Chapter 6

Jn fomer years a yacant pulpit at the First Presbyterian Church in
Mt, Pleasant usually reflected a want of ready resources. By 1905, however,
‘the cturch appeared to have weathered a long siege of “growing pains" and
could lock to a robust future. Although for months it had Been deprived of
the spiritual leadership and guidance that only a regular pastor could
provide, the congregation retained confidence in its ruling elders—Henry
Bouton, Charles Slater, Wilkinson Doughty, George Snyder, Alexander Burke,
and Charles Grawn—and'in a competent Board of Trustees. No longer need
the church lock to the Board of Hone Missions for assistance. From its own
resources it could now offer an adequate salary and expect to engage a
capable and thoroughly experienced pastor.

During the fall and winter following the departure of the Reverend
Grigsby, a mmber of "candidating" ministers supplied the Presbyterian
pulpit.’ Not until late in March, however, did the Reverend J. Adair
MoGreaham, pastor of the Grace Presbyterian Church in Saginaw, accept an
invitation to preach in Mt. Pleasant, Six years before when he was pastor
of the Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, Michigan, he had declined a call
to First Presbyterian. Now he had come with the intention of accepting an
offer if it were forthoaing. A warm and friendly man with a reputation as
a scholar and with twenty-five years' experience as a pastor, he could do
much for First Presbyterian. After hearing him preach on two successive
Sabbaths, the congregation voted unanimously to offer him the pulpit. In
Mey, the minister agreed to terms submitted by the Board of Trustees and
began his four-year pastorate in Mt, Pleasant in June, 1905.

In the meantime, significant changes were taking place in Mt. Pleasant,
now a city of 4,500 people. Many new homes were rising, especially in the
neighborhood of the Normal School. In the business district mich of the
old was giving way to the new. During the past year, for example, the city
had torn up the old wooden footpaths and laid down seven miles of concrete
sidewalks.

‘The Presbyterians were not unresponsive to the spirit of progress which
seme to parvade the town. heir church was too sual for thelr needa, but
they had not yet located a site to which it could be moved, enlarged, and
remodeled. Even as they searched, they continued adding to their building
At the annual meeting in April, 1906, however, the congregation
agreed to move the building to a large site at the northeast comer of Main
and Wisconsin Streets. Professor Charles T. Grawn, an elder and trustee,
owed the lot and agreed to sell it to the church for $650. Within a week's
ity Council had granted pemmission for the removal, and expectations

 

move
before at a time when there appeared to be no alternative. Menbers of the
congregation had established a building fund, but until the arrival of the
Reverend McGreaham, none had considered it a "new building" fund. The pastor
undoubtedly convinced the building committee that the congregation would be
better served if it sold the present. structure, added the proceeds to the
building fund, and erected a new church on the Main Street site. With the
added resources now at its comand, the congregation could well afford a
larger, better equipped, and more easily maintained church. By June the
building committee had agreed to postpone operations in order, as it
explained, "to help the projected YiMAC.A. building." During the sumer
months surgort for a nev church continued to mount. To promote the project,

the Ladies' Aid Society intensified its money-raising activities and by’

October had paid in full for the new building site, About this time, too,
the congregation learned that the local chapter of the I.0.0,F, was inter~
ested in purchasing the present church for use as a lodge hall. ‘This
evelopment ended all thought of moving the building to the new site. The
Presbyterians would erect a new structure on their Main Street lot.

In the early fall church menbers pledged generously to a building fund
and, at a meeting of the congregation, authorized an expenditure of $8,000
for the new church, Thereupon, the Reverend McGreaham wrote to the Radford
Architectural Company of Chicago to seek assistance in planning the building.
A few days later he received a reply fran G. W. Ashby, a Chicago architect,
who agreed to design the church to the satisfaction of the building camittee
and to forward complete plans and specifications "for the very low price of
$60.00." McGreaham turned over the architect's letter to the building com
mittee and within a week's time all organizations within the church were
busily involved in preliminary planning for their new home. By the first
of Novenber the building committee could forward to the architect the basic
information which he needed in order to proceed with his plans. At the time,
the committee consisted of F. B, Whitehead, Charles Slater, Charles T. Grawn,
and Daniel Anderson, ‘In the negotiations which followed, however, Ralph 0.
Doughty, treasurer of the building fund, served as spokesman for the committee.

Doughty outlined for the architect the basic requirements for the new

Main auditorium to seat 250 to 300 persons. ‘This room and
at least two auxiliary class roons adjoining to take care of
from 150 to 200 S.S. scholars. ‘These auciliary roams to be
arranged so that they could be used in connection with the

main room or thrown together in one roa to hold combined

100 anyway.

A small library section or roam to hold 500 volumes. A
pastor's study with auxiliary stove or fireplace heat for
emergency use. A choir room. These two preferable near the
platform. The platform large enough to hold a pipe organ
and a chorus choir.

Floor to be inclined. Steel ceilings all over. Cathedral
windows. Steam heat with ability to drain boiler and
arrange to heat basement floor or main floor as wanted and
independently from the boiler room in the basement. All
plumbing arranged to be non-freezing.

Basement to be under entire building, cement floors, well-
lighted and airy. To be used for fuel and boiler roams, one
closet for men and one for women. Kitchen with gas range

and proper pantry facilities. Balance for combined dining
and small assenbly room and from two to four small rooms

for use as classrooms (sunday school) committee roams & etc.
with ability to throw two together for larger use if wanted.

Provision for good yentilation main floor anyway and perhaps
in basement. Street on west is a main street, that on south
not quite so important. Want main entrances on 8.W. and
NW. comers with a connecting lobby between 10 to 12 feet
wide. Hooded and protected steps from stomn and weather.
‘Tower of low style on S.W. corner.

sie

Do not want a fancy or irregular or curving arrangenent of
seating. Want a thoroughly up to date and pleasing style
and arrangenents in every part. Simple lines rather than an
attempt to make the money spread over too mich ground.

Building complete, including heat, plumbing, windows,
furnishings & etc. not to exceed $8,000.

The architect began work on the plans inmediately, but advised Doughty
that in his opinion the proposed church could not be constructed and equipped
as specified for $8,000. Undiscouraged, the committee made preparation for
the start of construction. To cut costs it contracted for the delivery of
building stone during the winter months when local farmers had time to
gather it and sledge it to the building site. By February, 125 loads of
field stone were on hand even though a contract had not yet been let.

‘The congregation was pleased with the preliminary plans which the
architect forwarded late in January. Pleasure soon turned to dismay, how-
ever, for a local contractor advised that the building could not be
constructed as planned for less than $12,800. Ashby offered to modify

the plans in an attempt to stay within the $8,000 limit, but the congregation
saved him the added effort. It wanted the building without major change.
After careful examination of the plans, the building committee cut five feet
off the width of the proposed church and twelve feet off its length. It
planned to cut costs further by using the pews in the present building, by
substituting furnaces and hot air heat for steam heat, and by allowing the
basement level for the time to remain unfinished. After a few more minor
changes in the plans and specifications, Cole Brothers of Mt. Pleasant and
Shepherd contracted to construct the new First Presbyterian Church for
$7,975, and to have it ready for occupancy on the following Noverber 1.
Separate contracts would be let for plumbing and heating and for the instal-
lation of stained glass windows. "The building will be a handsome red
brick," said a local reporter, “and will greatly enhance the appearance of
Main Street."

 

In the meantine, the Board of Trustees had concluded the sale of the
present church to Lodge #217 of the 1.0.0.F. for $2,000. ‘The tems of the
sale provided that the church should renove all furniture and furnishings
including the organ, pews, stoves, the "furnace without fixtures" and the
bell. ‘The trustees granted inmeidate occupancy to the 1.0.0.F. but stipu-
‘lated that the congregation was to have use of the building on Fridays and
‘Sundays until Novenber 1, the date established for completion of the new
church. Learning of this arrangement, the local press quipped: "A
Presbyterian may for the present attend the Od Fellow's hall, and an Odd
Fellow the Presbyterian church. Yet Solamn says there is no new thing
wnder the sun.”

‘The contractor began work on the new church in mid-April and pushed
construction steadily throughout the summer and fall. ‘he F. B. Clark
Company of Mt. Pleasant installed the heating equipment, some interior
fixtures, and the comon glass. ‘the Flanagan & Biedenweg Company of
Chicago contracted to manufacture and install the stained glass windows for
$500. In late sumer, workmen began removing the pews and other furnishings
from the old church for installation in the new building. No longer able
to use the old sanctuary, the Presbyterians thereafter conducted worship
services and Sunday School in the nearby County Courthouse. Apparently the
young people of the Christian Endeavor Society were better able to adjust
‘to hard floor seating, for until Novenber 1 they continued to meet in the
now barren old church.

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‘voigoniun

  

A study of the Architects designs above reveals the conveniences and accomodations that
rill be afforded by the New Presbyterian church that is building onthe corner of Main and
Wisconsin streets.

‘The new structure will cot when completed und furnished approximately $15.000, It
ill be model of conveniences and the pride ofits builders, At the same time it will be
8 substantial omament and addition to our beautiful e

‘The construction is in the hands of Cole Brothers whichis a guarantee that the work:
manship will berght. They have the foundation well under wa,

 

  

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‘The Cole Brothers had completed their contract work by Novenber 1, and
with the stained glass windows all in place, the building was completely
closed in and ready for occupancy. Unforescen developments, however, pre-
vented the trustees from taking possession on the appointed date. To pay
the contractor at specified stages of construction, the building comittee
had depended upon short term bank loans which it retired at maturity with
pledged income. Anticipating a need for funds to make the final payment
to the contractor, the committee had previously arranged with the bank for
a loan of $3000. In October, however, the bank informed the committee that
“owing to present uncertain financial conditions now prevailing generally,"
it had “temporarily discontinued” all discounts and loans. Until bank funds
were again forthcoming, the Presbyterians would be unable to make a final
payment to the contractor and thus gain possession of their new church.

 

Earlier in the fall, confident that Novenber would find the congre-
gation established in its new home, the trustees had selected Sunday,
December 1 for dedication of the new church. On that joyous Sabbath, they
hoped, the members of First Presbyterian would subscribe additional sums to
Liguidate the small amount of construction cost remaining unpaid and to
provide for the completion of the lower level. By mid-Novenber, however,
there was fear that the building committee might not have funds at hand to
pay the contractor and gain passession of the church by Dedication Day.
Indeed, not until the end of Novenber did the bank consent to lend the
trustees the $2,000 needed to pay the contractor and open the building.

On Decenber 1, 1907, the Presbyterians of Mt. Pleasant formally
dedicated their new church home. The Reverend Willis G. Craig, Professor
of Systematic Theology at the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago,
delivered the dedicatory sermon at the morning service and preached again
in the evening. Those who assenbled for the afternoon session listened to
brief congratulatory messages offered by city and county officials and by

 

Ralph 0. Doughty, the treasurer of the building fund comittee of the Board
of Trustees. Mr. Doughty was largely responsible for the construction and
completion of the Main Street church.

fee!

the pastors of other churches, anong the latter, the Reverends H. Yan
Qmeren and William H. Sinmons, fomer pastors of First Presbyterian. "The
new church building," xead the newspaper account of the dedication exercises,
"is a delightfully cozy, convenient place of assenblage. The acoustic
properties are excellent and the finish inside and out [is] of most pleasing
‘The Reverend MoGreahan officiated at the first commnion service in
the new church in Jamary, 1908. n this solemn occasion with a winter sun
giving added glow to the beautiful cathedral windows, all present in the
Sanctuary could reflect on God's goodness and be grateful for the labor and
sacrifice of His many servants who had erected this temple to His glory.

The reports of church activities presented at the anmal meeting in
April provided further evidence that God had particularly blessed the
First Presbyterian Church, For example, the Session disclosed that church
menbership in the past year had increased by twelve per cent. Pledge pay-
ments to the building fund had enabled the trustees to meet the short term
bank loans when due, and all were expected to be retired by the end of the
year. Thereafter the church would have no indebtedness other than a $1,500
mortgage negotiated earlier in the year. A slight falling off in income
for benevolence during the year could be attributed to the erection of the
new church and was not expected to occur again. After naming M. F. Brown
to serve as a ruling elder, the congregation elected its first deacons and
deaconesses.

‘The ensuing year was indeed memorable for the congregation. In their
new surroundings church programs and church activities seemed to take on
new life. Much as they loved their new building, the menbers were hopeful
‘that the lower level would soon be completed. At the time, some Sunday
School classes were forced to meet in rented quarters. ‘the Ladies' Aid
Society which could now be counted upon to provide between $500 and $1,000
yearly, for the church, still lacked needed kitchen facilities and serving
space.’ At the suggestion of the Reverend McGreaham, the men of the church
had formed a Goodfellowship Club, which soon boasted fifty-two menbers.
The first annual banquet of the club in January, 1909, however, had to be
held in the Odd Fellows Hall, because the Presbyterian facilities were yet
to be completed.

‘The trustees had earlier announced that they would make no plans for
finishing the lover level until the church had retired all bank indebtedness.
For a second winter, therefore, the congregation alternately roasted or
froze as the two wood-burning hot air furnaces blazed furiously one moment
and died out the next. When the bank loahs were paid, therefore, at the
insistence of the congregation, workmen began installation of the boiler,
piping, and fixtures needed to provide steam heat. ‘The trustees did not let
@ contract for completion of the basement level. As money became available,
Ralzh 0. Doughty, the building fund treasurer, purchased the necessary
materials and Charles E. Hagan, one of the trustees, hired skilled worknen
on a day to day basis and supervised construction of interior walls and
partitions. Work continued throughout the spring and early summer until
the social hall and other lower level rooms were finished. With this done
‘the church could provide space for all Sunday School classes.

To obtain ready funds for the completion of the basement and for other
needed inprovenents, the trustees in May, 1909, mortgaged the building for
an additional $1500'to make the total church indebtedness $3000, According
to the tems of the mortgage, the church might pay $200 every six months on
the principal with full payment due in five years tine.

 

auditoriim, There they again heard the "very flat " the
Session, the trustees, the ling committee, the Lafies' Aid Society," the
Men's Goodfellowship Club, the Sunday School, and the several youth organi-
zations. Benevolence contributions were ‘than ‘the

year, but in the belief that the total was less than it should be,
congregation authorized a special Easter offering to increase it. It also
re-elected elders George W. Snyder and Charles Slater and named F. C. Crego

to the vacancy in the Session resulting from the recent death of Wilkinson

meeting the Reverend McGreahan submitted his resignation as pastor, effective
April 25, 1909. He had accepted a call to the Presbyterian Church in
Shawano, Wisconsin and had agreed to begin his pastorate there on the first
Of the following month. The congregation reluctantly accepted his resig-
nation and thereupon adopted a resolution assuring him that his years at
First Presbyterian constituted "the most successful pastorate in the last
twenty years history of the church."

‘The commity also expressed its dismay that the Presbyterian pastor
would soon leave the city. ‘The Mt. Pleasant Ministers Association, which
MoGreaham had helped to organize, stated its feelings quite formally:

Be it resolved, . . . that we record our appreciation of the
splendid work that Brother McGreaham has rendered in our
midst; of his scholarly attainments; of his fidelity to
every interest of the church; of his deep interest in every
moral issue; of his splendid Christian character. And may
the blessings and presence of the Lard God Almighty be with
him in his new field of labor.
‘The First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Pleasant would be fortunate indeed to

engage a pastor with qualities of leadership, resourcefulness, and dedica-
tion to match those of the Reverend McGreaham.

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