The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-02-13
REV. Ii. q. MATTSON HON.
ORED BY STATE CONGRE-
GATIONAL CHURCHES.
Resigns to Accept Important Du-
ties in Connection With Church
Extension Work.

The people Of the Congregational
church in particular, but If the people
of Owosso and Shiawss.ee county in
general, were saddened Sunday whed
Rev b Il. Mattson pastor Of the Con
gregational church presented his reeig
nation as appears below He has been
very active and helpful in the church
work of the state since coming 10 Mich
igan, and has been honored by the
chairmanship OF the state board and by
that body now his wonderful talents,
his clear insight and his unfailing on
ergy are to be turned to help the el tire
church of the state. His pastorate in
Owosso has been a continued success in
every par ment of church life.
Personally he is loved by all and he
a ID his family are most highly regard.
ed and will probably be missed rs much
as any family that might leave the city.
The best wishes of all the people will
go with them when they leave in April.
Ar. Mattson's headquarters will be in
Detroit and the family will be in Hills
dale temporarily.
My Dear People of the Owosso
Church:
Circumstances which vitality affect
our relations as pastor and people
make it my duty to read this formal
communication though in doing so /
oh 10 IN, %ha nd
affectionate manner. In order not to
keep you in suspense let me say at the
outset that this is not letter Of
grievance. / have no goods of that
sort on the shelves of my heart. The
duty / face this morning is to report
to you that / have resolved an urgent
invitation, summons in fact, to un-
dertake greatly needed Christian
service and an important task closely
> allied to the pastorate which, for
twenty-three years has been my first
and only love. This new call was
entirely unsought and unexpected on
my part. 1t is not the result of the
slightest hint or negotiations by me.
Yet it has come about, in part at least,
by my interest and activity in the
general work of our Congregational
churches in Michaigan through my
service for nearly four years as a
member of the board of trustees and
! of the executive committee of the
Congregational Conference of Michi-
gan. This work have done with your
permission and approval as pastor Of
the Owosso church and as your rep
resentative,- just as other pastors
I have served on the same board.
Now, however, the recent rapid
growth of our Michigan cities has
brought our Congregational churches
face to face with great opportunity
and new task of large dimensions,
namely the task of Congregational
expansion in the cities by the larger
encouragement and development Of
younger churches already started and
by establishing new ones in strategic
locations to are for the growing influx
of urban population.
To meet this need it has been de-
cided to add to our state staff of men
giving all their time to our Congre-
gational work another member to be
known as the Director of City Expan-
sion Work, with headquarters in De-
troit.
To this position l have been unani-
mously chosen by the brethren of the
state committee. They have laid this
duty upon me with the conviction that
it offers the challenge of service
of large Importance to all our common
interests as Congregational churches.
l find myself sharing their conviction.
They wish me to ask for a release
from my obligations and relations as
pastor of the Owosso church, the
same to take effect. as soon as posi-
BILE after Easter.
Now, my dear people, l must make
a decision as to my duty in this mat
ter and with prayerful reliance upon
divine guidance and after careful and
earnest thought have come to the
clear conviction that l ought to ac-
cept this call subject to my release
from the pastorate Of the Owosso
church.
In coming to this conviction l am
deeply and lovingly conscious of the
strain upon my affections and those
of my entire family which such g
step involves. l realize keenly anC
tenderly with what strong ties youl
love and kindness have bound your.
; selves both to me and mine. know
too that to accede to this request must
be accompanied by similar feelings o.
/. roget ard grief in many hearts. Blu
/ want you to look upon it as l d'
. as real call to duty. l want you Il
feel assured that in the providence o
God you will be led to the choice of ;
. successor as pastor whom YOU will