The Mankato free press., 1917-09-21
Appropriate Ceremonies Were
Carried Out at That
Edifice
History of the Congregation
Given BY Rev. A. F.
Hgsl Wintor .s-..-s.a


services yesterday celebrated the
fiftieth anniversary of the organiza-
ton. The attendances at the three
services aggregated in the neighbor-
hood of $500, including a large num-
Der from outside the city. The oc-
casion was a grand one and all
seemed filled with the spirit of MAX
ing the observance all that it should
be.
The choir loft, chancel and chande-
liers were beautifully decorated with
autumn foliage and many kinds of
flowers. The morning service was the
most largely attended of all, about
1,4OO people assembling in the capa-
cious auditorium including those in the
balcony. The music was both sweet
and powerful in volume. The mag
Eificent church organ was handled by
Professor Hugo Frey of the German
Lutheran school, The singing was led
by a mixed choir of twenty-fOur
voices. Harold Silber rendered a
vocal solo. D. Barnard's Der Veg
yum Frieden."
Rev. A. F. Winter, pastor of the
church, conducted the altar services,
and preached sermon on the One
Hundredth Psalm. He dwelt on the
reasons of the people of the church to
rejoice in the Lord on the occasion
of the completion of the first half
century of the life of their congrega-
tion, and to prepare to serve the
Lord with hearty will in the future.
The sermon, like the rest of the
morning service, was entirely in the
German language. In the same tongue,
the pastor gave history of the con-
gregation. 1t was fifty years ago last
Friday that the church was organized
September IA, 1867. The services
were held in a small church building
at the corner of Broad and Washing
ton streets, where the church school
now stands. This little church was
erected in the year 1867, before the
congregation was organized. A num-
ber of enterprising men of that faith
and nationality united their efforts
and started what has grown to be one
of the largest churches in Southern
Minnesota.
The First Pastor
The first pastor was Rev. William
Vomhoff. who came here from Forest
Mound, Wabasha county. There had
merely been missionaries in charge
of the services before that. Rev. Vom-
hoff served until June 7, 1868. Rev. A.
Kuhn was called as his successor. He
served until the spring of 1882. Rev.
K. F. Schulze of Courtland was next
called and had charge of the pulpit
until September 21, 1902.
1t was in the year 1884 that the Sec
ond church building was erected. This
was on the site Of the present church,
the southeast corner of Second and
Spring streets.
In the year 1902, Rev. Schulze re-
signed on account of ill health and
it was then that Rev. A. F. Winter
was called from Saltwater. The pres
ent pastor, who has accomplished so
much for the congregation, was in
stalled on November %, 1902.
Rev. Winter is the only one of the
four regular pastors of the church now
living. There have also been four as
sistant pastors, Rev. Sprengler, now
dead; Rev. S. Deuber, also dead; Rev.
John F. Manz. now connected with
Bethany college; and Rev. William
Nichols, now pastor Of the Lutheran
church at Smiths Mill.
The present parsonage of the
church was built in 1912 and the
present great church building was
constructed in 1913. 1t is estimated
that the total of the church property,
including church, parsonage and school
building, is worth all of $85,000.
There Are $50 Communicates.
There are now $50 communicate
members Of the church. During the
past 80 years, $3.50 persons have been
baptized there. and 1878 have been
confirmed; 600 couples have been
married and $50 funeral services have
been held. The total number of at
tendances at all of the services OF
the church in it's half century OF
existence comes to 1895.
1t was during the pastorate of Rev
Kuhn that the parochial school was
organized. G. F. Diessner served 9
short time in charge of the school
but Professor H. J. F. Brockmeyer car
be called the father of the parochfa
school After short time he had al
assistant, Mr.. Schneider. Those who
have served as teachers include the
following: Mr.. Mehrstedt, Mr.. Reuter-
Mr.. Dress, Mr.. Bolle, G.. Taggatz, w
E. REIN, H. G. Bode, J. Gieschen
& Miss Ida Sperling and Miss Ann;
. Schulze. The present teachers ar
Hugo Frey, principal; w. H. Self
and Mrs. Helen Seifert. There ar
now about 100 pupils attending tn
school,
The present officers Of the churcl
! are: Elders. ]. Kroeger and William
Stocking; deacons, Fred Hartig, Car
Dethloff. julius Stockman and Her
man Krahnke; trustees, Reinhol
/ Neubert, Albert Silber and Louis W
Wettlaoufer; members Of the schoo
board, Nicholas Harris, Otto Brock
meyer and W. H. Schneider; officer
( of the congregation: Joseph Kroegel
president; G. Steiner, Sr., treasurer
Hugo Frey, secretary; Frank Darsov
financial secretary.
Dinner was served in the churc
parlors of the ladies of the congrega
tion. There were many people fror
the surrounding country and froI
other cities and villages, who foun
hnrn hnth DIR