Translation of minutes in
written form (German).

29 November 1900 ~ Constitution accepted. Ten members present: Friedrich Rutz, Boj Sonksen, D.F. Nulle, D.H. Nulle, Jens Paulsen, Herman Ullerich, Edward Hageman, William Ohrt, Claus Struve, Ed. F. Schultz. Officers: President, Ed. F. Schultz; Secretary, Herman Ullerich; Treasurer, Boj Sonksen; Board, Friedrich Rutz, Diedrich Nulle, Boj Sonksen

1 January 1901 ~ First annual con-gregational meeting. Decided to purchase an altar Bible for $4.00. Decided to pur-chase a seal $5.00.

21 April 1901 ~ F. Rutz and W. Ohrt to request Mrs. H. Hansen to continue playing the organ, as before.

7 July 1901 ~ Paid for seal $5.75. Discussed having a member begin looking for a lot in the city to build a church.

3 November 1901 ~ At this meeting Geo. Ohde offered to give a lot to the church for the purpose of building an Evangelical-Lutheran Church. Building Committee: D.H. Nulle, Boj Sonksen, F. Rutz, E. Hageman.

1 December 1901 ~ Committee reported that the Geo. Ohde lot was 50' x 150'. The cost was $250.00. Decided to purchase the lot and pay for it on 1 January 1902.

12 January 1902 ~ Committee reported a misunderstanding occurred between G. Ohde and the committee. Land had not been purchased. The congregation instructed the committee to purchase the land.

23 February 1902 ~ Committee reported that the land was purchased from G. Ohde on 13 January. Lot dimensions 100' x 132'.

9 March 1902 ~ Discussed cost of building a church. Estimated cost (budget) was $1,400.00.

14 May 1902 ~ Decided to order cornerstone for the church from Carroll. Cost $5.00.

9 June 1902 ~ Two families left the congregation because they were against the building plans.

15 July 1902 ~ Two bids were submitted: Carpenter Linnemann $1,550.00, Geo. Ohde, Jr. $1,234.55 (accepted). Decided to invite neighboring congregation (Trinity) and A. Ehlers to laying of the cornerstone.

27 July 1902 ~ Decided to order an organ Style 22, Action L from the manufacturers Albertsen & Hinners. Price $73.00.

9 January 1916 ~ Decided to purchase 30 English hymnals for $10.00.

30 April 1916 ~ Extra collection to be taken on the first Sunday of the month for the Luther Jubilee in 1917 (400th anniversary of the Reformation). Also decided to write to the President, two Senators, and Congress asking them to avoid war with Germany.

1 April 1917 ~ Decided again to send Night Letters to the president and Congress to avoid war with Germany.

12 August 1917 ~ Decided to hold a Luther Celebration on 16 September at the Schuetzenpark with neighboring congrega-tions.

19 August 1917 ~ Decided to give an English New Testament and an English Prayer Book to all young men drafted in the National Army.

13 September 1917 ~ Decided to purchase an English Bible and English hymnals for the congregation.

1 January 1918 ~ Decided that the congregation can become financially independent (no longer needing financial assistance from the Synod). Decided to send $25.00 to the Red Cross.

2 February 1906 ~ The Evangelical Lutheran Zion Congregation of Manning, Iowa, has received a loan of $150.00 (one hundred and fifty and 00/100) from the board of Church Extension for the Iowa District of the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states. The congregation promised to pay $150.00 or more, on or before the 8th day of February, 1908, and the further sum of $25.00 or more on the 8th day of February of each succeeding year, until the full amount of the indebtedness of $150.00 is paid in full. To insure payment of this sum the property of the congregation consisting of two lots and church is mortgaged to the Board of Church Extension of Iowa.

10 January 1943 ~ Moved and seconded to hold next two quarterly meetings after church on account of gasoline and tire rationing.

16 April 1944 ~ Voted to hold German services once a month.

16 April 1944 ~ Motion carried that church services will be held on the evening following the declaration of peace between the nations at war.

1 May 1945 ~ Voted to raise Pastor Ansorge's salary to $200 a month.

13 October 1947 ~ Voted to allow Rev. Ansorge five cents per mile on all calls in the interest of the congregation.

9 January 1948 ~ Motion made and seconded to have church board rewrite minutes in English beginning with 1900.

18 January 1948 ~ Voted to hold summer services at 7:00 a.m.

9 January 1950 ~ Emil Meggers, our retiring chairman, has held that office for a period of 30 years.

7 January 1951 ~ George Mohr motioned and Eustace Lake seconded to change the name of our congregation from the First German Evangelical Lutheran Zion Congregation of Manning, Iowa, to the following: Zion Lutheran Church, Manning, Iowa - Missouri Synod. Rev. Ansorge to take the necessary steps with the help of an attorney to have them published and recorded as required by law. Carried.

September 1953 ~ Harvest Festival receipts totaled $2,498.00.

10 January 1954 ~ Motion carried to discontinue kneeling for confession.

10 January 1954 ~ Treasurer to report individual contributions for each year.

9 October 1955 ~ Motion carried to discontinue German services.

8 January 1956 ~ George Sievert signed the constitution and was admitted to voting assembly. (Several notations are found in the minutes of men signing the constitution upon acceptance into the voter's assembly. This is the latest notation found, giving some indication as to how long the practice continued. Refer to the last page of the original constitution and note the names of men as they signed upon becoming voting members.)

8 January 1956 ~ Voted to discontinue tolling of bell at time of death, but to continue tolling for funerals.

January 1958 ~ It was voted to purchase ten trays of individual communion cups.