Iowa Old Press
LeMars Sentinel, Nov. 21, 1940
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
SUNDAY AND MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17 AND 18, 1940
[the article includes two photos of the church-Present First Baptist Church,
photo also showing the parsonage next door --- and a photo of the Original
Baptist Church of LeMars]
REV. S.A. JONES, Present Pastor [article includes a nice photo of the
pastor]
The First Baptist Church is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of its
founding next Sunday and Monday. Sunday morning, Rev. J.C. Hoover, of
Denver, Colo., a former pastor, and the man who led in the building of the
present building will preach the anniversary sermon from the subject, "The
United Ministries for a Church as God's Husbandry." Sunday afternoon the
young people will have charge with Rev. B.G. Field, director of Christian
Education for Iowa Baptist State Convention, as speaker. Sunday evening Dr.
J.L. Pickett, of Keokuk, Iowa, will be the speaker, the church history will
be given by B.T. Clagg and a musical program will be rendered by the choir,
led by Mrs. B.T. Clagg. Monday afternoon Rev. N.L. Haney, a former pastor,
now at Shreveport, La., will speak. Monday evening will be the homecoming
banquet with Dr. Frank Anderson of Des Moines, Iowa, as banquet speaker.
The First Baptist Church of LeMars was organized in November, 1890, by six
charter members who were: Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Clagg, E. R. Thomas, Mrs. Eliza
Riffle, Mrs. Mary Garton, and Miss E. Mabel Kinney. Rev. Robert Carrol,
district missionary, acted as chairman at the time of the organization. So
far as we know none of the charter members are living at the present time.
Soon after the organization of the church, property was purchased on the
corner of Clark and Sixth Streets (now Plymouth St. and 2nd Ave. SW) known
as the old Congregational Church, that became the home of the church for
many years. Rev. Howard M. Jones was the first pastor and a Sunday school
was organized under his ministry. Rev. G.R. Bisby succeeded him and being
an able preacher and a tireless worker, left the church in a prosperous
condition at the close of a three-year pastorate. Succeeding him the
following men served as pastor in the old building, and through their
faithful and efficient work the church grew steadily and always maintained a
prominent place in the affairs of this city: Rev. Chas. Braithwaite, Rev.
Ernest Wood, Rev. C.H.H. Moore, Rev. Parker Smith, Rev. G.R. Bisby (second
term), Rev. J. L. Ayrault, Rev. L.H. Steinhoff, and Rev. J.C. Hoover.
Rev. Hoover was called as pastor in 1910, and it was during his pastorate
that the need of a new building was felt and under his leadership the
present building was erected and dedicated. The dedication too place in
November 1914. The pastors that have served since then have been: Rev. G.R.
Lewis, Rev. T.H. Hunter, Rev. E.L. James, Rev. N.L. Haney, Rev. J.W. Case,
Rev. J.L. Pickett, Rev. T.P. Potter, and Rev. S.A. Jones, the present
pastor.
It has always been the pride of this church to keep its property in splendid
repair, so that it could be a worthy asset to the city in keeping with its
prominent location. In 1923 the church received a bequest of $5,000 from
Frank Wilmerton, which was used for extensive remodeling and additional
equipment for the church plant. Under the present pastorate the church
building has been completely repaired and interior decorated at the cost of
$800. The church is growing in membership and usefulness in the community.
It now has a membership of 147 and a combined membership and constituency of
250. The Sunday school has always been a prominent part of this church, and
this fall is averaging around 100 in attendance. The enrollment is 132.
To this history we are adding the complete program for this celebration,
which is as follows:
PROGRAM
SUNDAY, November 17, 1940
SUNDAY SCHOOL, 10:00 A.M.
Mrs. A. Van Steenwyk, Supt.
Quiet Meditation Prelude Miss Norma Herzig
Prayer Mr. O. Kalas
Prayer Song, No. 35 (first stanza)
Song No. 204 "Marching to Zion"
Scripture Reading Mr. J.D. Tindall
Poem, "The Church" superintendent
Song No. 198 (first and fourth stanza)
Classes Assemble
Secretary's Report Clyde Coppock
Birthday Offering
Closing Song "Living For Jesus"
Prayer Rev. S.A. Jones
MORNING WORSHIP, 11:00 A.M.
Piano Prelude Miss Lois Kern
Call To Worship (Unison)
"...Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it: that He might
sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might
present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any
such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" --- Eph. 5:
25-27
Doxology Invocation Pastor
Gloria Ptri
Hymn No. 352 Congregation
Announcements
Scripture Reading I Cor. 3:1-11
Prayer Choral Response "Threefold Amen"
Solo Mr. H. E. Jones, Ft. Dodge,
Iowa
Offertory
Anthem, "Send Out Thy Light" Gounod
Anniversary Sermon, "The United Ministries for a Church as God's Husbandry,"
Rev. J.C. Hoover, Denver, Colorado
Anthem, " Lift Up Your Heads" Emerson
Benediction Postlude Miss Lois Kern
PROGRAM
SUNDAY AFTERNOON, 2:30 P.M.
Service by and for the Young People with All Adults Invited
Piano Prelude Miss Mary Tindall
Hymn No. 184, "I Am Happy In the Service of the King"
Welcome
Hymn No. 50, "Count Your Blessings"
Duet Clyde Coppock and Stanley
Tindall
Scripture Reading Romans 12
Solo Miss Evalyn Clagg
Prayer Rev. S.A. Jones
Prayer Response, "Into My Heart" No. 342
Quartet, Irene Jones, Marjorie Norton, Richard Albert and Robert Glazer
Devotional Topic Miss Norma Herzig
Solo Robert Totman
Address, Rev. B.G. Field, Des Moines, Iowa Director of Religious Education
of the Iowa Baptist Convention
Duet Mary Tindall and Marjorie Norton
Announcements
Closing Hymn No. 192, "God Will Take Care of You"
Benediction Rev. B.G. Fields
Postlude Miss Mary Tindall
SUNDAY EVENING, 7:30 P.M.
Piano Prelude Miss Lois Kern
Devotional Service Pastor in Charge
Musical Program by the choir, and led by Mrs. Ben T. Clagg, choir director
"Ye that Stand in the House"---Spinny
"Who Hath Seen Good" ---Adams
"The King of Love My Shepherd Is" ---Shelley
"Goin' Home: ---Dvorak
"Peace I Leave With You" ---Roberts
"Holy Art Thou" ---Largo-Handel
Historian Ben T. Clagg
Thank Offering
Greetings from Former Members and Others
Hymn No. 325 Congregation
Sermon Rev. J.L. Pickett, Keokuk, Iowa
Anthem, "The Day Thou Gavest Lord is Ended" ---Adams
Benediction
Postlude Miss Lois Kern
MONDAY AFTERNOON, NOV. 18, 2:30 P.M.
Devotional Service---to be provided
Solo, "O Rest In the Lord" ---Mendelssohn by Mrs. S.A. Jones
Sermon Rev. N.L. Haney, Shreveport, La
Ladies Quartet, Mrs. B.T. Clagg, Mrs. B.F. Henning, Miss Evalyn Clagg and
Mrs. S.A. Jones
Hymn, "Day Is Dying in the West"
Benediction
MONDAY EVENING
Homecoming Banquet, 7:00 P.M.
35c Per Plate
L.L. Jones, Toastmaster
Table Thanks by visiting pastor.
Banquet
Community Singing Mrs. B.T. Clagg
Reading Mrs. Clyde Coppock
Associational Greetings, Rev. G.R. Siemens, Moderator
Duet, Mrs. Lawrence Lemon and Mrs. B.T. Clagg (the Jones Twins)
Greetings from other churches
Duet Clyde Coppock and Stanley Tindall
Banquet Address, Dr. Frank Anderson, Des Moines, Iowa, Executive Secretary
of the Iowa Baptist State Convention
Quartet --- John Schoep, Clyde Coppock, Stanley Tindall and Robert Glazer
Prayer and Benediction by Pastor, Rev. S.A. Jones