This text was copied from the 1950 narrative using Optical Character Recognition scanning. Nothing has been added /removed/ changed from the original text. Formatting was added to improve readibilty.

IN NOMINE JESU

Historical Resume

The earliest records of our congregation show activity as far back as 1907. The first church book gives dates in 1908 and 1910, recording official acts and presenting the names of Pastors Miessler, Harms and Mahnke. These men expended real efforts to establish a church in Saint Charles but did not succeed because the number of people they had to work with was so limited. No official records are at hand to give the rest of the story in the development of our congregation. We do know, however, that there was extensive and personalized work being carried on. With the first meetings held in the Lodge Hall on East Main Street the development of our congregation began.

The sainted Pastor H. W. Rabe (see page 4), who had retired from active ministry, came to Saint Charles to serve our Lutheran people. His zeal and interest drew the attention of the Mission board which took care of the details of buying a site and of placing a prefabricated building on the newly acquired property. This action was climaxed by the Dedication day, December 3, 1925, on which occasion the Rev. L. Baumgaertner and the Rev. W. J. Kowert were the speakers. This is the event we are now celebrating.
From the official minutes, and from the Bulletin, which is now in the 15th Volume, we draw the following details. It is our intention to give all who are interested a brief story of the things which made up the life and work of Saint Mark's Lutheran in Saint Charles.

Four pastors have served Saint Mark's in the first 25 years of its existence. Pastor H. W. Rabe, 1925-1928; Pastor W. F. Theiss, 1928-1935, the first resident pastor; Pastor E. H. Pflug, 1935-1938; Pastor E. L.Burgdorf, 1938-1947; Pastor A. F. C. Pfotenhauer, 1947.

The organists who have served us over the years are: Mrs. George Dau, Mrs. W. F. Theiss, Mrs. H. B. Schuldt, Mrs. E. Betts, Mrs. Augusta Kraushaar, Mrs. E. L. Burgdorf, Mr. E. R. Thusius, Miss Maxine Schuldt. and Miss Marilyn Thompson.

The minutes of the first meeting reveal the first officers of our congregation. The Elders were: Messrs. Hoffman, Willing and Schuldt: Secretary- Treasurer, John Lauritzen.

In April 1928 the question of calling a resident pastor was brought up for the first time. In answer to the question Pastor W. Theiss was called as the first resident pastor in the summer of that year. October of the same year brought the church paper into existence.

This agency served the congregation for a number of years until the weekly bulletin system was introduced. We also can note that the same month was the birthday of the young peoples' group in our congregation. This organization has continued to serve our church well and has helped to develop the membership of the church which will be tomorrow.

January 1929 the voters purchased new hymnals to help make the services a fully rounded out worship period. January of the following year a new system of recording the vital statistics of the congregation was inaugurated. This called for reworking all the materials at hand that dealt with baptisms, confirmations, weddings and burials as well as the communion roster.

To make the system complete, a church seal was purchased. July 12, 1930 the problem of supplying the congregation with an organ was opened. It was taken care of in October 1931 when a new instrument was purchased. This same year saw the decision to build the parsonage. The debt of $5300 thus incurred was set aside by $45 monthly payments. The garage was added to the property the following year.

On October 14, 1935 Pastor E. Pflug was called as pastor of Saint Mark's. The first months of 1936 brought the bulletin into existence. In the April meeting of that same year the decision to join the Missouri Synod was made and carried out. To give the children of the congregation more of an opportunity to learn the Word of the Lord, the Summer School, now called Vacation Bible School, was begun. The same summer months also gave the setting for the dedication of the newly acquired bell. 1937 marked the end of the German services in our parish.

June 20, 1938 Pastor E. Burgdorf was called to serve our congregation. The notes and minutes for the years which follow show the repeated reference to the debt reduction efforts which the congregation had to exercise. Despite the problems the congregation became self-supporting on January 17, 1943. The records show continued activity and many fine additions which were made in the subsequent years. We list only a few of the outstanding cases. New hymnals, January 1941; a new organ in October. Redecorating was carried out on all our properties. The effort to set up a consolidated Christian Day School in Geneva was heartily supported. The move to join the Lutheran Charities, a group which serves the charitable institutions in our circles, was endorsed by our membership.

January 13, 1947 is the date the congregation can remember as the one which found us debt free, since the last of the installments on the parsonage were taken care of at that time. To lay aside funds for future building needs, a 12% Fund was set aside. This fund approximated the amounts paid out each month on the indebtedness.

Pastor A. Pfotenhauer was installed on November 30, 1947. The records show a few physical improvements on our properties. Storm windows, insulation, reroofing the church, new typewriter, addresserette, improved heating in the church-all to make our property a better one with which to serve our congregation and its membership. The most recent additions include an oil burner and a coat of paint for our entire property.

Charter Members
The opening paragraphs of this booklet speak of the first officers of our congregation. Of this group three men are still listed on our church books. They include Messrs. John Lauritzen, Herbert B. Schuldt, Sr., and Paul Willing, Sr. It is our prayer that our church of tomorrow will be able to count men with like devotion and consecration in its membership.