True Light Lutheran Church – The Early Years
Miss Mary E. Banta
Miss Mary E. Banta unselfishly gave 55 years of her life to the service of the Lord in our community.
Her life has been one of complete obedience to the Lord’s command “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”.
Miss Banta began her missionary career in Liberia, Africa. Ill health however, forced her to return to the United States before her first year had ended.
She was invited by Bishop Henderson of the Methodist Church to take charge of the Chinese Department of the work among foreign speaking people on the “East Side” at the Church of All Nations.
This was May 19 1904. She continued in this position until 1935 and during these years her influence was far reaching as teacher, social worker and friend.
It was 1935 that Miss Banta and the Chinese group rented
a loft on 173 Canal Street at the door of Chinatown.
On April 1, 1936, the work among the Chinese was officially undertaken by the Atlantic District, and Miss Mary E. Banta was employed as a full time worker to assist Rev. Louis T. Buchheimer.
So many people attended the little loft –now a Gospel Hall- that it became imperative to secure larger quarters. A large bright loft with almost double the amount of floor space was leased at 199 Canal Street on January 1, 1938.
After spending two years in these enlarged quarters the building was sold and the congregation was notified by the new landlord that the lease would not be renewed, that they should find other accommodations.
After months of searching, a dilapidated building at the corner of Worth and Mulberry streets was found, not more than three blocks away from the Canal Street location. To purchase the building and to accomplish the preliminary architectural plans would require an estimated $265,000.
Pastor Buchheimer approached the Atlantic District for financial support. It responded by underwriting the purchase price of $65,000 for the building. The contract was signed December 23, 1946.
Before a brick could be moved, there was still the problem of funding the approximately $200,000 for renovation costs. There was no hope that the congregation could raise the money by itself, nor could it be expected to repay any loan of such magnitude.
To meet the emergency, Pastor Buchheimer with the assistance of Rev. Dr. Louis H. J. Henze, Executive Secretary of the Atlantic District appeared before the Board of Home Missions in North America in November 1947 for a grant of $75,000. The Board of Directors of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod acted favorably upon the request, and the building program of True Light was launched.
Although the building was not yet completed, on May 29, 1949 the congregation marched through Chinatown to the new Church. The Scout band played and members carried signs announcing the occasion.
