Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-06-28
LAY CORNER STONE,
ST. JOHNS LUTHERAN
IMPRESSIVE SERVICES HELD
SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
Principal Address By Rev. H j.
Dali of Merrill-Rev. H. EggGrS,
the Officiating Clergyman Of
fiCidted-NeW EdifiCe Will Be a
Credit to the City.

st. Johns Lutheran church was layed.
Special arrangements had been made
for this great celebration and Luther
ans from about the vicinity mad come
to attend the festival. PlnctuS lily
at O'Clock the service began anc
scarcely was the ceremony of laying
the stone completed, when dow np0ur
of rain set In. The rain came late
enough so as not to interfere very
much with the regular program.
Nothing was cut short but the address
by Rev. Markworth, who had to dis
continue on account of the shower.
The ceremonies We're opened by the
minister of the St. Johns Luther an
church. Rev. H. Eggers. Rev. II
J.. Daib of Merrill, Wis, president of
the Wisconsin district of the Evan
gelical Lutheran synods of Missouri,
Ohio, and other states, gave the main
address and Rev. Markworth rendered
brief address to the audience and
assisted in laying the corner stone.
The chrch choir under the direction
of H. Schumacher, the church band
under the leadership uf Mr.. F. Meier
and the children of the school par
ticipated in the services. The shec-
lions by the choir and the school chill
dren were we'll rendered.
The corner stone was Iayed after
the nam address was delivered by the
Rev. H. j. Daib, Rev. FL. Eggers
assisted by the contractor, John Diehl,
performed the ceremonies in laying
the stone.
The stone was finished by Andrew
Roegner, monument dealer, and is Of
brown granite. On one side it bears
inscription, ga. d. 1S52-1907. In the
receptacle in the stone, 1x1a foot,
were placed various church documents
and records of the church and several
local papers. The following things
were placed in the receptacle: cate
chism, bible history, hymn book, a
history and constitution Of the church
photographs of the old and new church
exterior and interior, list of the minis
tiers, teachers, elders and all mem
bers, proceedings of the general SYNOD
of 1905 and that of 1906, papers of the
synodical conference of North Ameri,
ca of 1906, "Lutheraner, copy
of the "Lehre and Wehre,' docu-
ments of the free church of SaXony
Germany, an American calendar for
German Lutherans for 1907, paper
containing the names OF the president
of the United States, governor of
Wisconsin, mayor of WATERFOWL, d
copy of the different local pap RS
and five dollar gold piece given by
a member of the congregation.
The new church, when completed,
will be one of the largest and also
best equipped worship houses In this
part Of the state. The outside de-
mansions are 67x113 and the inside
will be 58x86. Two towers will deco,
rate the front, one being 108 the
other sc feet in height. Furthermore
a splendid art glass window will be
placed above the font opening door
which will represent the crucifixior
scene, so worked into the glass that il
can be seen from both sides. The
inside will be very handsomely deco,
rated with paintings. The auditorium
will have an inclined floor and the
seating capacity of the church will be
about 1900. The church foundation
is of Portwing red sand stone and the
upper structure will be of st. Louis
hydraulic red brick. The church will
also be furnished with new pipe
organ at cost of $4,000. The
altar, naptismal font, and the pulpit
will cost IN the neighborhood of $1,000
and the pews are estimated at S2U75.
the total cost of the grand edIfice
will approximately be between $40, 00(
and $50, 900.
ST. Johns German Lutheran church
is one of the Oldest churches in Water
town and probably in the state. 1t
was organized in 1852 and belongs to
the Missouri synod. The foundation
of the congregation was layed by the
Rev. Louis Geyer, who lived eighth
miles northeast of WATERFOWL Rev.
Geyer visited the small congregation
for few years, when in 1855 a
resident minister was called. Rev
II. Wagner became in the fall of 1855
the first permanent pastor of ST..
Johns church. The services during
Rev. Wagner's pastors ate, were held
IN a small frame building in the Sixth
waro. In 1859, Rev. C. Strasen
succeeded Rev. Wagner. Rev. c.
Strasen's work at the St. John 8
church was crowned with great sue
cess. He occupied his position for over
forty years and until seven years agu
he was pastor of the church when he
retired owing to old age. Since 1900
the Rev. H. Eggres, has acted
as pastor of the church, a minister
nown for his conscientious work.
The new church is expect to be
con pleted by Christmas time. 1t is
just AZ years ago, 1865, that the old
brick church was built. The congre-
cation has become so large in the past
few years that larger building was