In researching for our Historical Study on the Seminex Controversy from the 1970's, I found a box labeled "Immanuel Archives" hidden in the attic. Rather than leave them in obscurity in the box, I thought I'd take one out and copy it for our church blog occasionally. If you enjoy these, let me know. This way our archives are not hidden in a shoe box in the attic, and we all can remember a bit of our past.
This particular one is amazing! In 1934, our congregation hosted the North Dakota and Montana District Convention, chaired by Rev. J.P. Klausler. Attending (and staying at our old parsonage) was Synod President Rev. Dr. Fredrich Pfotenhauer. He gave the sermon for the opening service from our pulpit, and participated in the convention. (I will contact the Concordia Historical Institute and see if we can get a copy of the sermon he gave.) Pastor Klausler had a note contained in the newspaper that "expected" members to attend worship, promising to be dismissed before the Governor spoke at Lake Elsie. The congregation dutifully listened to their shepherd, and even had the sanctuary redecorated and reshingled.
In Addition note their was a baseball game scheduled between the Hankinson team and the Pastors - the paper claims several of the pastors played college baseball with future major league stars. The Hankinson Monarchs were 5-1 at that time. The front page article "Preacher To Play Monarchs Saturday" warned that you shouldn't "Come expecting to see the monarchs gallop away with an easy victory."
Also note the words of Pastor J. Krueger who stated that the Lutheran Church was doomed not only in Richland County - but even in North Dakota and Montana. How often do we too despair of such things as our circuit churches struggle. And yet, Christ has carried us through to this day, nearly 100 years after Pastor Krueger despaired.
P.S. Don't forget your English Hymnals this Sunday either!
-Pastor Moline
Lutherans in Convention in Hankinson This Week
Delegates from Montana and North Dakota Are in Attendance ---Dr. F. Pfotenhauer, General Lutheran President of Chicago, Here
HISTORY OF EARLY LUTHERANS READ AT SESSIONS BY REV. KLAUSLER
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| President Pfotenhauer |
Opening services for the convention of the North Dakota and Montana District of the Lutheran church were held yesterday morning (Wednesday.) The president of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other states, Dr. F. Pfotenhauer of Chicago, delivered the sermon to the assembled pastors, delegates and visitors that crowded the church to overflowing.
Business sessions began in the afternoon. President J.P. Klausler, the focal pastor, occupied the chair and gave the presidential address and the statistical report of the District. The Rev. Emil Ziegler, of Helena, Montana is the secretary of the convention, with Pastor O.G. Tiemann of Edgeley, N.D., as his assistant.
The convention will hold sessions every day until Tuesday, June 26, when adjournment takes place until 1936. On Sunday at 10 a.m. divine services commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the District will be held, Dr. Pfotenhauer delivering the sermon in German language. The afternoon service, beginning at 2 p.m., will be conducted in the English language. Loudspeaker service will be provided to take care of the overflow crowd. The ladies will serve lunch at noon at 10 cents per plate. In the evening at 8 o'clock an illustrated lecture will be given on the history of this church body in North Dakota and Montana.
Approximately 135 pastors and accredited delegates are registered. Several students and theological candidates also are present. These pastors and delegates are representing 24,000 Lutherans of the two states and about 200 congregations. Indications are that pastors from Minnesota and South Dakota will also visit some of the sessions.
Besides devoting its sessions to the mission work of the church, the convention will also listen to the reading of an historical paper on the beginnings of the Lutheran church in these Northwestern states, a timely topic since as mentioned above, this church body is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary as a separate organization.
Brief Sketch of the Early History
A little more than 50 years ago, the territories of Dakota and Montana were still prairies and waste places, where vast herds of buffalo roamed, where deer and antelope abounded, making these plains the happy hunting grounds of numerous Indian tribes. Here and there along the Missouri, in the Turtle Mountains of the North and in the mountains and valleys of Montana, hunters, trappers and fur traders had their camps and posts. It was not until the '70's and 80's that settlers moved into this territory in large numbers. Among the earliest were some German Lutherans around Hillsboro, several of whom helped survey the first time on the Great Northern in North Dakota. Another settlement of Lutheran sprang up along the banks of the Wild Rice in Richland county already in 1872. These were looked after by Pastor R. Winkler of Elizabeth, Minn., in the fall of 1874. Two years later the first resident Lutheran pastor in North Dakota, Rev. J. Krueger, was stationed in New Berlin, now Brandenburg (Great Bend.) Interesting is a report he gives of those early days. He writes: "I arrived in November, 1876. it was winter. Outside of my little flock there were no Lutherans within 50 miles. Here and there, scattered over the lonely, treeless prairie, were the little shacks of the settlers. Now and then Indians, interested in trading, visited us. Never, thought I, will this country amount to anything. The Northwest will never be more thickly settled and there are no hopes for the future growth of the Lutheran church. My members entertained the same thoughts and only waited for an opportunity when they could again move away."
But the good pastor and his members were wrong in their predictions. During the next few years, and especially during the 80's a steady stream of immigration poured out on the virgin prairies gradually creeping farther and farther westward. When North Dakota was admitted to statehood in 1889 there were already 8 pastors stationed in the state serving nearly 50 years.
Montana was first explored in '84 by Lutheran pastors from Minnesota. Dr. Pfotenhauer, who is attending the sessions these days, as president of the general body, made extensive mission trips to Montana in 1885 and 1886, visiting Miles City, Helena, Butte, Deer Lodge and many other places. The first resident pastor, Rev. John Meyer, was stationed in Helena in 1886.
In less than 40 years the work in these two states so increased that in 1910 the congregation in North Dakota and Montana were able to form an organization of their own. This took place in Great Bend and Pastor T. Hinck was elected as the first president, serving faithfully and ably for fourteen years. In 1924 Rev. J. P. Klausler, the local Lutheran pastor, was chosen as his successor. At the present time the district is composed of some ninety pastors with about 200 congregations and preaching stations.
CONVENTION ITEMS
Rev. J.P. Klausler states that visitors are welcome to attend all the sessions of the convention. He also states that there will be special services in the English language held Friday evening at 8. On Sunday evening a slide lecture will be given on History of Lutherans in North Dakota and Montana.
Many of the delegates, especially those from the western part of Montana, have come almost a thousand miles. Traveling either by train or car the journey lasted for them about two days. Honors for coming the longest distance are divided between Pastors H. Jordan, Kalispell, and John Dundschuch, Pablo, Mont.
Although the depression is still strong in the two states represented, pastors and delegates report that the work of the church has not fallen off and that appreciable gains in membership are being made.
In anticipation of the Silver Anniversary convention, the Hankinson congregation redecorated and reshingled the church. The new color scheme in the church is decidedly pleasing.
Some of the pastors present were at one time prominent athletes in their days at college. Several had offers from National and American League baseball teams. They turned them down to enter the ministry. Max Carey, last year's manager of the Brooklyn Robins, was a classmate of some of the pastors. Negotiations are underway to have the pastors play the Hankinson baseball team some evening.
Pastors staying at the Lutheran parsonage include the venerable president of the Lutheran Church, Dr. Fredrich Pfotenhauer; the Rev. Arnold H. Grumm, chairman of the Mission board of Fargo; the Rev. H Schumacher Tyler, Superintendent of Missions for North Dakota, Rev. A Jordan, Kalispell, Mont., first vice president; Rev. E. Ziegler, Helena, Mont., secretary and Rev. H. Trinklein, Beach, Mont.
Visitors will note that the local pastor, J.P. Klausler is occupying the chair. He was elected to the presidency of the district in 1924. Since he has been in office he has travelled the states of North Dakota and Montana from one corner to the other, besides his many official journeys to Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis and other cities. Altogether there are thirty districts, thus making thirty members of the College of Presidents.
Total membership of the Lutheran church in the United States is 4,315,311. The membership of the Missouri synod branch to which this convention belongs is 1,378,582.
Speakers are not restricted to any one language, although there are still many who prefer the German language. A number of the younger pastors find German rather difficult.
Visitors have also remarked about the singing at the convention. The Lutheran church calls itself the "Singing church." Many of the pastors have sung with college glee clubs and quartets at concerts and over the radio.
Alfred Klausler is registered as a vicar. He has charge of Our Savior's Lutheran Lutheran church in Glendive and another in Lindsay, Montana. He came here by car.
The organist at the convention is Rev. K. Klopp, of Kongsberg, N.D.
Mayor Wipperman extended the address of welcome to the delegates in behalf of the city of Hankinson.
LUTHERAN CHURCH NOTES
Do not forget the special service on Friday evening at 8 o'clock. Pastor A. H. Tayler of Willow City, N. Dak., and Pastor O. Misch, of Bozeman Montana will preach. Please bring your English hymnals with you.
Everyone should make it a point to attend the jubilee services Sunday, when the twenty-fifth anniversary of the District will be celebrated. The morning services, in the German language, begin at 10 o'clock. The ladies will serve a plate lunch at noon for the small sum of 10¢ per plate. The afternoon services, English only, begin at 2 o'clock. The hours were set this early to permit those who care to also hear the address of Governor Langer at Lake Elsie.
In the evening an illustrated lecture on the history of our church in the two states will be given.
A special feature of all services will be the singing by an octette[sic] of pastors. The Great Bend choirs will also render several selections.
J.P. Klausler, Pastor.
