Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-05-17
DEHICATION OF A
BEAUTIFUL CHURCH,
st. Stephens Evangelical Lutheran
Church Filled to OVERLOOKING at
Each of Its Various Services on
the Sabbath Day.

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weather could not have been more
favorable for the occasion, as the
whole day was full of sunshine and
the gentle spring zephyrs were balmy
and very temperate. As early as nine
O'Clock a. m. the people began to con-
gregate, crowding from the very doors
OF the church to the sidewalk across
the street, and up and down Mcclellan
street for nearly block. AT ten
O'Clock, st. Stephens band came out
upon the steps church and played
several sacred pieces, after which the
doors of the church were opened, and
In fifteen minutes every seat in the
large edifice was filed. At this serv-
Ice Rev. H. Ernst, d. D., Prof of the
Lutheran Theological Seminary of
st. Paul, preached an eloquent sermon
in German.
At ? O'Clock p. m. the church was
again crowded, and at this time Rev.
William Schmidt, D. D., of the Theo-
logical Seminary of St. Paul, occupied
the pulpit.
The evening services were in
English, and many of our English
speaking people attended and listened
to one of the most eloquent sermons
ever delivered in the city. The SER
vices were very inspiring, consisting of
prayer and singing. The latter fur
nished by most excellent choir and
the congregation, and the organ play
Ing was revelation to the lovers of
good music. Mr.. Zimmerman of Osh-
kosh, presided at the organ during the
services of the day. OF the evening
sermon the PILOT can say very little,
owing to its limited space, but Rev.
Edward Pfeiffer of Capital university
OF Columbus, o., who presided, held
the congregation as if entranced, and
his able discourse deeply impressed all
who heard it. The church auditorium
in the evening, in the glow of hun
dreds of incandeScent electric lights,
was too beautiful for description, and
all who attended were proud of this
handsome church edifce, and proud
to know that it was built and owned
by Wausau congregation. There
were 1880 people in the church in the
evening.
There were services also on Monday
n nxr /
Schneider of Birnamwood and Rev. X.
Schmalz, of Vein, otficiated.
On Monday evening, Rev. L. Moench
of Clintonville; Rev. H. Eisenbach Of
Oconto. and Rev. Gerhard of Stettin,
occupied the pulpit.
1t was great event for St. Steph-
ems congregation and, of course, for
Rev. Frederick Werhahn, pastor of
the church, who was the prime mover
and the power pushing this work to
completion. 1t is great honor to
him and to the building committee
which so ably assisted him, consisting
of William Schoeneberg, Albert Bau-
man, Casper Fenhaus, August Otto,
Charles Giesler, Otto Zahn, Carl Zahn,
August Brendemuehl, Ernst Koch and
John Ziebell.
AS stated in the last issue Of the
PILOT, the contract for building this
church was let to Anton Zwack of
Dubuque, Ia, for $4,000. This did
not include interior fnishings, such
as art glass, pews, pulpit, decorations,
pipe organ, etc. Mr.. Zwack secured
as his foreman Gust. FINDERS, man
who is well known here for his excel
lent work. He built the Trinity
church on the west side. He is now
with Mr.. Zwack in Dakota building a
church. Next fall, Mr.. Finders will
return and build large church in
Marathon City.
ST. Stephens church is 112x74 feet.
It's steeple is lbs feet high. The base
ment is modern in every respect. 1t
has two large school rooms and
kitchen and dining room; by means
of the Wilson rolling partitions these
rooms can all be made into one large
auditorium almost as large as the
main auditorium above.
The main auditorium is one Of the
handsomest in Northern Wisconsin,
with its beautiful decorations, altar,
art glass windows, handsome seats,
pipe organ, etc. The center Of inter-
est is the beautiful high altar which
nearly fills the sanctuary, the lines OF
which are decidedly gothic. On the
pedestal, stands a life size image Of
Christ, with arms extended.
The altar contains panel of wood,
carved to represent the last supper.
The interior wood work is finished in
dark oak, dull finish, and the altar
and seats are finished the same. OF
the art glass; the chime of bells; the
bible presented by Emperor William,
II, and the various gifts presented,
the PILOT gave an extended notice in
its last issue. Ofthe beautiful chan
deliers and lighting effects the PILOT
can give only but small, passing
notice. The main chandelier contains
fifty lights, and hundreds of tungsten
electric lights, placed in groups and
otherwise, light the church to perfec-
ton. All of the wiring and arranging
of lights, was the work of W. r. john
son of this city. The large organ is
operated by an electric motor, which
was put in place and arranged by Mr.
johnson.
One of the events of dedication day
was the serving of a dinner by the
ladies of the congregation on Monday
noon.
On Sunday, Rev. Werhahn sent a
dispatch to Emperor William, thank
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