This post was contributed to the Crawford County Chapter of OGS by Kristina Stearley as part of the Florence Siefert Scrapbook in 2010.
The scrapbook is compiled from undated, unidentified newspaper clippings involving events in the lives of Crawford County citizens living in or having connections to New Washington, Tiro, Shelby, Sulphur Springs, Chatfield, Bucyrus, Ashland, Mansfield, and other areas. Only minimal spelling or punctuation corrections were made. Unreadable areas are shown by underlines, dots &/or question marks. This collection has been scanned, “optical character recognized” (OCR’d), proofed, then coded for HTML by volunteers of the Crawford County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. Since the copies are not of the best quality errors may have been made. Please contact us if you find corrections needing to be made or can verify any missing dates which could be added.
DEDICATED
The Handsome Lutheran Church Edifice Set Apart For Divine Worship
ENORMOUS ATTENDANCE.
St. John’s Lutheran Congregation in Its New Home
A Fine Day-Impressive Ceremony–Details of the Great Event.
The day of the dedication of the handsome new church edifice of the Lutheran St. John’s congregation has come and gone and it will be kept in glad rememberance by all participants in the joyful occasion. The rains which poured down the whole week, threatening to prevent many friends from afar from attending the festivities ceased, just in time and Sunday, October the 4th was a Sunday indeed. Days and weeks ahead of the time, visitors had taken up quarters in our little city, but SUN-day(sic) brought the crowd. It is estimated that from 2,500 to 3,000 people attended the dedication festivities.
We will not repeat the program which was given in last week’s issue. Suffice it to say that it was carried out almost to perfection and that general good order prevailed throughout the the day. Special mention should be made of the arrangement for proceeding to and entering the new church. The building committee, Messrs John Michelfelder, John H. Sheetz, John L. Utz, S. J. Kibbler and J. F. Aschbacher, led the way in order to deliver up to the congregation the key of the main entrance of the edifice and therewith the responsibility of the work which under their conscientious and wise supervision and direction, by the hands of art and labor, so satisfactorily has been completed.
Following in the procession marched the officiating pastors, headed by the pastor loci, all wearing black garments, the official robe of the Lutheran church. Then followed the members of the vestry, carrying the sacred books and vessels of the church. After them came the choir and congregation at large. After the short impressive service and ceremony in front of the church the masses entered. Perfect order was observed, the ushers having special instructions to see to the comfort of the older members of the church and of the visitors from abroad. Special seats were reserved for the building committee, the vestry, and the choirs, while the clergy occupied the sacristy and altar-platform.
The act of dedication took place during the forenoon service. The dedicatory gospel and epistle-lessons with their corresponding introits and collects having been read by the Rev’ds Prof. F. W. Stellhorn and E. A. Boehme, and the apostolic creed having been spoken in unison by all the ministers present then Rev. D. Ph. Ebert, pastor of the St. John’s spoke the words of dedication, all officiating clergymen lifting up the right hand, divining these words: “Unto this purpose do we ordain and consecrate this house in the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, Amen. Rev. H. P. Dannecker then followed with an exhortation and Rev. H. Sutter closed the dedication proper with prayer. Space does not permit us to give even a short synopsis of the sermons which according to contents and delivery were able testimonies of the truth of God’s word and were listened to with marked attention. We will confine ourselves to giving the tests upon which they were based and the leading thoughts which were developed.
Farewell address by Rev. D. Ph. Ebert, Text: I Sam. 7:12. Thought: As the Israites erected their Ebenezer, a memorial stone of the faithfulness of God who had given them a miraculous victory over the Philistines so should we daily and St. John’s Lutheran congregation especially, at the present, erect unto God a true and lasting monument of gratefulness for all that he has done for us, not on account of our merits, but for the sake of His great mercy.Rev. E. A. Boehme preached the forenoon sermon: Text: Luke 19, 1-10. Thought: the church is a house Where the Lord comes to us and where we come to the Lord.Rev. H. P. Dannecker’s German sermon. Text: Luke 19, 46. Thought: the house of God, what kind of a house?Rev. Dannecker preached an English sermon on Eph. 2, 19-22. Thought: the foundations, corner stone, and walls of the true Christian church.Rev. H. Sutter preached an English on Eccl. 5:1. Thought: the Christians reverened attendance in the house of God, his coming there, his visiting there and his going from there.Rev. Prof. F. W. Stellhorn preached on Matt, 28, 18-20. Thought: the church, a house of the Lord.At all the festival services, neighboring choirs rendered appropriate music which was very much appreciated. This certainly helped to increase the beauty of the services. In this connection we must make mention of the fine preludes and postludes, rendered by Mrs. Louisa DeRoche and Mrs. Minnie F. Albright.
A great success was the arrangement for eating Sunday: The committee who attended this matter as also those gentlemen who kindly assisted the committee in executing its plan, have deserved much praise. The apprecaition of this work on part of the visitors was certainly unanimous. Not only were the well made tables in the five different places loaded with plenty of good things, but all persons could comfortably sit down to their meals, to be waited on with utmost care and thoughtfulness. As dinner and supper were served to so large a crowd and elaborate preparations had been necessary, some were of the opinion that the congregation should have charged for these meals. But on so joyous an occasion, the Lutherans felt like giving their friends a treat, free of charge, in the dining rooms as well as in the church auditorium.
On Monday evening, the beautiful church was again crowded. The Lutheran Young People’s Society rendered quite acceptably the Cantata entitled: “The Pillar of Fire.” The evening exercises were opened and closed with a solo, the former by Mrs. Minnie F. Albright, entitled, “Not Ashamed of Christ,” the latter by Miss Emma L. Sheetz, entitled: “Nearer My God, to Thee.” While the collection was taken up, there was instrumental music rendered by Miss Maud Kimerline and Mrs. H. P. Dannecker. The evening was a very pleasant one and the members of the Young People’s Society felt glad, especially also on account of the generous gifts that followed the collection basket.
Hitherto the festivities of the dedication had been accompanied with pleasant weather and so great, indeed was the appreciation of this on the part of the congregation, that no complaint was heard though Tuesday was uncomfortably chilly and wet and therefore the evening’s exercises were attended by a small audience. Those who were there, however, congratulated themselves on their good fortune on hearing the well prepared address of Rev. E. A. Boehme who discoursed on the topic of “Ladies Aid Societies Within Our Christian Congregations.” The praise which he bestowed upon the Lutheran ladies and their society, is one well deserved. The faithfulness with which during these past five years the society has worked for the benefit of the church and especially their local congregation, is worthy of imitation. The result of their work proves abundantly that little things are not to be despised. One secret of their success is the strict observance of the rule that no feasting or treating is allowed at any of their meetings.
Excepting the pews and the chandeliers, the latter having been purchased by the Young Peoples Society, the entire furnishing of the interior of the church and also the frescoing and the altar window have been donated by the Ladies Society.
One feature of the Sunday forenoon service remains to be mentioned as being of special interest: This is a brief history of St. John’s congregation, divided under three headings, log church, frame church, and brick church. The history together with a complete, program of the day as also with cuts of the new church edifice, windows, etc., the new parsonage will appear in form of a pamphlet, in both German and English. But we cannot refrain from giving at least a few points of the interesting sketch.
St. John’s Congregation has grown from 12 to about 150 families. The old log church, in which missionaries at great intervals served the little flock, stood upon the old Lantz place, on Main street, about opposite to the property, now occupied by S. J. Kibbler. The organization as the German Evangelical Lutheran St. John’s congregation was effected on the 18th of December 1852, while on the 24th of January 1853 the Charter was obtained.
This as well as the building and dedication of the frame church on the northeast corner of Mansfield and Franklin streets occurred during the efficient administration of the sainted ReV. Robert Graetz.
But a long time after these events the congregation was served together with the Lutheran congregations at Richville, Winfall and Caroline. Toward the end of Rev. F. Belser’s long and fruitful pastorate, the New Washington congregation became a self supporting charge. The congregation has seen its ups and downs, but has steadily under the grace of God, grown, not only numerically, but as we believe, also spiritually. Since Rev. E. A. Boehme was here, over 12 years ago, the necessity of building a larger and a more convenient house of worship became apparent. The result of many years thought and labor is now before us.
The Lutherans are indeed to be congratulated upon their good fortune and success in having secured one of the finest church properties in the state. The handsome new brick church on the southeast corner of Mansfield and Center streets, the well arranged brick parsonage to the east and the fine stone pavement along the whole church property are an ornament not only for the Lutheran congregation but also for the community. The enterprise of the Lutherans was certainly a step in the right direction of building up both their congregation and the town. A comparison of the old frame church and the new and elegant church structure with its solid wall and fine interior; its gothic arches, artistic designs, beautiful windows and handsome furniture gives full assurance that the undertaking has been a most happy one.
PASTORS SINCE OCTOBER, ’54.
- Robert Graetz, deceased.
- Wm. Schmogrow, deceased.
- F. Belser, retired, resident at Ann Arbor,
- Michigan.C. Clessler, serving at Bridgewater, Michigan.
- E. A. Boehme, serving at Youngstown, Ohio.
- W. Linsenmann, at Saginaw, Mich.
- H. P. Dannecker, serving at Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
- D. Ph. Ebert, present pastor of St. John’s, New Washington, Ohio.
The following is an extract from the church record from October, 1854 to October 1896:
| Baptized | 1,049 |
| Confirmed | 573 |
| Communed | 15,873 |
| Married, couples | 190 |
| Buried | 389 |
The financial statement, as lead on Sunday, will be of general interest. We publish it here and append a register, giving names of Building Committee and of first and second Subscription committee of the church.
STATEMENT
Of the cost of church property of the German Evangelical Lutheran St. John’s Church:S.H. Shively, architect, Fremont, 0.
| Contract with Geo. H. Lewis, Bluffton, O., | for putting up building | $10791 |
| Fresco decorations | Bryant Bros., Columbus, Ohio | 500(?) |
| Furnaces for heating church | L. Patric & Co. | 425 |
| Gas Machine and Plumbing | Baxter Brown, Tiffin, Ohio | 550 |
| Chandeliers | Cleveland Gas and Electric Fixture Co. | 307 |
| Pulpit, Altar and Altar Rail | Herman & Mahon, New Washington, O. | 235 |
| Glass, Windows | The Flanagan & Bledenweg Co., Chicago, Ills. | 870 |
| Pews and Choir chairs | Grand Rapids School Furniture Co. | 1436 |
| Baptismal Font | Sammann-Wangerin Milwaukee | 85 |
| Architect’s fees, sidewalks and sundry extras | 1298 | |
| Cost of building site | $2000 | |
| Total cost of church, including grounds | $18500 |
COST OF PARSONAGE
S. H. Shively, architect, Fremont, Ohio.
| Contract with Louis Faeth, New Washington, O., | complete ready to occupy | $2375 |
| Architect’s fees, sidewalks and sundry extras | 125 | |
| Total cost of parsonage | $2500 | |
| Total cost of church and parsonage | $21000 |
RECEIPTS.
| Recd on building fund 1891-1401 for payment of building site | $2000 |
| Sub. Jan. 16,’95, Lists 1 to 7, inclusive | 8519 |
| Sub. March 18, ’96, List 8 | 5121 |
| Received for old parsonage | 1400 |
| Received from Ladies’ Aid Society | 1020 |
| Received from Young Peoples’ Society | 307 |
| Received from Sunday School | 150 |
| Received from Confirmation Class, 1896 | 10 |
| Total Receipts | $18827 |
| Balance Deficit | 2173 |
DONATIONS.
By Ladies Aid Society: Fresco decorations of church, Sanctuary Window “The Good Shepherd,” Pulpit, Altar and Altar Rail, Baptismal Font, furniture for the sanctuary, sacristy and toilet room, carpet and draperies for the church, Communion set and *Hymn boards.By Mrs. Louisa Guiss and Mrs. Theresia Sheetz: Communion Veil.By Young Peoples’ Society: Chandeliers for church.By Sunday School: Large West Window, “Christ Blessing Little Children.”By Confirmation Class, 1896: Two small windows in southwest Vestibule.By Herman & Mahon to Ladles Aid Society: Two *Hymn boards.
John Michelfelder, Chairman,
John H. Sheetz, Secretary,
John L. Utz,
S.J. Kibler,
J. F. Aschbacher,
Building Committee
FIRST SUBSCRIPTION COMMITTEE
John Leonhart and John High
August Marquart and John L. Utz
John Michelfelder and J. F. Aschbacher
Adam Eckstine and Fred Strohm
Jacob Sheetz and S. J. KiblerSECOND SUBSCRIPTION COMMITTEE
Jacob Sheetz and S. J. Kibler.
