HR0603 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0603 LRB096 14545 GRL 29378 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the congregation of the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Blue Island on the occasion of the church's 100th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, The rich history of the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church began in 1862, when Rev. Stubnatzy of St. John's Lutheran Church in Coopers Grove took charge of the various private Lutheran services that took place throughout the Blue Island area; a year later the group formed the German Evangelical Lutheran Society, which hosted a congregation of 66 under the pastorate of Rev. Augustus Reinke, who was also responsible for the creation of a school and parsonage; Rev. Reinke was succeeded by Rev. H. Ernst, who served the group from 1871 until 1879, when Rev. H. Duborg became the Salem congregation's new pastor; and

WHEREAS, Following the Predestination and Election Controversy in the Synodical Conference in 1881, the Salem congregation, as well as the congregation's pastor, broke away from the Synodical conference; the church became affiliated with the denomination now known as the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in July of 1909 and became self-supporting on April 28, 1924; and

WHEREAS, In September of 1909, the Salem congregation held its first recorded meeting, with Rev. F. Sievers presiding; during the meeting, the congregation adopted a constitution, which was signed by Andrew Reines, William Siemsen, Louis Storz, Sr., John Wolz, Carl "Charlie" Schwartz, Oscar Jacob, Carl Hupe, and Gustave Thedens; on December 12, 1909, Rev. Raymond Reinke of Harvard was installed as the Salem congregation's first pastor; during the church's first year, the congregation gathered for worship at the Congregational Church on York Street in Blue Island; and

WHEREAS, On March 7, 1910, the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church purchased a lot at the corner of Maple and High Streets in Blue Island for the construction of a new church; the building's cornerstone was laid on November 15, 1910 and completed that year; the Salem congregation dedicated the church on December 11, 1910 and began holding services immediately; throughout the 1910's, various improvements were made to the church, including the creation of a Sunday School, the purchase of a church bell, the placement of an altar for the church, and the expansion of the church's basement; and

WHEREAS, The 1920s were a wonderful time of growth and celebration for the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church; the church purchased an organ for the church on July 9, 1922; the church celebration its 15th anniversary on the second Sunday in December of 1924; in 1927, the church built its Parsonage at 12906 Maple Avenue, where it remained until it was sold in 2001; and

WHEREAS, In 1934, the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church celebrated the church's 25th anniversary; that same year, the congregation founded the Salem Men's Club; and

WHEREAS, In 1949, the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church celebrated the church's 40th anniversary with addition of light fixtures; that same year, the church purchased the lot south of the church, known as the Montag property; the house that was sitting on the property was remodeled into the school's Primary Building and was dedicated on December 27, 1949; on August 29, 1954, the church built a new school building, which includes the school's basement, kitchen, classrooms, and office; the congregation celebrated the church's continued success with a 50-year anniversary celebration in 1959 and a 60-year anniversary celebration in 1969; and

WHEREAS, In 1973, the front of the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church's present school was constructed; the school now provided a classroom, library, restrooms, storage space, an office complex, a meeting room, and a kindergarten room for the school's many students, teachers, and staff; the facility was dedicated on January 21, 1973; and

WHEREAS, On December 14, 1980, the Salem congregation re-dedicated the interior of the church and celebrated the 70th anniversary of the church's first dedication; the congregation also extensively remodeled the interior of the church, completing their work in October of 1981; on March 1, 1987, the congregation of the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church celebrated the final payment on the church by burning the church's mortgage; in 1987, the church continued its renovation of the church grounds, demolishing and repaving the site where the Schultz house stood and erecting a fence around the church's playground; the following year, the church completed the construction of the church's new doors; and

WHEREAS, In 1991, the Salem congregation replaced its original pipe organ with a new electronic organ and removed the organ pipes from the building; in 1993, the lower level of the church was remodeled; and

WHEREAS, The coming of the new millennium brought many new developments to the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church; on March 11, 2001, the church's library was dedicated in the memory of Alan Poegel, a former principal and teacher at Salem; on September 26, 2004, the church celebrated its 95th anniversary with a special service featuring guest preacher Rev. William Ameiss and with the dedication of 2 new candelabras and a new blue parament; the church's new Communion vessels were dedicated on May 21, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the last 100 years, the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church has served as a pillar of strength, piety, and compassion for the people of Blue Island, a position that it will undoubtedly serve in for many generations to come; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the congregation of the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church on the occasion of the church's 100th anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Pastor Chris A.E. Bottorff of the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church as a symbol of our esteem and respect.