History of the M.E. Church, Vol. IV - Media Sabda Org

By the end of our present period there were in the same territory twenty-six preachers and eight
thousand members. By the end of the first quarter of the century they had so increased that there were
in Michigan four, in Illinois eighteen, and in Indiana twenty-eight itinerants, making forty preachers
and fourteen thousand members. Seven years later the increase was, in Michigan, eight preachers and
one thousand six hundred members; in Illinois, forty-four preachers, ten thousand members; and in
Indiana, sixty preachers and twenty thousand members. In 1832 was formed the Indiana Conference.
For twelve years the entire state was in one Conference, which was first divided in 1844, when it
reported sixty-six thousand members, two hundred traveling preachers, and four hundred and
eighty-eight local preachers. In our day (1866) there are in the state four Conferences, four hundred
traveling preachers, seven hundred local preachers, and ninety thousand members. "This state,
though it bears a name signifying 'domain of the Indian,' which, when given, was literally true, has
for its more than one million three hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants, two thousand nine
hundred and thirty-three places of worship, one thousand two hundred and fifty-six of which are
furnished by the Methodists, with accommodations for more than one million, and valued at nearly
four million five hundred thousand dollars. The state has six thousand five hundred free schools, one
thousand one hundred and twenty-three Sabbath-schools, more than one hundred higher schools or
academies and colleges, of which the Methodists furnish one third." [14]
The extension of Methodism northwestward, into the Michigan territory, was slow. The fruits of
the labors of Bangs, Case, and Mitchell, lingered in Detroit till Joseph Hickox was appointed to the
circuit in 1815; the recent war had demoralized the whole country, and Hickox could discover only
seven Methodists in Detroit. A society, which had been organized at Monroe in 1811, he found
entirely broken up, and he was the only Protestant preacher in the territory for at least one year. There
was not yet a single Protestant chapel in it. But, after the war, emigration, and, with it, Methodism,
began to pour into the country. "As the population extended, our ministers," says a local authority,
"followed them, wading through the swamps and marshes, and striking the Indian trails, so that the
people have never been left for any considerable time without the gospel. The first preachers were
sent from the New York Conference, the next from the Genesee, the third from the Ohio. In 1836
the Michigan Conference was created -- it included a part of Ohio; but in 1840 the Ohio portion was
separated, leaving Michigan alone. At this time there were only seventy-eight ministers and
preachers, and eleven thousand five hundred and twenty-three members. Though this seems small,
we must consider that the population was sparse. Now we have about three hundred ministers, and
thirty-two thousand members. The first Protestant church erected in Michigan was built near Detroit
in 1818. It was made of logs, and was considered a fine affair; but now we find substantial churches
dotting all the country. These are but indications of the thrift and spiritual prosperity of our people.
This great advance in numerical and financial strength has not been secured without toil and sacrifice
on the part of those who have led on the sacramental host. Nathan Bangs traveled from the city of
New York to Detroit on horseback; William Case crossed the Detroit River sometimes on floating
ice, jumping from cake to cake; Joseph Hickox braved dangers from hostile Indians and rude British
soldiers; others have slept in the woods, and carried an ax to blaze their way through the forest. But
all have been borne up by the divine presence." [15]
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