The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-23
EVENT TO BE CELEBRATED
AT GOOD THUNDER
PROGRAM OF INTEREST
Golden Jubilee of St. Johns
Lutheran Will Be Well
Observed

Johns Lutheran church here are
looking for the advent of July 10, for
on this Sunday they contemplate the
celebration of two fold event, the
greatest in the history of the local
church. On that day will be COM
memorated the fiftieth anniversary
of the founding OF st. Johns corgre-
cation and at the same time the
twenty-ffth anniversary of the dedi-
cation OF the church ediflce.
In the early COS people came from
, southern and eastern states to settle
IN Blue Earth county on the bottom
lands of the Maple river, the banks of
which We're heavily shaded by trees
that gave this river Its name. These
settlers were neighbors to the great
Indian chief, Good Thunder" whose
tribe lived at the verge Of the village
now carrying his name.
Lutheran missionaries followed the
settlers here. AS early as in 1867 a
Rev. Reneke of CORTLAND, Nicollet
county, held services in this neigh
torhood: Later the Rev. X. f. Schulze
OF Henderson. Mimi. pastor of I'm
manuel congregation 1893 1902 Of
| when Rev. A. Kuhn. president Of Min
nesota synod, was called to Mankato
(lS69- 1882 he also took charge OF
the Good Thunder mission. Under
his direction the small flock grew to
such proportions that 1t was deemed
| advisable to found an Independent
congregation. This was effected in
the last month of 1859 or the first
month of 1870. Anticipating an in
crease by immigration the building of
church edifice was soon planned
After much trouble and labor church
building thirty feet by fifty feet, hav-
ing tower eighty five feet in height,
was completed in 1876 and Rev. A.
Wolf was called to be the first resi-
! dent pastor. He served until May /,
! 1884.
Call BY Rev. SchuIenbura.
Rev. ]. Schulenburg Of Owatonna
accepted the call of the congregation
here and began his successful work in
November, 1884. Under his care the
congregation grew to be one of the
/ largest in southern Minnesota. In
August 1885 three adjoining lots and
a building were purchased from the
Seventh Day Adventists and from
that year on parochial school has
been successfully sustained. The fol-
lowing have served as teachers of t d,
school: H. Abels 1888 1880; G.. Me-
hrstaedt 1890 1898; C. Laufer 1893
1907; J. C. C. Kruger 1907 to the
present time. ...-
Rev. J. Grabarkewitz of Fairfax
succeeded the Rev. Schulenburg, hold
ing the position from 1892 to 1907. He
| is well known in this and the sur
rounding counties, being a favorite
speaker for special occasions. The
marked increase and a much larg
er and more modern church was ur-
gently needed.
The committee appointed to carry
cut the accepted plans for a new
church building were w. Detlaff, Ed
ward MalZahn, J. Somke, A. T. Graf,
F. H. Sohre, William Wrucke, Sr., F.
Pautsch, H. G. Darge, J. Daluge, ST.,
C. Matzke, A. DEWITT, G. Doering.
August Sohre, ST., William Schneider.
H. C. Wiedenheft. On October 20,
4, 1895, the new building as 1t stands
today was dedicated to the Lords
J service.
After fifteen years of successful
. labor the Rev. Grabarkewitz was sue
ceeded BIZ the Rev. Professor F.
Randi of West Bloomfield. Wis, in
1908. Rev. Randi, in addition to his
duties as pastor, was president of the
Emmanuel Lutheran Hospital associ
alton of Mankato. In the fall of 1914
the present pastor, Rev. A. G. Bode,
accepted the Good Thunder parish.
July 10 Is the Great Day.
The whole day and evening will be
devoted to appropriate services, to-
gether with a picnic outing, special
music, etc. in a way to please every
one who comes here to spend the day.
G. Sperlich, o. G. Rosin, Emil Doer.
ing and Professor J. G. c. Kruger,
the committee on arrangements. Sc
lected the above date for the jubilee
celebration and have extended an in
vitation to the congregation at Rap
idan, Mankato CORTLAND, Easton,
Amboy, Vernon Center and Minnesota
Lake to come and participate in the
big event
Rev. J. Grabarkewitz will preach
the sermon in the forenoon at ten
o'clock, Rev. ]. Schulenburg and Rev.
F. Randi will conduct the preaching
in the afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. and
Rev. DR.. H. Meyer, president of dis
trict synod of Minnesota, will preach
at o. m There will be special mu-
sic at each service by various choirs.
A. picnic dinner at Houk's grove,
where the main portion of the program
will be given, will be an enjoyable
social feature. Refreshments will be
served at the grounds The Good
Thunder band will be on hand to fur
nish music for the occasion.