Chapter 3

In mid-April 1876, the village of Mt. Pleasant was again subjected to
calamity. Unusually heavy spring rains combined with a rapid melting of
the snow cover to send the Chippewa River far over its banks in the worst
flood the valley would know for many years. Despite serious
and countryside, the people of the village shook off the disaster and,
the skies cleared and the waters receded, prepared to take part in the
months-long celebration of the nation's centennial.

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‘To comenorate the centennial Governor John J. Bagley of Michigan
Suggested that citizens plant shade trees around their homes and along their
streets. By the Fourth of July newly-planted elms and maples lined the
route of the holiday parade of decorated wagons and oxcarts which traveled
up and down the village streets to a gathering place on the courthouse square
opposite the Presbyterian Church. There a happy throng of tomspeople and
county visitors stepped carefully among the young trees which now graced the
churchyard and the courthouse lawn to salute the momentous day with prayer,
patriotic song, oratory, feasting, games, and fireworks.

‘The Presbyterians, meanwhile, were without a minister until late in
May when the Reverend J. Nesbitt preached his first sermon. No record
exists of this message, but if he called for the wrath of heaven to descend
vpon all sinners, he mist have preached effectively. The following day the
clouds gathered and a fierce storm lashed the tom, bonbarding it "with
hailstones as large as hens' eggs." ‘The rain of ice ruined budding fruit
and newly-sprouted field crops and severely damaged property. When the
storm ented the Presbyterian Church was a shanbles, its north side open to
the elements and its sanctuary littered with melting ice and the shards of
more than a hundred shattered window panes.

‘The records of the church for 1876 are sadly deficient and contain no
reference to Nesbitt and his brief ministry. In the church directory which
it published weekly, however, the local newspaper listed him as the
Presbyterian pastor. He served the church only three months, closing "his
labors with his people" with a farewell sermon on August 20. Evidently he
left the tom on good terms, for the weather the following day was fair and
warm,

After preaching to the Presbyterians early in October, the Reverend
Charles A. Taylor of St. Louis, Michigan agreed to serve as their stated
supply or interim pastor. An elderly man with a long record of service to
Christ, he quickly won the admiration and regard of young and old alike.

In February, 1855, as a pioneer settler he had built a log home on a 240
acre wilderness tract in Chippewa Township. The next month he preached the
first semon—"a genuine good old-fashioned Methodist sermon"—ever deliver-
ed in Isabella County.

‘The impact of Taylor's evangelism became apparent from the moment he
took over the Presbyterian pulpit, Within a month's time, largely as a
result of his leadership and determination, the congregation enjoyed a
richer and more pertinent program of worship and instruction than ever
before. ‘The new pastor did not confine his preaching to the usual morning
and evening services on the Sabbath, but, as the Christmas season approached,
conducted meetings every weekday evening. Nor did he neglect the Sunday
School. When he met with the classes following the Sunday morning services,
every teacher and student found inspiration in the words of this dedicated
man of God.

 

In Mt. Pleasant the holiday season of the centennial year culminated
on Christmas night with an unusually elaborate and festive Sunday School
program at the Presbyterian Church, ‘To greet the many children and adults
Of the town who crowed the sanctuary was a giant sailboat with ribbons
and banners streaming from its masts as, seaingly, it floated along on a
gentle sea. After distributing its cargo of gifts to the children, Taylor
called upon all present to find joy in Christ not only during the Christmas
Season, but throughout the year. With Him as their helmsnan, in all
Probability he told his listeners, they might sail on through life on a sea
Of peace and contentment and fear no tempest.

‘Taylor had already detemined on a course of action for the winter
months. He would make certain that the religious fervor engendered by
his weeknight services and the Christmas celebration remained alive and
strong and encompassed others who had yet to find Christ. Undoubtedly, his
Methodist background and experience had much to do with developing closer
‘ties between the Presbyterians and their Methodist brethren. The Ladies’
Association of the Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Ladies’ Aid Society
had conducted "union" activities in the past, but not as frequently nor on
as large a scale as was now their practice.

This closer association soon became even more apparent. Early in the
new year, Taylor and the Reverend W. H. Ware, pastor Of the local Methodist
Church, instituted a series of evangelistic services which continued nightly
‘through January and February. Each evening the townspeople filled the
Presbyterian Church, the larger of the two edifices, to capacity. Never
before had the town been in the grip of such religious fervor. Many
merchants closed their establishments early in order that they and all in
their employ might attend each session. “We are led to believe," said the
local editor, “that good pastors make good people." In his opinion the
sermons were timely and effective. Not only had a mumber of young

wonen "resolved to follow the Lord," but 0, too, bad a nnbet of the
"older and more staid citizens." Certainly, the meetings would have a
beneficial impact on Mt. Pleasant, he concluded, for "some men [would] be
made better, and some hones happier. . . ." Ona nimber of evenings during
‘the revival, Ware alone conducted services in the Presbyterian Church,
‘Taylor journeying to the countryside to carry his message of hope to farmers
and lumberjacks gathered in a lonely meetinghouse or school building.

By the tine the revival ended late in February, more than fifty citizens
had accepted Christ and affiliated with one church or the other. Some,
said the editor, had "been brought back from a back-slidden condition,” and
many church menbers thenselves now faced the future with strengthened
convictions.

‘The records of the Session bear out the newspaper evaluation of the
revival. Frequently, after an evening service, Taylor, the moderator, and
ing elders Bouton, Slater, and David Morse would examine those wishing
to join the church. Indeed, during the first three months of 1877 more were
admitted than ever before in a like period. Among the new menbers were

some such as Wilkinson Doughty and John R. Doughty who heretofore had
strongly supported the church and served the church but had failed to pro-
fess their faith in Christ.

1

During his few months as pastor, Taylor had given freely of his time
and labor with small regard for his om well-being. In appreciation, late
in March his parishioners and other townspeople congregated at the school-
house for a "donation" honoring the aged clergyman. ‘The $95 taken in at the
affair was not to apply to his salary but was "a donation in the true sense
of the word"—a gift from his Mt. Pleasant admirers.

Unhappily, Taylor would soon have need for the additional funds. Late

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in April he became ill and was bed-ridden for several weeks. "Providence
pemitting," he informed the church on May 16 when he was again on his feet,
“I contemplate addressing my people once more, on the caming Sabbath. My

subject will be ‘Willing Service. Should I be unable to meet my people at
any time in the future, a notice to that effect will be posted on the church
door before the bell rings for service." On dune 28, however, knowing that
he could no longer continue, he resigned as pastor. ‘After presiding at a

commion service on the following Sunday, he wrote with trembling hand his
last entry in the Session Record and departed for a milder climate and the
six months rest decreed by his physician.

For almost a year following the Reverend Taylor's departure, the First
Presbyterian Church sought in vain for a pastor. Sometimes a visiting
minister would conduct a Thursday evening prayer meeting and preach to the
congregation the following Simday, but on most Sabbaths, except for Sunday
School activities, there was no religious service whatsoever. As a result
‘the church seemed to lose mich of the momentum that it had gained during
the brief span of Taylor's inspired leadership. Mt. Pleasant, with a
relatively new Presbyterian Church and a rapidly increasing population now
numbering nearly a thousand, was a logical site for the meeting of the
Saginaw Presbytery in Septenber, 1877. ‘The local congregation held high
hopes of securing the services of a minister at this conclave, but were
Gisappointed. Indeed, winter had come and had all but gone before the
Reverend Edmmd W. Borden of Ann Arbor and the Detroit Presbytery accepted
call to the Mt. Pleasant church.

With more than twenty years' experience in the ministry, and highly
xeconmenied by an elderly An Arbor clergyman who knew him well, Borden
appeared to be an excellent choice for the First Presbyterian pulpit. After
hearing him preach, the officers of the congregation made verbal contract
with him for a year's service at a salary of $700. Of this amount the
‘church would accept responsibility for $400 ($100 quarterly), but, as was
done in the past, would request the Board of Home Missions to pay $300 in
mission funds directly to the new pastor.

To raise the $400, the trustees, as was now the practice, circulated a
“subscription list" and called upon the menbership to pledge liberally.
Payments were to be made quarterly in order that the pastor's salary might
be paid promptly. When the list was returned, unfortunately, the total
subscribed amounted to only-$350. Hopefully, funds would be forthcoming
from other sources to pay the remainder.

Evidently dissension developed in the church soon after Borden's
arrival. The few passages in the records relating to his pastoral year
indicate that the elders—vho had met so faithfully and frequently with the
Reverend Taylor--seldom responded to Borden's call for the Session to
convene. In like manner, the trustees apparently gave little attention to
their duties. As a Board they met in September for their only official
‘the year. On that occasion they took no significant action
to authorize Charles Slater to examine and make the necessary
on the church steeple and to appoint a committee "to look up and
get a correct list on church erection." By this time the trustees were
So much in need of operating funds that any money collected on overdue
building pledges would be most welcome.

‘This financial crisis was undoubtedly another indication of the grow-

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later declared that he could find nothing wrong with this
especially if the money when finally paid would enable the minister to
leave the town innediately. As a result of this delinquency the trustees
were able to pay Zorden only a fraction of the salary due him for the
second and third quarters. Had not the minister received $150 from the
Hone Mission Board, he would have had difficulty supplying his family with
even the barest comforts. Adding to the seriousness of his position was a
blunt notice from the Mission Board that its treasury was empty and that
“he must look to his people to help him provide for the winter." Borden
informed the trustees of the Board's action and its recamendation, but, in
his words, "they did not regard it." As winter neared its end, however,
the trustees new that within a few weeks they mst pay in full their
obligation to the pastor. Hopeful that church menbers would provide most
of the necessary funds by meeting their pledges, the trustees proposed a
"donation" to raise the unsubscribed portion of the salary. When questioned
as to his feelings in the matter, Borden consented to the affair provided
it was advertised "as a donation to the church" for the purpose of raising
funds for his salary.

The published notice of the donation, however, failed to indicate its
‘true purpose. "The Presbyterian Society of this place," it read,

  
 

will have a donation for the benefit of Rev. Mr. Borden
on Wednesday evening Feb. 26 at Swart's Hall. It is
desired that this donation shall be very successful
socially and pecuniarily. Let none of the numerous
friends of Mr. Bersien 70 the Church Pe behind in aia
ing to convince our pastor that there is a

in the affections of his congregation and friefis which
is pleasing to contemplate. In other words, let this
be a rousing donation. . .

‘The people of Mt. Pleasant thoroughly appreciated "donations" and, as usual,
tamed out in substantial numbers for the advertised "great treat that a-
waited them" at the Borden supper. When the treasurer totaled the receipts
for the evening, he had collected $80.66 in cash and $12.75 "in promises."
Of this amount, the trustees tendered $50.00 to the hard-pressed pastor,
and retained the remainder to balance unpaid subscriptions when they made
final settlenent with him.

This action of the trustees served as the final straw in the break-
dom of relations between the pastor and church officials. In light of
the published announcement, Borden believed that the entire amount collect-
ed at the affair was rightfully his—a gift to him from those who attended—
even though its acceptance would increase his total local income to an
amount larger than the contracted salary. Now thoroughly disillusioned
with the church and his future as its pastor, Borden informed the trustees
that he did not intend to renew his contract when his year ended a month
hence, "A large portion of village churches are unable or unwilling to pay,
year by year, an adequate salary," he later explained, "and so soon as the
Bay begins to come with difficulty, then it is well for a minister to seek
another field."

Many in the church were disappointed with Borden's decision and urged
him to remain. So strong was this sentiment that the trustees, recalling
the difficulty previously experienced in securing a pastor, sent Wilkinson
Doughty and Charles Slater to learn from the unhappy minister the tems he
would demand for another year of service.

Borden submitted his conditions in writing. First and foremost, he

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declared, there mst be "an assurance of such unanimity" in the church as
to “promise success to my ministry.” He further specified that the church
must contract to pay him a salary of $700.00 in quarterly allotments, each
Payable six weeks before the end of the quarter. At a congregational meet-
ing called to consider these demands, a large majority of those present
opposed them and voted not to offer the pastor a new contract.

‘If the matter had ended at this point, the church would have been
spared mich embarrassment and injury. Soon after learning the decision of
the congregation, Borden announced from the pulpit that on the evening of
his last Sunday as their pastor he would reveal to the congregation the
true circumstances regarding his decision to leave.

An expectant audience overflowed the 400 seat sanctuary as the grim
faced pastor took the pulpit for his final appearance. Even one of his
critics later admitted that the pastor on this occasion "preached a very
fine sermon." When the religious service ended, however, Borden immediately
set forth on a demmciation of the trustees and elders of the church--
accusing them of penury, deceit, and outright dishonesty in their relations
with him during the past year. “The audience, excited by the tirade, punctu-
ated each accusation with shouts of applause and stamping of feet. ‘Although
he had now received his $400.00 salary in full, Borden recalled with
bitterness the many weeks with little or no income and, especially galling,
the injustice of the donation for his benefit. At last, speechless with
emotion, he stepped down from the podium, donned his overcoat and overshoes,
and stalked from the church for the last time.

‘The dissension within the church was now clearly apparent. Only one
of the seven trustees had voted to retain Borden, but there were many in
‘the congregation who fixmly believed that the pastor had been treated un-
fairly. Qn the Tuesday evening following his diatribe, a large number of
church menbers and townspeople gathered at his howe for a surprise "donation."
‘At the conclusion of the fun and feasting, the "collector" for the evening
did not, as Borden expressed it, "run off with the bag," but presented the
minister and his family with a purse containing $55.00. For the next month
and more, until Borden had disposed of his household goods and departed for
4m Arbor, the local newspapers devoted colum after colum to the charges
‘and countercharges of the minister and of those who were the targets of his
accusations. The church had been severely tried. If it were to survive, it
must forgive and be forgiven. Sonehow, sonevhere, it mst find the leader
ship in Christ that would heal its wounds.

PUBLIC LIBRARY
801 SOUTH UNIVERSITY

a (ME PLEASANT, Mi 49950