p. 17 | The Death of Elder M. D. Mattson by Frederick Griggs

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 31, 1908

The Death of Elder M. D. Mattson

By Frederick Griggs

ELDER MILES D. MATTSON, son of Richard and Lydia Mattson, died of heart-disease, at Blockville, N. Y., Dec. 5, 1908. He was born in this same town Nov. 20, 1858, and was, at the time of his death, but fifteen days past his fiftieth birthday.

Elder Mattson received his early education in his home district school. In his seventeenth year he entered the high school in Jamestown, interspersing his course of study with teaching in a neighboring district school. July 1, 1882, he was married to Miss Mary A. Wing, daughter of Winthrop and Cynthia Wing, of Blockville, N. Y. Three sons were born to this happy home; one died in infancy, the other two, Roy L., now of Joplin, Mo., and R. Vincent, of Lincoln, Neb., together with their mother, survive him.

Brother Mattson was naturally of a thoughtful mind, and gave careful study to religious questions. For some years he considered himself a Unitarian, but when he came to view his position in the light of a critical study of the Word of God, especially of the prophecies, he became convinced that they were unscriptural. His study of the Word resulted in his thorough conversion, and he became a man of a remarkably beautiful and simple life, and with a strong, pure faith in all that pertains to the Christian religion.

Becoming thoroughly established in the third angel’s message, he was advised by his brethren to enter the ministry, and he was ordained to this sacred work. For eight years he labored in the State of Pennsylvania. In 1897 he was chosen as Bible instructor in South Lancaster Academy, where he labored eight years. In the year 1905 he engaged to take the Bible work in Union College, Neb. He was permitted to work here but eleven months, when he was obliged to stop on account of a complete failure of health, caused by disease of the heart, which had come upon him in his youth. In April, 1907, his faithful wife brought him to his childhood home, for which, while sick, he had continually longed.

Other complications, however, because of the heart difficulty, set in, and made his recovery more doubtful, and he went to the sanitarium at Melrose, Mass. Here his health was benefited, and he was encouraged to believe that, while it might be impossible for him to recover sufficiently to resume his loved work of teaching, he might be able to write some for our papers. He regained strength sufficient to permit him to do some work of this kind.

The immediate cause of his death was a slight cold, which, because of his weakened condition, resulted in uremic poisoning. He was conscious until the last, patient and full of gratitude to God for his mercies.

Elder Mattson was a loyal friend and a wise counselor. He entered most enthusiastically into all that pertained to the welfare and success of his associate teachers, who came greatly to love and esteem him. He was as an affectionate father to his students. Bible teaching was Bible living with him. He had the gift of teaching, and when he spoke, his words were rich, mighty, and full of thought. He thought less of the form than of the life, but he greatly loved and vigorously taught the doctrines of the third angel’s message, and it was a constant pleasure to him to be engaged in its promulgation, and in the preparation of others who were to proclaim it.

Brother Mattson is dead, and we feel sincere sympathy and sorrow for those who, because of the strong ties of nature, loved him most dearly; but all who knew him also have real sorrow, for we all loved him. He is dead, but he builded well, and his work stands. Into the hearts and lives of a host of young men and women there entered a power from the sweetness of his pure life, from the strength of his teaching, and from his simple and yet firm belief in the message so dear to him, which gives to these men and women courage and strength in the final battle for truth and right. We love, and honor, and bless his memory. FREDERICK GRIGGS.