My Genealogy Hound

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF PONTIAC.

The following historical article was read at the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the church (February 25-27, 1894), by A. A. Lull:

“The First Presbyterian Church of Pontiac was organized by Rev. E. W. Goodman, a missionary of the Presbyterian Church, February 26, 1824, at the home of John Voorheis, in the town of Bloomfield and consisted of 13 members. In 1833, nine years from its organization, it had so greatly increased that it consisted of 105 members. During the early period of its history the country was very sparsely settled, and the members were scattered through the various townships, living far distant from each other and from the place of worship in Pontiac. The length and roughness of the roads rendered it difficult for them to attend church at the county seat. For their accommodation, meetings were accustomed to be held in school houses and private residences in the various parts of the county; and on such occasions the Lord’s Supper was sometimes administered. But when the county became more densely populated, new Presbyterian and Congregational churches were organized in the various townships. The first members of these new churches were generally such as had been connected with the First Presbyterian Church of Pontiac, but had obtained letters of admission for this very purpose. Indeed, this was not only the pioneer but the parent church, from which originated several of the most flourishing Presbyterian and Congregational churches in Oakland County.

“For example, the Presbyterian and Congregational churches of Rochester, Troy, Birmingham, Wing Lake and Farmington were the offspring of this church.

“In 1831 several members of the Presbyterian Church of Pontiac, who preferred the Congregational form of government, received letters of dismission from the church for the purpose of enabling them to organize a Congregational church. This they did in 1831. Such is the organization of that church.

“In 1835 the church removed to Auburn, but returned in 1841 to Pontiac. At the time of the removal of the church to Pontiac, Presbyterian churches had been organized at Troy and Birmingham. Consequently, as most of the members lived nearer these churches, they very naturally united with them, leaving the Pontiac church but little more than its organization. The committee, appointed to procure a room in which to hold religious meetings, secured the Academy Hall building, located on the lot on which the Willet’s Block now stands, the title to which was subsequently secured for the church. The hall was in the second story of the building and had not been used for some time and was in a dilapidated condition. However, a free use of paint and white wash improved its appearance and, furnished with board seats, a few chairs and a table for the minister, the room was pronounced ready for use. At a meeting of the church, September 7, 1841, the following persons, viz.: Weston Frost, E. T. Raymond, John J. Hall, Hugh Kelley, Olmsted Chamberlin, Horatio N. Howard, George Williams, Charles Elliott and Caroline Phelps, presented letters of dismission and recommendation from the Congregational Church of Pontiac and were accordingly received into the church.

“At this time Rev. L. P. Bates was invited to become pastor of the church. Olmsted Chamberlin and H. N. Howard were appointed a committee to procure a room in which to hold religious meetings. At a meeting of the church July 12, 1842, at the Academy Hall, E. T. Raymond and James S. Allen were elected elders and Weston Frost was elected deacon.

“At a meeting of the session January 30, 1842, A. A. Lull, Clarissa Lull, Sarah Hosmer, Sarah Morris, Susan Wesson, Elizabeth Elliott, Olive Stoddard, Eliza H. Hall, Mary C. Chamberlin, Mrs. Charles Elliott, Mrs. Jane Kelley, Mrs. Cynthia Howard and Mary Raymond presented letters of dismission and recommendation from the Congregational Church of Pontiac and were received into the church. Of the entire membership of the church, January 30, 1842, I find upon a careful examination of the records, there remain but four now living: Mrs. Sarah Brown (formerly Miss Hosmer), Mrs. Jane Kelley, Mrs. Elizabeth Paddock (formerly Miss Elliott) and myself, A. A. Lull.

“Deacon Francis J. Smith united with this church April 19, 1829, and was dismissed by letter September 10, 1834. After an absence of 45 years, he was again received into the church in October, 1879, and now at the age of 87 is hale and hearty.

“Starting out with a membership of 30 or 40, and all in moderate circumstances, indeed it did look discouraging. But then there were no annoyances and jealousies, all worked together, unitedly and harmoniously, though struggling against adverse circumstances for years, yet hopeful and confident of ultimate success. The hall was occupied a year or more while on the lot. The building was then moved on to a lot near and south of the Northern Hotel and continued to be used as a place of worship until the new church was erected in 1843-44 and occupied the latter part of 1844. It was built of brick and was I think about 40 feet wide by 70 feet long, with two aisles, the pulpit being in the west end of the church and the organ loft and gallery for the choir in the east end, and vestibule underneath. It had a belfry and well-proportioned spire and from its prominent situation presented quite a respectable appearance.

“There were additions to the church at many of the communion services, but removals and deaths prevented any great increase of membership for years.

“April, 1860, number of communicants, 54; number in Sabbath-school, 60; contributions, not including salary, $83.

“April, 1862, number of communicants, 79; number in Sabbath-school, 90; received for congregational purposes, $700.

“April, 1864, number of communicants, 95; number in Sabbath-school, 100; received for congregational purposes, $900; miscellaneous, $100.

“Meetings of the session were held March 7 and 16, 1867, to examine persons presenting themselves for admission to the church. The number examined and received by the session on confession, 52, and four by letter; 27 were baptized. All were present and entered into covenant with the church and were received into full communion and fellowship. The large addition was the result of a precious revival during the special meetings for 10 weeks, commencing with the week of prayer, conducted entirely by the pastor, Rev. W. H. McGiffert, with the exception of three evenings of assistance from the Presbyterian minister of Birmingham. Among those received were quite a number of heads of families and adults, including two of the present elders, — Elder I. B. Merritt and Elder William E. Williams.

“April 1, 1867, number of communicants, 150; officers, scholars and teachers in the Sabbath-school, 232; amount received for salary, congregational purposes and missions, $1,978.78.

“Rev. W. H. McGiffert resigned the position of pastor of the church, April 19, to take effect June 1, 1870. Rev. W. J. Parrot succeeded Mr. McGiffert, December, 1870, and was here during the building of the new church and its dedication and remained until October 4, 1872.

“I will now give the names of the ministers who have been settled over the church as pastor or stated supply since 1842: Rev. L. P. Bates, from 1841 to January, 1845; Rev. Charles Rockwell in 1846; Rev. James A. Clayton in 1847; Rev. William Hamilton in 1848; Rev. W. P. Jackson in 1850; Rev. Myron Barrett in 1851; Rev. Dr. Penny in 1852; Rev. C. W. Cooper, from December 16, 1854, to December, 1856; Rev. C. W. Mosher, from May 1, 1857, to 1861; Rev. J. F. Jennison, from January 13, 1861, to August, 1864; Rev. W. H. McGiffert, from January 4, 1865, to January 1, 1870; Rev. W. J. Parrot, from December, 1870, to 1872; Rev. C. R. Wilkins, from May 9, 1873, to 1874.

“June 5, 1875, Rev. J. Mills Gelston, having received the unanimous call of the church to become its pastor, was this day installed by the Presbytery of Detroit. At a meeting of the Presbytery held in Flint, October 12, 1888, the Presbytery dissolved the pastoral relation between the Rev. J. Mills Gelston and the church of Pontiac. I think it is a well earned compliment to Mr. Gelston, that from the commencement to the close of his long pastorate of almost 14 years, that there were many additions both to the church and society from year to year, increasing the spiritual power and influence of the church and adding greatly to its temporal prosperity and that entire harmony existed between the pastor and church and society during all these years. Very many could hardly be reconciled to the sundering of the ties that had so long and happily existed between pastor and people, both on account of their attachment to Mr. Gelston and Mrs. Gelston as well, who had endeared herself to hosts of friends who regretted exceedingly to have her leave Pontiac.

“In accordance with a notice previously given, a meeting of the church and society was held in the church parlors to consider the question of extending a call to Rev. W. S. Jerome to become pastor of the church. A motion was made and unanimously adopted to extend such a call and the vote was taken by ballot. Messrs. Williams and Wyckoff were appointed tellers to receive and count the votes and reported the motion carried unanimously.

“January 4, 1889, Rev. William S. Jerome was duly installed pastor of the church by a committee of the Presbytery of Detroit. The moderator of the Presbytery, Rev. William A. Service, preached the sermon and pronounced the constitutional questions. The installing prayer was offered by W. P. Jackson, the charge to the pastor by Rev. J. Mills Gelston and the charge to the people by Rev. J. T. Plunkett.

“The fifth anniversary of Mr. Jerome’s settlement over the church occurred January 4, last. I am sure that I express the unanimous sentiment of the church and society in saying that no mistake was made in calling Mr. Jerome to the pastorate of the church but that he is the right man in the right place, as evidenced by the results. The years he has been here have been years of unusual prosperity, both in winning souls to Christ and in the material prosperity of the church. He may have been fortunate in reaping a harvest, to some extent, of seed sown by our former pastor and indebted as well to Mrs. Jerome’s self-denying labor and increasing toil in the Master’s service, proving herself a veritable helpmeet.

“List of elders and when elected: John Chamberlin, elected an elder May 1, 1835, served continuously, attending meetings of the session until March 16, 1870. He died in November, 1876. E. T. Raymond, elected January 12, 1842, was dismissed and has since died. James S. Allen, elected January 1, 1842, was dismissed and has since died. George Williams, elected in 1846, died in February, 1873. Hugh Kelley, elected November 26, 1852, died in February, 1879. H. N. Howard, elected January 1, 1861, died May 3, 1886. Henry Mead, elected January 1, 1861, died February 22, 1893. A. A. Lull, elected December 14, 1865. E. W. Peck, elected December 14, 1865, died August 25, 1889.

“A meeting of the church was held February 16, 1872, to elect four elders on the rotary plan, the old elders having resigned for that purpose. George Williams, Levi B. Taft, E. W. Peck and A. A. Lull were duly elected. At a meeting of the church April 3, 1874, William E. Williams was elected an elder to fill the vacancy caused by the death of George Williams.

March 25, 1872, J. B. Merritt was elected an elder for four years. March 16, 1886, three additional were elected, viz.: G. M. Trowbridge, H. A. Wyckoff and James Houston. Since the adoption of the rotary plan of electing elders, February 16, 1872, all the elders have been elected their own successors as their respective terms of office have expired down to the present time. March 19, 1890, Samuel Mawhinney was elected an elder for one year to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Elder E. W. Peck, and was re-elected his own successor for four years from March 18, 1891. September 30, 1893, at a meeting of the church, S. S. Matthews was elected an elder to serve out the unexpired term of Samuel Mawhinney, who had been granted a letter of dismission from the church.

“Statements taken from the reports made at the annual meeting, March 14, 1893: Number of communicants, — resident, 327, non-resident, 88. Receipts, — for congregational purposes, $3, 694.96; from Sabbath-school, $464.01; from Sabbath-school infant class, $26.77; from Woman’s Missionary Society, $281.63; from Young Woman’s Missionary Society, $191.02; from S. D. Circle, $83.66; from Y. P. S. C. E., $28.87. The total amount received was $4,770.92.

“I have given somewhat in detail the conditions and progress of the church from the removal to Pontiac in 1842 down to the time of leaving the old and entering the new church, also the condition of the church as taken from the reports of the annual meeting, March 14, 1893.

“The circumstances and conditions under which we meet to-night in this beautiful house of worship, complete in all its appointments, with stained glass windows, decorated walls, electric lights, sofa seats, with hot water pipes in each pew and carpeted floors, are in marked contrast with the place of worship in the second story of the old Academy Hall, with its primitive furniture, consisting of board seats, a few wood chairs, and a table for the minister. Then the revenues of the church could not have been more than six or seven hundred dollars. The pastor’s salary was the munificent sum of $500, paying his own house rent and expense of keeping a horse and buggy. H. N. Howard and myself were volunteer janitors, ushers and men of all work for years, without salary, though our duties required the trimming and care of oil lamps and furnishing and preparing wood for the stoves and keeping the church in order, it being necessary at that time to practice the most rigid economy in conducting the affairs of the church.

“In conclusion, I am very glad indeed that we have with us on this occasion Rev. J. Mills Gelston, whose pastorate over this church was of longer duration than that of any other one, it being between 13 and 14 years, which together with our present pastor’s service covers almost the entire term of the present occupancy of the church. It will afford great pleasure, I am sure, to all present to hear responses from both Mr. Gelston and Mrs. Jerome, covering the above period, also to hear responses from the pastors of the daughter and sister churches.”