The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-23
ON SABBATH
EXERCISES OF ST. JOHNS
LUTHERAN HELD :.
FORMER PASTORS THERE
Three Thousand People Partic.
ipated In Splendid Religi-
Gus Celebration

ipated In Splendid Religi-
Gus Celebration
With weather conditions ideal over
three thousand people gathered In the
village of Good Thunder yesterday to
be present at the commemoratlon or
the fiftieth anniversary of the round
i2g of st. Johns Evangelical Luther
an congregation, and the twenty hifth
anniversary OF the dedication of st.
Johns church edifice Of that village.
Owing to the exceptionally fine
the roads people for miles around
drove to the ceremonies. 1t had been
planned TO hold the services in st.
Johns church, but the vast throngs
OF people who assembled before the
opening of the exercises in the fore
noon necessitated the holding of the
same in the beautiful oak grove OF
Mr.. R. Houk near the edge OF the
village.
The Good Thunder band, under the
leadership of DR.. A. l.. Schuldt, led
the procession to the grove. where q
speakers stand had been erected, and
the forenoon and afternoon services
and sermons were held there. The
sermon in the forenoon was delivered
by Rev. ]. Grabarkewitz of Fairfax, a
former pastor of st. Johns church
from 1882 to 1907. The speaker. ad-
monished the members of the congre-
cation to appreciate the many bless
ings bestowed upon them for the past
quarter OF a century since st. johns
church was erected and dedicated.
The occasion like yesterday was in
deed fitting occasion which to give
thanks for the manifold blessings be-
slowed by God on the members of
the congregation. Rev. GrabarkeS
Wits sermon was delivered in the
German language. Music for the
services was furnished by the Good
Thunder band, and the singing was
carried out by the st. Johns church
choir under the leadership OF j. G. G..
Kruger.
The afternoon services commenced
at $50 and were in charge Of Rev
q. Randi of st. Paul, pastor of Zion
Evangelical church of that city, and
former pastor of st. Johns church of
Good Thunder from 1908 to 1915. Rev.
Randi delivered his sermon in the
German language taking for his
theme, the Gospel of st. John, 81 will
not leave you orphans; / will be with
you"
Was Noteworthy Event.
In opening his sermon, Rev. Randi
said that the f1ftieth anniversary of
the founding of a christian congrega-
ton is indeed a noteworthy event,
because it may not appear as If fifty
years is long time, nevertheless, In
world where there are so many
things are against the Christian faith
and doctrine, it means much for q
Christian congregation to remain
within the true faith for fifty years.
Lutheran church of Good Thunder, the
speaker said, had resolved to cele-
brate this rare anniversary. On such
a jubilee as the present one, thoughts
should come to us all in regard to the
past, and In regard to the future.
Looking backward to the past, we
must realize that the good lord Jesus
Christ has most gloriously fulfilled
his promises given in the text of the
sermon Il will not leave you orphansi
! will be with. you" The speaker said
that the fulfillment of the word Of
God would be seen in the founding of
the congregation fifty years ago, when
the forefathers came to this part Of
the country and settled here. It
could be seen in the success which
the congregation has met with in the
past fifty years, and the fulfillment of
the promises of God could be seen
in the manifold spiritual blessings
which have been showered upon St.
and old in the church and school. All
these things should make one lift up
his heart to God in gratitude, for His
presence with the people in their
work for the past fifty years. This
Is especially true IL one considers that
the Lord has fulfilled his promises &C
cording to his grace, and not accord
ing to the merits of the people. Look
ing toward the future one may be led
to wonder how long will the congre-
cation last as a Christian congrega-
ton, and remain in the true faith,
where 80 many fall away and so many
things beset US in the world, which
are dangerous to our faith. The
speaker said that when such thoughts
come to US, we should look to the
promises of the Lord and Savior, and
that he who promised to fulfill his
promises IN the past will do so In the
future. His promises should stand
before US today as a guarantee that
Realizing that God has been with us
in the past and will be with us in the
future, we should make VOW that
with His gracious help we will
abide by His word.
During the services In the after
noon the choir of Emmanuel Lutheran
church Of Mankato under the leader
ship Of Professor Hugo Frey rendered
the song service.
The Evening Services.
The evening services which were
held in st. Johns church, which had
been decorated for the occasion with
ferns and potted plants, was in charge
Of Rev. II. Meyer of Lakefeld, pre6i-
dent of the Minnesota district Of the
Evangelical synod Of Missouri, Ohio
and other states. Rev. Meyers SER
mon was delivered in the English
language and made a deep impression
on the large numbers present. "The
Christian true to type" was the theme
Of Rev. Meyers sermon, and. he took
as his Bible selection, John XIV and
23rd verse, IF man love me. and be
viii keep my words, my father will
love him, and will come unto him
and make his abode with him"
In launching into bis subject Rev
Meyer took occasion to congratulate
the congregation for the half century
OF successful church work, and also
| touched upon the twenty fifth ami
versary Of the erection Of st. Johns
church edihce. The speaker said thai
both of those periods had marked q
time of great blessings. In consider
Ing this, however, the people must not
al lone look hack ward hI,f must lOok