The following is from Saleste, Paul H., Ninetieth Anniversary of Saint John's Evangelical and Reformed Church, January 1, 1935. (Spelling and punctuation as in the original.)
As thus the pulpit was again vacant, and the congregation looking for its fifteenth pastor. A pulpit committee was named, and an extensive search made for a minister who would it into the situation here. During this time, the present pastor, then serving as professor of Psychology and Philosophy at Findlay College, Findlay, Ohio, was obtained as supply pastor. After a long and weary quest, which was unsuccessful, the congregation finally extended a unanimous call to Rev. Paul H. Saleste, Ph. D. to become its fifteenth pastor. It was not know then, but the greatest economic depression in the history of the American people was just beginning. With it began our pastorate, and we should be forgiven, if we make for obvious reasons, another chapter, in the development of Saint John's Evangelical Church. ...
For a long time we hesitated as to acceptance of the call. We had been here after Rev. G. A. Kienle's departure in December 1924, and well knew the rich historical background of the congregation, as well as the difficulties of the work. Having served smaller charges in Miltonsburg, Ohio, 1916-19 and Coshocton, Ohio, 1919-24, we had found satisfying employment in pleasant surroundings as professor of Psychology at Oklahoma University in 1925; Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa 1925-29 and Findlay College 1929-30, and the fascination of this work made a choice difficult. But in the Congregational meeting January 12th, 1930, the challenge was made so insistent and attractive, and the congregation would not take "no" for an answer any longer, so that we finally consented "for Jesus sake." And our first message to you on this matter is found in the February 1930 Messenger as follows:
"No ministry will be really effective, whatever its intelligence, which is not a ministry of strong faith, true spirituality, deep earnestness, genuine sincerity and consecrated service. Preach, teach, pray and comfort are the four-square foundation upon which Christ's Ambassadors have been commissioned to carry redemption to the uttermost parts of the earth. This is the task and trust I have accepted in your behalf dear members of Saint John. May your confidence, loyalty, reverence and prayer make it always an easy task. Let us together build a "true communion of the saints" and keep our church always a divine temple of worship."
That is the platform upon which I stood then, and stand now. Our success has not always been unclouded, our progress not always certain, our hopes not always fulfilled, and our achievements not always definitely satisfactory, but "Horus nonnumero nisi serenas." Thus may it always be. But there have been "clouded hours" too!
And so it was that on Sunday June 19th, 1930, with a congregation of 900 overflowing into the Sunday School annex, the Dr. G. A. Kienle installed your present pastor into this work, which is now in its sixth year.
Let us recite events in the swiftly moving calendar of time briefly and chronologically.
Sept. 26, 1929 first service
Nov. 3, 1929 first communion service attended by 150.
April 13, 1930 Renewal of Confirmation Rally and Homecoming with 800 in
attendance.
April 20, 1930 Great Easter Sunrise Service and an Easter offering of $2527.29,
most of which was used for renovating the parsonage.
April 20, 1930 - Acceptance of the gift, "Ascending Christ" for
chancel niche given by Mr. William Martin, member of church, who painted it and
generously offered it to his church.
June 29, 1930 - Official Installation of pastor by Rev. G. A. Kienle.
Oct. 19, 1930 - Every member canvass, with 960 members solicited and 792 pledges
received, aggregating $7789.58.
Jan. 15, 1931 - Treasurer reports annual receipts of first full year of our
pastorate as aggregating $10,000.87.
March 19th, 1931 - Ladies Aid celebrates 70th anniversary. Mrs. Anna Ost,
President.
May 19, 1931 - Contract for redecoration of church let at $1800.00.
June 21, 1931 - Rededication Service.
June 1931 - Saint John's Guild presents set of four altar covers to church.
July 1931 - Bulletin Board presented to church by Mr. Phil Schmutzler.
Sept. 1931 - Organization of Brotherhood Men's Chorus by Mr. John C. Klinger.
Easter 1932 - Two thousand in attendance in four services of day in Sunday
School and Church.
Jan. 1933 - Six hundred and fifty dollars paid on church debt. Reports of all
societies indicate genuine progress, inspite of "hard times".
Dec. 1934 - Number of communicants raised from 685 in 1930 to 1208 in 1934.
Jan. 1934 - Debt reduced from $7900 to $6900. Congregation still living within
its budget. Benevolences for year reported as totaling $2485.00. Congregation
decides to celebrate Ninetieth Anniversary in becoming manner.
Two anniversary committees appointed.
Planning and program committee: Mr. H. R. Fiedler, Miss Bertha Reuss, Mr. Harry
Frietchen.
Anniversary offering committee: Mr. Ed. Goetz, Mr. Charles Maglott, Mr. Charles
Baer, Mr. J. C. Klinger, and Mr. J. C. Hamilton.
The following is from Saleste, Paul H., One Hundred Years of Saint John's Church, Evangelical and Reformed, January 1, 1945. (Spelling and grammar as in the original.)
So the pulpit was vacant again. It was the ominous summer of 1929. A pulpit committee made an extensive search for a man who would fit the Mansfield situation, one who could stay at least fifteen years, as Mr. Ed. Remy pensively meditated, and round out a hundred years. And that desire wasn't easy to execute. It is always easier to vacate than to find a man to placate and collaborate. Your present pastor was serving as Professor of Psychology and Philosophy at Findlay College, Findlay, O. He was peaceably and comfortably enjoying his career. He wasn't expecting to change. But he did agree to supply the pulpit beginning September 26, 1929. And that is where we stuck our neck out - seventy miles - from Findlay to Mansfield. For after repeated fruitless attempts to find a new minister, this congregation did what other congregations have done under similar circumstances, and lived to regret it, they elected the nearest available man - the innocent man in the pulpit. It was not an easy choice for us to make. But after considerable hesitation and deliberation the choice was made official - and that is how Dr. Paul H. Saleste became the fifteenth pastor of St. John's Church, destined to round out the century, if nothing more. Man's struggle with destiny, his sense of his own active consciousness existing in a universe controlled by a power greater than himself, is the recurring pattern of experience woven into the living and the ministry of a church. It is however that destiny, behind and beyond all differences of personality and of epoch, expressed in new forms by new minds in all ages, that is the ultimate irony informing every vision of its triumph. "Man proposes, God disposes."
So we came to you in the beginning of the greatest economic depression of all American history. So we have remained with you through the hardest, toughest war of all time (1941 - 45), and so we have labored and suffered and carried on with you, with depression and war as our daily diet for fifteen years.
I mention this tragic fact, in case someone about the year 1970 wonders why St. John's stood still for fifteen years, why it bivouacked in the wilderness as the children of Israel for forty years before they entered the Promised Land. But that is what all the churches in our fair land have been doing in these years of madness, hate and godlessness. Remember what our Lord exclaimed in very similar circumstances - Matthew 12:38, 39.
"But He answered and said unto them,
An evil and adulterous generation seeketh for a sign,
And there shall be no sign given,
But the sign of the prophet Jonah."
It is a terrifying warning that our Lord has for such days as these - to which may be added the verse 38 from the 8th chapter of the Gospel of Mark - "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
Think it over, my friend. Think it over, every true and loyal friend of the church, on this your church's 100th anniversary. The work of your church will go on for another century and after that St. John's will render its perpetual tribute for God and His great Son for the years that lie ahead. Are you going to be numbered among those who go forward in the Lord's name to a greater future - or will the words of the Master condemn you when "the roll is called up yonder," with the words of Matthew 20:6: "Why stand ye here all the day idle?"...
We shall give you only the high lights of the years, as we take them out of the published records, which is the St. John's Messenger covering the last fifteen years of our pilgrimage of 100 years.
1929
Frohne resigns. Rev. Stoerker, Rev. Krumm and other candidates are heard. A
professor from Findlay fills in. Church staff of Mr. H. Frietchen, sup't, John
Klinger, director of music, Miss Ruth Huber, organist, carries on. Sunday School
enrollment is 971. Mission Sunday Offering $901.01. Donation Social is Young
People's Society high spot. But it is better to choose a good pilot, than to
take along too many life preservers.
1930
Rev. Paul H. Saleste, Ph.D., accepts St. John's pulpit, January 12, 1930.
President of council, Peter Klein. Remodeling of parsonage for the new pastor,
wife and "baby" (January 25th). Confirmation class of 23. Easter
offering, $2,527.29. Donation of "Jesus Portrait" by Mr. William
Martin. Clarence Fisher, President, Brotherhood. Missionary offering, $917.00.
1930 church finances, $10,000.87; S. S., $2,641.00. Guild meeting attendance,
80. Ladies' aid, 60.
"Hold fast to faith, and know that God is good through all the years,
The soul would have no rainbow, were the eye to have no tears.
1931
Plans for redecorating church high light congregational meeting. President of
Council, Charles Finfgeld; President of Brotherhood, George Bergman; Guild, Mrs.
Hattie Rahm; Aid, Mrs. Anna Ost; Supt. S. S., Harry Frietchen. Enrollment 979.
Av. Att., 520. Easter Communion, 616. Easter offering, $1,865. And the
depression was rolling in. Guild purchases altar and pulpit trimmings. Church
redecorates for $1,800.00. The new minister has become the old minister with the
old St. John's exhortation - "Please attend the church." Bulletin
board donated by Phil. Schmutzler. There were vesper services by choir; organ
recitals by organist; special evening services by societies; concerts and plays
by young people and by outside organizations, and many other features to
stimulate church activity and attendance. New radiator shields were donated to
the church by the Sunday School. 1931 Church finances, $10,564; S. S.,
$2,426.00.
It isn't what you've doe,
But rather, how and why!
It isn't, "did you win?"
But how hard did you try?
1932
The first Dr. Saleste "special" Easter Sunrise services were attended
by over 700. Confirmation reunion was a big success. Easter offering, $1,470.
"Very good for the times." President of Council, Mr. H. R. Fiedler.
Thirty-six new members were added. Every Member Canvass pledges signed, 650.
Amount subscribed, $6,420.00. Ruth Huber resigns as organist. Mrs. Helen Heston
takes over as new organist. The parsonage family is given a week off in October
to celebrate "golden wedding" of Mrs. Saleste's parents. Director of
Music, Wilbur Hegnauer. S. S. Enrollment, 1,001. Missionary offering, $800.00.
Miss Elise Kettler, guest missionary. Messenger curtailed to eight numbers per
year. Salaries also cut by depression. 1932 Church finances, $8,975.00; S. S.
$1,909,, and Mr. L. Hill begins to worry. Never bear more than one kind of
trouble at once. Too many people bear three kinds - all they have had, all they
now have, and all they ever expect to have.
1933
This was "depression" at its worst. But we got through it O. K. Mr. H.
R. Fiedler continued as President of Council. President of Brotherhood, Carl
Philipon. Guild, Bertha Fisher. Aid, Mrs. Ost (for tenth straight year). Mr.
Frietchen carrying on in S. S. (and it wasn't easy). Mrs. Fletcher, Dir. of
Music. Donation Social, 25 chickens, 20 bushels of potatoes, 15 rabbits, 5 hams,
35 baskets of groceries.
Membership - Aid, 90; Guild, 143; Brotherhood, 107. Largest
confirmation class, 54. Donation of piano to Beginner's Dept. by Mr. and Mrs. W.
M. Van Dyke. Church debt had been reduced to $7,000. Church treasurer's report,
$6,427.00. Sunday School attendance average, 495. Enrollment, 964. Mr. Frietchen
said: "We'll have to do something about that."
A word to the wise, either young or old -
This logic is sound and sure -
The things that you keep will waste away;
What you give or share - will endure.
1934
Ninetieth Anniversary Services coming up, was the big topic of this
congregational meeting. President of Council, Phil. Smith; Brotherhood, John C.
Klinger; Guild, Mrs. Phil. Smith. Depression was not quite so crushing, we began
to think about ways and means of eliminating the debt, if possible, by the 90th
Anniversary, 1935. Rev. William Dresel, 12th pastor of the church, dies in
Evansville, Ind., January 11, 1934. Confirmation class, 33. Constitution was
changed to permit "more English services in morning." Mr. Ed
Schmutzler voted "thanks" by congregation for furnishing the communion
wine for so many years. Ninetieth Anniversary commemoration begun in October -
90 special days. Aims - 1. Bigger attendance; 2. More new members; 3. Biggest
Anniversary Offering. Committee of 90 members assists the pastor. Missionary
offering $918.00. Speaker, Sterling Whitener. Church treasury, 1934, $6,047; S.
S. $1,764.
"Some folks measure their success by what they have to live 'ON' - others by what they have to live 'FOR'."
1935
Ninetieth Anniversary services begin this year, Jan. 1 to 15. Dr. Kienle our
honored guest. S. S. present the play, "The Lost Church." Jan. 8th,
Robert Kienle. Jan. 9th, Mrs. Knaphurst. Jan. 10th, Pres. Miller of Heidelberg
College. Jan. 11th, Young People's Night, Prof. Nixon, speaker; Mr. Conrad
Diehm, master of ceremonies. Jan. 13th, Rev. Theo. Frohne. Anniversary offering,
$2, 616.00 (the Pastor's biggest disappointment). Mr. and Mrs. George Guenther
legacy, $2,961.00 to church. Both sums make it possible to reduce debt to about
$2,500. Altar in memory of Mr. and Mrs. George Guenther purchased and dedicated.
Easter offering, $1,125.00. Golden altar cross in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Otto
Fiedler dedicated. S. S. enrollment, 1,027. Junior Young People's League
organized. It was a big year, all around, except one thing.
What I am - is God's contribution to me.
What I make of myself - is my contribution to God.
1936
The depression was easing up. More people were working. And more people were
contributing to the church. The lift of the 90th Anniversary helped quite a bit.
Council President, Arthur Croack; Brotherhood, Clarence Fisher; Guild, Florence
Schaller. In the "Aid," Mrs. Ost resigned and Mrs. Henrietta Schmidt
took over.
The Sunday School felt the need of new hymn books. Presto,
"The School that Does Things" got new hymn books, purchased with money
from the Henry Goetz legacy. Sunday School work was fine. And so was Mr. Harry
Frietchen. Enrollment, 1,025, Officers, 28, Teachers, 57. We had lectures in the
Brotherhood, plays in the Young People's Societies, special programs in the
societies, suppers, dinners, parties. Congregational life was a wheel
"rolling along."
Easter offering was $1,350. New members added were 22. The
dust storms and drought years were over. Rev. Kienle came for a call - by
airplane. The parsonage was again repainted. The heating plant was
reconditioned. A new missionary was chose, Miss Helen Mueller. The missionary
offering was $975.00. Preparations were being made for the final attack on the
remaining church debt. We had had it long enough. St. John's church edifice
number three had been dedicated in 1912, so what was more natural than a
"Silver Anniversary" in 1937. We went ahead with it, and good. The
1937 Treasury report in the church was $6,735.00, without Easter and Christmas
offerings. It was a fairly good year, all around, except - St. John's members
still had not learned the art of faithful, regular church attendance.
1937
We gave up the evening services this year. Silver Anniversary was our big
thought. Council President was Charles Maglott; Brotherhood, Esley Cleckner;
Guild, Florence Schaller; Aid, Henrietta Schmidt. Easter services had developed
to over 900 attendance. Sunday School Easter attendance was 907.
Anniversary Sunday, May 5, dawned beautiful. Rev. Kienle was
getting older, grayer, but also prouder of St. John's. The debt was $2,400. The
offering, $2,773.00. It was a wonderful feeling - "Free of Debt." It
took us seven years to clear $10,000. But remember, they were all tough years
for everybody. There was sadness, too, Katherine Aberle, one of the St. John's
pillars, died on April 29th. And we didn't know that that same year, just a few
months after, we would be reading the final rites for St. John's thirteenth
pastor, Dr. G. A. Kienle, September 4, 1937. The Ladies' Aid celebrated its 75th
anniversary. Missionary offering was $742. Guest, Dorothea Riechers. Church
treasury, $6,757, efficiently guarded and dispensed by Mr. Fred Matthes who this
year, 1937, became our splendid treasurer, and still is. Another long-term
financial servant, Mr. Hill, still was nursing along the S. S. treasury to the
tune of $2,670. The attendance slipped below 500 again. We blamed it on an
infantile paralysis epidemic. Pastors were beginning to talk "War and
Peace." Add to that the fact that our excellent leader of the Sunday
School, Mr. Harry Frietchen, Sr., was finishing his "tenth" year and
not permitting himself to be re-elected, and we had reason to be dejected. But,
we presented him a fine "diamond" at Christmas, as a symbol of all
that we are unable to express for "Ten years of faithful and outstanding
service."
This is the reason why all men love you:
Truth to life is the charm of your art:
Other men may soar above you -
You keep close to the human heart.
1938-
The year of decision! Ominous clouds collecting on the world scene. Running a
church was going to be harder work. The pastor had a timely article in the March
1938 Messenger - "Let's talk things over." About 15 million still go
to church. About 25 million go to Sunday School, but does that make ours a
Christian country? The habit of "Not-going to church" was spreading.
We had a new a new superintendent, Mr. Conrad Diehm. Paul
Long took the chair in the official board. Russel Minch was at the helm in the
Brotherhood. Guild, Clara Yeager. Aid, Mrs. Henrietta Schmidt. Confirmation
class was 29 strong and another 29 new members joined. Easter attendance was our
largest, 946. There were 755 Easter communicants, and the offering was $1,250.
Miss Helen Mueller, our missionary in India, became Mrs. Dr. Freund during the
year. This made it necessary for us to find a new missionary, which we did in
the person of Miss Hazel Painter, out of our midst. Mr. Fred Haag was beginning
his studies for the ministry, so we had considerable to be proud of. Mr. Matthes
reported $6,574 for the year. It has been that way for ten years or more now,
and with generous Easter and Christmas offerings our church has been able to
manage its affairs quite successfully. There were also some signs that something
better for living conditions for the pastor was being considered, but mainly in
the mind of the pastor himself.
1939-
A new year. Number ten for the pastor. Number two for Mr. Diehm. Also number two
for Mr. Long, President of Council. Frank Vild was on top in the Brotherhood.
Congregational meeting discussed a lot of things, including
three new ideas: carpeting of the church, new hymnals, redecorating. The Easter
offering was $1,713.00. The bill for painting was $1,150.00. Easter Sunday
School attendance was 906. The Easter service becoming bigger and better and
more inspiring. But in a few months Europe echoed with the tramp of soldier's
feet. Bombs began to fall and destroy. The madness of hate was wrecking the
world. It was creeping into American thinking, too.
1940-
Council President, Mr. Harry Frietchen; Sunday School superintendent, Conrad
Diehm; Brotherhood, Chris. Geisel; Guild, Gladys Matthes, and Aid, Henrietta
Schmidt. And we had several young people's groups and societies, boy scouts, and
all that.
War clouds were getting darker. People were getting more
fearful. The government began to talk of conscription. And the churches began to
slip. Members were harder to get. Parents even forgetting to send children to
the "Saturday hour of instruction." We felt the need of more
"Loyalty services," and on October 6, 1940, we had 387 in church, by
actual count. But that wasn't even half of the 850 on our membership book.
War Relief was being talked of. Several hundred dollars were
gathered during the year. Missionary offering was $810.00. Miss Hedwig Schaefer
was our speaker from India. Mr. Diehm, our superintendent and enthusiastic
insurance genius, was percolating like his Chevrolet. Young people's activities
were being developed. Quite a number of our young folks attended camps in the
summer, rallies in the fall and winter, and often they forgot to attend their
own Young People's League in the church. But this was almost a high spot for
Young People's work in St. John's.
Another high spot was the treasury, with $8,200.00 for the
year. But the November Messenger talked of the first military conscription -
17,000,000 of our best young men were being drafted. Mothers' hearts were heavy.
We "pray that the time may never come, when they will be sent to the
world's battle fronts," we said. How wrong we were.
And not to forget, this is the year when the church was
carpeted.
1941-
Mr. Frietchen, Mr. Diehm, Gladys Matthes, Mrs. Schmidt still in charge of the
respective societies. Things were getting tougher and grimmer. We were happy to
have experienced heads helping us.
Easter offering was $1,802. Young People's Societies were
keeping up their excellent work. Forty new members were added by confirmation
and letter. Mrs. Martin Albrecht came for the Missionary Day; offering, $780.00.
Defense and was bonds were being purchased by the church. A $1,000.00 bond was
purchased with the Mrs. Henry Goetz legacy, as the beginning of a Building Fund
looking forward to the possible construction of an Educational Building in the
future. Five hundred new church hymnals were purchased and paid for by a very
generous Christmas offering. A service secretary was being appointed. The names
of the boys in the service were being published. Then it happened - Dec. 7, 1941
- "Pearl Harbor." And I write this exactly three hears later to the
day. But the world hasn't been the same since. Blood, tears, heartbreaks, that's
what war is.
After the declaration of war, council and pastor deemed it
advisable to stop the German services in our church, at least for the duration.
Now, after three years, I still think it was the proper thing for us to do.
After all - with one or two exceptions - all our people knew how to speak
English. War lets loose a lot of hatred and hellish emotionalism - why not make
a sacrifice, if needful, to prevent possible misunderstanding and violence. So
the German services were stopped Dec. t, 1941. A few people were hurt. Another
little group of Hungarian-Germans became bitter and left the church, making
themselves their own little unauthorized church. The best of our people said -
"It is the war, sacrifices must be made by all, we'll submit." The
congregation in the January meeting unanimously confirmed this war action of the
council.
A new service banner appeared over the organ, and soon there
were more than a hundred stars. The first list, April, 1942, contained 31 names.
Treasurer's report was $8,792.00; Sunday School, $2,677.00.
All things yet shall work together, and so working, all in one,
As the sun draws back its sunbeams, when the dial-day is done,
All things yet shall gather roundly, and unite and shape and climb,
Into truth's great golden unit, in the ripe result of Time.
1942-
And so we come nearer and nearer to the present. We may begin to skip the
obvious. But - Mr. Charles Finfgeld takes the chairmanship of the council.
Conrad Diehm takes on the superintendency for the fifth year. And the war goes
on. And a lot of changes are made. In the years to come you may read this and
remember: gas rationing, sugar rationing, whisky and cigarette shortages,
billion dollar war drives, hundred billion dollar war debts - and you of the
coming generation will be paying for all these sins of the fathers in 1940, 41,
42, 43, 44, 45 and who knows how much longer.
We were beginning to feel all this - especially in the Sunday
School, where suddenly every church in the country became conscious of a
"falling away" or a "disloyalty" which in the face of
sacrifices, war, suffering, deaths is certainly unaccountable. Is it the
judgment of God! Is it that we have so flagrantly broken the Sabbath Day and all
the other commandments? Is it that war brutalizes men? That it makes them mad
for pleasure, reckless and selfish? Is it the fact that men have made so much
money on war work - earning up to $100 and $200 per week 0 spending, living
riotously, living unintelligently? What is it? Who can tell?
Our Sunday School attendance began to drop alarmingly.
Delinquency problems in city, home and church increased. We tried many spiritual
remedies, including much prayer. But the fever just kept rising. The Easter
offering went down to $1,100.00. It would have been worse but for a most
generous gift of $165.00 by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hayes, members of ours in Mt.
Vernon. (And listen, these are not wealthy folks, just common, ordinary folks
like you and I.) For almost ten years now they have sent in their more than
tithing contributions for Christmas, for Easter, always over $100.00. May God
bless them! What a church St. John's could be with more of that spirit. In
February the pastor and family moved to 611 Brae Burn.
We had a modest celebration of "thirty years" in
May, 1942. The pastor reaffirmed the faith of the builders. A second list of
manes, 63 by now, were published in October, 1942, and that many more stars on
the service banner. Confirmation class was 33 and other new members 6. Get what
I mean, above? And we worked just as hard trying to get new members as in years
when we had thirty or forty. The total receipts for the church for the year were
$7,478.00; S. S. $2,470.00. The missionary offering was $1,000. Dr. Harold
Freund was our missionary from India. And after five years of excellent service
as Sunday School superintendent, Mr. Diehm resigned with the words: "I
thank St. John's and all my friends for having instilled in me the desire to
give myself for greater Christian service, by preparing myself for the ministry.
God willing, I shall do my best." Bravo, Conrad! You've got a tough road
ahead, may God go with you.
True friendship is a perfect, priceless gem,
Its greatest glory is its flawlessness.
My friends must give to me, as I to them,
Their best or nothing - I'll accept no less.
1943
The war goes on. But here and there we still meet some happy people, like Mrs.
Minnie Heineking, our oldest member, 92 years old. Mr. Finfgeld is again in
charge of the official board. Mr. Ralph Keil becomes our new General
Superintendent. Fred Mendlich was boss in the Brotherhood. But that was no snap,
trying to pump vitality into an organization that had dropped its average
attendance from 60 to 30 inside of two years. Too bad, fifteen swell years of
Brotherhood, should get so war-worn. We had one more swell brotherhood feed
left: Turkey dinner on March 8th, Henry Stutz and Harold Goetz (the old sharpshooter
himself) in charge. Since then Brotherhood has gone into cold storage - cold
turkey.
The starts on the service flag accumulate, April, 1943, there
are 108. God bless them! There is a Gethsemane ahead for a lot of us. Lenten and
Easter services were attended quite well. Easter offering was $1,600.00.
Missionary speaker was Mrs. Helen Freund, and the offering was $1,214.00. The
first whisperings of the approaching 100th Anniversary appear in the November,
1943, issue of the Messenger. The congregational treasury for the year was
$7,705.00, still handled with skill by Mr. Fred Matthes; S. S., $2,507. All that
is normal enough, but how we've slumped in attendance, and in such things as
"willing workers" and "willing teachers" and "new
members," and other vital factors the church depends on. With all due
credit to our Superintendents Ralph Keil, Charles Finfgeld, Russell Minch, Mary
Morris, Lillian Conley, and all the remnant of the old-timers, it's been a hard
pull all year. We hardly dared compute averages. We guessed about 400. And who
would argue that we sill retain the finest of what we've had. Hard and difficult
times are winnowing times, the grain is sifted and retained, the chaff blows
away.
"Your beaten to earth. Well, what of that?
Come up with a smiling face.
Its nothing against you to fall down flat,
But to live there - that's the disgrace."
1944-
Permit me to begin this final year of our passing parade with a few lines from
the January Messenger.
"We somehow crave that each oncoming year
May differ from the last,
But well it is that follow still,
The pattern of the past."
Perhaps you've sensed by now your pastor's reason for bringing
you a quick review of the last fifteen years of St. John's history, year by
year. That we together may still discern the "pattern of the past."
The pattern is the same - faith in the eternal Father, loyalty to Jesus the
Redeemer, service and fellowship in His cause, that brotherhood among men may be
established in a world dedicated to righteousness.
All fifteen pastors have carried out this pattern
conscientiously over a span of 100 years. I'm not ashamed of the results of my
own fifteen years of "toil and trying." Your pastor has not lain down
on the job. The load has become heavier. If you will just consider, three or
four times as much is expected of the pastor now than 25 years ago. I've tried
my best to meet each problem and burden squarely. I've given my time, my leisure,
my recreation, my family life, almost everything increasingly to the work at St.
John's church. I've made mistake. And I've often been guilty of neglect - the
neglect that can't be helped, because you can't do this when you have to do
that. We hope we have maintained the pattern of the past in our pedestrian
years, which also will come to an end.
Most of the work of 1944 was pre-anniversary. Two committees
were charged with carrying out the program with the pastor. The 100th
Anniversary Offering Committee composed of Mr. Harry Frietchen, George Keil,
Miss Minnie Loudon, Mr. Esley Cleckner, and Mr. Phil. Schmutzler. This committee
went to work immediately, and by Easter had reached and outstripped the goal of
$10,000 by nearly $2,000. Truly remarkable, and a fine expression of church
loyalty in terms of money at least. We wish to recognize the contribution of
many "friends of St. John's," especially those who answered Phil.
Schmutzler's invitation to help raise the anniversary offering, with over
$2,500. Thank you all.
The other committee - the Anniversary Program Committee - has
the more prosaic job of preparing the proper setting, incentive and program for
the commemoration. It is composed of Mr. Henry Fiedler, Bertha Ruess, Charles
Finfgeld, Ralph Keil. Let no one suppose they have been idle. Not in the least.
Their work will appear in the services of the week of commemoration, January 7th
to 15th, 1945.
In closing, some other events of the year must be mentioned.
On June 13th, one of the sons of the congregation, Mr. Fred Haag, as ordained to
the Holy Orders of the Church. Another $1,200.00 Mission Fund was engineered by
the Missionary tre3asurer, Mr. H. R. Fiedler, and Anna Kalstein, secretary of
the Missionary Department. Rev. Theo. Essebaggers was our annual visitor from
India.
Most of the year's activity centered very logically in the
church renovation for the anniversary. The outside of the church, also
parsonage, was painted during the summer at a cost of $875.00. The interior was
redecorated by the Schanbacher Company between September 11th and October 15th,
at a cost of $3,500.00. New lighting fixtures of a cathedral type have been
recently installed and turned on for the first time on the first Sunday of the
new church year, December 3rd. Very appropriately, the first Sunday in Advent
season emphasizes the "Everlasting Light." This improvement cost
$1,200.00. At the moment further repainting is going on in the church parlors
and basement rooms - all for the anniversary.
And so we could go on, rambling pleasantly among our thoughts
of the past, the present, and the future. But the "Tale has been
told," why continue on, when
"Of every noble work the silent part is best
Of all expression, that which cannot be expression."THE PASTOR'S PRAYER
I do not ask
That crowds may throng the temple,
That standing room be priced:
I only ask that, as I voice the message
They may see Christ.I do not ask
For churchly pomp or pageant,
Or music such as wealth alone can buy:
I only ask that, as I voice the message,
He may be nigh!I do not ask
That men may sound my praises,
Or headlines spread my name abroad;
I only pray that, as I voice the message,
Hearts may find God!I do not ask
For earthly place or laurel,
Of this world's distinctions any part:
I only ask when I have voiced the message,
My Savior's Heart!
CHURCH RECORDS AND STATISTICS
1845 - 1945
FUNERALS
2,351
BAPTISMS
3,441
WEDDINGS
1,715
CONFIRMANDS
1,940
MEMBERSHIP (Voting)
780
MEMBERSHIP (1942 Census)
1,713
SUNDAY SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
890
An Every Member Canvass was arranged for September 24th, and we had the first of our annual October Loyalty months. At Christmas we had a special offering of $1,000 for Benevolence. Missionary offering was $786. Guest, Alma Jungerman. Miss Painter had been commissioned in January - by the summer she was in India. We had other events, too - Girl orchestra, Elmhurst Glee clubs, bazaars, sauerkraut suppers - and the Quilters every week. The church treasury for the yea made $7,436.00 as Mr. Matthes used his magic touch. Or was is perchance Mrs. Saleste and her "board lunches" - remember! Sunday School gave Mr. Hill $2,558.00 to pay the bills with. Honor Roll was 118, who attended Sunday School every Sunday, but sad to say, seldom stayed for church services. And that, said the pastor, is my most significant reaction after ten years at St. John's. "St. John's people attend S. S., give generously to every good cause, but they just won't attend church services as they should, so what?" At that, church attendance was picking up a trifle, but mainly visitors and outsiders.
1940-
Council President, Mr. Harry Frietchen; Sunday School superintendent, Conrad
Diehm; Brotherhood, Chris Giesel; Guild, Gladys Matthes, and Aid, Henrietta
Schmidt. And we had several young people's groups and societies, boy scouts and
all that.
War clouds were getting darker. People were getting more
fearful. The government began to talk of conscription. And the churches began to
slip. Members were harder to get. Parents were even forgetting to send children
to the "Saturday hour of instruction." We felt the need of more
"Loyalty services," and on October 6, 1940, we had 387 in church, by
actual count. But that wasn't even half of the 850 on our membership book.
War Relief was being talked of. Several hundred dollars were
gathered during the year. Missionary offering was $810. Miss Hedwig Schaefer was
our speaker from India. Mr. Diehm, our superintendent and enthusiastic insurance
genius, was percolating like his Chevrolet. Young people's activities were being
developed. Quite a number of our young folks attended camps in the summer,
rallies in the fall and winter, and often they forgot to attend their own Young
People's League in the church. But this was almost a high spot for Young
People's work in St. John's.
Another high spot was the treasury, with $8,200.00 for the
year. But the November Messenger talked of the first military conscription -
17,000,000 of our best young men were being drafted. Mothers' hearts here heavy.
We "pray that the time may never come, when they will be sent to the
world's battle fronts," we said. How wrong we were.
And not to forget, this is the year when the church was
carpeted.
St. John's Messenger of the St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church, vol. 47, no. 12, December 1, 1946. (Spelling and punctuation as in the original.) Note: Because this issue contains numerous references to Dr. Saleste's resignation and its impact on the congregation, it is quoted from extensively.
Speak no ill of Friend or neighbor -
Let your words be fair and true:
Speak of others as you would -
That others speak of you.
Weigh the scales of you opinions -
On the side of sympathy:
Temper justice with compassion -
And the breath of charity.
Better silence than reproaches -
Bitter words affections kill:
If you cannot praise - say nothing -
Cast no stone and speak no ill.
When St. John's Church did me the honor of extending to me a call to the pastorate, I stated that my term would be indefinite: but at best I hoped to remain fifteen years. This has been extended to a little over seventeen years, by the grace of God. And seventeen years years as pastor of St. John's Church appears to be long enough.
Thus is becomes out wish that our relationship as pastor and congregation be brought to a happy conclusion, and terminate on January 1, 1947. We therefore herewith tender you, the official board, our resignation as your pastor and leader, and pray that you may present this matter to the congregation at your earliest convenience, for proper official action and acceptance.
In making this decision, we feel that we have made the wise and correct choice and that it will work out to the best interest of the church we have served as well as ourselves. I have never felt that the mere length of term of an office is an essential consideration in a pastorate. The pastorate is a sort of relay race in which each pastor will hand over his commission at the most opportune moment. This is our opportune moment. That is why we ask to be released from our obligations at St. John's Church at the suggested date - January 1, 1947. And may the blessings of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Possibly it was a bit sudden for the pastor of St. John's Church, after over seventeen years to end his November 17th service with the words, "And so the time has come for me to end my ministry here."
Believe me, I hated to do this to my friends, myself and my family. But there comes a time in a man's life I guess, when because of lack of support, appreciation, friendship and a lot of other reasons it becomes clear to him that what must eventually come to pass, might just as well be done - now. I am happy to have had so many years with so many nice people. And of course there always are people who are not so nice. Courtesy, respect and friendliness comes hard to our St. John's people. But I'm grateful for so many of my "real friends" asking, "why is Rev. Saleste leaving us?" You deserve a clear-cut answer - and for your sake we'll talk things over a little.
First of all, of course we are leaving because we have such a wonderful opportunity to take a fine position as professor of psychology at Drake University. God has been wonderful to us in sending us such a reward - when rewards here have always been pretty skimp. But that's only half of the story. the other half - will come out during this little lecture.
Whether we've been successful or not - I don't know. Our lasting contribution to the St. John's story will come out more clearly and favorably for us, as the years roll by. I'll be around once in a while during the coming years, to see what happens.
Well anyway, as we were saying, it wasn't easy to make our big decision. After all, this is our home too. In seventeen years even a tree in your backyard gets to put its roots down pretty deep and isn't easy to dig up. And then we must confess that most of that time we enjoyed it - in spite of the trials and tribulations and some grumbling that always is there. But when a man gives up pastorate of almost eighteen years, he gives up much more than just a hard, nerve-wracking, fatiguing job. It's eighteen years of his life. Eighteen years of his best years. And for us it's giving up also - the longest pastorate in the 100 years of the church by a few months. And that's a little boast. And nobody ever kicked that Dr. Saleste was always there - every Sunday - for seventeen years - without one miss - except the vacations of course. Dr. Kienle broke down several times during his term. Frohne collapsed under his burdens in four years. (You haven't heard of him collapsing since - have you?) But our shoulders were big and strong - and we were willing to take more, than we handed out. Sometimes only a very dear parsonage lady and daughter were our only encouragement.
Well no - there were many other fine people too. The people who love the church and the minister and know he's God's man - not a deceiver or hypocrite or something like that. Thanks for the people who stick with their pastor - and the few who help. So we give up also the beautiful privilege of having religious company with so many fine people. Folks we've baptized, confirmed, married, played with, sorrowed with and enjoyed.
Then there are other things that are built up in eighteen years. The many good friends outside of the church - friends you get to know one by one and they're swell. I mean the bakers and bankers and butchers and lawyers and dentists and clerks and lodge-brothers and truck drivers - and even the tramps - and other people on the street whom you meet and greet every few steps as you walk the downtown streets, or go into the courthouse or into the markets, or the factories or schools or churches and other places. A man also gives up the familiarities of the natural scene, the fine buildings, the churches, the schools, the fine homes and streets and parks and all that - in fact the whole setting and all the actors that have been part of his Mansfield play before the curtain comes down. And giving up that - is almost harder than giving up the pulpit of a church. It'll take seventeen other years not for us to build up that personal, warm environment for ourselves in some other place. So you see - why there was a struggle in deciding to leave you.
In this matter though it's like a man said to me on the street, "I know - the little insults, indignities, unkindnesses, hurts keep piling up until you just have had enough." And I said, "yes that's about it." Said the same man, "I also belong to a church with a long-term pastor: isn't it funny how for no good reason at all - the old broom wears out - and a new broom is necessary to sweep out the rubbish."
St. John's has a part in what this man meant, by the deteriorating influence of time in the relationship of pastor and congregation. I believe St. John's has almost improved the formula for keeping their pastor just so long. The formula is - when you get a pastor, everybody cheer, everybody help, everybody show interest - then by and by - set up a job for the minister bigger than when he came and nobody help, nobody cheer, nobody show any interest, and make him carry his load all alone - and he'll leave. It sure works. It's a neat little package of dynamite though - and I wonder what the heavenly Father will say about it. Or what you will say - some day - at judgment when the question is - why did you say such mean things about my servant? Why didn't you help him - a little bit - in his hard work? But that's how it is my friend - the little undeserved unkindnesses build up and up to finally break a minister's heart and health. And you can't blame him when he has a chance to leave before that happens. Kienle said to me years ago - I too had a hard time making up my mind to leave this church after seventeen years - because I built it - and I loved it - but now I see it was for the best. At least I won't have to make sick calls day after day with people just having headache or colds or stomachache or something that certainly won't kill them. And then Kienle added this: "St. John's is known for being hard on its ministers - I hope you can stand it longer than I did."
Well - I have stood it longer, by a little. But it has come to its end - and mainly because even though there are a lot of fine folk in our church, there's a complex or something here, to pay more attention to having good offerings, getting two missionaries instead of one, salting away thousands in war-bonds, developing students' assistance funds - but nobody interested in developing a ministers assistance fund. And I mean assistance in other ways than money.
For the poor St. John's pastor - they build up a fault-finding fund instead. And why don't church people ever get under their skulls, that most ministers are conscientious, they are hard workers, they are trained for their work, and generally they like their work - but along come some who don't know anything about spiritual things, except that they have a pile of conceit and like to blabber - and then the interference and bickering and friction and backbiting begins. You want my job? You can have it. Especially you who have whispering for years - Rev. Saleste doesn't so this and he doesn't do that. Instead of letting him alone to do his work as he knows how to do it - or helping to do some external material things, so that there would be more time for spiritual things.
When I came here - I promised you this - :I promise that I will faithfully proclaim to all, both old and young, the counsel of God unto salvation according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ: to lead an exemplary life of faith and love and Godliness, and so much as in me lieth to avoid everything that might hinder the blessings of my office or impair the fruit of my work." That was my installation promise. Did I fail in keeping my promise?
Now listen to what you promised. "Do you, the members of St. John's church, promise to recognize in the man you have called a Minister of the Gospel: to submit to his instruction, guidance and discipline: to support him in his ministry by willing service as directed by the Gospel and to shield him against temporal wants?" That was your installation promise. Did you keep yours?
A report from the conference was made last spring about a lot of different things. This report from the conference was not presented. Quote: "The time is past when a church can expect its minister to lick stamps and envelopes and paste stickers into song books, stoke furnaces, repair benches, chop down Christmas trees, decorate the church, shovel snow and a hundred and one other menial things the pastor of St. John's has to do because no one else will do them. And then when he does them, instead of getting a pat on the back for it, he gets a slap in the face, why didn't he do this - or that and a lot of other things." Oh you thoughtless, thoughtless church people - who think a man can do all these things and then find time to do his real work properly.
Well - maybe I've been getting a little bit too harsh at that. Forgive me - but I wanted you to know a little bit of the other side of the story. When you get a new minister - give him a break. Take him as God's servant - to preach and teach and minister to you - and don't load him with things you in the boards and committees and societies could do - and expect him to do his work right. Believe me, with very few exceptions the pastor always has his Lord Jesus in mind as his example - supreme in righteousness, gentleness, strength, sympathy, kindness, compassion, faith, hope and love. And he has His Lord's Cross in mind too - and knows - churches too easily like to erect a Calvary for their pastor - and there are always willing hands to drive the nails through his hands and feet and the spear through his heart.
The Bible needs no defense. But a pastor needs good people to defend him. Your kindness, your courtesy, your understanding, your appreciation, your helpfulness is his defense. When he gets that - he succeeds. When he does not get it - he fails. Judge for yourself. Give your new minister a chance to make you aware by his life and preaching and serving of the Living God through the Living Christ. Let him interpret to you humbly as he will, the wonderful love of God for you; let him lead you into green pastures where you find the water of life and bread of life: so that you may become a better man or woman and be found at last worthy of Eternal Life.
And one final bit of real good advice. Why don't most of you start growing up and making the church worship hour - the real hour of inspiration and prayer and strength it ought to be, instead of being so smugly satisfied about having done well enough by coming to Sunday School. No minister born or unborn will enjoy his work at St. John's in its present set-up anymore than I did. When he come here - he comes here to preach the word of God to you. And that's at 10:30 a. m. on Sunday morning. Make the church hour the big thing at St. John's, not the Sunday School hour as at present. And God will bless you. And the church will grow and be a blessing to many others. THE HOUR OF WORSHIP - oh you St. John's people - how little you have made out of it. In the last analysis - that is the biggest reason why we are leaving. And now - may the Lord bless you all. Goodbye. Sincerely and earnestly.
Paul H. Saleste, Ph. D.
Total - 1929-47. (338).
Our last baptismal service will be on Sunday December 22nd at 10:30 a. m. in
connection with the Morning Worship service.
Nov. 13 - Arthur R. Hall and Harriett E. Johnson.
Nov. 16 - Donald L. Ritchie and Maxine L. Brickley.
Nov. 19 - George O. May and Gertrude E. Reiter.
Nov. 23 - Karl Hoffman and Betty Jane Morehouse.
Total for 1929-47. (465).
Nov. 22 - Garnett S. Chew was born February 2, 1891 and died
November 19, 1946. Age - 55-9-17.
Total burials from 1929-47. (581).
Total from 1929-47. (21, 193).
1929 - 225, 1930 - 807, 1931 - 829, 1932 - 812, 1933 - 857, 1934 - 1, 202, 1935
- 1, 258, 1936 - 1,197, 1937 - 1, 314, 1938 - 1, 294, 1939 - 1, 717, 1940 - 1,
542, 1941 - 1, 732, 1942 - 1, 308, 1943 - 1, 138, 1944 - 1, 285, 1945 - 1, 258,
1946 - 1, 408.
Total .................................. 21, 193
The next Communion service is Sunday, December 29th, 1946 at 10:30 a. m. (Our
final service).
Total confirmed 1929-47 is 416. This year's class numbers 25. We shall take them along their religious studies as far as we can - until December 28th, 1946. After that - the official board will have to be responsible for their continued instruction in the faith - and possible confirmation on Palm Sunday, May 25th, depending on whether a resident supply pastor is secured, or a new pastor chosen soon enough to accept these special dates as feasible. Please - don't neglect this fine little class.
I have been authorized to write a little story of what's been doing in the Young peoples Society.
Well, there was a fine Hallowe'en affair on Tuesday, October 29th. Our guests were a group of Marion Young People from Rev. Wierth's church. We all assembled at the church - and then went out to a farm for hay-ride activities. We tried to take Rev. Saleste along - but as usual he had some other board or society to bother about. There were so many young people - we had to take turns on the hay-ride conveyance - but everyone got a few bumps and bruises out of it. After the hay-ride - we came back to town for the actual Hallowe'en party at the Prospect Park pavilion. Games and refreshments and jokes and talk made up the rest of the evening.
In November we had our regular Wednesday evening meeting on Wednesday, November 13th at which some new ideas for the success and progress of our society were presented. The meeting was in charge of Geraldine Hoffman. A play was in everybody's mind - especially Elisha's. You'll have to look for the dates - if and when we produce it.
Two fine Sunday evening meetings were also held during the month with very interesting discussion on the topics: "What Kind of a World Does Youth Want?" and "Who Joins Our Churches?"
Attendance has been above average and we hope to see more of you other straying young people at our future meetings. The next on is tonight - December 1st - at 7:30 p. m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carl Pfeifer, (Acting Sec'y)
The Board had a special meeting on Wednesday, November 20th to talk over the pastor's resignation and what to do. The pastor was present and after talking over all that was necessary - much of which is contained in the Pastor's Valedictory in this issue, there was nothing else to do but accept the Pastor's resignation., and to move its final acceptance at the congregational meeting called for Sunday, December 8th after the morning worship.
Letters to the President of the Synod and the Pastoral Appointment Committee were authorized - to inform them of the existing pulpit vacancy at St. John's Church and to request a list of available candidates whose qualifications would recommend them to make application for consideration to the St. John's pulpit. This naturally will take a long time, three months or longer. In the meantime - it may be possible to have temporary supply pastor, so that the pastoral and spiritual work in the congregation may be properly maintained.
It was decided to present a request for the appointment of a "pulpit" committee to the congregation on December 8th who will be charged with the very important task of securing a new pastor for the church as soon as possible.
The regular meeting of the council was last Wednesday at 7:30 p. m., but we don't know if a report for this Messenger will be given.
St. John's Council, 7 members strong, met in special session Wednesday, November 20 and accepted Rev. Saleste's resignation, with regret for losing our pastor, with happiness for him, since he was getting a better, easier and a position more to his liking. May God bless him in his new work.
Wednesday, November 27 Council met in regular session. Minutes read and approved.
Treasurer reported a balance of $1,160. Good.3 new grates for the furnace were ordered. The broken bench in the gallery ordered fixed. The annual Christmas letter ordered printed and sent to members in December. The offering this year will be used to bolster the Treasury. We've spent considerable fixing up the roof, walls, etc. and our Sinking Fund is gone. We feel now is the time to replenish the treasury.
The Young Peoples Society wish to present a Christmas Play, December 30-31. We understand it's good and deserves your attendance. Permission granted.
Robert Schneider has resigned from the Boy Scout Leadership. This means a fine job for some one who likes boys - One night a week - Camping - Fishing - Hiking Trips. Who'll volunteer?
Clarence Fisher, Fred Matthes appointed to secure two council replacements for next year. Fred Mendlick and Clarence Fisher are retiring.
Dr. Saleste did good work in our Congregation these 17 years. He found us torn in strife. Those wounds he healed. Our debts are paid. A good cash balance. Our credit excellent at the bank. He laid a strong foundation for our new pastor to be to say "Come on, St. John's let's go!
Some folks are foundation builders, some are strucural builders, some are finishers. We feel Dr. Saleste was a foundation builder. He built it strong and well. Thank you, Dr. Saleste.
Our congregational meeting of December 8 was discussed. A committee of five will be presented to the congregation for approval to serve with the council in selecting a new pastor. To date no names have been received from the synod. We are not going to rush the matter, but take plenty of time and canvas the field thoroughly. It is no easy task to secure a man to fill our pulpit. His qualifications are many. The caliber of men we need are few. Let us be patient, pray that God will be good to us and send the man we need.
Let's look at our mistakes, admit them, resolve to not make them again. Through mistakes we grow to be bigger and stronger.
The Stewardship Committee of our Synod sent us a letter stating, get ready for a big year 1947. This means visiting committees to get you to come to Church regularly, to give more for the institutions of the Church, to do more personal Church evangelism.
More details at the Congregational meeting. At 10:30 p. m. Council adjourned with the Lord's Prayer. Amen.
As is known by this time, the resignation of Dr. Saleste, in order to accept a professorship at Drake University, des Moines, Iowa, necessitates some adjustments of December and Christmas dates.
The pastor assumes his new responsibilities on December second - but since his resignation is effective January 1, 1947, he is willing to do his best to carry out the Christmas services in just about the same manner as usual.
So because of his Christmas vacation from the University, Dr. Saleste will return by December 20th and carry out the services of the Christmas season just as if nothing had happened. For December then - we present you this schedule.
Sunday, December 1. Rev. Martin Wappner.
Sunday, December 8. Rev. Martin Wappner
(A Congregational Meeting follows this service).
Sunday, December 15, Young People have charge of the service.
(Just a favor by these swell young people for the pastor).
Sunday, December 22. Christmas Program y the Sunday School Nursery, Beginners
and Primary Departments at 9:15 a. m.
Sunday, December 22. Christmas Service. Dr. Saleste. (About 10:45).
A public Christmas Baptism of children is scheduled for this service.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24. HOLY CANDLE-LIGHT SERVICE at 11:00 to 12:00 p. m.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29th. Last Sunday of the year. Our annual Christmas Communion.
And Dr. Saleste's last service.
So there you have the Advent and Christmas calendar for the final month of the year and the final services of your pastor of nearly eighteen years. We close with a wish to the church and every member for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God bless you all.
Mansfield News-Journal, May 27, 1947: page 6.
Two hundred and 89 persons, the largest crowd ever to attend a supper meeting at St. John's Evangelical church, gathered in the church parlors last night to join in a farewell tribute to Dr. Paul H. Saleste, Mrs. Saleste and their daughter, Vera.
Next Sunday is Dr. Saleste's last appearance in the pulpit at the church. He will be succeeded on June 8 by Rev. John Melchert.
Garden flowers from the homes of the church families decorated the long tables where supper was served at 6:30 p.m. Following supper, John C. Klinger, choir director of the church, led the group in singing gospel hymns.
Presentation of a diamond Masonic ring to Dr. Saleste from the congregation was made by George Keil. A gift of a necklace form the Sunday school was made to Mrs. Saleste by Charles Finfgeld and Miss Betty Garver presented a silver compact to Miss Vera Saleste as a gift from her Sunday school class.
During the evening a letter was read from Mary Ann Roebel Toole a former teacher in the Sunday school, now in Lakeland, Fla., expressing her regret at not being present for the occasion.
Later in the evening, Elmer Hedeen showed moving pictures of his recent trip to Sweden.
Committees in charge of arrangements for last night's party included: Fred Matthes, general chairman; Milton Priess, publicity; John Klinger, music; Harry Frietchen, men waiters; Mrs. Ralph Damlos, president of the Guild and Guild members; and council members Philip Schmutzler, Christ Pataky, Jack Fisher, and Glen Young.
Mansfield News-Journal, April 18, 1947:
Dr. Paul H. Saleste, who recently resigned as pastor of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church here, after 17 years in the ministry, will join the Ashland college faculty as teacher of psychology, at the opening of the summer session in June.
Dr. Saleste is a former teacher at Findlay college and Drake university, Des Moines, Iowa. He said today that he expects to continue with Ashland college as a faculty member through the 1947 season.
"I have my home here and I think I'd better stay where I can find some place to live," he said.