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Crittenden, Alvin L.
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.!ddrcss of Rel". A. L. Crlttcn:lon •lciH·- s rr<>c ts 1•f thr village, wht '!h 1rns nftor
cre•l he foro tho . J,irin g ston Connty 1\'arn named lluw cll fo r n ~ ye t th o t o wn
Pionoor Society, June 18, 1879.
· Waf' nnt orgnni ze!l o~ th e ~illn~c nnmo ·.
Luavin~ tiro villngn, I travel ed wes tward
.\Ir. l'rcsiflcut, Lndics nml Gentl emen:
ln the fall of 1835 I lof t t.ha State of about ball n mil e , nnrl round nearly nil of
~ow Yorlc to sflek :\ home tn tlw Wes t, the m en of tho reg ion r ound about busily
wending my way to the .hen Tcrl'itury uf cngnged in rais ing a lng houRc. Finding
Michigan, nnrl on the Hith ut' Nol'cmbc r I my o ld 'rCI}IIaintnucP., i s pc nc n few dn,·A
passed th "ouglJ tho vil!age of Ann ArlHJr·, vPr_v plea~ antly vi!itinv;. nud th e n hired
and that mgltt. put up Rt n hJg tnvc•·n s ix to G l•urge T. ~ ngc fur onr year , nml co mir .il·~ s Porth of it. Ha ving Rumo ncqnnint · mcn cerl worl( [ur him <. n lh1• 2·1fh tlnv of
I r erc • v ·~·l f'l) r ihat
ance~ in Living~ t•)tl Uonnty, I left the NovcmP.cr, 1835.
hotel •m the morning of tho 17th fu r Ltv yenr'R WP. rk $ 140, whi c h hun :;l!l til l' W
in);Rt.un l.Jcntor, th o cuunty sit.o of Liv- ncr!•~ ol lnud on ~ec. !! I in t h e •• ·w n ~ l:ip of
in!.;~ tlln Uonuty.
l wa~ ahn>t und nlunc HtHI' e ll,
Soon after thi,; n mn•1 l>J the nam e of
Pa,si ng nort.h, in the courso "' '' fow hour~
I cn!nfl t.o tbr. H11runltiv cr, but thoro wai [~rnnch cnmc in nnrl ~ c t rkol l1111f a milo
r:ei th e r bri dgll or bunt, and it wns ne ces s nnth of th e villnge, <J ll tltP lnrn1 oft r rwnrd known as the ! ~ 1>!!11 p::11·e
Dt •:>c:~ n
!'llt'J fur· 111 0 tu g•lin the opposite Rhoro.
;I. suit ed m yit·ll' to the situation a!'l well as Brnnch thought he coul:lnot lin1 witiH•ut.
I c on i<I; I pulled off my hoot,; ~'>lid socl( ~, ro liginu ~ m el•tir.gs, ev en in th o wildc rroll ed np my pants n!l fnr as po ~ ~ iblo and nes ~, nnd hence he took it upt•n him ~c lf
wau t•d in . l ~ u r.c~c tl c d in r•• ,,;ng th e to C0111111enco relig ioJU!IIIIC C tin~t: . Ji (• 1\'r nt
twrth ~ hore uf lhu r h•or wi!ltor•t ;:_,..: i ! · · _; to Esquire Adnmll, our n uhlo lnrHilnnl
· m y t::h> th eR wot. ltP n>lju > tlll~ roy cbtues who> lcept the hntel in t.h e villnJ!e -f,.r l.ty
l wall;cd on antl cnll erl at a house Rlllne this time the lwnse wns n cnrl;- lini ~ IH ·rl,
' mil e :~ from Llw n ver t o iuqui rc d1e \VB}; nor\ Am os Ari n m~ occ upt c!l it fo r n h.,t ol
·receive d dircetions that wht"•: I got to a -and obtained co ns ent. to ha ve reli!!i!:us
·-·cc rtllin place I wns to tak e nn lul11an trail; meetings hell) in tho sitting roo m~ the
·and or. inquiry fo unrl it wns nino mileR to •Jnly building in the villag e. Noti cn 1\'as
the ne xt hou se. '!'h e ro wn ~ but •JIIO inci- nccordingly grvcn, a111l on Snbhnth tr.ot·n·
dent that o ccurrcrl during tho nine mtles' ing (1 cannot givP th e dnte, but. I thinl(
travel that r(lade nn : · ~ rt. ic uln•· ;mpre"Hion I was 111 the mumh of December. 1835,)
on my mind l hnt I w·~· reculf ect. When t/10 people a sSl' IIJblcd, eome coming lour
l had trnvei:Jd n long tim•~ , or s•J it soorn - or five mile~ , !lnd the sitthg rootu was
· ed to mo, I h c~ nn to look at ov tJry lurn pretty well fill ed. Den. Branc h conductof the trail for the house. I fii\W a man . d tile meeting, t·ending one of Dr. PaAt tbo close of the ser coming to ward m o, 11nd whe n IJo C.!ntc son 's ~ermons
within h a iling t!iil tnnco he cnllcd •JUt and vi ce "~, he called fur a volunt ee r t o c lo ~ e
said-•'IInllo, fril•nd , it look ~ g.u,r) •o see by prayer. No ona cnme to hi,. h Elp,hut
a mnn; how fnr is it tn n llu•tse?' ' l r·c- tho Dcncun wal\ nut discodr11ge d. II u gav e
. plied, "I tbiok it mu s t be nin e mi lo!!, for noticn for 1\ mcctmr: til e next S a bllntb .
they told mu nt the ln6t hous e I pnsRed On tb J second Snbbntb I voluntee red to •
that it waMnin e miles t o n 1Jou$e 1 anJ l close the m eeting with prnycr. 'l'bus it
think I h1tVP Lrnvcl od that dts tnnce; how happened that l waR th a Rccond p en10n
lar is it. the o th ('r wrty to a bou se?" lie who took a part in a roli giuus ti'Ccting in
answered, "l think it mus t be about nin e Howell. After that, If th e Deacon b nd to
n;~iles.'' A Ite r tatkin g with encl1 otb r · be Rway from the m eeti11 g any ~nhbntb,
for a fe w miuut e~ , wu co ucludutl that Wfl h u brought to me a vulumo nf (),·, Pason's
mus t be !i!lout hoff wny thn, ugh, rutcl I ,Sermons , witll n rcqn c:~ t tltnt l s hould
tbnught altor'\'ard tbat we wore. · We conduct the I!Ol'Vi ce~, wl,ich I did seve ral
srpnmt<!d nnd M cb o f us traveled on. Ar- times thnt year.
r iving with' n nbout a ltlife of tho prCSf."ll : ln the mo11rb of F ebruary , 18.3(\, ltcv.
villn ~ e of Howell, l cnn>e t o n wngon .Mr. PoPt , a Baptist minis trr, of Allq;bnny
track - it could llltrrlly b e \llllled a road- Oouuty, N. Y, cnme to Ilowell and RJH'nt
for· it went crook1ng nro •md tl· c trees and the Snbbnth. lie preached the fin Rt 81'.1'swnmpR. 1 soo n cnrno to n log houRo, mon in •Howell that wa~ e-v er dc!iv cr('(i
w hic h I nftcrwanl le:•r nod wns occut,icd hore by n living mini s to•r . lr. l\lnr ch or
by ~h. John D. l'in clo10y nnd fnmily . Apr.il, Rev Mr. Unnnuso,a P1esbyt••tinn
llc ro l was rlit cc ted t o t uit e th e le ft -'•a1•d :ninis tcr, !'pont tho Snbb:1th In ll o wr ll
roa r!, n ea.· th e lniHJ. Trnv e ling about a nnd prcaci.J e rl at t.he rcsirlc nco ..C l\l l'scs
milo l camP t o n hou ~ o in tho midM of tbo 'l'hompson; for by thi~ tiw o th e tni' O! in c,~
w oods ' f>eve rnl In • go trees s tanding nerr 1vero hllld at vari .. us pin ceR, th e J't:O p.lo
e n ou~ h to ha ve fall e n on the h tJUStl if tl·ey nil baing willin g t o upon tl• t'il' fl co r ~ fGr
b ad· full cn in t he rirht direc tion . 1 w ent roltgtou!l s nrviccs.
to the place fnr o. d oor and shoved as iue · In tlle month o l April I learn ed th ere
f! Otn ll h oa l'lls that were s ot np fn · n. do or, w as Me ti.Jorlis t preac hing nt. Oro Cn•c k,
nnd inq ui rfld of some m echanics nt work now IJr h;hton. I loft my homo nt Mr .
o r, th e ins id e of tho building fo r tbe coun- s~~A 1 R 1 h n ff 1\ milo WCSt o f tho villn ~C of
ty sent of Liv i ng~ ton Oounty, and receiv- Hnove ll. nnd ':l'nll{ cd to Ore C reel; nnd
0!\ th e reply tbo.t it WllS rig ht b c ,·e. I lis t en ed to Rev. Mr . Hi u bin~ . Jl e ~n,·c
inquired fo r some old fri ends tbat hnd niJiice at the c lose of th e l't'rvi cl'R t.bnt
settied near th ere, and wns informed of Rev. E . C rnne, the n · tt;,<tvo lin g Plymouth
tiJeir whet·enbouts; but the m en ti.Jought Uircuit, w o uld h old a two dnys' IIH'!Jting
f would find them half n milo west raising tl.J e re in four wrcl(R . Aftor s ervi ce I
a barn.
wallw d baclt to my ho me; and at tho time
Going out of the hous e I looked around nppoin,!ld I walked ag ain to BrlgiJton to
llnd th ere was not nnothor bmldmg io tho atte nd 'he t w o days' mee ting, wbere l
village, TbPre w ere pl e nty o f RinkeR fit'Rt me t nnd form ed nn acquaintance with
s tanding ;n the w oods in eve ry directi on, R e v. Elijah O rane ani! R ev. John Oosnrt,
to d esignat e the se ve ral blocks , lots and a local !Jreac ht~ r of the M . E C I.Jurci.J
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\Vbil o att~ndlng the mooting nt Brig h· A. Bn rnnrd, Pe ter Brewer, DtlrcnR Brew·
t on, nrrllngl'm ents were mntl c for Ro1· nr, Mnry Sng••, Nntbnniol Jul•nllun, Ctnr·
c ..~art to co;nc t o Hnwcll nnrl prc!U Ch nne! • ~s n Johll$011, A&nh t:l Uibhle,Ahi;;nil Dibfrtr'll) n Meth. dr~t Olns.~~, nn•l !lend n ro- h ie, Al.i!!;llil C. Smith, ElrzhbP.tlr Thomp·
port to Re v. Crnne, wlrn 1vonld r e pr c~o; nt ·~•.111 1 Mnrl.l 'L'lwrnp~o ro, Amarilla Crnne, S.
our walll!rl nt the en!'ninl! nnnunl Cuufer- Ll. Cnrtw 1 Matthew West; and In Jnnuqence, nnd if pn!<sib ll• secur e fnr II ~ regular ry, 1838, tl.re ro won: n·ceived-Mory
pr e nchirr ~
Hy sumo mis tak e the nutit·e B~ e wcr; .Jan r Crittcnden,8nr.. h Bnldn·m,
"'"" l! ivo n one werl< tn11 !'lion; wo n s~> om Syrcnn II. l'rnr.c, J u•e ph ~exton, Janette
hlcel , but n•1 prPnclrco· cnm e. A p rayt•r Sexton, Ocrrrurle llutler, Unv1rl Dickc rIIJ• 'C! t in~ '"'\q hl'lel, nncl nl itR cl ose it wn& s on, Lu cy Dit:korllon nnd llnnnab Uub·
tlron ~ ht hy t he l\l e thnrli~t3 prr ~ ent th11l hard .
In 1840 l lclt Howell nnd moved to
a lt houg h "·e we ro rlis nppomt crl 111 nut
h'\\'illl! n prenchcr with us, 1ve would not llambu rg, nnd Mnt.tbew \Ve~ t wns apbc clis •t ppnin terl in rt· ~nrd to bnving n clns~ pninred lend er, which posi ti on he held
fo r med. A cc o r rlin~ly wo oq.:nnized our- until 1842, wbt>n he t e.•igncrl, nod I hnv~clves in In n has ines!l mee ting f•1r I hn t in g mnl'lnl bnck to flow l' ll, 11 ns rc nppurpoR.. , hy electing Pnrrlun Bnrn r1rll Jmll11t.HI . wbich poAitlon I hcltl unt:J tho
chninnnn , nnr.l i\. L. IJrittr ndon, R~ cr e tnry fall of 1854. ':'he nnm cs:lulll bee n trnn ·
'L'!r o~o wh o hn1l let.l crs frrrm the ~I. E ~c dlwd in a rl·gulnr fJlnss b ook before I
C hurch J t 'l~ ~cd them in rmd rend , and A . '"'ent to Hamburg, ,\1\d ill anothe r while
L C rittend<•n wns elected Oln•s Len•ler. Matthe w Wes t \UR lender; whi ch bonk
'L'hu!l I lr nrl th e honor to be tho firs t uffi. nol'e:- came bn ck into mv band~. Th o
cinl mernher of nny religiou~ orgnnizrttiou bnok containing th e nnml'H nl' th e llow ell
ove r formed in l.luwe ll But n regula ~ C ln11s from July, 1 ~ 42 to 1852, is still in
C iu.~• Bunk could not be obtained; so I my possession, th o trnmPA bnl'ing been
did the nex t bc~ s t thin~ that could be trnnt:ferred to nn otl.rer book, which ,•, ns
rl " tHJ und rH' t lJe circuu;stnn ces-1 touk n. left in JI•Jwell wh en I commenced trn1·ol-, .
sh e~:t uf' pnpcr nnd do u bled i ·. tog<•the r, ing 1n 1854.
·
nncl recorded tb c nnmes of the members
I \l"ill now mention some othP.rrn ntt crs
th crccon,
pc rtnining to the cnr ly eottlcmer.t or
'!'h e ori ginal hook I slill lrnve m my lloiH' lr, which will be given t•ntJ rely
pu~scs!'iion, whir.!! l exhibited nt the from n•emr,ry : 1.'he Coun•.y of Lidng ·
l'r onl'cr meet ilw,
in June la!lt. Th o ne xt. stem nnd tho 'l'o wnsb' p ol Howell were
0
Sahhuth Rei' . J .> lan Uu;;n rt prenched in u rg:miz~ tl by tin: Le~is l n turo in the Winll~twcll, wbich wnR the tnird ko rllt•lll de· tor ul 1R35- G, ~he 'l'o wn ~ hip c umpri~ in ;
livc t·ct:l 111 li •J we ll, nn<l th e firht by a a trrriwn• 12 rnile1- wid~ nnc118 mi !e!l
Methodist rni111s ter. It o ncl<no1vlcdged lung. ur s ix 'l'uwns hipR 1 vi ?. , Genu n, Occ ·
Otll' proceedings tube rrgl.rt, scnt. un th e o ln, llowul•, U•Jhoct.nh, llnncty n•11l Con ·
rc pur t or our Society ns ngn·cdnpon,.l nd wny. 'L'ho lit c: t el ecti-ln of Conntv nnd
ill th e fall ur 1836 \\'nshmgrun Ja ekRun Tuwn,.hip offi c:e f'H Wll~ in Apt il, 183G A
" ' oF. R<mt to Livirr~r.t on C o•1nt y nq n mis· ca ucus wM r.all otl to nnmiunte n t1clte t lor
11 iunnr \' from Lbe Ohi o OonlureucP tal tbe the 'l'uwn ·lt tp ' "' Sn tu rnny provi'lUR to
~1.
Ohu rch; fot' at thn tim e nil t•f th e 'I' oll' llqhi!J ml•cting 'l'bo caucus wM
on~ tc rn Michigarr wa~ ombrn<'eel in •t.IH• c:nlircl ro ord •· r lay electing Ezrn S nnforrl
Ohio Corrlcrencc.
n ~ Clrninnnn nn•l A. L Crrtte11den Se!cro
L will no w gi ve th e na11l\e.• nR th ~y up ' :lt'Y· A ti ci.et .wns tllllllinnt ed , and the
pear up"n the o rig ! ~ta!Ul ass hoool( wh en rcco ral" , f iltll~ c ll will pt·nbahly f! l.row .
lbt. Cln s~ wr1s fonncd: -,\lvin L . Ctitr.en- who ' w <: J'~ elrctocl nl. tho 'l'uwn~ltip m ellt
leu, Pu rdon Barnaa·d,J<; tizrtAnn Ha r unrol , ing. I'" ~~ cll•c rerl to ~Clr "e ns S ecrotnry '
Pt!tcr Brel\' cr, Dorcas Bn·wer, tiylvc~ t< ! r or Cle rk cof tiH· Board of Elt·rtion 'l'he
R"unrl ~ , P olly lttJIIIIds, Asnh..t Hurmtl ,;, T t• \' nship pollo·l 3{i vo tes. 1 will ro.~ r r v c · th e furth e r rcrollect.iOJllj of th e
Mnry Sago nncl ~ati.Jani(·l J,.Jrn,;on.
Suun ufll'l', nnol hof.,, e a lr:t\'el rng e nrlj· ~ l'l. tlPm cnt of' lluwell until RQill!'
prenclre r llt't'incl, rl.r c rc wercl rc<'eh eel h.1 oth er· tirno.
lotl c1-UI:triss 11 Juhn ~" n , ,\s nbol Utloh l•·,
AbiornJI !libble nnd Alr ign il Smith, N11 I
da tt~'nppcnrt~ em tlr ll hook t•xr.ept l ~:{(j ~Ill
til W . Ja ckson nr·oiv ed ~pun th e Jill ~ ~ ion;
hut lJ!Jink thu C lass w n~ ronncd in Jnn o
uf tl.rnt y cn r Th o firs t date U(HI!I tlo e
h,.ok i~ Hept. 5, llS3G. It I.Jas b•!ell Rnid I
tiJUt Pu rdon Unrnnrd had been li ce n ~ed
n d nn exhort er· mtlw Stnt" ul N e w You k
bt!lo re r.on,Jng lo .\lichignn, which I " "P 1
ruHO 'S C'III'HCt., nltbuugh I.Jj ~ CJ'edt: ntifl8
wore n ut pre~e nted tco the Howell Socio
ty . Unt nn th t~ 4th rlay u l Nco\'c mher·,
l !:l3li, th e Snciet}' voted him und A. L.
Uri 11 encl en lieense ns ex horle ail in I Ill!
i\1. E. Ulrurch, nnd
li cl'llso i!'l rlntt•d n~
ahu ve, an cl src:nert by Wn~ hin g tun J nclt ·
snn, nw s iorlllr)' .
•
Th e lir.~ t (~ u a rt c rl y Met•ting h1:'1 rl in
Bowe ll 1\' n ~ July lf1 nnc1 lG, l t-:li, by
Bov. 1\' rl\ . llorr, P. {1~ , ul De t ro it Di •· \
t rtct.
Sevc t·nl chnn gcs Wl'J'e marie in tl.r c:
rut rnhl!l'sh ip ol s nirl :::incil' ty ~ro r n lim e to
lim e, nrtcl irt th e S prifl g o! 1H3i th e fol
l owin ~ tllllllC!' np)'t'll r "!J" Il tbC\ hooi\ :-.A
L. Cdtt err dc n, J';lrclun Bnmnrrl: Eli?:n
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:i\hClllGA N ANNUAL CONFERENCE,
188G.
Thn L's hampernll, stru j:!gles llanl to g-et :tway
· Whih;t the glad gates of sight :tro wide oxpallllcll
To let 11ew glories ill, t he lin>t fair fruits
Of t he fast; coming- harvest, then, oh I then
Each oa rLhhorn joy g rows vile or di sappears
Bhrunk a thi ng or IIOIIgh L. Oh how ho hH lJ.,~
To have his passport s i)..(uell a nd he dism issc•c l.
'Tis tlonc I :uuln ow he's happy, the glad soul
lias not a wis il uncrowned."
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REV.. A. L. CRITTENDEN.
Br o. Crittcnl1Cn was b ol'll iu OnLario ( now \VnJwort.h. N.Y.),
Nov. H ,, 1814. lie died in Howell, l\Iicll., Oct. 2J , 1885, hP.ing
nearly scvcuLy-onc years of age. lie carne froru Iudia.nn. iu 1~35,
carryin~ all he p ossessed in a sack. In 1831 he was con verLed,
un<lcr t.hc lauo rs of Uev. J . H . Wlla.lcu. He was married A ll"IISt
'J7, 18:.11, Lo Miss ,Jane Tllom pson. ln 183G I".he eh urch at, J l u~·ell
~:we him his license to exhort under Hev. \ VashiugLo n J ack:->on.
Jn_l S.J.3 he was liccnscu . al'\ a local preacher ; in 181)0 he was ordamell l1ea.con by Bis hop 1\Iorris. In 18ri·f. he was a.<lmi Llell on
trial in Lhc Uichi~a.n Conference and appointed to PortbJl(1, a nd
aft"erwan1s tLppoin tcll to the foll owin g clmrgcs, vi?..: vVilliamston,
.l\[aso u, Eaton Hapids, De\Vil,l·., Col liw:ttcr, Osseo, Ccukr ville
Dccat.ur, E<lwanlsbnr~h , Berri <'ll :::ipri ngs, Pokagou, Okemo~>',
Shcpltcrclsville, .l\laplc ll:"tpius, l\f os berville, U u ion Cit.y, l\[oscow
null Springpor t. ln 1880, in conSC([\lCIICe of liLiling hcaiLh be
SH pc;:'l.r~nuat.cd :wll weut Lo l1is ~·ormct· home iu,.~.~
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lh1 s sk etch that I ll:wc JUSt read s uggestS a number of
t houghts. \Ve will now notice some of t hese, aml :tlso some
things t.hat we h :wc lta<l personal knowlct1gc of. First., weremark Bro. C1·iLt endcu was ulcst in his :wcC!:!try; his parents were
Christbus-his fathe r was a JniuisLer, his mother, a. wonmu of
pmyer. A ri ch inherit:wce cas t its s had ow upon him a.t tllC
t.hresh0ld of life ; it fell up on him in his cmdle. Aga.in, llro.
Cril.tcllllc n was hlcst wi th au earl y cou ve1·sion. Childhood and
t he kiugtlom of Gou arc not far a.part, ami it is not nccessa t·y to
make long inroads in t..o the enemy's terri l.ory in o r·der to Jiud tbc
higlnra,y o f holiness, a nll if we lmtl been co11verLe•l i11 yo n Lh we
mig-Ll t Ll:wc been savl•tl from the scars :Lml sl,ains t.hat s in has
made upon our charaef".c rs an'l livC!:!. Ag:Lin, he was blest witll
a. satis tncLory call to t,he m i nist;ry . \Vhen .God wauts !II CII H e
kno ws wh ere to tiuc1 Uwm, and lie knows ho w (.o <'~Li l (.hem so
they ca n mul crsl:nul it.. C:otl kn ew wh ere Saul or ' L'arsus was,
and if lie had a t1illicult suhj ccf". l1e was l'fJiml to t he work. The
call was satislitctory. Our urothcr was never know u to ex press
clouhts on cif.hc r of these qncs t;ions, an'! it was (,his saLis litctory
call Lha t ca use'1 l1im to IP:LVc his horn e with hi!-> I:Lrnil y an(l m ove
from place to placc as J on~ as lr ealt.h woult1 penni!;. :\gain, Bro.
('l'il k nden was a n ltonrst rnan, in Lhc hroade::;t :->t•nsc of t Ira(". I ('1' 111 .
'l'he poet·, says, " An ho uesli ma n is Llr e uoulc::;t, work of Ooll."
l\l iClliGAN ANNUAL CONFERENCE, 1886.
H_c wa~ one of Goll'_s uobl clllcu. First, we re mark, he was It ouest
wii,h lnmself; h e d ischm·ged du ty as h e unllcrstooll i t :wd followcl1 the I iglt t he h:ul aud [li':Lycll for m ore. lie was honest
wil,_h his conscience; he_ l~id ·~o~ try _to bribe it, lm t he ohnycll it,
cnl r~hLcuml by Lhe S JIII'I(, ol ( ,od, IU h:mnouy with H is wor<l. ·
L\ga,))l, he _w:~s ll ~uest wiLh h umauity in general, a ud if :dl professed Clmstmns m t lle l?ast lm d bceu like him, infideliL.r would
lla.ve no excuse for au exis tence. He was houcst wi th his church ·
he uclievcd i ts doctl"incs full y a nd preached t hem intcll i ~rc n tl/
aud defeuclcd them masterly, triumphantly. He ucver"" fouud
any necessity for a. re-statement of his creed, for he s t.a.tcu it after
Goll'S p:tttem in the first place. Truth does uot need chann·in,..,..
the wnl tipli ca.Liou ta ble, the Commandments a nd t ile Sermo~1 o""d
the l\louuL will rcmaiu; to re-state them would .ilot strc rwth en
them. Common honesty woulli. not let him ta-ke m oney !~om a
ch_urch _an'l. then try to ur!derruiue i t. He m ade no coiupromiscs wtLh SIU or error; policy u e\'CJ' entered llis creed. A.r•:tiu
be was lto_u cst with l~is bret~rcn ~u th e miuistry; he looked
all as ha.vm ~ equal rights w1th h_unself, otilcr tlliugs bci ng cq u:tl.
He hall :t ~CJ1der rega rd for the n g hts of others; again and ngaiu
he has s:uu to me, "Bro. 'l':tylor, don't ri10vc n.uy man 1o :wcoJ.nn~ouate me.". .He ·never iu.'agiuml tlmt the Couiercnee j oi ned
hu n, but he .JOined th e Coulcreuce, not to umke his a ppoin t.ment
where he wa nted it, b u t to t:Lkc it where the a.uth(\l'if,y of t he
~lJIIrch sa.w iit to scud him. If he ever tllought it was not what
I t o ng ht tv have been lie hall t ile sati::;Jhction of knowing (.hat he
was not r espons ible. Again, he was ho ucst wiLll his Uod a.nd
1-l.lis r·o uiuled his c~a.r:tctcr ali a Cliristiau geuLicma.u. A.g:Li;,, lie
was~ mmt of co n ':IC~10us. All men, it is saill, lmYe opin ious~
uu t few have conviCtiOns. Our brotllcr had t hem aud was true
to them, t hen he lmew thaL there would ucver be :Luy u eccssity
for apology, :Lml would have 11 0 need to tlc fen<l his course i n life
for th at would in time dct"cnll him. If he !J;ul livetl iu the tlays of
th e :q wstles he .wonl<l llavc been a, martyr; 0 1' if iu the uays of
Lut,her·, be wo ulu have been by his s ide; if in tllc days of the
\V csl~.Y~ ..l~e_ would have bccu a, llll.llllber of the "lloly Club; , .
and h v111g II\ Lhe l!JLh ceuLtu·y ho stool! straigh t as au a u ..c l for
truLh, for humaui Ly, for t.bc AJ'migltf,y ; and t his bo ne:st)' a.ml
tllesc . convictions c:tuscd hint to Lake :L rig h t v iew of a ll moral
. qucsL10ns and Llr en a 1'it;ht position in r ela.Lio n to t hem. ' l'hc
ques l,ion wi th lrim was not will the world approve, buL will God
approve; not will 1uy chu rd r be with me, but will Chri.~t be wi t h
nr c, :tul1 can I a.ll'<:m l to be with m yself; for h e kn e w he wo uld
b:~ve self with ltim etel"ll:tlly, and it would not p ay only to ,liveWit h an honest m a n.
As a p rmch cr b ut few stood above Bro. Crittenden, a.nll the
numbct· wn:-; ver y small that wero his eqn:tl. As a logician he
exeelle<L 'L'he chann el h e llug for hi:; th o ugh~ to ru n in ( as
l~ouc rt Hall_says) ~\'?rc alwa~rs in :t logic.'tl fo rm. I ask t.hc llllCStwn to-day m huunhty aud IU dcfcreucc to this cnlt urell stroll"'
;;p01;
'
b
-GO
MICUIGA.N Am'lJA.L CONFERENCE,
188G.
body of ministers-where, I sa.y, where is the brother upon whom
his mantle hn.s f:Lllen in this respcct7 Who of us will undertake
to mea::; nrc arms with bim here 'i He framed his arguments not
only so yon cou lu Ull(lerst:Lnu t.bcm, but so you coulu uot misundcr~kwd theHl. \Vlten t he liu·mcrs in Il[ichi~:w dean·d Lhcit·
lauu they lirst; rcmove1l the un1lcrbrnsh out of their way, thcu
Lhcy eomJJ1euceu tbcir more diJlicult work. \Vbcn I wa<; lookit1 g
at the capitol in Cauad:t a. few yc:Lrs ago a. man Jiving there s:Lill
t·o me "\.Yc went down for the fouudat,ion of that builtling ( J
f.hink'hc saitl ) eleven feet." I said,'' vVhy di<l you go so fal· ?"
1[is aus wer was . "v\'c went down to the rock." So om· brol;hcr,
in his work, wit.h :L few masLer strokt•s swept, all !li lli_cul~ics ouL
or his w~LY aml Lhcn he went down to hct l rock and l:ud hts a.rgn·
mcuts and tllcn he eommcnecd to build, and the result wn.s llis
worl\ wn.s destin ell to stand, like the bouse built upon t-.IlC rock.
lie wn.s noted for clcam css. No ouc lla.d to ask what was he
tryi ng to do; they could very easily sec what he was doing a.ud
sec when tllc work was done.
I knew Bro. Crittenden, n.nd to lmow him was to love \lim.
I was witll !Jim ou dill'crcnt tlistricts :wd w:LS his Presiding Elder
for Lhrcc years. I lla.ve often slHLrcd ltis llos pitality; bis llomc
was the home of 1\Ictlwdist preachers ; his famil y a.l ways made
Lhcm welcome and more Llla.n welcome.
AfLer llc snpcmumcra.tcd hQ still con tinued to preach, a.nd
often s:Litl to miuistcrs when they came for !Jim, "I :Lm willing to
u se what little s trength I have." He preached over :t humlrcd
sermons aftct· he left the active work. Almost t;hc last, t.hing he
said was, "'rcll all I lt:wc bccu peaceful a.ud !Jappy a ll t.h rough
my lift•.''
J It: came Lo t.IIC 'l'crritory of 1\Iichign.u a poor boy, but, left a
rich inheritance t.o his family-rL name to be venerated, a rcpuL:t·
tion and character unspotted and unstained by the breath of
s uspiciou.
This occasion s peaks Lo all; to young men or tile Conference,
- t he inhcriLancc you arc comi ng inLo is a. uesimblc O{Je ; some
speak lightly of the fathers a.uu say tbcy arc. old men. Yes, but
t.hey have ~rrown ohl by faithful work. I fmd clmrclJCs on my
district a.ud lmve asked, '' \ •V!Jo built thesc1" I come to Confer·
cncc aml I find t.hc builucrs witll grn.y hairs and weak in body.
Now, young mc~1 go. Lo _these cllllrcbcs, not_to l_ll tild, bu~ t~ occ upy . Farmers Jul\Iiclugan now plough thcll' soil ami wqrk It_by
machinery (a.nd I a m glad they cau), but seldom, pcl'lta.ps, thmk
of t he men Lhat clettreu their laud a.nu prcparcu for Lhc ma,chincry. vVc ritle upon tbe cars (a.ud I am glatl we c.:n), but
how few of us t hink of the men that took dowu the lull~ and
filled up the Yallcys n.ud laid the tmck, ot· tlw m:tu Lhat kc?ps
hi~ nyc ou it anti SOiliHls Lhc al:u·m for tl:wger. If we do not, lorget the s:wriliccs of these fatllcrs may wo not think too lightly of
·their work' I rclll cmbcr wllcu some of these passed by my
l\fiCHIGA.N ANNUAL CoNFERENCE,
188G.
G1!
father's door uca.rly fifty years ago. Tiley went around swamps
aud forded streams. I know where some of them sleep their
long, last sleep of death, aml when I pn.ss their graves I I cell ikolifl,i ng m y lmt a nd saying-, '' lia.il, my brother, Iitrcwell ! " 'l'he
sac ri I ices aml labors aml Lc:u-s a.nd gmves of Lhese arc all saying
to-da.y Lo the 1\'ficl.lig:tu Coufcrcucc, "llc tnll': be men ! "
l<'iuaUy, v; e rema1·k, this occasion speaks to the old men . I
was looking ove1· tlle minutes of the Confcreucc only a. few d:tys
ago :Lml I fouud that of the mcu t ha t composed the same when I
joined i(, I could now connt 11early all on Lbc lingers of :t single
hand, antl .Lhose of us that rcumin will :soon be goue; our :;un i::;
dccliuiug. tllc shadows arc lcngthcuing, a.uu eternity wi II soon
dawn npou ns. l\Ia.y God grant that, like Bro. Crittende n, we
mn.y all be :tblc to say, we have had a. happy life, a.nd tlwn w.e
may expect a. happy c.lca.th. 'rhcn others will stand where I now
stand and do for us wlla.t I am trying to do for our departetl~
beloved l3ro. Crittenden. I knew him when living; I loved him;.
and gladly would I to-d:ty have tloue justice to !Jim (were it possible).
::3cptembcr 14, 1886.
REV . A. J . VANWYCK .
This ucvoted and cultured Cllristiau Minister died iu the
lVIcLho1list Episcopal prtrsona.gc a.t ~'1Sll.9Xi:J.~.J.1licli., Jau. U, l SSG,
aged forty-uiuc ymu·s, Hinc months aud thirteen days.
·
Por ma.ny weeks. and even montbs, he strugglcu against the
des troyer, ami, especiall y in the latter pa.rt of his sickness, he
endured mosL severe paiu aud ::;ufl'eriug: yet all of tl.Jis without
ouc siuglo word of murmur or impatience.
He did not, however, come to this fiua.l conflict without the
most thoror~g- h preparation. · He was completely armored, aml
wllcn the hn.nu of dea.th was raised fot· tlle final thnrst he could
calmly sing" Death, wiLh thy weapons of war, lay me low;
Strike, King of Terrors ·I I fear not thy blow."
In his death a. wife and three daughters, now growu to young
woma.nllood, have suJicrcd a. very severe bereavement ; the
Christia.u 1\'Iiuistry has lost anothct· one of its val nable mcm bcrs,
and t,hc church has been deprived of another one of its mos t dcvoLctl scrvaut.s. l:iuch ·was Lhc extreme moucst;y of tb is devoted
servant of Cln·isL, anu such wn.s his contempt fol' cvorythiug tha.t
looked like osteuLation, that only tbose wllo came into tllc most
intimate rclaLious with him knew anytbiug of his c:trly :ulva.ntages anu l,hc opportunities whicll he cujoycd for thorough intellect.u:LI culLurc.
lJy 110 word tlmli over droppctl from his lips before tllc public
wn.s it known that h e had been educated iu ouc of th e most r cuowucd institutions of le:t.r uing in this country. He wn.s :t fcl-
Crittenden, Alvin L.