SUNDAY SCHOOL

Enrollment, 445. General superintendent, S. B. Baron. Divisional" Adult,
A. B. Van Houweling. Young people, Chas. F. Dykstra. Children, Mrs. M.
Vander Linden. Secretary and treasurer, Earl Boat. Librarian, S. N. Van
Vliet.

THE THIRD REFORMED CHURCH OF PELLA

The Third Reformed Church was the seventh of that denomination to be
organized in Iowa. A committee appointed by the Classis of Illinois met
at the Second Reformed Church on Thursday, November 5, 1868. This
committee consisted of Rev. E. Winter, Rev. P. De Pree, Rev. Abram
Thompson, Elders A. Kuyper and A. Klyn.

At this meeting the organization of the Third congregation was effected
and the following officers were chosen-

Elders, D. H. De Haan and D. Van Zante; deacons, C. Blom and C.
Bieshaar.

At the first congregational meeting held January 1, 1869, it was decided
to call a minister and the consistory was authorized to take the
necessary action to bring this about. At the second congregational
meeting of January 27, 1869, J. De Haan offered to furnish a residence
for a parsonage, rent free for one year. It was decided to issue a call
on Dr. J. H. van Veen of Groningen, Netherlands, which led to a
correspondence lasting nine months. This call was not accepted. A call
was then issued to Bey. K. Weiland of Rydott, Ill., and this call was
accepted, tier. Weiland was ordained as pastor May 15, 1870. The
Methodist Church building had been purchased March 28, 1870, for the sum
of $2,500.00.

November 21, 1870, a Men's Missionary Society of 32 members was
organized. April 8, 1870, was organized and it was decided that all the
Sunday School exercises should be in the Holland language.

In the spring of 1875 Rev. Weiland accepted a call to another field.
This was preceded by serious misunderstanding between the minister and
the consistory which involved the entire congregation and seriously
affected the harmony and growth of the young church. Four months later
Rev. Zubli, a Presbyterian minister of Kansas, was engaged, at a salary
of $800.00, to take charge of the church for one year. Again the
congregation passed through dark days. The conduct of the minister led
to much scandal and finally, in July, 1876, he suddenly disappeared and
a few days later notified the consistory by letter that he had resigned.

In October, 1876, Bev. F. Bederus, having been called and accepted, took
up the work as pastor. From this time on there was great improvement.
His work was greatly blessed and many new members joined the church. A
larger and better church building was bought in 1870 and entirely paid
for. In May, 1882, J. De Haan gave $600.00 to the church fund, with the
understanding that he and his family were to have the exclusive use of a
certain seat in the church until 1887. In February, 1887, bought a
residence and rented it to the church for a parsonage at $78 per year.
Owing to the condition of his health, Rev. Rederus felt compelled to
resign in April, 1886. Less than a month later, May 8, 1886, God called
him to his reward. He had served the congregation faithfully for ten
years and his work was blessed in the upbuilding of the congregation and
the conversion of many.

Rev. Jan Smit accepted a call from the church and took up the work in
November, 1886. Under his leadership the congregation again commenced to
grow