The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-10-10

Fifty Years Since Rev. Mr. Koepchen's
Church in New York City Was
Founded
! Exercises commemoratlng the flftieth
| anniversary of the foundation of st.
| Luke's German Lutheran church, on
| Forty-second street, between Eighth
and Ninth avenues, New York city. of
which Rev. William r. Koepchen, for
merly pastor of st. Johns Lutheran
church Meriden, and at one time pas
tor of the Zion Lutheran church. this
city, were held In the church Sunday
morning, afternoon and evening, and
Monday evening. At the Sunday morn
ing service Rev. Mr.. Frey of New York
city, one of the Oldest Lutheran minis
tiers in the country, delivered the ami
versary sermon. Rev. Mr.. Koepchen
also made a short address, Miss Emile
G. Neebe, formerly of Meriden and
graduate of the Hillhouse high school,
this city, excellently rendered the SOLO
der Herr list Mein LIGHT She was
accompanied on the organ by Organist
Luebkert. At the Sunday school SER
vice in the afternoon Rev Mr.. Keep
chen occupied the pulpit in place of
Rev. Mr.. Boyer who was unable to be
present on account Of illness. Rev.
Mr.. Dallmann, the pastor of the Eng
1ish Lutheran church in New York city,
made an address. The choir and Sun
day school children sang several songs.
At the evening service the exercises
were held in English. Rev. Professor
Henry Feth director Of the Neperan,
N. Y, Lutheran college, was the prir-
cipal speaker, He was followed by
Rev. Mr.. Koepchen, who made a short
address Miss Emile G. Neebe sang in
sweet voice the solo, II VIII Extoll
Thee" by Costa. At the Monday even
ing service Rev. Mr., Steup Of New York
city occupied the pulpit. At all the ser
vices the church was filed to overflow
ing. Flowers and palms were used in
abundance and in front of the church
a large memorial window had been
placed. At either end at the rear of the
church memorial windows from the
vestrymen and the ladies' society were
in position. The memorial windows |
were very beautiful and betokened eX-
quisite taste with the rest of the church |
which had been beautifully decorated |
and painted. The whole church had |
nothing had been left undone. For the |
interior of the church over $4,000 had |
been expended, and for the exterior of
the church nearly $4,000. The money |
to pay for beautifying the church had
all been subscribed by the members of
church It Is now one Of the most |
beautiful ediflces in New York city.
Next Sunday morning and evening
the anniversary services will be con-
cluded
st. Lukes church was founded fifty
years ago by Rev. Mr. Drees. 1t was
started with only few members. Rev
Mr.. Drees was pastor Of the church for
many years and did good service
Twenty-six years ago Rev. Mr.. Busse
was called to the pastorate. Last fall
he celebrated his twenty-ffth anniver-
sary as pastor Of the church He died
last winter Soon after Rev Mr..
koepchen was called from his Meriden
passionate and accepted the call. Soon
after being installed Rev Mr. Keep
chen began his work, with the result
that he secured the needed improve
ments and organized a young peoples
society which now has one hundred and
thirty-eight members. The ladies' So
ciety of the church has also increased
In membership and the members
IF the society to show their esteem for
him presented him with fine silk gown
n which he appeared for the first time
Sunday morning During this service
Rev. Mr.. Koepchen read letter of CON
graduation from the vestrymen Of st
Johns Lutheran church, Meriden, con-
graduating the members Of st. Luke's
church on their f1ftieth anniversary
The historical programmes of the
church, which were presented by the
Sunday school children, were very elab-
1rate and showed the interest in the
church taken by them.