1899. Treaty of Paris ended war with Spain; U.S. got Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Cuba became independent. U. S. asks Europe to join in Open Door trade policy with China. The Boer War began in South Africa. The Brotherhood of Teamsters was founded. First magnetic recording of sound was produced. Aspirin was manufactured for the first time.
Scott Joplin's "The Maple Leaf Rag" was published. Henry Eyster Jacobs, working with John A.W. Haas, published The Lutheran Cyclopedia, covering topics, people and organizations from Absolution to Zwickau. It is still in use in as a basic reference work. At Bethlehem, the congregation invited the Northern Illinois Pastoral Conference to meet at their church. The Treasurer's report showed that the debt of the congregation had been reduced to $9045.00.
1900. U.S. troops joined an international force in putting down the Boxer Rebellion in China. Kodak Brownie makes photography cheaper and simpler. Zeppelin passes its first test flight. Gold Standard Act passed, making the gold dollar the sole standard of currency. Population of Evanston was 19,259 and of Chicago 1.7 million. At Bethlehem, a door to door offering was gathered for the building of the College at Milwaukee. A children's service was held on Reformation Day evening.
1901. President McKinley was shot and Teddy Roosevelt became President. Rudyard Kipling wrote Kim. Queen Victoria died, ending "The Victorian Age." Clara Maas, one of the first five graduates of the nursing school at Newark German Hospital, died at 25, the only woman and the only American, to give her life in the research that demonstrated the manner of propagation of yellow fever. Chicago began construction of 47 miles of freight tunnels under its downtown area. The Quaker Oats Co. was formed in 1901 from John Stuart's milling company. St. Paul's Lutheran Church was established in Evanston. In the January meeting of the voters of Bethlehem, Mr. Theodore Lamprecht requested the congregation to call a second teacher for the school. At the same time he obligated himself to contribute $15 to $20 monthly towards the salary of the new teacher. This offer was accepted most gratefully. Mr. R. Mangelsdorf was then employed to take charge of the second school class for a period of three and a half months. He was made a regular teacher for the fall term and was installed into office on the 9th of June. Up to this time the congregation at Glencoe was served by the Evanston pastor. But in the Glencoe church decided to call a pastor who might devote his entire time to their spiritual needs.
1902. Women in Australia gained the right to vote. The U.S. Supreme Court stated that Congress can ignore Indian treaties when in the interest of the nation. Enrico Caruso made the first vocal music recording. The Lutheran Church Extension Fund was started. On September 2, the Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church (Slovensk-evanjelick augsburgsk ho vyznania celocirkev v Spojenych st toch americkych) began its organizational meetings; its name was later changed to the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (SELC) and in 1970 it merged into the Missouri Synod as the SELC District. On November 24, the state of Wisconsin chartered the new fraternal benefit society, "Aid Association for Lutherans in Wisconsin and Other States." At Bethlehem, in the July voters' meeting, the congregation resolved to build an addition to the school building, which could be used for school purposes, while the large school-room on the second floor should be offered to the societies for their meetings. The 25x35 foot addition to the school-house was erected for $1,104. Rededication services of the school were held in November.
1903. Panama signed a treaty for a canal under U. S. sovereignty. The U. S. Department of Labor and Commerce was created. The Wright brothers flew successfully at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Joseph L. Kraft and his brothers establish a wholesale cheese business near the Water Street Market in Chicago. On December 30, during a performance of "Mr. Blue Beard," a fire struck the Iroquois Theater, resulting in approximately 575 deaths. Bethlehem School participated in the School Exhibit at the World's Fair in St. Louis. Congregational debt was reduced to $7700.
1904. A telephone answering machine was invented. Fleming invented the diode to improve radio communication. The Great Train Robbery created demand for fiction movies. E.J. Brach opens his "Palace of Sweets," a small shop on North Avenue in Chicago, specializing in Creamy Caramels, which he sells to Marshall Field & Co. On December 14, Theodore Thomas moves the Chicago Orchestra to the new 2,566-seat Orchestra Hall, designed by Daniel Burnham and dedicated on this date. The excursion vessel General Slocum caught fire in New York City's East River on Wednesday, June 15, and sank near North Brother Island, killing close to 700 members of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Manhattan, including the pastor's wife and daughter; this 17th annual outing to Locust Grove on Long Island Sound reduced the congregation's baptized membership from 750 to 191. Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services was founded in Watertown, Wisconsin. On account of ill health Mr. Mangelsdorf was obliged to seek occupation in the southern part of our country. For this reason he accepted a call to teach school at Black Jack, Missouri. Mr. Kretchmar of Wilmette and later Mr. H. C. Meier of Harlem, Illinois, served in the Evanston School, till Mr. F. Toenies of Strassburg, Illinois, accepted a call, which was extended to him by the Evanston congregation. His installation took place in November. He took charge of the advanced school grades, while Mr. Bittner, upon his request, instructed the primary grades. In November, the Wilmette congregation expressed their intention to procure a resident pastor. Thus the Evanston pastor was relieved of further duties in behalf of Wilmette Lutherans.
1905. In New Zealand, the postage meter was introduced. In the United States, the Yellow Pages were introduced. The first juke box was constructed, with 24 choices. Einstein published his Special Theory of Relativity. Synod had 3000 congregations, 200 pastors, 1000 teachers. Frederick Stock succeeded Theodore Thomas as music director of the Chicago Orchestra, serving until his death in 1942, making him the longest-tenured conductor in CSO history. At Bethlehem, Mr. Bittner accepted a call which was extended to him by the congregation at Kankakee, Ill. He was succeeded in office at Evanston by Mr. Otto Schaefer, graduate of Addison Normal School, whose installation was held on August 27th. Men's Choir was under the direction of Mr. Louis Schaefer. St. Francis Hospital was given permission to use our doll-racks. A special resolution was passed to have the time of services published in local newspapers.
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