Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-29

the strong foundation of the congregation.
During the civil war the church iost many
of it's members. Rev. C. a. SchIoegel De
came pastor In September, 1853, and re
signed at the end of 1861 to become the
chaplain of a German regiment
When Pastor F. Phi. Hennighausen was
called in January, 1862, the congregation
numbered only eleven families, and the uepl
on the church was 81 100. But God was
with them.
At this time a society was organized to
Uouidate the Indebtedness of the cnurch'
whose members paid 30 cents monthly INTO
the building association; the church was
remodeled; a new pulpit was given by the
congregation of DIR. Buffers church; the
first carpet was laid; school room Win d
teachers residence above 1t was erected
ana Mr. Rockenhausen as teacher, began
to instruct a German class OF nfteeh chiI-
diem Later on the school became nouilsh-
ing the number of the pupils increasing "
one hundred. In 1919 Mr.. Hecht was APP
pointed teacher, but the public schools were
making great Roadway, and 1t became ne
cessary to close the parocEl2i School III
1850. ,.
When the Rev William y. Frey became
pastor of the church QSG4-lSdD the resi-
dence in rear of the church was enlarged
and became the parsonage Upon MI
Frey's withdrawal from the congfesatloi,
he took with him number of members ana
ORGANIZED the lions Evangelical Lutheran
Church, whose congregation Will happlly
Join with St Johns in the celebration OF
its fiftieth anniversary.
Rev. 7. w. Ebbinghaus was then caI4eu
as pastor He made the attempt, with the
help of several members OF the congresa-
ton to change the Lutheran church into
a Reformed church. but by law 1t was de-
cided that it was an Evangelical Lutheran
church and has so remained The dis
sentiug members with Mr.. Ebbinghdus then
withdrew and established the Reformed
church now located at 9th and n streets
northwest.
Pastor Rietz QS67-7O) and Pastor Bashart,
who served the congregation only a few
months, were succeeded by Rev. {. +. Diehl,
1S7O-71.
Rev John H Mengert, who formerly had
been a missionary to India, served from
1872 10 1874. Rev. X. Kurz followed, 1874 TO
1850. On September /, 1878, the Ladies Aid
Society was organized, and has always been
great help 20 the church.
Pastor Rev. John Salinger then followed,
1SSrtlSS2 and after him Rev. Il. Lehnert,
who labored successfully for five years
GSS2-1sS7) During his pastorate the front
of the church was remodel, and the
congregation contributed TO the fund
for a Martin Luther statue, and par
ticipatcd IN It's unwilling in front of the
Luther Place Memorial Church.
November Is. 1855, when Rev. H. x. Muel-
Ter was pastor QSS7-1S92) St. Johns Young
Peoples Society was founded, to which the
cougregat ton owes a debt of gratitude 1t
kept the Sunday school in good order until
October /, 1896, when the society was dis
continued
During the pastorate of Rev. r NJ H
Hamm QS92-1S9D the Sunday school was
reaovated and the Ladies Aid Society re
organized.
The present pastor Is Rev George Brodt-
mage, who assumed charge in 1897, and IT
has marked new era in the history of
the church. Evening services in English
have been introduced, the Lutte" League
and Junior Luther League have been or
gdniZed; the congregation has joined the
Maryland synod; the choir has reached a
high musical standard. through its COM
petent instructor, Prof Raphael Rooster
the Sunday school has greatly increased in
numbers; the missionary benCvolenCe of the
congregation has been developed. and of
late years the full apportonment for syn
odical benevolences has been raised But.
above all. the new church has been built
and the Sunday school rooms entirely re-
mOdled. costing altogether about $l0OOo.
OF this amount all has been paid excepting
5000
St. Johns has had trials and adversities
enough to forever destroy any merely hui
man institution. 1t has triumphed over all,
mot by might nor by power" but because
God is in the midst of her" The church ;
past is crowned with the most precious les
sons of encouragement; it's present is bright
with cheering promise. Rising on the step
ping-stones of faith. love and duty. it has
looks to the future with glorious hopes.
Following are the officers of ST. John S
Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Church council-Rev. George Brodthage,
pastor; II. A. Rau, president: Kurt Voelck-
ner, secretary: Charles Schaefer treasurer;
Ulrich Banf William Tanner l.. x. Ockert
George HUH, Charles A. Tanner, Henry