USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Ecclesia plantanda; the story of 125 years planting--expanding--promoting the Church by Trinity English Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1846-1971 > Part 2
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Women's Work
The first women's society was organized in 1859 in the home of Mrs. John G. Maier and was first called the Mite Society. It was tireless in promoting rummage sales, teas, and congregational dinners to raise additional funds for the proposed new church of 1863. The Mite Society had for its first officers Mrs. Henry Rudisill, president; Mrs. John G. Maier, vice- president; Miss Amelia Rudisill, secretary; Mrs. Hannah Orff, treasurer.
Developing from the Mite Society, the Dorcas Society began in 1872, and is now one of the oldest women's church organizations in Fort Wayne. Its president for twenty-five years was Mrs. A. L. Grie- bel. A Twenty-fifth Anniversary Reception was given for Mrs. "Addie" Griebel in the church parlors. The newspapers of the day reported that the receiving line included Mrs. Griebel, Mrs. Theodore Wentz, Mrs. Phil Colerick, Mrs. Harry Eckels, and Mrs. George Swain. Serving at the coffee table were Mrs. Henry Colerick, Mrs. John Bostick, Mrs. E. F. Sites, Mrs. Elizabeth Dawson, Mrs. Charles Freese, and Mrs. William Hahn. An amusing item connected with the beginning of the Dorcas Society was the note that the dues were twenty-five cents a month, but men could belong "if they paid fifty cents per month." Also, members were fined twelve and one-half cents if they were absent from the meetings. In 1923 Mrs. Charles Martin organized the Get-Acquainted Circle for the purpose of visitation and larger friendship among the women of the church. Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Krauss
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organized the first Women's Missionary Society to study and promote the cause of foreign missions.
Because there was a natural amount of friendly rivalry between these several women's groups, in 1927 Pastor Krauss suggested that all be united in a Women's Union, with the various interests represent- ed by departments and the city divided into five sec - tions for more intimate meetings. The General Meet - ing was held the first week of the month, and sectional meetings were held the third week of the month. This arrangement met with success under the fine leader - ship of many dedicated members. The Trinity Circle consisted of a business and professional women's de- partment, meeting the third Friday evening of the month.
The Women's Union later changed its name, in response to a general approval of what was thought to be a fairer title, to the Women's Guild. The entire city was organized into circles instead of sections; for awhile there were sixteen such circles. The Women's Guild has rendered a very good service in the cultivation of inspirational and religious programs and the stimulation of the social activities of a large parish. To this present day it continues to function with great success, and its programs cover a wide range of religion and culture from far and wide.
Two other organizations have added to the strong women's programs of the parish, the Altar Guild and the Deaconesses. The Altar Guild was or - ganized in 1925 to care for the chancel and altar par - aments and the Communion Service equipment. Miss Minnie Nessel was the first chairman of this Guild, and Miss Jeanette Weiss, the present chairman, suc- ceeded her. Also, there has functioned a group of women called the Deaconesses, who have taken bas- kets to the poor at Christmas and sent cards at East- er, and who have done much calling in the name of the
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church. Their first leaders were Mrs. E. M. Van Buskirk, Mrs. John Klett, and Miss Elva Weller, who were followed by Miss Bessie Myers and Mrs. Avon Burk.
The Laymen's Deacon Legion
An old saying, "There are no laymen in the Lutheran Church!" carries great truth -- all the fol - lowers of Christ, all the members united in the Spirit of Christ and constituting the Body of Christ are spir - itually on the same basis. The ordained minister is one set aside by training for technical service. The bishop enjoys no greater spiritual value than the hum - blest worshipper in the pew -- before God. That is why, in the 125 years of Trinity's "Planting the Church, " a multitude of laymen and laywomen shared in the work of the congregation in the women's activities, in religious education, in ushering, in the musical minis - tries. Messrs. Henry J. Herbst, Erwin Manth, and F. Beach Hall had notably long records as head ushers.
The men of the church have had special areas of productive and proud activities, one of which is called the District Deacons. This is a unique group organized for special use in a large parish, possibly the first of its kind in American Protestantism. The entire community was divided into 287 districts, each with six to eight families. Each district was presided over by a deacon, who had been especially trained and, in an impressive service, sacredly set aside for this work.
The district deacon's functions are to call on the homes of the members, to contact them when spe- cial needs arise, or to help them whenever the occa - sion so requires, in the name of the congregation. Usually they conduct three formal visitations each year. On the last Sunday in September, they go out to
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visit homes to urge return to regular faithful worship and to leave such literature about the program of the church as might be currently important. The second is usually the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, when district deacons bring to each home the Lenten pro- gram for the Holy Season and urge faithfulness throughout the forty days. The third visitation is just after Easter, at the beginning of the church's fiscal year; in Trinity's case, May 1, following up mailing information, they go out to receive pledge cards for the every member contributions for the support of the church and its missions. Each of these visitations was inaugurated with a solemn processional into the church and dedication to the specific purpose at hand. Recently, the deacon organization has been restruc - tured with eighteen zone deacons and some 240 dis- trict deacons. In addition, small group training ses- sions are held throughout the year to aid the deacons in their ministry of listening, caring, and service.
"An Endless Line of Splendor"
The historic and memorable church building at Wayne and Clinton streets was now being crowded by increasing congregational activities and was crum - bling. The following Committees were appointed to plan for the erection of a new church:
Building Committee
John B. Franke, Chairman
Miss Abbie Pfeiffer
Arnold G. W. Curdes
Miss Bertha Krudop
Adolph G. Foellinger
W. A. Bohn
G. H. Heine
E. L. Hobrock
Walter Heit
Carl J. Suedhoff
Henry J. Herbst
Theodore Wentz
Louis C. Steger
J. G. Thieme
Mrs. William Hahn
The Pastor Ex officio
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Building Committee and others at laying of cornerstone of new church June 29, 1924
Standing: 1 to r -- C. R. Wermuth, contractor, J. B. Franke, Al C. Wermuth, Rev. Paul H. Krauss, Mrs. Wm. Hahn, W. A. Bohn, Miss Bertha Krudop, Arnold Curdes, Miss Abbie Pfeiffer, J. W. Reynolds, Geo. E. Becker, Gottlieb Heine, Adolph Foellinger, Nestor Fries, Marshall Comincavish.
Seated: 1 to r -- E. C. Rurode, Miss Eliza Rudisill, Mrs. Carrie Heller, Mrs. Louise Bostick, Mrs. Sarah Wagner, Mrs. George Thompson, Mrs. E. F. Sites, Mrs. Eliza Ogle, Mrs. J. R. Meriwether.
Furnishings Committee
Miss Abbie Pfeiffer, Chairman
Mrs. J. M. Landenberger
Mrs. E. H. Manth
Mrs. L. F. Eberbach
Mrs. Rose Maxwell
Miss Esther Erickson
Mrs. Charles Miller
Miss Vivian Erickson
Mrs. Charles F. Pfeiffer
Mrs. Wm. Hahn
Miss Caroline Pressler
Mrs. Paul Krauss
Mrs. H. C. Rockhill
Miss Bertha Krudop
Mrs. Theodore Wentz
A suitable site, 170 feet by 150 feet, was pur - chased on the southwest corner of Wayne and Ewing streets (the Henry C. Paul, Henry Bowerfind, Barry O'Connor, and Capron residence properties) "away from the noise and crowding of the business section and yet convenient to it." Bertram Goodhue, consid - ered one of the greatest modern Gothic architects in America, drew the plans for the building, and con- struction began in March, 1924. Mr. Goodhue had been the architect for the West Point Military Acade- my Chapel, the Corcoran Art Gallery, Washington, D. C., St. Bartholomew's and St. Thomas Episcopal churches in New York; concurrently, while drawing the plans of Trinity Church, he was completing the plans for the Chapel of the University of Chicago, and the Capitol Building of the state of Nebraska.
It is said that when the Cathedral of Chartres, on the plain of Beauce in France, was erected in the twelfth century, at a time when there was no great construction machinery, thousands of Christian be- lievers harnessed themselves to great blocks of stone and pulled them from the quarries across the plains to the cathedral site, led by their troubadours and their jongleurs, singing their joy in a magnificent spiritual enterprise. It was somewhat in that spirit that the people of Trinity Church subscribed to the
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building of their new temple of worship in 1923. (cf. MONT-SAINT-MICHEL AND CHARTRES by Henry Adams.)
The campaign to raise funds for the new church building met with encouraging success. The total amount pledged amounted to $274, 613, and to this was added $165,000, a profit from the sale of the old church property at Wayne and Clinton streets to James Keenan. The sale was negotiated by a committee of the congregation, composed of J. B. Franke, O. G. Foellinger, and C. J. Suedhoff. The plans were let out to contractors for bidding; one of the present ac - tive members of the church, with his father, became contractor for the new building -- A. C. Wermuth of C. R. Wermuth and Son.
With appropriate ceremonies, the cornerstone, inscribed "1924" was laid June 29, 1924. The corner - stone from the second church building at Wayne and Clinton streets, inscribed "Church of the Holy Trin- ity, built in 1863" was laid beside it. Two persons, Miss Eliza Rudisill and E. C. Rurode, were present at both the cornerstone laying in 1863 and at the cor- nerstone laying for the great new church at Wayne and Ewing streets in 1924. In addition, present on this occasion were some of the oldest members of the congregation: Mrs. William Hahn, Miss Abbie Pfeiffer, Mrs. Caroline Heller, Mrs. Louisa Bostick, Mrs. Sarah Singmaster Wagner, Mrs. Caroline Sites, Mrs. Georgia Meriwether, Mrs. George Thompson, Mrs. Eliza Ogle, and George Becker .
On December 13, 1925, beginning a week of elaborate ceremonies, the beautiful new church was dedicated by Pastor Krauss. The Rev. N. R. Mel- horn, of Philadelphia, Pa., editor of the LUTHERAN, the Rev. Dr. E. F. Krauss, of the Chicago Seminary, the Rev. Dr. A. N. Hitchcock, father of Mrs. Paul Krauss, and local synodical and civic dignitaries
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Chancel and Altar of Trinity Church
shared in the programs. In the dedication sermon the pastor pointed out that all the lines of its architecture point to the heavens and remind one of God. The spirit of the Gothic lifts the senses and the soul up to the contemplation of the Eternal.
Jean Untermeyer, in the SATURDAY REVIEW, describes it as follows:
Last summer I made my fourth visit to the Cathedral of Chartres and nearby bought a small stereoscope with exquisitely detailed pictures of that incomparable structure. Before giving the fascinating toy to the young girl for whom it was intended, I showed the pictures to one of the men in my family, who remarked with something like an exalted sigh: "Here everything goes upward." It struck me then that this simple, heart-felt exclamation epitomized the spirit of Gothic as truly, if not as richly, as vol- umes might do.
That is, and always should be, the spirit of the Chris- tian endeavor. That is, and always should be, the spirit of Trinity Church, offering its worship, its work, and its wealth to the "Planting of the Church" to turn the thoughts of men upward to God.
A great pipe organ, a carved oak organ screen by the Oberammergau wood carvers of the American Seating Company, the altar with its triptych mural painting of the Last Supper, the work of a New York artist, and the carved oak pulpit with the inscription, "Predicare Xristum crucifixu" (in abbreviated Medi - eval half-Latin, half-Greek, meaning "to preach Christ crucified") copied from the pulpit of the historic St. Clement Danes Church in the Strand, London, Eng- land -- all these represent memorial gifts, but the en- tire building is replete with memorials, generous and beautiful. The Parish House assembly room is Wag-
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ـعبد السقف مباد
Stone Baptismal Font
enhals Memorial Hall. The new Parish House included Sunday School rooms, assembly halls, music rooms, and the kitchen. All of the memorials are perpetuated in parchment scrolls framed in the narthex of the church. The entire operation would have been impos- sible without the enthusiastic co-operation of a dedi - cated, strong, and able congregation of Christian people.
The total cost, including stained glass win- dows, pipe organ, and furnishings, amounted to about $645,000. At the time of the dedication, there re- mained an indebtedness of a mortgage on the new church building in the amount of $150, 000 at 5 1/2 percent interest, requiring payments of both interest and principal every six months. These were promptly paid, right through the Great Depression, until in 1937 the mortgage had been reduced to $99,000. It was then renewed, and in 1943 was entirely paid off, and the mortgage was burned at the Annual Congregational Meeting on May 17, 1943.
The Religious Education Program "Let the little children come unto me."
A religious education program for Trinity Church early developed strength under the leadership of such members as Miss Katherine Shuman (now Mrs. Harvuot), Louis C. Steger, Dr. Harry W. Cook, Rob- ert Koerber, Jr., Walter O. Menge, Mrs. A. E. Askerberg, Miss Esther Erickson, Harry Haller, Harold Heine, Luther Keil, Paul Seitz, and Mrs. Paul Krauss, and later under its long-time director of re- ligious education, Miss Mary Brimmer. Miss Brim - mer produced a number of notable pageants and pub- lished a textbook entitled, IN THE DAYS OF THY YOUTH for catechetical instruction; one hundred thou- sand are in use throughout the Lutheran Church in
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OSISSH
LOVE
Narthex Window
Central Apse Window
ORAGG
Narthex Window
America. She also conducted a Weekday School of Religious Education, assisted by Mrs. Martha Coler- ick, Mrs. Addie Kampe, and Mrs. Alice Klinefelter.
A popular contribution of Trinity Church to the community has been an unbroken series of baccalau- reate services for the senior graduating classes of the Fort Wayne high schools for forty-five years, running from 1922 until they were discontinued in 1967. The speaker was chosen by the high school graduating classes every year for such services, which were marked by distinguished processionals of the choirs, the graduating class, the principals, and class advi- sors. In the case of large classes, services were held in the high school auditorium or the Shrine Audi - torium.
Another stimulating activity in the area of re- ligious education was called Church Nights, a series of some four to seven congregational dinners through - out the year, for the purpose of congregational get to - gethers, friendship, and inspiration. Notable speak - ers were engaged, such as Dr. Andrew Cordier of the United Nations and Columbia University, Profes- sor Paul Kauper, University of Michigan Law School, and Karl Detzer of Leland, Michigan, son of the congregation, and roving editor of the READER'S DI- GEST.
In 1968 an Adult Education Committee was formed as a resource and enabling group for spiritual growth opportunities. The Committee has fostered a variety of retreats, Bible study and prayer groups, seminars, film series, social issue confrontations, Church Nights, and family life seminars.
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One Hundredth Anniversary Celebration Beginning a Second Century of Service
Trinity congregation celebrated its One Hun- dredth Anniversary on Sunday, April 28, 1946, with the Rev. Dr. Franklin Clark Fry, president of the United Lutheran Church in America preaching at the church in the morning and speaking at a community rally in the Shrine Auditorium on that Sunday after - noon at four o'clock. As a part of the celebration, a Centennial Anniversary Pageant was written and pre- sented at the Church Night Dinner by Miss Mary Brimmer, assisted by Mrs. E. G. Kampe, Mrs. Charles Klinefelter, Mrs. Phil Colerick, Mrs. Victor Miller, and Mrs. Erwin Manth. An anniversary hymn, composed by Miss Charlotte Eberbach and Miss Suzanne Bowerfind, was sung at the dinner to the tune of "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."
The committee in charge of the Anniversary Service included: Mr. and Mrs. Robert Koerber, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Plogsterth, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph W. Doctor, Mr. and Mrs. Louis C. Rastetter, and Miss Venette Sites. The Executive Committee for the One Hundredth Anniversary Celebration was composed of Clarence L. Schust, Miss Esther Erickson, Henry J. Herbst, Mrs. Paul H. Krauss, Mrs. Erwin H. Manth, Mrs. Ross Strodel, and Carl J. Suedhoff.
As the congregation approached this One Hun - dredth Anniversary, in order to provide for the obvi - ous new equipment for religious education that the crowded conditions indicated would be required, the congregation decided that a memorial fund of $100,000, "$1,000 for each year of its history," should be raised. The congregation voted that one-third of the amount should be set aside for missionary purposes and that the balance should serve as a nest egg for a
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new educational building and chapel. The amount raised for this Anniversary Fund actually overflowed to the amount of $143, 000, of which $33, 000 was con- tributed to "missions, " notably local mission churches in the Fort Wayne area, such as Our Saviour's, Faith Lutheran, and St. James Lutheran in New Haven. Out of the balance, the Capron apartment next to the church and the Lombard residence on the corner of Fairfield Avenue and West Wayne Street were pur - chased, completing the entire block on Wayne Street from Ewing Street to Fairfeild Avenue.
The Parish House building on the east end of the block was already overcrowded, and more room, particularly for the work of the Sunday School and Christian Education, was absolutely necessary. It was voted at the congregational meeting in 1952 to proceed with the erection of a new Educational Build - ing, Children's Chapel, Cloister Garden, and Little Theater, continuing the buildings west to Fairfield Avenue.
The Executive Building Committee was com - posed of Executive Committee Chairman Carl J. Sued - hoff, Canvass General Chairman Victor V. Miller, H. Leslie Popp, and Clarence L. Schust. The Canvass Committee for raising funds was composed of Canvass Chairman V. V. Miller, Special Gifts Chairman C. L. Schust, Team Organization Chairman Carl H. Pierson, H. L. Popp, Carl A. Seibel, Herbert E. Weil, Theo- dore F. Hagerman, Dr. William R. Clark, Erwin H. Manth, Edward W. Young, and Alfred C. Wermuth. The General School Building Committee on planning and equipment was composed of Mrs. Frank J. Anti - bus, Robert I. Benninghoff, Miss Ruth Bittler, Mrs. William F. Borgmann, Miss Mary E. Brimmer, Miss Ophelia Graeff, Harold L. Heine, Floyd R. Neff, C. H. Pierson, Paul W. Seitz, and E. A. Steinhauser.
Worthy of note is the fact that Carl J. Suedhoff,
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who was one of the members of the original building committee for the new church, and frequently a coun - cilman, also was the general chairman of the Execu- tive Building Committee for the new Educational Build - ing, Cloister, and Chapel. It is also worthy of note, in this congregation of long pastorates and long lay- men's service, that George E. Becker served on the Church Council for forty years and for twenty-eight years of that time also served as treasurer. In addi - tion, Paul A. Boettcher served faithfully for thirty-two years as our chief sexton and retired in 1968.
THE WEIKEL CONSTRUCTION CO.,INC. FORT WAYNE, INDIANA
Dr. Krauss at controls of bulldozer
A captivating feature connected with the new unit was the ground breaking by the children of the Sunday School. Each had been given a little shovel by Carl H. Pierson, member of the Church Council, in- scribed, "Ground breaking for Trinity English Lu- theran Chapel and Youth Center, April 11, 1954." Led by a band, the cross, and banners, the Sunday
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School marched on that sunny Sunday morning with their little shovels from Ewing Street up Wayne Street to the Fairfield Avenue corner lot. Melvin H. Heck- man and Howard W. Orr were the marshals in charge of this inspiring parade. The ritual for ground break- ing services was read, and at the proper moment, all the children as well as their parents dug into the ground and started the excavation for the new enter - prise. The little shovels used at the ground breaking are kept as cherished souvenirs by members of the parish who were present at that historic occasion. The Rev. Dr. Joseph Sittler, professor of theology at the University of Chicago, was the preacher of that day of great rejoicing. Daniel I. Weikel, excavating contractor, and member of Trinity Church, as his donation to the enterprise contributed all the excavat- ing. He began the work on the next day and photo- graphed Dr. Krauss in his clerical garments, sitting at the controls of a very large bulldozing machine, beginning to turn over the earth for the new addition!
Designed to provide for the Christian education of the parish's increasing child population, the new Church School building included a Lullaby Room, Tod- dler's Room or Nursery, ten modern classrooms, an Audio-Visual Theater designed for pageantry and dra - matics, a Scout and Game Room, a Teachers' Room, and offices for the Dean of Religious Education and for the Director of Religious Drama. A communica - tions system between the Dean's office and the class- rooms is also used to carry church, chapel, and as- sembly hall programs to all other areas.
Cloisters on either side of the Chapel Garden, located in the open court formed by the church and educational wing, each of the four corners marked by inspirational messages on Vision, Confession, Power, and Dedication, make the Garden a retreat of beauty for meditation and prayer.
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All the children of the Church School are trained in the liturgy and worship of the Christian Faith by taking part in the Children's Chapel services. The Audio-Visual Theater presents religious truth through dramatics, pageantry, and motion pictures. This program has been developed by our Director of Religious Drama, Mrs. Frank J. Antibus, possibly the first full-time leader in such an office in the Lu- theran Church in America. She is assisted by Mrs. George A. Finkbeiner and Raymond N. Seaman. The staff pastor in general charge of religious education for the past fourteen years has been the Rev. John E. Sjauken.
Cornerstone laying -- Children's Chapel
This new addition was dedicated September 16, 1956. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Charles B. Foelsch, then president of the Pacific Lu- theran Theological Seminary. The total cost of these new improvements amounted to $600, 000.
All of the rooms and parlors were memorials
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by generous givers. The Children's Chapel, seating 150 people with the gallery, is especially distinguished by its chancel mural painting CHRIST AND THE CHIL- DREN OF MEN, a memorial to Thomas Lau Suedhoff, a soldier son of the congregation, who was killed in the Second World War.
Trinity Church, with its impressive block of buildings facing Wayne Street from Ewing Street to Fairfield Avenue, together with the brilliant new Pub- lic Library, the impressive new First Presbyterian Church, the Young Women's Christian Association, Chamber of Commerce, the Scottish Rite Cathedral and Auditorium, Plymouth Congregational Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Joseph's Hospital, Christ Cathedral, the Catholic Social Service Center with St. Paul's Catholic Church, and St. John's United Church of Christ, constitute a striking grouping of civic, religious, and community service buildings, convenient to and gracing the heart of downtown Fort Wayne. How the eyes of Chief Richardville, General Wayne, Father Badin, Rev. McCoy, Colonel Ewing, Henry Rudisill, Samuel Hanna, Allen Hamilton, and the rest of the pioneers would open wide at the sight!
"A Lamp of Burnished Gold" Missions and Benevolences
Bishop William Walsham How in one of his great hymns prays
O make thy Church, dear Saviour, A lamp of burnished gold, To bear before the nations Thy true light, as of old.
Trinity Church, through its benevolent giving to the Church at large, has taken an active part in "Planting
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The
Children's Chapel with mural painting
CHRIST AND THE CHILDREN OF MEN
the Church" and shining the light of the Gospel around the world, not only paying its annual synodical appor - tionment, but also "going the second mile" in the sup- port of its own extensive missionary and educational programs.
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