OUR FIRST PASTOR

REV. FR. LUSSKY Oct. 1874 - Nov. 1883 and Aug. 1886 - May 1890

Seventy years after these two parishes were organized, Pastor Lussky gave this account of what happened. "Shortly after the organization of both congregations, a pastor was called. Neither congregation had property or buildings, but they promised as salary $300 from the Hopkins parish and $200 from the Sterling parish. The Pastor should live in Sterling, and as long as there was no parsonage, both congregations should bear the housing expenses.

"But the pastor declined the call. Then they wanted me to come. I explained that it would be impossible since I had only been a short time in Lyons and also had my school. It remained as heretofore and I continued to serve them from Lyons. Then, quite unexpectedly, without a word having been said to me about it beforehand, the call was sent to me. It was dated August 8, 1875, and was sent 'in the name of both congregations, Albert J. Alberts, Chairman.'

"What should I do? Iowa at the time belonged to the Western District. Pastor Buenger of St. Louis happened to come to Lyons on a trip and called on me. He advised me to accept the call since the people had gained such confidence in me and persuaded the Lyons congregation, which had been served for a few years by our Synod, to grant me a dismissal. And so I became Pastor of both congregations. Some time elapsed, however, before I could make my home in Sterling."

Pastor Lussky was installed October 24, 1875, and was received into the Illinois District at the Convention conducted in Quincy June 7, 1876. Neither congregation joined Synod at that time. In fact, as-late as 1930 the Sterling congregation officially declined to take this step.