The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-01-19
4 From the Enquirer a Herald.
GRAND HAVEN CORRESPO ONDENCE.
GRAND HAVEN, Jan. 8, 1859.

bearing upon their personal reputation rs
chronicers of passing events, and the
position by them occupied in community (;
but our reputation as faithful historian +,
demanded of us true and impartial
sketch of our subject, and all disinterest-
ed parties affirm that it was given.
We now propose to give briefly, the
present condition of the CHURCH in old
Ottawa. But before entering upon this
subject in detail, permit us to premise a
little. 1t was long problem, difficult
indeed of solution to visitors and men of
business visiting the different portions of
our county, whether "pure religion and
undefiled" had even semblence Of exist
ence within our borders; and some even
may have been so seriously impressed
with the Egyptian-like darkness that ev-
erywhere prevailed, that they did implor-
ingly solicit the Executive Board of the
Home Missionary Society to send, with
out delay, an Illuminating spirit to dispel
the thick darkness that broeded over US,
and usher in if possible, gleam of NOR
al and religious light. But, in the mean
time, sort of pine -,Oood religion had,
for long years, nay, we might affirm, from
the first settlement of our county, exist
ed consisting in banking during the week
as large number of good merchantable
pine logs as possible, and, on Sunday,
engaging in the usual recreation of hol
iday, to wit: hunting, fishing wrestling,
pitching the quot, DC, and in the sum-
mer, perhaps the additional pastime of
rafting to market the logs put in readiness
during the week.
But marked exceptions to this kind
of mammon, pine-log worship, here and
there prevailed, though at intervals that
scarce presented redeeming feature, ex-
cept in our villages and the moro thickly
settled communities, where occasionally
dwelt household where the suppliant
knee was, morn and eve, bent 10 the Great
Creator in humble prayer and praise.
In all our wide and extended territory,
North, South, East and West, not a sin
gle Church edifice existed, TO the knowl-
edge of the writer, with the exception Of
two erected at the village of Lamont,
and those built by our much esteemed and
pious adopted citizens. the Hollanders !;
who, in all their wanderings from the
"Fader Land" never forgot the religion
of their ancestors, but who, when they
pitch their tents in the home sought for
an adoption, fail not among their first
acts, to erect tabernacle to the Most
High to the shame and rebuke Of those
enjoying, to a far greater degree, the
blessings of home, liberty, and the pat
ronage of a government whose fostering
care and protection Of her free and noble
institutions Of learning and religion, have
given to our country name far more ex-
cellent among the nations than is possess
ed by any other POLITICAL power "neath
the blue vault of heaven"
Strangely, indeed, did the tall smoke
pipes Of our mammoth steam mills, erect
ed for the manufacture of those same
pine logs to which reference is had above,
contrast with the humble spire of the
churches of our Lamont citizens, and of
this God-saving people who discard the
pine log fealty, so almost universally
prevalent around them.
In certain localities, you might take a
favorable position for observation, and
in the wide extended range of your
vision, from half dozen TO half score
of these lumber manufactures reared from
their sooty, ash-laden roofs, the tall pipe
that sent far into the clouds, in thick vol
umes, the exhausting steam that drives
the mighty machinery that dissects the
ponderous pine logs, and fits it to assume
its destined position in the beautiful man
sion about TO be erected for the abode oi
wealth and splendor but not plank OF
clapboard to be used in perfecting and
beautifying an edifce, from whose tall,
Now England-like spire, the sweet tones
of tho Sabbath bell might direct the
master and his workmen, the stranger
and sojourner, each returning Sabbath
10 the place, where, in thanksgiving and
praise, their gratitude might ascend tc
God, the author Of all their prosperity
} and happiness. But happily for the
moral and religious reputation and we'll
being Of our citizens, a marked change
: for the better has taken place in our midst
: within the last three years, Of which
propose TO particuralize in my next.
OTrAwA