History of Cass Church History, Tuscola County, Michigan Copyright © 1998 by Bonnie Petee. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. _____________________________________________________________________ Cass Church History Taken from The History of Tuscola County, Biographical Sketches and Illustrations, H. R. Page Co., Chicago, 1883. Thanks to Bonnie Petee. Methodist Episcopal Church The first preaching in the town of Elkland was by a clergyman of the Methodist Church by the Rev. Mr. Baker, at the house of Andrew Walmsley, as elsewhere described. Shortly after this a class was organized in Mr. Walmsley's house by Rev. Mr. Greenlow. The exact number is not known,but probably there were seven or eight members. Services were continued, usually once in two weeks, until the time of the regular organization of a church. At a quarterly conference of Watrousville circuit held at Centerville in January, 1869; the following persons were elected as trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Cass City: Andrew Walmsley, Hugh Seed, Jacob Schenek, Alonso DeWitt, John C. Laing, to be known and called "The Trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Cass City." This was the legal organization and incorporation of the church at Cass City made necessary by the laws of the State. The Cass City circuit was, to use the language of Rev. Mr. Withey, "born at the fourteenth session of the Detroit conference held at Detroit September 1 to 8, 1869." Rev. J. E. Withey was the first appointed preacher in charge. The circuit was duly organized with appointments at Cass City, Ellington and Almer on one Sabbath, and at Gagetown, Bird's and Cass City on another, with week night meetings at Columbia, Bingham's and Novesta. A Sunday-school and Thursday evening prayer meeting were at once started in Cass City. The society having been presented by Brother Hugh Seed with two lots, a parsonage was built, into which the pastor's family moved in January, 1870. Services were held in the school-house, but with a view to securing a permanent home. At the first Quarterly Conference, held at Cass City, Oct. 25, 1870, the subject of a church-building was called up by the pastor, and, after discussion, A. Walmsley, J. Schenek and L.A. DeWitt were elected a building committee. The next year the building was erected. The laying of the cornerstone was an interesting event in the history of Cass City, and was described as follows: "As the people assembled, the I. O. O. F., led by the Cass City cornet band, marched from their hall and took seats in regular order to assist in the ceremonies. The audience was called to order by the pastor, Rev. H. Palmer. Music was discoursed by the band. The opening services of the ritual were read by Rev. I. J. B. McKenney, of Ellington, who preached the first sermon ever delivered in Cass City. Prayer was offered by Rev. G. H. Field, of Caro, and after a reading of the Scripture lessons by the pastor, Rev. O. J. Perrin, of Monroe, (a few years ago presiding elder of Saginaw district), was introduced and delivered an interesting address. As he closed he gave opportunity for any to add their names to the subscription list before it, with other things, was deposited in the stone, or, as he said, to become "charter members" of the concern, and $205 was added to the subscription fund, although it was not the intention to try to raise money on this occasion. The corner stone, bearing the legend, "M. E. Church, 1880" was from Parker's yard, in Caro, and was put in position by Mr. Deming, the builder, and the contents of the box were deposited by Mr. Perrin. These consisted of the county papers, Citizen, Pioneer, and the Advertiser, Bible, hymnal, discipline, copy of subscription list, names of trustees and building committee, history of the village by Robert Tennant, names of scholars attending school, names of the band, copy to Grange and Good Templars records, including Cass City and Elkland lodges. The Odd Fellows then assisted with the beautiful ceremonies of their order, and made a deposit of a record of their encampment, after which the audience, after a prayer, were dismissed with the benediction. Succeeding the Rev. J. E. Withey, came Revs. Ira H. Camburn, Joseph Ashford, Jas. A. Dunlap, J. F. Sparling, H. Palmer and Benj. Reeve, the present pastor. The present membership of the church is fifty-six. There is a flourishing Sunday-school, the usual aid society and also an association of young ladies, formed about a year ago at the suggestion of Mrs. Reeve, and bearing the mystic title of the "K. T. I." Club. The purpose of the Club is the financial help of the church, working to that end by means of social entertainments, fairs, etc., and doing effective work in lifting the church over those rough places which are occasionally met with in the financial history of all religious societies. Presbyterian Church There had been, up to 1877, occasional preaching in Cass City by clergymen of the Presbyterian denomination, viz: by the Rev. Mr. Wilson, who pursued the occupation of farming in Huron County, and by the Rev. Mr. McClelland, a missionary preacher. June 25, 1877, an organization was effected at a meeting held in Cass City, Rev. Reid presiding. There were admitted by letter Mrs. Hugh Seed and W. S. Work and wife. W. S. Work was ordained ruling elder and also elected clerk. The first settled parson was the Rev. J. Kelland; Rev. Mr. Beecher having, however, supplied the pulpit for the first six months. >From this small membership of three the church grew rapidly, receiving many members during the succeeding year, both by profession of faith and by letter. The first trustees under the formal organization of the "First Presbyterian Society of Cass City" were James L. Hitchcock, Hugh Seed, Sylvester Ale, John C. Laing and Robert G. Orr. A subscription had been started before Mr. Kelland's arrival, to raise funds for a church building, but little had been practically accomplished. Through his vigorous efforts with the efficient aid of his church and society the necessary funds were raised and the building erected. At a meeting of the board of trustees Feb 11, 1878, a committee of three was appointed to advertise for bids for the building of a church edifice. At subsequent meetings plan were agreed upon, a contract for construction let to George Tennant and lots 1 and 3, block 4, of Seed's Addition to Cass City, selected as a location. The foundation work was done by the society; the superstructure by the contractor. It was completed in the fall of 1878, and dedicated in October, dedicatory services being conducted by Rev. Wm. Grandy, assisted by Rev. E. P. Clark, of Vassar. The building is in Gothic style, of very neat construction, having a bell-tower on the corner, through which is the main entrance to the church. The seating capacity is three hundred or over. The membership of the church is about forty. A flourishing Sunday-school is connected with it. About a year ago Rev. Mr. Kelland retired from the pastorate and, subsequently, engaged in editorial work, taking charge of the Cass City Enterprise. At present the church has no settled pastor. A ladies aid society was organized in connection with the church the year after their house of worship was built. The officers are, Mrs. Kelland, president; Mrs. Brosby, secretary, and Mrs. Dr. McLachlan, treasurer. Evangelical Association A class of this church which is commonly known as the German Methodist, was organized in the town of Elkland about the year 1866, by the Rev. Stephen Henne in connection with the Sebewaing mission. The class numbered about fifteen members. It has had regular services from that time to the present, and a regular succession of pastors. Services being held in the school-house, one mile north and one-half mile east of Cass City. In the latter part of 1882, a formal organization was effected at Cass City, and steps taken for the construction of a house of worship, which is now in course of construction. The earnest zeal of the members and their individual labors and contributions of material have reduced the estimated cost of the building to about $1,500. The pastor of the church at the present time is the Rev. B. F. Wade, who resides on his farm in the town of Elkland. The membership is about fifty. There is a preaching every second Sunday; prayer-meeting and Sunday-school every Sabbath. The trustees of the church are, John Benkelman, Fred Krapf, Oscar Sencner, Levi Muntz and Adam Benkelman. Baptist Church In January, 1880, the first religious services of the Baptist denomination were held in Cass City, Rev. James McArthur officiating. The church under his pastoral care has increased largely, numbering, now, fifty members. About on-half of these have received the rite of baptism here. They are mostly the fruit of two revivals, with which the church has been favored. April 29, 1882, the church met at their regular covenant meeting, and, in order to become a corporate body, elected three trustees, viz: Rev. James McArthur, R. H. Lewis, and R. Webster. At a covenant meeting held May 17, 1882, articles of association were adopted and the name of the society established as "The First Baptist Church of Cass City." In the following summer lots were bought and a building committe appointed, consisting of Harrison Lewis, Wesley Barker, B. McEwing, Philip Cresser, D. D. McArthur and the pastor. In the spring of 1883, work was commenced upon the building which is now under construction and is to cost about $1,400 besides the furnishing. Copyright Bonnie Petee April 1998 dz