Chapter 4

At its anmal meeting early in May, 1879 the congregation of the First
Presbyterian Church sought to regain the harmony that it had Known prior to
the unfortunate developments of recent months, To this end it readily
accepted the resignation of the one trustee who had supported the Reverend
Borden and elected in his place I. A. Fancher, a chief spokesman for the
‘opponents of the late pastor. After naming Fancher their chairman, the
trustees joined with the rest of the congregation in the difficult’ task of
securing @ new pastor.

From all appearances there was much about Mt. Pleasant to attract a
new minister. The mmber of new homes and store buildings rising in the
town gave it an aura of prosperity. Already the trade center for a rich
agricultural region, the village would soon have the advantage of rail
commication with more populous places. The Presbyterian Church, in the
heart of the town, faced the recently completed Isabella County Courthouse,
an imposing structure. Certainly, in this active and progressive village,
a minister could find satisfaction in his labor for Christ.

But there were problems confronting the church to give one pause. AS
a result of the recent dissension some would leave the church and their
going probably would reduce the subscription income for the support of the
next pastor, The First Presbyterian remained a mission church, but how mich
assistance would be forthcoming from the Home Mission Board was unknown.
‘The trustees had no money available to paint the building and make needed
repairs. In desperation, as on past occasions, they pleaded with the Ladies’
Aid Society to do “all the good they [could] in their om way."

‘The women of the church responded nobly. Scarcely a week passed
thereafter that they failed to sponsor some money-raising affair. By year's
end, largely as a result of their efforts, the church was painted and again
in good repair.

Meanwhile, the Presbyterians continued their search for a pastor. On
several occasions during the spring of 1879, their pulpit would have been
vacant had not the Reverend J. H. Beardslee, a local Methodist minister,
offered his services. In duly, after hearing the Reverend William M.
Campbell preach, the congregation invited him to serve as pastor. Campbell
agreed in writing to a contract for one year with salary tems similar to
those offered his predecessor. ‘The trustees hoped that the Home Mission
Board could agree to their request for assistance. They unanimously
“resolved that the treasurer, Mr. W. Doughty, be enpowered to take charge
of the subscription list, and to pay over the money collected to the pastor."

At a comunion service early in October over which Campbell presided,
Minnie Brown along with several others presented herself for baptism and
admission to the church. A newcomer to Mt. Pleasant, she was the bride of
William N, Brom, a local lawyer and large landowner. After joining the
church, the young housewife became one of the most active and influential
menbers of the Ladies' Aid Society. Her father, the Honorable Dwight May
of Kalamazoo who once served as Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, and her
mother frequently visited the Brown home in Mt. Pleasant. Soon the mother
shared the daughter's loye and enthusiasm for the simple frame church where
they both worshiped when together. In Decenber, 1879, as a token of this
regard, the elder woman presented the Presbyterians with a large bell for
their heretofore soundless steeple. ‘The trustees expressed by resolution
the appreciation of the congregation for this generous gift and engaged
Charles Slater—a man of many skills—" to put the belfry in fit condition
for the bell." Within a brief time he had everything in readiness, the

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bell adjusted and in the "proper position to summon with its iron tongue
‘the conmmicants to service.”

‘The peal of the new bell sent tremors through the frame church. These
vibrations may have been the cause of the mishap the following year when
the large chandelier fell among the worshipers during a Sunday morning serv
ice. Although broken glass flew about the sanctuary, no one was injured
and the spilled kerosene did not ignite.

n Decenber 15, 1879, unfortunately, the "iron tongue" was not yet in
place to voice a welcome when the first "iron horse" reached the village
over the narrow gauge track of the new Saginaw and Mt. Pleasant Railroad.
A large assenblage of tomspeople and visitors, bundled against the cold,
greeted the train as, steaming and puffing, it rolled to a stop alongside
the new depot. Thereafter, to mark the creat event young and old paraded
behind the cornet band, the new steam fire engine, and the gaily-costured
volunteer fire companies. For the remainder of the day and far into night
the people of Mt. Pleasant celebrated this final severance of the isolation
which for so long a tine had plagued the village. A few days later, on
Christmas Day, 115 children and adults of the Presbyterian Sunday School
boarded the train for an excursion to Coleman, fifteen miles distant, where
the new railroad made connection with the Flint and Pére Marquette Line.
“The feast at the Pierce House in Coleman,” an account of the trip states,
“was all that a Christmas dinner inplies, and the ride there and back was
especially pleasing to the children who had never been on the cars before."

From the standpoint of harmony and good will between pastor and
congregation, the Reverend Campbell's three-year pastorate at the First
Presbyterian Church was highly successful. On several occasions, at the
urging of his people, he repeated timely and thought-provoking sermons. An
archenemy of "the liquor men", he opposed them in court as well as from the
pulpit, thereby winning the regard and gratitude of the "temperance" people
in the town, Although the trustees had encountered the usual difficulty in
raising funds to pay his first year's salary, he yielded to their plea to
serve a second and even third year. Fortunately, he received $300 each
year from the Home Mission Board, but the local church could never raise
‘enough by subscription alone to pay his contracted salary. Still dependent
‘upon donations to supply the difference, the church now took care not to
misrepresent such an affair. ‘The announcement in 1881 of a "Valentine
Donation Party for the benefit of Rev. William Campbell" further stated,
"The proceeds of this donation will be applied to make up a deficiency in
our minister's salary, otherwise unprovided for." Surely, after three years
in Mt. Pleasant, Campbell must have believed that Christians of all breeds
in the town preferred to eat their way to salvation at “donations,” ice
cream socials, and oyster suppers rather than pay a minister's salary in
full when due.

During these years, the Ladies’ Aid Society continued to support the
church with the proceeds from a rich and varied program of entertainment for
the diversion of the townspeople. In addition to the usual dinners, misical
offerings, and drama, it sponsored a lecture series that brought nationally
known personalities to the village. Anong these were Susan B. Anthony and
Elizabeth Cady Stanton who spoke to capacity audiences. Schuyler Colfax, a
former vice-president of the United States, arrived in tow soon after the
tragic death of President Garfield and spoke feelingly from the Presbyterian
platform on the subject, "Our Martyred Presidents."

‘The Society put its hard-garnered funds to good use. It hoped to
provide the church with stained glass windows, but in view of the constant
shortage of subscription money, settled for "blinds" and shutters instead.

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Often the trustees tured to the Society as the only source of ready funds.
On one occasion, for exemple, frantically seeking to make a quarterly pay-
ment to the pastor, they resolved "to pay all incidental money on the Salery
[sic]," and then, as a last hope called upon “the Ladies’ Aid Society to
aids in the amount of $25.00 or more."

In addition to the many contributions of the ladies’ Aid Society, the
church received gifts from unexpected sources. To the surprise and delight
©f the congregation, at Christmas time in 188i, Mrs. May made a second
welcane and mmnificent present to the church—-a comlete pipe organ. By
the first week in the new year the instrument was installed and ready for
use. On the 6th of January an organ concert with Mrs. D. S, Partridge at

Service, a gift which Campbell did not reveal until May when a surprised
congregation saw it in use for the first time.

At the annual meeting in 1881, the congregation, recognizing the need
to provide better care for the church and its new equipment, authorized an
expenditure of $50 yearly to employ a church sexton, Shortly thereafter
Charles Slater—elder, trustee, Sunday School superintendent, and sometime
church carpenter--took over as janitor as well and served in that role for

at this time was the resolution of the trustees that “anyone wishing to
cushion a seat could cut them down and do so if they wished." In light of
this resolve, one can well understand why the church a year hence was in
the market for new pews.

Late in March, 1882, the Reverend Campbell announced his resignation,
effective at the expiration of his contract. Surprised and disheartened
by their pastor's decision, the trustees appointed two of their mmber to
explain to him how matters stood "in regard to the prospect of his salary
being raised." By dint of much searching and scraping, however, they were
able "to settle" with Campbell when he left the tom late in Jne. At the
same time the trustees voted to raise sufficient funds to satisfy all church
indebtedness. Now the search for a new pastor was again under wey.

Om October 9, 1882, the congregation issued a call to the Reverend
Bugene G. Cheeseman of the Lyons Presbytery who promptly accepted the invi-
tation and began his duties on the 28th of the same month. Although the
‘trustees again requested assistance from the Board of Hone Missions, the
church's financial position appeared brighter. At the annual meeting the
following spring, its indebtedness totaled only $120, an amount liquidated
dnmediately by personal subscription. Apparently the trustees had managed
‘to pay Cheesenan his salary without the usual last minute struggle. As a
further indication of solvency, the congregation authorized the sale of the
present seats to the Calkinsville church and the expenditure of $360 for
new pews.

During Cheesenan's first year as pastor the menbers of the church
adopted a rotary system of eldership. Slater won a three year tem, Bouton
‘two years, and Wilkinson Doughty, new to the session, one year. At the
annual meeting a year hence the congregation voted to enlarge the mmber of
ruling elders to five. Doughty was elected for three years and David M.
Switzer and H. B. Pierson to two and one year terms respectively.

As moderator and for some time its clerk as well, Cheeseman made
frequent calls for the Session to meet. A reading of his meticulous and
detailed records reveals that to his view church menbership should not be

~22-

 

taken lightly. He made a distinct effort to correct the many errors in the
church rolls and to supply missing entries in the record book. Although
many gained adnission to the church during his pastorate, others were
xenoved from the rolls because of absence from church or’ for unseemly“con-
Guct. Perhaps the high point of this latter effort was the Session's
formal excommmication of a wonen member who had recently dared to divorce
her husband in a local court.

Cheesenan's rather puritanical approach to religion may have antagonized
some who had long supported the church. During the first year, too, the
Episcopalians erected a beautiful new church and attracted to it many
Substantial citizens who had formerly worshiped with the Presbyterians.
Indeed, the lot on which the Episcopal Church stood was the gift of the
Dwight May family and the well-designed and finely-constructed building was
paid for by William N. Brow, the Mays' son-in-law. Perhaps Mrs. May,
whose love for the Presbyterians had previously been denonstrated, feared
that their church, mich in need of repair and situated far back from the
street amid the unkempt back yards of neighboring business houses, now
suffered in comparison with the advantageously located and spanking new
Bpiscopal Church. Whatever her motive, she informed the Board of Trustees
that if it would select a new site for the church building, she would
purchase the lot and hold the mortgage. Nothing came of the offer at the
‘time and some years were to pass before the subject of moving the building
to another site again arose.

‘The congregation tendered Cheeseman a contract for a second year, and
then a third. The decline in church attendance during his second year was
Understandable, but when more and more of the stalwarts failed to appear
for Sunday morning services, the trustees knew that they had to act. At a
meeting of the Board on January 2, 1885, all present agreed that for the
good of the church, Cheeseman mist at once resign his charge. The pastor
complied, although the suddenness of the request mist have surprised him.
Only a month before, he and his wife had hosted an evening social described
as “the largest and most enjoyable gathering of the kind of the season.”
Indeed, on the day prior to the Board's decision many church members attended
a New Year's Day "open house" at his home. ‘To pay the remainder due on his
salary, the trustees once again sought the assistance of the Ladies' Aid
Society, and, in addition, raised $82 by means of a "donation." On March 5,
1885, Cheeseman and his family departed for the Fast and a new pastorate at
Skaneateles, New York, where death took him less than a year later.

The Presbyterians sought for months to find a new pastor. In Novenber
the congregation issued a call to the Reverend F. A. Bissell, of Armada,
Michigan, a menber of the Kalamazoo Association of Congregational Ministers,
with the understanding that he unite with the Saginaw Presbytery at its
next meeting.

Bissell, a young man only recently ordained, was the son of the
Reverend L. B. Bissell, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Caro, Michigan,
and a former missionary with thirty-five years of service in India. Indeed,
the younger man had been born and reared in India and was well versed in
the Hindu language and culture. When he arrived in Mt. Pleasant he found
quarters in the hone of Rachel Nott, sister of the Reverend Luke Nott, first
pastor of the local church who through the years had continued his out-
county missionary work. Soon young Bissell was either assisting Nott in
‘this work or had actually assued responsibility for a mmber of rural
charges. By the first of the year, in addition to his Mt. Pleasant service,
he preached on weekday evenings to small Presbyterian assenblages in
Coleman, Calkinsville, and Whiteville. Returning from one of these engage-
ments on a cold Decenber night shortly before Christmas, the young pastor

3

 

was surprised and pleased to discover that during his absence a group of
church wonen had provided furniture for his heretofore rather barren bachelor
quaxters. Perhaps theix gift sexved as a gentle hint and accounted for his
next move, A month later after an absence of a few days the pastor returned
to tom with a bride,

During his fixst year in Mt. Pleasant, the young preacher received
invitations from a mmber of churches in the Saginaw Valley to address their
congregations. In addition to his ability as a speaker and his unusual ex-
perience as a meber of a missionary family, he had a fine voice and was a
skilled musician. When he visited another church his program usually
consisted of a lecture, "Life in India," and Hindu melodies sung first in
‘the native tongue and then in English. One of his performances in Bridgeport
was billed as "a concert."

During Bissell's ministry, there was same speculation among local
Presbyterians in particular and the townspeople generally that the new

to the village, some of wham, pleased with what they saw, made plans to
settle there. Now, too, the citizens of Mt. Pleasant had ready access by
‘to the larger toms to the south and east. One of the first groups
take advantage of the new facility was the Presbyterian Sunday School
which in the fall of 1886 made an excursion to Alma and St. Louis.

For the Presbyterian Church, however, the times were far from

Even the Ladies' Aid Society became less active, sponsoring socials and

other money-raising activities only once a month instead of weekly as in the
past, But it still had sufficient funds available to fulfill a trustee

request for $25 "to pay on the Seats." As another indication of decline,
‘the annual meeting of the church and the election of officers in May, 1887
had to be postponed because there were not enough menbers present to fill
vacancies on the several boards.

    

After: the Reverend Bissell preached his farewell sermon on June 19,
1887, the Presbyterian pulpit remained vacant for more than a year. During
this time the Sunday School classes convened regularly and the Ladies’ Aid
Society continued to do all that it could to keep the church functioning.
‘Lacking pastoral leadership, the church boards nonetheless endeavored to
provide as full a program of religious observance as possible. On some
‘occasions they could prevail upon a minister from another town or city to
come by rail and preach to the congregation, but often there were no worship
services whatsoever. Late in the year, however, the trustees concluded an
agreement with the Reverend R. T. Lynd of the newly-opened Alma College to
serve the church until it could find a permanent pastor.

‘In June, 1888 the Reverend Melvin Fraser of Elgin, Illinois arrived in
Mt. Pleasant at the invitation of the Board of Trustees and supplied the
Presbyterian pulpit on three consecutive Sundays. Evidently all who heard
him were favorably impressed, agreeing that "he [gave] promise of faithful
and efficient work" and that the four sermons he delivered had "the right
ring in then," With the Reverend F, L. Forbes of Midland presiding, the
congregation on June 25, 1888 chose Fraser as its pastor-elect and instructed

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the Board of Trustees to issue the call. By this time Fraser had already
returned to his hone in Illinois. Several weeks later he agreed to the
tems which the trustees had already discussed with him and retumed to
Mt. Pleasant late in July to assune his duties.

The clurch seamed to take on new life during Fraser's brief ministry.
When he arrived, church menbership totaled sixty-one; a year later it had
iooteased to seventy-three, The progran of the church daring his ministry
was as follows:

Sabbath preaching at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sabbath school
at 12 p.m. Young Peoples' meeting at 6 p.m. Young Peoples’
Missionary Society concert second Sabbath of each month at
7 p.m., conmmion service second Sabbath of each quarter at
10:30 a.m. Wednesday, prayer meeting at 7 p.m. Standard
time. Welcome to all.

‘The Saginaw Presbytery convened in Mt, Pleasant for its semi-annual
session late in August, 1888 and at that time formally installed Fraser as
Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. Thereafter the young minister,
who had no family with him, became increasingly active in Presbytery affairs.
When it met in Mt. Pleasant again the following April, the members of the
church were called upon to open their hanes and offer hospitality for
several days to the sixty ministers and elders in attendance. Fraser
frequently traveled to other cities to speak and on most of those occasions
there were no services in his own church. When the Presbytery met in St.
Louis in Septenber, 1889, it elected the Mt. Pleasant pastor moderator for
the ensuing year.

Despite a rise in menbership, the church continued to have difficulty
raising enough funds for the pastor's salary--$400 annually with another
$100 contributed by the Board of tome Missions. Only by means of the usual
donations and pleas to the Ladies' Aid Society was the total salary forth-
coming. In addition to their contribution, the women raised enough money by
socials and entertainments to provide three new chairs ani a commmion table
for the chancel.

Fraser had close ties with his family in Chicago and visited there
frequently. Returning from that city in February, 1889, he informed the
congragation that he wished to resign his charge effective in mid-April.
His mother had been seriously ill and he wished to find a church nearer to
the family home. The pastor's announcenent "caused mich regret among the
menbers" and he was asked to reconsider, but his decision was final. He
also resigned as moderator of the Saginaw Presbytery. After preaching a
last sermon on April 7, 1890, he inmediately departed for Chicago. Several
Years later, however, he had journeyed mich farther from his home than Mt.
Pleasant for in 1895 he was serving as a missionary in Africa.

‘The trustees of the First Presbyterian Church again faced the task of
engaging a pastor. Complicating their search was the fact that the
Presbyterian Society itself appeared far from prosperous, its church
building needing refurbishing and major repair. ‘Twenty years before, it
had been the pride of a small village, but now, in truth, it was an eyesore
in the heart of a progressive city with nearly 3,500 population. Even as
they searched for a pastor the trustees deliberated: Should the old
building be repaired ani remodeled? Should land adjoining the property be
Purchased to improve the church site? Should the land be sold and the
building moved to another lot somewhere in town? ‘The dilapidated building
‘and the apparent lack of resources available to the Board may have been the
chief reasons for the refusal of a visiting Chicago minister to accept an

a

$800 offer for a year of service and the promise of a larger salary in the
future.

‘The search for a new pastor continued until Decenber 1, 1890. On that
date at a meeting "held at the Exchange Bank Parlors," the trustees decided
to enploy the Reverend Willian H. Hoffman at an annual salary of $600—
“with the understanding that he devote a part of his time to the Calkinsville
charge." There may have been an agreement, too, that if he accepted the
charge the trustees would inmediately begin a program to improve the church
building, Hoffnan accepted the offer and before the year ended had resigned
his charge in Muir, Michigan, and had arrived in Mt. Pleasant to begin his
five year pastorate at First Presbyterian.

In Hoffran the Presbyterians found a friend and an inspired leader.
At his prodding the trustees began making definite plans for repairing and
remodeling the sanctuary. Hoffman hinself originated the idea of a "repair
box" to be attached to the church to receive donations to a repair fund. At
end of his first year he declared that he was "satisfied" with his

building inside and out." In another year the church had been moved to the
front of the lot and placed on a new, eighteen-inch stone foundation. Under
it, too, was a partial basement where a new furnace had recently been
installed. A new roof, exterior painting, and clean-up of the premises

‘the first stage of the plan, mich of which had been completed at
the time of the annual meeting on May 1, 1893.

Reports submitted at the annual meeting seemed to indicate that the
church was proceeding with its improvement program without undue financial
stress. The plate collections of $146.97 for the year had been sufficient
to meet all incidental expenses and leave a small balance. Contributions

 

to the "repair box" totaled $27.54 of which all but $1.82 had been expended.
Subscriptions for the pastor's salary amounted to $555.00 to which was added
"donation" receipts of $53.70. Of the total thus due him ($608.70) the

trustees had already paid $250.00. For janitor service they had paid
Charles Slater $50.00 for the year and $19.73 in arrears. ‘The building
comiittee reported that to date it had spent $87.77 for excavating the
furnace room and installing the furnace. In addition it had paid out $150.94
of the $152.72 subscribed to the repair fund to move the building and to
construct its new foundation.

Despite inconveniences and delays associated with the improvement pro-
gram, the church carried on a full program of religious observance. With
Hoffman as moderator, the Session met frequently, the new elders, Elijah D.
Wheaton, George W. Snyder, and Lewis E. Royal, the last the first mayor of
Mt. Pleasant, taking active roles in its deliberations. The Sunday School,
too, was in a flourishing condition. In June the usual Children's Day
exercises on Sunday moming were of "vhusual interest" and well attended,
Later on the sane day the Reverend Hoffman "wheeled" to Calkinsville to
speak at the "elaborate program” of Children's Day exercises which on that
occasion replaced the usual services for the Presbyterians of that village.
Qn a warm spring day a few weeks earlier, the onlookers in Mt. Pleasant had
been mich amised to see the local minister “taming an unmanageable bike."
He had succunbed readily to the bicycle craze sweeping the country at the
time and thereafter used a "safety" bicycle’constantly to attend to "his
ministerial duties" both ly and at a distance. Indeed, when he had be-
Gone an expert rider, he thought Little of bicyeling all the way to Mair,

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‘the village where he had formerly preached, sixty-five miles south of Mt.
Pleasant.

A mmber of the men engaged in formilating plans for the improvement
of the Presbyterian Church were at the sane tite laying the groundwork for
@ significant contribution to Mt. Pleasant itself. Indeed, seven of the
‘twelve local citizens who joined together in the spring of 1892 to establish
the Mt. Pleasant Inprovenent Company were either presently or formerly
associated with the Presbyterian Society. The menbers of this new organiza-
tion, perhaps remembering the loss of the Presbyterian College to Alma six
years earlier, hoped to advance the prospects of their city by founding a
training school for teachers and business students. All went well with
‘theix plans and in September, 1892, the Central Normal School and Business
Institute convened its first classes. In the years to follow, the new
institution was to have a profound impact upon the city of Mt. Pleasant—
ol een he Fire. Presbyterian Courch aa wall Charles F. R. Bellows, the

As money became available the Presbyterian Society continued to improve
the church. To the dismay of sone members the churchyard seemed to be
constantly littered with materials and debris. At the annual meeting in
1895, however, the building committee reported that the renovation was
completed. Rooms had been added to the rear of the building and the interior

had been renodeled and freshly decorated. New carpeting had been laid and

now furnishings aéved. The old kerosene chandeliers had been renoved

‘than e

. At the conclusion of the building committee's recort, the Reverend
Hoffman offered prayer "in recognition of the Divine favor so manifest in
raising funds for repairing the church and in the good feeling prevailing
throughout the congregation.”

‘The varied activities of the congregation at this time could well inspire
@ "good feeling." Although its menbership total of seventy-three had

music to fifty cents weekly—the amount paid the organist. During the same
year the trustees also adopted the envelope system for the payment of pledges.

The "good feeling" that had existed in the spring, however, did not
Jong persist. In Septenber the trustees voted unanimously to end "the
pastoral relationship" between the Reverend Hoffman and the church at the
Glose of the current pastoral year, Nay 1, 1896. | Shortly after lesrning of
the Board's decision Hoffman resigned as pastor and accepted a call to a
church in Flushing, Michigan.

In expressing the sense of their meeting the following Decenber, the
trustees declared that it was "desirable to secure a pastor as soon as
practicable," After reviewing the applications of a mmber of ministers,
they invited the Reverend I. A. Shanton "of Ohio" to come to Mt. Pleasant in

-27-

 

Jamary and occupy the pulpit.

Shanton arrived in town in time to parteke of the fifteen-cent supper
prepared by the Ladies' Aid Society in recognition of its 27th anniversary.
Tn reporting his acceptance, the local newspaper camented: "Mr. Shanton
comes here with the finest recommendations and [the Presbyterian Society] is
to be congratulated in securing such a pastor, and that church has every
Prospect of advancing in its several features as a religious organization.”

Shanton preached to larye congregations on consecutive Sabbaths in
January, delivering a special sermon for the young men of the town on the
second Sunday evening. Following this latter service the trustees and other
members of the congregation met in the church parlor and expressed their
approval of the visiting clergyman. At a meeting the next day the trustees
‘voted to engage him as pastor-elect "looking to his installation" as pastor
of First Presbyterian and as "supply" for the Calkinsville church. A month
later Shanton accepted the call.

Shortly after the pastor-elect assumed his duties, the Women's Home
and Foreign Missionary Society contributed enough money for starving
Amenians."to feed 73 people for three months." Within a brief time, how
ever, the church itself would have welcomed relief money. Shanton had
taken over the Presbyterian pulpit at the onset of another period of
national economic stagnation. Indeed, at one of his first Sunday evening
services he selected as his subject, "Sone Practical and Helpful thi
from the Present Hard Times." In view of the situation, he called upon the
congregation to provide the church with a more efficient financial structure.
At the annual meeting in May, the members agreed to his three proposals:

1, ‘That the trustees hold a business meeting once a month.
2. That the church and Society hold a business meeting

 

ae

In addition to subscribing funds for church operation, menbers might also
-ibute when special collections were taken for the Board of Hane Missions,
Board of Foreign Missions, the Board of Church Erection, the Board of
"Sustentation," the Presbyterian College Fund, the Freedman’Fund, and the
Ministerial Relief Fund.

Shanton's sermons continued to attract large auliences. He spoke on
"modern, vital themes," said the local editor. When the city's fire

conflagration, the townspeople packed the Presbyterian sanctuary to hear the
new minister's denunciation of those responsible for the malfunction. He
delivered a "patriotic" semon in celebration of the Fourth of July, and
the next week was the chief platform speaker and chief attraction—except
for the successful balloon ascension—at the Calkinsville celebration of the
“Battle of the Boyne." Despite his popularity and the best efforts of the
new financial comittee, subscriptions to the pastoral salary fund totaled
$200.00 less than in former years. Undoubtedly, a large measure of this
decline in support reflected the current "hard times," but to Shanton it
was evidently an indication of the congregation's inability or umillingness
‘to provide for a full-time pastor. At his suggestion the society terminated
his contract at its half-year mark in August. On his last Sunday in the

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Hi

 

Presbyterian pulpit he may have revealed more of the circumstances relating
to his sudden resignation. At the morning service his sermon was entitled»
"The One Thing Needed by this Church;" in the evening for his farewell
Sermon he chose the subject, "Mind Your Own Business." Three months later
he left Mt. Pleasant in response to the "unanimous" call of a large
Congwegational church in Cleveland, Ohio.

‘The Presbyterian pulpit had been vacant only a week when the church
suffered a sudden, heavy loss. On the 24th of August, 1896, death took
Mrs. Mary F. Doughty, a co-founder of the Sunday School, one of the twelve
original menbers of the church, and one of its staunchest supporters.
Severe as was the loss of this devoted servant of Christ, the church and the
commmity could find some compensation for their sorrow in the seemingly
Providential arrival in tom of such dedicated Christians as Professor and
Mrs. Charles McKenny.

a2