Chapter 8

‘The departure of the popular Reyerend Green left a void in the lives
of menbers of the church congregation and the comity as a whole. However,
after Green's departure, Professor Roy A. Hamilton of Alma College served as
interim pastor and moderator of Session and the program of the church
continued without interruption, a tribute to the lay leadership.

Early in January, the congregation voted unanimously to call the
Reverend C. B. Hawkins as pastor, although he was not an active candidate
for the position. Mr. Hawkins was admirably qualified to lead the growing
Mt, Pleasant church. His background included "wide and successful experi-
ence in both rural and large city churches," according to the Mt. Pleasant
‘Times. His early education had been in the California public schools. Later
he ‘studied at Cherlin and Adrian colleges before earning his theology degree
at the Chicago Theological Saninary, followed by a year at the Moody
Institute in Chicago. After four years of service in Chicago, the Reverend
Hawkins was called to the pastorate of the church at Holloway, serving there
‘until his appointment as assistant superintendent of Home Missions of the
Synod of Michigan where he was responsible for general organizational work
among the weaker churches. Even with a very busy schedule he had found
time to be active in civic and social work in Lansing and to assume charge
Of the mmicipal playgrounds for one year.

 

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Mr, and Mrs, Hawkins and their two small daughters moved into the par-
sonage at the comer of Normal and Wisconsin streets during the first week
in March, 1923, and he began what would be a long and fruitful
Mr. Hawkins' Moody Institute evangelistic training showed clearly fron the
outset of his work in Mt. Pleasant. His early weekly newspaper notices
were catchy sermonettes, exhorting the people to answer the call of Christ
and accept the challenge of His service. Thursday, April 26, 1923, this
notice appeared on the church page of the Mt. Pleasant Tine:

 

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHJRCH
C. B. Hawkins Minister

A run-down battery is useless both to the automobilist
and radio fan. It mst be re-charged to be of use. Is your
spiritual battery run down? The churches of Mt. Pleasant
are here to do for your spiritual life that which the
station does for your auto. This cannot be done by absent’
treatment.

‘The service Sunday morning at the Presbyterian church
is always planned to help one to live more efficiently the
following week.

Morning Worship at 10:30 a.m.

‘Sunday School inmediately following with a place for each
one of the family.

Miss Elsie Fee will lead the Christian Endeavor meeting
at 6:30 p.m. Subject: "What My Denomination Means to Me

 

‘The program of the church developed steadily. Repeatedly, the clerk
of the Session commented in the Session minutes that there was a deep
spirituality within the congregation; the constant increase in membership
supports his contention.

Not only id the Reverend Hawkins serve the church well, but he also
became deeply involved in commmity activities, including Rotary (he was @
charter menber and second president of the local club), Chairman of the
Isabella County Red Cross Association for many years, Chairman of the Home
Service for Disabled Veterans, and Chairman of the Library Board. He
traveled widely in connection with both church and civic work. In addition,
he was a popular speaker, frequently addressing local groups. For instance,
soon after he came to Mt. Pleasant, he was the featured speaker at the
Menorial Day services, speaking to an audience of "thousands." The Mt.
Pleasant Times printed the speech, a moving tribute to the conmmity's
honored dead, in several colums.

Financially, the work of the church continued to involve a variety of
activities. The local newspaper reported April 19, 1923, that the Ladies’
Aid Society of the First Presbyterian Church made a profit of $193.20 by
showing the film, "When Knighthood Was in Flower," the week before at the
Broadway Theater. Perhaps the ladies were recouping their finances from
the expense of installing new "Wilton carpet" in the sanctuary the previous
year. That financial matters continued to be of concern is evident from
the Session Minutes of January 10, 1929 which note that a motion was ap-
proved "that no special offering be taken at this time for foreign missions
as such effort hinders our regular program. . ." That same year the Session
increased the fee for rental of the church organ to twenty-five cents per
hour!

Even so, the Session and the congregation continued to encourage all

Phases of spiritual development. incluling reocmanding Laven Yanterbary,
ministerial candidate, to Saginaw Presbytery for aid in March, 1930.

Support for Winterburg contimed af least unei2 Sepeenbar, 1935.

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‘The depression tock its toll despite the artificial stimilus to the
area's economy of the oil boon following 1929. In March, 1931, the session
became concerned that beneyolence pledges were $223.15 in arrears, but noted
‘that $104.00 of the amount was in one pledge with the remainder in numerous
Pledges. The elders yoted to send a letter to the congregation "relative to
collecting the pledges and meeting our quota."

‘Through the years the Session stood firm on social issues. On December
9, 1928 and again April 19, 1931, it permitted the Anti-Saloon League to
occupy the pulpit. “Several years later, in 1944, the session approved a
letter to Mayor Frank Robinson of Mt. Pleasant that read in part: "It has
come to our attention that there have been serious violations of liquor
selling regulations in our commmity." The Session urged the City Comission
to refuse licenses to offenders. In 1947, the Session approved the cir
culation of a W. C. T. U. petition to forbid Sunday liquor sales in Isabella
County. Further, the church supported programs in 1943 of the Michigan
‘Temperance Foundation which sponsored a speaker in local churches and
schools. They also granted financial support to aman "for addresses and
discussions at churches and schools on race problems." At another time
(2948) the Session expressed concern at the mmber of commity events
Scheduled for Sunday, morning thus interfering with Sunday School and church
attendance.

For years commmion services had been held separately from the
worship services, usually in the late afternoon on Sunday. In 1934, the
Session experimented with serving conmmion at the regular morning worship
service with gratifying results. ‘The clerk of Session observed: "There
was a very fine attendance at the Commion Service. Most everyone present
Partook of the elements. About two and a half times as many were served
‘than at the afternoon Commmicn Services." ‘The next several years no
pattern for conmmion services is apparent in the records, but in 1939 the
lord's Supper became a regular periodic part of the moming worship program.

The physical as well as the spiritual growth of the church continued.
The annual report for 1934 showed 239 comumicant menbers. The total expen-
ditures for the year just ended was $5,472.00. In January, 1935, the clerk
of Session again comented about the “spiritual awakening” that was taking
place in the congregation.

As frequently happens in church growth, the “spiritual awakening" was
accompanied by the need and desire to enlarge and improve the worship
facilities. Over a period of several years starting in 1937, improvenents,
modifications, and redecoration of the church building proceeded. The first,
and largest, step in up-dating the building was the installation of new
pews. In April, 1937, the Reverend Havkins reported the estimated cost of
new seats to the Board of Trustees. The drive increased in momentum in
Septenber when an anonymous pledge was made to match the congregation's
gifts toward new pews. On Novenber 22, 1937, the trustees approved a
$1,014.70 contract for new seats. On February 7, 1938, the trustees. could
report joyfully that the pews were installed and fully paid for.

Meanwhile, in Novenber, 1937, a comittee from the Women's Association
presented plans and drawings to the trustees for “proposed installation of
auditorium lighting," and in July, 1939, the trustees approved a bid of
$205.00 for painting the sanctuary. A growing congregation now had a more
beautiful place to worship. Also, the Women's Association had redecorated
‘the manse.

‘The congregation grew steadily. In 1938 the membership totaled 315;
in 1939, the figure reached 322; in 1940, 324; and in 1941, 349.
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In duly, 1941, the Reyerend Hawkins resigned as pastor effective
October 1, in order to accept the position of Executive Secretary of the
Synod of Michigan, with responsibility for all of Michigan except the

of Detroit. A pastoral search comittee, Cereitt mystens,
Kendall P. Brooks, Miss , Mrs. David Trout, and Worth Dafoe,
proceeded to the task of finding a replacenent.

Jn the interim, the church passed another milestone. On Septenber 25,
1941, the congregation celebrated the Seventieth Anniversary of the founding
of the church with a "pot-luck" dinner, topped off by "birthday cake" and
ice cream. After dinner Mrs. R. 0. Doughty and Professor Claude Larzelere
Presented “reminiscenses," followed by congregational singing of songs of
Seventy years earlier. ‘The evening concluded with a gift to the Reverend
Haskins presented by the Board of Trustees. ‘The clerk of Session recorded
that "this anniversary was a very joyous occasion.”

‘The pulpit committee screened candidates through the fall and winter
and on Sunday, February 22, 1942, presented the Reverend Wanzer Hull Brunelle
to the congregation. Mr. Brunelle preached the morning sermon. On the fol-
lowing night the congregation unanimously elected the Reverend Brunelle
pastor, with a salary of $2,500.00 anmally plus manse, pension, and one
month's vacation. Mr. Brunelle was a graduate of the University of Chicago
and the Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Fron 1932 to 1935 he was tniver-
sity pastor at Columbus, Ohio, and from 1935 until his appointment to the
Mt. Pleasant pastorate had been pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at
Buchanan, ‘The Reverend and Mrs. Brunelle and their two children, a son,
five years old, and a daughter, two, moved into the parsonage early in May.
‘The Mt. Pleasant Times-News declared: "An effective speaker and of engaging
personality, Reverend Mr. Brunelle has demonstrated a high interest in
religious education, being a member of the Presbytery's committee on
Religious Education. He is also a writer of Sunday School material for
Presbyterian young people."

 

 

The formal installation service for the Reyerend Brunelle was held on
April MM, to climax the spring meting of Pr + ‘The Reverend John A,
Gardnex, acting Toderator of Presbytery) presiaed at the netalisticn eax
vice, assisted by the Reyerend Clyde B. Hawkins, former pastor, and others,
A reception for the Reverend and Mrs, Brunelle followed.

Despite the.war which scattered the younger men of the congregation
around the globe, the church continued a pillar of spiritual strength to
the congregation and the commmity. ‘The church contributed to the war
effort in various ways. "War Relief Sundays" were held, funds were con-
tributed for War-tine service, and boxes were sent for Russian Relief. In
April, 1945, the Session sent a telegram to the Honorable Edvard R. Stettinius,
Jr., at the United Nations Security Conference in San Francisco supporting
the “amendments to the Dunbarton Oaks Agreement proposed by the Cleveland
Conference of the Federal Council of Churches looking tovard a more
Christian world order."

In the month of August, 1942, the congregations of the First Presby-
terian Church and the First Methodist Church worshiped together and planned
to “put on a ‘School of Religion' for ten weeks in the Fall, and again for
ten weeks during the winter." ‘They also planned a series of combined
Meetings for the high school youth of the two churches on the same Sundays.
The spirit of cooperation that has long marked the relations of the two
congregations was mich in evidence during these troubled years.

During the Reverend Brunelle's ministry, the congregation continued
to grow both spiritually and in size. In 1943 the adjusted menbership
mmbered 304. Three years later, menbership had clinbed to 400 in spite
of the dislocations caused by the war. Financially also, the church grew
stronger during these years after a somewhat frustrating period in the late
thirties when the trustees frequently had to borrow to meet current operat-
ing expenses. In 1943, the proposed budget (including Benevolences and
$1,000.00 in a "Sinking Fund") was approximately $8,200.00. In 1946, the
Anmual Report showed General Fund disbursements of $11,222.92, Benevolence
Fund disbursements of $2,107.12, with a Building Fund of $2,500.00 and a
Pulpit Fund of $50.00.

In 1944, a long-forgotten note securing a loan from the Board of
National Missions in 1875 to help construct the first church building was
resented to the Session for payment. After some negotiation, the Board
agreed that earlier payments had reduced the $600.00 original loan to
$416.00. ‘The loan was paid from a surplus in the Benevolence Fund.

As the church continued to grow, space and facilities became an increas-
ing problem. In the summer and fall of 1944, the front of the sanctuary was
rearranged, the organ electrified, and the organ console moved to the
auditorium of the church. By Novenber, the rearrangement was complete and
the clerk of the Session noted that the Session was attempting to "work out
‘the method of serving cormmion under the new arrangement of the front of
the church."

‘The music program of the church underwent modification at this time
also. For a mmber of years Professor J. Harold Powers of the college
music staff had directed a choir of eight voices—his music stuients who
‘sang in the choir in payment for their private voice lessons. In November,
1944, Professor Powers resigned because of other pressing duties. The
Clerk of Session recorded: "Mr, Brunelle stated that a new mixed adult
choir of 16 to 20 members is being organized and that he will direct them."
This arrangement contimed until the fall of 1946, when David Anbrose Holford
of the college misic department accepted the position of Director of Music

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and Mes. Harriett Collin became organist. Mr, Holford seryed only one year;
Mr, Leyi Dees, also of the college msic department, became Director of
music in the fall of 1947,

The concern of the Session and the congregation extended into the cam
mmity. In February of 1945, the Session agreed to cooperate with the
Methodist Church in establishing a Sunday School program for children on the
west side, Before the sumer ended,the support terminated when the "pro-
Fosed union Sunday School [became] a Methodist Church."

‘The Reverend Brnnelle's interest in Sunday Schools transcended the
local scene. He took time from his busy pastorate to travel to Philadelphia
to assist in the developing and writing of church school literature for the
denomination. He also served on various Presbytery and Synod camittees,
chairing the Synod Comittee on Camps and Conferences. Several sumers he
directed church camps.

‘The year 1946 marked the Seventy-fifth Anniversary of the First Presby-
terian Church. The Session, at its January meeting appointed a committee
to plan an appropriate celebration of the event. Included in the cormemor-
ative events were a banquet October 17, 1946, with the Reverend C. B. Hawkins,
former pastor, as speaker, and special services on Sunday, October 20, with
President J. Harry Cotton of McComick Theological Seminary preaching.

On the day of the banquet the local newspaper carried an article stating
that the church had accepted its quota of $6,775.00 of a national Presby-
terian Fund that was part of a World Council of Churches Restoration Fund to
replace religious facilities, especially churches, hospitals, and schools
in the war-devastated lands of Burope and Asia. ‘Two thousand dollars
already had been pledged locally and the goal of the church was to surpass
its quota on Sunday, Novenber 3.

The outreach of the church continued. On Novenber 4, 1946, the Session
instructed the Christian Education Comittee to consider establishing and
financing a scholarship in the name of the church at McComick Theological
Seminary. ‘The transaction was completed when, March 2, 1947, the Session
‘voted $600.00 from its Benevolence Fund to finance a "Son in’the Ministry"
at McCormick Seminary for three years. This is only another example in the
continuing interest of the church in assisting ministerial candidates.

‘The Reverend Brunelle announced to the Session Novenber 11, 1946, his
desire to agcept a call from the Presbyterian Church at Allen Park, Michigan.
It was a decision, Mr. Brunelle wrote, taken only after prayerful considera-
tion, but he felt it to be God's will. The Mt. Pleasant Times-News report-
ing the decision noted: "Mr. Brunelle. . . has endeared himself to the
citizens of this comity by his outstanding work on behalf of the young
people of the commmity. He has also taken a very active part in all civic
projects of the city and has worked untiringly in behalf of a better commmity
life for the city and its surrounding commmities." ‘The newspaper further
commented that during Mr. Erunelle's pastorate the interior of the church
had been "remodeled and modernized" and a new heating unit installed. with
the Reverend Brunelle's resignation an era in the life of First Presbyterian
Church ended.

 

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