Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-11
HOLDS SILVER ANNIVERSARY
st. Marks English Lutheran Com.
memorstes Twenty-Fifth Year,
FORMER PASTORS ARE SPEAKERS
Celebration wtlI he Continued This
Evening aud Tuesday EvcninE--
Many Lutheran Ministers
In Attendance.

Yesterday was an important epoch In
the history OF st. Marks Lutheran
church, Twentieth and Burdette streets.
II was the date OF the silver anniversary
and services commemorative the event
were held during the morning, I'm the
afternoon and at the regular evening
hour. The anniversary services will con-
tinue today and tomorrow, services being
held each evening.
Typical of the anniversary, yesterday
the interior OF the church was attrac-
lively decorated. on the walls and In
the pulpit were wreaths and garlands
of silver leaves, while in many places
large Shields covered with silver and
bearing tho words, "Our twenty-fifth
anniversary" were placed.
on and about the pulpit there were
numerous huge bouuets OF cut flowers,
tokens Of remembrance sent by friends
OF the church.
At the morning services the sermon
was by Rev. George II. Schnur, tho first
and organizing pastor Of the church, but
now in charge of the largest of the
Lutheran churches OF st. Paul, Mimi.
During the course OF his sermon the
speaker devoted himself TO telling OF
the early days OF ST. Marks and the
struggles that It underwent, services
being held in a little wooden structure.
two blocks west of where the present
magnificent brick church building is now
located.
The afternoon services consisted OF a
number of five-minute addresses by
Lutheran pastors end friends Of the
church interspersed with singing. Rev
Leonard Groh presided and first intro
duced Rev. Mr.. Snyder Of st. Matthews
Lutheran church, who spoke Of Lutheran
ism in early days in Iowa and Nebraska
Coming to eNbraska, he found Few
Lutherans here thirty and forty years
ago but was pleased with the progress
made by the church.
Explains Luther League.
Rev. Luther NJ. Kuhns detailed the work
OF the Luther league, explaining that II
| is an organization of young people, for
young people.
Rev o. d. Baltzly, pastor OF Kountze
Memorial church. spoke OF Lutheranism
as the author of theology and detailed the
influence that II has upon the churches OF
other denominations.
Rev. George IL, Schnur, the organizing
pastor, detailed the extent to which the
church work is being carried on by
Lutherans in Minnesota. He estimated the
number OF Lutherans In ST. Paul and
Minneapolis at 10000 and predicted that
some day the church will have a greater
membership in Minnesota than in Penn
sylvania, which now leads all states In
the union,
Introducing DIR. Jenkins, president OF
the University OF Omaha, Rev. Mr. Groh
referred to him, not as Lutheran, but
a man of God, "wbo is erecting syna'
gogue in this city
Or. jenkins spoke OF Lutheranism as
the great force in modern Christianity ane
civilization, a force needed in building III
American Christianity. He designated Il
as a type of Christianity that is progress
Sive and aggressive in the best sense,
type that stands for great character MAX
ing and destiny making results.
In the evening there were the regula
church services. the jubilee sermon beinI
preached by Rev. Luther NJ Kuhns, gen
eral secretary Of the Luther league ii
America,
The anniversary services at st. Mark
are being attended by a large number o.
the Lutheran pastors, most Of those o.
the city, as well as a number from Ne
braska and Iowa being present