The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-05-31
Farewell Services.


Sunday morning and evening to witness
the last services in the present church
ediice. In the morning Pastor Matteson
preached an historical sermon, giving a
brief resume of the important events in
the history of the church from the time
of its organization up to the present day.
The evening services were composed OF
congratulatory addresses and response
on behalf of the church.
Stanley E. Parkill, representing the
business men of the city, was the first
speaker. He congratulated the society
not alone upon its bright prospects for
the future but upon its past record. The
business men were also to be congratulate
ed because the business interests of the
community are promoted by the growth
and development of the churches; busi-
ness thrives best where the people are
honest and come nearest exhibiting the
spirit of Christ. Mr.. Parkill closed with
the quotation from Whittier:
"Then lift once more thy towers on high,
And fret with spires the western sky,
To prove that God Is yet with us,
And love is still miraculous"
The community at large was fittingly
represented by &. r Lyon, whose father,
Deacon Daniel Lyon, was one of the
founders and early pillars of the church.
Mr. Lyon stated that the community at
large had general interest in the erec-
ton of the new church, outside of any
personal interest that the speaker or any
other member of the society might have.
''To me-" said Mr.. Lyon, "around this
edifce linger many tender and touching
memories. We well remember the
morning Of the dedication, and reading
the inscription above the pulpit, "Watch-
man, what of the night? The morning
cometh," and we thought night would
never come again. Some future speaker
will know by the character of the church
we purpose building what kind of people
lived here at this time. 1t will speak OF
their faith, earnestness and devotion.
But when the church is built, what
next?" And with this question unan-
swered he yielded the floor.
A. D. Whipple representing the other
churches of the city, was the next speak
er, he said:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:-At different
times | have appeared before you in sew
eral capacities, but this is my first at
tempt as the combined pastor of twelve
churches. fully realize the responsible
ity of the position and should be COM
pletely overawed did not know that for
the most part the active pastors and con-
gregations are not here to listen to these
remarks.
Within the remembrance of nearly
every person here tonight this church
| furnished the only auditorium of any
considerable capacity in this city. Here
times without number we have gathered
with our friends and with our neighbors
| to listen to words of wise counsel from
noted personages sojourning in our
midst; here we have graduated our sons
and our daughters; and here we have ex.
| tended to our visitors and our guests our
most hearty and cordial welcomes.
Thus by your generous hospitality have
you placed us under great and lasting
obligation to you as church.
For years the stranger within our gates
when shown the objects of interest was
conducted through our factories and
driven about the city. We pointed out
the natural and artificial beauties, and
praised the thrift and prosperity OF
Owosso, but never word had we to say
of our churches. Our friend, however
would remark the fact at once, and men
ton some fine church edifice in his own
town or near at hand, as there were few
places even smaller than this that could
not boast of one or more fine houses oi
worship. Honest hearts knew our needs
in this direction but the strong aggres
sive spirit of enterprise in the line Of
church building had not yet asserted it.
self. Almost at the same moment the
| Congregational and Methodist people de-
cided they must build, as both clearly
had outgrown their quarters. The result
of that decision is evidenced by two
churches the equals of which / do not
believe can be found anywhere when
amount of money expended is taken into
consideration. Each succeeding year has
seen some church building improvement
The Episcopalians entirely remodeled
their church, the Germans built very
comfortable and creditable edifice at the
| corner of Washington and Williams Sts.
| Asbury church was built and equipped
and the church at Middletown has been
brought into being, until every congre.
CATION in the city has comfortable
home. These have been times of great
activity and growth. During all these
struggles of the other organizations the
members of this church have had a live
ly interest and given helping hand A
| friendly spirit OF emulation sprang up in
their breasts and this spirit is greatly tc
their credit. They believed, as do al
progressive men, that good workman
deserves good tools, and finding in Mr.
Matteson such an one, this present build
ing was soon taxed to its utmost capacity
1t became evident that something mus
be done. The result will be q new
church right on this ground, grown dea
to so many by years of association.
need not say that the new church will b'
a credit to Owosso and credit to thi
society. / wish also to express it as m.
belief that the committee in charge ha
been very happy in the selection Of plan
and very fortunate in its contract prices