The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-04-16
Pastor Of the German Lutheran
Church Announces That He
Will Remain in Kenosha
OLD CHURCH TO BE SOLD NOW
Members of German Lutheran Congre-
cation Decided by Unanimous Vote
to Sell Property Used as Church
For Past Twenty-Five Years

History was made by the German
Lutheran church of Kenosha on Sunday
when at a general meeting of the con
gregation it was decided by unani-
NOUS vote to ask the Rev. Carl Buenger
to remain as pastor of the church and
in addition to this the congregation
voted unanimously to sell the present
church property on Union street and at
once begin the work of erecting a new
church and school for the congregation
on Ridge street.
The Rev. Mr.. Buenger notwithstand-
ing the fact that he had already receiv-
ed call from the First German Luther
an church of Racine and was to have
received one from st. John s church in
Milwaukee, announced at the close of
the meeting that -ould not give up
his work as pastor of the Kenosha
church, but would remain and aid in
the arduous work of building a new
church and disposing of the present
property.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
German Lutherans are to move from
Union street the property there may
still continue to be used as a church
as the trustees of the Lithuanian Cath
Ollie church have made a bid for the
property and it is thought that the deal
will be closed within the next few
weeks. The plan for the purchase of
the church and school has been referred
to Archbishop Messmer and the deal is
being held up pending his decision in
the matter.
The Lithuanians had planned to erect
church in the west part of the city
and plans had been made and accepted
for the new building but the German
Lutheran church is splendidly located
for the use of the Lithuanians and it
can be bought at such a low figure that
it is thought that it will be taken over
by the new Catholic congregation at
once.
For the past twenty-five years the
Lutherans Of Kenosha have worshiped
in the church which is now to be sold
and there were many of the members of
the church who hesitated to break the
bonds which held them to the old
building. However the growth of the
congregation and the fact that many
of the members were now living in the
west part of the city, the encroachments
OF the tanneries and other reasons fore
ed them to consider the question Of
sale and when the matter finally came
to vote the congregation voted I'M
animously in favor of disposing of the
present church property and building
new church home. The Central Leather
Company had made a standing offer of
$4,000 for the. property, but it is
thought that the new Catholic congre-
cation will be willing to raise this bid
by at least $4,000.
The property as it stands represents
an expenditure of more than 100000.
The plans for the new German church
and school will be presented to the
congregation at meeting to be held
on next Sunday and it is expected that
they will be adopted at that time. This
will make it possible to build the new
church during the present year and the
members of the congregation are hope
full that they will be worshiping in the
new church by the first Of next Deem
ber
The action of the congregation in re-
gard to the Rev. Carl Buenger will be
matter for rejoicing among all the
members of the congregation and among
the people Of Kenosha. Mr.. Buenger
had been offered pastorate where he
would have much larger field of labor
and where he would receive a larger
salary but the pleasant relations with
the Kenosha church formed bond too
strong to be easily broken and when he
found that it was the unanimous de-
sire of the congregation that he remain
in Kenosha he decided to give up the
calls to other churches and announced
his intention to remain.