As the Representative of Kent and Ottawa Counties in Michigan. the counties where this church originated and where 89 of its present 486 congregations are located. I would like to call the attention of the House to the century of progress which this church has enjoyed. It was in April 1857 that five small congregations of Dutch immigrants in western Michigan united to form a new denomination. The final organizational step was taken at a meeting at Graafschap. Michjust outside of my district in Allegan Countyon April 29. 1857. when the church at that village joined with churches at Grand Rapids.
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