Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/496

 422 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY Rev. AYillis Beck became pastor in December of the same year, and is the present pastor. Services were continued in Anderson's Hall until the beginning of 1907, when the congregation secured the use of the United Norwegian chapel, which it used until the spring of 1909, and then rented the Episcopal church, where it worships at the present time. The membership has steadily grown. At the present time it is seventy-five. It has a ladies' aid society of twenty-five members, and a Sunday school of eighty members, of which Anton Johnson is the superintendent. In May, 1909, subscriptions were raised for two church lots. St. Luke's English Evangelical Lutheran Church. On Janu- ary 5, 1897, Rev. John A. Leas, pastor of St. Paul's English Lutheran church, of Red Wing, visited Goodhue and met K. L. Anderson, Hein Prigge and others, with a view to learning the prospects of holding English Lutheran services in the village. The project was so favorably received that a business meeting was called for January 8, on which occasion C. A. Erickson, of Red Wing, accompanied the pastor; and in the room of K. L. Anderson a meeting was held with a view of discussing further the proposed project. Those present were K. L. Anderson, Hein Prigge, William Hennings, Henry Hoist, Fred Meyer and William Kurschinshy. all of whom manifested a great interest and desire to begin such English services, with the further view of organiz- ing a congregation. Arrangements were made for weekly services, and the first service was accordingly held in L. K. Anderson's hall, above the postoffiee, January 14, 1897. with an attendance of about eighty-five persons. Services were then held each week, usu- ally on Friday evening, until February 19, 1897. when a congre- gation was organized after the services with the following charter members: K. L. Anderson. Hein Prigge, John H. Boxrud, Henry Moist, William Hennings. Fred Meyer, William Kurschinsky, John Schaeffer, F. Y Alms and Ole Holte. The pastor presided, and after explaining the synodical connections which he main- tained, and which the proposed English Lutheran church should sustain, the following elections were reported: Deacons, William Hennings, Ole Holte and Hein Prigge; trustees, Hein Prigge, Ole Holte and Henry Hoist; president, Henry Hoist: secretary, F. W. Alms; treasurer, Hein Prigge. The secretary-elect. Mr. Alms, withdrew from the organization, and K. L. Anderson was elected to till the vacancy on May 30, 1897. Regular services were held at stated times by Pastor J. A. Leas until arrangements were made to secure a supply for the new congregation. On April 2, 1897, the church council of St. Luke's congregation 'met and unanimously elected Student M. E. Boulton, of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Chicago, to supply the pulpit during the