Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1922-06-02
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CELEBRATED Il SUNDAY REV.
OBERsCHuITE Or 81. PAUL
ADDRESSED BIG GATHERING "
(By Pres IS COMMITTEES

- 1ASS EJuOl16e
celebration. under the auspices Of our
! Morrison county II Lutheran 81 congrega
tions. Sunday afternoon was a decided
success and perhaps one Of the most
which has occurred here in Little Falls
for many years. "a large attendance,
about 500 in all, practically filled the
! meeting place. The. people turned out
from all corners Of Morrison county
Sank Rapids, ST. Cloud, Brainerd, Long
Prairie, Sank Centre and Melrose mo-
! tored to this city to enjoy the celebra-
ton with us. Besides the Morrison
county pastors Were present Rev. Aug.
Agather, Sank Rapids; Rev. f. n Is.
IMeischner;. Long PRAIRIE; Rev.. J. "A.
Stein, Sank Centre; Rev. p. Gierke.
Melrose. 81 Il. ILL., l.izss..
The stage was beautifully decorated
flag, Of which we as American citizens
are so proud. displayed its stars and
stripes in the background.
n singing 9f g9Ga
was very, good. The masterful render
Strength" and Unfold Ye Portals
Everlasting." certainly did. add to the
enjoyed by all. The swanville choir
is perhaps one Of the best church
choirs in this part Of the state, one or
which the SWanville people can justly
NC pIOOO. MuC11 CIculI 1OI I11elIs sue
cess is due to the able leadership. Of
Rev. Paul Walther. The altar services
Of this celebration Sunday afternoon
was conducted by the local pastor,
Rev. w. l.. Hass. '|
: In his address the Rev. Frederick
Oberschulte of St. Paul brought a very
timely and inspiring message to our
church people in Morrison county and
the synod at large. He spoke on the
basis of the words of the prophet
Isaiah. chapter SO, verses / and 2:
Arise, shine, for thy light is come,
and the glory Of the Lord is risen upon
thee. For, behold, the darkness shall
cover the earth, and gross darkness
upon thee, and His glory shall be seen
upon thee" Rev. Oberschulte is a very
attractive and forceful speaker hold
ing the attention OF his audience till
the very last amen"
The dates 1922 and 1S47 are sig
nificant to us as milestones in the his
tory Of the Synod of Missouri, Ohio
and other states. Not only do they
century of church work, but they are
| also reminders Of infinite blessings
! bestowed upon our feeble efforts and
as such suggest the resolution to re-
consecrate our hearts to renewed zeal
for the advancement of His Kingdom
said the Rev. Frederick L. Obershculte,
pastor of Our Saviour's English Luth-
Gran church of. st. Paul, Mimi. Re-
ferring to the event celebrated Sunday
by the Morrison county Lutheran con-
Sregations, the speaker related the
following historical facts: Three
quarters of a century ago the fathers
of our synod immigrated to America
in order to found a religious commu-
nifty of the Lutheran persuasion. The
cause for this immigration must be
sought in the conditions prevailing in
their homeland of SaNony. 1t was not
due to unfavorable conditions of eco
| VI, Il
beggars. Many Of them quilted posts
of considerable advantage. Among
them were wealthy merchants. doctors,
lawyers, artists and the like. Their
itual. Like the Pilgrim Fathers two
centuries earlier they came to seek a
place where they could worship &C.
cording to the dictates of their con
sciences, without Interference by gov
| eminent officials, who virtually perse-
cuted the confessors of Lutheran doc
/ trine. Pastor Stephan, the emigrant
| leader and minister, said as early as
/ 1886: Our time becomes ever more
/ serious and decisive; matters cannot
continue in the present state for any
length Of time. God will bring a de-
cision for His church whether it is tC
! continue in Europe OF to imnligrate tc
| North America"
Across the Ocean up Mississippi Rive,
The decision was made. an emigIan1
company was formed, $50 odd Luther
ans" as they were dubbed, raised q
common fund of 123,9S7 (tahler) dol
| lars, $4,000 We're used to charter five
ships and $4,000 for freight In
November, 1888, the ships lifted an
Choir. After a stormy voyage. fou,
ships landed at New Orleans. the fifth
was lost at sea. In February of 1899
the emigrants steamed up the Miss1s-
sippi river; landing in st. Louis. A
number of the enigrants remained i1
St. Louis under the leadership Of Rev
Herman Walther the great grand
| father of Pastor Walther at Swanville
The others, about 600 in number, set
tied in Perry county, 112 miles souti
| of St. Louis where their leader pur
| chased 4,400 acres Of land. =
| Early Struggles
Their first experiences were dis
illusionment, disappointment but q
blessing in disguise. Rev. c. F. Wal.
Their, who had become the successor tc
his brother Herman in st. Louis, saved
the people from despair, when even
! their leader Stephan na.'anle unfaith