Saint Johns Evangelical Lutheran Church
History
Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 May 1878, page 8
Newport comes to the front this morning with a small Church
sensation. The Board of Trustees of the St John's Evangelical Protestant Church
of the Lutheran denomination, at the corner of Columbia and Mayo streets, held a
meeting at two o'clock yesterday and passed a resolution declaring that Rev
Walter Thomas, their pastor, should not preach in their pulpit.
The reason given by Mr. Thomas when the Board passed such a resolution is that he asked that his salary be increased. Said Mr. Thomas: "At present I am only getting $500 per year. I accepted the call from St John's Church on the 7th of last June. I came immediately to Newport and took charge of the Church. At all times I have endeavored to give satisfaction. I have a wife and my household to keep and was induced to ask an increase of salary because I really needed it. I told the Trustees it was not enough for a shepherd to live on. One of the charges preferred against me at their meeting was that I offended Rev John Scholz of Cincinnati, who occupied my pulpit two weeks ago.
The Constitution of St John's Church says no minister has the right to occupy the pulpit unless the pastor is willing. I was unwilling for Mr. Scholz to preach at St John's and when he died, I wrote him a letter asking him why he did so. He replied to me in a very insulting letter saying that I was crazy, etc. I answered by sending him a sharp letter, which he gave to the Board of Trustees and it was read at their meeting.
The congregation are also dissatisfied with me because I preached that there was no hell. They say I am a 'Free Thinker" and too liberal in my sermons and all that sort of thing. I presented a letter to the meeting saying they were compelled to give me three months notice; that they have not done.
On the 7th of April, without notifying me, the Board held a meeting and decided that I should quit when my year was up. At that Meeting the Rev Mr. Kastline, of Middletown O. was elected by successor. After doing this I was notified in writing of what had taken place. I returned them the writing, saying that they had no right to discharge me."
An intelligent member of Mr. Thomas' Church told our reporter that under the Constitution of the Church there was no reason for discharging Mr. Thomas. As it now stands Mr. Thomas' year will be up the 7th of next month and giving him notice at the 7th of April meeting, it is not sufficient time. There is no doubt that the Rev Mr. Thomas has been badly treated and the principal reason for discharging him by the Board of Trustees is not because he committed any crime but because the congregation wanted to make a change.
Mr. Thomas says he has no idea what he will do. He is in bad health and quite poor, although an excellent looking man. He enjoys the reputation of being a first class preacher.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 September 1890, page 7
NEWPORT
At a meeting of the St John's Lutheran Church of Seventh and Columbia street, the following committee were selected to arrange for the coming fair, which will be held from October 27 to November 8:
Mrs. Spatz, Mrs. Hueneberg, Miss Bonhajo, Miss Veith, Miss Becker, Miss Heldand all the trustees of the church and others will be elected from the church on the 16th inst.