THE BROTHERHOOD
On
The meeting was called to order by Rev. O.F. Kattner who was the pastor in charge at that time. Rev. Kattner explained the purpose of such an organization to
the group and it was voted unanimously to organize a brotherhood.
The first officers were: President, A. M. Lindemann;
Vice President, P.T. Philippus; Secretary, P.G. Muenzler; Treasurer, Arlie J. Froehner; Reporter, Elmar Froehner.
The first serving committee was John Behrens,
chairman; Elmar Froehner, Theo. Siepmann,
Adolph Philippus, John Heil, and Elmar
Lindemann.
The first entertainment or program committee
consisted of: Rev. O.F. Kattner, A.J. Froehner, and
Ernest Hornung.
The constitution and bylaws were written by Rev. O.F.
Kattner, WA. Raeke, and Charles Pape. They are
recorded in the first secretary book on pages 198 and 199. Part of the
constitution is as follows:
Article
I―The name of this men's organization shall be:
The Brotherhood of the
Article
II―The purpose of the Brotherhood shall be to
promote the social and educational life of the men of the church and making
possible once each year a congregational gathering with like purpose.
Article
IV―All men and young men sixteen years of age
and over, agreeing to abide by the constitution as herein prescribed, shall be
eligible to membership in the Brotherhood.
It was also the custom that officials of the
Brotherhood should not hold an office for more than one year consecutively.
On
All who attended this first meeting and wished to do
so were included as charter members. These were the names of the charter members:
Rev. O.F. Kattner, John Behrens, Phil Hell, Adolph Philippus, John Fink, Monroe Schauer,
Ted Siepmann, Elmar
Froehner, A.J. Fink, John Heil, Paul Philippus, Carl Pape, Arthur Raeke, John Froehner,
E.C. Leifeste, Robert Stearns, B.H. Lindemann, W.E.
Lindemann, E.R. Froehner, A. Siepmann, Jr., Arthur Pape, A.M. Lindemann, John Stehle, Herman Heil, John Philippus, Wilson Gandre, Ernest
Hornung, A.J. Froehner, Leon Pape, Elmar Lindemann, Walter Raeke,
Otto Froehner, Herman Tieken, Otto Lindemann, P.G. Muenzler,
Erwin Froehner, Raymond Schauer, W.F. Lindemann,
Theo. Philippus, Willie Heldberg,
W.F. Gandre, Alton Lindemann, Robert Pape, Leland Lindemann, Henry Wilmann,
Walter Heil, Walter Afflerbach, Leland Weathersby,
Wm. Hornung, Milton Lindemann, B.A. Froehner, Warren Taylor, A. Siepmann, Joe Bahlmann, Austin Gandre,
Walter Schultz, Frank Gandre, Louis Muelker, Edwin Pape, Lee Muenzler, Gus Gandre, Herman
Schultz, and Clarence Traeger. There were 63 charter
members and by the end of the year the membership had grown to 74.
In the early years of the Brotherhood it was not
unusual to have as many as 75 to 100 men present at the regular quarterly
meetings. The group has not missed having a quarterly meeting since its
inception in 1934.
The organization has certainly fulfilled its purpose
as stated in the constitution in the last 52 years by having a wide variety of
subject matter in its programs given at each regular meeting. Speakers were
chosen from various professions such as: doctors, judges, ministers, law
enforcement officers. Programs on prevention of drug addiction, soil
conservation, wild life by game wardens, and travel experiences and musical
programs by laymen were interesting to those present.
One cannot estimate the bond of Christian love and
fellowship that the Brotherhood has created and continues to create over the
years among the men of this church community.
The sons and grandsons of many of the charter members
of the Brotherhood are carrying on in the organization and are doing very good
work by continuing to promote Christian fellowship both socially and
educationally among the men of our congregation and community.