German Evangelical Lutheran Immanuels Congregation
Religious Tenets
This body of Lutherans-as indeed the whole Missouri Synod, of which it is
a part-takes a firm stand on the basis of the Church of the Reformation;
accepting the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, as being throughout
the inspired Word of God, and the only rule and standard of doctrine and
life. It accepts, as a true and correct exhibition of the doctrines of
Scripture, the entire confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, as
contained in the Book of Concord of 1580. Its central doctrine is: full
atonement by Christ, and justification by grace, through faith in Christ
Jesus. Holding. that two can not walk together except they be agreed, it
rejects altar fellowship, and practices close communion.
Holding that no one can serve two masters, it will not receive into voting
membership any person belonging to an oath-bound secret society. Holding
that the command to bring up children in the nurture and admonition of the
Lord, is still binding it has always aimed to establish and maintain
.parochial schools.
The affairs of the congregation are man-aged by the members, every male
member of the age of twenty-one years, having signed the constitution, is
entitled to a vote. Regular sessions are held the first Sunday of each
month at 2:30 P. M. One-third of the members constitute a quorum. Majority
rules. Absentees waive the privilege of voting.
Historical Sketch
In the beginning of 1856 a small number of Lutherans, foremost among them
Mr. M. Kurz, applied to the Missouri Synod for a faithful Lutheran pastor
to attend to their spiritual wants. By request of Synod, Reverend C. A. T.
Selle, of Crete, Illinois, investigated matters, and preached the first
Lutheran sermon in this section of the country. This was April, 1856. On
June 19, the congregation organized with a membership of seven. Reverend
F. Ahner being duly called was ordained and installed August 31, by
Reverend W. Mueller, of Chicago. Having, as yet, no house of worship,
services were held in the old Second Presbyterian Church until the Summer
of 1857, when a building site was purchased on the corner of Sixth Avenue
and Thirteenth Street. A frame building on the ground was remodeled for
parsonage and school.
The First Church
During the following Winter and Spring a neat brick church was erected by
Mr. George Riess, contractor. It was dedicated on the third Sunday after
Easter. Though the membership had by this time increased to seventeen, yet
it was quite a venture, as
The Third Church
By the grace of God the congregation experienced a steady growth, and
again it became necessary to provide more room. A building committee,
consisting of the board of trustees and the Messrs. C. Haensgen, W.
Schroether, J. Kirsch, J. Bruchmann, W. Kurth, C. Schillinger, H. Lange,
H. Brunswig, C. Schoede, with Teacher E. Selle as secretary, was appointed
in November, 1895. Plans were furnished by Messrs. Drack and Kerns. The
contract was let to Mr. Nic. Juhl. The following year, the old church was
torn down and the new one erected. This magnificent building is a Gothic
structure, sixty-two by one hundred and two, surmounted by two spires one
hundred and eight and one hundred and sixty-two feet respectively; seating
capacity, 1,000; cost, $25,000. The interior is tastefully decorated with
freizes and paintings by Artist H. Voege. It was dedicated December 20,
1896, by Reverend C. A. Mennicke, assisted by the Reverend E. D. Mennicke,
Reverend A. Brauer, Reverend Professor F. Streckfuss, Reverend Professor
L. Wessel.
Pastors
The first pastor, Reverend F. Abner, serve from August, 1856, until
August, 1857. when he accepted a call to Grafton, Wisconsin.
His successor, Reverend C. A. T. Selle, was installed in July, 1858.
During his pastorate the congregation formally connected with the Missouri
Synod. In 1861 he accepted a call as professor of the Teachers Seminary at
Fort Wayne, Indiana, later on at Addison, Illinois. He was succeeded by
the present pastor, Reverend C. A. Mennicke. This eminent divine, a
graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, arrived at Rock
Island, May 14, 1861. He preached his first sermon on Whit Sunday and was
ordained the ninth Sunday after Trinity. He is still serving faithfully,
sharing the joys and sorrows of his flock.
In 1880, his health being greatly impaired, he was granted a vacation for
a trip to Germany. During his absence Reverend August Haensgen
gratuitously served as pastor pro tem. Upon his return he entered upon his
duties with renewed vigor. In 1886 his son, Reverend A. C. Mennicke, was
in-stalled as assistant pastor, serving in this capacity until April,
1892, when he accepted a call to Edford, Henry County, Illinois. In 1893
Professor Reverend Selle, having resigned his professorship, located at
Rock Island and served as assistant pastor until March, 1898, when he
resigned. Shortly afterward, while on' a visit to Chicago, he departed
this life; his remains were brought to Rock Island and interred in the
Lutheran Cemetery.
Since July 31, 1898, Reverend E. D. Mennicke, second son of Reverend C. A.
Mennicke is ably filling the office of assistant pastor.
Schools
The parish school is as old as the congregation. It was taught by the
pastors until the Summer of 1862, when Mr. F. Moeller was installed as
teacher. He held this position for forty years, resigning in 1902. He was
succeeded by Mr. I. Kaspar.
In 1856 a second teacher was added in the person of Mr. H. Brakesuehler;
he was followed successively by the Messrs. Trenhold, Kleinsteuber and
Doescher. The latter resigned in 1873.
In 1866 a third teacher, Mr. A. Schoeverling, was called. In 1869 he was
succeeded by Mr. E. Selle, a gifted educator, who is still in active
service.
The schools were carried on separately, one on Twentieth Street and one on
Thirteenth Street, until 1876, when the Twentieth Street school w as moved
to Thirteenth Street. In 1885 the Thirteenth Street property was sold, and
the schools were transferred back to Twentieth Street., where a commodious
school had been built.
In 1900 it was found necessary to branch out. Teacher F. Moeller began
teaching on the bluff. Teacher E. Selle retained in charge of the
Twentieth Street school and Reverend E. D. Mennicke gathered and taught a
class in the lower part of the city. Being successful a school house was
built on Eighth Street (1901) and placed in charge of Mr. F. Lustfeld; he
was succeeded by Mr. E. Rolf in the Summer of 1906. In 1903 a new school
was erected on Thirty-sixth Street, and placed in charge of Mr. I. Kaspar.
Anniversary Celebrations
The following anniversaries were celebrated:
Twenty-fifth anniversary of the congregation, July 19 and 20, 1881.
Twenty-fifth anniversary of the pastor, Reverend C. A. Mennicke, July 18, 1886.
Twenty-fifth anniversary of Teacher F. Moeller, August 26, 1887.
Twenty-fifth anniversary of Teacher E. Selle, July 19, 1891.
Fortieth anniversary of the pastor, Reverend C. A. Mennicke, July 23, 1891.
Fortieth anniversary of Teacher F. Moeller, September 26, 1902.
Fortieth anniversary of Teacher E. L. Selle, June 25, 1906.
Fiftieth anniversary of the congregation, June 24, 1906.
Cemetery
December 5, 1869, a number of members organized as the German Lutheran
Cemetery Association, and purchased a twelve-acre tract on Twenty-fourth
Street, South Rock Island. Two acres were resold. Four of the remaining
ten acres were immediately plotted out for sale. Subsequently the whole
tract was donated to the congregation. Mr. W. F. Schroeder, treasurer; Mr.
H. Schoeve, sexton.
Associations Within The Congregation
(1) Mutual Aid Society in case of death.
(2) Mutual Aid Society in case of sickness.
(3) Ladies Society.
(4) Mission Society.
(5) Young Men's Association.
(6) Young Ladies' Association.
(7) Mixed Choir.
The Church Council, comprising all the officials, is a board of
supervisory character; it consists of:
Pastors-C. A. and E. D. Mennicke. Teachers--E. L. Selle, Imanuel Kaspar,
E. F. Rolf.
Elders-Charles Haensgen, W. F. Schroeder, H. Lange, J. Roehr, W. A.
Schroether.
Trustees-N. Juhl, H. Clemann, C. Schoede, N. Hoffmann, W. Schumann.
Schoolboard--H. W. Horst, chairman; C. Borst, A. Seidlitz, Reverends C. A.
and E. D. Meunicke, E. L. Selle, Imanuel Kaspar, secretary; E. F. Rolf.
Janitor-- J. Rohwedder.
W. F. Schroeder, chairman of congregation. E. L. Selle, secretary of
congregation. C. Haensgen, treasurer of congregation. H. Lange, assistant
treasurer congregation.
Churches of Rock Island County
Source: Historic Rock Island County, pub. Kramer & Company, Rock Island, Illinois, 1908