On January 6, 1854 Hopeful Lutheran Church, as it is now known, celebrated its forty-eighth anniversary. The discourse, presented that day by the church's pastor, covers the organization and history of the Hopeful Lutheran Church located in Florence, Boone County, Kentucky. The church's constitution was included when the discourse was published, and can be found at the end of the document.

As it is customary, in writing the history of an individual, to say something of his ancestors, so it may be both proper and interesting to direct your attention, first, to the church from which this congregation took its rise. It is a branch of "The Hebron Evangelical Lutheran Congregation," near Madison, Virginia. This ancient church was organized by a number of German families, who settled in the above named place, in 1735.

These Germans not being able to erect a house of worship, and support a minister, their pastor, the Rev. Stoever, visited Germany and obtained £3000 or $14,538, to aid them in their time of need.

On the 8th of October, 1805 the following brethren and sisters left Madison, Virginia, viz:--George Rouse, Elizabeth Rouse, John House, Milly House, Frederick Zimmerman, Rose Zimmerman, Ephraim Tanner, Susanna Tanner, John Rouse, Nancy Rouse, and Elizabeth Hoffman. The last four are still living in our midst, and are members of this congregation. They, with their families, arrived here on the 25th of November, 1805.

The greater part of this country was then a perfect wilderness. These families, however, were furnished with cabins, with the exception of George Rouse, who itched his tent in the dense forest, not far from this sacred spot. Burlington, the county-seat of this county, consisted of a few houses, a log court house, and log jail. Florence had no existence. Where Covington is now situated there was a farm and orchard. Cincinnati consisted of two brick and two frame houses, with a number of log cabins. No steamboats then navigated our rivers, and no cars passed over our plains and through our valleys. Such was this country when our fathers and mothers in Israel sought homes here.