The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-27
St. Mark 5 English Lutheran Church

/ te--@---@--@--ee--s $1,000
st. Marks Englisl Lutheran church
has membership Of 425 OF which
number ESQ are communicates. II
owns valuable church property al
the corner OF Seventh street and
Fourth avenue north, which includes {
church building and parsonage.
As a considerable part OF the popu-
lation Of Fargo is composed Of former
subjects of Lutheran countries 1r theil
descendants, the English Lutheran
church as we'll as the other churches
of this denomination has been most
important In suppl. ing the required
religious activitis OF the city. Il
therefore ranks among the leading
churches Of the metropolis, reinforc-
ing its ranks from those LutheranE
who speak and understand the Eng
lish language.
AS early as 1885 Lutheran services
in the English language were held oc-
OCCASIONALLY, but there being no resident
pastor, no Organization waz effected
There were a rumber of families In
the city that were already members OF
intended to affiliate with the church
as soon as 1T should be formed. Fol
this reason active work was begun and
In the spring Of 1885 Rec. w. r. Ulery,
missionary of the genera council, ar
rived and Immediately entered upon
the work of securing ground and ma
terial for the erection of a church.
Building the Church.
After the arrival of -everend Ill
cry services were regularly held in the
second story of the Milwaukee depot
the use Of which vas granted to the
church free Of charge. The minister
found the members ready and willing
to come to the front with funds and
the necessary work to build a place OF
Worship.
The cornerstone OF the church edi-
fice was laid on Juls 25, 1886, with APP
propriate services, the pastor being as
sisted by Rev. c. III. TRADER, ID. D.,
A. ]. ID. Haupt and w. X. Frick The
work on the bulldog continued as
rapidly as it was possible to push 1t
and on Nov. 2S of the sans year 1t was
dedicated.
The growth OF the mission during
the first year was slow but since that
time the progress has been most graf
flying and 1t is still receiving its quota
of converts and certificates OF new
people moving to the city from other
places where they were members Of
the church
The first communion service was
held on Easter Day, 1887, with ten
persons partaking. About this time
efforts were put forward to organize
the church and this was accomplished
on April IL OF the same year. This or
ganization was provisional the COM
plete formation taking place on May
1s, at which time constitution as
adopted and the church officers elected.
In July, 1887, Reverend Ulery re-
signed his pastorata and was succeeded
by the Rev. g. FL. Gerberding, ID. ID.
Reverend Gerberding took charge Of
the pulpit in August 1t was under
his passionate that great advances were
made both hnan ially and In numbers.
The Sunday school outgrew its ac-
and an addition was
built to the church and used by the
primary department.
DIR. Cerferding served as pastor until
In August, 1894, when he resigned and
in october OF the same year the pulpit
was taken over by Rev. III. *. Geb-
hart. After several years Of good work
among the fiock at st. Marks, Rever-
end Gebhart resigned and the work
was taken up ty Rev. J. Al, Zundel,
who continued in the charge until Jan.
/, 1908, when Rev. w. s. Ulrich the
present pastor, took UP tho passionate.
In Synod Of Northwest.
r. ..kHnnvuvs yx3zwgvas~1.
IL in the English synod OF the north
west, which in turn % on OF the thir-
teen synods in the general council.
The synod of the northwest contains
5eS,212 members Of the
church. The total number o. members
ia the general council Is 2,452,2Ss,
while the world contains some 72,-
100000 Lutherans.
In Fargo IL can be seen that great |
development in the denomination has
.aken place during the twenty three
years IL has been active In the city.
From q financial standpoint the work
II the local church has been great, |
ana is largely due to the system OF
collections that Is used. The church
building while Of frame is sttIl In good
shape. but has grown entirely too small
10 accommodate the increasing con-
gregation and building is contemplated.
Already plans for splendid brick and
stone structure have been made and
1t the present 1t Ia the intention Of the
,hurch to commence construction In
he spring. A large sum Of money will
be expended In the work which win
add greatly to Fargo az a city OF fine
churches.
The Church Officers.
The affairs Of the church society are
handled by q set OF church oficers q
board of trustees and q church council.
The present officers OF the organization
are: Rev. w. S. Ulrich. presiding Of
dcer: A. J. HeAdland, treasurer; Matt
Thompson, corresponding secretary,
and Harry Earnesoi financial secre-
sary.
The board OF trustees is composed OF
Thos. Olson, Frank Kilberry and Law
renee Severtson while the church coun-
ell ID made up OF G. B. Lear, ]. !. Han
son and Herbert Emmons.
"A Graded Sunday School.
The Sunday school at st. Marks
English Lutheran church Is certainly
one Of the finest institutions OF It's
kind. This can be said with strict
truth for II embodies number OF new
IDEAS In Bible education which are
with phenomenal success.
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