From the church bulletin RALLY DAY and Farewell Services, St. John's Evangelical Church, Mansfield, Ohio, Sunday, September 28, 1924. (Spelling and grammar as in the original.)
Rev. Gustav A. Kienle, born in Durlach, Baden, Germany, on May 23rd, 1867.
Came to the United States as a young man and completed his studies at Eden Seminary, St. Louis, Mo.
Ordained in 1890, his first charge being Christ's Evangelical Church, a Mission Church in St. Louis, Mo., during which pastorate a new church was built by this congregation.
In August, 1891, he was called to the pastorate of Zion's Evangelical Church at Lawrenceburg, Ind., where he remained six years.
In 1897 he was called to Huntingburg, Ind., where he organized new Congregations and built Churches for same, i. e. St. Paul's at Duff, Ind., Trinity at Jasper, Ind., and St. Peter's at Dubois, Ind.
In 1902 he answered a call of the Church to the Superintendency of the Deaconness' Hospital at Indianapolis, Ind.
In 1904 he re-entered pulpit work and answered a call from the St. John's Evangelical Church at Sharpsburg, Pa.
On September 5, 1907, he answered a call from St. John's Evangelical Church, Mansfield, Ohio, and has remained up to September 28, 1924, during which time our present beautiful Church was built and dedicated May 5, 1912.
On December 29, 1891, Rev. Kienle was married to Miss Pauline Fotsch. To them were born five children: Gustav Paul, Marguerite, Elsie Gertrude, Robert and Arthur, of whom Marguerite, Robert and Arthur are still living. Miss Marguerite being a teacher in our public schools, Robert now having a charge at St. John's Evangelical Church, at St. Paul, Minn., and Arthur, at present attending Elmhurst College in Chicago, Ill.
On October 1, 1924, Rev. Kienle takes over the Superintendency of the large Deaconess' Hospital, at Chicago, Ill., following a call extended to him by the officials of that institution during the month of August of this year.
During Rev. Kienle's pastorate in our midst, he had identified himself with many civic as well as humanitarian matters, always being able to do a kindness for another, and in addition being Chaplain of Richland County Home, and being Pastor of St. Peter's Church to the south of our city.
The following is from Saleste, Paul H., One Hundred Years of Saint John's Church, Evangelical and Reformed, January 1, 1945. (Spelling and grammar as in the original.)
After relinquishing his position at St. John's Mansfield, O., Rev. G. Kienle entered the more elevated position of the superintendency of the Evangelical Deaconess Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, at the urgent insistence of his friend Dr. Jacob Pister. With the great energy so characteristic of Dr. Kienle all through his life, he gave himself wholeheartedly to the work he loved, until his death on September 4, 1937. His contribution was a term of administrative brilliance which lifted the institution from a small, little-known hospital to a leading medical and hospital center of Chicago.
The following is from Saleste, Paul H., Ninetieth Anniversary of Saint John's Evangelical and Reformed Church, January 1, 1935. (Spelling and punctuation as in the original.)
Rev. G. A. Kienle received a unanimous call in June 1907 and began his long and remarkable pastorate on September 5th, 1907. Again the church had made an almost providentially guided selection of its new pastor. This the coming events verified. Very little can be said, of the four first years of his ministry here, which were spent in the second church. New life, new ambitions, new methods, new zeal stimulated the congregation to its highest pitch, until there was really nothing else to do, but to follow the energetic leadership of the pastor, to the building of a beautiful, massive, modern church edifice, the third church. With the coming of Kienle, we come to the end of the second chapter of Saint John's Life and the writing of a glorious third chapter.
If you have thoughtfully noted these periods of time, which we have used as sub-titles in this book, you will note that we come here to a period of "seventeen years," the longest pastorate in the whole history of our parish. That the longest pastorate, and the biggest achievements of our church during the ninety years, should come together is not a coincidence, nor that somewhere in those seventeen years would be the outstanding year of the whole history of Saint John's. That outstanding year, was the year 1912, when a beautiful new church, "a magnificent church" was dedicated to the service of God on May 5, 1912. But we are running too far ahead for the moment. Let us be more practical.
When Rev. Kienle came, he found the following situation. The life and activity of the church had reached its highest peak. New members were joining the church almost monthly. The problem of church expansion was becoming insistent. Several avenues of progress lay open. One group recommended enlarging the old building, another recommended a daughter church; still another were beginning to think of a new church. A definite retrogression in the "mission work" in Christ Mission Sunday School had set in. Eventually that work was abandoned in favor of the progressive principle championed by the new pastor, that one powerful, influential, undivided church was to be preferred to two smaller congregations, dividing the field. The congregation agreed wholeheartedly to follow the determined leadership of Rev. Kienle, to build for the future, for a "greater Saint John's Evangelical church". The call to work, still rings true and strong, now after twenty-five years, "We'll build, and when we build, we'll build ambitiously from cornerstone to steeple". Preliminary steps were taken at once, the new site purchased for $7,000 and the structure eventually erected at the cost of approximately $45,000. I add a quotation from the "Dedication Booklet" by Miss Bertha Reuss -- "At this time there were $5,000 in the Building Fund. The matter of the building site was a mooted question, and need not be mentioned in its details, except to mention the laudable fact, that in spite of the differences of opinion, peace and harmony prevailed, and we entered a new sanctuary, a united people, without any discords and dissensions."
"After the building of the new church was decided upon, the pastor worked unceasingly and heroically in the pursuit of its fulfillment.
Aided by the Building Committee, (we insert -- Jacob Rahm, Albert Strater, Harrison Saiter, John Scior, George Ost, William Stoodt, Charles Fensch Jr., Ernest Kallmerten, Philip Walter, Henry Griessinger, William Fuchs) and the church council, (against we insert -- Ernest Kallmerten, Henry Fehse, George Ost, Henry Fiedler, Henry Loesch, George Beilstein, Philip Theis). Rev. Kienle has been untiring and indefatigable in his efforts. To him fell the lot of financeering this great undertaking, and he has been wonderfully resourceful in the planning of ways and means of obtaining funds."
That of course was the outstanding event not only of the ninety years of history, but of the seventeen years of progressive service of this gifted pastor. Other milestones of achievement mark the way.
1908 - Rev. Kienle became identified with the Mansfield General
Hospital as director and valued worker.
1909 - Accepted the chaplaincy of the County Home, which position he held, till
his departure from Mansfield.
1910-12 - Built the new church - already described.
1913 - Became President of Mansfield Ministerial Association.
1914 - Was appointed to serve on the Board of Health.
1915 - Lot on Park Avenue East, east of the church purchased for $2750.00 for a
future parsonage site.
1915 - Individual Communion service introduced.
1916 - Observance of twenty-fifth Ordination anniversary.
1917 - Park Avenue paving paid for by voluntary subscriptions.
1918 - Monument for "Pastor's Rest" in cemetery purchased.
1919 - Mrs. Sueger, secured as missionary of Saint John's Sunday School. (Mrs.
Sueger has now been our missionary for 15 consecutive years).
1920 - Diamond Jubilee of church observed in great services.
1921 - Old parsonage on First Street sold and "Bushnell House"
remodeled as new parsonage. (That house also has a history.)
1921 - Church reported debt-free, with balance of $800.00.
1922 - Church renovated and reconditioned at cost of $2500.00. Every member
canvas instituted; amount subscribed $8523.16.
1923 - Saint John's Guild organized. Mrs. V. Hauserman, Pres.
1923 - High level of church benevolence program at $2849.85.
1924 - Robert Kienle, son of pastor ordained to the ministry on June 15th. Rev.
Kienle resigns to accept leadership of Evangelical Hospital of Chicago. Farewell
party for beloved pastor and family on Sept. 26th, Gift of appreciation
presented - in gold - $650.00.
And so we have marked the high points of a most fruitful ministry. There is no question but that in a ranking of ministers of the church, for meritorious service, the name of Kienle is on the top. His clear vision, dramatic visualization of needs, versatility, ability to muster the loyalty and support of his people in co-operative enterprise, during seventeen years excels that of any other pastorate. No other man could have done better.
He gathered from the common life of the people the provision with which he replenished their rejoicing souls on the Lord's Day. His geniality, optimism and unfailing faith were untouched by circumstances of health or the lack of it. With unexampled driving power, he welded the power for good in the congregation into a mighty influence in the community. He disliked the abstract and the philosophical and foraged everywhere for the humanities of which he became a genuine apostle. His charitable-mindedness is still spoken of in the homes of the sick and the poor. His sympathetic reaching out to lift men higher than their environment is still a vivid memory. He loved men as he viewed them in God, but he also had a greater love which saw God in man. His was a courageous, forwardlooking ministry of confidence and fellowship. If our humble eulogy seems a bit premature and flattering, it is only so, by the fact, that Kienle is still very much alive, and very active, and our very special honored guest at this observance of the Ninetieth Anniversary. While he will say, "I am not worthy of this praise", I must repeat, "There is no one so worthy of the Love and esteem of a grateful congregation, as you are". Memory may fail in fashioning a tale of modest compliment, but surely the magnificent church, and the loyal congregation, which he assembled in it, cannot fail to voice a memorial of lasting commendation. And what more shall we add, but "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
The following is from Saleste, Paul H., One Hundred Years of Saint John's Church, Evangelical and Reformed, January 1, 1945. (Spelling and grammar as in the original.)
When Kienle arrived at Mansfield, O., he faced the following situation: The life and activity of the congregation had reached a certain praiseworthy and prosperous level under Rev. William Dresel. The church has reached a very respectable membership. New members were asses to its list almost monthly. The Sunday School had been thoroughly organized, and was crowding the available space of the old church. There was a fine group of young people, led by Mr. H. R. Fiedler, who were earnestly seeking to make their lives count for Christian service. Several were ready to accept the challenge for preparation for the ministry. Others, just as earnestly, were waiting to consecrate themselves to any new task the church might offer them. Rev. Kienle realized in a few years that the leaven of Christian zeal was developing beyond the bounds of a small church building and church program. Principles upon which man advances in spiritual things are no more the revelation of God's vision of humanity, as they are man's vision of God. When they are taken at flood tide and enthusiastically wrought into greater Christian discipleship, then and then only can a minister feel that he is doing his duty to the fullest degree in encouraging the Kingdom of God to come in greater power.
And that is why Rev. Kienle encouraged, with every resource at his command, the forces of the congregation to seek for church expansion. One group recommended enlarging the old church building. But that would have been pouring the new wine into old bottles - contrary to our Master's own teachings. Another recommended following the lead of the former pastor and using the overflow Christian talent for the building of a daughter church - but that would have been using two talents to receive four, when five-talent power was given. Still another group was thrilling to march forward to greater things - including a finer, greater church edifice. Kienle would not have been consistent to his life's urge, had he accepted the lesser challenge. So he raised up the banner of Christian progress, which called for maximum consecration and maximum effort and maximum sacrifice - which meant, "Let us build a more stately mansion for our souls." His strong mind immediately grasped the possibilities of the fervent moment and before anybody really realized what was going on, they were voting on building a new church, and selecting a new site.
Naturally, for a passing hour, some failed to visualize the prophetic opening of a doorway to more magnificent Christian action. It takes time for a fresh idea to generate sufficient light to irradiate the mightier future. Some even resisted the urge of the challenge which had its life rooted in the life of God. But swiftly the masterful hand of this gifted leader prevailed, the congregation agreed almost unanimously to follow his inspired foresight, and accepted his vision for a "Greater St. John's Church." His own ringing words were, "We'll build, and when we build, we'll build ambitiously from cornerstone to steeple."
After a few very busy months, the site was agreed upon and purchased for $7,000.00, and the project was on its way to become a worthy addition to the record of Mansfield, "A city of beautiful churches." That was in 1910. The cornerstone was laid in 1911. And by May 5th, 1912, a date which will stand long in the history of the church as one of its most luminous, the new stone sanctuary for the St. John's congregation was ready to be dedicated and used. The Anniversary booklet given out on dedication Sunday is still treasured by many who were present, and continue to be members, so that only a very brief outline of details is called for.
The festival booklet begins with the verses from Psalm 122:1: "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within they gates, O Jerusalem."
The next scriptural watchword is Haggai 2:9:: "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former, saith the Lord of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts."
These are the moving, enraptured words of the pastor. "We have built a worthy and modern, for all purposes complete sanctuary, because God willed it, and because the congregation desired it, and because it was necessary for the fullest growth and development of St. John's Church in this city. We have given our city another beautiful church, in fact the third in 70 years of our history, and have endeavored in this religious manner to contribute toward the uplifting and glorification of our city, as well as manifesting our own pride, economy, sound judgment and patriotism in our native land in order that Mansfield may ever thrive and prosper.
May this new church ever stand as a witness of our faith and love, a temple of God among men, a spire pointing heavenward, bells calling to prayer and meditation and worship, that our children's children may therein find a fitting place for their spiritual aspiration, and the way of salvation."