The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1928, Page 101

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

101

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turned to Little Rock until December, when he
brought his family to New Orleans and became
Mount Zion’s first regular pastor. During his ab-
sence Teacher H.L. Huettmann, now superinten-
dent of Bethlehem Lutheran Orphan Asylum at
5413 N. Peters Street, New Orleans, had charge of
Mount Zion Sunday-school. He was assisted by
Mr. B. Pohlmann, Mr. K. Keller, Miss B. Wendt,
and Miss E. Smul, all members of Zion Lutheran
Church on St. Charles and St. Andrews streets.
On January 6, 1879, Mount Zion School was
opened. Its first enrolment was 120 pupils. Rey.
Willis R. Polk and Miss Louise Watson taught
from 1879 to 1882.
in November, 1880, and served both as pastor and
teacher. In December, 1882, Mount Zion Church
and School moved from the Old Sailors’ Home into
an old church-building at the corner of Thalia and
Franklin streets. On August 10, 1891, Pastor
Bakke was called to North Carolina, and Pastor F.
J. Lankenau succeeded him in Mount Zion on
August 30, 1891. On May 1, 1894, Pastor E. W.
Kuss was installed, remaining at Mount Zion until
1897, when he accepted a call to Zion Congregation.
During his pastorate the present church-building
was erected. From 1897 to September, 1900,
Pastor Lankenau, then at St. Paul’s, again took
charge of Mount Zion. Since 1900 this church has
had six pastors, and there were five considerable
vacancies, during which Pastor G. M. Kramer, of
Bethlehem Congregation, served also Mount Zion
faithfully. Pastor Bakke, too, served Mount Zion
again during these vacancies. The last six pastors
served about as follows: Rev. Karl Kretzschmar,
1900—1907; Rev. Ed C. Krause, 1908—1910;
Rey. Alb. O. Friedrich, 1912—1915; Rey. Theo.
Schliepsiek, 1917—1920; Rev. Walter H. Beck,
1921—1925; Rey. Oscar W. Luecke, since 1925.
On December 2, 1881, a year after Pastor
Bakke’s installation, the well-known and well-
beloved Teacher Eugene R. Vix began teaching in
Mount Zion School. He served there over thirty-
six years, until the day of his death, July 10, 1918.
His well-known and well-beloved colaborer, Teacher
D. Meibohm, came to Mount Zion November 17,
1893, and served until forced by old age to retire
in 1923. Jor several years after Teacher Vix’s
death there were frequent changes in the teaching
force of Mount Zion’s School. The names of
Teachers A. Berger, Ernest Clark, Felton Vorice,
and Theo. Schroeder will be recalled by many.
Our three present teachers are: J. Andrew Seraile
(since 1923), Miss Ethel Johnson (since 1921),

Rey. Nils Jules Bakke arrived ,

and Miss Elsie Gilbert (since 1925). We regret
to say that Miss Johnson is moving to Los Angeles
this summer. Since a fourth room is to be built
in July, Mount Zion will have two new teachers in
September. Their names will be announced Jater.

The highest enrolment Mount Zion ever had
was nearly 300 children in 1916—1917. Many
children have been yearly turned from its doors
because of lack of room. The addition of a fourth
room will make it possible to accommodate a larger
number of pupils this fall and, at the same time,
to teach eight grades and to offer our children a

Teacher A. Berger.

graduation certificate from the grammar school
grades. ;

Because of the many changes in its pastorate
the growth of Mount Zion has been much retarded.
At present the congregation numbers approximately
300 souls.

During the fifty years of Mount Zion’s existence
a thousand members have been received into mem-
bership. Many have died, and many, alas! have
fallen into byways; but many, too, have been
faithful to the present day. May the Lord keep
them in His grace.

During all- these years our people were faith-
fully supported, financially and otherwise, by the
Board for Colored Missions of the Synodical Con-
ference of America. The congregation has been
reorganized and is now being chartered. It looks