The Beginning

My Story

by Rev. Heinrich Christian Loeppert
David's Great-Grandfather

The following is My Story, hand written by David's great-grandfather. His story is in the left column. The right column are sidenotes with additional information to his story. The sidenote numbers to My Story are label accordingly to Reinrich Loeppert’s story with corresponding numbers. Sidenote numbers with the letter E are just points of reference to the events during that time. Apologies to MAC and Firefox users that the sidenotes' numbers do not always line up correctly within the columns.

My Story

Heinrich Christian Loeppert born April 4, 1866 in Redwitz, Oberfrauken, Bavaria in Germany1. Youngest son of Heinrich Loeppert and his wife, Christiana neeSchneider. When 2 years old my parents moved to Altenkunstadt, as my father was architect and contractor and the government gave him the work of all property of the Catholic Church and schools at Alterkunstadt to make annual repairs, and erect the new buildings the government authorized to be erected.

I had 3 brothers: Johann [I] - Hans [Johann II], and Georg, and 4 sisters: Bertha - Earnestine - Wilhelmina [Walburga], and Eva. My family belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and I was baptized and confirmed in this church.

Alterkunstadt being a Catholic town, I attended the parochial school and church in Stroesendorf, 2 miles away.

After my confirmation, I wished to learn the Baker trade, as my uncles on my Mother's side all were in the Bakery business. So I came to my uncle Heinrich Schneider at Steinberg near Kronach in Bavaria. This village was inhabited by only Catholic people. My uncle and aunt being the only Protestant people, and I the only Protestant boy in this town, Many of the town's people had never seen a protestant boy before.

By a special arrangement I received permission to attend the Sunday School in the Catholic Church and receive Catholics Instruction from the Priest in this town. As the Law required that all children in Bavaria must receive such instructions for three years after their Confirmation2. The last Sunday in each month I had to go to the city of Kronach, about 5 miles away, to receive my instructions from the Minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church. In this way I had special privileges which proved very helpful in my later life and calling. So for two and a half years, I also attended Catholic Mass nearly every Sunday morning without becoming a member of the Catholic Church, and no person urged me to do so.

I was then 15-1/2 years old. Three of my sisters had immigrated to America, and worked my Mother and myself also to come to America. My Father had died when I was 4 years old. Mother was a real Christian woman, interested in the welfare of her children and struggled hard in those years to bring up her 8 children. God's answers to her prayers were a wonderful help in her great task.

The 3 daughters in America sent Steam Ship tickets for Mother and myself to bring us to America. But Mother was suddenly taken sick with Rheumatism and could not go. So she decided I should go and she would wait for her recovery and fellow later.

So I left Mother and Home December 18 - 1881 and left Germany on the Steamer Braunschweig from Bremeu on December 21st, 1881. All was new for a 15 year old boy alone among many strangers on an old time Steam Ship which took 16 days from Bremen, Germany to Baltimore, Md, U.S.A. and arrived on January 6th, 1882 at Baltimore, Md. Here we boarded a Baltimore & Ohio Railroad train and reached Chicago, Ill. on Sunday morning. January 8 - 1882. A short time after I entered the home of my oldest sister Bartha Bitterlin on South Clark Street with her lived [also] my younger sister Eva. After a fewdays stay, my brother-in-law, Mr. Paul Heisser, husband of my 3rd sister Minna, who lived in the township Green Garden 3 in Will County, Illinois, about 40 miles from the City of Chicago, came to Chicago to bring me to their home on a farm.

On the first Sunday here they took me along to Service in their church, here I saw the first Methodist Church and heard the first Methodist Preacher preach who was Rev. Florentine Feistkorn. I did not know what this little country church would mean for me in the future. A few weeks later I attended an old fashioned Revival Meeting4 in their church, where quite a number of people, mostly young people were converted to Christ, dedicated their heart and life to God. I was one of them, and on Sunday February 6 - 1882, I joined the Methodist Church and a new chapter in the story of my life began.

I attended Sunday school and Church Service, also the Midweek Prayer Meetings and the Class-meetings. This was a real spiritual church congregation. After Rev. Feistkorn came Rev. F.F.R Klensky. As Pastor of this church, who also took an interest in me.

I worked on the farm here. The first summer for Paul Brandau, a member of the church. The second year for John A. Betten Lausen, also a member of this church. The next 2 years for a German farmer Peter Hausen, and the next two summers for Mr. Amos Harrison who belonged to the English speaking Methodist Church5 and attend services in a schoolhouse near by on Sunday afternoons. Here I became acquainted with a young Preacher, who became later Bishop Sheppard, and presided over my Conference session where I was a District Superintendent in the Chicago German Conference6.

I attended the Sunday School regularly. Taught a Sunday School class. Was elected as Secretary and sometimes spoke to the Sunday School explaining the Sunday School lesson.

It was on a Sunday morning in June and was to be celebrated as Children's Day, my Sunday School Superintendent, Mr. Christian Bettenhausen, and my Pastor Rev. F.F. Kleuzhy, two good friends of mine, who took a warm interest in my spiritual welfare, had asked me the Sunday before to make an address in the combined Service of Sunday School and church on this Children's Day Morning Service. My heart beat in my side and I was filled with fear all week. But Sunday Morning came, I stepped into the Altar of the Church where I had 5 years before given my heart to Christ and my name to the church. With fear and trembling, I delivered my address, which I had copied from my first Haus and Herd volume, and had memorized it. My Pastor and my S.S. Sup't.[Sunday School Superintendent] congratulated and encouraged me with some kind words of appreciation.

During the following week I plowed corn in the field, and saw my Minister Rev. Kleuzk coming through the fields. We sat down together on my plow and had a very interesting conversation, which I never forgot. He told me that while I was speaking in Church on Sunday morning, The Lord spoke to him and convinced him that I should prepare for the Ministry. On next Sunday morning, my Sunday School Superintendent spoke to me in the same manner as my Pastor had done a few days before, and my class leader did also encourage me. But I was only a bashful boy, and how could God use an ignorant boy like me for a Preacher. But the Spirit of God worked in my heart all during that Summer and when fall came I had resolved to obey the inner voice and the encouragement of my church leaders and made reservations at the German Wallace College at Berea, Ohio 7 through my Pastor.

I had learned to love my work on the farm and my church and Sunday School, and my friends, and it was not very easy to leave them all. But I bade them all farewell entered the German Wallace College in September 1887.

Again a new chapter opened in my young life, a new life began in my College work after five years of hard labor on the farm, and among farm people. The World grew larger and larger. Here was a fine body of religious young Men who prepared for work in the Service of the God and His Church, here was a body of Christian Teachers whom I admired and learned to love. Men like Dr. Riesmeuschueider - Dr. C. Paulus - Dr. F.W. Schueider - Dr. Wilke - Dr. G. Berr. I will never forget them and their influence upon me. Especially Dr. Carl Riemeuschneider was very helpful to me.

After my first year at college, I went back to the farm at Green Garden during my vacation to earn some money for the next college year. During this vacation, the Quarterly Conference under the chairmanship of Dr. John J. Keller voted to give me Local Preacher's [Licence] which was a great surprize [sic] to me. I was asked to preach on the next Sunday morning in my home church which I did in the presence of my Pastor Rev. Wm. Esslinger. In the same month, I received my Citizenship papers, and was proud to be a full citizen of the United States. So I returned to College. I was a Citizen and Local Preacher, and was asked sometimes to preach in the College Chapel and at Olmsted Falls; also at a Cleveland Church8. I also served as Church Janitor during the year to help pay my way in College.

Near the end of my second College year, I was called to the office of the President Dr. C. Riemerschneider, and there was introduced to Dr. Gustave Weiler, District Sup't of the Michigan District in the Central German Conference. Dr. Weiler said that he needed a man until Conference time at Holt, Mich. where Rev. Aust the Pastor had died, and that Dr. Riemenschneider had recommended me for this place. - I trembled and said, "I fear I am not ready to fill such a place." But after Dr. Riemenschueider had encouraged me again. Dr. Weiler said: I will be back at Commencement time and bring you to Holt, Mich., so it happened and I became the Pastor at Holt, under the leadership of Dr. Elias Roser, who was Pastor at Lansing, Mich., six miles away from Holt9. Dr. Roser and the good people at Holt received the young bashful Preacher very cordially and made me feel at home at once.

I spent three blessed months at Holt. The Conference session was at hand and I had made all arrangements to return to my studies at Wallace College. The last Quarterly Conference at Holt voted for a recommendation to the Central German Conference, and Dr. John J. Keller in Chicago notified me that my home church at Green Garden, Ill. had also recommended me for the membership in the Chicago German Conference, and he wished me to come to the Conference session at Aurora, Ill. as he had a church for me. But my

courage to go to the Conference session failed me, and I took a train for Berea, Ohio to continue my studies as I had money enough to pay my own way in college. I was happy in my third year studies, was given also the Church at Almstead Falls to preach there on Sunday afternoons, and quite often preached in the College Chappel [sic] Sunday evening, besides this I continued my work as Church Janitor. I had more work than I could do, but felt very happy about it. But after six weeks, Dr. Keller wrote again that one of his Preachers was compelled to lay down his work on account of his health, and that I must come and take this church. Again the old fear overcame me and I made excuses that I could not come. Finally, my Professors encouraged me to go, at least until Conference time. On this agreement, I left Berea December 15 - 1889 to go to Sandwich, Illinois, and be the new Pastor of that church 10. It was in fear and trembling and much prayer that I took up my work here. I had a circuit of 4 Appointments, had to preach one Sunday twice and the next Sunday three times, had to buy a horse and buggy and travel from one end to the other a distance of 40 Miles on real Mud-roads 11. Besides, I tried to keep up my studies. The people had much patience with the new Student Pastor.

In the year 1891 on the 8th day of October, I was married to Miss Elizabeth Julia Dieterich of Sandwich, Ill. She had been my Organist in my Church for nearly two years, and she was well acquainted with Church work. Our District Sup't. Rev. J.J. Keller, officiated at our Marriage in our Church, and we moved into the parsonage next door to the Church. We were happy in our work and our members cooperated in our Mission12.

Two years later on Sept. 2 -1893, our first child was born in the Sandwich Parsonage and we called him Heinrich Valentine. A few days later, I moved to our next appointment which was at Champaign, Ill. A few weeks later, Mrs. Loeppert and our Baby son followed. We took up the work my former Pastor Rev. W. Esslinger left here. The Congregation welcomed us very heartily and we spent two very blessed years in this church. I took up some special studies at the State University there and found some very warm friends among the Professors. Here our oldest daughter was born on August 16 - 1895 and we named her Walburga Clara.
At the Conference Session of this year, we were appointed to the church at Danville, Ill. very unexpectedly. It was a great disappointment to our church in Champaign and to ourselves because we loved this work at Champaign, but we packed and moved after only two years.

Danville Church was twice as large as the Champaign Church 13 and some Preachers called it [called it] a great promotion but we did not feel so, first because we liked it too well in Champaign and found it hard to part from our many friends; secondly, our predecessor made our start here hard. The first year was a year of hard work, but the second year was more pleasant and more successful, we stayed 5 years here, and paid the old indebtedness on the church, installed a new Pipe Organ, a new Heating plant, new Church pews, decorated Church & Parsonage inside and outside, and created a Church Fund.

After 5 years, the Conference sent is to Chicago, Ill. to open a Mission 14 in the Brighton Park District. This was a new experience and we have always been thankful for this opportunity. We found no church, no Parsonage, and no Congregation. The Sunday School and Services were held in a Storeroom on 35th Street near Western Ave. God helped us in a wonderful way. We soon had nearly a hundred children in the Sunday school, and found friends here and there who helped us along. It was hard work, many discouragements, small funds, but many blessings, and new experience every day. In the third year here, we bought 2 corner lots on Hamilton Ave, and 36th Street, near the McKinley Park, build a new brick church at the cost of $5,000.00 and opened our fourth year by dedicating the new building and God gave us many new friends and new blessings in the winning of Souls for Christ. The new members were loyal and true to God and Church.

After we had completed our fifth year here, the Conference transferred us to the First and oldest German Methodist Church on Clybourn Ave. and Cleveland Ave. in Chicago 15. Two children were born into our family in Brighton Park, we called them Karl and Esther. Esther being only 6 weeks

[From left to right] David's great-grandmother Elizabeth, grand-uncle Henry, grandfather Karl, [standing] great-aunt Walburga [Wally], great-grandfather Heinrich, great-aunt Esther

old when we moved with 4 children to the First Church. This was an old Church building erected right after the Chicago fire in 1871. The Parsonage was in the first floor of the Church. Here we had a Congregation of loyal people and we found some true friends here whom we enjoyed up to the present day. We had many blessed experience here.

At the end of my third year here at the First Church, the Conference met at Ripou, Wis. Bishop Neeley presided. When the appointments were read, the First Church in Chicago was given to a new man. Rev. B.B. Schlung and I was appointed as District Superintendent on the Appleton District. This was a great surprise to me as no one had mentioned a word about it to me before the appointments were read. My old fear seized me again and I felt as if I had to decline to fill this new appointments. I loved my Pastoral so much and knew little about the District Superintendency. But I had to learn obedience early in life, and so I obeyed here and we moved from Chicago to Appleton, Wis.

In spite of my 19 years experience in the Pastorate, I felt ignorant and unqualified for such a high office in the Church. But God helped in a wonderful way as He often did before I was 42 years old and had often seen God’s move ful and help in my life, and again. It was a large District and I found many hardships especially in winter. But Preachers and Congregations were patient, and encouraged the young District Superintendent wherever they could.

In my third year on this Appleton District, my old friend H. C. Apfelbach, District Superintendent on the Milwaukee District died suddenly, it was a great shock to me personally. He died in the month of May and his work was given to me for the rest of the Conference year. It was no easy task to do the work on two districts, but again God helped me in a wonderful way to do my duty as I saw it and kept busy until the Conference session 16.

This Conference Session in 1911 was held in Chicago. Bishop John Hamilton presided. There were some important problems to be solved. I had to report for two districts, Appleton and Milwaukee. At the end of this session another surprize [sic] awaited me. When the Bishop read the Appointments, I was transferred from Appleton to the Chicago District and we had to move again to Chicago, and our old friends here gave us a warm welcome.

We had been on the Chicago district as a Pastor for 19 years and therefore were acquainted with most of the Churches and members, but the District Superintendency was different from a Pastorate. Again we looked up to the hills from whence comes our help, wisdom and strength, and God kept His promise. So we continued in the work and found many willing helpers. Most of the work was done yet in the German Language, We introduced Union Evangelistic Services 17, Union Lovefeasts 18, Sunday School, and Epworth League Conventions at out Camp meetings [sic] and many other new features which created new Enthusiasm in the Church work. We stayed at this work during our six year term and so had in all 9 years in the office as District Superintendent.

When the Conference was held at Chicago in 1911, I was also elected as delegate to the General Conference on the first ballot which was a great surprize [sic] to me. So in the month of May 1912, I attended the General Conference at Minneapolis, Minn. Which I counted as one of the great privileges in my life. At this sessions of the General, I was elected as a member of the Board of Education to represent the German branch in the Board. The board met annually in December in the city of New York. Four years later, I was again elected as a member of the General Conference, again on the first ballot in my Conference. This General Conference was held at Saratoga Spring, NY. During this session I served as Secretary for the 13thdistrict which consisted of all the German speaking delegates. I also represented my Conference as Trustee in the German Methodist Orphan Home at Berea, Ohio, where I was elected as Vice-President, and later as President of the Board. During this time, Rev. John Romoser, the Superintendent [sic] of the Milwaukee District died in the month of July and I was given the charge over this district to-gether with mine until the next Conference session which meant much extra work again19E.

My term on the Chicago district ended with the Conference Sessions in 1917 which was during the World War. We desired a Pastorate in a smaller city, but Bishop Nicholson, the residing Bishop, insisted in spite of my protest that I must take the old Center Street Church in Chicago. We had decided before the Conference session to unite both this Center Street Church 20 and the First German Methodist Church on Clybourn Ave. This because now my task to bring about this unification, the old Clybourn Ave. Church was sold to the Zipprich Teaming Company for 8,000.00 dollars and the members came over to Center Str. Church. It worked better than I had anticipated. Many changes had to be made, but everyone was willing to help in the good work.
In the year 1922, we invited the Chicago German Conference to be our guest and hold the Conference Session in our Church. This was done to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of German Methodistism in Chicago, and also the fiftieth Anniversary of the Chicago German Conference. It was great and memorable Conference session. It was one of the hottest weeks in the year, but the Spirit of God united all the hearts, and showers of blessings came from above. Our people here had prepared a fine program for this occasion. Bishop Thomas Nicholson presided, our Ladies served the meals, the Men entertained Pastors and Laymen at a great banquet at the Central Y.M.C.A. Our Church Choir furnished beautiful Music during the entire week and many outside Visitors came to celebrate with us. The entire programe [sic] cast us a large sum of money, but every cent was paid by our people, and all was done in a fine Christian Spirit and enjoyed by all.

Five years later, in the year of 1926 and 1927, we build a new church. The old Center Street Church was torn down, a new piece of ground was brought and a fine brick building was erected at the cost of $65,000.00 a new Pipe Organ was installed. It was a great day when we dedicated this fine Church on Sunday, January 1928 21. Bishop Edwin Hughes - Dr. J. A. Diekmann - Dr. John Thompson - Dr. A. J. Loeppert - Dr. Geo. L. Scherger - Rev. Jacob Berger, and many other Pastors came to help dedicate it. For three days we celebrated and ended with a great Bouquet.

Every years since, we celebrated our Anniversary on the last Sunday in Janaury and had a fine Anniversary Bouquet with good things to eat, fine Speakers, great Music and many friends. Our people enjoy them and want them. Our Anniversary Sundays have been Reunion Meetings for German Methodist in Chicago22E.

After I reached the Age of 65, I planned to retire or take a smaller Church, but the good people in this church sent in petitions to the Bishop and his Cabinett [sic] to return me as Pastor of this Church. This happened year after year, but when I had reached the age of 74 years, I decided I must close my active Ministry to make room for a younger man. I did not feel my age, being tired very seldom, but I knew there must be a change in the program of the future. Up to this time we had used mostly the German Language, since I had always felt that some Church must be interested in the German Emigrants and bring them the Gospel in the language they could understand best, and give them an opportunity to come to a church where they could sing and pray in their own language and this our Church had been quite successful in this Mission. But now Immigration from Germany had ceased and very few Germans come to this Country, so my Mission among the Germans has also come to a close. So I felt the Program of this First German Methodist Church must be changed and the Language must be changed to do more Missionary work in the neighborhood of this Church among those who do not speak the German Language. I informed my Official Board, my District Sup’t, and the Bishop accordingly, and the Conference made the desired change. I retired at the Conference session held at Freeport, Ill. And a new and young Pastor took my place.

For the last Sunday before the Conference Session, which was the 29th day of September 1940, my Congregation had planned a great surprise for Mrs. Loeppert and myself. Their plan was to celebrate my fiftieth Anniversary in the Ministry, and the plan and program was indeed a great success and a real surprise for us. The Church Auditorium was beautifully decorated with flowers and palms. They had invited Bishop John L. Nuelsen - Dr. Fred Stone - Dr. A. S. Moore - Dr. A. T. Stephenson - Dr. J. A. Dickmann, and many other Ministers and old friends of mine. In the morning, I preached the Anniversary Sermon to a fine Audience. In the afternoon, the Church was filled with members and friends and many former German Methodist people. A beautiful printed program in Gold ink with a Photograph of the Preacher was carried out 23. My Church Choir under the leadership of our Son, Heinrich, sang the beautiful Songs as they had never sung them better before, and many tributes were paid to the Pastor, but he himself felt he did not deserve them, because it was only the Grace of God that helped him and gave him so many privileges in the 50 year long Pastorate. On Monday evening following the Anniversary Sunday, the Congregation had planned an Anniversary Banquet, and it was a real bouquet. The Sunday School Auditorium was filled with Guest, the Ladies of the Church under the leadership of Mrs. W. Bieg had prepared a great dinner. The Room was decorated beautifully. Rev. C. Buch presided. The Music was inspiring. Dr. Diekmann 24 and a number of other friends spoke. Bro, John N. Jacobsen prescuted a gift of $150.00 to the Pastor from the Congregation 25; many messages of Congratulations for Mrs. Loeppert and the Pastor were read. It was late in the evening when this great Bauquet came to an end and the many dear friends said: Farewell.

This Anniversary closed a long time of intimate service, communion and friendship between this First German Methodist Congregation and the Pastor and his family. Three years we served at the old First Church on Clybourn Ave. Then six years as District Sup’t, and since twenty-three years for the second time making a total of 32 years. Over one hundred members of this Church we helped bring to their last resting place and mingled our tears with those who were near and dear to the departed ones. We shall never forget the Christian Life and Character of many of these dear members and friends. My twenty-six years Pastorate among such noble Christian people brought much joy and many blessings into my own Soul and Life.

Soon after my retirement from the active Ministry, I was wondering where and how I could make myself useful in doing something in the Kingdom of the Lord. I received a Phone call from a neighbor Pastor, Dr. Geo. L. Scherger, an old friend who was Pastor of the St. Paul’s Evangelical Reformed Church on Orchard & Fullerton Str. 26, Dr. Scherger was ill and asked me to preach for him which I did. Pastor Scherger died three months later and the Church Board asked me to stay with them until they could secure a new Pastor. So I helped out there for nearly 10 months and found much joy and many blessings in the work there27E.

On October 8 - 1941, we celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary. Our Children together with the Congregation made a great Celebration of it. The Church was filled with friends - Dr. F. W. Mueller, an old friend gave the address. The present Pastor Rev. H. R. Dude; Rev. Geshard Grauer the new Pastor of the St. Paul’s Church; and my nephew A. J. Loeppert took part in the program. Our son, Heinrich II, sang a Solo, our Grandchildren accompanied us. The Congregation presented us through Rev. Carl Buch with a gift of $100.00. We thanked God for all His mercies and blessings that came into our Life. Many friends urged us to sing an old song, a duet: Der Jugend-Traum. We often, Mrs. Loeppert and myself, had sung this old song.

Our son Heinrich bought a new home for us in Evanston. We moved to Evanston, 725 Emerson Str. - where we found a number of old friends as neighbors who made the following years very pleasant.

Mother’s Day 1953 came again. Mother [Elizabeth Loeppert, wife] was happy - the Children and Grandchildren all came home. She went to bed a little earlier 28. But at midnight woke up in pain. We called the doctor, and he ordered to take her to the hospital. We did. They did what they could, but inside of one hour she did go to sleep in my arms, not to wake again. I felt alone as never had felt in all my life. It was the 11th of May 1953.

We laid her dear body away in the Rose Hill Cemetery, and we returned to a very lonesome Home. Yes, so lonesome that I planned to look for a new home, and found one in the new Building of the Bethany Home, 4950 N. Ashland Ave. Chicago in the month of December 1954.

Pictured are David's great-grandparents, Elizabeth and Reinrich Loeppert at the start at the marriage in Sandwich, Illinois [right] to the many travels [below] in their lives.

Sidenotes

1 Germany is made up of 16 Lander [states]. Bavaria is the far southeasten part of Germany.
Bararia is divided into 7 administrative districts. Oberfrauken [Upper Franconia] is in the northeasten part of Bavaria.

The city of Redwitz is in the north part of Germany's Oberfraken district.

2 Before World War II in German, it was the law that all children had to have some type of religious schooling. While today’s German constitution guarantees freedom of religion, it also states that no one may be discriminated against due to their faith. However, it is illegal in some states to work on the Sabbath. On 1st of January 2010, German national law makers enacted legislation allowing 10 shopping Sundays per year. The German constitution, under the subhead Religion and Religious Societies, states: “Sunday and holidays recognized by the state shall remain protected by law as days of rest from work and of spiritual improvement.” It also states: “There shall be no state church.” Depending what state one lives in German today, some religious communities are within the constitution to teach religion in state schools; and having membership fees [Church tax] collected by the Finanzamt, Germany’s equivalent of the U.S.’s IRS. Currently, the Church tax is about 8 to 9% of the income tax, and is only for the Roman Catholic and mainline Protestant Churches, and the Jewish communities.

3 Illinois has more municipalities than any other state; Even more than California. Illinois has government on top of government. Counties over townships, and townships over cities duplicates a lot of services and taxes. The design for townships is for rural areas where there is no city government. However, in Illinois when a small city is created, the township does not cease. The map [left] shows Green Garden Townshipis southwest of Chicago and Lake Michigan

4 Revival Meetings are a Protestant church event to gain new members. It usually is held near the church on rental property or under a tent conducted several consecutive nights at the same time and location.

5 The German Methodist Church was a separate branch of the American Methodist Episcopal Church [English speaking church] until 1924.

6The Methodist Church are groups of Methodist churches in a geographic area that are organized to form a district, somewhat similar to the way cities and towns are organized into counties. Often, churches in a district will work together to provide training and mission opportunities.
Each district is led by a District Superintendent [DS], an elder appointed by the bishop, usually for a six-year term. The DS oversees the ministry of the district’s clergy and churches; provides spiritual and pastoral leadership; works with the bishop and others in the appointment of ordained ministers to serve the district’s churches; oversees programs within the district, and presides at meetings of the local Methodist Church within the DS's district. This local church meeting is required at least once a year and is called Charge Conference.
Districts make up a Conference, much like counties are organized into a state. The Conference is required to meet at least once a year at its Annual Conference, or sometime refers as just Conference.
The structure of the Methodist Church resembles that of the U.S. government.

7 Both the college and the town of Berea were founded by Methodist settlers from Connecticut when they moved west after their homes were burned by the British in the Revolutionary War. The Baldwin Institute, founded by an early settler John Baldwin, was formed in 1845. Baldwin Institute became Baldwin University in 1855.German Wallace College was formed in 1855 mainly by Jacob Rothweiler, a German Methodist minister, and named the school after James Wallace, a local quarry owner. This college was to be a separate school for German students, where courses would be taught in German. The town was blessed having two colleges. Due to financial reasons, Baldwin University and
German Wallace College merged in 1913 to form the present Baldwin-Wallace College.

8 Olmsted Falls, Ohio is about 18 miles southwest from Cleveland. It is very near Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport.

9 Holt, Michigan

10 Rev. Heinrich Christian Loeppert received a 56 panel quilt from his congregation at Sandwich German Methodist Church in Sandwich, Illinois for his becoming the main-pastor at this church in 1890. At this church, he started as the student-pastor in 1889. This cotton quilt, with red embroidery of flowers and lettering, has its middle panel naming Sandwich Methodist Church outlined with other panels by the families’ names that attended the church when this gift was given to Heinrich.
Picture left: The quilt given by the congregation at Sandwich German Methodist Church. For more information, click the quilt.

11Circuit rider in the Methodist Church is a term referring to clergy in the earliest years of the United States who were assigned to travel around by horse to their district or Conference to minister to many churches' congregations.

12 Heinrich with his new wife, Elizabeth Julia Dieterich, in Sandwich, Illinois

13 Champaign, Illinois is 135 miles south of Chicago, and 34 miles west from Danville, Illinois.

14 A Mission was an outreach of the First German Methodist Church in Chicago. These Mission were set in areas where people did not have easy access by horse for providing German speaking Sunday worship, Sunday Schools, or grammar to high schools. Later, some of these Missions became local churches within the denomination.

15In 1837, the Methodist Episcopal Church appointed Dr. Rev. William Nast to establish a German Mission in Cincinnati, Ohio. German immigration was high and their was a need to have German language churches. This sparked the German Methodist Church throughout the US while working as a branch of the American Methodist Episcopal Church.
In Chicago, First German Methodist Church was founded in the fall of 1847 in the Near North area [just north of downtown] on what is now Grand Avenue between Wells and Franklin Streets. With the growth of the congregation, the church needed larger space. First German Methodist Church bought several lots further north on Clybourn Avenue, north of Division Street, and moved the church building on rollers to the new site.

In spring of 1864, a new larger and better equipped building was dedicated by Dr. Rev. Nast. On October 9, 1871, came the Chicago Fire [this is why in the US National Fire Prevention Week is honor around the beginning of October] which destroyed the the church building and nearby parsonage. The then Pastor Frederich Rinder reported: “All the property is gone, only the heavy mortgage is left” with a remaining $3,000.00 mortgage on empty lots. In August 1873, a third church building [pictured] was dedicated with a debt of $7,000.00 on the same lots. It was 3 stories tall, and the sanctuary seated over 500 people. The official name of this church at that time was The First German Society of the Methodist Church in Chicago.

The church opened many Missions throughout the city of Chicago [see above sidenote 15], which later became local German Methodist churches. Some of their Missions were or became, after time, local churches:
a Sunday School at Clark and Adams;
Second German Methodist Church on the corner of 28th Street and Princeton Avenue;
Maxwell Street Church at Clifton and Ashland Avenues;
Aldersgate Church at Belle Plaine Avenue and Troy Street;
Immanuel Church on 22nd Street;
Centennial Church at Sheffield Street and Wellington Avenue;
Christ Church at 64th Street and Sangamon Avenue;
Embury Church at 36th Street and Hamilton Avenue;
Center Street Church on the corner of Armitage Avenue and Dayton Street.

16 In the German Methodist Church, the Appleton and Milwaukee Districts were part of the Chicago/Illinois Conference. Today's United Methodist Church, Illinois host two Conference: Northern Illinois Conference and Illinois Great Rivers Conference. Wisconsin Conference covers the whole state of Wisconsin.

17Union Evangelistic Services is much like a Revival Meetings [see sidenote 4].
18Love Feast, or also know as Agape Feast, is a service dedicated to Christian love that is to strengthen bonds and the spirit of harmony through a meal - not replacing communion, but is similar with food and drink. The Moravian Church, which formed in late 14th century Bohemia [today’s Czech Republic], started this practice. Some Colonial-era Love Feasts used plain bread and water; some were even known to have served meat or beer.John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, traveled to North America with the Moravians and greatly admired their faith and practice. Wesley brought the Love Feast to the Methodist Church, and with the shortage of ordained clergy in the Methodist Church to serve Communion, the Love Feast took on a life of its own. Even after the Revival Meetings movement lost its popularity in the mid-1900s, mostly Methodists have kept the practice of Love Feast; even as to serving potato chips and soda.

19E Point of Reference World War I, as a declared state of war, lasted from July 28, 1914 to November 11, 1918. After a decade of unstable alliances and military buildups, World War I was triggered in 1914 by the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. It ended in 1918 with the Treaty of Versailles.
20 Around 1900 to 1901, Center Street name was changed to Armitage Avenue.

Armitage German Methodsit Church [picture above] on the corner of Armitage Avenue and Dayton Street. The German Methodist Church was a separate branch of the American Methodist Episcopal Church [English speaking church] until 1924. In the 1980s, the building was sold to a non-denominational church.

21 With the new building in 1928 came a new name for the church. The church was renamed Armitage German Methodist Church after the new street name. The city of Chicago changed Center Street's name back in 1900-1.

22E Point to ReferenceWorld War II had differing start and ending points, depending on what part of the world is being described. Japan attacked China in 1937 -- some say the start of World War II on the Pacific Side. In Europe, the war began with Hitler's attack on Poland, September 1st, 1939. England and France had defense treaties with Poland, and declared war on Germany two days later. The US and the Soviet Union were drawn into the war in 1941.

23 The gold color ink on the program did not copy for this picture. The orginal is in gold ink.

24 Dr.John Diekmann, President of Bethesda Hospital in Ohio, son of the founder of First German Methodist Church in Chicago.

25Heinrich seems to have neglected that he also received a gift from the church of two airline tickets to Germany. This was before World War II. His wife, Elizabeth, did not like to fly, so he flew solo. His trip took place sometime in 1940-1. He told of his flight to David’s mother that it was a heavy overcast day when the plane took off. Flying through the thick clouds was darker than being on the ground. And when the aircraft reached above the cloud layer, the sun poured into the aircraft; Its windows glowed brightly. He was in awe of the heavens being in the sunlight. That even during the darkest hour, there is always a light somewhere. In Germany, he visited his hometown where they asked him to preach during Sunday service. He was given strict instructions to stick only with the Bible and not say anything political since the SS [Nazi Protective Squadron like a Service Police] would be sitting in the back of the church.

As to why he left this part out is unknown. What is known is that his grandchildren understood German, but did not speak it fluently. It may have been due to the anti-German sentiment that was felt during and after both World Wars. Maybe Collinsville, Illinois [12 miles east of St. Louis] was too close to Chicago for it had the only recorded incident during the war of a lynching of a German-American. The US government enacted the Alien Registration Act of 1940 which requited 300,000 German born resident aliens to register with the government and restricted their travel and property ownership rights. Like the Japanese internment camps, nearly 11,000 German immigrants were interned starting in 1940 - most were not US citizens. Five hundred were arrested without warrants, and many civil rights violations occurred. The last interned German was released from Ellis Island in 1948 - three years after the end of World War II. In Chicago, many streets with German names were changed. Some other anti-German sentiment in the US were: the dog breed German Spitz was renamed American Eskimo Dog; German measles were instead called liberty measles; Frankfurters or franks became known as Hot dogs. Maybe Heinrich left out his trip to pre-World War II Germany so not to take away the focus of his work in the US.

26 Picture here is a 1943 postcard of St. Paul's Evangelical Reformed Church. Today it is part of the United Church In Christ [UCC] denomination.

27E Point of Reference The US was drawn into World War II in December of 1941. The war ended with Germany's surrender in May of 1945.

28 David's parents [Elizabeth Loeppert's granddaughter Carolyn and her husband Jim] and his older brother, Terry [great-grandson] were at this gathering. They were also the last to leave. This was not uncommon for David’s father assuming he talked till the very end of the party. Reguardless, David’s Great-Grandmother [Elizabeth Loeppert] asked them to stay. The living room was darkening as dusk approached. David’s Great-Grandmother asked David’s father not to turn on the table lamps saying, “Turning on the lights makes the day seem final.” They sat in the dark room until David’s parents and brother left. When they got home, they received a phone call about David’s great-grandmother being in the hospital. As David’s mother tells it, “It was as if she knew it was her last day on earth.”