The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-09-06
German Lutheran Church CeIe-
brates its Fiftieth Anniyer-
sary on Sunday
FORMER PASTORS ATTEND.
Hundreds of People From all Parts Of
the City and County Throng Church
During the Day and Members and
Pastors Hold Happy Reunions

Sunday was the greatest day in the
history of the congregation of the
German Lutheran Evangelical Erie
dens church as at that time the golden
jubilee of the church was celebrated
with fitting ceremonies and there was
a great outpouring of the members
and friends of the church. 1t was
just fifty years ago Sunday that the
congregation which is now one of the
strongest in the city held its first
meeting and while many of the men
and women who took part in the early
struggles of the church have long
since past to their reward, their
memories and the memories of their
strugg1 les for their religion and their
church we're recalled on Sunday and
due tributes we're paid to their sacri-
fees and their labors.
Not since the corner stone of the
present church was laid in 1883 has
there been such celebration among
the Lutherans of the city. Lutherans
are always loyal to their church and
this fact was shown by the crowds of
people which thronged the church on
Sunday.
Rain failed to dampen the ardor of
the worshipers and the afternoon
service which was held during the
heavy rain storm found the church
filled to overlooking.
In order that the celebration might
be complete the Rev. Carl Buenger
had invited the members of the
various congregations in the neigh
borhood and many Lutherans came
from Racine, Waukegan and even
Milwaukee while all of the smaller
churches in the county were well
represented.
While the services of the day were
of deeply religious nature, the big
feature of the celebration was the re-
union of the members. Many of the
men and women who had been mem.
bers of the church twenty and thirty
years ago came hundreds of miles to
attend the services and the reunions
held at the intervals between services
were most enjoyable. There was re-
joicing mingled with tears, for those
coming home again found that many
who had taken an important place in
the church work in other days had
passed away and their places had
been filled with younger members of
the congregation. More than once
duringithe day the mention of names
of pioneer members brought tears Of
sorrow when it was learned that they
had gone to their reward.
The honored guests of the congre-
cation were the four living pastors.
Venerable old Phillip Bremen. who
served the congregation way back in
the sixties, came over from Reeds
vile and while he had none Of the
vigor that characterized his work ia
the war time days in Kenosha, he
found the heartiest of welcomes from
the older members of the church.
His voice is growing faint and age has
told on him, but his sermon at the af-
ternoon service was one of the fea-
lures of the celebration. The Rev.
William Streissguth, who had been
pastor of the church for six years
just before the coming of DR.. E. F..
Dornfeld, was also present for the
celebration and preached at the morn
ing service. Rev. Mr.. Streissguth
still considers Kenosha his home and
he has always taken great interest
IN the work of the Kenosha congre-
cation.
During the day he was much
sought after by the es,lier members
of the church. Mr.. Streissguth was
the pastor Of the church when the
present church was built and he re-
called the incidents of the building
and dedication at the reunion.
Rev. e. 4. Dornfeld was another
of the former pastors present. DR..
Dornfeld is now in charge of one
of the largest and most influential
churches in Milwaukee but his seven
teen years association with the Ke-
nosha church made him one of the
most potent factors in it's upbuilding.
Mr.. Dornfeld spoke at the morning
service.
The Rev. Carl Buenger, the present
pastor of the church, who was in
charge of the celebration, has won
the deep love Of his people and he was
accorded every honor in connection
with the celebration. The Rev. Mr..
Jaeger, of Racine, and the Rev. Theo-
dore Volkert, of Waukegan, we're
among the other members of the
clergy present at the gathering.
The ladies of the church had decor
ated the auditorium of the church in
a Charming manner and great ropes
of eva-orraa1s ware fas+oorad 1881