New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-20
SERVICE AT ST. Marks
SOBS GREET THE PASTOR.
absence Of Women and Children
Victims of Disaster Noticeable.

While ceremonies calculated needleSSly 10
reopen old wounds quicken bitter memories
strictly tabooed. yesterday an unwrit
ten memorial day in Little Germany and on
the East Side. Memorial day proper will come
later, when the district Is better able to pass
over and clearly review the shocking events OF
last Wednesday. The first Sunday since the
disaster. 1t the less day when mem
DRY with the lapse of time and the relative
pite from the daily round and perspective and
leisure TO measure up its loss So for some, the
so far inconsolable. 1t was day OF sharp re-
grets OF grief-racked broodng over empty
places. To these the blue skies and tremulous
June weather seemed wicked mockery For
others a period Of four days had been able to
dull the edge of their bereavement and induce
at least incipient resignation.
Little boys who had sobbed in secret all the
preceding night so far forgot their grief as to
hazard games Of tipcat near the church. and
one Of the most sympathetic of the relief work.
ers. to her profound amazement, was surprised
humming "Bedelia" she toiled-
The Grape. too on the doorpos.s seemed far
less in evidence, the funerals comparativel,- in
frequent, and there were signs and portents that
II Little Germany would never he herself again
she was at least rallying sturdily from her
heavy blow.
1t was silent congregation that filed into st.
Marks German Lutheran, in Sixth-st. in the
morning for Sunday service. Men who for years
had stepped inside a church there to
represent some victim. member of the con-
gregatlon and nearly all wore some symbol OF
mourning. Scarce word. even OF greeting.
spoken as men and women walked soemnly 10
their places The absence Of women and chill
dren was at once remarked. OF persons drawn
10 the service by curiosity there were few. al
though many friends OF those who lost their
lives were present
At 1045 o'clock there were some 200 persons
in tho church The Rev Or. John II HolsteIn
former pastor OF st. Johns German Evangelical
Lutheran Church. in Brooklyn and a lifelong
friend OF the Rev Mr. Haas. occupied the pas
tors place before the altar.
As the service about 10 begin there was
a sudden stir in the congregation and all slowly
rose 70 a standing position. In the vestry door
leading into IN" church there appeared the fig
OF man. his head and hands swathed in
bandages
1t is the pastor" was the whisper that ran
round
The Rev. George g. F. Haas n was and II WA
the first time he had entered the church since
the morning Of the disaster. on the right side
ne was supported by his brother the Rev DR.
John W. Haas, and on the left side by his young
son. The trio made their way slowly To the
first pew on the right side Of the centre aisle
PRAYER before
they sat down.
Extreme simplicity marked the service. which
was in German There was no sermon. Dr.
Hostein began the service by reading a poem
written in 1855 entitled. Who Knows How Near
Is My End He then read in succession the
entire fourteenth chapter OF st. John. the thirty
ninth Psalm, the First Epistle OF St. Peter,
chapter o. verses Wiki and the seventh chapter
of Revelations, verse 10 the end
Prayers for the afflicted were recited the con-
gregation standing DR.. HoIsten then pro-
nounced the benediction. The congregation filed
out slowly and silently. it had gone in. No
sound disturbed the quiet OF the church except
an occasional sob the pathetic figure of the
pastor passed by the way To his home
There were no mourning decorations In the
church except the black ribbons on the lectern
and short black border about the altar
AT the Middle Dutch Church. of the members
OF which or their relatives seventy three were
lost in the excursion the Rev. John c. Fagg
conducted the service after officiating at a
number of funerals. Before beginning his SER
mon he read the names of those of the church
who had persisted. From the Sunday school six
dead and five missing. From the in
dustrial school ten are dead and three missing
Entire families. except fathers. were wiped
out. One family party. with relatives. was lost
and mother with six children persisted. In
his sermon he said in part:
Let us. when we can pause in our work OF
mercy. do honor TO those who have carried help
and sympathy TO the afflicted since last Wednes-
day, the ambulance surgeons, the nurses. the res
cuers, all those who have stood the dying
ana mnlstered to them In their last moments, like
angels OF mercy.
Memorial services were held in many OF the
Lutheran churches in Brooklyn and collections
for the relief fund were taken at each service as
well at the regular services. The most touch
ing was the service held in st. Pauls Evangel-
teal Lutheran Church. which has been known as
the eldest daughter" of St Marks, having been
founded by the latter in 1855. Many of the
members OF St. Paul's formerly belonged 20 ST
Marks and mourning the loss Of friends and
relatives. There was much weeping In the con-
gregation as the Rev. DIR. Hugo w Hoffman
the pastor spoke OF the tragedy OF Wednesday
Among the other memorial services were those
of st. Johns Lutheran Church. Milton-st. near
Manhattan-aVe., and the Lutheran Church OF
the Redeemer Bedford-ave. and Hewes-st OF
which the Rev. s. G. Weiskotten is pastor