A Century of Gratitude: Rev. Ashworth’s Legacy and UU Lansing Today
by Ed Busch, UU Lansing Archivist
As autumn settled over Lansing in October 1925, the Universalist congregation gathered for worship, study, and fellowship amid both change and hope. The congregation celebrated what they recorded as their 73rd year of organized Universalism in Lansing — though by our current reckoning, using the 1849 founding date, they were already marking their 76th year. It was a time when their minister, Rev. George Ashworth, was far from the pulpit, writing words of gratitude and encouragement from his sickbed in Cleveland.
A Season of Transition
Rev. Ashworth had been undergoing medical treatment for many months. To carry on the ministry, the congregation called Rev. Oluf Tandberg of Alberta, Virginia, to serve as supply minister beginning in September. His October sermons — “Life’s Fragments,” “The Last Rose of Summer,” and “The Symbol in the Sail” — offered messages of perseverance and reflection that surely resonated with a community missing its longtime pastor.
Despite uncertainty, church life flourished. The Lansing State Journal of October 3, 1925, reported: “Universalist Church Year Is Successful.” The congregation had gathered the night before for its 73rd annual parish meeting, opened with a festive Bohemian dinner — a popular tradition featuring hearty Central European dishes such as goulash, dumplings, sausages, and pastries. These meals were both social and symbolic, celebrating shared labor and hospitality before turning to church business.
That business was encouraging: finances were strong, property improvements exceeded $3,000, and the endowment grew by $1,200. Delegates were named for the Michigan Universalist Convention in East Liberty, and new trustees were elected.
The Pastor’s Message from Afar
Unable to attend in person, Rev. Ashworth wrote a heartfelt message for the Lansing Universalist newsletter — one that still speaks powerfully to the meaning of community. He began:
“I exceedingly regret my inability to be with you upon this occasion, the most important event on our church calendar, for it marks the passing of the 73rd milestone in the history of organized Universalism in Lansing and the closing of the 6th year of the present pastorate.”
He went on to express joy over the improvements to the church and gratitude for the generosity that made them possible:
“To pay for this improvement ought to be a source of joy to each, for deferred achievements are most greatly appreciated when they come.”
Rev. Ashworth also recorded three significant donations to the church’s endowment that year: gifts from Mrs. A. H. Mead of Duluth ($100), Mrs. Ellen Montgomery of Gaines ($1,000), and Mrs. R. A. Bailey of Lansing ($100). He prayed that “many others will catch the vision” so that the blessings of a “friend of the faith” could continue “through unending years.”
Perhaps most movingly, he closed with thanks to his congregation for the kindness shown during his illness:
“Words cannot express or measure the depth of gratitude I feel towards the members and friends of this church for ‘standing by’ so faithfully and ‘carrying on’ so loyally during my long sickness.
Your friendly visits, your frequent inquiries, your beautiful flowers, together with many other kindly considerations, and your substantial gifts, not only soothe and sustain the heart but ease the load imposed on one by a bodily affliction.
Your generous expressions are the ripened fruit of the Christian spirit at the heart of our Faith, and evidence that the spirit of the Good Samaritan is operating in our midst.”
(You can read Rev. Ashworth’s full 1925 report [here].)
The World Beyond Lansing
While the Universalists of Lansing gathered in their newly decorated sanctuary, the wider world was full of its own milestones:
Mount Rushmore authorized (Oct 1): Congress approved the creation of the memorial that would later feature four presidents.
Pittsburgh Pirates win the World Series (Oct 15): A thrilling seven-game comeback over the Washington Senators.
Aviation milestone: Lt. Jimmy Doolittle won the international Schneider Trophy race, setting a world seaplane speed record.
University of Michigan football victory (Oct 3): Michigan defeated Michigan State 39–0 before a packed Ferry Field crowd.
Menominee lumber mill fire (Oct 21): A blaze destroyed a major Upper Peninsula mill — one of several industrial fires that month across the state.
Return, Renewal, and Loss
After sixteen months of operations and recovery, Rev. Ashworth returned to the pulpit in September 1926, preaching again to the congregation he had so dearly missed. His return must have felt like a resurrection of spirit for both pastor and parish. Sadly, that season of renewal was brief — he died unexpectedly on November 13, 1926, just two months after resuming his ministry.
Lansing State Journal, November 13, 1926
Enduring Generosity
Reading Rev. Ashworth’s words today, one hears more than history — one hears gratitude echoing across a century. His celebration of generosity and shared purpose feels familiar in light of the recent anonymous gifts that made possible the installation of solar panels and other needed repairs at UU Lansing.
Then, as now, the congregation’s strength came from people who “caught the vision” — investing in the future not just of a building, but of a faith community rooted in hope, service, and sustainability.
A hundred years later, the spirit of the Good Samaritan that Rev. Ashworth praised still operates in our midst.
💬 We’d Love Your Feedback
What do you think about this look back at UU Lansing in 1925? What other topics or time periods would you like to see covered in future posts? Share your thoughts and suggestions at uucgl.archives@gmail.com — your ideas help shape the ongoing story of our community.
✨ This is my 59th post in the UU Lansing history blog series, part of an ongoing project to keep our congregation’s stories alive and accessible. ✨
🔎 Research Notes
Archival research for this post was provided through UU Lansing archives materials and Lansing State Journal clippings. Contextual narrative was developed with the assistance of ChatGPT.
✍️ About the Author
Hi, I’m Ed Busch, the writer behind these blog posts exploring the history of UU Lansing. After retiring in 2023 from a 15-year career as an Electronic Records Archivist at Michigan State University’s Archives & Historical Collections, I’m thrilled to dedicate my time to sharing our church’s rich history.
I hold a Master’s in Library and Information Science, specializing in archival administration, and my academic background also includes a degree in Fisheries and coursework in Computer Science. Before shifting to a career in archives, I worked across diverse fields, including fisheries, aerospace, and telecom.
My wife, Leigh White, and I have been part of the UU Lansing community since the early 2000s and became members in 2006. I’ve been actively involved with the church archives since 2007, and both of our daughters enjoyed growing up in UU Lansing’s Religious Education (RE) program.
I look forward to connecting with you through these posts as we delve into the stories that have shaped UU Lansing over the years.