The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1932, Page 168

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

168

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

that the northern colony got its church property
even before they had a congregation. One of the
settlers had become disgusted with conditions in
Kansas and wanted to go back*to Missouri, whence
he had come several years before. Upon his arrival
in Washington County, Kansas, he had bought two
“eighties” for $600. He was living ‘in a dugout and
was selling his corn for from nine to eleven cents
a bushel. He threatened to leave the colony unless
somebody would take one of his “eighties” off his
hands for $300. The colonists did not want to see
him go, but no one had the money to buy this
“eighty.” Then it was decided to’ buy the farm
for “church land.” This was done, and after the

purchase all the people went to “break up” the land,

Emmanuel Lutheran School, Washington County, Kansas.

80 as to raise crops to pay for the land. But then
the question arose as to the deed for the newly
acquired farm. The former owner felt, and so did
the purchasers, that a legal transfer of the farm
should be made. But to whom? One man sug-
gested that the former owner give every one of
the purchasers a deed individually. That, of course,
would not do. After many long discussions it was
finally decided to ask Pastor Biltz of Concordia,
Missouri, for advice. We believe he was President
of the Western District of the Missouri Synod at
the time. His advice was that they should organize
as a congregation and get articles of incorporation
from the State and then have the former owner
deed the farm to the congregation. Thus it was
_ that Emmanuel Church in Strawberry Township,

The organization occurred in March, 1882, and
that same summer a church was built. The little
congregation was much encouraged by the influx
of many new families, no less than ‘a whole railroad-
coach load arriving at Palmer at one time.

Pastor Jungk still continued to preach here
every three weeks. But after the erection of the
church the pioneers got another idea. Why not
try to establish a Christian day-school? - Up to this
time the children had been prepared for confirma-
tion with very great difficulty. Why not apply
for a supply student? The application was made,
and the students were forthcoming as they were
needed. These students taught school for seven
months and also preached now and then. Their
salary’ was $100 for the seven
months, and their board they got at
the members’, going to one member
one month, the next to another, and
so on. One of these students had
his sleeping-quarters upstairs in a
board hut. The family occupied the
only room down-stairs, and the stu-
dent slept directly under the roof
on a tick laid on the rough boards.
He reached his bed by means of a
ladder through a trap-door in the
ceiling.

Two years later the congregation
received its own pastor, who took
eare of church and school for the
next four years; and when he left,
another pastor came, who stayed
with them for the long period of
twenty-three years and all this time
taught the parochial school.

With the advent of the next pastor came also
a teacher for the school, and since then the school
has so grown that it needs the services of two
teachers.

We are pleased to bring a cut of Pastor Jungk,
the first Lutheran pastor in Washington County,
Kansas, and also cuts of the present Emmanuel
Church and School. F. J. L.

ae

Are Missions an Impertinence?

The man who says they are, is clearly in need
of missionary endeavors himself. And yet one writes
in the press: “Personally I can’t help always sus-
pecting that the whole missionary business is an
impertinence.” The impertinence is thought to