"...The Lord hath done great things for me..."
1940. Fantasia introduced stereo sound to American public. The first successful helicopter flight takes place in the U.S. Hemingway writes For Whom the Bell Tolls. Seminole Indians refuse to register for the draft; they are technically still at war with the U.S. Chicago's population in the 1940 census was 3.4 million people. Evanston's population was 65,389. "Lutheran World Action" was coined as fundraising campaign slogan; it became an ongoing appeal administered by the National Lutheran Council for overseas relief. On February 4, The Lutheran Hour made its first foreign broadcast. Pastor W. E. Gehrs of Anamose, North Dakota was elected and called as Pastor of Bethlehem. His installation took place in May. A resolution was passed to buy a United States flag and a Christian flag for the church. Upon resolution all members of the church were invited to attend the Voter's Assembly in February and October.
1941. The FCC set U. S. television standards. Lend-Lease gave the American President power to send arms to U. S. allies in Europe. Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and America declared war on Japan and her allies. Citizen Kane came to movie theaters. McMillan and Seaborg discovered plutonium. The Wyneken Centennial Convention of the LCMS began. The Lutheran Hymnal, was published. The National Lutheran Council established a Service Commission to provide chaplaincy services to the armed forces. Springfield Baptist Church was founded in Evanston. Mrs. W. M. Mirow was hired as a teacher for four years. After rejecting the idea of making all male communicant members voters on their 21st birthday, a special appeal was made to the male communicant members to become voting members.
1942. Atanasoff and Berry built the first electronic digital computer. Kodacolor process produced the color print. President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which authorized the incarceration of Americans of Japanese ancestry during the War. The first sustained nuclear reaction took place at the Manhattan Project after Fermi split the atom. The Lutheran Education Association was formed.
Bethlehem congregation joined the Pension Fund of Synod. Bethlehem Service Club was organized in January as Bethlehem U. S. Service Men's Club by parents and relatives of the young men and women of the church who had entered the service. Service flags for use in individual homes were sewn by the Club. Charter members received the first ones free, while the others were sold. After purchase of a Service Flag by the church, the members sewed the stars on the same and kept it up to date. This Service Flag was dedicated in a special afternoon service on May 17, 1942. A large picture frame, in which the pictures of the young men and women in service were placed, was purchased and hung in the small hall of the school. The names on the Honor Roll, bearing 150 names and found in the vestibule of the church, were placed and kept up to date by members of the club. Home-made cookies, cakes, etc. were sent to the U. S. O. Center on Davis Street and to our Lutheran Service Center at Waukegan, Illinois. A $1000 war bond was bought by the congregation. A telephone was installed at the school. A pipe organ was bought for the church by the Ladies Aid.
1943. The Fair Employment Practices Committee was established. Chicago's State Street subway was completed. Ike Sewell, a Texan, and his partner, restaurateur Ric Riccardo, find a way to make thin-crust pizza into a full meal.A 4-ounce container of Powdered Soup ("Hot, steaming soup in a jiffy!") cost 25 cents and used 4 points. Produce didn't use any ration points. Shoppers could buy Florida oranges, three dozen for $1.02; new green peas ("sweet as honey"), 25 cents per pound; and California broccoli ("the head kind, worth more than 'shoots'"), 35 cents per bunch. The Maxwell Street market was a resource for the war effort during World War II; signs urged shoppers to donate blood and buy war bonds, $50,000 of which were sold in a week in 1943. The American Lutheran Church invited the United Lutheran Church in America and our Synod to pulpit and altar relations; the ULCA says yes. Lutheran Braille Workers were established. Because of the war only a skeleton Synodical Convention was held. Walther Leaguers published "The Bugle" monthly and sent it to all the young men and women of our parish who entered the armed forces of our country. A New Testament was presented to each one of these young people, using in part $50. given to the League by the congregation, and birthday cards as well as Christmas cards were mailed them. Money was collected from the members so that the Walther League and the church's Army and Navy Commission could carry out its program among all those who entered the armed forces. This Commission was also kept informed concerning the addresses of everyone on its files from our church. Several times members of both Leagues served and entertained at our Lutheran Service Center at Waukegan, Illinois. Besides this fruits, candy, cookies, etc. were sent to the Center at various times. The Rev. A. E. Going gave a talk on his work at the Service Center. A service flag was placed in the church.
1944. Allied forces landed at Normandy. Harvard's Mark I, first digital computer, was put in service. Vietnam declared itself independent of France. The first jet airplanes became operational. St. James Armenian Church moved to Evanston, having been founded on Chicago's west side in 1925. They purchased the former Norwegian-Danish Theological Seminary building. Mr. J. A. Jaeger was hired as teacher in January and appointed as superintendent of Sunday School. He also took charge of the music in Bethlehem congregation, directing the Mixed Choir. Mr. Edwin Stoehr was hired from September to December. Regular Sunday School teacher's meetings were held once a month, in which all of the lessons for the month were thoroughly discussed with the teachers. A member volunteered to receive requests from families who wish to entertain one or more service men. Pastor J. D. Matthius, formerly of Evanston, died. After more than 30 years of faithful service Mr. C. E. Kasten tendered his resignation and retired. It was decided to have a prayer service on the evening of Armistice Day.
1945. The Yalta Conference discussed peace terms. Roosevelt died and Harry Truman became President. Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed after a failed attempt to assassinate Hitler. The German surrender ended World War II in Europe. The United Nations charter was signed. After atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered in September. Lutheran World Relief, the inter-Lutheran agency that aided in reconstruction after World War II, was founded; it still responds to crises around the world. Arthur Carl Piepkorn served as senior chaplain of the U.S. occupational forces in Germany.
At Bethlehem, the teacherage and the lots west of the school were purchased for $8200. In January Mr. John A. Jaeger was installed as teacher and principal of the school. Mrs. J. A. Jaeger was also hired as a teacher. The first of two banquets for returned service people was held in the school auditorium on December 19 by the Service Club.
1946. Jukeboxes went into mass production. Pennsylvania's ENIAC was the first modern electronic computer. Automobile radio telephones are connected to the telephone network. The Xerography process was invented by Carlson. Benjamin Spock published Baby and Child Care. Churchill gave his "Iron curtain" speech. Church World Service began its work (it later became a part of the National Council of Churches). O'Hare Airport opened as Orchard Airfield. At Bethlehem, "A motion was made and carried that the voters' assembly elect two members from the congregation to represent our congregation at all the meetings of the High School Association. The chair, however, appointed Mr. E. Elsholz and Mr. H. Kruse to be our representatives." Bethlehem joined the Lutheran High School Association of Greater Chicago. Tuition for outside children attending the school was raised from $1. per month to $3. per month starting in the fall. Mr. Mirow's 25 years as teacher (23 at Bethlehem) were celebrated October 27 with church service and gathering in school hall. Mr. Mirow was presented with a wallet containing $25. A brief financial statement is to be included in the bulletin once a month. The second banquet for returned service people was held in the school auditorium on June 4 by the Service Club. In November the congregation reluctantly gave Pastor Gehrs a peaceful dismissal to accept the call of a sister-congregation at Langdon, North Dakota. Celebration of 74th anniversary was dropped and plans were made to celebrate 75th and every five years thereafter. On September 29, 1946 the members of Bethlehem Service Club decided to turn over the money in the treasury to Bethlehem Congregation to purchase a suitable Memorial for the four young men who gave their lives for their country, namely: Irwin Redemann, Roy Toenies, Edward Endler and Harry Puls. At this same meeting the club was dissolved, having, by the grace of God, fulfilled its objectives. The officers of the club were Mrs. Gust Sellman, Mrs. Frank Esch, Miss Anna Hahn, and Mr. Wm. Kutz. A Candle-Light Service was given by the Mixed Choir the week before Christmas attended, the church being filled to capacity.
Questions, comments, etc. are welcome.
Send them to Marilyn
Gardner at MFGardner@aol.com