Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 33, Number 224, Decatur, Adams County, 21 September 1935 — Page 3

mon Reformed Church To Observe Founding

1 ;$T PROGRAM ! BOH SERVICES ■tannikersary ■ |{cforni(‘<i < hui( h isl th" seventy-, ,'n ,v! ' rs ~f "* ,> ‘ W f „,, !1( ,! to be h-I'l w Will ~v ;v..r 21. 7 30 : ■ Vitl. i.v 25. 7:30 p „ . Tins program , pi" " v and will be W tllll lT- Members of all: •K,.-.,.?-. ■ "in '••• " lvi,e, ‘ •Wattend this service. ’Ki H-.l.tv 1"' '"l-r M !’■ . I’’ •! ,hc R " V K ., , speaker. s. is!" r 7:31' P . . Sunday. The Rev. L C. HeSof 1'1.'”" — Wisconsin, will speaker. p 1’ 11 Graeser, y. e of the Ft. I: Inl ine,! church, ]■.., is not a formpastor. „ the Rev. Kg.. (lieth'T. Sauk City, Wis. i;.'. . ii. David Adams. William Beineke. iK:■ id ea< h evening attempt will he made to have i.iiiic’ iie'inher of all the ' , s pi esent. The .. be I : ■ tlm \ X. E Vitz. brother first > the Rev. Henry ~ Tile Rev. X. > tile < hurch at Bremen. Ohio. jtl; • Tailes M. Prugh, pastor :ir . a It ITliker. Gallion, Rev. 1.. W. Stolte. Dayton, O. |Ms years. I'.ioil the R,-v. !.. C. Dessert,, PlyWisconsin. ■ i Rev. Grether, Sauk Wisconsin.

G° ; j Town — Decatur < <*ntly.

■ First Church Built In 1863 II

beginnings of the Zion Reehiirih an- inseparably inwiili tile fortunes of the RHoi iih‘(| church at Magley, As curly as tne year 1856 ■ ' Peter Vitz. a native of Ger who had received his educaat the Reformed Seminary at in. Ohio, was working among German settlers of Adams in (he vicinity of Monhis efforts a congregaB" was formed at Magley in that K ar and he was elected the first ■ B,or ; The only other < hurch in 'iclnity at the time was the eran church of the Missouri B' 1 "' 1 located at Friedheim. p prospects tor a congregation Reformed people in Decatur B" le(i unusually bright at the B, aU .d 'Ttz devoted a part « t’watur. preaching here once or * a month and occasionally ad- ■ “tstering the Sacraments. K J Sh ° rt tlme a 10t was P'* r - B? , d , l an<l P lal >B were made for His , Ul ? ing ° f a church - MaterB a»d labor were provided by most of whom were in farming. ■ " spite of numerous obstacles discouragements the building |B on North Third street near

OFFICIALS OF I ZION REFORMED | CHURCH LISTED Officials Os Zion Reformed Church Are Listed In Article At the present time the officials iof the Zion Reformed church are: Rev. C. M. Prugh, minister; J. F. j Fruehte and Ed. A. Goldner, elders; B. F. Shroyer, Ott L. Kirsch, A. R. I Ashbaucher and David Adams, dea<ons; J. H. Graber, Chas. Beineke, /and Calvin Yost, trustees; Leo l Kirsch, current treasurer; Byford 'Macy, venevolent treasurer; Peter, |W. Vitz. clerk of the congregation; ' ‘Dan Weidler, sexton; Miss Lulu I Gerber, organist; Mrs. L. A. Holt- ; house, directress of music. In the Sunday school department ! the officers are: Charles Brodbeck, superintendent: Cletus Miller, assistant supt.; Harry Knapp, secre- : tary; Mrs. Walter Deitsch. treas- . urer; Robert White, pianist. To the consistent progress of | the church is attributed the work 'of the seven church organizations 1 which together with their respective officers are as follows: The Indies Aid Society; Mrs. Dallas Ooldner, president; Mrs. M. F. Worthman, first vice-president; Mrs. Chas. Brodbeck. second vicepresident; Mrs. Walter Deitsch; Mrs. A. R. Ashbaucher, treasurer. | Women's Missionary Society; Mrs. M. F. Wortfunan, president; Mrs. O. L. Kirsch, first vice-presi-den; Mrs. C. M. Prugh, second vice-president; Mrs. Cletus Miller, secretary, Mrs. J. H. Graber, treasurer. I Girls’ Guild: Miss Olive Beihold, president; Bernice Beineke, vicepresident; Elizabeth Beihold, secretary; Eleanor Reppert, treasur-' er; Lucinda Borne, corresponding secretary. Phoebe Bible Class; Miss Matilda Sellemeyer. president: Mrs. J. F. Fruehte, vice-president; Mrs. Forest Owens, secretary; Mrs. Cletus Miller, treasurer. Mission Band; Colleen Miller, president; Mary Alice Beineke, secretary-treasurer; Mrs. L. J. Fogle, advisor. Christian Endeavor Society; Miss la-la Reppert, president; Miss Lu- • cinda Borne, vice-president, Wm. , Schafer, secretary-treasurer. Men’s Brotherhood; Robert Free-1 by, president; Joseph Rash, vice-; president; Albert Sellemeyer, sec- ' retary-treasurer. Needle In Hand 50 Years I St. Joseph. Mo.—<U.R>~ Mrs. Eliza Ramseier, 70, broke off the point of a sewing needle in the thumb lof her right hand 50 years ago. .The needle was removed only re-

- ( Jackson street, was completed and -I was dedicated. August SO, 1863. 1 For sme years following this ’[event, the congregation continued .Ito be served by the pastors of the i Magley church. Poor roads and ! inclement weather ofte,n seriously ■ bumpered these tireless leaders from carrying out all their pastoral duties toward the members of the Decatur congregation. A movement for independent organization began to gather force with the result that early in the ' year 1885 the Zion Classis was petitioned to effect a separation from the church at Magley and to form a separate charge in Decatur. This request was granted by the Classis and the congregation proceeded to call Licentiate Henry Vitz, a son of Rev. Peter Vitz, to be the first regular pastor. At a special meeting of the Zion i Classis held September 24, 1885, I henry Vitz was ordained and installed as the first pastor of the newly organized congregation. The name of the congregation as designated by the church constitution was “Die deutsch reformierte Zions Gemeinde in Decatur, Ind. ' The church record shows that there were thirty-two communicant members at the time of organization, i

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1935.

Present And Former Pastors Os Zion Reformed (’hurch

Rev. A. R. Fleduerjehazm began a fruitful ministry on February I 1, 1925. A major achievement of his seven year pastorate wtw the work of decorating the interior of, the church and installation of the ■ Schantz organ. Th ■ latter, a two-' manual type, was dedicated De- . cember 15. 1929. The cost of ‘ ‘ these improvements was approxi- ] mutely $7,500. An unprecedented I growth in membership attended the efforts of pastor and people during this pastoiate. Rev. Fled- - derjohann's last, report, issued j' January 1. 1932. siiowed a total I membership of nearly three hun-1 dred. In spite of the distressing ' times of the depression through I which the congregation ha.l passed. the church was in a very fav-' orable financial condition. The patient and thorough min- ! istry of Rev. Fledderjohann came | to a sudden end with hio tragic | death on May 12. 1932. Six months later a call was extended to Rev. Charles M. Prugh, who entered I upon his duties December 1. 1932. Til . kjfe ■ ..- - i " At a special meeting of the I .Zion Classis held September 21. ISSS. Henry Vitz was ordained and installed as the first pastor of the newly organized congregation. Tbe name of the congregation as designated by the church coi.\ itution was ‘ Die deutsch refonnierte Zions Gemeinde in Decatur, Ind.” The church record shows that there- were thirty-two com- ! municant members at the time of ' organization. Under the faithful and self-deny-[ ing ministry of Rev. Vitz the congng.ition r ent from strength to strength. After a twelve-year pastorate the membership had increased to one hundred and fourteen. The Sunday School was organized during this period ard a parsonage wan added to the church property. All services were in the German language until It was decided at the annual meeting in the year 1895* that English -should henceforth lie used at the evening services. Church Leader One of the leaders in the growth and progress of the Zion Reformed church was Mathias Kirsch, who died this spring. From 1887 until his death he held the office of Elder. Besides serving as Elder Mr. Kirsch was the first superintend- < ent of the Sunday school and held that position many years. He was also active in the church choir and ‘ served on the building committee previous to the erection of the . new church.

- jaiP--I 4' The Rev. E. W. Kruse, who followed Rev. Vitz, took charge of the congregation on May of 18U8. He remained at the local church for two years. During Rev. Kruse’s pastorate the men’s society was organized. It consisted of twelve members, who were: William Wetter, <’. H. Kaufmann. M. Kirsch. W. E. Kruse. Herman Sellemeyer, Ludwig Genther. Fred Sellemeyer, Jacob Schafer. John Spuhler, Fred Reppert, Jonas Neuenschwander. August Sellemeyer. /•JBK In the year 19M a call was extended to lamis 0. H -s-ert. who took up the duties of the pastorate upon the completion of hi; | studies; at the Seminary. In the , year 1908 the Building Fund was , started. The most, noteworthy ' event of Rev. Hessert's ten-year jiastorate was the celebration of ttl-- 50th Anniversary held June ' ,28. 1910. About few hundred vis-i ' itors were present front Reformed (hutches in the nearby charge.-,.! [ Speakers for the morning service ' I were Rev. Henry Vitz of Indian- ; I apollo, who g:.ve the German sermon. and Rev. E. W. Kruse of | Spencervilla, Ohio, who delivered the English sermon. Services were also held in the afternoon ' and evening. Other ministers who took part in the program were, Rev. H. H. Kattman of Berne. Rev. O. P. Vitz of Vera i Cruz and Rev. C. H. Schneider of ' Magley. Rev. George Grether, 1 who was serving the church in' Manitowoc. Wis., at that time was , not able to attend.

New Church Dedicated In 1924 __________ T , \ '-v 4 -v'- ■£.... x at I • JL ' v - .. -. !- !|H fJ-s ' ■Wr ‘ IIWI k uiiii^w 1111 "" I O W 0 .’'.l.- "

The beautiful brick structure which is now the home of Zion Reformed church in this city was dedicated on Sunday. March 30, 1924. The large dome over the center of the church which throws in a. shower of light through the beautiful art glass, the windows, choir loft, the arrangement of the class and study rooms and main auditorium and the completeness of the basement which contain-? a rest room, kitchen and Sunday school room are some of the features of the modern church building. The entire cost of the edifice, SSO,(XX), was donated by members of the congregation. Work on the construction of the church was started in May 1923, and the corner stone was laid on August 12, 1923.

The present pa.stor. Rev. C. M. Prugh. is a son of Mr. and Mrs. David I. Prugh of Dayton. Ohio.' He was confirmed in the Trinity j Reformed Church of that city. He, graduated from Heidelberg College, Tiffin. Ohio, In 1928. after which he pursued his theological studies in Princeton Theological, Seminary. Upon bis graduation, from the Seminary he was elected Fellow in Old Testament and wa.; - given the privilege of a year's i study abroad. He spent one se-1 mester at the University of Berlin and the remainder of the time at i the University of Heidelberg. In : the summer of 1934 he was given a leave of absence which enabled him to return to Heidelberg, where he passed the examinations entitling him to the degree of Dr. of Theology. ■ ————— Rev. R. R. Elliker became pastor j in February, 1921 and during his ■ term the efforts of years of sacri- ' fice and endeavor were rewarded by the completion of the new church building. It was dedicated with a week of services March 30 :to April 4, 1924. The total cost of i the new structure was $52,000. The membership of the congrega- ; tion at the time numbered two hundred and sixteen.

Tbe Rev. L. W. Stolte. D. D. became pastor of the church in ’ 1915 and served for five years, i Consistent gains in membership t were made under his pastorate. While he was at Decatur the enrollment of the Sunday Schoo! reached 220. Prior to his resignation in 1920 u building committee wan appoint- ' ed to make preparations for the building of a new church. The i committee consisted of the pastor. Ella Mutschler, Fred J. Fruehte, Martin Jaberg, M. F. Worthman and M. Kirsch. The Rev. George Grether. who followed Rev. Kruse, served for four and a half years, from 1901 to 1906. It was during his pastorate in 1902 that it wan decided to install a furnace, electric lights and a stone foundation under the church. In 1903 permission was granted the young people to orge.nize a Christian Endeavor society. The congregation also voted to purI chase a new organ that year. :—o Pudding Weighs 80 Pounds London. — <U.R) —London’s most famous puddings, those of the Old Cheshire Cheese, usually weigh from 50 to 80 pounds, take from 16 to 20 hours in the cooking and serve scores of guests.

Traveler’s Memory Os Scenes In Life Os The Aged Apostle Italian Islands And Turki sh Ruins Carry Mementoes Os John, The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved —A Study Os A Love—Obsessed Character.

By WILLIAM T. ELLIS Fancy plays strange tricks with a traveller's imagination. Thus, though 1 am familiar with all the background scenes of the life of the Apostle John, I instinctively picture him. at every mention of his name, not as a prosperous fisherman on the Lake of Galilee; not as an “inquirer" at the revival . meetings of Joint the Baptist on I the banks of the Jordan River; I not as a friend reclining on Jesus’ bosom; not even as a noble figure at the Crucifixion itself; but rath- , er as a lonely old man on the Island of Patmos, where Italy now holds sway over the small Greek population. To me he is John the aged, , who outlived all his comrades in the discipleship, and. after undergoing fierce persecutions, was the only member of the band, says tradition. who died a natural death, at the age of about a hundred yeau<Patmos is a little island with a lovely harbor, off the coast of Asia Minor, which is now Turkey. It consists of two hills and a valley. On one of the former is an ancient Greek monastery. The monks showed me a rocky eave, now a chapel, which they said had been the abode of John during his exile under Nero or Diocletion. But my imagination loves to picture him, his white beard flowing in the breezes of the Mediterranean, seated on a rocky promontory, gazing wistfully across the eea today the Ephesus which he loved, where, his dear children, the Christians, were undergoing fiery trials. The Tomb In Ephesus Ephesus, now one of the most in- ' teresting ruins that have survived : the centuries, was the home of 1 John’s activities in later life. Thith- ' er he probably brought Mary, the mother of Jesus, who had been committed to his care by the dying ! Saviour on the cross. There is a peculiar thrill awaiting the travel- ' ler in Ephesus, as he walks the ’ excavated streets of the ancient I city, reminding himself that “These - very stones were trodden by the > living feet of John and Mary and ' Paul and Luke and Timothy and ■ the great company of saints who made up the mighty Ephesian I Church.” Travellers may see the great 1 “Double Church” of Ephesus, where the early Church councils ' were held. If they are informed, I they will examine also the ruins of the Church of St. John, nearer the modern railway station; for in a crypt beneath the church an international archaeological expedition. financed from America, has lately discovered the tomb of St. John. Some day, doubtless, a great sane will be erected on this sacred site, such as cover the tombs of i St. Peter and St. Paul in Rome. One Young Man's "Success” A long, long way had Zebedee’s son come from the nets of Galilee to the overseership of the Church in Ephesus and to the place of preeminence in Christendom. Today, John who, had he been more prudent and self-interested, might have lived and died an obscure fisherman, sits in daily counsel upon highest themes with rare spirits all around the world. For John's Gospel, which mirrors the very genius of Jesus, is the favorite book of spiritually minded Christians everywhere. He wrote also the Book of the Revelation, and '■ the three Epistles, of which the brief and personal third is the bas:is for today’s Lesson. John had good blood in his veins His mother, Salome, was a sister of the Virgin Mary, so that he was the cousin of Jesus. His father. Zebedee, was a prosperous fisherman. His brother, Jaiffes, was the first of the apostles to be martyred. The family had influential re-, lations in Jerusalem. Probably from his sensitive-spir-ited mother, John derived that capacity for spiritual perception which has given him his unique place in history as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” In the upper room, he leaned on the breast of Jesus: throughout a long life thereafter he revealed the Heart that beat beneath that bosom to all the ages to follow. A Hallmark Os Greatness One sure mark of greatness in a man is his capacity for spiritual perception. This applies in all [•**** **** ♦ The International Sunday School Lesson for September 29 is “John: The Minister And His People.” —Hi John. ***** **** realms —business, politics and the arts. The seeing soul is the true j ' success. John stands out from the

PAGE THREE

other disciples because he best , understood the Muster, and was , most beloved by Him. This quality of spiritual imagination is what J makes great writers and readers, • speakers and hearers. It is the gift of seeing what lies beneath the , surface. Il is the faculty that glor- . ifies love and that turns work in- ! to art, a livelihood into a vocation. 11 Finer natures, such as John's. ! are vulgarly supposed to be weak. | In truth, they are the real stuff of • which heroes are made. When oth- , l ers fled, it was John who went in.'to the judgment hall with the PrisI loner, Jesus, and who stood by the ! cross and ran to the open tomb. He became the militant head of the ' victorious Church in Ephesus, L fronting the persecutions of the infamous Roman emperors. He turn- , ed his exile to Patmos into a scene of glory and revelation. Early in his discipleship he was called by the Master a "son of thunder." And the later record is that when men “saw the boldness of Peter and John they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.” No weakling, but a moral . giant wan tills gentlz-hearted apoetle of love. For there is no quality in nature so brave, so resourceful, so victorious as love. A Saint And A Sinner In the role of courageous church leader the aged apostle is revealed by this brief personal letter to Gaius, except what this letter tells, i And that is honor enough to make his name live through the ages. He may have been any one of the three Gaiuses mentioned in the New Testament —Gaius of Macedonia. Gaius . of Corinth or Gaius of Derhe, or I another person altogether. It mat- > ters not. He was a fine figure of a . genTTbman, a saint and a church , officer. , Religion can do with fewer self- ; important officials if it can only i have more Gaiuses —sane, upright. - hospitable and saintly—in the lo- > cal congregations. A Canadian t judge said recently, "What this city > of Galt most needs is another man > like Dr. King walking up and down [ its streets.” The allusion was to a I Dr. King who had been a pastor in > Galt more than twenty years bei fore. Some men's integrity and way of life speak more loudly than : many a sermon. Such was Gaius. , the friend of St. John. Two other characters share with , Gaius the distinction of being mentioned by name in our Lesson Epistle—one of these for an opposite reason. In the church of which Gaius was a member there was . what is nowadays known as “a church hose." a certain Diotrephes, "who loveth to have the preeminence.” Almost every modern church knows at least one such; and he is usually the heaviest cross the pastor has to bear. He is selfconscious, self-important, self-asser-tive. He always se«?ks recognition and power. He rebels against authority, as Diotrephes rebelled against John. But a reckoning lay ahead. John planned to visit the church; and this arrogant fellow would find him to bo not only the gentle John, the lover of souls, but also the “son of thunder,” administrator of authority in the Church of Christ. SEVEN SENTENCE SERMONS To find his place and fill it is success for a man.—Phillip Brooks. • * * Do not think it wasted to submit yourself to any influence which may bring upon you any noble feeling.—Ruskin. * * * Few boys are born with talents that excel. But all are capable of living well, j . —William Cowper. ■ Falling hurts least those who fly low.—Chinese Proverb. • *. * Seek good, and not evil; that ye may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you.—Amos 5:14. * * * What we call luck Is simply pluck, And doing things over and over; Courage and will Perseverance and sTfill Are the four leaves of luck’s clover. —Anon. * ♦ ♦ No accidents are so unlucky but that the wise may draw some advantage from them; nor are there any so lucky but that the foolish may turn them to TTW72 own prejudice. —Rochefoucauld. o Trade in a Good Town —- Decatur