The Detroit times., 1911-06-17
|HURCH 0PENIN 6.
BE JOYOUS
OCCASION
Ueodward-Ave. Presbyterian Con.
srsgation Is Possessor Of Splendid
Home as . Result Of Pastor
Divine's Zeal.
Ms. Tracy McGregor Aids Material
y in Building Operations by
Donating Site and Organ.

When the new and unusually beau
tifnl Woodward-ave. Presbyterian
s church, Woodward and West Phila.
delphia-aves, IL formally dedicated.
Sunday, June rs, 1t will stand as a
monument to the industry, zeal,
patience and capability OF the pastor,
the Rev. Sherman Landon Divine,
and the loyalty and energy Of the
membership. The growth Of this
congregation Is nothing short Of re-
markable. A trifie over three years
ago March IL, 1908-to be accurate
the Woodward-ave. Presbyterian
church was organized with i3l char.
ter members. Their meeting place
was In Milburn hall.
The Rev. Sherman l.. Divine was
pastor Of large and wealthy church
In Marinette. Wis, when he was In
yited to come to Detroit to take
charge OF this little group Of persons.
+ The prospect OF building His house"
had certain fascination for this big,
: energetic and whole-souled 'parson,"
and to the great surprise OF his
Harinette congregation he accepted
the Detroit offer and came to this
city with his coat on and his sleeves
131 has grown to q mighty army OF
Christian workers, numbering sos,
and q Bible school of TOO. OF the
r 805 members, 301 joined on confes-
sion Of faith and 256 came from out
aide churches. so that So per cent
of the entire roll call of the church
- Q distinct gain to Detroit Presby-
terianism, according to Mr.. Divine.
From the small audience room of
Milburn hall, the congregation was
obliged to move to the auditorium OF
the Oddfellows temple, Brush-st. and
Bethune-ave., and as the numbers
rapidly Increased the Thomos Nor
NAL Training school, formerly the
North Baptist church, was secured
for the service. All this time Mr..
Divine and his people were working
fOr church building of their. own.
The undaunted spirit and hearty Co
operation between pastor and people
G0on became a topic of conversation
among Presbyterians and other de-
nominations, and one day Mrs. Tracey
NcGregor, a daughter OF the late
David Whitney. Jr., whose life is de.
voted TO good works and the iispen-
oation OF her large private fortune,
called upon Mr.. Divine
You wish to build churchT Mrs.
Uc0regor queried of Mr. Divine.
We are going to build a church"
Was the young parsons confident an
Il will give, you the ground upon
Which to build II, II you let me know
mere You have chosen your Site"
lid Mrs. McGregor after a few
Doments quiet thought and study OF
ne vigorous personality before her.
y short time afterward Mr., Divine
ocnt word to Mrs. McGregor that his
inauguration wanted the northwest
<ogner OF Woodward and West Phila-
4plphia-ayes-. II they could get 1t, and
ne reply came In the shape OF clear
4eed 70 the property. Still little
4 Ioter, Mrs. Mc0regor, accompanied by
. her mother, Mrs. Whitney, called up.
% Mr.. Divine and asked what the
congregation proposed to do about
- organ.
we do not cross bridges until we
Co1ne TO them" Mr.. Divine told her.
han, Mrs. McGregor said she would
- the donor or the Instrument, and
while no stated sum was mentioned,
ne building committee planned on
cutie . modest organ, until Mrs.
Whitney told Mr.. Divine that only
ne very finest and best should be
<onsidered, and the result Is hat the
UeW church has one Of the most mag
1l1cent organs In the country, erect
~ &C cost OF $4,000.
When, fortnight ago, Mrs. Nc
Qregor and Mrs. Whitney again visit
81 MT Divine and were taken over
me new building the subject came up
+ % the possibility OF business block
or other undesirable buildings being
. erected on the adjoining vacant prop
orty TO the north Of the church.
The church should secure that
property" Mrs. whitney remarked.
Yes. said Mr.. Divine, I've would
Ike to have Il and. as matter of
net, had an option on II for some
tine. but We needed all our resources
IQ[ the building operations and we're
obliged to drop the option"
Nothing more was said at the time,
rut, rev days later. Mrs. McGregor
1n'etiy telephoned that she wished to
ake the gift to the church of the
operty. providing the trustees
could agree to turn II into a public
1<k and playground for children for
- present and maintain II as such
1<II the needs OF the church should
1mand larger buildings.
Ihroughout the life OF the congre-
Mon, the little community has been
|R-supporting and stands al ona Of
most remarkable instances OF
Ilstian effort toward definite end.
<oIt has known. The splendid new
ch and chapel and the half OF
city square OF property rerresents
- Of about $4,000. The church
11<ious to make reputation "a a
Ehborhood church" without so-
cIiQues OF any kind and Inside
<hose walls all men are on an
footine Of brutherly love. In
cFcction of the church toe Wo-
= union has been an Invaluable
rnIaIng and giving outright over
~ torard the building fund.
&e Hcv Thomas Hill Montgomery
recently been sent to Tslnz TUT.
- ~ the special missionary OF
Voodvard,ave. Presbyterian