| Summary: | North Marion Reformed Church meeting, it was decided that all the people of Dutch extraction should stay together and eventually move out to what is now known as the North Marion Church and surrounding territory. The main object of this plan was to have a strong church organization and to do it while land was still plentiful and comparatively cheap. During the summer of 1907 another meeting was called and held under the leadership of Rev. Henry Straks. It was decided that a church building should be erected after the completion of harvest. It was to be built on the southeast corner of Section 17-137-61 in Greenland Township on ten acres being given by Jacob D. Baas. A building committee was elected with Jacob D. Baas as president. A request was made to the Board of Home Missions of the Reformed Church for a loan of a thousand dollars and it was granted. The building committee made arrangements with Mr. A. P. Hanson of the First National Bank of Litchville for the remainder of the money necessary to complete the church building. Finally the day came when men who had volunteered to do much of the work went to Litchville with wagons and teams to begin hauling lumber for the new building project. However, it seemed the work had to be interrupted because of the economic and monetary crisis caused by a financial panic that hit this country. The president of the building committee was advised by the banker, Mr. A. P. Hanson, that he would not be able to make good his financial promises, so immediately all building activities ceased. After this many other problems and difficulties arose from various sources and hence the unity of the building program ceased. The Litchville Brethren made plans to keep the church there, while those who lived west and northwest of Litchville made preparations for the organization of a new congregation and the building of their own church. At the spring session of the Classis of Dakota in 1908, a request was made again for a committee to investigate the necessity and advisability for the organization of another congregation. The Classis appointed a committee consisting of the Rev. Henry Straks, the Rev. Brummel, then Classical missionary, and Elder Gerrit Van Bruggen of the Litchville Church. On the morning of the 14th of July, 1908, the last combined consistory meeting was held at Litchville. Papers of transfer were made out for all those who wanted to unite with the North Marion Church. In the afternoon of the same day, a congregational meeting was held with the committee appointed by Classis, and this church was organized under the name of the North Marion Reformed Church. This meeting was held at the partly erected church building which stood on the southeast corner of the same section on which the present edifice is standing. All former plans for building were put aside and it was decided to build on the present site which was given for that purpose. This church started with 28 communicant members- The following were recorded as members with iheir families of the newly organized church: Mr. and Mrs. peter Roorda; Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Jongewaard; Mrs. peter De Vries; Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Boom; Mr. and Mrs. [Jernard Duven; Mr. and Mrs. Jacob D. Baas; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Miedema; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Neevel; Mr. and Mrs. pirk Roorda; Mr. and Mrs. John Oudman; Mr. and Mrs. Jacob DeVries, Mr. and Mrs. John Van Oosting, Mr. and Mrs. jL Van Oosting; Mr. Bert te Brink; Mr. and Mrs. Arbie |.oomans. At the first congregational meeting the following l>ersons were elected as officers: As Elders, Mr. Peter jtoorda and Mr. Jacob D. Baas; as Deacons, Mr. Bernard puven and Mr. J. H. Boom. Shortly after the congregational meeting the consistory met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Baas. At this meeting Mr. Baas was elected as [•resident, Mr. Bernard Duven as secretary, and Mr. J. H. [loom, treasurer. A Sunday School was also organized and teachers were elected by the consistory. It was further (lecided to have catechism classes at two different places; p/lr_ Jacob D. Baas to give instruction at the church, and lAr. Peter Roorda in one of the homes in the northern iieighborhood. The first minister to serve the congregation ,vas the Rev. J. J. Van der Schaff, who first served as a jtudent but later became a full time pastor of both congregations on January 17, 1910. Other ministers who jerved this congregation were the Reverends J. W. Brink, r\. M. Petterson, A. Van Dyke, A. Reudink, C. W. pelsnyder, H. Nyhoff, G. Rezelman, and Gideon Wolbrink. ■There were also many students who served during the yummer months which are not listed. In 1915 the parsonage yvas built. In 1951 the church was remodeled. A full pasement was dug and an 18 foot addition was constructed, with Steve DeVries as the contractor. Rev. Wolbrink left in 1957 and Rev. Gerald Heemstra came in 1958 and served fintil 1961. The church's 50th anniversary was observed in 1958. Charter members living at that time were: Jacob DeVries, Sr., Henry Neevel, Rinerd Van Oosting and Ernest yiiedema, Sr. Rev. Gerrit Boogerd was pastor from 1962-1966. New pews were purchased in 1963. The parsonage was sold to Ted Noot, Jr. and removed in 1968. Rev. Gerrit Rezelman served the congregation from 1968- 1972. The present minister is Rev. Frank Boerema, who came in 1972. The congregation has 45 families with 78 active, communicant members. Ernest Miedema, Sr. is the only charter member surviving. |Morth Marion Ladies Aid Society {now the Guild for Christian Service) fhe North Marion Ladies Aid Society was organized lanuary 22, 1908, at the home of Mrs. J. D. Baas. The following officers were elected: President, Mrs. J. H. 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