Discovering the Real Jesus in Monroe

October 1-7 in Monroe is “Custer Week.” For me, this is appropriate, since I live on North Custer adjacent to the property originally owned by Neville Custer, I can almost see the old Custer house from where I live, I (like you) drive past the Custer statue many times a week, I saw General Custer eating in a local restaurant a few months ago (during which time I also one day saw Elvis walking out of Farmer Jack), and I like Danny’s frozen custard.

My question here is: was Custer a follower of Jesus?

Now I am a non-Custer scholar in a land of Custerphiles. Nonetheless, here’s something I found at historynet.com about Custer and his conversion to Christ. As I read this, I realize it’s probably a bit anachronistic to be thinking about how this could have happened and yet there remains Custer’s demeaning attitude towards American Indians. It is a truly radical Jesus-thing to love one’s enemies, and arguably Custer failed at this in some serious ways.

Here’s a report of his conversion, which happened here in Monroe.

“With winter campaigning at a standstill, the Custers took a 20-day furlough in late January, visiting family and friends in their hometown of Monroe, Mich. A fellow traveler on the train to Michigan jotted down a hasty, hero-worshiping account of the general in his diary. “Genl Custar [sic] reminded me of Tennyson’s description of King Arthur,” wrote Lewis T. Ives. “He is tall straight with light complexion, clear blue eyes, golden hair which hangs in curls on his shoulders[,] has a fine nose.” Kingly or not, Custer took advantage of his furlough to put himself right with God. At a Sunday evening service at the Monroe Presbyterian Church, he experienced a religious conversion, one that left him feeling, Custer said: “somewhat like the pilot of a vessel who has been steering his ship upon familiar and safe waters but has been called upon to make a voyage fraught with danger. Having in safety and with success completed one voyage, he is imbued with confidence and renewed courage, and the second voyage is robbed of half its terror. So it is with me.”"

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