Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1917 — LOYAL CITIZENS ARE AROUSED [ARTICLE]

LOYAL CITIZENS ARE AROUSED

People Incensed Over Alleged Acts of Rev. H. F. Krohn. OPPOSED Y. M.C. A. MEETING At German Lutheran Church and Is Believed to Have Done Other Acts of Disloyalty. Jasper county and especially Union township is greatly aroused •ver what appears to be the disloyal acts of Rev. H. F. Krohn of Union township, pastor of the German Lutheran church, in refusing the use of his church for a Y. M. O. A. meeting last Saturday evening. I Rev. Krohn was away from home most of Oast week, returning Thursnlght or Friday morning. George H. Hammerton, chairman of the Y. M. C. A. campaign for Union township, and W. L. Wood, who was assisting him, desired to bring the campaign as close to every resident of the township aa possible and arranged for meetings at the various churches. The churches at Rosebud, Aix and other places were thrown open for the meeting, and permission was also asked to use the German Lutheran church. Rev. Krohn being away from home when Mr. Hammerton and Mr. Wood called to see him Thursday, they then went to see Reinholt Bilts, a prominent member of the church, but not a trustee. Mr. Hilts stated that he could see nothing wrong in holding the meeting at the church and it was all right with him. Mr. Hammerton and Mr. Wood then went to see Amiel Schultz, a trustee of the church, but he was not at home.

Friday morning Mr. Hammerton ealled Mr. Schultz over the phone, and while the latter did not actually give his consent, he agreed to phone Mr. Hlammerton if it was not all right to hold the meeting there. No word came from 1 him and taking it to be a consent Mr. Hammerton announced the meeting for Saturday night. Friday afternoon Rev. Krohn went to Mr. Hammerton’s home but the latter was away on business. Rev. Krohn stated to Mrs. Hamtnerton that he was very disappointed as he wished to see him about the Y. M. C. A. meeting at his church. Saturday Rev. Krohn palled Mr. Hammerton over the phone but the latter was then at Fair Oaks attending teachers’ institute. Rev. Krohn then stated to Mrs. Hammerton that he was surprised that Mr. Hammerton would go ahead and arrange for the meeting without consulting him or the memhere of the church; that he had seen a great many of his congregation land every one was against it and he thought it ill-advised to think of holding the same there, aud that the members olf his church would not attend. He suggested that it be held at the Rosebud church, but Mrs. rfammerton told him a meeting had already been arranged for there for Sunday morning. He then suggested that it be held at Aix, and she told him that a meeting was to be, held there Sunday night. He then suggested that it be held at the school house, saying he was going to talk on the Y. M. C. A. Sunday morning and thought he could raise more money in that way. Mrs. Hammerton replied by saying that they could and would hold the meeting at the school house if he refused to open the church for them. Here the conversation ended. On Saturday night Mr. Hammerton and Mr. Wood went to the church for the meeting but found the same locked and dark, as was also the minister’s house nearby. Here they met Edward Ritter of Barkley township, a member and trustee of the church, and the latter said he had understood the meeting would be held at the church 'and that he had come over to attend; that the minister had said nothing at all to him about not holding the meeting at the church. Those who had gathered for the meeting then went to the school

house and held the meeting. There were very few members of the German Lutheran church present, only Mr. Ritter, his son and his halfbrother, Robert Ott. Mr. Ritter gave sls for the Y. M. C. A. work, his son gave $2 and Mr. Ott gave $2. Notwithstanding the opposition encountered the campaign in Union township was successful, the sum of $374.14 having been raised. Of this amount about S2O is credited to Barkley township, leaving Union still more than its quota of $350. On Monday morning, Mr. Hammerton, as chairman of the township for the Y. M. C. A. campaign, called Rev. Krohn and asked for a report olf the amount the latter had collected on Sunday, so he could complete his report to the county chairman. Rev. Krohn, after considerable quibbling, stated that be did not collect any money, merely talking on the subject so as to help Mr. Hammerton and Mr. Wood when they should solicit among the members of his church. Rev. Krohn at the same time denied telling Mrs. Hammerton that he proposed to raise money at his Sunday morning service, but of this Mrs. Hammerton is positive. Mr. Hammerton then said to Rev. Krohn -that the time for soliciting was ended but if he would give him the names of some of his congregation whom he thought might give, he (Mr. HamVnerton) would go and see them at once, but this the minister failed to do saying after considerable hesitation that he didn’t believe he could give him any such names.

It is the general opinion that Rev. Krohn was extremely active throughout Friday and Saturday in doing all he could to hinder the success of the meeting, and 'that there would have been many members of his flock there had he not gone to them and presumably urged them to remain away. It has also been stated that this is not the first time in the past few months that he has given evidence of an■0 ‘ ■ tagonism to patriotic efforts of our citizens and that he exerts a bad influence over his members, who would be all right were it not for him. One other thing that has been discussed generally among the people of Union township is the German Lutheran school conducted b.v Rev. Krohn. Children of his church members attend this school and the teaching is largely in the German language. There is no county or estate supervision over this school, which is conducted solely as the pastor sees fit. One thing that has aroused considerable comment among the people of Union township, and which has also excited no little suspicion, is the fact that quite frequently Rov. Krohn is away for days'at a time on some mission or another unknown to the people generally, and school is often dismissed for several days at a time. Mrs. Krohn assists her husband in conducting the school and sometimes when h? is away she continues the school in session, but that it is not being conducted up to the standard main-

tained by the state of Indiana is felt certain. | Just what will come of the mat-1 ter is not known. The whole situation has been brought to the at- j tention of the county council of de-! sense, it is understood, and future steps, if any, lay within the discre-, tion of that body.