HR0543 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0543 LRB102 21161 ECR 30174 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives would like to congratulate the congregation of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wheeler on the occasion of its 150th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, The history of St. Paul Lutheran Church has its roots in the heavy German immigration to Effingham and Jasper Counties in the 1860s and 1870s; and

WHEREAS, The census of 1870 listed 2795 foreign born in Effingham County, of which 2121 were German; and

WHEREAS, Among the Lutherans settled in St. Francis Township were two men named Gerhard Siefken and Herman Engelbarts; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Siefken purchased 160 acres of land in 1863 at $10 an acre, and a part of that land was sold to the congregation for the pastor's pasture land; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Engelbarts purchased 56 acres of land in 1865 and donated ground for the church buildings and cemetery; and

WHEREAS, At first, services were held in homes and, soon after, in the public log school house, which stood on the section of land opposite the present location of the church; St Paul's congregation was taking on its permanent form and resolved to erect its own house of worship; and

WHEREAS, An important day in the congregation's history came on Pentecost Sunday, May 29, 1871, when the new frame church measuring 24x40 feet and costing about $1,100 was dedicated; and

WHEREAS, The church was built by 14 original charter members, consisting of Fredrich Garbe, Fredrich Behrns, Gerhard Siefken, Andrew Blievernicht, August Piel, Carl Hasting, Herman Engelbarts, John Fritz, Christoph Raabe, Christoph Fritscher, August Gust, Fritz Fritscher, Henry Fritscher, and Toenies Harting; and

WHEREAS, By 1900, the congregation had outgrown the small frame church and decided to build a new brick church; Charles F. May of St Louis was the architect; and

WHEREAS, The new building was to be 60x36x18 feet and of the Gothic style, including a metal ceiling, an extended chancel for the alter, and a slate-covered tower topped by a cross to fit the symbol of the faith of St. Paul's members; and

WHEREAS, The first stone was laid on July 2, 1900, and the new church was dedicated on November 19,1900; and

WHEREAS, The church records were in German until 1934, and there have been approximately 1300 confirmations in the last 150 years; and

WHEREAS, Since 1934, there have been 306 baptisms, 121 marriages, and 228 burials at the church; and

WHEREAS, Church membership is currently 146 and is served by Rev. Dean Herberts; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the congregation of the St. Paul Lutheran Church on the occasion of its 150th anniversary, commend the continued good work of the church within and beyond the community of Wheeler, and wish them many more years of faith and fellowship; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the congregation of St. Paul Lutheran Church as an expression of our esteem and respect.