anaheim-gazette 1945-12-06

ANAHEIM GAZETTE — 75th ANNIVERSARY Anaheim a City of Beautiful Churches Pioneer Churches Outlive Early Banking Houses The first church organized in Anaheim was the Presbyterian by Rev. L. P. Webber in 1869. The edifice cost $3500.00 Rev. Webber was the founder of Westminster Colony. The second church organized was the Episcopal in 1878. The third pioneer church was the Roman Catholic, which was organized the latter part of 1875 and erected a church in 1879. Churches being repositories for spiritual needs were organized before banks came as depositories for temporal necessities. The first public bank was organized in 1876 under the name of Bank of Anaheim. P. Davis and Brother, early merchants in Anaheim also conducted a private banking business with A. W. Steinhart as cashier. The first Bank of Anaheim was managed by B. F. Seibert, cashier. There were some difficulties encountered in the banking business. Calvary Baptist Church Has a Notable Growth Although not so old in the point of years insofar as the Anaheim church is concerned, the Calvary Baptist Church has attained a record equal to any in the county. Founded in 1922 after some two years of preliminary work on the part of several persons who became charter members, the organization of the present church was begun. Ninety-six persons were named on the charter membership list which closed in September of the same year. On July 16, the first regular worship service was held with the Rev. W. C. Taylor delivering the sermon. On the same day the first Bible school was held with fifty-six persons enrolled and with classes for all ages, H. H. Knox being the first superintendent of the Sunday school. The first quarterly business meeting was held on September 27, at which time a building and savings fund was started, looking toward the time when their congregation could erect a church befitting their place in the community. Three years after the church was founded, the first unit of the church building was dedicated and was located at Citron and West Broadway streets. Since that time a large addition has been made to the edifice and today the Calvary Baptist church is one of the fine churches of this city. The pastor, Rev. Earl R. Berg, has been with the Calvary Baptist for several years and is very active in community activities and Boy Scout work. A building fund for the erection of additional Sunday school facilities has been subscribed and this unit will be erected in the very near future. An auditorium is also planned, for the future, at the site of the present church. The building has recently been remodeled and redecorated and the grounds landscaped. The Calvary Baptist church is affiliated with the Northtist convention. Of the original charter members the persons are still active. Zion Lutheran Church Has Modest Beginning in 1895 From a modest beginning back in 1895 to the present beautiful edifice on the corner of Chartres and Emily streets is the interesting history of the Zion Lutheran church. The Rev. J. Kogler of Orange, in 1895, came to Anaheim and conducted Sunday afternoon services for the members here at that time. Then in 1903 the congregation was incorporated with sixteen charter members and their families. Property was purchased soon after at the present site and in October, 1903, the first church building was dedicated. At this occasion the first resident pastor, the Rev. A. W. Lussky, was ordained and installed. He served the congregation as pastor until 1908, when he accepted a call to Illinois. From 1909 until 1941, the congregation was served by the Rev. H. G. Schmelzer and upon his retirement in 1941, the present pastor, Rev. L. E. Elfert, was called. Sunday school classes have been held from the time that services were first conducted back in 1895 with one of the first workers in this field being Mrs. Dor- From 1909 until 1941, the congregation was served by the Rev. H. G. Schmelzer and upon his retirement in 1941, the present pastor, Rev. L. E. Elfert, was called. Sunday school classes have been held from the time that services were first conducted back in 1895 with one of the first workers in this field being Mrs. Dorothea Burdorf. For many years, her son, Henry Burdorf, served as Sunday school superintendent. An elementary parish school was begun in 1909 and continued until 1919. Then in 1939 the present school on North East street was established with eight grades being taught. Present teachers are Walter Knigge and Harold Framen. The church building now in use was erected in 1922. The membership roll is made up of 700 baptized members, 500 communicant members and ninety voting members. Enrolled in the Sunday school are 180 members with Walter Knigge as superintendent. Organizations of the church include the Ladies' Aid, Dorcas Society, Lutheran Laymen's League, Senior and Junior Walther League, (youth organizations named after one of the Lutheran pioneers), choir, Altar Guild and Usher's Club. Officers of the church are, A. J. Schutte, president; E. Winger, vice-president; Fred Kahlen, recording secretary; O. M. Geissler, financial secretary, and Henry Stute, treasurer. ANNIVERSARY Churches ... affiliated with the Northern Baptist convention. Of the original ninety-six charter members the following persons are still active in the church: Miss Elizabeth Bartlett, Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Grange, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Jenkins, Mrs. Anna Little, Mrs. M. E. Simon, Mrs. F. H. Wessler and Mrs. Ann Wilson. Episcopal Church's Modest Beginning Has Rich History Miss Susan M. La Faucherie, early in 1873, saw the need for a church of her denomination to help build a firm foundation for the young city of Anaheim, then nothing more than a "babe in swaddling clothes," so she organized a Sunday school, classes being held in the homes of the then known members of the denomination. On May 15, 1873, at the insist- St. Michael's Episcopal Church St. Michael's Episcopal Church Bethel Baptist Church White Temple Methodist Church Free Methodist Church Salem Evangelical Church Zion Lutheran Church Presbyterian Church Assembly of God Church 24 R. Religious History of a Devout People ence of Miss La Faucherie and others. Bishop Kip of the Diocese of California sent the Rev. C. F. Loop to Anaheim and St. Michael's church was organized with services held in the old Enterprise hall at the corner of Los Angeles and Chartres streets, long since destroyed by fire. The fast growing congregation, within two years, had started the erection of a church edifice at the corner of Adele and Emily streets, the present location, designed on English architectural lines. The interior is very lovely, fashioned as a quaint English village church. The lumber, redwood, was cut near San Francisco and shipped to Anaheim Landing, now Seal Beach, where it was brought overland by teams. Many of the present day families, descendants of early Anaheim pioneers, and others who vividly recall the significance of this occasion, are members of the present St. Michael's church. It was during the holiday season when the church was getting ready for Christmas time, that the son of J. W. Balch, Esq., who was tions, cut his wrist and died within a few days from the effects of the wound. As a memorial, the father presented the church a beautiful bell which still calls its members to worship each Sunday as it has since the day in 1878 when the bell was placed in the bell tower. The local church was the fourth to be established in the Los Angeles diocese and its growth has been immeasurable. The priests who have served here are C. F. Loop and E. B. Kellogg in 1874; the latter passing away during this year and is buried in the Anaheim cemetery; W. S. Neales, 1875; G. M. Hubbard, 1878; A. G. L. Trew, 1877-80; John A. Emery, 1881-83; H. G. Sheridan, 1884; W. C. Mills, 1885; F. J. Maynard, 1887-90; George Robinson, 1893-95; William Bamford Burrows, 1896; W. S. Dearing, 1897-08; Frederic A. Juny, 1908-10; Norman N. Badger, 1911. Rowland O. Mackintosh, 1912; David Todd Gillmor, 1912-16; Gerald R. Messias, 1917-22; Arnold G. H. Bode, 1922-27; Charles E. Malmann, 1927-30; D. Howard parish in Pacific Palisades, and the present rector, John Kimball Saville, who came to the parish in July, 1945. The parish hall and rectory, which was built during Rev. Gillmor's residence here, was recently redecorated and quite extensive repairs made which makes the residence more enjoyable for the rector. The exterior of the church except for paint, is the same as when it was built, however, it has been turned to face Adele street, originally facing Emily street, and is the oldest church in use in the diocese. Salem Evangelical Church Started In Anaheim in 1882 The early-day pioneers of Anaheim laid the foundation for the organization of the Salem Evangelical church. In 1882 the first group met in the town hall for their services and later the group moved to the Presbyterian church where they held their Church Started In Anaheim in 1882 The early-day pioneers of Anaheim laid the foundation for the organization of the Salem Evangelical church. In 1882 the first group met in the town hall for their services and later the group moved to the Presbyterian church where they held their meetings. Then in 1884 the site for the present church at the corner of West Center and Helena streets was purchased and a small building built that year. In 1913 the present edifice was erected and in later years was enlarged by additions. Then in 1907 the parsonage was built beside the church and later was moved to 512 West Chestnut street where it stands today. The "Bungalow" was built in 1920 to provide additional room for Sunday school and for social purposes. The first ministers of the church were from Santa Ana but in 1903 Anaheim became an independent field and the church here has been served by a resident pastor since that time. Showing a steady growth from the beginning, the Salem Evangelical church now has a membership of 255. The activities have developed along normal lines and at present practically every organization which is usually found in a strong church is represented there. Future plans call for a better building and equipment and a building fund in a substantial amount is now on hand. The Rev. Alvin L. Horn, the present pastor, has served the church since 1941. S. F. Hilgenfeld is superintendent of the Sunday school with Henry Ramm class leader and W. C. Mauerhan chairman of the Board of Trustees. Eight Charter Members Found Eight Charter Members Found Free Methodist Having a small beginning with eight charter members, the Free Methodist Church has made a steady growth since that day in June, 1921, when, following a series of meetings held in a tabernacle at Broadway and Lemon street, conducted by Rev. J. H. McCabe, the church was first organized. The original charter shows the charter members to be the Rev. F. O. Linger, Mr. Rice, Mrs. Mary Lagourgue, Mrs. Maggie Householder, Mrs. J. W. Beatty and Paul Beatty. First appointed pastor of this congregation was the Rev. G. A. Anderson and shortly after his arrival, they obtained the Seventh Day Adventist church at Adele and Paulina streets where Sunday services and regular services were conducted for the first time. After the Rev. J. C. Rose became pastor, some three years later, the present site at Sycamore and Claudina streets was secured and the present edifice constructed. Rev. Mamath was assigned to the church in July, 1936, with the present pastor being the Rev. James D. Abbott.