The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-06-29
IocAL AND NEWS ITEMS.
OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

proud, and worthy of note in our favor.
For long time the moral and religious
tone Of society in Ottawa county was con-
sidered by outsiders as very unenviable,
and perhaps justly so. Few, indeed, even
half dozen years ago, were the places of
worship in all our wide domain, and mea-
ger indeed the congregations that honor
cd even those few places with their pres
ence on the first day Of the week. But
now, how marked the change! AT Grand
Haven-where but little time ago very
small school room afforded ample space
land room to spare) for all our villagers,
who could find time and inclination on
the Sabbath to pay their respects to the
ordinances of the Lords house--now three
large, commodious, we'll built churches,
with open doors on the Sabbath, invite
our citizens and strangers to enter and
listen to the good word as rehearsed and
expounded by three as sound and eloquent
preachers as our State affords, and who
are by no means compelled to preach to
empty seats or drowsy, listless hearers.
Again, our Sunday Schools, which now
consist of the mother stock and the
branches, have recently risen from the
small membership of half a hundred to
more than four times that number. And
our citizens, who until within three years
past have contributed but very meagerly
to the support of preaching, now volunta-
rily tax themselves two thousand dollars
yearly for that purpose, all of which are
sure indications that we, at least, respect
the principles of religion and religious
worship.
The same cheering state of things pre-
walls at Muskegon. A finer house OF
worship than that recently erected in that
village, can not be found in all Western
Michigan, built at an expense Of some
$1,000, and furnished amply within and
without, and over all, suspended bell
whose rich, mellow tones fail not to as
semble, on every returning Lords day, a
goodly congregation of worshipers. In
the same village Congregational Society
has been recently established, who are
about commencing active measures to
erect for their accommodation suitable
house of worship. The Rev. A. st.
CLAIR, a preacher Of that denomination,
is to be minister in holy things at the al
tar there erected.
At Lamont and Berlin no marked
change has taken place in church and
congregation, except commendable in
crease in membership Of those of the
former place.
At Eastmanville, where no church or
ganization has hitherto existed, new So
ciety of the Christian Order, of some
eleven members, has recently commenced
its existence under the administration of
Rev. Mr.. MYERS, and a new church edi-
fee will probably be erected soon for their
accommodation. A very hourishing Sun
day-School has been sustained for some
two years in that village.
In our more rural districts congrega-
tions are multiplying, meetings on the
Sabbath far better sustained than former
ly, Sunday Schools more numerously pat
ronized, and commendable interest in
the prosperity of all the benevolent and
charitable institutions Of the day mani
tested.
While we rejoice at the construction of
railways and harbors, and other internal
improvements which tend greatly to facil-
itate trade and commerce in our midst,
and thus add to our wealth and impor-
lance, should we be less delighted with
the cheering aspect of our county in res
pect to its improvement in religion and
moralsl Nay, rather let us urge onward
the good work SO nobly begun, that We
may become as renowned for our excel
lence in all that is moral and virtuous, as
we have been and still are in our foster
ing care Of all the elements of wealth and
Of true and substantial prosperity.
GooD.--Farmers tell us that the few cool and
pleasant days, last past have been just what
was wanted to bring forward the wheat crop---to
develop fully the kernel; and that the growing