Ladies Aid (ALCW)
The Ladies Aid of Bethany Lutheran was organized in the early summer of 1894 with ten charter members. Mrs. Martha Klungtvedt and Mrs. Karen Malmin were the leaders in the early years.
The aim of the society was to further the spirit of missions and to raise funds for this cause.
They met every two weeks at all day meetings. The hostess serving a big dinner. The work done was mostly piecing and quilting, sewing of garments and knitting of socks and mittens with an annual sale and a dinner later in the year.
After 1900 the meetings were in the afternoon only and for a time the hour was used in devotional services, each member giving ten cents and donating articles towards the annual sale, which was held with the annual dinner. In 1929, the Parish house became the meeting place instead of the various homes.
The society, through regular programs, interesting lessons, and special programs have broadened the horizons of its members. In addition to the regular meetings, dinners, banquets, and special luncheons have all added their share to the treasury as well as added to the spirit of friendliness within the church. Lunches following funeral services have extended the hand of sympathy to those in sorrow.
Many members have been honored with Life Membership in the Women's Missionary Federation.
The society has sent boxes of clothing to the Lutheran World Relief and boxes for servicemen, visits to Bethany Manor have been made and the society has also contributed to missions outside of the ALC budget.
Sunshine Mission
The young ladies society was organized about 1900. This society was later known as the Willing Workers Society. It was this society that purchased the church bell in 1906. This society ceased in 1907. Again in April 1916, the young ladies organized as The Sunshine Mission with Clara Malmin as president and Otelia Annaniason as secretary. This society has been an active group and has contributed much to the church work. One charter member, Alta Hougen Trystad served on the mission field of Madagascar for twenty three years.
Girl's Mission Band
In 1923, Mrs. T. H. Benson organized the Youth Girl's Society. This society disbanded in 1947.
Luther League
A Luther League was organized in 1899 with O. Christopherson, as leader. A choir organized about this time with Nels Logan as director. The Luther League held regular meetings for several years, was later disbanded. Today the Luther League meets twice a month for well attended programs.
The Presbyterian Church
The McCallsburg Presbyterian church traces it's official beginning back to a group of seven people, who met on Nov. 22, 1873 at Milford township schoolhouse no. 5, (the present location of Milford School). Rev. L.L. Lorimor moderated the meeting and organized the Mount Pisgah congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, from which we in turn descend.
As time went by, the church was held in various places including - - - Union Schoolhouse, Confare School, Gibson School, and one in Franklin Twp.
In 1884-85 Rev. W.M. Stockinger began to preach in the Valley View schoolhouse in Richland Twp. (4 miles south and 3 west of here). In the fall of 1885 a Sunday School was started in the Flinvoy Schoolhouse (2 miles south and 3 west of McCallsburg). This seems to be the most direct ancestor of Presbyterian work in the McCallsburg area.
On March 30, 1889, the congregation was organized at McCallsburg with a Benjamin Confare as elder from Maxwell, and Samuel Reid as the elders. Services within the town became a reality when a union church was built