History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

SAGINAW CITY.

615

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The following historical sketch of the M. E. Society and Church
was written by Hon. John Moore, and placed at the disposal of the
publishers of this history by the present pastor, Rev. I. H.
Reddick:
"May 20, 1850, Rev. George Bradley, as presiding elder of the
Grand Rapids district of the Methodist Conference, made a certificate appointing Andrew Bell, Stephen Lyttle, Levi D. Chatnberlain and Louisa Hart, 'Trustees in Trust of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in Saginaw county.' This certificate was recorded
June 24, 1850. Mr. Bradley was at this date presiding elder of a
district embracing, I think, Lapeer county on the east, extending to Lake Michigan on the west, and including all the territory
to the north in the Lower Peninsula. Mr. Bradley was a
noble specimen of that type of Methodist preachers who 25
years ago labored in the pioneer work of the Church in this
State. In person and in capacity to endure labor, he might well
be called a giant. He had great natural ability. His voice sweet and
pleasant in ordinary discourse, was at times 'a voice of thunder.'
His zeal and earnestness of purpose in his Master's cause stopped
at no sacrifice. When a boy I learned to love him, and in
mature years he commanded my highest respect. When he died
the Church lost one of the best and purest men I ever knew.
"This appointment of trustees by Mr. Bradley was, I suppose,
for this place (Saginaw City), although in terms general for the
county. The organization then created must, I think, have lapsed,
as when I came here it had no active existence, and was never afterward recognized. Lyttle, I am informed, resided in what has since
been called South Saginaw, and died in the latter part of the year
1850. Chamberlain resided, where I knew him years afterward,
in Tittabawassee township, where he died not long since. Hart I
never knew. Bell, I think, must have been a minister who had
prior to that time preached here. None of them resided here in
the spring of 1851. At this last named date there was no Methodist
Church organization, no class and no regular preaching. Occasionally during the summer of that year, Bradley, as presiding elder,
preached in that part of the court-house then finished-in the first
story, used as a court-room, and for all public meetings. Prior to
this, and as early as 1835 or 1836, Methodist ministers had
preached here in connection with other charges in Genesee county.
am told that Bell, Brown and Brockway had thus labored here.
Mr. Brockway informed me that he had preached here, but there
was no organization and no class.
"In the fall of 1851 the Rev. C. C. Olds was sent by the Conference, and remained with us for one year. He organized a class,
consisting of Theodore Dean, his two sisters and Mrs. Moore.
This, I suppose, was the first class formed, and the commencement