Metz Baptist Church and School
New Church At Metz | Dedication of Church | News Items About the Church
85th Anniversary | Personal Memories of Church | Photographs
In the little town of Metz, six miles west of Newton, are
a handful of honest, provident, God-fearing people who have
shown what can be done when heart, mind and hands work
together for the same object. At the close of some protracted meetings held there last
winter it was clearly seen as a fact that the town needed a
church building if the religious work should be carried on
successfully. The leaders talked with Rev. N.G. Thomas of this city,
who had led the meetings, and with his encouragement, began
canvassing and talking with others to see what could be
done. Before long they said: “We will build a
church,” and from that moment work began and never once
was the thought expressed by any one that the new building
would not be erected at once. Money was contributed willing and plentifully and today
they have a church building which is a credit to the
Christian workers in that community and the Baptist society
that built it. When the beautiful, little house was dedicated Sunday,
June 4, nobody had to beg for money to pay off this or that
debt. The people who wanted it had opened their pocket books
and supplied the money necessary for all expenses in
building, finishing and furnishing it and so haven’t
they more than one good reason to be proud of their house of
worship? The main room, 38 x 40 feet, is entered by two doors from
a good sized front vestibule and there is another door to
the pulpit which leads outside while six large windows, with
chipped glass panes and finished with Venetian shades
furnish light and ventilation. The walls are white and the woodwork a golden finish. On
the aisles are runners from the vestibule to the pulpit and
a beautiful rug covers the latter. On the platform is a
handsome library table and chairs which give the room a
home-like look and this homey appearance is enhanced by a
fine piano near the platform back of which are chairs for
the choir. The room is seated with one hundred and twenty opera
chairs but when extra chairs are brought in an audience of
two hundred can be comfortably seated. A well-constructed basement is ready for a furnace which
will be put in before the winter season. Although the Baptist society at Metz is very young, not a
year old, it is a live one and Rev. Thomas of this city
should have much credit for its existence and its wonderful
development and life. He pleased them with his sermons and
advice. He encouraged them and helped them arrange and carry
out their plans. The people of Metz realized that he was in
earnest, that he was a fine organizer and gladly accepted
his assistance. He preaches there every Sunday afternoon at 3
o’clock, Sabbath school is held an hour before the
church service and B.Y.P.U., is at 8 p.m. The following are members of the church board: George
Hitchler,William H. Brock, C. E. Emmack, Elmer Emmack, and
Herbert Tharp. New Metz Church Will Be
Dedicated on Sunday Next Baptist Place of Worship Near Metz, Recently Completed
Will Be Dedicated With Impressive Ceremonies - Next Sabbath
Day Dr. S. C. WILCOX WILL DELIVER THE DEDICATION ADDRESS A Dream of Metz Baptists Has at Last Been Realized - New
Structure is Credit of Community A new Baptist church which was recently completed at Metz
will be dedicated next Sabbath day with appropriate
services. On Saturday evening preceding the dedication
services there will be a brief meeting at the church led by
Dr. S. C. Wilcox, a secretary of the Iowa Baptist convention
and the dedication services on Sabbath morning will also be
delivered by Dr. Wilcox. In the morning the service will be
led by Dr. ? Williams, secretary of foreign missions of the
north convention. After there will be a big basket dinner at
the church and everyone is invited. The completion of the church ed? the dream of the
Baptists in the Metz neighborhood has been realized. For
many years the church people of the community has seen and
felt the need for a place of worship and completion of the
same has been a cause of much rejoicing. The new structure
will meet the ample needs of the church goers and is
certainly a credit to the community. ~ Newton Daily News,
May 30, 1911. Return to History
of Metz Page Organize Sunday School At Metz Metz, July 14. -- Special to the Daily News -- Sunday
school was organized here some time ago and is held at 10:00
o'clock at the church every Sunday morning. Mrs. Perry Hoyt is superintendent, with Mrs. Elmer Emmack
as assistant superintendent, Anna May Snook as secretary,
Maxine Emmack as pianist, Delmar Emmack as librarian, Mrs.
Ella Emmack as teacher of the Sunshine class and Mrs. Carrie
Clement as teacher of the primary class. Permanent teachers
for other classes have not been chosen as yet. ~ The Newton
Daily News, July 14, 1933. My earliest recollections of the church was going to an
evening meeting where Miss Sarah Bakker, a missionary to
Africa, spoke. I was amazed at the stories she told and the
slides she showed of the African people. It was the first
time I had seen people with a skin color other than white,
so seeing these people who wore very little clothing
fascinated me. Miss Bakker came every few years and I
remember going to her programs each time she was home. I
always wanted to be a missionary based on her stories of the
good things she did for people. I don't remember if we had Sunday School when I was
really little, but later we did. We never missed a Sunday
and I received seven or eight years on my Sunday School pin
for perfect attendance. I remember more about Sunday School when I was in my
teens. My Aunt Wilma Lane directed a small choir that I sang
in, even though I can't hold a tune. But together we must
have done OK. Oh yes, and when I played a trombone solo, it
must have been frightening. But the nice thing about a
community church is that people are accepting no matter how
good or bad you sound. When I was in high school we often taught the younger
kids in Sunday School and almost always helped with the
Bible School, Easter and Christmas programs. There are a
couple of cute stories I will remember forever. A favorite memory is of my brother's class when they were
in preschool or perhaps kindergarten. It was a class of
almost all boys. My friend Joyce Murray was their teacher,
bless her soul, and they were singing Jingle Bells for the
Christmas program. The only problem was they wouldn't quit
singing. Finally Joyce had to just go up to the stage and
get them all down. We still talk about that one at family
get togethers. Another story on my brother, who is ten years younger
than me, is his first year at Bible School. When my mom
asked him what he learned at Bible School, he said, "I have
cinnamon, you have cinnamon, we all have cinnamon." My mom
couldn't figure out what in the world he was talking about.
We finally realized it was his version of "I have sinned,
you have sinned, we all have sinned." Another cute story is with Linda Rasmussen, my cousin's
daughter and the apple of our eye. She was a very smart
little girl and one day she was saying a piece or singing,
when a train went by. The trains are very loud because the
Rock Island line is just at the bottom of the hill. As soon
as she heard the train, Linda stopped and said in a very
grown up voice, "I'll wait until the train goes through."
Because she was so young, we all thought that was quite
astute of her and found it quite cute. There are lots of other memories, but these are the ones
I remember most fondly. And then, of course, there were the
church dinners. Oh well, that's another story. If you have old photos of stories of Metz, please send to
Marvelyn Lane Adams at jemadams@netins.net.
I will be glad to give you credit for the submission.
Thanks. Return to History
of Metz page Created Summer 2000.
Miss Edith Cannon is president of the young
people’s society and Herbert Tharp is the Sunday school
superintendent.
memories of the church
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