WAUPACA COUNTY POST
September 15, 1921
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY AND JUBILEE SERVICE OF HOLY GHOST CHURCH OF WAUPACA
Interesting Program and Grand Reunion Will Attract Large Gathering in This City
During Week of September 21st to 25th.
This Was Parent Organization.
The Holy Ghost Evangelical Lutheran congregation was organized September 25th, 1871. Rev. R. Anderson, now of Brooklyn, N.Y., became the first pastor, being instated July 1, 1872. The following year the first church was built on Mill St. The building is now occupied by the Waupaca-Green Bay depot.
Three branch congregations were organized, one at Neenah, one at New London, and another at Poy Sippi, Wis.
In the months of March, 1878, there was a division of Holy Ghost congregation, in that a portion of the members stepped out and organized Our Savior’s Evangelical Lutheran congregation of this city, at or about the same time Rev. Anderson resigned to take up a charge where he still resides.
Rev. A.L.J. Soholm was called as the next pastor and instated in the month of May, 1878. For nineteen years he faithfully served the church. Through his untiring efforts in the Maser’s service five more branch congregations were organized. All within a radius of seventy-five miles of Waupaca, most of these congregations now have their own pastor, but for many years Rev. Soholm traveled over poor wagon roads from one congregation to the other giving them as much time as he could spare. In the spring of 1897, Rev. Soholm resigned to take up a charge at Luck, Wis.
Rev. N.P. Lang was called and took charge of the congregation in May, 1897. His stay was short. He was taken sick with pneumonia in November the same year and Our Heavenly Father called his good and faithful servant home to eternal rest Dec. 6th, 1897.
Rev. Thos. N. Jersild became his successor, being instated in June, 1898. Soon after he took up the work here a parsonage and lots for a new church was purchased. Rev. Jersild served the church faithfully for four years, when he received a call from Elkhorn, Iowa, which he accepted, leaving here in September, 1902. The congregation then called Rev. N.P. Sinonsen. He was instated in October, 1902.
In the fall of 1904, the old church was sold and largely through the efforts of Rev. Simonsen, money was subscribed for a new church, which was built in the year of 1905, on the corner of Waupaca and Maple streets, the present place of worship for the congregation.
In April, 1908, Rev. Simonsen left to take up a charge at Sioux City, Ia.
Rev. C.H. Jensen, now of Des Moines, Iowa, accepted a call from the congregation and was instated here May 31st, 1908. Through the efforts of Rev. Jensen, the money was subscribed and a new parsonage purchased, located on the pretty corner directly across from the church, the old parsonage being sold shortly before. During Rev. Jensen’s charge, the English language was introduced into the services of the church. Services being held once a month in the English language, and an English Sunday school class was started. In the spring of 1913, Rev. Jensen received a call from his former congregation at Racine, and decided to accept it, preaching his farewell sermon July 20th, 1913.
Rev. G. Grill was called as the next pastor and was instated Nov. 4, 1913. He took hold of the work with great zeal, but it was not so very long before his health began to fail, and Our Heavenly Father, in his wisdom called his good and faithful servant to a better home above on Nov. 27, 1917.
Rev. James N. Lund was ordained and instated as pastor June 27th, 1918. The congregation realized that if it should continue to exist and grow it was necessary to take up the work more in the English language and it was decided to have English service the first and third Sunday in each month. Also to conduct the Sunday school and young people’s meetings, wholly in the English language. Rev. Lund also organized an English Ladies’ Aid Society, having at present thirty-three members. About March 1st, 1921, Rev. Lund accepted a call to take charge of a congregation at Kenmare, N. Dak., leaving here on June 6th, 1921.
At the present time Holy Ghost church is without a regular pastor, Rev. A.L.J. Soholm, former pastor of the church who has retired from the ministry, and came to Waupaca last spring to spend his remaining years here, has charge of the work as temporary pastor. A call has been sent to Rev. K.M. Mathisen of Milwaukee, a favorable reply has been receive and it is quite certain that he will be the next pastor of Holy Ghost church of this city.
The congregation now has a membership of 400.
The combined Ladies’ Aid societies have 103 members.
The Sunday school including the Cradle Roll department, 110.
Young Peoples’ Society about 40 members.
Program – Jubilee Services
Holy Ghost church, Sept. 21-25:
Opening services Wednesday, Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m.
Preaching in Danish by Rev. R. Anderson and Rev. N.P. Simonsen.
Thursday, 2:00 p.m., English services, by Rev. James N. Lund and Rev. E. Erlander.
Thursday evening, 7:30, Danish, Rev. Th. N. Jersild and Rev. C.H. Jensen.
Friday, 2:00 p.m. Danish, Rev. C.H. Jensen and Rev. N.P. Naarup.
Friday evening, 7:30, English, Rev. A.O. Soholm and Rev. E. Erlander.
Saturday, 10:30 a.m. Danish, Rev. N.P. Simonsen.
Saturday, 3:00 p.m. Children’s service in English by Rev. Th. N. Jersild and Rev. James N. Lund.
Sunday, Sept. 25th, Communion service, 10:00 a.m. by Rev. R. Anderson and Rev. A.L.J. Soholm
10:30. Jubilee sermon by Rev. C.H. Jensen in Danish.
Sunday afternoon, 2:30. Speeches in English and Danish by Reverends R. Anderson, Jersild, Simonsen and Rev. C.H. Jensen. Closing service Sunday evening, 7:30, English and Danish, Rev. N.P. Naarup and Rev. A.O. Soholm. Short speeches by other pastors.
Everybody is welcome to attend all the services.
- Committee.