ENGLISH GETS STARTED

Since Pastor Uplegger's fine beginning with English work here in 1893 ended almost as soon as it began because he followed a call to Wisconsin, the German language continued to dominate the life and work of this congregation for another 25 years. And Pastor Voeltz didn't find it easy to get permission to start English services in his day, either.

The congregational minutes of September 30, 1917 report: "The suggestion was made that we have one English service per month. This suggestion did not carry, 50 will conduct services as we have...all in the German." This was the congregation's way of welcoming the first adult instructed and confirmed in English by Pastor Voeltz that very year!

The following year 5 of the 6 persons instructed were adults. The language used was English. The official church record book carries this interesting notation inscribed by the Pastor in connection with the November 4 confirmation class: "These five adults were instructed and confirmed in the English language." So in 1918 he asked again for permission to institute English services. The minutes of August 4 report: "Resolved that English services be conducted in the forenoon every Second Sunday of the month and in the evening on the 4th Sunday of the month. This applies for only 3 months and is a trial." Echoes of 1893!

Apparently some wanted English brought into the school also because the minutes of August 25 advise us: "Resolved to leave the school as it is now, with the stipulation that those who wish their children to be confirmed in English are given the opportunity to do so." In November the final decision on the English was postponed another month with the simple statement: "The English services are to be continued until the next meeting." In December English was given the go-ahead signal with permission "to continue with the English services as resolved at the August 4 meeting." That was the beginning of English services among us in 1918! The last German service was not conducted until Holy Week, 1949!

By 1921 the English had become popular enough that the afternoon Mission Festival service became English, while the morning remained German. A year later the new English hymnal was adopted for church use. June 25, 1922 it was also resolved "that minutes in the future be recorded in both English and German, also that it be permitted to use either language at future meetings." One year later" double-headers" were introduced. These were to continue for 20 years. In 1928 responsive singing was introduced at the English services. By January 1929 the future of English could be clearly seen; it was resolved to keep the congregational minutes in English only and the name of the church was changed from "The First German Ev. Lutheran" to the "Second Avenue Ev. Lutheran. "The English constitution was adopted the following year.

How was the new name chosen? Suggested names were put on slips of paper and these in turn were tossed into a hat. Then someone was chosen to pull a name out of that hat. Could it be said that this was too literal an interpretation of operating "under the guidance of the Holy Spirit"?