The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-09-06

first time. The altar is one of the
finest in any of the Kenosha churches.
It is in black walnut and is just large
enough to fit into the chancel.
The morning service at the church
was given over to the ceremonies
attending the blessing Of the new
altar and special music had been
provided for the event. The address
at the morning service was delivered
by the Rev. Mr.. Dornfeld who brought
message of generalization to the
church aud to the congregation. He
stated that it was day of great hap
piness for the congregation for the
fact that the church had survived ands
grown during the half century of
life was sufficient to show that it had
been doing the right work and that
the power of God had been given to
it.
Rev. Dornfeld recalled quite
little of the history of the society and
praised the work of the loyal members
who had borne the burdens of church
I work.
Following the address by Mr.. Dorm
field short sermon was preached by
the Rev. Mr.. Streissguth.
After the services Of the morning a
dinner was served at the school hall
and the members of the church and
their wives and children sat down
about the great family table and en-
joyed pleasant reunion.
AT the afternoon service which was,
perhaps, the largest of the day, the
| speakers were Prof. August Pieper,
of Milwaukee, and the Rev. Phillip
Bremen. Supper was served at the
school hall in the evening and many
remained for the social hour after
supper which preceded the last serv-
ice of the day. The evening service
was the only English service of the
day. At this service the Rev. Thee.
Vo1kert, of Waukegan, delivered a
powerful sermon
During the day it was announced
that the congregation is planning for
the erection of new church in the
near future. For years the growing
| industry of the Central Leather COM
pany has been closing in on the
church, and the church has at the
same time been growing too small for
the congregation. The Leather COM
pany has made an offer to purchase
the church property, but the offer
will not be formally considered until
the first of next year. AT this time it
is thought that some action will be
taken. Already the building commit
tee has taken the matter in hand and
has arranged for the purchase of a
splendid site for church on the west
side of the city, aud it is possible
that the new church will be built
within another year. The church is
steadily growing in membership, and
within a few years the present
edifice would be entirely inadequate
for the people. It is also planned to
enlarge the schools of the church in
order that all of the children will be
in one building. This will be posi-
BILE when the move to the new site is
made.
| When the history Of the church was
recalled it was found that only two Of
the original members of the church
were living. They were Herman
Kreuder and Frederick Fisher, both
residents of the city, and while they
are little old in years, they were
young in spirits on Sunday and they
were the most interested participants
in the celebration Sunday
The church was first established
Sept. 2, 1856, and the Rev. Christian
Stark was called to be its first pastor.
Under his direction a site for
church was purchased in the block
now owned by st. Georges church
and the church was erected the same
year at a cost of 81, 200. This church
furnished the church home for the
pioneer Germans of the city and their
children until 1888, when the present
church was built under the pastorate
Of Rev. William Streissguth.
Seven ministers served the church
during the first few years Of its exist
ence and there we're times when they
we're forced to give their meager sa1a-
ries to keep the work of the society
fgoing, but in the last thirty years the
church has had but the four pastors
present at the jubilee celebration.
! In 1877 the parochia1 school was
opened, and in 1893 the present
school building was built. The
growth of the church has made it
necessary for the congregation to
open another school in the western
part of the city, and during the school
year these two school buildings are
too small to care for the large num-
Der of scholars.
Many former residents of Kenosha
who had been members of the church
in the early days came from all parts
of the state to attend the jubilee serv-
ices, and the members of the church
entertained them. The Kenosha
members were most hos pitable to the
visitors. In the evening a special
train load of people came up from
Waukegan for the evening services.
| The Libertyville Trotting associa-