Telegram-herald., 1886-10-03
HER SEMI CENTENNIAL
ST Marx : Church Fifty Years
Old Today.
Al EVENTFuL. INTERESTING CAREER.
The Labors OF the Various Rectors-
Societies Connected Nth the
Church-The Programme
Tor Today

Fifty years ago today the hrst attempt 10
plant EpiscopA doctrines in this COM
mlnity vas made by seventeen individuals
Judge Jefferson Morrison wss one 0f them
eh0 met. drew up and signed an article Ell
titled The Parish vi ST. Mars Church.
aud elected officers. Little mere than this
Vas done. and soon the parish became dis
organized. 10 be fe-establshed Two years
later oy thirteen citizens who wrote and
signed articles Of association a. ST. Mark
Church. The new society existed quietly
for a year and then officers were elected.
and the members commenced holding meet
ings in a building which stood on the cor
ner OF Canal-st. and Crescent ave, the site
nOw occupied by the Grnnell block. con-
rnuing there until 1910 when al effort was
made 10 obtain recognition a. a church.
Luclus Lyon and e ii Carroll generously
donated lot on the corner Of North Divi-
sion 81 and Crescent ave, where Julius
Berkeys residence now stands and the
church purchased for a consideration OF
slOO, the lot Immediately Vest. thus secur-
ing ample room for the erection OF achurch
edlnce. one year later operations were
commenced upon a frame structure 37x4l
feet ia size and the same season witnessed
is mpietlOn, It's cOnsecra ion and the call
ing OF a rector, the Rev MelancthOn HOyt
= hO laOOIed for a few months and then
rendered his resignation. Such was the
commencement and establishment of St.
Mar S Church and parish.
In MAY lsi2 Rev. Francis Cunning ID. D.,
was called 10 the rectOrship and, accepting,
at once minated vigorous policy, which
characterized his labOrs as long as he con-
i!nued With the church. Although 4 man
OF intellectual ability ana of OIatOrlcal ex
cellence, DR.. Cunning coupled with those 80
sterling traits Il clear insight into business
matters, and the care OF the church edihce,
its business and It's grounds was as much
cherished IN ms mind a. were the study of
ecclesiastical problems and the preparation
II his uOmliles. The work OF filling III q
marsh near TIE church and of lengthenlng
out the building received not only his per
sunai supervision. bat frequently ms own
hands were employed in the LABOR. Fol
seven years the church wOrshipped here
ana expanded BEAUTIFULLY. Neal
/ the close OF that period the
/ question of building more durable anu
| c0mmQdiOus house of worship was sgitateC
/ With ultimate results in the purchase 0
land at the eastern end OF Pearl-st., and the
/ construction thereon of stone building
! the same church in which the people now
| worship only with certain remOdehngs snC
1 additions Here too was the zeal of DR.
( Cunning shown. Tor frequently he per
formed manual labor upon the walls of thi'
! house of God. taking such time as be could
from his literary and spiritual work TD'
| society continued to prosper, and in lS5,
1 an enlargment of the church eiitice Wa.
| deemed advisable and the work was a
once accomplished. The year 1861 wit
| messed the close of Dr.. Cummings rectOrship
ana, Obeying the promptings of his heart
the noble man entered the Third Michigan
| Volunteer Infantry as chaplain, anC
/ marched 10 the South
Rev. David Clarksen became the mex
rector OF st. Mark $ or rather supplied The
/ church from the resignation of DR. Cumins
| until early IN 1862 when he died and let
the church without rector. which
condition OF atfdrs continued until July 30
1868. when call was extended To Rev. DR.
J. +. Iustin, who accepted II and at once
/ entered upon his labprs The church had
become firmly established By DR.. Cunning