The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-19
First Services Held in New St.
Johns Edifice Sunday Were
Attended by Hundreds of
People.
LEAVE-TAKING SERVICES
SIMPLE, BUT IMPRESSIVE
New Church Building Is Artis-
tic in Every Respect, the In
terror Being Particularly
Striking.

Singing the Battle Song of Refor-
nation" written by Martin Luther
when throughout all Germany he
spread his doctrine of revolt against
the church of Rome, the congregation
of st. Johns German Lutheran church
bade farewell to the old church on
South Fourth street yesterday morn.
ing. Tears streamed down the cheeks
of all the older members as they led
by the pastor. the Rev. A. ]. Feeger,
filed out of the building to parade to
the beautiful new edifice, South Sew
enth and E streets.
The crippled and infirm members
were placed in carriages. All the 9TH
er members-men, women and child
ren-marched afoot, the column wind
ing its way south on Fourth street to
South e and thence east to the new
building The Rev. Feeger unlocked
the main entrance doors and the con-
gregation filed in to take possession
of it's new home. The beauty of this
new edifice made the church members
almost forget the pangs of sorrow and
regret they had experienced on forsak-
ing the old building. ''The king is
dead, long live the king"
The services in connection with the
congregations leave taking of its old
home were simple but very impress
sive. All the services were conduct
ed in German and at the conclusion
the signal was given for the rendition
of Luthers battle hymn. 1t rang out
as from the one thousand voices as it
did in the old days when its echo roll
ed over Germany.
Before entering the new church. the
Rev. Feeger made a short address.
Services in the interior of the church
included alter services, several hymns
and dedicatory addresses by the Rev.
Feeger, Prof Karl Hemminghaus of
Woodville, O., the Rev. Henry Wicke-
meyer of Michigan City, formerly pas
tor of st. Johns, the Rev. Frederick
Gahre, superintendent of Wernle
Home, the Rev. G. H. Loehr of Cleve-
land and the Rev. Joseph Beck, pastor
of Trinity Lutheran church.
The big auditorium of the new
church seats about nine hundred peo-
pie. Every seat was filled as we'll as
| the chairs which had been placed to
| accommodate the overflow. 1t is esti.
mated that between three hundred
| and four hundred out of town people
attended the services yesterday.
Last evening services we're held at
| the new building. The sermon was
preached by the Rev. r. G.. Lenski, of
Anna, o. Addresses were delivered
by the Rev. Feeger. the Rev. Joseph
| Beck and the Rev. Frederick Gahre
Beautiful Interior.
The new church is built of brick
| with stone foundations. 1t has two
lofty spires and its architecture is
particularly imposing. The building
is 102 feet long and 81 feet wide. The
cost of the structure was about
$4,000.
The auditorium, which has a bal
cony in the rear. has seating capa-
| city of 900. The floors are built on an
incline. giving every section of the big
room perfect view of the alter. The
| floor is carpeted with Brussels and
the pews are of quarter-sawed oak and
are large and comfortable.
/ The pulpit is most artistically dec
GRATED and is adorned with paintings
of Christ. Mathew, Mark, Luke and
John. The altar is also of beautiful
| workmanship and is surmounted by
paintings Christ, Peter and Paul. The
entire building is lighted by electricity
and the big chandelier in the auditor
4 ium is one of the most beautiful in the
city. The art glass windows are beau
! tiful specimens of this art. The or
gan is an exceptionally fine one and
cost $4,000