on Sunday and doing pastoral work during the week; and his labors were
abundantly blessed, many people uniting with the church on confession of
their faith. In those days there were meetings of the consistory two or
three times every week and at every meeting there were those who desired
to unite with the church. The words of Acts 2:47 were literally
applicable to the First Church of Pella at that time: "The Lord added to
the church daily such as should be saved." On October 7, 1856, the
consistory called a fast-and-prayer-day and the members of the church
were instructed to beseech the Lord for guidance of the Holy Spirit in
the selection ot" a minister of the Gospel for the church, which
selection was to be made at a meeting of the congregation held in the
evening of that day. The choice of the congregation was Dr. Van Raalte,
and he was called. From correspondence of that time it is known that Dr.
Van Raalte was very much inclined to accept the call; but on account of
an urgent letter which he received from the secretary of the board of
education, stating that his presence could not be spared in Holland,
Mich., in connection with the venture of Hope Academy, he declined the
call. One can hardly help wondering what would have been the result for
the development of the Reformed Church in America in the middle west if
Van Raalte had accepted. One result would have been more than probable.
Hope College would have been founded at Pella and possibly Central at
Holland, Mich.

Now followed three years of fruitless effort to secure a pastor. They
issued a second call on Dr. Van Raalte. They further called Dr.
Brummelkamp from the Netherlands, as also Dr. Donner from the same
country. At last, in the beginning of 1860, Rev. P. J. Oggel accepted a
second call from the First Church and he soon after began his work in
this field.

The following pastorates have left their marks upon the church: Rev. P.
J. Oggel, 1860-63; Dr. Egbert Winter, 1866-83; Dr. William Moerdyk,
1886-89; Dr. Peter De Pree, 1891-96; Dr. Henry J. Veldman, 1888-91; Rev.
John Van Westenburg, 1902-95; Bey. S. Van der Werf, 1905-1913; Rev.
Wesselink, 1913.

The church at present supports three ministers: Dr. J. Oltmans,
missionary in Japan; Rev. John R. Mulder, teacher of Bible and college
pastor at Central College; Rev. John Wesselink, in their own pulpit.

The present building is over fifty years old. It was built on the
installment plan during the years 1869-72, as they had the money to pay
for material and labor. It was completed without aid from the outside
and cost originally about $13,000. The building has been remodeled a few
times since that date, especially on the inside, the last change being
in the basement, which was equipped for Sunday School work in 1920. But
in the main the structure has remained as originally put up. The
congregation at present numbers 675 members in full communion, with a
Sunday School enrollment of 659. The total contributions for benevolent
purposes in 1921 was $10,653 and for home support $11,683.

THE SECOND REFORMED CHURCH

The congregation of the Second Reformed Church of Pella was organized
the 13t6 day of February, 1863. The first pastor was Rev. Abram
Thompson, who served the congregation from 1863 to 1874, with the
exception of about one year. In the fall of 1871 the Classis of Illinois
called Rev. Thompson to act as stated supply in Pekin, 111. In December
of 1872 he returned to Pella and again took up the work as pastor, in
which he continued until April, 1874, when he accepted a call as rector
of Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N. J.

No pastor ever served a congregation in Pella, who was so universally
loved and respected as the Rev. Abram Thompson. This feeling was not
confined to