Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 10, Number 85, Decatur, Adams County, 8 April 1912 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Volume X. Number 85.

GLAD EASTER DAY

FOR BERNE MENNONITES __ I < 1 Thousands Gather To Witness Opening Os ? New $60,000. Church Edifice : 1

BY GRACE OF GOD I The Temple is Dedicated I < Free of Debt—Wonderful Accomplishment. i SPLENDID MUSIC " “But as for Me I Will Come Into Thy House in the Multitude of Mercy.” • Joy to the world, The Lord is come" - '' OI , ‘ S c*'- 10, '*l >n many thousands the new Mennonite churel when they met there to pt spare Ki™ room, and to dedicate the new house of wo: ship and present it for the first time in its entirety to the Risen Lord on tne anniversary of His resurrection. The church has the distinction of being the largest Mennonite church in the world and the second largest church of any denomination in the I state, and with the congregation which numbers more than a thousand

- A,' U *'•11 ...k ■* .- y- > ■ Li®? i E Rev. S. F. Sprunger, Aged and Honored Pastor.

in its constituency, were joined several thousand from the vicinity of Berne, and from the surrounding counties and states who joined with them in worshiping the Lord on this day "in the beauty of holiness.” While the attendance at the morning service ; was large, the regular northbound, train bringing many m from Geneva, - Portland. Winchester and Richmond, and other cities along the way, those ■ of the afternoon and evening were i still larger, with the influx Hom the north brought in cn the special Men- i nonite tram from Fort Wayne and it i is estimated that fully three thausand attended each of these two services. The large and spacious church, with its length of one hundred and fifty-

v : — :|g||.,J. ' ft" < ■■» I I i i Ii r '‘/iB iJHBI Bn l' l ; ' I ■ 1,• ;| aSß'li Jin v •'® r j‘ ! ■ *V. ‘ * ’’ ' The New Church, Dedicated *♦ Be'ns, Sunday," April 7th.

1 eight feet, width of eighty-five feet, , and height of forty feet, made larger t with three over-hanging balconies, and ' bull at a tout cost o* fifty-two thou- 1 sand dollars, presented free from debt 1 on the day of dedication,, was filled to 1 its utmost seating capacity of two 1 thousand. Added to this were many 1 who were given standing room, the ’ rooms being filled to overflowing with 1 at least a thousand more. One hum 1 dred thirty-six full fare tickets, be- ' sides many half-fares were sold from 1 this city alone, and the special of six ' coaches from Fort Wayne carried fill- ' ly five hundred people from the north. 1 The church which is of the Gothic ■ style of architecture, is a massive ' one. of buff brick, and is built on the ! lot east of the old church, which itself was known as one of the largest in this district, having a seating capacity of 1,200. Handsome as is the ex-1 terior of the new church, the interior is still more so, with a plain, rich, handsome solidity that will endure generations. The frescoing '' •-AaL. ot a Chicago artist, who e rmanv. ami shading at the base, the is th- . » mellower as has studied in . glow lom a ' walls grow lighter fallmerge into a warn WV. sunshine at the dome, the | the beautifully stained w ing in a benediction like the promise of the rainbow on the headtS within. Rack of the pulpit at the

front is an alcove for the choir of two hundred and with the large main auditorium. the many small class rooms than can be thrown into one with the main auditorium, and with the three | large balconies, all filled with earnest i and interested auditors, the opening i service Sunday morning at 9 o'clock was a scene rarely witnessed in church cirlces in the state. Potted | plants and ferns, with vases of cut I iloweis, a »>s3 of ev?rgreen and flowers, and garlands of greens studded i with flowers, wound about the chani cel rail and the overhanging balconies. were the oqe rich and appropriate decoration to a temple beautiful In itself, t Ministerial Service.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday Evening, April 8, 1912.

The morning service was the dedication service proper. The Scripture reading was given by the Rev. Albert Shumaker, pastor of the Mennonite church at Pandora, Ohio, and was followed by a prayer by the Rev. S. F Sprunger, who is now and for many I years pastor of the Berne Mennonite church. The Rev. Sprunger also gave I the dedication service in an impres- ( sive way. Two sermons, one in German, by the Rev. J. W. Kliewer of Newtqn, Kansas, former pastor of the I Berne church, and one in English by I the Rev. W. S. Gottschall. pastor of the .Mennonite church at Bluffton, 0., were masterpieces. They touched on the new edifice and its holy uses, voiced in the Psalm verse, ‘‘Rut as for me I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy; and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.’’ The song service was beautiful as is the high standard of the choir of this church. There were glad congregational songs and special music by the male choir of eighty voices, a mixed choir of one hundred and sev-enty-five voices. During the morning the congregation did not selfishly rejoice in its triumphs over the realization of a great desire, but took a special collection, which amounted io $318.18 for their mission which is building a church at Champa, India. Sunday School Service. The afternon service, beginning at 2 o’clock was given over to the Sunday school pupils, of whom there is an enrollment of more than a thousand. -Wee tots, from the cradle to' the older ones, took part in this, and the large circle in front was a glorious sight with its hundreds seated there, all the girls in their gowns of white. The assembly was presided over by the superintendent. J. F. Lehman. The opening was the processional of young men. a glorious file of young manhood who sang as they en- j u, the :.o ig 'C, the Stone is Rolled The scr’iptur'j reading was 'StSwSwiss!* - • e<i r;- . . r bv G; ri tail VefcPTC by '’WESftfeilLs r. ’. le .no VO , sen. and was . ed ( and girls gave neneauferstanden." and u tb>< Miss Edna Lehman told ‘He Rose Again." Eight little girls -a e an exercise "Morning Bells" to the chime of bells, and a vocal duet, "Welcome Easter," was given by the Misses Cordelia Risen and Florence Lehman. Willard Hirschy recited "Easter in the Heart,” and ten boys and girls gave a pretty evercise, "He is Risen,” in which a large cross garlanded with flowers, played a part. A solo in German, "Die Osterlilien," by Elfreida Franz, was a pretty accompaniment to the processional of ninety-eight little . girls and boys alternating two and two, all six years of age and under, being the two youngest classes, each carrying a flower. They marched from the balcony through the church, bearing their flowers and garlands, across the altar and then back to their places again, bright promise of useful and consecrated lives. Twelve little boys and girls gave a banner exercise. "Vistory Through Jesus." Many hundreds took part in the grand children’s chorus, "He Arose," and then came a declamation in German, by Miss Martha Boegley. The ladies’ chorus, "Shall Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?” was well given, and the address of the afternoon to the children was given in German by the Rev. Albert Shumaker of Pandora, O. He spoke of the beautiful pew temple erected to the Lord, and told the “beloved children" that their bodies were beautiful temples which should be presented to the Lord, clean and pure. It was a sermon abounding in beautiful and simple thoughts, and one which the children will long remember. At the close, the Mennonite male choir rendered special music, and the benediction was pronounced by the Rev. Grabill of the Mission church. The children’s service throughout was one of rare beauty and they showed a remarkable skill developed by rare training, for which only words of praise are given. . Choir Service. The choir service at 7 o'clock one of wonderful beauty, given by the choir of two hundred voices, famed in many states for their musical excellence. was given in the presentation of Charles Erwin Davis' beautiful cantata, "The New Jerusalem." When the curtains were drawn at the hour, the sight of the two hundred singers, with the ladies in white dresses in the foreground, and the men in the CONTINVISL Uh’ PAGE TWO.

REV. THOMPSON HELD sek 'i'lES. j Rev. Earl Thompson, formerly Sims, Indiana, newly selected paUu-JJ I for the Decatur Methodist circuit, ducted his first services in this county Sunday, holding meetings at Beulah Chapel and Pleasant Valley. Next Sunday he will conduct services at Mt. Pleasant church in the morning and at Washington in the evening. He returned to Sims today to secure his horse and ether property and will rej turn the latter part of the week. COURT HOUSE NEWS ' Ralph Spade Says Will Ward Also Fleeced Him to Tune of $6lO. FILED THE CHARGE Today—Ode McCiish Also Defendant—H. Roop’s Cross-complaint. The April term ofyeourt opened today, immediately following the adjournment of the February term last Saturday. Will Ward, who was out under bond, awaiting trial for a get-rich-q-lck scheme charge, preferred against him by Dan Cook, was arrested today on another similar charge. This was preferred against him and Ode McCiish by Ralph Spade, of west of the city, who alleges that September 13, 1912, he was taken to Ton do by the two, where he was induced to part with $6lO by joining an alleged secret lodge,, from which he was to get manifold returns, but which never 1 materialized, like the other three in | which McCiish is also implicated. Mc- | Clish, however, is still at large and his co-defendants have to bear the brunt lof the alleged wrong-doing. Gert Reyi no!ds. who is now serving time for , conviction of the charge preferred by i Fred Koenig, is one implicated with I JfcClich: Macke is another, and Ward, >Vfnl wjjs unable to give the 11ISI hi.. - nial and ci-ovs-ii.iiiiTiint ■ w' KgA graph, asking that he !■<• goen II divorce. He stated that he was a poor j i I person, obliged to be away fro:., in me I - to work, and that she would often go ; i to her parents' home north of the city, 1 j remaining several days at a time. I a neglecting to cook for him and do the 1 housework for him, and then coming ; home cross and in a scolding mood i, They were married July 2, 1911, and - lived together until February 26, 1812, e and he says during that time he has - never known her to take a bath and < that the stench was very disagreeable, a He says that she often went for sevi. eral weeks without washing her face i or hands, and was dirty about her peri son and cooking. He said that often i in baking pies or bread, she had the 3 cat about the table where she did the i baking and cooking, and on one occa- . sion when he had been sick in bed r with a high fever several days she 1 baked bread, and while he was out of s bed, went there and tore oft the sheet . which she wrapped about the bread . to keep it from drying out, though she 3 had plenty of other cloths and linen. - He says he can live with her no longer a and he deems it to the best interests -of himself and society that he be givt en a divorce. The Roops have no 1 children. i w James T. Dailey, guardian of Rhoda ? Gilren et al., filed report as to Glen ? Gilpen, deceased, which was allowed. 5 Distribution ordered, reported and . guardian discharged as to Glen Gilpen , —— - I Licensed to wed: Ida Beatrice > Green, born July 21, 1877, daughter of f John B. Green, to wed Martin Gilson, harness maker, born December 25, 1877, son of John B. Gilson. > State vs. William Ward and Ode 1 McCiish. Appearance by DeVoss for defendant Ward. Upon aoplicat on of i defendant for leave to defend as a ■ poor person, L. C .DeVoss was api tiff and defendant’s own land in fee as , sum as court may allow. i Chicago & Erie Ry. Co., reappraise- ■ meet and reappointment of appraisCONTINLTH? rflS PAG? TWO.

MUST HAVE CLUBS C : F orty Paid Memberships State Institute Speax°rs are Assured FOR FARMERS’ MEET C. S. Mumma Urge * Membership EnrollmentTwo Days’ Session. Though it was not advertised exclusively in the newspapers, more than fifty personal notices being sent out by President C. S Mumma, the farmers’ association meeting held in the library hall Saturday afternoon was not largely attended, the greater number of the farmers taking advantage of the very fine weather to catch up in their delayed farm work. President Mumma presided, and there were also present of the official staff, E. H. Faust, secretary, and Mrs. Charles Schench, president of the woman's auxiliary. The meeting was called to arrange the details of the year’s work. A two days’ institute will be held in this city probably next January, and there wij! also be two days’ sessions at Berne and Geneva, besides several one-day institutes ar Peterson, Monroe .‘nd Bobo. Saturday’s meet was chiefly for the purpose of gaining information for Mr. Mumma’s report to state headquarters. Wrong information was first giv en by the' state institute workers when they were here, and Mr. Mumma was apprised a few days ago that it will be necessary to have a paid membership of forty before a two days' institute can be assured here by the state association. The state appiopriation is not used alone for institute work, but also in making demonstrations. and the paid membership clubs of forty must be organized before a state institute speaker can be assured to attend. The membership fee is only twenty-five cents and the co-operation of all, in forming this club of forty is asked, that the institutes here may be carried on. A FIRE DESTROYS Beautiful Farm Residence ju on Samuel Laman Farm in Kirkland I NG W... ON SU NDA Y A Few Household GoocJ Were All That Were Recovered—lnsurance. A disastrous fire occurred on the Samuel Laman farm in Kirkland township Sunday morning about 6 o’clock when the large modern home was totally destroyed by fire. [ The home was occupied by John Lett, formerly of near Berne, but who recently moved on the place which he intends to farm the coming summer. About 6 o’clock the occupants of tne house were awakened by the smoke and were forced to flee. Neighbors who also noticed the blaze began to arrive and were successf ’. in getting some of the household goods from the burning building. The bouse was modern in every respect and was valued at $2,500, and insurance amounting to SI,OOO was carried upc.i it. By the time the fire had been discovered it. had gained such headway that nothing could be done to quench it with the limited means at hand, and it burned to the ground in a short time. The cause of the fire is sold to have resulted from a defective flue, which permitted sparks to work through the brick. IT - - - That a well known couple is to lie wedded this evening van the ru mor which made the rounds th's morning, ana whicn en’tset. considerable talk among tho many friends of the popular couple who were both at their posts of duty this morning and unconcerned, as always.

DR. BOYERS ON PROGRAM. At the meeting of the Twelfth dis- ■ trict Medical society to be held in ■ Fort Wayne Wednesday morning, I April 10th, a clinic on dermatology ' will be conducted in St Joseph’s hospital by Dr. James F. Breaky of Ann Arbor, Mich , associate professor of dermatology in the University of Michigan. Among those who will address the meeting is Dr. J. S. Boyers of this city. The election of officers will take place in the a !, »‘>’nn..n TO LOuTsVILLE KY. ? t’ev. D. O. Wise Transferred tL Trinity Church—Rev. Rilling Here. CONFERENCE CLOSES At Dayton, Ohio -Presiding j Elder Wise to Indianapolis District. The Evangelical conference closed ! Sunday evening at Dayton, Ohio, after a week’s session, the reading of the appointments being the chief matter of interest. Rev. D. O. Wise, for four yeais pastor of the Evangelical church here, has been transferred to the Trinity church at Louisville. Ky., and Rev. J. H. Rilling, three years pastor at the church at Rochester, was appointed to the Decatur church. The Rev. Rilling, enroute home to Rochester, stopped off here this morning a short while. He stated that he expected to move his family here a week from next Friday and will preach his first sermons here a week from this coining Sunday. His family consists of his wife and two children—Walter, aged eleven years and Helen, aged five. Mr. Rilling is acquainted with many here, having preached at Linn I Grove during the early years of his j mjinisterial life. He preached at! South Bend four years prior to going | to Rochester, and is a very capable minister. The Rev. J. J. Wise, presiding elder of the Fort Wayne district for several j years, former pastor here, and a 1 brother of the Rev. D. O. Wise, has j been transferred to the presiding eld- J ership of the Indianapolis district, exchdiiglns with Presiding Elder S. H. | Baumgartner. Rev. Kaiey was re-1 turned to Berne, and il’v D. R. Heil ‘ to Linn Grove, as well as ti; Rev. E. B. Jones to the Chattanooga cii cuit, including the churches east of this city. Rev. E. R. Roop, formerly of this circuit, but late of Portland, was transferred to Greenville, Ohio. Rev. C. Boyer goes to Fort Wayne, succeeding Rev. Rarey, who went and Rev. Cal Heis. hma - : goes to

Wayne Crescent Avenue 1 1 - ~ 'sre.'.'i church. i*.' * ,■ I DEATH Mrs. Sophia Klepper Dies at Fort Wayne from Long Eating Cancer. MRS. WINTE’S SISTER Mrs. Homer Zehr of Berne P sed Away Sunday Evening at Berne Home. Mrs. Sophia Klepper of Fort Wayne, i sister of Mrs. C. Wlnte, of near I Freidheim, this county, passed away I at. the family home Sunday morning at 9 o’clock, following a long illness from cancer. The deceased was fiftyfour years of age and was born and reared in German, coming to this country in 1844. Five years later she was united to Mr Klepper and since then they have been residents of Fort Wayne. Th? deceased leaves a husband. a son, William Jr., twelve years of age, at present confined to tho Lutheran hospital for theatment. Two brothers and a sister. Henry Dreyer of German, Conrad Dreyer of Fort Wayne, and Mrs. Winte, of this county survive. The funeral services will i be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 | CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR

Price, Two Cents.

SOME OLD RECORD — Old Monroe Street River Bridge Built in Fall oi 1877. BY TOLEDO FIRM West Abutment by Local Co.—Held up for $165.14 Freight Bill. The old covered wooden bridge which has spanned the St. Mary's river at Monroe street for “lo! these | many years,” which is so familiar to I all that it has passed into the proverbial contempt therefrom, w"l soon have passed into anciet history. For this old “watermark" will, no doubt, | see the wc-ck of destruction laid upon j it this week to make way for the | building of the fine, open two-span | concrete and reinforced steel bridge ‘ of modern style. The old bridge has served the traveling public well for thirty-five years nd while there are many of the older people now living wno remember well the time it was built, definite facts concerning it have passed from memS’jy ut whicn will be revived when ft? back to record hocks “G,” "H.” ar,4. ‘‘l' of the county cuminissionerV whei-e iy laborious searching of in-dei-e dec many heads, with ,i< b-like patter l e we may get the true story of its oiigin from the entries made by the commissioners ‘h“n serving— Benjant /ft Runyon, Joseph Spuller and Daniel M eldy. The late Godfrey Christen ■ as serving as auditor and E. P. 8105; s, sheriff. The von net was let by the county commiss.o. ers at a meeting held in vacation J dy 25, 1877, to the Smith Bridge rim any of Toledo, Ohio. The Sirriti company was to furnish i all ma O.tl and build and complete the .eture of 'P J bi idga. it I was to be brown as t 'Howe- Tr . f I Covered brl< ge,” with a clear . o! body 158 feel, roao-vay in the ieur 13 feet, the rxceme length !>’, < feet, height of tri -,s 18 feet T - floor i joins*s were t 1 l>»- three Inch> • ' .8,12 I ncl.es wi e. ' and of gu»c, sonru, Fve I oak timin'-*!. ’ Hoor planks ve » 2’4 ! inches tLicV. iiom six to 'r” "’cs i wide, and '• be of good so.:-.. k . lumbt • to bv aid diagoi...!i A «-t!r I walk live feet wid - ■ . to be i :lt on I the north with a 4x6 rounded ’<•; rail. ! The company as w • t,.e construction of th< bi ..'L '! ■ -er eip font, anv' 1 was :<> coun lete t'.e work wiiiilp twenty dayt- :'..er no* ’e of completion f the «to wort. On the sami- Jay th .■ rern ossHuic-r---entered into c >ntrar* wit*) the ing, Huffman - Gli,,g company Lir the masonrj fo> the sum of $1,835 to

be complete tv September I, 1877. Daniel Weld/ >as named overseer. The members of this company were Daniel Raili . ". Martin J. Huffman and Amos S. Gil"< They bad the building of the west aik abn>n.'en‘. 21 feet with 35 foit winy oxiend hot?. o' ' south . st. 1 X. -A old brill .' ' not to be K'Tiew ■<; or <: . ' >■'! Provision lot lut one abutment (on the west) was u ade at this time, as an abutment on lie east side for the old bridge then .sed had bec.i made about 1845 by F Woods, and wa manv years th<» Mly stone abutm in the county. The work of th n asons must 1 i-. e gone along merr > for nt. >e .ere v entries to the ntr-ry- The on I .’ seem’ng bah ,uc caused a .... ■ | any kind wi a ■ .rted a’ 'pe< 1 I session of th« r o nmTsio'te. s I October 4, IST., when M. .'. IV freight agent of t ,e Cin .dnnati. Kit i u.jnd and yne rail-o ’ compan}’. now knov . -■ the G. R. & 1., appeared befor h. b ■ o-d H ?d that the bridge ■ .e • d ' < Smith Bridge tom ’ 1 ■ . . and he . mid not al iw . ■ ,ig<> t< be removed fn ra pr«n.ifn& until the freight was tw '<l. Th ... sloners then orde*? , that ibt bdi of $165.14 be paid ti th. amount retained from tho I.’, allowance made the bridge comna.i) should they not e tie for the freight in the meantime. When 'he bridge »t t finally rescued fr -m the freight "cha-icery," the placet the supert*• •' I re was rapidly CONTINUE!? ON ’AGfR TH. £B i