The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1948-08-26
Morning, Afternoon and Even
ing Services to Mark Three
Score Year Event
Church, Third Built i'm Settle
ment Has Long and Dis
tinguished Record

Sixtieth anniversary of the St. John
Mennonite church, five miles north
west of Bluffton, will be marked at
special services next Sunday morning,
afternoon and evening.
Founded in 1888, the church was
the third built by Mennonite con-
gregations in the Settlement and re-
mains active with a membership of
about $50.
Rev. D. J. Unruh, of Newton, Kan
sas, former pastor, will speak at all
sessions and the evening program
will be marked by musical selections
by the 40-voice church choir, directed
by Earl Lehman and congregational
singing including songs in German.
Rev. Frank s. Harder, present pastor
of the church, will be in the pulpit
for the morning service,
Third Church
Prior to founding of the st. John
church in 1888, there had been built
the first Mennonite church on the
David Niswander farm, no longer
standing, followed by the Ebenezer
church, west of town on the Grove
street road.
First St. John pastor was Rev. John
Moser, grandfather of Ezra Moser;
followed by Rev. Jacob Zeller, Rev.
Chris Zimmerly and Rev. Ben Diller
These ministers served without salary
and operated farms for their liveli-
hood.
Later came pastors who were on
salary and devoted all their atten-
ton to the pastorate, including Rev. j.
B. Baer, Rev. c. c. Hege, Rev. w. S.
Gotshall, Rev. A. S. Rosenberger, Rev.
Edgar Toevs, Rev. D. J. Unruh, Rev.
Peter Boehr, and the present pastor
Rev. Harder.
Many Missionaries
Missionaries from the congregation
include Mrs. Irma (schneek) Lambie. for.
merly in Africa and Palestine. now home
on furlough; Miss Mary Haas, now ii
Africa; Mrs Lillian Werry senef. hofn,
from Africa on furlough; Misses Freda ant
Norma Jones. now in Africa; Miss Lulr
sommer. now in Germany and Holland.
Miss Mary Ellen Gerber. now enroutt
home from Africa Rev and Mrs. Pstel
Boehr, now in China Rev. and Mrs. William
Cox, home on furIough from Hawaii Mrs
Anita Steiner Warren, now in India DIR
and Mrs Bradford Steiner, in India and Mrs
Ruth Geiger Riley, in India.
Those from the church in the ministry arr
Rev. David King. deceased Rev, Elmer Bas
niger, Summerfield. III. Rev Kenneth Geiger
Goshen. Ind; and Rev. Myron Hilty, Win
ton. Calf.
Church Officers
Present church officers are: Deacons
Clarence Schneck Hayden Basinger Hiram
Kohl. Trustees, Omer Graez, Arthur Schu
macher, Ellis Steiner. Treasurer. Dale Reich
enbach Secretary. Milford Haas Musi,
director, Earl Lehman; Pianists. Anna Rutl
Lehman and Wava Geiger.
The first trustees. elected in 1883. wer
Chris C Steiner, Peter Oberly. Peter B
Hilty; and the first deacon was P. p. Steiner
First organists were Miss Mary Steiner
deacon Mrs Lizzie Lugibihl Ruesser o
Berne. Ind, and Mrs. Susie Basinger Luigi
bihl of Columbus Grove.
Early Sunday school superintendents in
cluded p. C. Suter, Peter B. Hilty and Dav
King: early song leaders. P. D. Amscutz
P. C. Suter and Adam Lugibihl.
Mrs. David Sommer was the first perso
buried in the cemetery adjoining the church
and the first nHrriage on Dec. IS. 1885
was of DR.. and Mrs. P. D. Bixel. Tn
second wedding was that of Mr.. and Mrs
Solomon Welty in June. 1889. Mrs. welty
still living.
Program for the days services:
Morning Service I0:3O A. M.
. Prelude-Annaruth Lehman. pianist
Invocation. scripture lesson. prayer
Ladies CHORUS
| Message-Rev d. ]. Unruh
/ | Closing prayer Rev. VIM. Cox
6 Afternoon Services LAS p. p.
: Violin ensemble-Annaruth and Earl Lei
i, man, Wilma AugsburGer. Mrs. Rob
| RowersoX.
= Hymn No. 550-Congregation
- Invocation. Rev Howard Landes Ebeneze
Church
Continued on page 10)