News Monett Times - Monday, November 28, 1955

DEDICATION AT STONES PRAIRIE ATTENDED BY 520
History Of Church Is Recalled

New furnishings and remodeling the Stones Prairie St. John's Lutheran Church building were dedicated at morning and afternoon services yesterday with 520 persons attending the event.

Rev. John Gassner of Arnold, former pastor of the Stones Prairie Church, was the morning speaker with pastor Duane Mobling serving as the liturgist and Mrs. Everett Terry at the organ. In the afternoon, Rev. Clemens Harms of Lockwood presented the principal address.

Dedicated was the addition of 20 feet on the east end of the church building with new chancel furniture, altar furnishings, ceiling, oak paneling on the walls and chancel, doors, floor covering and heating system.

During the noon hour and following the afternoon services, a fellowship meal was held in the church parish hall.

History of the church dates back to 1882 when Rev. John Roschke began to conduct services in Pierce City for the benefit of Lutheran people in the area. In 1884, eight charter members, with the assistance of Rev. Roschke, organized the St. John's Lutheran congregation and a church building was erected two miles from the present location.

Charter members were George Schad, Fredinand Langosch, Carl Hemmerling, John Rupp, William Bugenhagen, John Buchholz, Carl Geske, and Gottfried Saloga.

A Christian Day School was started early in the congregation's history and although it was, for the most part of its history, taught by the pastors, two teachers were called. In 1887, F. Pieske was the teacher, and for a short time in 1889, Carl Appel was the teacher.

First resident pastor of the church was Rev. Hinz who came in 1889. During this time the church was moved to a more central location at the present site. In 1910, a new church building was erected which was the present building before the remodeling.

The original church building was then used as the school building and it remained in operation until the Day School was discontinued in 1945. When the new parish hall was constructed in 1952, the old school house was sold and removed from the property. The new parsonage was completed in 1946.

In September of this year, the present renovation project was started. Work was completed, mostly through volunteer labor, last week.

Besides Rev. Roschke of Freistatt, the following pastors have served at the Stones Prairie St. John's Lutheran Church:

Rev. Hinz, 1889;

Rev. Lehman, 1902;

Rev. A. Meyer, 1905;

Rev. Koch, 1919;

Rev. J. Gassner, 1930;

Rev. W. Wendland, 1934;

Rev. P Holtzen, 1938;

Rev. L. Wysaman, 1945; and Rev. D. H. Mohling (present pastor), 1952.
Date 1955
Resource Newspaper
Submitted by Submitted in 2007 by: Jay Trace
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