We are constantly looking for items
from Salem's past to include in the Salem archives, especially missing photographs
from our 1947 Centennial booklet and confirmation photos prior to 1949.
For more information, contact the Archivist. |
 |
The 150 years of fellowship based on the love of God in
Christ Jesus had its beginnings here on a day which more than any other
reminds us of that love of God, Christmas Day, in the year 1847. Salem,
originally named the German Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Church of
Granville Township, was born on the day observed as the birthday of our
Savior. The organization had been promoted by laymen, who assumed a prominent
role not only in the birth of the congregation, but also in its growth
and development through the years. Salem's history began with a nucleus
of twenty families. The fellowship established by God's grace at Salem
has been strengthened down through the years by special gifts from God
to his Church. God has given pastors and teachers "to prepare
God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built
up" (Ephesians 4:12). God has given different gifts and abilities
to each of those called workers, gifts which were to be used faithfully
in his service. Of the workers together with the Lord here at Salem it
can certainly be said that some have planted, others have watered, but
God has made it grow (1 Corinthians 3:6).
The group of twenty Pennsylvania Dutch and German families that made up
this congregation in 1847, both Reformed and Evangelical in theology,
held services without the benefit of a church building or pastor for seven
months. On July 23, 1848, Pastor Heinrich Ludwig Dulitz was chosen to
serve them for a period of six months. In January 1849, when Pastor Dulitz's
term was up, the still churchless congregation called Pastor Paul Meiss.
He was an unordained, unlicensed cobbler/minister who leaned toward Reformed
theology rather than toward the Evangelical branch of the church from
which the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church of today descends. Due to
problems with his doctrine and practice at Salem, Pastor Meiss was relieved
of his duties in December of 1849.
Prior to Pastor Meiss' dismissal, the congregation built its first worship
facility - a church made of logs at a total cost of $108.78. That building
was located somewhere behind the former teacherage, which was once across
107th street from the Landmark Church. On June 17, 1849, the new church
was dedicated. Attending the dedication services were Pastors Muelhaeuser,
Weinmann, and Meiss, whose visit to Salem Church almost one year later
would mark the beginning of our Synod's history.
On December 16, 1849, Pastor Wilhelm Wrede was called to replace Pastor
Meiss. Wrede taught sound Lutheran doctrine from the pulpit, and did much
to bring an end to the Lutheran-Reformed conflict in the congregation,
at least for the Lutherans. Wrede had attended a meeting at Grace Lutheran
Church in what is now downtown Milwaukee on December 8 with Pastors Muelhaeuser,
Weinmann, and Meiss. At that time the four decided that if their efforts
were to be rewarded with the firm establishment of Lutheranism in the
area, they would have to join forces. At this meeting they decided to
form what is now the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
The first meeting of this new Synod was held here at Salem on May 26,
1850. For this reason, Salem is officially recognized as the "Birthplace
of the Wisconsin Synod." Pastors Muelhaeuser, Weinmann, Meiss, Wrede,
and a newcomer, Pastor Pleuss, attended that first meeting. Together they
represented eighteen congregations and signed the constitution of "Die
erste Deutsch Evangelisch-Lutherische Synode von Wisconsin." A traveler
with the American Tract Society was also presented, and, after some discussion,
was turned over to Pastor Wrede for instruction in the holy ministry.
Pastor Wrede remained at Salem until 1853. On July 3, 1853, Pastor Wilhelm
Buehren was called. He served until November of 1860. During Buehren's
tenure the Reformed branch of Salem Church formed the West Granville Presbyterian
Church, still located across the street from our present church. This
finally ended the unionistic arrangement which had begun ten years earlier.
The next pastor, Pastor Rausch, preached his first sermon on November
25, 1860. Pastor Rausch served Salem for only ten months.
Salem's first full-time resident pastor was Pastor Johann Heinrich Sieker,
who arrived in September of 1861 after attending Gettysburg Seminary.
Pastor Sieker found a congregation which, under God's blessing and guidance,
was ready for steady growth. Soon the congregation realized that its present
structure would not suffice as a house of worship for their rapidly growing
church, and thus decided to "build on a suitable site." The
quarter-acre on which the log church stood was deemed unsuitable. When
a member by the name of Jonas Barndt donated a 3/4 acre parcel of land
across the street, they decided to build a church there. The Salem Church,
now known as "The Landmark Church," was built of yellow brick
complete with a bell tower. The church was dedicated on October 28, 1863.
The steeple was later trimmed down to its present form. The congregation
purchased a bell for the tower in commemoration of its 25th anniversary.
Four years after the dedication of the new church, Pastor Sieker accepted
a call to St. Paul, MN. In 1868, Salem called Herman Hoffmann to serve
as pastor. It was under Pastor Hoffman's guidance that the Christian day
school was opened. Since he was also serving the congregation at St. John's
on Good Hope Road, he felt that he would be unable to teach school. Thus,
the congregation called Mr. L. B. Hoffmann to serve as teacher in their
Lutheran elementary school.
Return
Home
|
|
