Religion > Denominations > German Congregational Church > History of the Pacific Conference of Congregational Churches
History of the Pacific Conference of Congregational Churches of Washington, Oregon and Idaho 1897-1964
In honor of the ministers and churches of the Pacific Conference, who served the spiritual needs of our people from 1882 to May 1964, when the Pacific Conference was officially dissolved.
Our churches at the very beginning were organized as independent churches. They had no connection with any denomination here in America. The people had been members of the Lutheran and Reformed Churches in Europe, where they came from. Since their faith and policy were more like the Congregationalists, they joined that denomination. After 1889 the new churches were organized in their very inception as Congregational churches.
In 1897 these churches were organized into the Pacific Conference, with the exception of the Idaho churches, which were accepted in 1927. Their sessions were held annually, alternating between the churches of the three states. They were well attended (in the Sunday sessions over 600) and very much enjoyed.
The largest growth in membership was from 1911 to 1913, by immigration of the German people from Russia, and other Germans from various European countries; by accession from other denominations and other churches, and from native-born children of the first and second generations. The greatest membership ever acquired was in 1930. From then on we began to lose both in number in membership and churches, through consolidation of small churches into bigger and better city and town churches. We also lost members through mixed marriages and by population shifting, from the place where there was limited work to where 'employment was to be found.
Nevertheless, both laymen and pastors who came by covered wagon and by other means have to be admired and honored for their courage and faith in God that he would take care of them. Time has proven that they were right.
All pioneering is hard and risky and hard work. One never is certain what kind of soil he takes up or what the condition of the weather will be. Our Germans were lucky in their choice of this territory. The soil and weather proved more favorable than in many other states. Our pioneer pastors did not have to preach in sod schoolhouses or live with their members in dugouts. For we in Washington, Oregon and Idaho have rich growths of timber. It was not always easy to get but at least we had it in our states. Therefore our houses and churches, though small, yet large enough for the time being, were built of lumber. Parsonages were also built as early as 1910 and some prior to that date. Before that time the ministers lived with their members or in rented quarters. In spite of all this advantage here in the northwest the people and their pastor suffered the usual hardships of the pioneers.
The salary the ministers received annually varied from place to place. Some received as low as $75.00 a year and as high as $350.00 during the same time. Not until 1905 did some of the so-called big churches pay $800.00 a year. Pastors with large families had to be subsidized by kind hearted church members, who shared their meat and eggs with their ministers. Other members would see to it that the pastor's ponies had enough hay. Every Christmas the rich churches back east and the Home Mission Board would send large boxes of clothing to the needy pastor's family.
The most sacrificial duty of a pastor was that he had to serve more than one church, even as many as three or four. A case in point, Rev. Hergert, who was resident minister at Walla Walla, had to come to Ritzville and serve the Packard Emmanuel church, 14 miles north of Ritzville. Rev. F. Frucht, who organized the Ritzville, Walla Walla Zion, and Endicott churches in 1882‑1883 and was resident minister at Endicott, had to serve Ritzville, some 55 miles west, and another church 75 miles from Endicott. He had to travel by horse and wagon, in all kinds of weather and conditions. This remained the custom until more pastors were secured from Grischona Theological Seminary, the Chicago Institute, Redfield and Yankton School of Theology.
Still most pastors were overworked and underpaid. At best the above situation was mostly missionary work by most pastors from 1882 until 1905. The Pacific Conference (and other state conferences did the same) decided to have a general missionary in the states of Oregon and Washington. The best-qualified man for this new position was Rev. T. C. Schwabenland, who after five years of arduous work from 1909 to 1914, became ill and was compelled to seek less strenuous work by accepting a call from Danuba, California. Rev. G. Graedel, minister of Washington and Oregon since 1882, was appointed general missionary of the two states.
"The resources of his body, mind and spirit seemed boundless." He served in this capacity for 20 years. Dr. Evers said, "It should be noted that the work would practically stand still, if our faithful general missionaries had not given unselfishly of their time and strength." Rev. Graedel gave his valued services without pay, in the states of Oregon and Washington, organizing, supervising churches and supply them with ministers for nearly 20 years. (Dr. Eisenach's book, page 131, History of German Congregational Churches, U. S. A.)
There was also this distressing situation of the pastor's everlasting moving from one church to another (or parish). The average residence was about two years. Here the old proverb proves its wisdom, "When one moves three times, that is as bad as being burned down once." It costs money to move, furniture is scratched and broken, kitchenware suffers even greater damage, and other things get lost in transportation. But in spite of all the work, misery and hardships, these dedicated men and women went on serving their Lord and Master, with very little complaint about their hard lot. Some served their God and humanity for as long as 50 years.
These patriarchs, pastors and missionaries have gone to their well-earned reward. However we know that these Christian heroes left Spiritual sons and daughters who heard the call of Macedonia, "Come over and help us," and they were not disobedient unto the Word of God and cry of the people for help. Many of these young men and women are now working in these churches that our pioneer parents and pastors organized and built.
To the great minds both past and present who have made a great contribution and sacrifices to make the Pacific Conference a success. May I say that Christianity is not a voice in the wilderness, but a life in the world.
Reverend W.C. Raugust, Chairman
Our churches at the very beginning were organized as independent churches. They had no connection with any denomination here in America. The people had been members of the Lutheran and Reformed Churches in Europe, where they came from. Since their faith and policy were more like the Congregationalists, they joined that denomination. After 1889 the new churches were organized in their very inception as Congregational churches.
In 1897 these churches were organized into the Pacific Conference, with the exception of the Idaho churches, which were accepted in 1927. Their sessions were held annually, alternating between the churches of the three states. They were well attended (in the Sunday sessions over 600) and very much enjoyed.
The largest growth in membership was from 1911 to 1913, by immigration of the German people from Russia, and other Germans from various European countries; by accession from other denominations and other churches, and from native-born children of the first and second generations. The greatest membership ever acquired was in 1930. From then on we began to lose both in number in membership and churches, through consolidation of small churches into bigger and better city and town churches. We also lost members through mixed marriages and by population shifting, from the place where there was limited work to where 'employment was to be found.
Nevertheless, both laymen and pastors who came by covered wagon and by other means have to be admired and honored for their courage and faith in God that he would take care of them. Time has proven that they were right.
All pioneering is hard and risky and hard work. One never is certain what kind of soil he takes up or what the condition of the weather will be. Our Germans were lucky in their choice of this territory. The soil and weather proved more favorable than in many other states. Our pioneer pastors did not have to preach in sod schoolhouses or live with their members in dugouts. For we in Washington, Oregon and Idaho have rich growths of timber. It was not always easy to get but at least we had it in our states. Therefore our houses and churches, though small, yet large enough for the time being, were built of lumber. Parsonages were also built as early as 1910 and some prior to that date. Before that time the ministers lived with their members or in rented quarters. In spite of all this advantage here in the northwest the people and their pastor suffered the usual hardships of the pioneers.
The salary the ministers received annually varied from place to place. Some received as low as $75.00 a year and as high as $350.00 during the same time. Not until 1905 did some of the so-called big churches pay $800.00 a year. Pastors with large families had to be subsidized by kind hearted church members, who shared their meat and eggs with their ministers. Other members would see to it that the pastor's ponies had enough hay. Every Christmas the rich churches back east and the Home Mission Board would send large boxes of clothing to the needy pastor's family.
The most sacrificial duty of a pastor was that he had to serve more than one church, even as many as three or four. A case in point, Rev. Hergert, who was resident minister at Walla Walla, had to come to Ritzville and serve the Packard Emmanuel church, 14 miles north of Ritzville. Rev. F. Frucht, who organized the Ritzville, Walla Walla Zion, and Endicott churches in 1882‑1883 and was resident minister at Endicott, had to serve Ritzville, some 55 miles west, and another church 75 miles from Endicott. He had to travel by horse and wagon, in all kinds of weather and conditions. This remained the custom until more pastors were secured from Grischona Theological Seminary, the Chicago Institute, Redfield and Yankton School of Theology.
Still most pastors were overworked and underpaid. At best the above situation was mostly missionary work by most pastors from 1882 until 1905. The Pacific Conference (and other state conferences did the same) decided to have a general missionary in the states of Oregon and Washington. The best-qualified man for this new position was Rev. T. C. Schwabenland, who after five years of arduous work from 1909 to 1914, became ill and was compelled to seek less strenuous work by accepting a call from Danuba, California. Rev. G. Graedel, minister of Washington and Oregon since 1882, was appointed general missionary of the two states.
"The resources of his body, mind and spirit seemed boundless." He served in this capacity for 20 years. Dr. Evers said, "It should be noted that the work would practically stand still, if our faithful general missionaries had not given unselfishly of their time and strength." Rev. Graedel gave his valued services without pay, in the states of Oregon and Washington, organizing, supervising churches and supply them with ministers for nearly 20 years. (Dr. Eisenach's book, page 131, History of German Congregational Churches, U. S. A.)
There was also this distressing situation of the pastor's everlasting moving from one church to another (or parish). The average residence was about two years. Here the old proverb proves its wisdom, "When one moves three times, that is as bad as being burned down once." It costs money to move, furniture is scratched and broken, kitchenware suffers even greater damage, and other things get lost in transportation. But in spite of all the work, misery and hardships, these dedicated men and women went on serving their Lord and Master, with very little complaint about their hard lot. Some served their God and humanity for as long as 50 years.
These patriarchs, pastors and missionaries have gone to their well-earned reward. However we know that these Christian heroes left Spiritual sons and daughters who heard the call of Macedonia, "Come over and help us," and they were not disobedient unto the Word of God and cry of the people for help. Many of these young men and women are now working in these churches that our pioneer parents and pastors organized and built.
To the great minds both past and present who have made a great contribution and sacrifices to make the Pacific Conference a success. May I say that Christianity is not a voice in the wilderness, but a life in the world.
Reverend W.C. Raugust, Chairman
Sources
Raugust, Rev. W.C. History of the Pacific Conference of Congregational Churches of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, 1897-1964. Print.