Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-01-14
CONGREGATIONAL|STS
HOLD ANNUAL Meeting
One Of the Best in the History Of the
Church is the General
Verdict.


the Congregational church dispersed
after cleaning up the bdsiness OF last
year and electing officers for the
year to come. The business meeting
was preceded by family picnic
supper held under the auspices of
the ladies aid society of the church.
This event has long been notable
with the local Congregational church,
and last night was one Of the most
successful of such social functions
remembered by the Oldest members.
The social rooms were filed with
diners and many ate in the church
auditorium. 1t was a family affair
and grown-ups and children alike en-
joyed the feed and the fun.
After supper the annul meeting
was held and the remark was made
that the business was transacted by
one of the largest and most repre-
sentative group of members that
ever put through the annual business
of the church. According to the con-
stitution, the pastor was the moder-
ator of the meeting. But everything
was so harmonious and happy that
there was nothing for the moderator
to moderate.
All down the line the reports OF
the auxiliary societies showed ex-
lcellent conditions. The treasurers
showed money in all the funds OF
the church, and the ladies aid So
ciety topped the climax with little
over $4,000 in the treasury. This is
nest egg, considerably added to by
the successful industry of the ladies
every year, and the fund is being
husbanded towards new church,
the building of which is likely to be
one Of the first things undertaken
after the close of the. war. The mis-
sionary apportionment of the church
for last year has been paid in full,
and Mrs. John r. Kamrar, the chair
man Of the apportionment commit
tee, reported small balance for a
start next year. AS clerk of the
church, DR.. F. A. .Boysen reported a
total membership of 4S7, being net
gain of 36 for the year. This is the
highest number of members reported
in the history of the church, and
taken in connection with the fine
spirit among the members it augurs
we'll for future years.
Upon the unanimous nomination OF
the Sunday school, Mr. H. L. Hamp-
ton was reelected superintendent
for the nth time. Reports showed
the Sunday school in excellent con-
dition, With bills all paid and money
in the treasury. The Sunday school
has taken a $4,000 liberty bond
during the year, the last installment
of which is due and will be paid next
Sunday. The pastors report was
the eighth he has made to the annual
meeting. One item I in 1t showed
sixteen men gone from the member
ship of the church or Sunday school
into the national service. Pride was
expressed that these were all vol
unteers. The other Sunday morning
when the names of this Roll OF Hon
or were read the congregation stood
in respect and as a pledge that the
hind the boys in khaki. During the
year Congregational members of the
local G. A. r. presented the church
with a beautiful silk national flag
which stands on the rostrum, a fit
ting mark of the loyalty and pat
riotism of the church.
After the reports came the annual
election of officers. Mr.. w. R. Ryan
was elected clerk in place Of DR.. F.
A. Boysen who declined reelection.
New trustees on the board are o. o.
Schroeder and Dr.. Boysen, and w.
L. Whitman was elected a trustee.
No change was made in the diacon-
ate, the deacons being l.. A. McMur-
ray, w. J. Covil, H. A. Crandall and
DR.. F. A. Boysen.
The pastor of the church is Rev.
Arthur Metcalf, elected about eight
years ago without limitation of time,
as is the custom of the Congrega-
tional church here. During these
eight years Mr.. Metcalf has witness
sed most churches in the city change
pastors several times. BY virtue of
years of service he is now dean of
the pastors in the city, and he is
serving his second year as president
of the local minister's union. The
business was carried through with
such dispatch that the meeting ad-
iourned shortly after half-past eight