitchcock,  D.  D.,  L.  L.D.,  Henry  Kendall,  D.  D., 
Henry  M.  Field,  D.  D.,  C  S.  Robinson,  D.  D.,  of  New  York  city; 
Robert  W.  Patterson,  D.  D.,  Arthur  Mitchell,  F.  L.  Patton,  D.  D., 
of  Chicago,  Illinois ;  Henry  A.  Nelson,  D.  D.,  E.  D.  Morris,  D.  D., 
of  Cincinnati,  Ohio ;  Wm.  Speer,  D.  D.,  of  Philadelphia ;  F.  A. 
Noble,  D.  D.,  of  Pittsburgh ;  R.  A.  Sawyer,  D.  D.,  of  Irvington, 
N.  Y. ;  T.  Ralston  Smith,  D.  D.,  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y.  ;  Wm.  C 
Dickinson,  of  Lafayette,  Ind. ;  A.  D.  Moore,  of  Northumberland, 
Pa. ;  M.  W.  Jacobus,  D.  D.,  of  Allegheny,  Pa.;  John  Scott,  of  Lon- 
don, Ont.  ;  Robert  Norton,  of  St.  Catherines,  Ont. 

Also,  from  the  following  clergymen  in  our  State  : 

The  Revs.  J.  Morgan  Smith,  of  Grand  Rapids  ;  G.  L.  Foster, 
of  Howell ;  Job  Pierson,  of  Ionia;  J.  M.  Allis,  of  Lansing;  D.  M. 
Cooper,  of  Albion  ;  E.  J.  Boyd,  of  Monroe,  and  J.  W.  Brown  and 
George  Worthington,  of  Detroit. 

We  may  mention,  also,  the  following,  as  among  the  persons 
whose  letters  we  would  be  glad  to  publish,  did  space  permit  : 

Hon.  D.  B.  Greene,  of  Ypsilanti,  Mich. ;  J.  A.  Peck,  Esq.,  of 
Kalamazoo,  Mich. ;  D.  M.  Stiger,  Esq.,  of  Jersey  City,  N.  Y. ;  E. 
P.  Woods,  Esq.,  of  Lowell,  Mass, ;  John  Gray,  Esq.,  of  New 
York  City ;  S.  H.  Wheeler.  Esq.,  of  Newark,  N.  J. ;  William  K. 
Muir,  Esq.,  of  Hamilton,  Ont.,  and  Hon.  J.  V.  Campbell,  and 
Hon.  C.  C.  Trowbridge,  of  Detroit. 

In  closing  this  volume,  to  which  nothing  remains  to  be  added 
but  the  lists  of  members  of  the  church  and  congregaticn,  the 
compiler  has  only  to  add  a  personal  expression  of  gratitude  to 
all  whose  cheerful  co-operation  has  helped  to  make  his  burden 
lighter  ;  and,  with  the  devout  hope  that  all,  who  in  any  way  con- 
tributed to  this  delightful  commemoration,  may  join  in  the  celebra- 
tion of  that  Love  which  alone  made  the  existence  of  the  Christian 
Church  possible,  which  alone  has  preserved  it  amid  the  convul- 
sions of  human  history,  and  which  alone  shall  crown  its  militant 
experience  with  its  triumphant  estate,we  close  these  records  of 
our 

TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY. 


FORT   STREET   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


113 


Si^torid^l   I<i0t>^ 


Ol  members  of  the  church  from  the  beginning,  and  of  the  pres- 
ent congregation,  are  added,  to  make  this  history  complete  to  the 
date  of  the  issue  of  this  ])am|)hlet.  In  the  list  of  menil)ers  the  fol~ 
lowing  marks  are  used  ; 

*Withdra\vn  by  Letter. 

fDropped  from  the  Roll,  because  non-attendant  or  present 
residence  unknown. 

JDeceased. 

II  Suspended. 

v^Now  in  the  Ministry- 


1849 


Samuel  Zug, 
Anne  S.  Zug, 
*Sylvester  Larned, 
*Helen  L.  Larned, 
*Sarah  I,.  Harmon, 
fWilliam  Gilbert, 
fElizabeth  Gilbert, 
♦Robert  Beatty, 
*CharIotte  Thompson, 
*  Helen  Weir, 
Samuel  P.  Wilcox, 
I  Louisa  Wilcox, 
^Catharine  A.  Fisher, 
♦Delia  Mather, 
{:Thonias  Rowland, 
^Catharine  Rowland. 
*Mary  E.  Kellogg, 
♦William  Ilaworth, 
fMarion  Rutherford, 
♦David  O.  Penfield, 
♦Sarah  Penfield, 
♦Elizabeth  Weir, 
f  Mary  J.  Weir, 
♦John  J.  Briscoe, 
♦Mary  Briscoe, 
J  Margaret  Stewart, 
♦Eliza  S    Elder, 
♦Harriet  L    Bond, 
t Harriet  Prentis, 
^Cherry  Weir, 


15 


♦Rebecca  Abernethy, 
♦Albert  G.  Fuller, 
♦Eunice  Fuller, 
ifChester  Spaulding, 
f  Fanny  Spaulding, 
lEunice  Mitchell, 
Nancy  Hoxie, 
♦Lydia  E.  Pond, 
fMargaret  Mattison, 
♦Maria  Hoag, 
IJohn  Cook. 
♦Delia  E.  Norton, 
♦Fanny  B.  Reed. 
♦Jane  Van  Allen, 
♦Washington  E.  Moore, 
♦Rachel  Moore, 
§  David  M.  Cooper, 
♦John  Ronieyn, 
♦Joseph  (i.  Selden, 
Catharine  Shepard. 
Margaret  Mair. 
♦James  Elder, 
♦Letitia  Elder, 
♦Esther  Elder, 
♦Jonathan  R.  Axtell. 
♦Mary  Axtell, 
JHannab  C.  Smith. 
fMary  A.  Schoonniaker, 
|Elizabeih  Schooninaker, 
♦Mary  A.  Coburn. 


114 


TWENTY-FIFTH    AJTNIVERSARY 


1  8.1iO. 


:|Sarah  Allen, 
f  Lucinda  Allen, 
*Ann  McGraw, 
^Mary  Conner, 
*Mary  Bodine, 
fMaiy  Grout, 
Mary  A.  Shaw, 
Emily  C.  McMichael, 
:{:Sarah  Burroughs, 
*John  Robinson, 
*James  A.  Hinchman, 
Benjamin  F.  Bush, 
^Louisa  Praigg, 
*James  Rankin, 
"Margaret  Rankin, 
*  David  B,  Reeve, 
*Ellen  J.  Reeve, 
^Martha  Fielding. 
*Diana  E.  Parker, 
*Mariah  Guild, 
"Simon  Guild, 


*  Hubbard  Trowbridge, 
*Edna  I.  Trowbridge, 

*  Henry  P.  Hoag, 
fSarah  Ferguson, 
*Julia  Collins, 
'Dewitt  Putty, 
||William  Gunning, 
|]Charles  Brooke, 
^lAlbert  G.  Fuller, 
"Eunice  Fuller, 
"Anna  D.  Collins, 
"Mary  J.  Kellogg, 
"Jane  A.  Jack, 
"Agnes  Robertson, 
Selumiel  Champ, 
Anna  A.  Dickson, 
"Albert  Hoag, 


"Nathan  P.  Simonds, 
tEmeline  Simonds, 


IJames  Guild, 
*Cornelia  Guild, 
*Jane  Wood, 
fMary  Rowe, 
*Francis  C.  Clark, 
William  N.  Evans, 
*Margaret  C.  Sprague, 

*  Laura  A.  Briscoe, 
*Delia  Sprague, 

*  Eliza  Beaty, 
"Mary  A.  Beaty, 
"Margaret  Beaty, 
f  Mary  Connelly, 
"Martha  E.  Gulley, 
Edwin  S.  Benedict 
Caroline  Y.  D.  Benedict, 
JHenry  C.  Knight, 
Frances  A.  Knight, 
^Harriet  E.  Gibson, 
"Michael  Henderson, 
llJames  Weir. 


1  8.?  1 . 


"George  Eden, 
f  James  Delgarno, 
"William  Candler, 
"Albert  N.  Reynolds, 
"Sophia  L.  Orr, 

"William  Briscoe, 
"Ann  Hammond, 
"Louisa  B.  Cromwell, 
IDavid  W.  EUithorpe, 
fSophia  L.  EUithorpe, 
"Henry  McMullen, 

"Sarah  McMullen, 
"Jane  Ramsey, 
Sophia  Roe, 
f  Augustus  Walker, 
lElisha  Wells. 


1852. 


"Douglass  H,  Donovan, 
George  A.  Bancroft, 


FOUT   8TREET   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


JElmira  Green, 
IJohn  Gibson, 
•Charles  H.  Axtell, 
•Julia  Rodgers. 
f  lessee  Page, 
'Susan  Champ, 
•Mary  A.  Peters, 


"Thomas  R.  Spence, 
•Emma  Spence, 
•Ellen  Wray, 


•Margaret  Sutherland, 
•Cecelia  Van  Every, 
•Frederick  Watson, 
•Lucinda  Simmons, 
•Abraham  S.  Myrach, 
•Eliza  S.  Myrach. 
*Lucy  Pratt, 


1  s.i:t. 


•John  G.  Beekman, 
Joseph  B.  Bloss, 
Caroline  A.  Bloss. 


115 


I  H.14. 


Edward  C.  Walker, 
r>ucy  B.  Walker, 
•Angus  McKay, 
"Margaret  McKay, 
•John  Brown, 
•Emma  Brown, 
•Mary  N.  Lockwood, 
•Mary  W.  Lockwood, 
:tAnnis  C.  Moore, 
:t Marion  H.  Reeve, 
fSarah  E.  Reeve, 
Elvira  Uavis, 
Matilda  Buhl, 
Lydia  S.  Welch, 
|:Shubael  Conant, 
"Alexander  McFarlane, 
"George  B.  Dickinson, 
George  Foote, 
t Phoebe  Foote, 
•Ann  Warren, 
•Hovey  K.  Clarke, 
•Hannah  C.  Clarke, 
•Thomas  W.  Lockwood, 


•Albertine  Lockwood, 
iJohn  W:  Hodgkin, 
Margaret  E.  Hodgkin, 
•James  Menzies, 
•Harriet  M.  Chester, 
•Elisha  Eldred, 
•Mary  Eldred, 
•Fidelia  Drury, 
"Philip  Thurber, 
•Frances  E.  Thurber, 
•Eleanor  S.  Candler, 
•Louisa  Hinchman, 
•Jane  Short, 
•Joseph  W.  Smith, 
•Elizabeth  T.  Smith, 
Augusta  C.  Wickware, 
*Eliphalet  M.  Clark, 
'Fanny  B.  Clark, 
•Lucy  Neill, 
"Janette  McFarlane, 
ICaroline  Stephens, 
JCatharine  H.  Jones. 


I  S.l.l. 


Shadrach  Gillett, 
JMaiy  Gillett. 
f  Frances  Gillett, 
J  Abbey  E.  Steevens, 
^Theodosia  Snow, 
'Edward  Bliss, 


•Helen  M.  Dudley, 
•Fanny  Shipman, 
•Allison  Menzies, 
•Eliza  Wray, 
"Matilda  Wray, 
Mary  Thompson, 


116 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 


Bradford  Smith, 
:j:Lucia  W.  Smith, 
*  Edward  A.  Drur>', 
*Martha  J.  Maltby, 
*Sophia  C.  Johns, 
J  Mary  A.  Woodbridge, 
•Elizabeth  W.  Dickinson, 
*John  Q.  Dudley, 


*Turner  Stetson, 
*Sarah  Stetson, 
*M.  Howard  Webster, 
*Martha  J.  Webster, 
*Alice  V.  A.  Frasier, 
:j:  Henrietta  Pond, 
*Patience  Leach, 
*Catharine  Newberry. 


1  8.16. 


JEliza  Cook, 
*Orpha  J.  Bingham, 
Samuel  G.  Caskey. 
Aurelia  C.  Caskey, 
*Henry  M.  Cheever, 
*Sarah  Cheever, 
Olive  Williams, 
Eliza  Williams, 
*Albert  Pixley, 


Jane  Morrison, 
*Susan  Swift, 
*William  E.  Cheever, 
*Catharine  Stuart, 


:J:Mary  Ward, 
*William  H.  Osgodby, 
*Electa  L.  Osgodby, 
*Alfred  Russell, 
*Ellen  P.  Russell, 
W.  Leverett  Woodbridge. 
Franklin  Moore, 
Frederick  Buhl, 
*Sallie  E.  Yerkes, 
Emily  Shackleton, 
*Mai7  A.  Cromwell. 
*Sarah  L.  Cromwell, 
Sarah  L.  Coddington, 
^lAnnie  S.  Gillett, 
tMary  R.  Roberts, 
■{■Elizabeth  Roberts, 
:);Mary  E.  McGraw, 
Mary  E.  Morrison, 
*Sarah  C,  Short, 


*  Harriet  N.  Pixley, 
*Miriam  Dwight, 
Agnes  Morris, 
*James  McMillan, 
*E.  Willard  Smith, 
*Charlotte  M.  Smith, 
|David  Stewart, 
*Anna  S.  Kibbee, 
*John  L.  Strong. 


1857- 


Adaline  A.  Phillips, 
*Isabella  M.  Warren, 
George  E.  Hand, 
Margaret  McDonald. 


I8d8. 


*Charles  G.  Brownell, 
*Mary  Brownell, 
Sarah  A.  Perkins, 
f  Anna  Kidd, 
:};Charity  Southard, 
*Mary  E.  McFarland, 
Mary  A    Slocum, 
*Marietta  Stoddard, 
Stewart  McDonald. 
*Henry  L.  Leach, 
*Richard  Shipman, 
*Norman  Johnson. 
William  H.  Perkins, 
George  L.  Maltz, 
*Alexander  Hosie, 
Alexander  H.  McGraw, 
John  Harvey, 
*Julia  F.  Swift, 
Elizabeth  Hosie, 


FORT   STRKKT    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


II 


JMary  K.  Walker. 
*Alvah  H.  Walker. 
♦Minerva  Walker, 
*Mary  A.  Walker. 
*OIivia  .-V.  (iardncr, 


JJohn  ralmer, 
[ane  M.  Palmer, 
^Catharine  Hinchman, 
^Joseph  C.  Heath, 
*Mar>'  S.  Heath, 
JLyman  Briggs, 
*Ann  Mary  S.  Briggs, 
*ElIen  Mary  Briggs, 
I  Fanny  Champ, 
Kate  Wing, 
*Henry  M.  Warren, 
*  Alexander  McFarren, 
♦Elizabeth  McFarren. 
Charles  D.  Farlin, 
Sarah  M.  Farlin, 


Jjohn  V.  Beane, 
Caroline  Beane, 
*Ellen  C.  Beane, 
Ellen  Eldridge, 
Adaliza  F"rench, 
*Eliza  A.  Bush, 
+  Harriet  N.  Cameron, 
Eliza  Thomas. 
|Caroline  G.  Page, 
*Ann  E.  Carter, 
♦Caroline  C.  Spencer. 
♦George  Parsons, 
♦Emily  B.  Parsons, 


Archibald  Ci.  Lindsay, 
Katharine  D.  Shelden, 
♦Angeline  Squire. 
♦Jacob  Beeson, 
♦Elizabeth  Beeson, 
♦Maria  Beeson, 
JAnn  W.  M.  Roraeyn, 
♦Susan  V.  Rom«yn, 


Jane  Stewart, 
Margaret  McMillan, 
Mary  E    Steevens. 
.Susannah  Perkins. 


1^«.>». 


Elmira  R.    Tower, 
Mary  Jane  Eraser, 
Flora  L.  Ray, 
Sarah  L.  Wilcox. 
Eliza  J.  Roe, 
John  Goring, 
fWilliam  Allen, 
♦.Vlhert  H.  Jordan. 
IJane  Jordan. 
♦Hiram  M.  Towne. 
Jane  E.  Johnson, 
♦William  Reed. 
George  W.  T.  Hill, 
♦William  Allen, 
♦Catharine  Allen. 


I860. 


♦George  B.  Boardman, 
:]: Helen  .M.  Boardman. 
♦Eliza  C.  Spencer, 
♦Theodore  C.  White, 
♦Ann  Monroe, 
♦Stephen  A.  Peck, 
♦Susan  H.  R.  Peck, 
f  Adaline  Brooks, 
♦Cuthbert  Laing, 
Martha  F.  Stewart, 
Maria  Dickson, 
Ellen  L.  Foote. 


ISO  I. 


Ruth  L    Maginnity. 
James  F.  Joy, 
Mary  B    Joy, 
James  R.  Dutton, 
Deborah  Dutton, 
Georgianna  E.  W.  Spence, 
J  Margaret  Henry, 
Frances  A.  Adams. 


118 


FOET   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


Elleanor  J.  Swain, 
*Emma  Beeson, 
Morris  B.  Tooker, 
Caroline  Tooker, 
*Susan  L.  Merritt, 
JMathilde  G.  Moore, 
+  Emma  L.  Beane, 

*Joshua  Windoes, 
*Carrie  R.  Windoes, 
Emory  Wendell, 
Jennie  E.  Wendell, 
William  Findlater, 
Elizabeth  Findlater, 
:j:Mary  S.  Palmer, 
Sarah  H.  Palmer, 
George  McMillan, 
Isabella  G.  McMillan, 
Mary  Buckley, 
Frances  Hitchcock, 
*Jacob  V.  Haan, 
*Mary  Seymour, 

Alexander  McGaw, 
Ann  F.  McGaw, 
Catharine  Woodvvorth, 
Angeline  Quigley, 
Margaret  Cuddy, 
Eliza  Ramsey, 
William  Morris, 
Nettie  Ames, 
Katie  Shepard, 
*Joseph  A.  Tibbetts, 
*Elvira  Tibbetts, 

Isabella  G.  Beane, 
Joseph  Nicholson, 
J  Henrietta  L.  Nicholson, 
IJoseph  G.  Ray, 
*Jennie  B.  Frazier, 
■^Caroline  F.  Bloss, 
Mary  W.  Thomas, 
■*Euphemia  Murray, 


1863. 


Sarah  Joy, 
*Mary  Eldred, 
|Anna  Bryant, 
Charles  Root, 
Alice  Root, 
Anna  M.  Evans. 


i86:t. 


1864. 


186.1. 


Eliza  Bridge, 
Julia  A.  Knight, 
*John  M.  Tupper, 
*Sarah  Tupper, 
Betsey  Coit, 
*Sarah  Whiting, 
*Mary  Otis, 
Alice  K.  Jones, 
Susannah  Stewart, 
fMary  G.  Zug, 
Lillie  Walker, 
Jane  Lindsay, 
Robert  Hosie,  Jr. 
*Alfred  Howard. 

*Hattie  Rosebrook, 
ifEliza  M.  Rosebrook, 
Edward  W.  Jenks, 
IJulia  L.  Jenks, 
Jane  M.  Jenks, 
Phoebe  Seeley, 
Charles  McNeil, 
■^Cornelia  Frasier, 
*Perlinah  Van  Vleit, 
tJulia  Van  Vleit, 
Angelina  Ames. 

Kate  Dupont, 
Letitia  G.  Chandler, 
Mary  Douglass  Chandler, 
Hattie  A.  Wilco.x, 
■•^Camilla  Richardson, 
Jane  B.  McGaw, 
*Anna  E.  Eastman, 
Jane  Lindsay, 


KOIJT    S'lUKKT    I'KESIIYTEKIAS    <;UL'K<JH. 


Frank  H.  Buhl, 
( ieorgc  S.  Davis, 
James  K.  l>avis, 
IJohn  r..  Heane, 
Mary  K.  lialch, 


Frances  Shepard, 
*EIla  Shepard, 
*F.  J.  R.  Crane. 
*Edward  Warren, 
William  Wilson, 
Fsther  Wilson, 
Isabella   T.   Hosie, 
Margaret  Conway, 
*Julia  Stephens, 
Sarah  J.  McQueen, 
*Fannie  Stephens, 
John  S.  Dickson, 


*Mary  Taylor, 
*"Mary  S.  Lamson, 
Frederick  C.  Adamson, 
Cassie  Adamson, 
Mary  B    Dudley, 
Lucien  A.  Smith, 
Maria  B.  Garrison, 
Russell  A    Alger, 
Annette  H.  Alger, 
*Neil  McDougal, 
*Catharine  E.  McDougal, 


Mary  R    Brown, 
Mary  E.  Park, 
Henry  M.  Park, 
Walter  Buhl, 
Charlotte  M.  Gillett, 
Angelina  Quigley, 
Eliza  Purdue, 


Albert  Pixley, 
Henrietta  N.  Pixley, 
Sophia  L.  Orr, 
Elizabeth  H.  Abbott, 


I  soo. 


IS60. 


JJoncs  Phillips, 
George  S.  Adams, 
Emma  T.  Beatty, 
*l,izzie  J.  Carter, 
Sarah  H.  Standart. 


Stephen  S.  Bather, 
*Virginia  M    Balsley, 
John  B.  Hughes, 
Philip  Thurber, 
Frances  E.  Thurber, 
*Dewitt  C.  Smith, 
■"■Mary  Lepper, 
*Mary  B.  Stephens, 
*Helen  E.  Foote, 
George  Leckie, 
Isabella  Leckie. 


1H07. 


186S. 


Martha  Joy, 
*Caroline  W.  Morse, 
Mary  F.  Thompson, 
William  S.  King, 
Alice  King, 
Emilie  A.  King, 
*Jennie  C.  Morse, 
Cecelia  Van  Every, 
Catharine  Graham, 
Emma  Kennedy, 
Otto  Kirchner. 


Anna  E.  Hentig, 
Sarah  M.  Herrington, 
Rebecca  W.  Smith, 
Sybil  C.  Alger, 
Anna  Botsford, 
*Hugh  Wilson. 


Sally  A.  Pierson, 
Flora  Goodfellow, 
*John  Goodfellow, 
Electa  W.  Holbrook, 


120 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 


Mary  Penny, 
Elizabeth  Nicholson, 
Charles  G.  Browfiell, 
Mary  E.  Brownell, 
Sarah  F    B   Pierson, 
Helen  M.  Moore, 
Adelaide  D.  Morrison, 
Mary  L.  Orr, 
Margaret  E.  Wickware, 


Walter  E.  Adams, 
Jane  M.  Adams, 
George  S.  Moir, 
Theresa  Moir, 
Mary  Botsford, 
Elizabeth  M.  McKelvie, 
*Sarah  A.  Snyder, 
Julia  A.  Smith, 
:|:Joseph  Law,  Jr., 
Frances  A    Pine, 
Eliza  J.  Agnew, 
*Harriet  Snyder, 
Martha  J.  Marshall, 
Henry  E.  Chamberlain, 
Jennie  L.  Wilson, 
Sarah  A.  Stewart, 
Mary  D.  Foote, 
Carrie  S.  Foote, 
*Ella  G.  Childs, 
Robert  M.  Zug, 
Phoebe  D.  Perkins, 
^Albert  S.  Knight, 
Kate  McGaw, 
Bryant  Walker, 
Jessie  R.  Walker, 
*Warner  W.  Dickinson, 


Annie  E.  Fleischman, 
Mary  Lewis, 
Floretta  Stupinsky, 
Ettie  Stupinsky, 
Ellen  M.  Lowe, 
*Ellen  Johnson, 
Janet  A.  Stewart, 


Frederica  Buhl, 
Catharine  L.  Law, 
*Mary  H.  Lepper, 
John  Wilson, 
Marion  Wilson, 
Margaret  Lindsay, 
^Maxwell  Lepper, 
Elizabeth  Marshall, 


18  70. 


Mina  E.  Botsford, 
Minerva  A.  Curtis, 
*E]izabeth  C.  Richardson, 
Abner  W.  Smith, 
Elizabeth  K.  Orr,- 
Henry  O.  Walker, 
Annie  M.  Adams, 
Alexander  Cuddy, 
Jared  A.  Smith, 
^Harriet  C    H.  Boyd, 
Maria  S.  Ballard, 
Anson  Young, 
Jennie  Young, 
George  H.  Snover, 
Marcella  M    L.  Snover, 
Charles  P.  Woodruff, 
Mariette  Woodruff, 
Alice  Woodruff, 
Cora  Woodruff, 
Eva  Woodruff, 
Charles  B    Woodruff, 
John  Swift, 
Maggie  Mcllwain, 
Sarah  Mcllwain, 
Jennie  Mcllwain, 
*Ruth  Walker. 


1871. 


Maria  J.  Tate. 
Douglass  Payne, 
Elizabeth  Payne, 
Mary  Hale  Abbott. 
George  B.  Ayers, 
Mary  R.  Ayers, 
Mary  Ladue, 


FOKT   STREET    FliE6H  YTR  111  A  N    «'HUK<;H. 


m 


Thomas  Sharp, 
*Calharine  J.  Atterliury, 
*James  A.  Dubuar, 
John  F.  Fenerly, 
Margaret  Kenerty, 
Margaret  McLean, 
Margaret  Howe, 
Mary  L    Michelsen, 
Camilla  Richardson. 
Martha  Ann  Lamb, 
Chauncy  C  Sharp, 


Elizabeth  Robertson, 
Irene  B.  Swift, 
Julia  Hull. 
Mary  Collins, 
Rachel  Clark, 
Emma  L.  Fowler, 
John  E.  Chaffin, 
Laura  A.  Chaffin, 
Thomas  Y.  Taylor, 
Mary  E.  Taylor, 
Fanny  A.  Smith. 
E.  William  Cobb, 
Robert  Morton, 
Marion  R,  Morton, 
Thomas  Watson, 
Mary  Watson, 
Julia  M.  Wallace, 
Fannie  C.  Perlev, 


*Sarah  A.  Snyder, 
Harriet  M.  Longyear, 
Sarah  Jennings, 
Anna  M.  Goldsmith, 
George  N.  Ladue. 
Mary  W.  Lathrop, 
Mary  B    Davis, 
JMathilde  Foex, 
Albert  C.  Lanyon, 
James  W.  Green. 
Frances  M.  Stone, 
Kezia  Francis, 
i6 


^i7:i. 


Charlotte  Ladue, 
Mary  A.  J.  Conway, 
Ella  Courtney, 
*Mary  A.  Chappell, 
Ebenezer  Ward, 
Olive  A.  Gardner, 
Antoinette  M.  Yerkes, 
George  W.  Hoffman. 
♦Elizabeth  R.  Hoffman, 
Caroline  A.  Hoffman, 
Charlotte  W    Hoffman. 


I  S  7'J. 


William  Manson. 
Marion  Manson, 
Helen  E.  Gibson, 
Hortenie  P'oex, 
Henry  Graham, 
Eliza  C.  Bissell, 
Emily  C.  Cameron, 
Jennie  A.  Foote, 
Kittie  Miller, 
Charlotte  Burr, 
Neil  McDougall, 
Catharine  McDougall, 
Frankie  A.  Hunt. 
John  A.  Freeman, 
Mary  A.  Freeman, 
Helen  C.  Blodgett, 
Frank  Whitney, 
Elizabeth  N.  Hinchman. 


Elizabeth  C.  Dailey. 
Harriet  Newcomb. 
M.  S.  D.  Story, 
John  McFarland, 
James  Clark, 
Agnes  Clark, 
Elizabeth  Clark, 
Josiah  Reaume, 
♦Angelina  Lincoln, 
Amanda  M.  Rice. 
Sarah  M.  Stone, 
Lovina  C.  Prentis, 


122 


FORT   STREET    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


Harriet  Pratt 
Mary  E.  Newland, 
Martha  Harris, 


Lucretia  N.  Dean, 
Edmund  Sloan, 
Catherine  A.  Sloan, 
Mary  E.  Ives, 
Louisa  P.  M.  Foex; 
Edwin  W.  Morris, 
Stanley  H.  Cline, 
James  C.  Hill, 


George  F.  Newland, 
JSilas  L.  Fuller, 
Ella  P.  Fuller, 


18  74. 


Emma  R    Green, 
Margaret  M.  Chambers, 
Mary  W.  Merrick, 
Clayton  J.  Perley, 
Fremont  Woodruff, 
Susan  M..A.  Cameron, 
Mary  S.  Cameron, 
Mary  A.  Chaffin. 


Four   STkKKT    I'UESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


123 


¥he  f^i'e)^ei]t  Oongregcitioi). 

In  the  following  list  of  Few-Holders  and   Attendants,  families 
are  represented  by  the  name  of  the  head  or  the   oldest  incmher  of 
the  household.     This  roll  represents  the   congregation  at   the   date 
of  the  publication  of  this  memorial  volume. : 
Thomas  F.  Abbott,  E.  S.  Adams, 

Francis  Adams,  F".  C.  Adamsoh, 

George  S.  Adams,  Russell  A.  Alger, 

Walter  E.  Adams,  E.  S.  Alford. 


Mrs.  Mary  Backus, 
George  F.  Bagley, 
George  W.  Balch, 
O.  L.  Ballard, 
C.  B.  Barnes, 
Mrs.  Rebecca  Bates, 
James  A.  Bates, 
Mrs.  Caroline  Beane. 
Philo  G.  Belknap. 
.  Eben  C.  Beach, 
Edward  W.  Bissell, 
George  W.  Bissell, 
Tames  S.  Blair, 
Charles  C.  Blodgett, 
Joseph  B.  Bloss, 

Charles  C.  Cadman, 
William  Cahoon, 
Allen  P.  Cameron. 
J.  W.  Carson, 
Samuel  G,  Caskey, 
A.  B.  Case, 
Homer  Case, 
John  E.  Chaffin, 
Ernest  Chamberlin, 
Zachariah  Chandler, 
Douglass  J.  Chase, 
Charles  A.  Chamberlain. 

Joseph  Dailey, 
James  E.  Davis, 
Solomon  Davis. 
I.  N.  Dean, 
William  J.  Deering, 
Lawrence  Depew. 


James  W.  Blue, 
Anna  Botsford, 
H.  W.  D.  Brewster. 
David  Bridge, 
Charles  G.  Brownell, 
Alden  S.  Brown, 
Mrs.  Caroline  E.  Brooks, 
Mrs.  Mary  Buckley, 
Christian  H.  Buhl, 
Frederick  Buhl, 
Theodore  D.  Buhl, 
Joseph  H.  Bullock, 
Harvey  W.  Burr, 
C.  H.  Burnham, 


F.  W.  H.  Chambers, 

Francis  L.  Childs, 

Dr.  H.  A.  Cleland, 

James  Clark. 

E.  William  Cobb, 

N.  P.  Collins. 

Olney  B.  Cook. 

John  C.  Corning, 

Mrs.  Mary  A.  J   Courtney, 

Rachael  Clark, 

Alexander  Cuddy, 

H.  .\.  Dickerson, 
David  Dickson, 
Mrs.  Elsie  E    Ducharme, 
William  Du|)ont, 
fames  R.  Dutton, 


124 


rVVKN'TY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 


Mrs.  Anna  M.  Evans, 

Charles  D.  Farlin, 
John  F.  Fenerty, 
M.  S.  Fitzsimons, 
Anna  Fleischman, 
Mrs.  Hortevise  Foex, 

Solomon  Gardner, 
Charles  M.  Garrison, 
John  J.  Garrison, 
James  Gibson, 
Rufus  W.  Giliett, 

George  E.  Hand, 

John  Harvey, 

Frederick  W.  Hayes, 

Josiah  D.  Hayes, 

Andrew  M.  Hastings, 

Mrs.  Anna  E.  Hentig, 

Willard  H.  Herrington. 

George  W.  Hill, 

James  C.  Hill, 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  N.  Flinchman, 

Richard  Inglis,  M.  D., 

Edward  W.  Jenks,  M.  D., 
Jarvis  S.  Jennings, 
Mrs.  Maria  E.  Jennings, 

David  Kennedy, 
Otto  Kirchner, 

John  T.  Ladue, 
Mrs.  Mary  Ladue, 
George  N.  Ladue, 
F.  Lambie, 
George  C.  Langdon, 
James  W.  Langdon, 
Henry  K.  Lathrop, 
Joseph  Lathrop, 
Mrs.  Catharine  S.  Law. 

Stewart  McDonald, 
Neil  McDougal, 
John  McFarland, 
Andrew  McFarland, 


George  Foote, 
James  H.  Ford. 
Robert  S    Forbes, 
Mrs.  Ella  P.  Fuller, 


Shadrach  Giliett, 
James  H    Goldsmith, 
James  S.  Goodrich, 
Henry  GraRam, 
James  W    Cireen, 

F.  D.  C.   Hinchman, 

Henry  C.  Hodges, 

Mrs.  Margaret  E.  Hodgkin, 

F.  H.  Holmes, 

George  W.  Hoffman, 

John  C.  Holmes, 

Robert  Hosie, 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hosie; 

Mrs.  Margaret  Howe, 

William  Hull, 

Butler  Ives, 

Waldo  M.  Johnson, 
J.  Huff  Jones, 
James  F.  Joy, 

George  E.  King, 

Mrs.  Frances  A.  Knight, 

William  F.  Lay, 
Albert  C.  Lanyon, 
George  Leckie, 
Archibald  G.  Lindsay, 
Mrs.  Jane  Lindsay, 
John  W.  Longyear, 
O.  M.  Locke, 
Elleiii  McGregor  Lowe, 
Eugene  S.  Lowe, 

x\lexander  McGaw, 
John  W.  McGrath, 
Miller  W.  McGraw, 
Andrew  Mcllwaine, 


KOKT   STKKKT    l'KE«BYTEBJ  A  N    CHUKCH. 


125 


Mrs.  Margaret  McKay. 
Mrs.  fane  McLott, 
George  McMillan, 
John  McMillen, 
Mrs.  Barbara  McNeil, 
T.  C.  Manchester, 
William  Manson, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Marshall, 
Herman  Markham, 
Henry  Meakin, 

Walter  Newcomb, 
George  F.  Newland, 
Henry  Newland, 

Edward  Orr, 

Mrs.  Jane  M.  Palmer, 
Henry  M.  Park, 
J.  T.  Patton, 
Douglas  Payne,- 
Frank  Peavey, 
Henry  C.  Penny, 
Mrs .  Sarah  A.  Perkins, 
Jonas  H.  Perley, 

John  <^uigley, 

Mrs.  Flora  L.  Ray. 
Josiah  Reaume, 
John  Robertson, 

William  N.  .Sandford, 
John  J.  Scanlan, 
Mrs.  Phoebe  Seeley. 
Richard  Shackelton. 
Allan  Shelden, 
Mrs.  Catherine  Shepherd, 
Prof.  J.  M.  B.  Sill, 
Dr.  A.  G.  Sinclair, 
Edmund  Sloan, 
Benjamin  F.  Smith, 
Mrs.  J.  E.  Seymour 
A.  P.  Sherrill, 
Bradford  Smith, 
Lucien  A.  Smith, 
George  W.  Snover, 
Robert  W.  Standart, 


Melzer  F.  Merrick, 
Kittie  Miller, 
Barrett  B.  Mitchell. 
Franklin  Moore, 
Stephen  Moore, 
William   Morris, 
Hamilton  Morrison, 
Robert  Morton, 
William  D.  Morton, 


Joseph  Nicholson, 
Charles  Noble, 


John  P.  Phillips, 
Arthur  T.  Pierson, 
Jonathan  P.  Pine, 
Albert  Pixley, 
A.  Pardee  Piatt. 
Samuel  L.  Potter, 
George  H.  Prentis, 
James  Purdue, 


Mrs.  Amanda  M.  Rice, 
Charles  Roe, 
Charles  Root, 

Bliss  Standish, 

Albert  M.  Steele, 

Sears  Steevens, 

Miss  Elizabeth  Steevens, 

John  Sterling, 

Duncan  Stewart, 

Robert  Stewart, 

Mrs.  Susannah  Stewart, 

F.  M.  Stone, 

John  .Stupinsky, 

Mrs.  M.  S.  D.  Story, 

Isaac  N.  Swaine. 

William  P.  Sumner, 

Edward  Y   Swift, 

Marcus  G.  W.  Swift 


126 


TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY 


Thomas  J.  Taylor, 
Philip  Thurber, 

Mrs.  Cecilia  Van  Every, 

Eber  B.  Ward, 
George  S.  Wales, 
Emily  Ward, 
Edward  C.  Walker, 
Henry  O.  Walker, 
Isaac  Wallace, 
Thomas  Watson, 
James  M.  Welch, 
Emory  Wendell, 
Eben  S.  Wheeler, 
Frank  H.  Whitney, 
Joseph  P.  Whittemore. 

Lyman  A.  Yerkes, 

Samuel  Zug. 


Mrs.  Mary  Thompson, 


John  J.  Whittlesey, 
Cornelius  Wickware, 
Samuel  P.  Wilcox, 
Edward  C.  Wilcox, 
Julia  A.  Wilson, 
Mrs.  Olive  Williams, 
John  Wilson, 
Charles  P.  Woodruff, 
C.  D.  Wood, 
Peleg  Wood, 
William  L.  Woodbridge, 


Anson  Young, 


1    1012  01251    7944 


DATE  DUE 

mm. 

GAYLCRO 

PRINTED  IN  USA.