Members of the Pearl City St. John's Lutheran church will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the church with special services and a program to be held next Sunday Sept. 11, 1938 and on the folloiwng Tuesday, September 13, 193.

Rev. William Eckert, professor of Bible at the Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary will deliver the anniversary addres next Sunday morning at 9:30. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper will be administered following the anniversary service. At noon there will be a basket dinner in the parish hall and the afternoon will be devoted to good fellowship and greetings from former pastors. in the evening at 8 o'clock Rev. O. Garfield Beckstrand will preach the sermon.

The golden jubilee banquiet will be held int he aprish hall Tuesday evening t u o'clock. Carl Block will be the toastmaster, and Rev. C.H. Hightower of Mt. Morris will deliver the address. Rev. Carl Kammmmeyer of Polo, president of the northern confernece will convey official greetins.

St. John's at Pearl City was founded on Sept. 6, 1888 at an organization meeting held in the home of John S. Boop under the guidance of the Rev. N. Klock who became the first pastor. A.K. Eby donated the lot where Barnes and Rees Hardware stands and there was built the church and dedicated Dec. 27, 1888. The Sunday school was organized the same year with Hiram Ditzier as the first superintendent. The Ladies Aid was organzied the following year and has been active ever since. There were fourteen charter members and the names of eleven are known as follows; John Gable, John C. Ditzler, Hiram L. Ditzler, John S. Boop, Miss LIzzie Krape, David Bell, Mrs. Mary A. Mitchell, Matthias Ditzler, Ira Mitchell, MRs. Amanda K. Mitchell and Mrs. Elizabeth Gable. Henry Hahn Joined the following year of organization, making him the oldest living member of the church.

During these fifty years twelve pastors have served this parish. Of the twelve four are living; The Rev. E.E. Campbell of Nevada, Ohio; the Rev. L.F. Gunderman of Flint, Mich.; Rev. P.H. Stahl of Nachusa and rev. Henry Voegtly of Gibsonia, PA. The present pastor is the Rev. H.E. Bernard of Jonesboro, a graduate of Carthage College in '32 and the Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary in 1935.

The church has grown from a charter membership of 14 to the present confirmed membership of 260. There are 180 enrolled in Sunday school and 60 members in the Ladies Aid society. The Luther League has an enrollment of 42 members.

From the Freeport Journal Standard 7 September 1938