South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-20
LAST TURN VEREIN
BONDS ARE BURNED
Final VeStige of GymnaStiC Or
ganizatiOn'S Indebtedness is
Cleared Away Amid Ringing
Cheers of Members.

With a firm hand and amid the
ringing cheers of 500 Turner's and
their wives John Lederer, one of the
three surviving charter members of
the South Bend Turn Verein touched
a match TO the last of the mortgage
bonds held against the society at
big Turner banquet at Turner hall
Sunday night
The meeting was held in honor of
the clearing up of the last vestige of
Indebtedness of one OF South Bend 5
strongest organizations.
Paul Weiss, president of the organ
iZatlon was chairman of the evening,
and introduced amid continued ap-
plause, George Z. Geyer, for 81 years
secretary of the verein.
He then introduced Simon Greene
baum, a former president, under
whose administration the plan of is
suing bonds 10 cover additions needed
to the hall was devised and issued.
The bonds were taken up by mem bers
of the society without interest, and
Mr.. Greenebaum told how proud the
members were they had all been
cleared off, and lauded the purpose
Of the Turner's which he said was not
only to secure strong healthy boys
and girls, but clean, honorable men
and good citizens.
THE Turner's started in a small
Meyer Livingstone. Mr.. Elbel and the
rest >Ct the early members belongs
much credit for their earnest work to
make ii grow, for their perseverance,
their faith. And the Turn Nerein did
grow. We bought some land. We
put up a building, we had to add TO il
and add to it again. Still ii grew
till We had to work out a plan of pro-
viding for it's needs"
Then he told the story of the bonds
and how they were finally paid off.
Judge FaFabaugh Speaks.
The Turner's were the first in
America to give proper emphasis TO
the Importance of healthy bodies"
said Judge Farabaugh. the next
speaker. 1T was due TO their influ-
ence that physical training was in
troduced in our public schools. L
think L am right in stating that the
first gymnasium ever erected in this
country was in a Turner hall.
But the Turner's did not stop with
building strong bodies. They were
builditg men. And the influence OF
this organization has spread far and
wide and has always been for the bet
terment and upliftin- OF mankind"
"All the credit should not go to the
men," declared John b. Stoll in a
witty speech. The women have
helped too. They have worked and
planned with the men and we must
acknowledge that debt cheerfully."
w. A. McInerny praised the quail
ties Of the German nation. They
have been influential in forming our
American ideals. They are a nation
OF men OF sound, sober conservative
judgment. not lightly carried away by
every new theory, every plausible ar
gument, insisting on careful study
and deliberation before arriving at a
judgment. They have proved bal
ance wheel in our nation.
Il am glad 10 see you pay tribute
70 your fatherland; glad to hear you
speak the German tongue. 1 have no
patience with those who argue that 10
be a true American one must forget
the land OF ones birth or ancestry.
II would be very ungrateful 10 turn
your back on your splendid heritage
You should continue TO teach your
children TO revere the splendid Ger
man traits
In winding up the session, Mr.
Weiss presented George Hehner, the
new physical director who has just
succeeded Eduard kOenig. Mr.. Heb
ner came 70 America from Dusseldorf
a year ago. spending last year in Chi
cagO. He was greeted with three
hearty Gut Heil's."
An elaborate banquet was spread
for the Turner's.
Organized i'm 1851.
The South Bend Turn-Verein was
! organized on June Is. 1861. in the