The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-11-08
Congregational Church Out Of Debt.
Interesting Historical Addresses
Given, and Credit Given Pioneers
of Church.

Sunday was notable day in the
history of the Congregational church
OF Owosso, as on that occasion the
announcement was made that all in
debtedness Of every nature was
liquidated. and for the first time in
the memory of the oldest member the
church was free from debt.
This means much, when it is borne
in mind the splendid edifice with all
its appointments, and the fine parson-
age are now free from all incumbr-
ance.
The occasion was fittingly observed
by Symposium in which j. c. Shat
tuck, trustee for twenty years,
spoke Interestingly of the history of
the church mentioning with becom-
ing reverence the names of many who
wrought for the upbuilding of the or
ganization, and whose works do follow
them. Mr.. Shattuck's address was g.
beautiful tribute Of appreciation and
reverence for those pioneers of the
early days.
Mrs. Josephine Gould read a his
torical paper covering the church's
history, which was so interesting and
valuable that it is published in full,
as follows:
1t is now fully half century since
little company of devout men and
women met and organized the First
Congregational church and society of
Owosso. For about nine years they
wv In CD
on the present site of Salem Lutheran
church. Many of those founders of
this pioneer church were still active
in this society when I came to Owosso
during the pastorate of Rev. d. w.
STARTS. They were men and women
of strong and devout Christian char
acter, the potency of which shaped
the early policy of this church as we'll
as that Of other institutions in Owos-
so.
In 1915 a church building was
erected on the site Of this church. 1t
served as a place of worship-en-
larged about 1S71-for nearly forty
years. This church was removed to
make room for the present stone
edifice, built in 1912, dedicated Oct.
Z, 1892. The two church buildings
were both set apart with appropriate
Services for the worship of God and
religious uses, sacred to the whole of
organized humanity. Both of which
statements are fundamental princi-
pies of Congregationalism. The dedi-
catory sermon twenty years ago was
preached by former pastor of this
church, Rev. G. Fl. Wilson. The very
appropriate scripture, which Mr.. Will
son chose as the text, was taken from
the Biblical story of Jacob while on
his way into Padan-aram. These are
the words: "And this stone shall be
Gods house." You will recall that
the stone referred to in the text had
served Jacob for his pillow as he slept
at night. But when Amounted with
the holy oil that simple field boulder
became significant. 1t was set mon
ument to mark a meeting place of
man with his God.
Who shall say these stones-this
church, dedicated for worship twenty
years ago-have not served the same
sacred use as the stones of Jacobs
vision marked a place of meeting for
man and his Maker. The hottest and
the tenderest services Of life have
pCCH duhiuiSICICu DIT ILLS diIui- lhio
indeed is a meeting house, a revered
name for the church building of the
Pilgrims wherever reared by that
body of believers throughout the
world. To me it is very significant
These stones are indeed a meetipo
place, a house of God. But the or
gained service for humah..y in this
church has been hindered by circum-
stances, happily now no longer exist
ing. In the past weightAa debt
not an unusual thing for churches to
struggle under-has been a hindr-
ance to the larger life of this church.
Today we rejoice that the burden IS
be called a Thanksgiving service.
1t is indeed a new dedication OF
these stones. This day is realized the
vision of the founders of this churcn
and it's long line Of pastors, it's burden
bearers, the officers, for almost sixty
years of church life, church and So
ciety without debt. Now from this
time forward it would seem there
should be a deeper significance in
worship, richer harmony in the SER
vice of song, brcnder and tenderer
Interpretation of "One is your Mas
ter, even Christ, and all We are
brethren" because Of the sacrifice Of
self that has brought about this SER
vice of rededication. This, indeed, is
an occasion for rejoicing. May we
not believe that hereafter, when at