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Salem Historical Church
28547 220th St, Paynesville MN 56362
Memories of my time in the Paynesville Community
by Lowell Gess, dated September 25, 2008.
My first memories are related to the Paynesville community having been born, baptized and converted at the Salem Evangelical Church. For the first 12 years, except for school attendance, my entire life centered in and around the Church. I remember the German hymns, prayers, and sermons and the visit of the pastor to our home...especially during harvest time when my father would fill some sacks of grain for the parsonage. Each visit of the pastor ended with prayer...usually on our knees in the kitchen.
Getting to church in the winter time when the roads were blocked with snow, found Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Arndt picking up the Art and Frances Gess family including my sister June, and being buried under the heavy bear rugs. The church had special stalls for horses. Christmas, with live candles on the tree, was the most important time off the year. It was years before we figured out how Santa Claus arranged to come while we were in church. Presents for several years were limited to an orange and some peanuts.
Daily Vacation Bible School was the big event in the early years, succeeded by Boys and Girls Camps at Koronis, and ultimately the Summer Assembly where I made public my commitment to Jesus Christ that would involve a life ministry.
Foremost in my memory is is the caring church community. I was aware that Mr. William Sack prayed for us unruly boys and Mr. Rudolph Heitke put up with us in our Sunday School class while getting the message through. I honor all the church people for providing the Salem Evangelical Church where I found direction for my life.
Sincerely in Christ, Lowell Gess.
Memories of L.M. Adelmann: May 1930 to May 1936
This period has passed into history. We thank God for his many blessing he has granted unto us and for the guiding of the Holy Spirit in times of darkness when difficult problems were before us. All praise and honor be to God for the success He granted during these six years.
The heartbreaking experience came in the year 1931 and 1932 when fourteen members of the Zion Congregation went over to the Pentecostal Movement. This movement was ushered into this community during the pastorate of A.H. Nauman and by him in 1929-1930. The effect of this movement and the harm it has done to the Zion Church will be felt for many many years. There are some families and individuals who had joined themselves to this movement (Pentecostal), have already left it and are thoroughly disgusted with its teaching and its program in general. The people were deceived and led into false teaching. The families that left the Zion congregation and joined the Pentecostal movement were Frank Schauman, Albert Kingsriter, Ben Zimmerman and Ben Schroeder, the latter left the movement after being affiliated with the same for about two years.
However, there is much to be thankful for, the faithful members of the Zion congregation stood firm and upheld the banner of Christ. During the six years of hard times or depression Zion congregation has met their budget in full each year.
The years of 1933-1934 were drought years when in 1934 some farmers had no grain nor corn and bought hay and straw that was shipped in by rail and truck. For straw farmers paid $10 to $12 and for hay $20 and over. Due to these facts, the budgets were not paid in full in Salem and Ebenezer.
The pastor’s salary ranged as low for the field as $836 for a year. The pastor’s salary was below $1000 in 1934-35-36. In the summer of f1930 the parsonage kitchen was remodeled and plastered and a parlor furnace was bought at a cost of $300.
There are also times of rejoicing in seasons of spiritual refueling. God visited His people during the evangelistic meetings especially. There were sixteen evangelistic meetings conducted during 1930-1936. Six evangelistic meetings were conducted by the pastor alone, the remaining ten some brother of the Minnesota conference assisted and these ten meetings were all begun by the pastor in having from five days to a full week’s meetings before the visiting brother came. There were twenty souls led to Christ and nineteen were reclaimed, twenty-nine united with the church.
The Salem brotherhood was organized in 1931 and has proved a great blessing to the congregation.
The Junior league was organized at Salem in 1932 and the E.L.C.E. was reorganized in 1930 and a working program was adopted. The mission money and the dues to the Board of Religious Education was nearly met in full during the six years. The E.L.C.E. rendered valuable missionary programs and ….? They also arranged for a social gathering once a month if possible. The league made progress under the leadership of Myrtle Reeck, Arno Sack, and Ruby Reeck.
The Salem Cemetery Association was formed in 1933. The Salem Woman’s Christian Circle was organized in April 1936 and adopted the constitution on May 21, 1936 the meeting was held in the Hein School House.
The Ebenezer Junior League was organized in March 193?. There is a keen interest shown in the work of the league by the members. Mrs. Harry Schmiginsky was the first Junior Superintendent and upon her moving to Paynesville this work was delegated to Ed Schmidt.
There were nine (D.VBS) Daily Vacation Bible Schools conducted during 1930-36. Sometimes the children were brought together in one church for the school.
Two years Zion Circuit cooperated with the Paynesville Evangelical Church in D.V.B.S. Catechical instruction was given in connection with the D.V.B.S. when possible. Other times a special class was carried on that instruction. For the years 1930-31 1931-32 1932-33, a teacher’s training course was given taught by the pastor. There were a number who took the examination and received their certificate. In Salem, this course was given four years, where in Zion and Ebenezer the book of First Corinthians was studied during the fourth year. In 1933-34, 1934-35, it was impossible to carry on such a program during the winter months on account of the snow drifted roads.
The Bible study and teacher training courses were given on the same evening of the week night prayer meeting. The prayer meeting was held and 8pm and the study course following it. This proved very successful.
Each congregation received a preaching service each Sunday when possible. 9:30 A.M.., 11:00 A.M., 8:00 P.M.
May God bless the seed that is sown that it may bear fruit in the years to come.
L.M. Adelmann, Minister
May 1930 to May 1936 This period has passed into history. We thank God for his many blessing he has granted unto us and for the guiding of the Holy Spirit in times of darkness when difficult problems were before us. All praise and honor be to God for the success He granted during these six years. The heartbreaking experience came in the year 1931 and 1932 when fourteen members of the Zion Congregation went over to the Pentecostal Movement. This movement was ushered into this community during the pastorate of A.H. Nauman and by him in 1929-1930. Th e effect of this movement and the harm it has done to the Zion Church will be felt for many many years. There are some families and individuals who had joined themselves to this movement (Pentecostal), have already left it and are thoroughly disgusted with its teaching and its program in general. The people were deceived and led into false teaching. The families that left the Zion congregation and joined the Pentecostal movement were Frank Schauman, Albert Kingsriter, Ben Zimmerman and Ben Schroeder, the latter left the movement after being affiliated with the same for about two years. However, there is much to be thankful for, the faithful members of the Zion congregation stood firm and upheld the banner of Christ. During the six years of hard times or depression Zion congregation has met their budget in full each year. The years of 1933-1934 were drought years when in 1934 some farmers had no grain nor corn and bought hay and straw that was shipped in by rail and truck. For straw farmers paid $10 to $12 and for hay $20 and over. Due to these facts, the budgets were not paid in full in Salem and Ebenezer. The pastor’s salary ranged as low for the field as $836 for a year. The pastor’s salary was below $1000 in 1934-35-36. In the summer of f1930 the parsonage kitchen was remodeled and plastered and a parlor furnace was bought at a cost of $300. There are also times of rejoicing in seasons of spiritual refueling. God visited His people during the evangelistic meetings especially. There were sixteen evangelistic meetings conducted during 1930-1936. Six evangelistic meetings were conducted by the pastor alone, the remaining ten some brother of the Minnesota conference assisted and these ten meetings were all begun by the pastor in having from five days to a full week’s meetings before the visiting brother came. There were twenty souls led to Christ and nineteen were reclaimed, twenty-nine united with the church. The Salem brotherhood was organized in 1931 and has proved a great blessing to the congregation. The Junior league was organized at Salem in 1932 and the E.L.C.E. was reorganized in 1930 and a working program was adopted. The mission money and the dues to the Board of Religious Education was nearly met in full during the six years. The E.L.C.E. rendered valuable missionary programs and ….? They also arranged for a social gathering once a month if possible. The league made progress under the leadership of Myrtle Reeck, Arno Sack, and Ruby Reeck. The Salem Cemetery Association was formed in 1933. The Salem Woman’s Christian Circle was organized in April 1936 and adopted the constitution on May 21, 1936 the meeting was held in the Hein School House. The Ebenezer Junior League was organized in March 193?. There is a keen interest shown in the work of the league by the members. Mrs. Harry Schmiginsky was the first Junior Superintendent and upon her moving to Paynesville this work was delegated to Ed Schmidt. There were nine (D.VBS) Daily Vacation Bible Schools conducted during 1930-36. Sometimes the children were brought together in one church for the school. Two years Zion Circuit cooperated with the Paynesville Evangelical Church in D.V.B.S. Catechical instruction was given in connection with the D.V.B.S. when possible. Other times a special class was carried on that instruction. For the years 1930-31 1931-32 1932-33, a teacher’s training course was given taught by the pastor. There were a number who took the examination and received their certificate. In Salem, this course was given four years, where in Zion and Ebenezer the book of First Corinthians was studied during the fourth year. In 1933-34, 1934-35, it was impossible to carry on such a program during the winter months on account of the snow drifted roads. The Bible study and teacher training courses were given on the same evening of the week night prayer meeting. The prayer meeting was held and 8pm and the study course following it. This proved very successful. Each congregation received a preaching servicer each Sunday when possible. 9:30 A.M.., 11:00 A.M., 8:00 P.M. May God bless the seed that is sown that it may bear fruit in the years to come. L.M. Adelmann, Minister
May 1930 to May 1936 This period has passed into history. We thank God for his many blessing he has granted unto us and for the guiding of the Holy Spirit in times of darkness when difficult problems were before us. All praise and honor be to God for the success He granted during these six years. The heartbreaking experience came in the year 1931 and 1932 when fourteen members of the Zion Congregation went over to the Pentecostal Movement. This movement was ushered into this community during the pastorate of A.H. Nauman and by him in 1929-1930. Th e effect of this movement and the harm it has done to the Zion Church will be felt for many many years. There are some families and individuals who had joined themselves to this movement (Pentecostal), have already left it and are thoroughly disgusted with its teaching and its program in general. The people were deceived and led into false teaching. The families that left the Zion congregation and joined the Pentecostal movement were Frank Schauman, Albert Kingsriter, Ben Zimmerman and Ben Schroeder, the latter left the movement after being affiliated with the same for about two years. However, there is much to be thankful for, the faithful members of the Zion congregation stood firm and upheld the banner of Christ. During the six years of hard times or depression Zion congregation has met their budget in full each year. The years of 1933-1934 were drought years when in 1934 some farmers had no grain nor corn and bought hay and straw that was shipped in by rail and truck. For straw farmers paid $10 to $12 and for hay $20 and over. Due to these facts, the budgets were not paid in full in Salem and Ebenezer. The pastor’s salary ranged as low for the field as $836 for a year. The pastor’s salary was below $1000 in 1934-35-36. In the summer of f1930 the parsonage kitchen was remodeled and plastered and a parlor furnace was bought at a cost of $300. There are also times of rejoicing in seasons of spiritual refueling. God visited His people during the evangelistic meetings especially. There were sixteen evangelistic meetings conducted during 1930-1936. Six evangelistic meetings were conducted by the pastor alone, the remaining ten some brother of the Minnesota conference assisted and these ten meetings were all begun by the pastor in having from five days to a full week’s meetings before the visiting brother came. There were twenty souls led to Christ and nineteen were reclaimed, twenty-nine united with the church. The Salem brotherhood was organized in 1931 and has proved a great blessing to the congregation. The Junior league was organized at Salem in 1932 and the E.L.C.E. was reorganized in 1930 and a working program was adopted. The mission money and the dues to the Board of Religious Education was nearly met in full during the six years. The E.L.C.E. rendered valuable missionary programs and ….? They also arranged for a social gathering once a month if possible. The league made progress under the leadership of Myrtle Reeck, Arno Sack, and Ruby Reeck. The Salem Cemetery Association was formed in 1933. The Salem Woman’s Christian Circle was organized in April 1936 and adopted the constitution on May 21, 1936 the meeting was held in the Hein School House. The Ebenezer Junior League was organized in March 193?. There is a keen interest shown in the work of the league by the members. Mrs. Harry Schmiginsky was the first Junior Superintendent and upon her moving to Paynesville this work was delegated to Ed Schmidt. There were nine (D.VBS) Daily Vacation Bible Schools conducted during 1930-36. Sometimes the children were brought together in one church for the school. Two years Zion Circuit cooperated with the Paynesville Evangelical Church in D.V.B.S. Catechical instruction was given in connection with the D.V.B.S. when possible. Other times a special class was carried on that instruction. For the years 1930-31 1931-32 1932-33, a teacher’s training course was given taught by the pastor. There were a number who took the examination and received their certificate. In Salem, this course was given four years, where in Zion and Ebenezer the book of First Corinthians was studied during the fourth year. In 1933-34, 1934-35, it was impossible to carry on such a program during the winter months on account of the snow drifted roads. The Bible study and teacher training courses were given on the same evening of the week night prayer meeting. The prayer meeting was held and 8pm and the study course following it. This proved very successful. Each congregation received a preaching servicer each Sunday when possible. 9:30 A.M.., 11:00 A.M., 8:00 P.M. May God bless the seed that is sown that it may bear fruit in the years to come. L.M. Adelmann, Minister