[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 139 (Wednesday, October 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1933]]
          TRIBUTE TO ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN ROYAL OAK, MI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 7, 1998

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the congregation of St. Paul 
Lutheran Church, Royal Oak, Michigan, as they celebrate 125 years of 
ministry to the Royal Oak community.
  St. Paul Lutheran Church began as a Lutheran orphanage in 1873 on 
twenty acres of property at University and Main Street in Royal Oak. In 
August of 1873, Pastor George Speckhard was installed as Pastor of the 
Church as well as superintendent of the orphanage and instructor of 
deaf children.
  Pastor Speckhard, a former teacher for the deaf in Germany before 
entering the ministry, had been instructing two deaf children and was 
soon asked to instruct other deaf children in the area. Within ten 
months, he was instructing 15 deaf children. Because of the obvious 
need, the orphanage was transferred to Addison, Illinois and the Royal 
Oak facility became a school for the deaf. In 1875, the school was 
moved to Nevada Avenue in Detroit, and became known as The Lutheran 
School for the Deaf.
  After the School for the Deaf was moved, Pastor Speckhard faithfully 
made the trip to Royal Oak to continue church services and other 
pastoral duties in various temporary locations. After reorganization, 
the church was called St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church.
  St. Paul's experienced changes in pastors throughout the years. In 
addition, the church made several moves, and underwent building and 
expansion projects to accommodate its growing congregation and 
increasing enrollment in the day school.
  During these 125 years, St. Paul's has always served the Royal Oak 
community by participating in a variety of local projects, teaching 
children in their day school, and reaching out with their ministry 
program specifically formulated for Royal Oak's unique urban community.
  I ask my colleagues to join me as we extend our sincere 
congratulations to St. Paul Lutheran Church for their 125 years of 
dedicated spiritual service to the Royal Oak community.

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