Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-04-10
BOWS TO IDOLS.
Pagan Worship of william C. Klemmer,
Of Reading, Pa.

Pagan Worship of william c. Klemmer,
Of Reading, Pa.
Almost within the reach of one of
the largest churches in Reading, Pa,
is the most extraordinary temple in
Che United States. Within its walls
are enshrined more than 20 idols of
wood and stone and cement, in some
of which can be seen the forms of the
bodies of snakes and toads. Here the
maker of the images, William c.
Klemmer, bows to his weird handi-
work and daily utters prayers before
them with all the fervor and sincerity
of pagan.
The worshipper of idols lives at 219
Mulberry street. He is bricklayer,
about IS years old. His face is calm
and passive, as though habitual medi-
tation were part of his nature. Dur
ing talk with him the other day, he
left the room and returned with his
hands and arms filled with a collection
that looked like the stock of an ar
chaelogist.
There were rudely carved BIRDS
heads, reptile shapes, the like of which
might.once have lived in the pliocene
age, and other fantastic creations in
stone which bore likeness to nothing
now in the heavens above or the earth
beneath.
~ made them ALL" said Klemmer,
"and I say prayers to them, and they
hear me. When I am alone with
them they sing to me. What I want
is to get bit of land out in the coun-
try where I can build a temple and
put them all together. cannot do it
here. I have not the room. I don't
like to bother the folks with them, and
so have place down street where
keep the best of them. I sit there Of
ten while they sing and talk to me all
day long"
Klemmer led the way to the strange
temple where he had placed his princi-
pal gods. It is wooden shed - by
IA feet, in the rear of three-story
brick house off Tenth street, the prop
erty of a relative. The approach to
the upper floor of the shed is by lad
der through d trapdoor which is kept
securely fastened by d heavy chain.
The room was dark, but everywhere
could be seen indistinctly the fantastic
outlines of Klemmer's gods. No Or
der was preserved in the arrangement.
The stony face of brick-red idol peered
out with solemn grotesqueness right lat
the top of the ladder. 1t was made of
clay and after having been burned in
the kiln there had been painted in
gaudy colors a rude resemblance to
human face.
1t was the personal idol and protec-
tor of Klemmer. It resembled moth
ing 80 much as caricature of cigar
store Indian. The right hand rested
upon its ample stomach, while the left
grasped something that might have
been taken for bunch of asparagus
sprouts.
Next to this in importance is his
god of the Organ. This is a round
buttoned, conical-shaped mass, the
sides ornamented with pieces of color
ed glass and the top fastened to rep
resent the keys of an organ. 1t stands
on a low three-legged stool and is
painted in glaring colors. This is the
idol that sings sweet melodies.
The god Of the Indian holds a
prominent place in this Olympus of
the shed. 1t is as large as a four
year-old child and it's body is deco
rated with pieces of glass. On the
walls behind it hang emblems of the
warpath and chase.
Twenty years ago Klemmer was a
prosperous contractor in Reading.
While building a row of houses the
owner failed and forced Klemmer into
bankruptcy. Some time after this
workmen noticed that he frequently
flung toads and snakes and worms into
the mortar, and when questioned on
the subject announced that it was for
the purpose of strengthening the
walls. This hallucination grew on
him until his friends persuaded him to
give up his work. He never mani
tested any symptoms of a diseased
mind.