Arthur Baptist Church 90th Anniversary

Arthur Baptist Church 90 Years History



 

Arthur Baptist Church

Arthur, Iowa

90th Anniversary

1885-1975


 

Arthur Baptist Church

Charles Waterbury,
Interim Lay Minister

90th Anniversary Program

October 22, 25, 26, 1975

O Praise the Lord,
Praise Him, all ye people.

For His merciful
kindness is great toward us;
and the truth of the Lord endureth forever.
Praise ye the Lord.
Psalm 117: 1, 2

"Let's just praise the Lord, Praise the Lord,
Let's just lift our hands t'ward heaven
and praise the Lord."



 

Women's Missionary Guest Day
90th Anniversary Program
Wednesday, October 22nd, 1975

Let us Praise the Lord for the Past and Our Challenge for Our Tomorrow. "His Mercy is everlasting and His Truth endureth to all generations. "

Organ Prelude -------------------------------------------   Ruth Olson
Hymn of Praise ------------------------------------------ Ladies Choir
Invocation ------------------------------------------   Gladys Lindberg
Welcome --------------------------------------------------   Ruth Olson
History of Our Women's Missionary Society ... Evelyn Johnson
Adele Krusenstjerna
In Memoriam -------------------------------------------   Hazel Belstene
Ollie Houser
Ladies Choir -----------------------------------------    "O Glorious Day"
Recognition of Early Members   --------   Lucile Fries, Goldie Palm
Esther Samuelson ----------  Ollie Houser----------   Hazel Anderson
 Ellen Lindquist ----------   Mabel Hamlin ------------  Evelyn Johnson

Which Hat Fits You Best?  ------------------------   W.M.S. Members
Vocal Solo   -----------------------------------------   LaVon Van Houten
Closing Prayer ---------------------------------------    Agnes Gustafson

A Bit of History

In 1883 the "Sewing Society" was organized by Mrs. Jonas Fanberg with four other ladies, Mrs. Johanna Samuelson, Mrs. Louisa Sederberg, Mrs. Martha Anderson, and Mrs. Margareta Hallander. They helped support the Sunday School and other Missionary projects. From this group, our present Women's Missionary Society had its beginning.
 


The "Sewing Society"' was more formally organized in the home of Mrs. J.B. Samuelson in 1889; Mrs. C.J. Almquist, chairman; Viola Johnson, vice-chairman; Mrs. Hans Levin, treasurer; and Miss Anna Bergman, secretary. Through ninetytwo years, the Women's Missionary Society has played an important part in the church - both spiritually and financially.
 

Saturday, October 25, 1975


 
Church Banquet -------------------------------------- Let's Just Praise the Lord
For Our Reminiscenses -----------------------------------  Mrs. Carl Sonichsen
Dennis Lindberg

Sunday, October 26, 1975
Morning Worship Service, 10 A.M.

Let Us Praise the Lord by Our Worship
Organ Prelude
Call to Worship ------------------------------------------------Mr. Charles Waterbury
Congregational Hymn #10 ------------------- Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty
Pledge to the Flag  --------  Led by Susan, Cathy, Steven and David Brown
Words of Welcome ---------------------------------------   Mr. Charles Waterbury
Scripture and Prayer  ---------------------------------------- Rev. Ritchie Peterson
Special Number -----------------------------Barry, Barbara and Brenda Peterson
Sunday School represented by a Welcome -------------------   Jack Davenport
Vocal Solo ------------------------------------------------------------    Susan Jamieson
Our Tribute -------------------------------- To God Be The Glory Women's Chorus
Mrs. James Schubring, Director
Announcements,  ---------  Offertory prayer,  --------  Offertory,  --------  Doxology
Morning Message ----------------------------------------------------Rev. Alrik Blomquist
Cong. Hymn #394 ---------------------------   Near the Cross Hymn of Preparation
Communion Service ----------------------------------------  Led by Rev. LeRoy Carter
Served by Rev. David C. Brown, Rev. R.W. Forsman and Rev. Ritchie Peterson
Vocal Duet-Sweet, Sweet Spirit   ----------------------  Rev. & Mrs. Ritchie Peterson
Scripture and Prayer --------------------------------------------------    Rev. LeRoy Carter
Cong. Hymn ----------------------------------------- Blest Be the Tie With hands clasped
Closing Prayer --------------------------------------------------------------Rev. R.W. Forsman
Prayer Response --------------------------------------------------------------------- Postlude


 
 


Let us Praise the Lord for the Past and Our Challenge for our Tomorrow. "His Mercy is everlasting and His Truth endureth to all generations. "
Piano and Organ Prelude ------------------------------------------    Mrs. Michael Houston
Mrs. Oscar Olson
Invocation --------------------------------------------------------------     Mr. Charles Waterbury
Cong. Hymn #241 ---------------------------------------------------- To God be the Glory
Let's Just Praise the Lord
Welcome --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Charles Waterbury
Scripture and Prayer -------------------------------------------------------- Rev. R.W. Forsman
Let Us Praise the Lord in our Remembering.
We Praise the Lord as we Honor Those Who began the
 Work of this Church --- A short historical summary
 Mrs. Maurice Krusenstjerna

We Praise the Lord in a Song of Faith

We Praise the Lord for the Christian Witness and Faithful Service of the 16 of Our number who have left us for the Heavenly Home since we had our last Anniversary and Memorial services, only five years ago.


Message ---------------------------------------------------------------Rev. David C. Brown
Presentation of Honored Guests -----------------------------------Mr. Dennis Lindberg
Mrs. Carl Sonichsen
We Praise the Lord today as we continue to serve Him.

 Theme Song --- Let's Just Praise The Lord
Closing Prayer, Blessing and Benediction ----------  Mr. Charles Waterbury

 


We are pleased you could attend our services today and we cordially invite you to stay for a time of fellowship and refreshments. Kindly remain seated until served.
 
 

Our Heritage


 


We, the congregation of the Arthur Baptist Church, dedicate this brief history to the consecrated men and women, who ninety years ago, possessed the vision, courage and faith in their Lord, to organize the First Swedish Baptist Church of Arthur, Iowa.
 


The early settlers who came from Sweden felt the urgent need to come together to worship and serve their Heavenly Father in this "New Land". They found the distance between their homes and the Kiron Baptist Church quite long to travel by horse and wagon; so it was decided they form their own group.
 


In the "Larson" school house one mile north of our present location, on October 25, 1885, the church was organized under the name "The First Baptist Church" of Arthur, Ida County, Iowa.

The Charter members were:

One of the outstanding leaders in the organization of the church was Hans Hallander who was elected to serve as pastor. The deacons were: John B. Samuelson and Nils Carlson; clerk, John B. Samuelson; trustees, John Anderson, Jonas Fanberg and Olaf Gradin; treasurer, Jonas Fanberg.

Two years previous to the organization of the church, the "Sewing Society" was organized by Mrs. Jonas Fanberg with four other ladies; Mrs. Johanna Samuelson, Mrs. Louisa Sederberg, Mrs. Martha Anderson, and Mrs. Margaretta Hallander. They helped support the Sunday School and other missionary projects. From this group, our present Women's Missionary Society had its beginnings. The "Sewing Society" was more formally organized in the home of Mrs. J.B. Samuelson in 1889; Mrs. C.J. Almquist, chairman; Viola Johnson, vice- Chairman; Mrs. Hans Levin, treasurer; and Miss Anna Bergman, secretary. Through ninety-two years, the Women's Missionary Society has played an important part in the church both spiritually and financially.
 


The Sunday School had its beginning in the Lund school house, one mile south of the church, in 1882. Miss Dorothy Pluver, a rural school teacher, was responsible for its organization. Some of our Sunday School members who attended as children still continue to attend the Adult Sunday School Class. The Sunday School helps in various missionary projects, including the support of a Korean orphan.
 


The Willing Workers was organized in June, 1927. This group continues to meet with the purpose of helping others through their White Cross work and other worthy community projects.

In 1951 the Family Fellowship was organized; its purpose to be a time of worship and fellowship for the entire family.

Through the years the following pastors have served the church:
()indicates summer pastorate; * indicates interim pastorate


 
1885-1886 Hans Hallander  1914-1918 A.E. Carlson
1886 A. Pearson 1918-1920 Bennett Erickson
1889-1892 C.J. AhImquist 1920-1922 Carl A. Anderson
1892-1896 C.J. Granquist 1922 John A. Roos
1896-1898 N.A. Lindholm 1922-1924 E.J. Nordlander
1898-1901 C.J. AhImquist 1924-1933 Peter Lovene
(1900) C.R. Osbeck 1933-1942 A.W. Erickson
1901-1903 Andrew Swartz 1943-1952 Alrik Blomquist
1904-1907 A. Berglund 1944-1946 C. I. Peterson
1907-1909 O. Lindholm *1952 Gordon Hasselblad
1909-1910 V.E. Peterson 1953 James Schubring
1911-1914 Herman Bergman 1953-1956 R.W. Forsman
*(1913) Benjamin Nelson 1956-1961  David C. Brown
*1914 N.S. Miller 1961-1968 Ritchie Peterson
1968-1975 LeRoy Carter

Thus we "Praise the Lord" for the Arthur Baptist Church which has stood at the "Crossroads" for ninety years. It stands as our heritage out of the past, a witness for Christ in this our rural community, but continues to prove itself alive for the present.
 Congregation Picture on 28 September 1975


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Revised 2 Sept 1999