embership numbered 314. It must, however, have been much more numerous in the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1861 the membership was 468, in 1900, 490, in 1955 about 365. About 1870 modernism (liberalism) entered the church. Most members of the church were farmers in the mid-20th century, but the farms were usually small. Besides the farmers there were a larger number of farm laborers, who formerly were often unemployed in winter. Hence the congregation had to take care of them; in 1915 it spent 4,000-5,000 guilders for the care of the poor. About 1920 the church board at the instigation of Pastor Hylkema carried out some plans of providing work, e.g., poldering swampy fields. By the 1950s conditions were much better because of the government unemployment benefits. Near Giethoorn were found two Mennonite recreation centers, "Samen Een" and "Kraggehuis," both situated on the lake
