I took another trip on my motorcycle over Labor Day weekend. This time I went to the southwest corner of the state, then up the west coast. I left Sunday afternoon with a definite destination in mind; after that I just wandered up the Lake Michigan shore at my leisure. How does this post fit into my blog title? That's easy; whenever I'm on my motorcycle, I feel like I am one cool dude.
The Old Rugged Cross Church
In April we held a hymn sing at our church. While researching background information on several hymns, I came across the interesting fact that one of the best loved hymns of all was written right here in Michigan in 1912. As it turned out, it was also sung publicly for the first time the following year, in Michigan. The story got more and more interesting upon learning the history of the church of the original performance. A small congregation near Niles, MI was holding a series of revival meetings. The minister invited his friend, the Rev. George Bennard, to help in the services. Having written most of the hymn the previous year while in Albion, Rev. Bennard brought the music with him and finished the words and music during the revival. He then sang "The Old Rugged Cross" for the first time publicly during those meetings in a small church in Pokagon, MI. In a few short years, the hymn became well known worldwide.
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| The barn as it appeared 40 years ago. |
That's the background story. A short while later the congregation moved to a larger building and sold the old wooden church to a farmer who used it as a barn (which was its original purpose before being acquired by the congregation.) The building was used as a barn for 50 years or so, then fell into disuse and became overgrown and neglected. However, people in the area knew this old building as the "Old Rugged Cross Church," and to some it was not fitting to see it fall into decay. They organized, raised money, re-acquired the property and began the huge task of renovating the church. Today the job is about 80% complete and once a month they hold a hymn sing in the church. That was my Sunday evening destination.
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| Exterior view after 15 years of work. |
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| Original reed organ and pulpit back where they belong. |
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| The pews are replicas based on the originals. |
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We made a contribution to the restoration efforts
and got this brick placed near the front entrance. |
The building is beautiful inside and out, with many original pieces or replicas. I arrived an hour early to tour the church and the adjacent memorial garden of meditation, and I was not the first one there. By 6pm, the place was packed with 100+ people ready to sing -- and did they sing! Before the service, they took requests, and that's what we sang, one right after the other. People of many denominations were there, singing praise to their Lord through these many beloved hymns. What a triumphant sound!
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| Proof that I made it to "the coast." |
The next day, I continued on to New Buffalo and turned north to ride the Lake Michigan coast. Much of the time I couldn't actually see the lake, but I could often smell the fresh lake effect in the air. In St. Joseph, they have several points to look out over the lake, as the city sits on a bluff high above the shore. I made it to Muskegon that second day. I had never traveled this part of Michigan before, so I really enjoyed seeing new places. I should add that I had great weather for this trip. On Tuesday I rode straight east from Muskegon across the mitten, again on roads going through towns I'd never seen before.
Well, that was it -- a nice little trip, the last of the summer. Really it was, because I had to go to work the following day. That's right, I have a new job. I'll write about it later. Thanks for reading my blog. Let me know what you think about anything mentioned here. God bless.
