The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-04-26
OPPOSED TO SECRET ORGANIZATIONS.
A Dissension In the German Evan
gelical Lutheran Church.
Rev. Won schenk Wants New Trustees
Elected How They Got Possession OF
the Church-Farmers v. City Folks
A Very Warm Controversy.
ANOTHER CHURCH WAR.
From 'Th.usday's Daily.


From Thmsday's Daily.
The congregation of the German
Evangelical Lutheran church, of OF
tawa, is following in the footsteps OF
its brethren OF the German Evangeli
cal church TO some extent. War has
been declared between the pastor anC
some OF the members of the church
On one side is the pastor. Rev. Dudwil
Won Schenk, and on the other side ar,
the trustees Of the church and theil
friends.
Rev. Won Schenk has been pastor OF
the church nearly five years and has
worked faithfully for the welfare OF
the congregation and the church. The
cause OF the present dissensiOn is due
to the fact that Rev. Won Schenk is
opposed 10 secret organizations. After
he had been in Ottawa but a short
time the war on secret societies com,
menced. He said no christian should
belong to these societies and forbade
the congregation from attending
dances. 1t was finally announced from
the pulpit that members of the con.
gregatiOn belonging to secret societies
would not be allowed to receive com.
munion. This caused a great hub-but
among the people, who at once Separ.
ated into two distinct bodies. The
country people sided with the pastor
and the city people, most of whom
belong to one or more secret societies
violently opposed Rev. Won Schenk.
AT meeting held at the church in
January last the pastor again ex.
pressed himself as being opposed tC
dances, secret organizations. etc. and
stated his determination to enforce
the above rule. When this was an.
nounced the people flew into storm
and demanded that Rev. Won Schenk
be ousted. Here the matter rested for
a short time.
Interest was revived when a petition
bearing the signatures Of majOrity OF
the congregation was presented to
Rev. Won Schenk, asking that he re-
sign the pastOrate. He refused. but it
was agreed that if the petition be
withdrawn he would resign of his own
accord. This plan was satisfactory,
and Rev. Won Schenk sent in his resig-
nation, and it was accepted by the
trustees. His time will expire next
Sunday.
Rev. Won Schenk was appointed by
the Missouri Synod and since he has
resigned Rev. F. Lussky, of Sterling,
has been appointed in his stead. Rev.
Lusky will be here Sunday, but it is
understood the trustees will not re-
cOgnize him, as his beliefs are similar
to those of the retiring pastor as far
as secret societies are concerned.
Rev. Won. Schnk preached his fare
well sermon last Sunday, and it is said
to have been a 'scOrcher."
The following is copy of a circular
which has been sent to each member
of the congregations:
"DEAR SIR-We desire to notify
you, that there will be special meet
ing of the German Evangelical Luth-
eran Zion church, of Ottawa, at 10
o'clock, a. H., Sunday, the 9th day of
April, A. ID. 1890, at the church, in
the city of Ottawa, for the purpose of
taking action on the conduct of two
of the trustees of said church, in dis
placing locks of the church, and sub
shutting Others therefor; as well as to
elect new trustees, to succeed those at
present wrongfully holding over since
January, 1888. These trustees have
acted contrary to the letter and spirit
OF our rules and uSages, as well as to
that of our religion. Such mistakes
should be corrected in a Christian and
tolerant spirit. While it is true that
the undersigned has rendered his resig-
nation, and the same was accepted:
yet, it is equally true, that the con,
gregatiOn, which is supreme, directed
him to retain his position, as minister,
until his successor should arrive in
Ottawa. Fraternally,
REV. LUDWIG Won SCHENK,
CHARLES A. +. KNOLL,
HENRY SIPPEL,
JUsTUS BRUECK."
The war of the factions commenced
in earnest two weeks ago last Sunday,
when the followers of Won Schenk
closed the Sunday School and carried
off the keys. The trustees demanded
the keys but their demands were
treated with Scornful contempt.
Nothing daunted they procured the
services of a locksmith and had new
locks put on all the doors, the old
ones of course being taken off.
There promises to be lively scene
at the church in case this matter
comes up for discussion on Sunday
morning Evidently Rev. Won Schema
intends to make a strong fight for the
supremacy and the matter will ne
doubt he brought into the courts. He
has procured the services of M. L
MolOney as legal adviser. The presen,
trustees are J. ID. Nette, f. Franz
and George Weiner, and they intent
to stand with the people and prOtes,
against Rev. Won Schenk's course OF
action. The congregation, at least
the majority, want a pastor who il
not so strongly prejudiced against Sc
cret organizations as to take ava,
the peoples rights as members of the
church. The settlement of this con
troversy will no doubt bring to light
some interesting developments.