Chapter 9

‘The post-war years held exciting challenges for Mt. Pleasant's
Presbyterians. At a special congregational meeting Noverber 26, 1946,

Mr. Brunelle's resignation was accepted and a pastoral search comittce
elected. It included John Benford, Judson Foust, David Lirones, Miss
Frances Martin, Mrs. Gerritt Muyskens, and Charles B, Park. The committee
worked rapidly and on February 18, 1947, the congregation unanimously
elected the Reverend George James DeWitt of Dover, New Jersey, pastor.

"A former chaplain in the United States amy," the Times-News
reported, "Mr. DeWitt has an excellent background in thaological work."

A native of Holland, Michigan, the Reverend Deltitt graduated from Hope
College in 1919, then studied’ at Princeton Theological Seminary as a
fellowship student, receiving the degrees of Bachelor of Theology in 1922,
and the Master of Theology in 1923. Mr. DeWitt was pastor of the Pompton
Reform Church in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, from 1923 util 1931. From 1931
until he became an amy chaplain in 1942, he was pastor of the Presbyterian
Church of Dover, New Jersey. Between 1942 and 1946, he served as chaplain,
Part of the tine with Patton's Third Amy in France and Germany, being
awarded the Bronze Star for outstanding service. After leaving the amy,
Mr, DeWitt took additional work at Princeton Theological Seminaky.

‘The Reverend and Mrs. Deltitt moved to Mt. Pleasant late in March, 1947.
‘The Times-News reported April 3, that "under the . . . leadership of their
new minister, the Rev. George J. Deltitt and David A. Holford, music director,
the First Presbyterian Church will have services on Maundy Thursday and
Easter Sunday which promise to be most inspirational." The formal installa~
tion service was held April 23, 1947. The years of the Reverend DeWtitt's

 

‘The Reverend George James DeWitt, pastor of First Presbyterian from 1947
to 1952. Z

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pastorate were fruitful as the church grew steadily. The metbership was
455 in the spring of 1947, ‘The misic program continued to develop under
the dixection of Leyi Dees who succeeded Mr. Holford in Septenber, 1947,

This continued growth led to rewarding developments in the life of the
church during the 1950s. The mimutes of the Session and the Board of
Trustees for the years following the war, report that the official boards
continually wrestled with the problems of inadequate space and facilities
for a developing program and a growing congregation. A building fund had
existed for some time but the first official hint of the thinking of the
elders and trustees is in the Board of Trustees Minutes, March 3, 1950:

The church planning comittee has been considering possible church sites
and also investigating the possibility of changes on the present site."

 

 

 

 

      

‘Two weeks later at the annual meeting of the corporation the entire
congregation heard the Church Planning Committee report that they had met
with an architect and "discussed revisions and additions on the present
site and the construction of a new church. It seemed likely that $50,000
would be necessary to alter the present building and at least $150,000 to
$200,000 for a new church." ‘The committee did not believe the existing
structure could be made to serve adequately and had made a tentative study
Of other sites. After considerable discussion, the congregation took no
action since "it was felt that more information should be gathered."

Imediate relief to the overcrowied conditions seemed imperative. The
Session, Board of Trustees, and the Planning Committee met July 12, 1950,
to consider purchasing a new manse in order to convert the existing manse
into a Sunday School building. A committee consisting of Worth Dafoe, Frank
White, and Paul Hamel was appointed to investigate. After examining several
houses the committee recommended on April 13, 1951, that the congregation
Purchase the house at 403 South Kinney for $22,000. After "Mr. DeWitt spoke

 

 

A Sunday School class attending a "progressive" dinner sometime during
the 1950s,

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a few words covering the real objective in purchasing a new manse in order
to make more room for the Sunday School," the congregation approyed. That
sumer the old manse was re-roofed, a fire escape built, and interior changes
made to ready it for fall use,

Meanwhile, other changes in the organization and work of the church
eccurred. In March, 1950, a Board of Deacons was re-established. In
Septenber, 1950, the Session learned that plans were underway to merge the
‘two wmen's organizations. “Also, Mr. Dees resigned as Director of Music
effective at the end of the year. Dr. Olaf Steg of the Central Michigan
College music department served as director until June, 1951. In August,
Floyd Heydenburg of the high school and college misic staffs became Director
of Music. Under the leadership of these men the misic program steadily
developed as an inspirational part of the worship services. Finally, on
July 11, 1951, the Board of Trustees’ Minutes recorded the incorporation of
‘the church under the provisions of Act 265 of the Public Acts of 1909.

Tn dune, 1952, the Reverend DeWitt informed the Session of his desire
to accept a call to the First Presbyterian Church of Connersville, Indiana.
When the elders and trustees could not dissuade him, they called a congre-
gation meeting June 23, which approved Mr, Deltitt's request. ‘The Times-News
reported June 17:

During his ministry here, the church has enjoyed a
period of sustained growth. The men's council was formed
and a Board of Deacon's [sic] added. ‘The women's work in
the church was re-organized and the manse was remodeled into
@ church house for Sunday School expansion.

In addition, Mr. Deititt has been an active leader in
the Mt. Pleasant Minister's Association and has held
important positions in Presbytery and Synod.

Following the congregational meeting that accepted Mr. DeWitt's
resignation, a reception for the Reverend and Mrs. DeWitt was held in the
church fellowship hall. The table was decorated with garden flowers and

a four tier cake. Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Heydenburg and Mrs. Glen Hamel provided
vocal msic. A sterling silver tea service from the congregation was
presented to the DeWlitts together with matching silver pieces from the

Choir Mothers’ club, and a lace banquet cloth from the Tuxis Society. The
Women's Association presented Mrs. DeWitt with a corsage of roses.

In July, a pulpit search committee was formed consisting of Ralph
Berquist, chairman, Mrs. Frank Mead, Mrs. Leon MacRae, Miss Mildred
Gingherick, Miss Lyndell Bordine, Miss Carolyn Ann Erdman, Harold Wood,
Vance Orr, and Clarence Tuma. During the interim, the Reverend William
McKeefrey, Dean of Alma College, served as supply pastor. The search
ended happily when the congregation unanimously voted to call as pastor
the Reverend J. Kenneth Cutler, a former McCormick Seminary classmate
of the Reverend Wanzer Brmelle. After graduating fron seminary, Mr.
Cutler served as pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Fort Collins, Colorado,
until 1937, when he accepted a pastorate at the Forty-third Avenue Presby-
terian Church of Gary, Indiana. He served the Gary congregation until
1944 when he moved to the Rosewood Avenue Presbyterian Church of Toledo,
Ohio, remaining there until he became the pastor of the Mt. Pleasant church.
‘The Reverend and Mrs. Cutler and their daughters Carolyn and Elinor moved
into the Kinney Street manse the first week in Decenber, 1952, and the
Reverend Cutler filled the pulpit for the first time December 7. His sermon
topic, appropriately, was "Press On." During his pastoral leadership the
church would "press on" to new spiritual heights and construct a magnificent
new building in which to glorify and serve God.

eye

 

‘The Reverend J. Kenneth Cutler, pastor of First Presbyterian Church from
1952 to 1967.

The activities of the church continued to include the church worldwide.
In March, 1953, while the elders and trustees were continuing to explore
the feasibility of constructing a new edifice, the Session accepted "the
quota [$3,800.00] allowed by Presbytery for the Building Fund Campaign of
the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.”

Because of continuing large attendance, the Session, Septenber 14, 1953,
approved holding two worship services on Sunday mornings. A month later
a special congregational meeting voted to purchase the "Voisin property”
south of the Sunday School building, and empowered the Board of Trustees to
form a Building Fund to be used to build a new church with a Christian
Baucation unit.

Meanwhile, the regular program of the church grew. In May, 1953, the
Session voted to sponsor a family who wished to move from Bagdad, Iraq, to
the United States. ‘he elders, at their June, 1953, meeting, agreed to
recoment that Miss Karen Erdnan "be taken under care of Presbytery in
regard to her education as a director in Christian Baucation work." The
Christmas Eve program was expanded. A service was held in 1953 at 7:30 p.m.
especially for children and one at 11:00 p.m. for families. A Children's
Day was celebrated in the Sunday School in June, 1954, with Mr. and Mrs.
Francis Saver, missionaries to India, as guests for the day.

‘The work with college students expanded. At their June, 1954, meeting
the elders approved Associate Menbership for college students as provided
by General Assenbly rules. At the July Session meeting it was reported
that Dr. Gerald Poor had agreed to be "Director of Presbyterian Student
Activities on Central Michigan College Campus." On Septenber 7, the elders
set Dr. Poor's term to rin from Septenber 18, 1954, to duly 1, 1955, and
established his pay.

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Also discussed at the July Session meeting were proposed sites for a
new church building, but the final decision to build a new church was not
nade until October 10, 1954, when a special congregational meeting was
held. After considerable discussion, the congregation with 105 menbers
Present, rejected a motion to table (25-57), then approved (80-4) the
motion: "The congregation shall authorize the Board of Trustees and the
Session, acting jointly, to proceed with a Church Building Fund Drive and
to contract for Such professional fund raising services as they deem
advisable." How many of thése present at this meeting envisioned this as
the beginning of an $800,000.00 project? Their faith is to be commended.

+. Catler reported at the annual congregational meeting, January 26,
1955, according to the Times-News, the progress toward the goal of a new

church building. Interest had been growing through the year. The firm of
Ketchum, Inc., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, had been employed to conduct:

a campaign to raise funds for the building program. The newspaper added:

“The church had enployed the architectural firm of J. and G. Daverman of

Grand Rapids to design the building, and many individuals and organizations
are already making regular contributions to the fund."

‘The Watson Road site for the new building was approved by the

 

congregation on Febuary 21, 1955, and a steering committee for the Fund
Raising Campaign was elected. The campaign received excellent publicity.
‘The Times-News, March 7, 1955, reported: "The first major meeting in

connection with the First Presbyterian Church's New Church Campaign to
raise a minimm of $125,000 for a new church edifice, was held last night
in the Church dining hall with more than 100 representing present and past
officials, attending."

the financial story, a description of the proposed new Church, according
to the architect's plans, and a consideration of the size of the task
ahead and its challenge. . . . Great satisfaction was expressed at both
the size and enthusiasm of the group who attended." A series of infor-
mational meetings followed with each menber of the congregation personally
invited to attend. The Campaign Director “stressed the need of an informed
menbership to assure the enthusiastic participation needed for success."

‘The campaign got off to a brisk start. ‘The Times-News, March 25, 1955,
ecounted the results of the first report meeting held the night before.

Pledges totaling $53,672.00 were returned. General Chairman Scott
“expressed satisfaction" at the amount of the report and said, "We are
very pleased at the large mmber of pledges in amounts from $1,000 to

$5,000 as well as others which, while of lesser amounts, represent real
Sacrifice and devotion on the part of those who have made the pledges."

‘The Reverend Cutler concurred. "We are united in our enthusiasm and
have complete faith that this campaign will be a complete success... . We
all know that pledging an adequate amount means some real sacrifice but the
response so far indicates the conviction of all of us that we want our new
church badly enough to dedicate ourselves completely to the campaign's
success."

Successful it was! At the second report meeting, March 29, pledges
totaled $107,050.00. Two nights later the figure was $150,114.00.

night, April 3, the total figure pledged reached $172,779.00. Ultimately,
the amount passed $190,000.00. By any'standards, the campaign was success-
ful, not only in a monetary way, but also in what it meant spiritually to
the congregation. Now the new facility could became a reality.

6

For the next eighteen months planning continued with the building
comittee, Frank White, chairman, the center of action. The congregation,
in annval meeting, January 30, 1957, received the full financial report.
Total assets (pledges and property), $225,000.00. Architect's estimated
cost of the new building, $344,553.00. ‘The difference, $119,553.00, could
be borrowed by mortgaging the new building, the manse, and the old building.
Following this report, the congregation authorized the trustees "to borrow
what is necessary and what is available to complete necessary structures.”
Further, the trustees were "empowered to sign a contract for the new church
building, after consultation with and recommendation by the Building
Comittee.

As so frequently happens, the initial bids were disappointing. The
Session Minutes for April 1, 1957, succinctly tell the story: "Discussion
of the new church building concerned the effort to cut costs. New bids
with reduced specifications will be opened Monday, April 8, 1957. Methods
were discussed for raising additional funds which’may be necessary."

‘The new bids were satisfactory and a ground breaking ceremony was held,
fittingly, on Easter Sunday, April 21, 1957, at 3:00 p.m. ‘The Reverend
Cutler tumed the first shovelful of dirt at the Watson Road site while a
happy crowd of Presbyterians watched. The construction contract had been
awarded only the Thursday before to the Barnes Construction Company of
Grand Rapids. ‘The Greve Construction Company of Mt. Pleasant began excava~
‘tion, Monday, April 22. A committee had been named to work with the
architect and contractor to expedite problems that arose during construction.
Chaired by Reuel Cole, it contained John Lamont, Lawrence Lee, Lawrence I.
Scott, Glen Hamel, Frank White, and the Reverend Cutler.

 

As work on the building progressed, sentiment increased for a second
fmd-enising cawpaign to s¢¢plenmnt tha’ fleet dete The necessary
authorization came at a special congregational meeting Noyenber 11, 1957.

‘The second campaign started February 24, 1958, The campaign was success—
fal, ultinately raising $152,624.16.

By Sunday, March 23, 1958, work on the new building had reached the
point where the comerstone—-laying ceremony could by held. The service
was held at 3:00 p.m. with the Reyerend Dr. Harold Ray Martin, pastor of
the Second Presbyterian Ciurch, Bloomington, Illinois, and Moderator
of the 169th General Assenbly of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., as the
speaker. Assisting the Reverend Martin were the Reverend Cutler, pastor;
the Reverend Alfred J. Stenmer, campus pastor, Central Michigan College;
the Reverend John Osborn, pastor of the Rosebush Presbyterian Church; and
the Reverend Bemard F. Didier, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church,
Alma.

Various officials ani menbers of the congregation assisted in the
comerstone—laying. Mr. Douglas McFarlane, mayor of Mt. Pleasant, and
Dr. Charles L. Anspach, president of the college, spoke. Dr. Rolland
Maybee, historian and chaiman of the Department of Social Sciences,
selected the materials that were sealed into the cornerstone.

The first service held in the new sanctuary appears to have been the
Easter Sunrise Service, 1958, conducted by the high school students among
the scaffolding and clutter of construction. At last the vision
reality. Work progressed through the sumer and finally, Septenber 14,
1958, the moming worship services and Sunday School were held in the new
building although the ceiling in the north wing was not yet finished.

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‘The long years of work reached fruition as the congregation and
Cctober 19, 1958, to open a week-long series of dedicatory services. The
‘Reverend Dr. Kenneth G.. Neigh, Michigan Synod Executive, preached the
dedicatory sermon. The Times-News reported:

Although the keynote in the music and ritual was joy and
happiness over the dedication of the church to God, Dr. Neigh
in his sermon voiced a sober warning to American Christians
everywhere that they not attribute their material prosperity
to themselves but rather recognize it as a manifestation of
God's beneficence.

During the service, the Reverend J. Kenneth Cutler accepted the keys
to the building from Frank White, chairman of the Building Committee, and
Revel Cole, chairman of the Steering Comittee. Mr. Cutler also announced
an anonymous gift of $10,000.00 from a family of the congregation. At
8:00 that evening the new Casavant Frere's organ was dedicated with a
recital played by Dr. Gordon Young, organist and choirmaster of the First
Presbyterian Church of Detroit, who was also a menber of the faculties of
the Detroit Institute of Musical Art and of Wayne University. A public
reception followed in the church Fellowship Hall.

A dedicatory dinner on Wednesday, October 22, featured as speaker the
Reverend Bernard F. Didier, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Alna.
To close the week of services, on Sunday, October 26, the Reverend Wanzer
H, Brunelle, pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Allen Park, spoke at
both morning services. ‘That afternoon at 4:30, Mr. Floyd Heydenburg
conducted a Vespers Concert by the combined choirs accompanied by Mrs.
Harriett Collin. ‘The prelude to the concert was played by Mrs. Waldo
Russel Handley, a former menber of First Presbyterian Church and a noted
organist from Detroit.

Not only did the congregation add a new building during 1958, it
also added menbers. The total menbership January 1, 1959, was 758
representing 353 local families. In fact, the entire program of the church
and its related work with college students continued to develop during the
period of building as a renewed spirituality seemed to pervade the people.
In the fall of 1956, the Reverend Alfred J. Stenner and his wife had beg

encourage ministerial candidates, giving financial support to Peter Russell
during his study at McCormick Seminary from which he graduated in May, 1962.

People did not forget the words Mr. Cutler wrote for the printed program.
"In the midst of our joy today," he wrote, “let us remenber that we have
yet completely met the challenge to build a church which will

"By the fall of 1960, the officials
congregation, under Mr. Cutler's guidance, were ready to complete the

31 planning advanced, culminating October 21, when the con-
gregation voted to hold a third financial campaign to build the educational
wing of the church and to adi the steeple. again a building comittee was
formed and the Daverman Company employed as architects. ‘The financial
campaign proceeded and May 7, 1962, Lawrence Johns, chairman of the committee,

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reported to the Session that $108,000.00 had been pledged. Ultimately,
the Third Campaign yielded almost $110,000.00. Ground breaking ceremonies,
with the children and youth participating, were held May 27, 1962, and the
Englehardt Construction Company of Bay City began building. Undoubtedly,
‘the climactic point in the building came for many menbers on May 27, 1963,
when the silver spire with its golden cross was hoisted into place.

‘The dedication services for the education building were held Sunday,
September 29, 1963, at the two morning services. ‘The Reverend Cutler and
the Reverend John Peter, assistant pastor, participated in the services as
did Frank White, chairman of the Building Committee and several repre-
sentatives of the youth grows. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the
Reverend Charles E. Hurst, Stated Clerk of Synod and Assistant to the
Synod Executive.

The beautiful building that now towered above the surrounding country-
side was a fitting memorial to the many devoted men, women and children,
from the tiny group of founders on, who had striven to further God's work
on earth through the First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Pleasant.

 

Placing the steeple, May 27, 1963.

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