Congregational Minutes 1914


St. Marys, Ohio January 18, 1914


The committee of twenty church members chosen by the consistory met with the consistory in the church auditorium in the afternoon of the above date with one desire and one accord, all were present but one. The meeting was called to order by the pastor through prayer.


The organization was perfected by the choosing of Rev. F.H. Rupnow as Chairman and Arthur J. Hoerath Secy.


Rev. F. H. Rupnow stated the object of this meeting and urged the expression of the membership in regards of taking steps of providing for a more spacious house of worship. All present agreed that our present building was inadequate to meet the needs of our work. Naturally the first thing to consider was the securing of funds for a building that would meet our future needs. The probable cash was estimated to be not less than $30,000.00. Following a number of favorable remarks as to how this fund might be secured. A motion was made by Peter Tomhafe to erect a building fund in the prescribed manor; every church member to pledge himself or herself according to how God had prospered them. That all monies subscribed be due on time of leaving contract and that subscribers of unpaid subscriptions to assume their own interest till the end of the third year(from the time of leaving contract). Also that subscriber makes their first payments at the time of leaving contract, giving the donor a privilege to pay the remainder anytime within three years through weekly, monthly, or quarterly payments. Various remarks were made on their motion, one prevailing thought being expressed by several which gave the motion a decided clear tone, that the money to be raised for this project should be done in all simplicity according to Bible teachings, avoiding the number of schemes and methods of making money. This motion carried without opposition.


The preceding motion gave way for immediate development and resulted into another motion made by Charles Limbacher second by William Steva that the chair appoints sufficient number of men to compose a committee to canvas the congregation in endeavor to secure the estimated sum of $30,000.00. This motion carried.


The committee and consistory felt congratulated that in their meeting a way was paved for a great enterprise and in taking their forward steps they all had the future welfare of the congregation at heart and they adjourned till the next call meeting.

 

Arthur J. Hoerath Secy.

     

 

           

 Building Committee of

St. Paul’s Reformed Church St. Marys, Ohio 1915

 

The Building Committee began the large and strenuous task assigned it sometime early last spring. After negotiating at length with a number of architects, Mr. Andrew De Curtin of Lima Ohio was engaged and entrusted with the planning and designing of the new church. Thus far he has proved himself master of the situation. To explain the building is not necessary at this time, for it is nearly a complete reality. The work is being executed under the painstaking care of contractor William Brodbeck. The Building Committee and all members of the congregation, sincere thanks for the confidence and support given them. The work thus far has not been an easy one, but a very interesting and pleasant one. The congregation entrusted the committee with the erection of a church to cost $30,000.00 without organ, and we feel pleased to announce that we have kept very close to the mark, On certain things we have been able to save and on others we were obliged to go beyond the appropriation, so that when everything is taken in to consideration our church building will cost about one thousand dollars more than $30,000.00.


A few facts which the whole congregation should know. In the erection of the building the committee strove for economy without the sacrifice of durability. Our church will be as durable as a building of its size could possibly be constructed and we look forward to not many repairs to be made in a number of years to come. We have not disregarded beauty as everybody will see. The church will look like a church and nothing else, and will at the same time have the best inner equipment that the specified sum could buy.


Our finances as shown from the financial statement our congregation in the past year raised more money than in any one year in our history. It must be not be expected that that our new church can be completed without a debt, but every possible thing will be done to keep that debt down to the lowest figure. There are at present about $21,000.00 of our church subscribed for, the building will cost about $31,000.00 which leaves about $10,000.00, adding to this the cost of our lot makes the uncovered amount $12,750.00. Now how shall we cover this? First, we must raise $5,000.00 on our Building fund this year. If we raised $15,000.00 cash last year, then surely we ought to raise $5,000.00 more this year; this would leave us $7,750.00. Now if we figure realizing $2,000.00 out of our old property, this would leave us $5,750.00. This is not too large of debt and by each one of us increasing our offering to the general fund just a little; we ought to dispose this in three years time. We must remember that this was a great undertaking, but God has most wonderfully blessed us, and he expects each one of us to make a little sacrifice.


We have thus far been successful and in the spirit of the present success. Our congregation may with united effort look forward to great things.



To the members of St. Paul's Church 1915

From Rev. F. H. Rupnow

Translated from German

 

           The past year of being together was a year in which the church and the pastor got to know each other. The pastor got a clear view of our parish families and the personal lives of most of our member. The Church members should have had plenty of opportunity to get to know the pastor. It is up to the congregation to let the pastor know their opinion of him. What the pastor's opinion of the congregation is up to him to let you know his clear view.

         You can't find a perfect community in this world; we should expect to find it in heaven. That's why we can't say our parish is without flaws, but never the less God gave us his grace to accomplish some great things this year.

         The pastor did his best last year to complete a list of the membership of our church. We had 520 members at the beginning of the year, 13 of our members tied last year, and we registered 33 new members, which makes our new membership number 540. However 35 of these members don't live in St. Marys, so our actually membership is 505.

         The last year was not a year of magnificent growth of our parish. It was a year of strengthening our parish. All section of our parish worked with great enthusiasm. The number of our Sunday school students is way up, which is due to the tireless participation of so many adult volunteers. But we also have a weak section in our church; our goal in our new church should be to have a bible study class for men of about 100 members and a women bible study class of equal size.

         The woman's club was very busy like the finance report will show. The membership gained a lot of new members. It is known as the biggest woman's organization in our city.

         We should also mention the sewing club. The club earned $800 this year and once we bought our new organ we will always be reminded of the work these diligent woman did. The men's club is very solid which reflects very strongly in our parish. The youth group like C. E. and Kings Daughters shows rewards of their hard work.

         In the past year the pastor took great pleasure in the teaching of our youth. The request of the pastor to send the children for at least 2 years of religious education classes was in big favor of the congregation. The fruit of this labor will reflect in a few years when we gain strong and well-raised church member.

 

Spiritual life:         The work of a church should not reflect on the physical few. A congregation can appear very strong on the outside but be weak on the inside. We need a strong spiritual life as the main component in our parish. The spiritual life should reflect on the participation of services and sacraments and the private prayers of each member. To grow in this respect should be our main coal. If we spiritual strong we don't have to worry about any external trouble.

         We are happy that we accomplished so much in the past year. We had no shortcomings. Our checkbook shows a surplus and our improvement account giant $15000, and with Gods will it will grow even more. We had a big undertaking this year. To build a new church is always a great undertaking in these days. One thing is for sure if our parish will work as hard an enthusiastic in the next three to five years we will own a very nice and dept free church. To dedicate this new church dept free will not be possible, but it is also not necessary. It is a call to your heart, for support and scarifies to every one of you. The new church was a necessary. If we would have not build it we properly would have seen a decline in membership. Now we have no more obstacles in our way, to have a large and strong church within the next few years.

         In the last year the pastor had a lot of challenges he could work right through them without falling ill. Because of the building of the church he had to miss out on a lot, but now he can make up for it.

         In closing, the pastor thanks friends and everyone in our congregation for the support he received and the past year and hopes for your assistance and support for the coming year.

Sincerely

                    Rev. F. H. Rupnow




THE ENDOWMENT FUND


           In the regular congregational business meeting, held on January 8, 1922, on motion by Mr. William Brodbeck and second by Mr. Theodore Siewert it was voted to take action to establish an endowment fund. This matter was taken under advisement by the Consistory and at a special congregational meeting held April 23, 1922, the proper resolution was adopted and the following men were named as Trustees: Rev. Walter Scott Rickard, Gus F. Schmidt, C. P. Tomhafe, Theodore E. Siewert, John J. Hauss, David Rohrbach, Louis C. Pauck, George Arnold, William F. Brodbeck, Albert Herzing, William H. Steva and Henry W. Brinkmeyer.


           The Endowment Fund was incorporated under the laws of the state of Ohio and signed and sealed by Secretary of State Thad A. Brown on June 4th, 1923. The first meeting of the

Endowment Fund Board was held on June 29th, 1923, at which time the following officers were elected: Rev. Walter S. Rickard, Chairman, Albert Herzing, Vice-Chairman; Gus F. Schmidt, Secretary and William F. Brodbeck Treasurer.

          The present Board of Trustees consist of the following members:

Theodore E. Siewert, Gus F. Schmidt, Henry C. Kellermeyer, William Korspeter, Theo. E. Reed, H. W. Brinkmeyer, Frank Luedecke, Wm. H. Stev, Lafe Haeseker, W. E. Yoder, Charles Steinebrey and Albert D. Bubp. The present officers are Theo. E. Siewert, President; Theo. E. Reed, Vice-President; Gus F. Schmidt, Secretary and W. E. Yoder, Treasurer. The fund today amounts to about $7750.00 and the interest from the fund is used to support the program of the church


These Articles of Incorporation


These Articles of Incorporation Of The Endowment Fund Association of the Evangelical Protestant St. Paul's Congregation at St. Marys Auglaize County, Ohio

 

Witnessed: that the members of the Evangelical Protestant St. Paul's Congregation at St. Marys Auglaize County Ohio

Desiring to form a corporation not for profit under the general corporation laws of the State of Ohio and in particular under and by united of section 160011 and related section of the general code of said State do here by Certify.


1. That said members desire to create a board of trustees for an Endowment Fund belonging to said Church.


2. That at a regular meeting of said members held on the 23 day of April 1922 there were twelve of their members, eleven of whom are resident freeholders in the State to serve as such trustees and whose names and addresses are as follows.


W. S. Richard St. Marys Ohio

Gus F. Schmidt St. Marys Ohio

C.P.Tomhafe St. Marys Ohio

Theodore E. Sievert St. Marys Ohio

John J. Hauss St Marys Ohio

David Rohrbach St. Marys Ohio

Louis A. Pauck St. Mary Ohio

George Arnold St Marys Ohio

Wm. F. Brodbeck St Marys Ohio

A. Herzing St Marys Ohio

W. H. Steva St. Marys Ohio

H. W. Brinkmeyer St Marys Ohio


3. That said fund shall consist of the endowment fund already belonging to said church, and also all money and any and all other classes and kinds of property real and personal received by said association through gift, bequest or desire.

 

4. That all of the principal of any such funds or property or such funds into which any such real or personal property may be converted by such trustees are to be held and preserved as a permanent fund and estate so long as such parish of the Evangelical Protestant St. Paul's Congregation at St. Marys Auglaize County Ohio shall continue to exist and function as such if said parish become extinct then at such time the trustees then in office shall covert into money any part of the property therefore received by them not these already in the form of money and shall promptly distribute all funds including those derived from any such conversion to such one or more institutions of a charitable or educational nature affiliated in belief and doctrine with said church and in such amounts to each such institutions if more than one and said trustees shall deem best and proper . Any intermediate conversion as well as the final conversion herein completed of real and personal property into money may be affected by said trustees at public auction or private sale as a majority of said trustees then in office shall determine.

 

5. The interest arising from such funds and the annual income arising all real and personal property held by the association shall be applied and distributed annually as follows. First the payment of the necessary expenses of the Association, second the balance shall be paid to the board of trustees of said the Evangelical Protestant St. Paul's congregation at St. Marys Auglaize county Ohio to be distributed to such persons or in such manner as said board shall determine.


6. The name of said corporation shall be: The Endowment Find Association of the Evangelical Protestant St. Paul's Congregation at St. Marys Auglaize County Ohio.

 

7. Said Corporation is to be located and its principal business transacted at St. Marys Ohio.

 

8. Any trustee ceasing to be a member of said Parish or upon the death, resignation removal from office or inability to act as such, the trustees remaining shall appoint a member of said Parish to fill the vacancy. All appointees shall be and act as trustees just the same as an original member of said board.

 

9. The affairs of said corporation shall be conducted as provided herein and in certain regulations adopted by the members. The said Parish on said 23rd day of April 1922, and such bylaws as said trustees themselves may from time to time adopt.

In witness where of we have here unto set our hands this 23rd day of April 1922 the office of President being vacant these articles of incorporation are signed by C. P. Tomhafe vice President.

                                                   C.P. Tomhafe  vice President

                                                   Arthur Zweg   Secretary

 

 

The state of Ohio county of Auglaize Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said County this day 24th day of May AD 1923 the above named C.P. Tomhafe as such Vice President and Arthur Zweg as such secretary who each separately acknowledged d the signing of the forgone articles of incorporation to be his free and deed for the uses and purposes there in mentioned.

 

Witness my hand and official seal on the day and year last afore said

                                                               S.C. Hirsch

                                                              Notary Public

 

 

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