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Alfred Metters (c. 1863 – 1 March 1918) was an Australian Baptist minister, remembered for his chaplaincy in South Australia during World War I.

History

Alfred Metters was born in Melbourne, the youngest child of James Metters (c. 1821 – 2 October 1881), a bricklayer from Cornwall and his wife Susan Metters, née Flux (c. 1824 – 4 July 1875), from the Isle of Wight, who arrived in Victoria some time before December 1854. His brothers Charles Henry Metters (c. 1853–1929), John Thomas Metters (c. 1853–1924) and Frederick Metters (1858–1937) were ironworkers, founders of the Victorian firm of Metters Bros., oven and stove manufacturers. Sometime before 1880, Frederick left for South Australia, where he was associated with the Norwood Baptist Church [1] and there patented his "top fire" stove design in 1891 and founded his own business which eventually became Metters Limited.

Metters followed brother Fred to Adelaide on the SS Victorian in February 1883, and is reported [2] as being engaged in commercial affairs of an unidentified nature, but quite likely with his brother. His heart was however in matters religious, as he was soon involved in various Baptist causes. He became Secretary to the Gospel Temperance Mission, and preached the Temperance cause for the Blue Ribbon Army, of which he became president in 1884. He was also closely involved with the YMCA and Band of Hope. In 1885 he began studying for the ministry at Union College, and in 1888 he began his ministry as pastor at Goodwood Baptist Church. [3] In 1889 he became manager of Truth and Progress, the Baptist newsletter. In 1890 he and Rev. E. J. Henderson, pastor of the Baptist church at Laura, South Australia exchanged pulpits. [4] In February 1892 he relinquished the pastorate of Laura and Appila for Jamestown, Georgetown and Cloverhill, which he resigned in November that year, and took over the Hill Street Baptist Church at Kapunda. He resigned that post and returned to Goodwood early in 1886. [5] His next posting was in late 1898 to Mount Barker, but was suffering ill health, and resigned in May 1900 rather than face another cold winter in the hills, and was given a short-term posting at Magill. While in Mount Barker, he founded a Berean association. [6]

In May 1901, he accepted a call to Katanning, Western Australia, and in 1902 was appointed Superintendent of Baptist Home Missions and Vice-president of the Baptist Union of WA. He transferred to Fremantle in December 1902, being succeeded by Rev. A. A. Medley, and shortly after was elected Secretary of the Baptist Union of Western Australia, [7] while retaining the vice-presidency, followed by the presidency in November. [8] His health suffered however, and in March 1904, he returned to South Australia. [9]

Back in Adelaide, Metters represented the British and Foreign Bible Society and undertook various preaching roles for the Baptist Church. Around November, he returned to Perth, where in April 1905, he was appointed editor of the Day Dawn and Baptist Church Messenger, but spent much of that year in Tasmania, and was appointed minister of the Devonport Baptist Church early in 1906. [10]

He left for Sydney in March 1907, where he had been appointed to the Granville and Liverpool churches, experimentally made into one circuit, [11] but relinquished the pastorate a year later. He was recognised as being the instigator in 1906 of Federal Congresses of the Baptist Church in Australia, first held in September 1908. [12]

He received a call by the Hindmarsh Baptist Church, which he took up in June 1909. He added the Prospect church to his responsibilities in 1911. While pastor at Hindmarsh its finances improved sufficiently for considerable expansion to be undertaken. In 1912 he relinquished pastorate of Hindmarsh, but continued his association with Prospect. [2] He was a proponent of a referendum for compulsory Bible instruction in State schools, and organizing secretary of the Scriptural Instruction in State Schools League.

Writing

For many years he conducted (as "Cousin Felix") the children's page in The Southern Baptist (later renamed The Australian Baptist) [2]

Chaplaincy

In 1906 while in Tasmania he was appointed Chaplain (4th Class) with the Chaplains' Department of the Australian Military Forces, [13] an appointment that followed him in his subsequent moves. By 1913 he had been elevated to the military rank of captain, and in 1915 re-graded from Chaplain 4th class to Senior Chaplain, 1st Class (Other Protestant denominations), [14] and promoted to Chaplain-Colonel in 1915. In February 1918 he was admitted to the No. 15 Australian General Hospital, North Adelaide, following a nervous breakdown, and died there a few weeks later.

Family

Alfred Metters (c. 1863 – 1 March 1918) married Ottilie Caroline Strempel ( – 18 September 1953) at Mannum, South Australia on 29 August 1888. (Ottilie was a daughter of Ferdinand Strempel and Dorothea, née Muller) Their children included:

  • Frank Alfred Metters (20 August 1889 – 1969) was a lieutenant (engineering) with the Royal Navy [15]
  • Dorothy Muriel Metters (1890– ) married 2nd Lieutenant Aynsley Vernon Bridgland (1893– ) on 16 December 1915. Vernon was a son of E. T. Bridgland of Prospect, and not clearly related to Mayor Bridgland.
  • Evelyn Agnes Metters (10 August 1893 – 1978)
  • Gordon John Metters (14 July 1899 – 1985) married Laurentia Nora Eileen Clark (1909– ) in 1937

References

  1. ^ "Norwood Baptist Church Young Men's Society". South Australian Register. Vol. XLIV, no. 10, 336. 31 December 1879. p. 4. Retrieved 9 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b c "Death of the Rev. A. Metters". The Advertiser. Vol. LX, no. 18, 528. Adelaide. 2 March 1918. p. 9. Retrieved 9 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "RELIGIOUS". South Australian Register. Vol. LXIII, no. 16, 218. South Australia. 4 November 1898. p. 2. Retrieved 13 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "South Australian Baptist Association". South Australian Chronicle. Vol. XXXII, no. 1, 651. 12 April 1890. p. 8. Retrieved 9 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Valedictory". Kapunda Herald. Vol. XXXII, no. 2, 803. South Australia. 17 January 1896. p. 3. Retrieved 9 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "General News". The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser. Vol. 21, no. 1062. Adelaide, South Australia. 8 February 1901. p. 2. Retrieved 10 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Religious Notes". The Register. Vol. LXVIII, no. 17, 570. Adelaide. 7 March 1903. p. 8. Retrieved 10 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "The Churches". The West Australian. Vol. XIX, no. 5, 514. Western Australia. 14 November 1903. p. 9. Retrieved 10 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Personal". The West Australian. Vol. XX, no. 5, 621. 19 March 1904. p. 7. Retrieved 10 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "A New Pastor". The North West Post. No. 2974. Tasmania. 8 March 1906. p. 3. Retrieved 10 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Personal". The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers' Advocate. Vol. XIX, no. 1383. New South Wales. 27 February 1907. p. 3. Retrieved 10 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Church Notes". The Advertiser. Vol. LI, no. 15, 589. Adelaide. 3 October 1908. p. 19. Retrieved 10 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Tasmanian Military Appointments". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. LXXXV, no. 11, 257. Tasmania, Australia. 13 April 1906. p. 6. Retrieved 10 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "Concerning People". The Register. Vol. LXXX, no. 21, 275. Adelaide. 18 January 1915. p. 4. Retrieved 10 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Death of Chaplain A. Metters". The Barrier Miner. Vol. XXXI, no. 9208. New South Wales. 4 March 1918. p. 2. Retrieved 9 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
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