Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-05-05
|fNCL|SH LUTH.
Gran CHURCH
History Written by the Pastor, Rev.
M. L. Melick-Organized
in 1896.
FIRST COMMUNION IN 1892
Cornerstone for New House of Wor.
ship Laid May 10, 1899
Other Features.
FIRST COMMUNION IN 1892

From the History of Hamilton
l County by F. @. and J. w. Lee:
Rev. M. l.. Melick: The first set
2 tiers of Hamilton county were large
ly from Scandinavian countries ant
SO were of the faith and usages o.
the Lutheran church. Many other!
of the same faith came from Europe
and from France. They were there.
> fore an educated people,. well
grounded in the faith of the historic
church of the Reformation. While
these people continue their Bible
schools, in this country, they are al
so in entire sympathy with the pub
lie school system of America. There
fore, their children at once learned
the English language and many
were soon ready to enter English
churches. They went into various
Protestant churches until they gave
largely tone and character to the
services of the churches they enter
ed. However, with a conversation
due to the teachings and usages of
| the church of the Reformation, the
time came for the organization of an
Evangelical English Lutheran
church in Webster City.
The first man to take up the work
leading to such an organization was
Mr.. Osmund Ellingson. By writing,
he laid the interests of an English
Lutheran church in Webster City
before the board of home missions of
the Evangelical Lutheran church of
the general synod in the United
States. Said board sent its western
secretary, Rev. S. B. Barnitz, D. D.
of Des Moines, to make visit to
webster City. DR.. Barnitz spent
Lords Day, June IA, 1896, in Web
ster City, preaching in the courl.
house in the morning and in the,
United Brethren church in the even
ing. Both services were well attend
ed and deep interest was mani
fest. Deeply impressed with the i'm
portance of the work, the general
board at once referred the matter to
the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of
Iowa, Rev. J. c. Jacoby, D. D., presi-
dent. DR.. Jacoby, as president OIL
synod, arranged with neighboring
pastors to supply Webster City with
English Lutheran services once ev-
cry two weeks from June %, 1885,
to October II, 1896 In the mean
time, the synod of Iowa met in regu-
lar annual convention at Burlington,
Iowa, and the matter of a Webster
City organization was referred to the
advisory board of home missions Of
the synod. Through the cooperation
of this board and the people of Web
ster City, the work of the English
Lutheran church was launched.
On October IL, 1895, a meeting
was held in the office of Osmund
Ellingson when the president of the
synod was present and arrangements
were made to begin regular services
November Sth, with Rev. J. C. ia
CODY, D. D., as pastor. Accordingly,
at 1885 p. m, November 3, 1895,
DIR. Jacoby, with his family, arrived
in the city to take charge of the
work. Services were commenced in
the courthouse and on February %.
1897, Rev. j. C. Jacoby D. D., was
formally installed as pastor.
CHURCH ORGANIZED.
December 20, 1896, the English
Evangelical Lutheran church of
Webster City, Iowa, was organized
with thirty-nine charter members.
On December 22d, this organization
was completed by adopting a con-
stitution and by electing a church !
council. The following officers were
elected: Elders-Peter Mature and
Charles Swanson; Deacons-J. o. |
Lenning, Ole 1. Kleveland. Simon
Sogard, and Henry C.. Kesicker.
These officers were formally INSTALL
ed January 3, 1897.
FIRST COMMUNION SERVICE.
On Palm Sunday, April II, 1897,
twenty-eight new members were re-
ceived, charging the roll to sixty
five. Services were continued every
night until Easter Sunday, April IS,
when the congregation held its first
Holy Communion service in its his
tory.
CHURCH PROPERTY.
On June 8, 1897, a meeting of the !