The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-29
UNDER BAN OF CHURCH
TRINITY LUTHERAN.s DOORS CLOS
ED TO THE FUNERAL OF
FRED LEMKE
DISCRETION OF THE FAITH
One of Two Reasons Assigned by the
Pastor of the Church for the Fact
That the Funeral Was Not Held
From the Church, as Was First
Announced - Young Lemke's Flu
neral Largely Attended.

Because F. A. Lemke, who died at ST.
Cloud last Thursday with his head in a
stove, wandered from the faith of his child
hood, and perhaps took his own life, he
was denied the last rites of the church to
which ne and his family for years be-
longed. The funeral took place at the
home of Mrs. Caroline Behrens, the young
mans mother, 100 Kent street, yesterday
afternoon, but 1t was left to one Of the
sect of "unbelief," as Rev. A. Schroebel,
pastor Of the Trinity Evangelical Luther
an church, to which young Lemke former
ly belonged, terms Christian science, to
perform the ceremony. The funeral was
largely attended, and the floral tributes
Were many.
For years the Lemke family have been
members of the Trinity Evangelical Luz
theran church, Wabasha and Tenth
streets. AS a child, the man who was
buried yesterday went to the Sunday
school of this church, and when he at
tanned years of discretion he became a
communicate Of the church. He attended
the services with other members of his
family, and alike held the esteem Of the
five years ago, however, young Lemke's
views on religion underwent a change.
He was attracted by the teachings Of
Christian science, and finally severed his
connection with the Lutheran church to
become an ardent advocate Of Christian
science. He studied deeply his new faith,
and soon reached the dignity Of one Of Its
teachers and expounders. To his imme-
diate family and relatives his course was
not altogether acceptable, but nothing
could turn the young man from his new
faith. Three years ago ne went to St.
Cloud, where he was prominently identi-
fled with the Christian science movement.
Then came the news Of his tragic death
and his family brought the remains to
this city in hopes Of having the last serv-
Ice of their lifelong faith performed by
the boys former pastor. But the strict
rules of the Trinity Evangelical church
forbade this comfort to the family, and
young Lemke was consigned to his last
he had adopted.
There was a preponderance of reasons
why the funeral could not take place from
the church, according to Pastor Schroe-
bel, because, 1t is charged, young Lemke
deserted the faith in which he had been
brought up, and, second, for the reason
that he had possibly ended his own
life. Either cause would have pre-
vented Rev. Schroebel from performing
the funeral ceremony, and, as both pre-
vailed in Lemke's case, Rev. Schroebel
says there was no course open to him, ac-
cording to the rules of the church, but
to decline Ito in any way take part in the
service. Rev. Schroebel says his refusal
to conduct the funeral or to allow it to
take place from the church Is in no way
intended as reflection on Lenke's per-
sonal character, but was simply imposed
by the rules of the church. Said he:
I'VE are of the Lutheran faith; in fact,
what is known as close communicates,
and our rules are very strict. I was
deeply saddened by young Lemke's death,
but was compelled to inform Mrs. Behrens
that the funeral could not take place
from the church. The young man left
our church to accept the belief, or rather,
what l call the 'unbelief,' Of Christian
science, thus opposing himself in his
teachings to our church. This in itself
was enough to prevent my conducting
the funeral service, but, in addition, 1t is
believed he killed himself. No suicide
can be buried from Trinity church, even
If he had been an active member In good
standing up to the day of his death. In
such case I might be permitted to ad-
minister consolation to the family, and
perhaps say few informal words at the
home of a suicide, even while the body
was in the house, but under no circum-
stances could the funeral take place from
the church. With the twofold reason in
the case Of young Lemke I declined to
have any connection whatever with the
funeral service"
Young Lemkes remains We're inferred
at the German Lutheran cemetery. A
large number of sorrowing friends and
relatives followed the body to the grave
where there was also short service ac-
cording to Christian science rites